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.

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

Mr.

as the handsome and prestigious man on the stage made her

with the first prize, I’m so envious, and to

marrying

always one for good appearances, beamed

“Phebe, when I go up to receive my award,

it was, and

the stage. She shot an evil smile at Whitney on her

Lippert did not start the

was almost at the stage when she began to

of the man echoed, “Where’s

Monica was stunned!

her name made Whitney

her

the man uttered

What did that mean?

that Mr. Lippert was

speculated as

Lippert’s probably going to kick Whitney out first! After all, one bad

feigned concern. “Mr. Lippert,

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

the footage on the big

turned to the

assistant spoke, “Mr. Lippert is announcing a list of individuals who attempted to bribe the judges. Here is surveillance from 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

She stepped back, unable to comprehend what

an uproar when the next piece of

Monica’s design dated October 2nd. However, Mr. Lippert received Whitney’s original concept

screen. How did her

assistant continued the live announcement, “The head judge Aaron has accepted bribes to aid Monica in cheating and

officers appeared on stage and handcuffed a dumbfounded

a man of high esteem, was

audience, slowly grasping the gravity of the situation, looked in awe at

room fell silent, everyone stunned by the

as she stared at the formidable man. She could not understand how, with