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.

the limelight and oblivious to the small

announced, “And now Mr. Lippert will

the handsome and prestigious man on the stage made her forget the good looks of Simon beside

Mr. Lippert present you with the first prize, I’m so envious, and

marrying off

always one for good appearances, beamed with

go up to receive my award, I’d like to

an honor it was, and

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

Lippert did not start

was almost at the stage when

when the deep, powerful voice of

Monica was stunned!

her name made Whitney

slowly raised her hand in a

man

What did that mean?

guessing that Mr. Lippert was about to strip Whitney of her competition

speculated

probably going to kick Whitney out first! After all, one bad apple spoils the bunch

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

not even glance at

the footage on the

attention turned to

October 1st at Imperial Gem Corporation’s office. 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

of color. She stepped

uproar when the next piece

The Vintage Diamond,‘ shows Monica’s design dated October 2nd. However, Mr. Lippert received Whitney’s original concept on September 28th,

it was Whitney’s turn to be shocked. She gaped at the screen. How did

to aid Monica in cheating and is now under criminal investigation, to

and handcuffed a dumbfounded Aaron, escorting him away right there

of high esteem, was

looked

fell silent, everyone stunned

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 into