Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 1022

Ludwik felt a wave of emotion as Sammy spoke, deeply touched by his son's understanding.

He gently patted Sammy's forehead, "My boy, you truly understand your dad. Your sister, wherever she is, I'm sure she can hear you and she'll fight through." "Sister?!" Danny's eyes widened in disbelief.

Before he could say more, Sammy quickly covered his mouth!

Nelson Pediatric Center-

Ludwik parked the car, and without waiting, Sammy eagerly opened the door, holding a small bag. He pulled Danny out, "Bro, hurry up."

"Who are we going to see?" Danny, now more anxious than confused, asked.

Stepping out of the driver's side, Ludwik walked briskly, cautious of the traffic around his sons.

The tall figure of Ludwik squatting down to lift each boy was a sight of handsome strength.

Sammy, hugging his dad's neck, eyed the hospital building, "Are we going to the newborn unit, Daddy?" "Yeah. It's your Uncle Shane's hospital."

"I looked it up on the way here; they've got some of the best pediatric specialists in the country."

"Right."

Ludwik remained gracefully silent.

Reaching the newborn unit, Ludwik set the boys down as Shane approached, surprised to see Ludwik return with his sons but without Whitney.

Could it really be Florence's child?

Bringing Whitney's sons to visit, what was Ludwik thinking?

Shane was utterly baffled.

Before Shane could delve into the gossip, Ludwik, with a furrowed brow, asked, "Is she in the ward now?"

"Yes, she had a lung drainage procedure an hour ago and has just been moved to intensive care," Shane explained softly, noticing Ludwik's stoic expression. "But intensive care isn't the end of the world, Ludwik..."

Indeed, Ludwik stopped in his tracks, a shadow of concern crossing his face.

Despite his calm exterior, the gravity of the situation was apparent.

"Intensive care..." Sammy's unease grew, realizing his sister's condition was more serious than he thought.

"Daddy! I want to see her!" Sammy insisted, pulling at Ludwik's shirt.

Danny, still clueless, felt his heart race at his brother's distress.

Ludwik glanced towards the ICU, leading the way with determined steps.

Shane quietly observed, signaling the nurse to open the viewing window, whispering, "Ludwik, life is mysterious. Don't lose hope. She's very young, and there's only so much the specialists can do right now. But with proper nutrition, her organs will develop, and her infections and jaundice will be carefully treated. You have the means to fight for her life.

And if it comes to it, you won't even have to pay me; the team is brainstorming the safest, surgery-free treatments to nurse her back to health. It's a waiting game now, but you must be patient."

After sharing the doctor's prognosis, Shane saw Ludwik breathe deeply, bracing himself for the worst.

At the ICU, Ludwik instructed his sons, "Put on the protective gear. Your sister is too fragile for any infections."

Hearing 'sister' from their dad, Danny was astounded, his gaze fixed on the pink ward and the tiny, transparent incubator holding a bundle so small.

"Sammy, what's going on? That little... no, that tiny pink hand, she... she..."

"She's our sister," Sammy grasped Danny's trembling hand, reassuring him amid his shock.

"But mom's belly was always flat, and she was always with us. So, who gave birth to this child?"

Sammy knew explanations were futile at the moment and opted for simplicity, "She was once an embryo in mom's belly but was taken and raised in a wicked woman's womb. Yet, her genes are from mom and dad. Just look, she must resemble mom, adorable and beautiful!" Approaching the incubator, they saw their sister, incredibly small and vulnerable, her tiny body covered in wires, fighting for life.

"Little sis..." Sammy whispered, tears rolling down as he felt an overwhelming sadness.

How could this happen? Their sister, carried by the cruel Florence, must have lacked care, not fully developed when Ludwik rescued her from Eurovoria.

If only she had more time to grow, Ludwik wouldn't have chosen to act so hastily...

"She's been through so much! Daddy, she hasn't grown properly, she's as tiny as a little Coke bottle." Sammy's eyes shimmered with tears as she clenched her fists, her voice trembling.

Ludwik's deep gaze shifted away from his daughter's face, feeling a pang of pain with each glance at her.

And then, the thought of revealing the current state of the baby to Whitney? How could he possibly explain that this fragile infant, whose survival was uncertain, was the same baby that once grew inside Florence's womb, and that she was her daughter? Ludwik's eyes darkened as he looked down.

He gently cradled Sammy's head in his large hand, comforting her, "Did you hear what Shane said just now? Sammy, you're always so optimistic, don't cry. Negative emotions can be contagious to your little sister!"