Chapter 197
As the hospital’s surveince mysteriously gone, Ludwik’s sharp gaze met ine’s. “You know, the
night I had that hysterical episode, you cured my insomnia. I slept like a log and was clear-headed the
next day. Butst week in Amoria Country, you seemed to lose your touch. And there’s something odd-
next to Whitney, I always drift off without a hitch. Why is that?”
ine’s heart skipped a beat. That night, it was Whitney by his side. Was he suggesting that with
Whitney present, he could sleep again?
Damn it.
Perhaps it was because Whitney had once saved Ludwik four years ago, creating a dependency in him
for her presence to sleep.
Ludwik rubbed his brow. “I don’t mean anything by it, just that your treatments for me are hit or miss.”
“Ludwik!” ine’s hand tightened within her sleeve, feigning calmness with a pained expression.
“You’re being unfair. Insomnia is a global puzzle that remains unsolved. I’m d I can sometimes help
you find rest. If not, it might be due to your mood that day. I’m looking into your insomnia, you
mentioned Whitney helps you sleep, right?”
His eyes shifted as he nodded. It was indeed peculiar, Whitney wasn’t the girl who had saved him four
years ago. ine was, yet he didn’t seem to have the same instinctual reliance on her.
Watching his eyes change, ine felt a chill. With veiled meaning, she said, “Remember, Ludwik,
Whitney came to you with a purpose. She’s got to find ways to endear herself to you, earn your trust.
What if she’s using some method to make you sleep?”
Ludwik froze on her words.
ine quickly added, “She imed to be skilled in acupuncture, didn’t she? You don’t know, but there
are some dubious practices in traditional medicine-techniques I would never use on you. But her?
That’s not so certain.”
She insinuated, “I’m not specting maliciously, but if she can stoop to taking photos to humiliate me,
think about it, is she really that innocent?”
She purposely brought up the photo incident, knowing Ludwik was aware of Whitney’s wrongdoing. His
expression darkened. “You said you wanted to observe my hysteria, but Whitney’s been medicating
me. Seems to help a bit,” he admitted.
ine’s heart clenched, but she maintained aposed, bitter smile. “If you find her medicine helpful,
that’s good to hear. Each person’s treatments differ. Maybe you can show it to me? I suspect it’s
something to boost vitality.”
She inwardly scorned, Whitney’s medicine was nothing but a supplement.
Ludwik, not versed in medicine, shook his head. “I’ve already taken today’s dose.”
ine cursed inwardly, knowing she needed to get her hands on Whitney’s form soon.
Now, Ludwik seemed to doubt whether it was ine who had saved him that night, as she couldn’t
cure his insomnia.
She had to y her card. “Ludwik, I saved you four years ago. I am confident about your condition.
Whether Whitney stumbled upon something useful is up for debate.”
Remembering the past, Ludwik’s eyes softened. ine had saved his life; he shouldn’t doubt her.
Whitney’s medicine might just be a boost after all.
He changed the subject. “You should eat first.”
“Given the injustice you just used me of, I’d like you to feed me.” ine’s relief was palpable as she
cooed shyly. Her wrist feigned weakness.
Understanding her frailty, Ludwik didn’t refuse. He scooped up a spoonful of porridge and passed it
gently to her.
Leaning in, ine’s lips parted invitingly. She intentionally let a drop spill on her lips, “Oops… I made a
mess.”
Ludwik turned to grab a wet wipe, but ine caught his thumb, drawing it to her lips in an intimate
gesture.
He stiffened.
ine stuck out her tongue innocently, “Sorry, Ludwik! Growing up by my mother’s side, I got used to
this. I forgot about your need for cleanliness.”
He assumed it wasn’t intentional, leaned in to clean her up, his voice low and cool, “It’s okay, I’ve got
it.”
Their bodies awkwardly close, and Ludwik’s towering presence almost enveloped her.
Breathing in his enticing scent, ine’s cheeks flushed.
Just then, the door to the room swung open.
Whitney, carrying arge bag, walked in on the scene.
1
Ludwik’s back to her, he seemed to be embracing ine, perhaps even kissing, his hand carefully
wiping her mouth.
Across Ludwik’s arm, ine’s mouth curled into a cold smile, her voice weak, “Ms. Valentine, you’ve
arrived.”
Ludwik turned, noticing Whitney, his hand instinctively retracting from ine’s mouth.
Seeing Whitney’s icy demeanor, he felt his actions were unnecessary.
“What did you want me for?” Whitney asked, trying to ignore the sting of jealousy from witnessing
their interaction.
Ludwik’s handsome face cooled as he continued to feed ine, recalling the photo incident and his
anger towards Whitney, his tone dropping colder, “You intentionally upset ine into the hospital. Why
take that kind of photo and sent to her? Apologize to her!”
Whitney had anticipated ine’s drama on her way over. But she didn’t expect such a performance,
ine lying in the hospital,manding his full attention.
But why should she apologize?
Whitney, her fists clenched and face twisted in sarcasm, faced the biased man, “What wrong have I
213
14:48
done? Last night, ine wouldn’t stop calling, so I just showed her the truth. Or are you iming you
didn’t force me, Ludwik?”
“Don’t twist my words,” Ludwik shot back, finding her defiance infuriating yet alluring.
Tears streamed down ine’s face. Embarrassed, Ludwik stepped over to restrain Whitney, his voice a
low growl, “Do you really want to go into details? Have you no shame? Enough with your schemes;
she’s sick, stop provoking her!”
“Feeling all torn up about her, huh?” Whitney couldn’t help butce her words with a touch of bitter
sarcasm, watching his worried expression like a ssh of cold water to her face.
At the summit, he had been so heartless towards her, so merciless the night before, as he vented his
anger.
And today, ine was ying up her sickness, and he was all tenderness and care.
Whitney told herself that he hated her now, that his cold indifference was deliberate, and that she had
to endure it, to win back his affection. But sometimes it just cut too deep.
Unable to hold back her biting tone, she jeered, “Wasn’t it you, Mr. Lippert, who drove her to the
hospital with your mock illness? If apologies are in order, you should be the one giving them.
ine set me up at the summit, andst night, I just returned some favor, showing her what it feels like
to have the tables turned on her.”
ine panicked at the usation of faking her illness and dragging the summit’s events into the light.
She leaned weakly towards Ludwik, “Ludwik, she isn’t here to apologize sincerely. She’s turning the
tables on me. I didn’t frame her; why is she ndering me?”
Whitney scoffed at ine’s act, knowing she couldn’t match her in deceit.
She could see the man’s gaze growing colder by the second.
Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
Ludwik’s eyes swept towards Whitney with a chill, “Enough is enough. You keep saying she sabotaged
you at the summit. Do you have any proof?”