Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 363

"Whitney, what's wrong?"

At the venue, Keegan noticed Whitney seemed a bit distracted.

"It's nothing," Whitney's gaze involuntarily drifted back, lost in a sea of unfamiliar faces at the wedding reception.

She redirected her attention, furrowing her brows slightly, "Feels like someone's watching me?... Let's go, Uncle."

"All these high-fliers are heading downstairs for Ludwik's chip launch. You going?" Keegan asked her as they stood by the elevator.

Right then, the elevator doors opened on the ground floor.

The Skyfaith chip launch?

Whitney paused, her mind instinctively jumping to Jarvis. She frowned, her eyes betraying her thoughts. Before she could react, the crowd pushed her out of the elevator.

In the main hall, the Skyfaith Sharp-F Chip launch was just starting. Ludwik, clutching a folder and flanked by Skyfaith's top brass, strode into the venue. But before he could reach the stage-

Suddenly, two figures blocked his path, their expressions urgent, brandishing their phones and bellowing, "Mr. Lippert! What's going on? There's a rumor online about a Sharp-F Chip data leak, is it true? This video, clear as day, claims not only has the data leaked, but also that the Sharp-F Chip can't launch today because of a research mishap!"

The speaker was the CEO of Tyche Inc., visibly outraged as he presented a viral tech scoop. Poten Tech's CEO was equally furious, confronting Ludwik, "We've been waiting for this chip launch, ready to start production. We spent billions on its patent, and now there's a pre-launch data leak. Mr. Lippert, how do you explain this to us?"

As they finished, the surrounding businessmen were stunned, then a murmur spread. Reporters, smelling a story, all rushed over.

pursed his lips,

Mr. Lippert, it's bad news. The Sharp-F Chip failed its final test; the doctor found a critical data error, it's unusable. The Sharp-F Chip... can't launch as planned." "What?!"

After Elaine's video debacle, it was his turn. In the video, he showed his profile, but he didn't mind being exposed. Typically, in such

the stage, Jason frowned slightly, taking a few steps toward Ludwik, "Ludwik, how could

sure," Ludwik shook his head, his tone nonchalant, his demeanor unchanged. He gestured, and a Skyfaith executive took the stage, apologizing profusely, "Sorry, everyone, the Sharp-F Chip launch is temporarily halted. We will investigate the data leak and find

producing faulty chips, are you pulling a fast one?

online. Skyfaith's chip debacle quickly became top news. Related to this, Skyfaith's stock

the distance, his lips curling

Lippert, we're from the Banyan City Ethics Committee. We've received a report that you've been bribing officials through your Gemstone Exhibit Project. The bribe money was hidden in a contract document. Our team is currently searching your company for evidence. If we find that document, and it proves the allegations, you will be arrested for bribery, which is

a pin drop. Ludwik seemed caught off guard, "The Gemstone Exhibit

"Yes."

turned ice cold. The only person involved with Skyfaith's Gemstone Exhibit Project was Whitney. A

he thought of the woman from last night, provocatively sitting on his desk, unusually bold. She had ensnared him completely, leaving him oblivious to everything else. Placing a document

Hmm.

immense favor she did him, was all part of a meticulously planned scheme. Ludwik scoffed. His icy gaze pierced through the crowd, landing on the woman

stiffened, almost recoiling a step back. At that moment, Jarvis emerged behind her.

well done. You've

officers trailing behind her caught sight of Whitney and one of them, with a furrowed brow, said, "Ms. Valentine, you're in charge of the Gemstone Exhibit Project, right? We've got a few

before glancing over her shoulder at Jarvis, and then it all clicked. A cold smirk crept across his lips, growing wider, until

it? Last

it was frosted over, fearing her own heart might soften, fearing the absurd guilt that might overwhelm her. Her heart felt like it was being grilled over coals, her throat parched, yet her face bore a mocking smile, "Yes, it was me." He suddenly laughed,

and fists, thinking of what he owed her