Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



Ludwik left Whitney's mansion, his sleek Bentley cutting through the city streets. During the drive, his phone rang, interrupting the tense silence inside the car.novelbin

"Ludwik, about those capsules you handed me this morning," the doctor's voice trembled on the line, "I've run some tests on the powder... It's not amoxicillin."

"It's... a kind of sedative."

Fear laced the doctor's tone. "Who would dare use such a prohibited substance on you?"

Ludwik's imposing frame stiffened against the leather seat, his gaze sharp. "Turn the car around, Felix!"

Felix slammed on the brakes, swiveling the Bentley in a swift motion. "Mr. Lippert, what's the plan?"

"Get Parker on the line. We need to have a word with Dr. Ryan."

His words were ice cold, leaving no room for doubt about his intentions.

At 2 p.m., Ryan found himself in a nondescript house, hands bound, courtesy of Parker's 'invitation.'

As he stumbled in, he was greeted by the sight of two men in sleek, dark suits, the embodiment of intimidation in the dim light.

"...Ludwik?" Ryan's voice was laced with confusion and fear.

Ludwik signaled Parker to cut him loose. Now free, Ryan didn't dare to stand, his oppressor's dark aura pinning him to the spot. He attempted a weak smile. "Ludwik, what brings me here?"

"Just a little chat," Ludwik said, playing with his lighter, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "About the 'amoxicillin' you prescribed. Made for an... interesting night."

Ryan's face paled.

But thinking Florence had covered his tracks, Ryan tried to bluff. "You're joking. Amoxicillin is just an antibiotic. How could it cause memory loss?" "Is that so?" Ludwik raised an eyebrow, presenting a medical report. "This says it's a sedative."

Parker flung the report at Ryan, his grip tightening on his collar. "You drugged Harmonia Country's top bachelor with a sedative? Dr. Ryan, do you realize what this means for your career?"

Ryan, drenched in cold sweat, could only stammer in denial. "I just gave you one capsule. How did you find out...?"

"Always be cautious," Ludwik said slowly, his eyes growing colder. "I left a bit of powder on the capsule box."

"You dare drug me, and you think I'll let you see tomorrow's sunrise?"

"Spare me! It's just a sedative; it won't cause much harm to your body."

Ludwik lit his lighter, the flame reflecting in his unfathomable eyes. "Let's cut to the chase. You've treated my son, Sammy, haven't you?"

Ryan's heart sank, his denial faltering under Ludwik's relentless gaze.

"You prescribed him asthma medication. You've seen him. Where's Florence hiding him? Is she using you to control my son?"

"I know nothing about this!" Ryan's protests were weak, his fear palpable.

"Think about your own daughter, Dr. Ryan. How would you feel if she disappeared?"

Ryan, overcome with dread, insisted he knew nothing, but Ludwik's conviction only deepened.

"I'll give you time to reconsider, Dr. Ryan. Betray Florence, tell me where Sammy is, and I'll forget this ever happened."

Ryan, visibly shaken, was escorted out by Parker.

Left alone, Ludwik contemplated his next move, the extinguished cigarette between his fingers a testament to his simmering rage. Parker returned, concern etched on his face. "Ludwik, can Dr. Ryan really lead us to Sammy?"

"He must," Ludwik replied, his tone

final. "Keep a close watch. But tread carefully, we can't afford to spook Florence, not with my mother's surgery on the horizon."

Parker nodded, understanding the stakes. They needed to rescue Sammy quietly, or wait until Florence revealed herself, whichever came first.

Ryan shuffled into his house, visibly on edge, when his wife approached him with a whisper, "Mrs. Sheldon stopped by, she's waiting for you upstairs."

His heart skipped a beat.

He hurried up the stairs.

In the living room, Florence was seated, looking up as Ryan entered, her eyes scanning his disheveled appearance. "Dr. Ryan, where have you been? Your wife mentioned you vanished after lunch, she was moments away from calling the police."

"It's... it's nothing," Ryan stammered, closing the door behind him and approaching. "Mrs. Sheldon, what brings you here? Is there something urgent?"

Florence took a sip of her water,

setting the glass down, and leaned forward with a hushed tone of excitement,."There is something quite urgent indeed. You're the top researcher in my lab, with so many breakthroughs, even if they aren't allowed in the hospital. But your techniques are solid. Now, I'm considering undergoing a pregnancy

through embryo implantation."

Ryan, taken aback, asked, "You... want to have Ludwik's child with what happened last night? But, I don't have his... sperm."

Florence shook her head, a chilling glint in her eye, "There might already be a viable embryo in Whitney. I know you have the technology for embryo transplantation!"

Ryan's eyes widened in shock, his face a mask of disbelief.