Chapter 180


    Whitney knew the bitter truth – Ludwik didn’t trust her anymore. Her bted affection was lighter than


    air in


    his eyes.


    “ine,e in!” Ludwik called from the living room doorway.


    “Ludwik, wait, let me have a word with Ms. Valentine,” ine said, approaching Whitney with a


    hypocritical


    smile,


    The living room door closed with a click, and ine’s facade immediately darkened, her voice dripping


    with malice in the dead of night.


    “You see, Ludwik swallows every word I say, while he can’t stand the sight of you. Did you hear that?


    We’re getting engaged! That’s why he’s in a rush to divorce you and kick you out. Don’t you get it?


    Clutching at straws to win him back even though you’re staring down a police investigation for that


    kidnapping? Maybe a few years behind bars will teach you to stay in yourne.”


    As ine reached for her phone to make good on her threat, Whitney pped it out of her hand and


    followed with a stinging p across ine’s face.


    No more words were wasted.


    ine, caught off–guard, clutched her reddening cheek, unprepared for Whitney’s suddensh out.


    “How dare you hit me? You wretch!”


    Whitney replied calmly, “I’d think twice about framing me. The deeper the police dig into that


    kidnapping, the more your dirty secrets wille to light.”


    ine’s face turned ashen.


    Whitney’s smirk grew colder. “You’d best make sure the police keep me out of it.”


    “This p is for the night you stepped on my child, causing it distress!”


    As for the rest, Whitney would repay in time.


    She lingered for two reasons: to clear her name and to reveal ine’s venomous nature to Ludwik.


    Only then could she hope to win back his heart.


    Whitney, with a hidden agenda, narrowed her eyes. “Don’t get in my way, ine. If Ludwik’s condition


    worsens because you can’t treat him, your true colors will show, won’t they?”


    ine’s face was a stormy canvas.


    Whitney’seback had hit a nerve. Despite ine’s efforts, including secretly consulting top foreign


    psychiatrists, Ludwik’s insomnia persisted.


    Spotting the fear in ine’s eyes, Whitney revealed a vial of medicine. “This will help him sleep. Looks


    like you’ll have to tolerate my presence.”


    ine sneered, hatred flickering in her eyes. “But Ludwik loathes you. He won’t let you in.”


    “I’ve taken your ce as thedy of the house. As long as you can endure me sharing his bed every


    night while you’re left out in the cold with your bastard child, I’m not bothered. Oh, and Ludwik wants


    that child gone!”


    Another p echoed, Whitney’s hand marking ine’s other cheek.


    “Have you lost your mind?” ine gasped, her face a mix of disbelief and brewing storms. Then,


    feigning tears, she whimpered, “Ludwik_”


    Whitney’s smile was a sharp de. “Sure, y the victim. I don’t mind adding to my list of sins. Cry too


    much, and you’ll lose your passionate‘ appeal.”


    ine’s hand froze on her reddened cheek.


    Ludwik was not in a forgiving mood. A smart woman wouldn’t whine.


    Clutching her hand, ine glowered. “You’ll see how I deal with you. I’ve got all the time in the world.”


    Whitney, unfazed, replied, “Do your worst. A barefoot person has nothing to lose.”


    “Enjoy the cold night then. There’s a storming.”


    ine’s mockingughter trailed behind her as she entered the house, leaving Whitney alone outside.


    The lights of the mansion came alive, warm and bright as before, but none of it belonged to Whitney


    any longer.


    At ten o’clock, Whitney saw the light in their former master bedroom switch on. Through the sheer


    curtains, she saw Ludwik’s tall silhouette, and beside him, the delicate shadow of another almost


    embracing.


    “Ludwik and L, sharing the same bed night after night…


    Whitney’s fingernails dug into her palms.


    Could it be? Was Ludwik really with her tonight?


    Fear engulfed Whitney as she watched.


    Inside the master bedroom.


    Ludwik stood by the window, his gaze as cold and deep as the ocean floor.


    ine, perceiving Whitney’s stare from below, deliberately stood close behind Ludwik, their shadows


    merging.


    A vicious satisfaction flickered within her.


    As the servants cleared Whitney’s belongings, ine feigned sympathy. “Ludwik, I had no idea this


    was your sanctuary with her. I liked the room, but if it’s too much, I’ll take the quest room next door.”


    Knowing ine’s affluent background and her need for medical equipment, Ludwik said, “They say you


    need extra care at night. Stay here.”


    “But these are memories of you and her,” ine prodded.


    Ludwik gaze darkened. “What use are such memories? They’re a farce!”


    Taryn, instruct the staff to throw her things out.”


    Taryn, witnessing the coldmand, felt a pang of regret. How had things between the young mistress


    and sir turned so sour?


    As thest of Whitney’s belongings were dumped at the front door, she recognized her mother’s


    sketchbook peeking out from a bag.


    They were throwing out her life with Ludwik, erasing the sweet memories they shared.


    Whitney stumbled back, the chill of the night slicing through her as if she could no longer stand.


    Leaning against amppost, she stood alone, determined to endure the cold, the pain, refusing to


    leave.


    Eventually, the light in the master bedroom went out, and the study remained dark.


    Whitney wondered, if he wasn’t in the study, which room could he be in?


    The moon had dipped below the horizon, and a fierce wind kicked up, sending the temperature


    plummeting, a bone–chilling gust nearly knocking Whitney off her feet.


    She pulled out her phone, and sure enough, ine had been right. A storm was brewing.


    Soon, the sky drummed with the onset of rain, which abruptly turned into a torrential downpour!


    Whitney had been standing for far too long: her legs had gone numb, leaving her immobile like a


    marite. an instant, she was soaked to the bone, the heavy raindrops stinging her eyes shut, the


    cold seeping into her very core and causing a sharp pain in her abdomen.


    She had been on her feet for five or six hours; it was too much for the baby.


    It couldn’t afford to catch a cold, to get hurt.


    Leaning against amppost for support, Whitney waited until the numbness in her legs subsided a bit


    and then hurried over to her suitcase, pulling out the only coat she had.


    She curled up on the ground, clutching the coat tightly around her protruding belly, desperately trying to


    r thest bit of warmth.


    retain


    But the wind was relentless, and even as she used the suitcase to shield herself from the rain, it still


    managed to blow her over several times.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Her consciousness began to fade.