Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1178
Ludwik shot him a glare, icy and sharp, beads of sweat prickling at his brow. "I know I screwed up. But if you run your mouth
again, I'll cut your damn tongue out."
Parker snorted, rolling his eyes. “Easy, man. Look, I'm just saying-it's like they say, 'Better burn down three churches than mess
with a marriage.' I'm just surprised. Whitney suddenly inherited a fat trust fund, the Sheldon family backing her, and now Parisa
too... I'd be sweating if I were you."
"I'm not," Ludwik replied, his voice flat. "Whatever money Whitney has, it's nothing to do with me. I don't rely on it, I don't care
about it. I just want her-simple as that."
Ludwik's background was no fairy tale. Everything he had, he'd clawed out for himself.
That iron will of his
untouchable, unbreakable—wasn't just a front. Money meant
nothing to him these days.
Parker knew that. Ludwik wasn't like Bryce, who only ever schemed to get ahead.

"Anyway," Parker went on, "we finally tracked down Bryce. He's holed up in Germinia. Once you're back on your feet, we'll drag
him out. The guy's a cripple now-no way he can sway the board anymore. Even if he's alive, he'll be hiding, tail between his
legs."
Parker scoffed. "Honestly, it would've been better if he'd died back in Harmonia. He tried to take others down with him, even at
the end. Real piece of work, that one."
"He'll never stop scheming for himself—not till he's dead," Ludwik said coldly. "That's Bryce for you. I won't let him off easy. Once
he's gone, Parisa's troubles are good as over."
"Yeah." Parker narrowed his eyes. "I checked in with my uncle at the Justice Department-sounds like Florence is getting life
without parole. Whitney can finally have her revenge."
"Life?" A chill flickered in Ludwik's gaze. His voice was calm, almost dead. "Let's get her out of the picture before then. No point
keeping her around to upset Whitney. She's just in the way."

Parker hesitated, then nodded. "Okay, after the verdict, I'll make sure someone takes care of it. Discreetly, so it doesn't blow
back on you."
"Good."
Ludwik was barely holding it together. His breaths were shallow, every inhale scraping at his insides. He'd forced himself to stay

strong in front of Whitney, but now cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
He shut his eyes, his usually striking face almost ghostly pale.
Parker sighed. "Man, look at you. You're on your last legs. I'm calling the doctor." He hit the call button by the hospital bed.
Ludwik didn't open his eyes. "Parker... thanks for sticking by me these days."
Parker froze, then snorted. "Jesus, Ludwik, don't get all sentimental on me. That's not like you."
A ghost of a smile flickered across Ludwik's lips. "Cut the crap. Go get some rest.
I know you're missing Tiana. Go call her-make peace with Cherry while you're at
it."
He paused, then added, "And while you're at it, see if you can find out what the hell is going on with Ashton Fuller."
Parker rolled his eyes. “What's there to know? That idiot's just repeating your mistakes. You were away in е Germinia, so you
probably missed it-Ashton's ex had a baby girl. Kept it a secret. The kid's not well
though-born with a heart condition."
"What?" Ludwik's face didn't move, but his tone was genuinely shocked.
He barely knew Ashton's wife, since
Ashton and Valerie Bartels had lived abroad for years. When they returned, word was they were at each other's throats. Ashton
never went home-let alone showed his wife any love.
Ludwik felt a twinge of guilt. Some friend he'd been.

He'd been so caught up in his own mess, he hadn't even realized Ashton had
gotten divorced. Parker had said "ex-wife."
Was it because of Elaine Bartels? Had Ashton divorced her over that?