Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 217

Whitney felt a wave of relief wash over her when she heard his response, mistaking it for an agreement to come clean to their elders once their engagement had stabilized the situation.

“Thanks for helping me house hunt. How about I treat you to dinner?”

“I’d be honored to accept. After you, my queen.”

Whitney couldn’t help but chuckle. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for such a humorous guy, Mr. Lutz.”

“I haven’t really dated much, so no teasing.” He flashed a bright smile as he reversed the car.

Whitney was mulling over some things she needed to discuss with him.

Once they were settled in the cozy booth of the restaurant, waiting for him to finish ordering, Whitney broached the subject. “Our engagement, happening in five days-do you think we should hold a party, or just make a quiet announcement?”

She didn’t want any complications. If the Lutz elders got involved, it would be harder for her to extricate herself from the Lutz family later.

“I understand your concerns, but a simple announcement won’t satisfy my uncles and aunts. The Lutz Group shareholders are like hawks. We need an engagement ceremony to shut them up. At the very least, we have to invite my parents and a few key family members.”

Whitney frowned. “I can’t hide my pregnancy forever. How will you explain it to your parents? Will they agree if they see me like this?”

He poured her a glass of milk, a sly glint in his eye. “I’ve come up with a foolproof plan that’ll make them accept the child!”

“What is it?” Whitney was curious.

He played coy, touching his nose lightly. “Whitney, I can handle my father, but my mother is eager for my marriage. She insists on seeing you when we go wedding dress shopping the day after tomorrow. You’ll find out then. So, do you agree to meet?”

Since the engagement party was going ahead, it wouldn’t do to meet his parents for the first time on that day.

Whitney sighed in resignation. “If we’re putting on a show, might as well go the whole nine yards. I’ve met Claire once before.”

worry about. My mother doesn’t bite. You just help me charm

him say this, Whitney

food arrived, and the doors to the private

Lutz, the blood test results for Ludwik’s

look. “That’s partly why I wanted to see you today. I sent samples to two different full-service labs, and the results

phone and read the

expression turned grave

the body couldn’t expel on its own. As she had suspected, it would gradually accumulate in the liver and kidneys, hastening the

doctors had failed

state, seemed

live three

could cause renal failure within

to fail and necessitate a transplant, then

of the direction Tiana had taken in investigating how many kidney transplants happened at

deliberately poison a healthy kidney was diabolical.

was filled

Natalie again, Whitney knew she

after leaving was Natalie’s condition. She had to find a way to remove the toxins.

thought, Whitney clenched her fists tightly, her appetite

up, bidding a hasty farewell to Bryce. “Bryce, could you send me a digital copy of the

to it, and you don’t have

kidnapping of Natalie, Elaine

felt guilty

Whitney spent hours researching the toxin, drawing on the traditional medicine knowledge her mother had taught her, especially in

as an insider, but Whitney was worried. So she rushed to the TriMed Hospital early

me more nervous. Besides, you’re too conspicuous for Elaine. I’m better off

your engagement with Bryce. Haven’t you seen the news? Yesterday, the Lutz Group announced your engagement in five days, and that scumbag Ludwik has moved his engagement with Elaine up to four days from now. I wonder if it was Elaine who prompted

making a big deal out of their engagement. It’s likely to be

a wedding gown tomorrow! Even if your engagement with