Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 1011

Just when Ludwik was piecing together clues about the enigmatic figure lurking behind Inko Group, Phineas ended up in a dire situation, hinting at a sinister attempt to silence him. Who was this shadowy person, and why was Florence so terrified of Ludwik finding out? Ludwik's icy gaze narrowed fiercely, a storm of dark thoughts swirling in his eyes. Then, his phone rang again.

His assistant, upon his command, had just discreetly moved a nanny's lifeless body to ensure the hospital staff would find it and take care of the cremation without delay.

Answering the call, Ludwik recognized the number as his secretary's, but it was the doctor on the other end, speaking in a panic, "Sir, your daughter's condition is critical, and I'm afraid I've done all I can. You have to let another pediatrician at Sanctum Mary Medical look at her, or take her from here. Concealing her condition will only delay her treatment!"

"How is my daughter right now?"

"The technicians accidentally disconnected her incubator and monitoring wires, worsening her situation. Her lung infection hasn't improved, and her jaundice is getting severe. She needs comprehensive pediatric care immediately!"

Ludwik's expression darkened as he hurried back, realizing that hiding here was not helping his daughter. If Sanctum Mary Medical discovered her, other doctors might alert the authorities for not following proper procedures, making it even harder to take his daughter back home, overseas.

He knew he had to return home quickly for his daughter's sake. Back in Emperor City, medical resources were plentiful for him, with the Lippert family owning hospitals and Shane Nelson running the best pediatric facilities.

He had to rush back. With Phineas' situation unclear and the turmoil at Inko Group, Bryce and the Patrick Group were getting restless. The Lippert Group was just beginning to recover, and the situation was fragile.

Above all, he needed to protect his sons and Whitney, and take charge of the situation. And his daughter... she needed to be brought home immediately.

If... if she couldn't be saved, at least she would be close to her mother.

With a heavy heart, Ludwik quickly returned to the neonatal unit, instructed his secretary to arrange a private flight, and, with the incubator in tow, coerced the doctor to accompany him for emergency care on the flight to Harmonia Country.

At Berlidon's private airstrip, Ludwik carefully boarded the plane with his daughter's incubator, ensuring all emergency measures were in place for takeoff.

Saving his daughter's life was his utmost priority; every second counted.

As for Florence... Ludwik had a plan brewing. He might let her escape for now, stranded alone in Germinia, probably seeking this 'mysterious person'. But he wouldn't let her succeed. He would find a way to draw both the 'mysterious person' and Florence back to Harmonia Country.

Germinia was not his battlefield, but back in Emperor City, things were different. That was his domain, where he wielded significant influence.

He planned to tie Florence and Bryce together, to resolve everything in one fell swoop.

As for the 'mysterious person', once lured to Harmonia Country, Ludwik was confident he could unmask them and understand why they were helping Florence.

So, Florence's escape might not be entirely bad. It could be an opportunity to cast a wider net for a bigger catch.

Cradling his daughter's incubator, Ludwik's cold gaze softened, and he finally had a moment to tenderly look at his distressed child.

"Daughter... you mustn't give up. Daddy is taking you home for the best treatment. You'll get to meet your brothers; Sammy especially adores you. And... you'll see your mom too."

Closing his eyes, his face pressed gently against the incubator, hoping to transfer his strength to her. She was so small, too small and too early into this world.

But this was the only way he could bring her back, close to him and her mother.

The private jet soared into the sky, heading back to Harmonia Country.

-

In a desolate area outside Berlidon, Florence was left by two bodyguards, barely able to move, with fresh blood staining her abdomen. Despite her weakness, a calculated gleam flickered in her eyes.

Since obtaining a phone the previous night and making two calls, and then with the bodyguards infiltrating the hospital to track Ludwik's movements till he left for downtown, she had managed a daring escape. She had narrowly survived!

Escaping Ludwik's grasp!

He would probably rush back to his country now, wouldn't he? With his illegitimate child barely clinging to life, and with Phineas in trouble, he wouldn't linger here to watch over her, would he? She hoped he'd leave quickly, missing Parisa entirely.

"You two, head back to Sanctum Mary Medical and find out what's happening with Ludwik. And whatever it takes, erase the surveillance footage from my hospital room these past few days, got it?" The bodyguards nodded quickly, "Ms. Sheldon, but leaving you here alone..."

"I've already informed Parisa where I've been taken. She'll avoid the hospital and come straight here. It's better if I'm found alone and in this state. Now, disappear."

As darkness fell, time slipped by.

Florence's phone rang with a sense of dread enveloping her. As she picked up, hearing Parisa's composed voice on the other end, tears began to stream down her face. "Mom... Ludwik found me! He... he cut me open, took my baby, and left me for dead in the outskirts. I'm dying, please... come save me..."

"Florence, how could this happen?" Parisa's voice, usually cool and detached, was laced with urgency. She had just stepped off the express train from Francalia, her face a mask of shock. "My child, why didn't you tell me sooner? I would have come back right away. How could that man be so vile, to track you down and harm you like this?

Aren't you at Sanctum Mary Medical right now?"

"I'm not at Sanctum Mary Medical; he kidnapped me. Mom, please don't go to the hospital, come save me instead, please..." Florence sobbed.

Hearing her daughter's cries, a chill ran through Parisa, tinged with heartache.

She immediately ordered Erik, "Get in the car, now. We're heading to the outskirts of Berlidon. Florence has had her baby."

The Mercedes van left the train station, bypassing the city center and Sanctum Mary Medical, heading straight for the rural outskirts.