Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 176

The Imperial Gem Corporation had fallen into the clutches of that ruthless father–son duo? Whitney couldn’t believe the whirlwind of events, her anger boiling over.

“Ludwik’s being smeared with rumors of mental problem. The major shareholders will never reappoint him. A simple board meeting will see him ousted. After all, four hundred billion in liquid assets… it’s a lot to leave in his hands.” Tiana blabbered on without a filter.

Valerie’s eyes widened in warning, and Tiana instantly clammed up. But Whitney was lost in a daze.

Four hundred billion… In his downfall, she had inadvertently added to the momentum.

Without Imperial Gem, everything he had built from scratch was gone. What would he do now?

Whitney couldn’t picture the once–admired t reduced to nothing. Could he accept it himself?

She was deeply concerned for him. His sudden disappearance from the hospital, was he in hiding, was his mind unraveling?

“Tiana, can you use your contacts to find out where he is? His hysteria hasn’t healed, and this shock might trigger a relapse. I’m terrified he won’t recover…”

Tiana shook her head sympathetically, “I can’t find him. No matter how low Ludwik has sunk, his methods of keeping things under wraps are beyond my reach.”

“Whitney, don’t worry too much. He’s weathered many storms. Maybe he just needs some time to cool off? But you mustn’t go looking for him. Your situation is even more precarious,” Valerie said somberly after reviewing the medical reports.

Whitney knew her bleeding hadn’t stopped. She was bedridden.

“Let’s wait. A man like Ludwik isn’t the type to just roll over. Maybe he’s preparing his next move,” Tiana tried to stay optimistic.

Whitney believed he wouldn’t simply fade away, and all she could do was wait.

A week passed without any news from Ludwik, as if he had vanished from the earth.

Whitney was cooped up in her hospital room by Tiana, under strict orders to rest for the sake of her unborn child, living in a daze.

when she tried to visit Natalie, she found

doing? Whitney speculated dejectedly, where

Orion had been hogging the limelight, the news was abuzz with his ascension as the new CEO of Imperial Gem.

City’s elite, also graced

and Orion on screen, Whitney realized Natalie was right; they were indeed a family of three. She couldn’t fathom how Kaden could be so cruel to his own flesh and blood, to his lawful wife? But on

was making a grand entrance onto the Stock Exchange

par with Imperial Gem and United Realty? They’ye always been so secretive, and their market value is insane! They’re going public in Amoria Country, and even Imperial Gem, a top global company, hasn’t achieved that distinction. Skyfaith could rival the world’s top tech firms. It’s frustrating, I’ve been trying to uncover who owns it

half–listened as Tiana rambled

scoffed with schadenfreude, “Skyfaith’s news has completely

produce the world’s most advanced smart chips. Today, Any machine, car, or electronic product needs a chip.

Tiana on her computer, Whitney casually inquired, “Tiana, my cousin Yael Tennyson, have you been able

but anything related to

if

more days

morning, as Whitney was getting her dressing changed,

saw people in Natalie’s ward. They looked like they were preparing

of excitement lifting her from the bed. “Does that mean he’s

panting heavily.

hope lit in Whitney’s eyes. She was about to get out of bed when

the name on the screen made her heart race, her breath

the

welled up, but she hid her joy, answering the phone with a trembling, hoarse voice, “L, where are you?

“Meet me at the

almost devoid of emotion.

was taken aback, but before she could say

Ludwik had hung up.

line, his breath was chillingly detached. A shiver

with relief; he

what the documents were, he was