Love beyond the mask (Whitney)

Chapter 184

“I’ve got no interest in your nauseating love games.”

Valerie curled her lip, casting a cold, mocking glance at him. “Ashton, she’s practically engaged, yet

here she is, fixing your tie, keeping you on a string. Face it, she’s just stringing you along as her

backup plan. Ever think of that? Or is your head too thick?”

Ashton froze, stung by the insult.

Today, Valerie was clad in an ice–blue evening gown that accentuated her aloof elegance. Her face

was bare save for the striking red of her lipstick.

He narrowed his eyes, intending to grab her and give her a piece of his mind.

But Valerie twisted away, repulsed by the scent of Elaine’s perfume clinging to him. His hand was hot,

though, as it encircled her wrist. Valerie’s eyes flashed frostily. “Let go, I’m leaving!”

“You’re my wife, where do you think you’re going?” Ashton’s eyes gleamed with the thrill of seeing her

so riled

Up

“You never treated me like a wife. You never took me to any event before, and today, for some bizarre

reason, you want me here. But thanks anyway.” Valerie spat out the words with sarcasm and left.

Thanks? Ashton was baffled. It was Elaine who had mentioned bringing Valerie, and that’s why he

had.

Outside the hotel doors, Valerie wrapped herself in her coat and made a beeline for the corner.

Whitney stepped out of the car, handing her an invitation.

“Thanks, Valerie, but can’t you go back in?”

“Nope, it’s one person per card. You will take my place.”

Valerie gripped Whitney’s hand, her expression darkening. “Whitney, you’ve been keeping secrets! Mr.

Lippert is pushing you toward divorce, and you’re still looking out for him? What were you up to

yesterday?”

Whitney stiffened. “Who told you this?”

“I overheard Elaine and Ashton talking. What’s your plan?”

Whitney’s face paled, realizing she couldn’t keep it hidden any longer. She briefly explained the events

of the previous day.

Valerie sighed, her brows knitting together. “You’re being foolish, enduring all this for him. He’s about to

get engaged to Elaine, do you think he has any room for you in his heart?”

“He’s not well,” Whitney said with a bittersweet smile. “I’m taking care of him to atone for my uncle’s

sins. And, I just can’t let him go.”

Seeing the moisture in Whitney’s eyes, Valerie felt a tug at her heart. “No one asked you to love him.”

*Exactly, and especially now that he’s in trouble, I can’t let go. I want to help him.”

Valerie wiped away Whitney’s tears. “But he has Elaine. It’s strange, Elaine’s such an opportunist, and

yet she sticks with him even after his downfall… Never mind, you better change into your dress and

touch up your makeup…”

“No need, I didn’t come for the banquet. I’ll just wear a mask and keep an eye on him from the

sidelines,” Whitney insisted.

Valerie shook her head, pinching her friend’s naturally stunning, slender face. “You don’t need makeup

to look more beautiful. You’re a natural, go on in.”

Whitney rushed into the venue with the Invitation, donning a mask to hide in the corner.

The summit began, and the banquet hall was bustling..

In the center stood Orion, a striking figure. Kaden, dressed in a sharp tuxedo, and Rylie, now Mrs.

Lippert, elegantly beautiful, flanked him on either side.

They were basking in the compliments of the elite, celebrating Orion’s new position.

“Mr. Orion, congratulations! As the new CEO of Imperial Gem Corporation, remember us when it

comes to future collaborations.”

“I hear you’re giving a strong push to the smart car industry under Imperial Ger. That’s cutting edger

Kaden was beaming with pride at the praise for his son. “Orion studied abroad and has a keen vision

for the future of tech.”

“The auto industry’s future looks like it’ll be dominated by the Lipperts!”

Whitney clenched her fists, fixating on the family of three.

Nearby, businessmen were speculating. “Will Ludwik show up?”

One shook his head “Family feuds are brutal. Ludwik’s era is over. If he shows up, he’s just asking for

humiliation. A comeback seems unlikely.”

“Kaden plays favorites, so much so that I wonder if Ludwik is even his biological son.”

“Rumors from years ago suggested he might not be. Otherwise, how could Rylie have usurped Natalie

so easily and kicked her out?”

Whitney’s ears perked up. What were they talking about? But the conversation quickly shifted. “The

only one who could rival Orion tonight is the reclusive owner of Skyfaith Electronic Tech!”

“Skyfaith has monopolized the chip market for smart tech. Heard they’re unveiling a new product

tonight. Most of us are here for that. Every business in Banyan,City needs those chips.”

“Right, without them, no machine can run.

“Let’s head to the entrance. Has the owner of Skyfaith shown up? His net worth is in the trillions.”

The crowd buzzed with anticipation, leaving Orion’s side, which quickly emptied.

Orion’s face darkened. All this hype; I want to see what this old man looks like.”

Kaden advised, ‘Patience, son. Your car enterprise needs those smart chips. Make sure to forge a

good relationship later.”

Suddenly, the entrance was abuzz, and the room then fell eerily silent.

A murmur went through the crowd, “Is it the owner of Skyfaith?” Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

People turned, their expressions frozen in shock and awe. “It’s… it’s him!”

Whitney, pushed to the fringes, was preoccupied with finding Ludwik, her hand tightly clutching the

medicine Then, from the corner of her eye, she saw a familiar silhouette.

A man of towering height, impeccable in a sleek black suit that highlighted his broad shoulders and

lean legs, stood revealed in the light.

His mask was gone, his striking features causing every woman there to catch her breath.

Ludwik. He had arrived, devoid of any sign of defeat. Whitney was spellbound.

Suddenly, her gaze shifted to the woman’s arm he was holding firmly in his.

Elaine was dressed in a burgundy velvet gown that took its cues from the classic elegance of an

evening dress rather than the traditional cheongsam. The subtle dip of a sweetheart neckline lent a

hint of allure,

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accentuating her porcelain skin and the artful arrangement of her cascading hair. By her side stood

Ludwik, his poise and stature seemed to command the very air around him, making her the undeniable

center of attention among the gathered women.

The announcer’s voice rang out with a flourish, “The CEO of Skyfaith Electronic Tech, Mr. Ludwik,

accompanied by his date, has arrived!”

The room erupted into murmurs of surprise.

Whitney stood frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief. It was him.

Him? The CEO of the Skyfaith Electronic Tech? Confusion swirled in her mind.

Whispers spread among the crowd, echoing her shock, “What’s going on here? Ludwik has

transformed into the even more impressive president of Skyfaith Electronic Tech?”

“No wonder he didn’t bat an eyelid when he lost his position at Orion. He had Skyfaith Electronic Tech

up his sleeve.”

“With Skyfaith going public in Amoria Country, their market value is through the roof, overshadowing

Imperial Gem Corporation by miles!”

Across the room, Kaden’s family, once pillars of the community, had their expressions frozen in shock,

their complexions turning a sickly shade.

Onlookers exchanged knowing glances and snickers, “Looks like Kaden is kicking himself now. He

favored his second son and consequently pushing a massive enterprise like Skyfaith out of his reach!”

Orion’s face was clouded with a dark scowl.1gnoring Kaden’s intervention, he walked to Ludwik with a

malicious smile, “What’s this, big brother? During your tenure as the president of Imperial Ger, you

were quietly laying the groundwork for Skyfaith Electronic Tech? Did you plan to betray the Lippert

family all along?!”