Love beyond the mask (Whitney)

Chapter 250

“Come on, how did you know she was pretty before I even mentioned it?”

There was an awkward silence before Daniel, resting an elbow on the bar, rolled his eyes. “You think

I’m a gullible three–year–old kid, huh? A kidnapper, my foot. That was clearly a nurse with a crush on

you!”

Ludwik’s lips twitched, and he shot Daniel a side–eye without a word, casually adjusting his tie.

Felix knew that Mr. Lippert fiddling with his tie was a sign he was relaxed. Daniel, the little goof, had not

even suspected that the ‘kidnapper‘ was his mom.

With a chuckle, Felix teased, “Danny, did you forget you’re actually three and a half and easy to fool?”

Daniel’s mature composure took a hit. His chin jutted out in both embarrassment and defiance at the

jab about his age.

For some reason, Ludwik sneezed repeatedly.

Daniel glanced over, showing slight concern with an indifferent tone, “Roll up the car window for him,

will ya? The old man’s getting weaker by the day.”

Felix shivered, thinking, “Danny, your dad just got back from an andrology check–up with your mom.

He’s pretty sensitive to the word ‘weak‘.”

Sure enough, Ludwik’s face darkened, and he gave Daniel a sharp look. “You’re awfully chatty today. Want me to throw you overboard?”

Daniel clamped his mouth shut reluctantly.

He sensed his old man was weighed down by worries today and not in high spirits. The sneezing had

to be because someone was bad–mouthing him, right? He wanted to cheer him

1. up.

Clearly, the father–son duo was having a tense day, and his attempts to lighten the mood were not

effective.

Daniel huffed in frustration.

Whitney parked her car, her phone buzzing with a new message.

It was from Tiana. [Whitney?]

She had called Tiana the night before using a new number, as her old number had been terminated

three years ago. Was that why Tiana was too scared to pick up?

Whitney felt an inexplicable surge of emotion and bit her lip as she read the message over and over.

Tiana’s tone seemed so casual. But could she really be unaffected by everything?

Whitney sniffled, ignoring another pressing call from Orion.

She replied with a tremor in her fingers. [It’s me, Tiana. I’m back, and I need to see you today.]

Then, she tucked her phone into her purse and walked with furrowed brows into the restaurant’s private

dining room.

Orion lounged in his chair, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the woman walking in.

He gave her a once–over and whistled. “Looking good, I see. Who knew you’d be such a knockout

when not pregnant? My dive into the ocean three years ago to pull you aboard was worth it.”

“Keep your sleazy eyes to yourself, Orion.”

Whitney sat down with a cool detachment.

It was almost comical how she had jumped into the sea with Sammy in her arms, only for Orion to be

out fishing on a yacht in Sea Bay at the same time. She had struggled in the cold waves for hours, and

he probably saw her much earlier but only chose to rescue her when she was at death’s door.

When she woke up, she immediately asked why he had bothered to save her at all.

Orion had laughed with his crooked smile, revealing a long–term plan. “Keeping you alive to use

against Ludwik someday? That’s the sweetest deal ever.”

Twisted, but true.

Since Whitney’s return to the country, she had found that the Imperial Gem Corporation’s market value

had plummeted by billions.

In three years, Ludwik had driven the Lippert family to desperation. The massive corporation Orion had

stolen from him had become the laughingstock of Banyan City. Orion was barely hanging on; without a

new plan, he was headed for certain doom.

Now, Orion eyed his lifeline and slid a contract across the table. “Join Imperial Gem as a jewelry

designer. The pay’s great; just follow my orders to snatch deals, and we’re golden.”

Whitney was not naive and scoffed. “So you want me as a human target? Just by sitting in Imperial

Gem, I could ruffle some feathers, right?”

“Smart girl. Why spell it out when you know the score? Don’t you want to crush Ludwik with your own

hands?”

Orion smirked. “You have no choice. I saved your life three years ago, and this is your chance for

payback. Ready to join me in gutting their empire?”

Whitney’s eyes narrowed; his blatant manipulation was no secret.

But why should she not play along?

