Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 1005

Cara stood by, offering a glass of water, only to have it angrily slapped away by Florence!

"Ms. Sheldon, shall I inform the doctor and get you some painkillers?" the nanny offered, clearly out of her depth. Florence, still scheming, growled back, "Don't you dare!"

If the hospital's doctors found out she had undergone surgery, they would report it. Erik had made it clear that any issues should be reported to Parisa. What if Parisa, concerned for her, decided to cut her trip short and return? That would mean a direct confrontation with Ludwik.

No, she couldn't let her secret slip. She needed Ludwik to leave Germinia, and the sooner, the better!

Speaking of the devil, Ludwik himself appeared at the door, his towering presence casting a cold gaze over her, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "I thought you'd be crying out for the doctors by now. Surprisingly, you've chosen to keep quiet. Why the sudden bravery? Surely, you aren't trying to make things easy for me?"

Florence, shocked, stared at the man as if he were the devil incarnate. She had witnessed Ludwik's ruthless cruelty before.

But after the previous night, her fear of him had only deepened; his cruelty was almost psychopathic!

What was worse, this man's sharp intuition meant nothing escaped his notice!

Her refusal to alarm the doctors had not gone unnoticed by him?

Fearfully, Florence instinctively recoiled, feigning ignorance, "You've stationed someone by my bedside, ready to kill me at any moment. How could I possibly defy you?"

"Is that so, just for that?" Ludwik's casual smile belied his disbelief.

Florence's pale face was drained of energy, the pain almost unbearable.

She clenched her fists, trying to stay alert and wary of this man.

"Ludwik, what are you doing here? We had a deal, take the baby and leave, spare my life. Have you forgotten?"

"Did I ever agree?"

The man casually pulled up a chair beside her bed, his long legs elegantly crossed.

The aura of menace around him was palpable.

His aide handed him a smartphone, displaying the results of an investigation he had ordered.

Then, the aide quietly exited, closing the door behind him.

Florence watched them, fear gripping her heart, unsure of Ludwik's intentions. The unknown terrified her, and through gritted teeth, she said, "You've got the child, why are you still here? What do you want?" Ludwik glanced at the information on his phone.

Lifting his gaze, he showed her the screen, a cold smile playing on his lips. "I've investigated every company in the Berlidon CBD. All belong to major corporations except for one with a unique trait - it's called Inko Group, the headquarters of Harmonia Country's Inko Group. Florence, you didn't flee all the way to Germinia just to take a vacation, did you?

What ace did Bryce give you? Were you seeking the Inko Group in Emperor City to find its headquarters here in Germinia?

Looking for a powerful ally?"

Florence felt a chill run down her spine.

How had Ludwik, in just a few hours in Germinia, discovered the Inko headquarters?

Panic started to set in, her grip tightening on the bedsheet, she countered without answering his question, "How did you find me?" Ludwik replied nonchalantly, "You were involved in a car accident right in front of the Inko building, making the local news in Germinia.

I have a habit of gathering information wherever I go."

Damn.

Her staged accident made the news? She hadn't paid any attention to local broadcasts in Germinia.

Once again, she was reminded of how terrifying this man could be.

Out of the numerous companies in Berlidon, he had zeroed in on the Inko building and started to suspect her?

No, she couldn't panic, nor could she admit to anything.

Florence's eyes darted around, a cold laugh escaping her, "I'm a stranger here; I had no idea where the accident happened. What Inko building? Inko Group? I've never heard of them, Ludwik. Bryce just wanted me to hide from you, to use the child as a bargaining chip to hold you off, to give him a chance to turn the tables!

He gave me a ticket to Germinia, and I ran here, thinking you'd never find me.

That's all there is to it, what company? I have no clue!"

Ludwik smirked, "So you're saying, you're just fleeing?"

"What else!"

He stared into her eyes, a cold smile emerging, "With no power or money, you've managed to stay in Berlidon's Sanctum Mary Medical, the most upscale ward?

I recall Bryce going bankrupt. That miser, willing to invest so much in you for a worthless child? Or do you think I'm that easy to fool?"

Florence's face paled.

He eloquently continued, "Sanctum Mary Medical receives annual donations amounting to millions from Inko Group! You got in through a backdoor, thinking I wouldn't find out? Florence, who admitted you here?

Or rather-what's your connection with someone inside Inko Group?

Bryce sent you to Germinia, not to hide the child, but to get close to Inko Group, am I right?"

Florence felt cold all over, barely managing to suppress her trembling.

How had he uncovered this information so quickly?

He suspected her connection with someone inside Inko Group?

Trying to maintain her composure, Florence filled her eyes with disbelief, vehemently denying, "What are you talking about, Ludwik? I don't know any Inko Group!

Even if you kill me, I wouldn't know them."

"If you're so convinced I'm here with an ulterior motive, then let me lay it out for you. Yes, I was sent here to Germinia by Bryce, to seek refuge with a reliable friend of his, a local tycoon, someone born and raised right here in Germinia! Bryce and I had a deal. He wanted me to bear your child and use it as leverage against you. In return, I demanded a comfortable life.

Bryce had no choice but to agree and send me here, far away from the troubles of Emperor City, to ensure my safety during the pregnancy!

That's the truth. Ask me anything more, and I won't have the answers!"

"A tycoon from Germinia, you say?"

Ludwik's eyes narrowed into a calm, mocking squint. "If he's really from around here, why don't you bring him to me so I can see for myself?"

Of course, Florence was making it all up.

She feigned a growl, "And risk revealing Bryce's confidante to you? That would be signing my own death warrant! If I can't return to Bryce's side and have no place here in Germinia, do you think I'd let you ruin me like that? I'm not that foolish!"

Ludwik uncrossed his long legs, "So, what you're saying is, the existence of this so-called Germinian tycoon is still up for debate?"

"Believe it or not, that's your choice. Even if you killed me, this is all I can tell you.

And as for Inko, if you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't even know what that is!" Florence retorted with all the strength she could muster.