Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 50

Took! The CEO of Imperial Gem Corporation has just arrived!

“Why is Mr. Lippert here? That man is so stunning. He’s giving me a heart attack!

“Imperial Gem Corporation is the jury for the jewelry competition. Does Mr. Lippert need a reason to attend his own award ceremony?”

Royalty has graced us with his presence, and everything shines brighter!”

Amid the cacophony of screams, Whitney snapped back to reality as Tiana pulled her briskly into the center of the hall, exclaiming, “OMG, my idol! Whitney, could it be your nemesis might actually show up to back you?”

Whitney blinked away the dazzle from the man’s aura and gave Tiana a wry look. “How could that be?”

Tiana grimaced. “Yeah, right. He didn’t even show up for the prelims. Why the sudden appearance at the awards?”

Whitney was just as puzzled, her gaze fixed on the man on the stage in a sharp black suit, standing tall and striking.

He adjusted his tie with an air of elegance, taking his seat under the spotlight. His angular face, straight nose, and thin lips gave him a deeply chiseled look that was breathtaking no matter how many times one looked.

Suddenly, his gaze cut through the crowd and landed a piercing intensity on Whitney.

Whitney paused. Had she seen it wrong?

He looked away, picking up his phone and furrowing his brow as he typed something out.

Whitney’s thoughts were hazy when a staff member suddenly brought over two chairs and placed them in the middle of the audience, gesturing for them to sit.

Tiana was speechless.

“Whitney, who’s showing you such kindness? Giving a seat front and center to someone on the verge of being fired?”

Whitney was just as confused. “Must be a mistake.”

Again, she felt that commanding gaze upon her. Looking up, it was gone.

limelight and oblivious to the small commotion, Monica was busy accepting congratulations.

“And now Mr.

the stage made her forget the good looks of Simon beside her. Her girlish heart fluttered

have the grand Mr. Lippert present you with the first prize,

marrying off to a genius designer

always one for good appearances, beamed with

ever, cooed, “Phebe, when I go up to receive my award, I’d like to

an honor it was, and

wait to stand up and walk towards the stage. She shot an

did not start the award

almost at the stage

the deep, powerful voice of the man echoed, “Where’s Whitney?

Monica was stunned!

nemesis’s magnetic voice calling her name

raised her hand in a

the man uttered curtly,

What did that mean?

there, guessing that Mr. Lippert was

audience speculated as

After all, one bad apple spoils

feigned concern. “Mr. Lippert, are you about to fire the plagiarizer? Could I possibly ask

the plagiarizer.” The man did not even glance at her, his

cast the footage on the

turned to

Skye Gem Ltd’s President Simon and contestant Monica attempted to bribe Mr. Lippert with a landscape painting worth 26 million dollars in exchange for first place. Imperial Gem Corporation accepted

of color. She stepped

an uproar when the next piece of evidence hit the

prize piece, The Vintage Diamond,‘ shows Monica’s design dated October 2nd. However, Mr.

be shocked. She gaped at the screen. How did her nemesis have

announcement, “The head judge Aaron has accepted bribes to aid Monica in cheating and is now under criminal investigation, to be taken

and handcuffed a dumbfounded Aaron, escorting

esteem, was

the gravity of the situation, looked in awe at

room fell silent, everyone

there, pale as a ghost, her mind a muddled mess as she stared at the formidable man. She could not understand how, with just a few sentences, he had hurled her from heaven straight