First, she could not refuse the offer. Second, she had returned with a desire to unsettle certain

17:09

people, and this would be her platform to achieve just that.

A wry smile played on her lips as she signed the contract without hesitation.

Orion’s surprise turned into a boisterous laugh. He leaned in, his gesture intimate as he lifted her chin.

“I never realized you hated him so deeply. How about marrying me instead? I must admit, my brother

had an eye for stunning women; you’re practically glowing.”

Whitney jabbed his hand away with her pen, her disgust unhidden. “I have zero interest in you. And I

haven’t forgotten how you wronged my uncle.”

“Boring.” Orion retracted his hand and settled back into his seat.

Whitney’s lips twitched. Orion was indeed rotten to the core and oddly eccentric. He was, however, not

cut out for business, or he would not have fallen so hard in three years.

It wasn’t clear how much he cared for Imperial Gem, but his rakish, cavalier attitude was evident.

Curiosity piqued, Whitney asked, “Why do you hate him so much? Why go after him like this?”

Orion’s eyes narrowed in resignation, “Who wouldn’t want to be the carefree heir to a fortune? But the

old man didn’t like him, didn’t want him as his successor. So I had to step up, had to make something

of myself, beat him just once, right?

But fuck, I’ve never won a single round. He’s been mired in mud since childhood while I’ve lived in

luxury, yet the family elders only see his worth!”

Whitney blinked, taken aback. “Why didn’t your dad like him? Isn’t he his son too?”

Orion paused, a twisted smile forming. “Rumor has it Natalie wasn’t exactly faithful when she married

my dad. Ludwik’s parentage has always been in question. The old man and Natalie had a terrible

relationship, so naturally, he resented Ludwik by association. Guess who benefited? Me and my mom.”

His schadenfreude was palpable, making Whitney frown.

Natalie’s name tightened something in Whitney’s chest.

But the Lippert family drama, that man’s issues, were no longer her concern.

Why should she even care?

She returned to the matter at hand with a nonchalant air, saying, “I’m willing to work at the Imperial

Gem Corporation and take on any tasks you throw my way. But I have my terms. Skye Gem Ltd.–I

want to buy it back privately, and you’re going to have to pay through the nose for that.”

“Damn, do you have to be so cutthroat?” Orion shot her a disdainful look. “Isn’t Bryce wrapped around

your little finger? Why not have him foot the bill?”

“You just said I’m cutthroat, didn’t you? That’s only against you.” Whitney replied with a casual lift of her

lips.

17:09

Chanter 250

Orion’s face turned a shade of green, but then a sly smile crept across his face. “Isn’t the auction for

Skye Gem Ltd.’s assets tomorrow night? Sure, be my date, and I’ll bleed some cash for you.”

Whitney detected the mischief in his tone–this man was up to no good.

She did not refuse, simply picking up the contract and sliding it into her purse. “Then send the evening

gown to my apartment.”

A few steps towards the door, she turned back. “Oh, and Ludwik’s refusing to have me as his doctor.

He’s likely going to try to revoke my medical license. You’ll need to find a way to protect it.”

Orion chuckled, his interest piqued as he watched her. “Doctor or no doctor isn’t the point. The real

question is, can you reignite his passion?” Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Whitney frowned.

Orion stepped closer, his voice laced with innuendo. “Isn’t your uncle facing the death penalty? If I were

you, I’d make Ludwik fall for you again, achieve your goals, infuriate Elaine, and then ditch him hard.

Let them taste the despair you’ve endured!”

Whitney paused, her gaze flickering. “Spare me your rotten ideas. I’m not selling myself out; forget it.”

Orion shrugged it off. “You seem a bit tempted. When you hit a wall, you’ll see it’s a good idea.”

He continued, “Remember when you had me stage those two bodies by the seaside to throw Elaine off

your trail? She bought the whole story. She probably doesn’t even know you’re back. What kind of

surprise are you planning for her?”

The mention of that woman made Whitney’s fist clench. A cold curve formed on her lips.

“It’ll have to be a big surprise.”

She and Elaine would be meeting soon enough.