Chapter 157
Her heart shattered like a delicate wine ss dropped on a stone floor, and she could barely muster
the strength to keep her trembling fingers still.
He cradled the back of her head, wishing he could merge her into his very being. If it were not for the
child they were expecting, he would have pinned her down and never let go.
Whitney felt the storm raging within him, and her tears cascaded down her cheeks, glistening like
pearls, tapping softly against his skin.
Her small hands clenched into fists against his chest and neck, only to unfurl, powerlessly rxing.
Eyes closed, she mourned silently, “Mom, Grandpa, forgive me for this betrayal, this shame. It’s thest
time, I swear. Maybe… Maybe it’s all a mistake? Maybe it’s not him?”
Soon, the fever and the drunken haze pulled him into the void, and his lips loosened.
Whitney slumped next to the bed, her mind a whirlwind. She hastily rummaged through her bag and
pulled out her grandfather’s contact book.
Skimming through it desperately, she stumbled upon a torn page with a single name: Bartels.
Bartels?
The following pages were all missing.
If her grandpa had not torn them out, then who did, and why were the pages with Ludwik’s name still
intact?
A memory shed in her mind of her uncle mentioning that beforeing to Banyan City, her Grandpa
had been pushed out of the medical field by unscrupulouspetition.
The only Bartels she knew was ine, and the Bartels were a dynasty in the medical field of Emperor
City!
Could it be a coincidence? Was it the Bartels who forced her Grandpa to leave, leading him to Banyan
City?
As her head spun with these thoughts, Whitney suddenly considered that maybe the name Ludwik in
the address book was a red herring.
She looked up at the feverish man before her, her heart pounding on hot coals. “Ludwik, it wasn’t you,
was it?” She whispered hoarsely, clutching the ring in her hand as everything began to heat up.
Downstairs, Natalie was relieved to see Whitney had note down. But as dizziness took hold of her,
Taryn suggested they call the family doctor to stay with her.
Just then, the house phone rang. Taryn answered it and hesitated before speaking, “Ms. Natalie, it’s
Ms. ine. She wants to visit for New Year’s Eve. Shall I invite her?”
Natalie frowned, the thought of that girl sending shivers down her spine, and fear bloomed within her.
With Ludwik and Whitney upstairs, she shook her head. “Decline her. Tell her we’re having a family
reunion.”
Taryn ryed the message as asked.
Halfway to the mansion, ine’s face fell when her assistant ryed Taryn’s words. She had nned
to use this New Year’s Eve to get closer to Ludwik, especially since Whitney would not be back
because of her blunder with thepany’s project. It would be the perfect opportunity to get closer to
Ludwik!
However, hearing what her assistant had said, her fingers clutched with resentment. “What? A family
reunion? No way Ludwik called Whitney back.”
It had to be Natalie.
Resentment boiled within ine as she gritted her teeth. She had not even returned to Emperor City
because
she wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate New Year’s Eve with Ludwik. Yet, Natalie was way too
protective over Whitney, which was getting on ine’s nerves!
With Natalie in the picture, ine was almost certain she would not be able to achieve her goal. Her
This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.
eyes narrowed with malicious intent.
Turn back!” She snapped. “Even if they’re having their so–called reunion, it will be theirst.” She
snickered as if certain of Whitney’s doom.
At 5 am, close to dawn, Ludwik finally opened his eyes, still feverish and dizzy from the alcohol. His
throat felt scorched, but he caught sight of the soft figure slumped by his bedside who seemed to be
sleeping.
Despite the temperature–controlled room, shey uncovered, and with their child growing inside her,
Ludwik’s brows furrowed with concern. He reached out to lift her into bed.
She woke at his touch.
The gaunt woman’s pale face was etched with exhaustion. As she met his gaze, he saw a flicker of
“Don’t move. You’re too weak,” Whitney advised in a raspy voice.
“Have you been crying?” His voice was even more hoarse, his energy sapped.
Whitney’s eyes froze, then dropped to the snowy dawn breaking outside the window.
“There’s a crack in the ice,” she thought, hope mingling with the raw vulnerability of the past days.
Without hatred, perhaps they still had a future.
Her voice quivered as she spoke, “Take your medicine.”
He was too weak even to lift his arm.
Gently, Whitney ced the pill in his mouth and said, “You had a fever. You need to rest, or even
walking will be a problem. Don’t rush back to work…”
She hesitated momentarily before finally asking, “What about the five–star hotel project? The investors
are bound to make a fuss. What’s your n?”
Ludwiky still, his face flushed with fever. “It’s manageable. I have otherpanies. I’ll reallocate
funds to cover the breach of contract penalties.”
He did not mention Imperial Gem Corporation, his other global enterprise, which was more famous
than United Realty Corporation.
He had no idea Whitney already knew who he was.
She tucked him in, and he feebly reached for her hand, “The real issue is, you want to leave me. Don’t,
Whitney.
Put the ring on.”
Head bowed/tears streaming, she instead grasped his burning hand.
“I won’t leave you. Look.” She sobbed softly, showing him the diamond ring on her finger.
Ludwik’s eyes widened in surprise, then softened into a smile.
Whitney mirrored his smile, intertwining her fingers with his. “I’ll try again. To stay by your side. I love
you, L.”
“I love you, Ludwik.” She said his real name in her mind.
Content, he closed his eyes for a restful sleep.
“Get some sleep. When you wake up, we’ll face it together,” she whispered, injecting him with a
sedative.
He needed rest.
12:5643
She rose once he was sound asleep, taking the contact book from her bag. It was time to confront her
uncle to prove that Ludwik might not be the enemy.
There was still time to stop this, she thought as she hurried away.
Whitney stepped out of her room and was about to make a call.
Just then, her phone buzzed with an iing call from Keegan, his voice unusually tender, “Whitney, I
was a bit over the top the other morning. I’m sorry. I know I’ve been pushing you hard. You didn’t even
drop by for New Year’s Eve dinner. Come over now. Let’s wee the new year together.”
Whitney could not fathom why he had suddenly softened.
Without overthinking, she stepped out of the house, saying, “Uncle, I have something really important
to tell you!”
“I’ll be waiting,” Keegan replied and hung up, a smirk fading from his lips as a cold glint shed in his
eyes.
Whitney drove to the apartment only to find Keegan’s car parked outside. He was already getting in, his
hands clutching a few memorial candles and flowers for offerings.
Frowning, Whitney approached.
“Get in,” Keegan said, “we’re going to the cemetery to pay our respects to your mom and grandpa.”
It was local customary to honor the departed on the first day of the new year, so Whitney nodded
silently and climbed into the car.
The assistant pulled the car onto the road.
Whitney opened her purse, reaching for the contact book,
Suddenly, Keegan winced, clutching his right leg, “Whitney, it’s acting up again. Get the acupuncture
kit.”
He suffered from phantom limb pain often.
Whitney hurriedly pulled out the kit, which included some herbs, and was about to position a silver
needle.
Abruptly, the assistant mmed on the brakes. Whitney lurched forward, and as she turned back to
grab the acupuncture kit again, she found that Keegan had thrown the entire kit out of the window!
Whitney was baffled, but when she looked up, she met Keegan’s changed gaze.
“Uncle, why did you do that?”
Keegan remained silent, his eyesplex and unreadable…
The car door flung open, and out of nowhere, the assistant from behind Whitney pressed a chloroform–
soaked cloth over her face, covering her mouth and nose.
The drug quickly invaded Whitney’s senses. Her eyes widened in shock and disbelief as she stared at
her uncle.