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.

his lips,

test; the doctor found a critical data error, it's unusable. The Sharp-F Chip... can't launch as planned." "What?!" The CEO of Tyche Inc. was on the verge of fainting, clapping his hands in frustration, "Ludwik, a faulty

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

also sweeping over his stepfather, Jason. Near the stage, Jason frowned slightly, taking a few steps toward Ludwik, "Ludwik, how could there be an

the stage, apologizing profusely, "Sorry, everyone, the Sharp-F Chip launch is temporarily halted. We will investigate the data leak and find a solution for

are you pulling a fast one? Ludwik, you

quickly became top news. Related to this, Skyfaith's stock began to

gaze caught Jarvis in the distance, his

by several officers in prosecutor uniforms. Approaching Ludwik, their demeanor was serious, "Mr. 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 serious offense. Please come with us

could hear a pin drop.

"Yes."

ice cold. The only person involved with Skyfaith's Gemstone Exhibit Project was Whitney. A document of bribe money? For a crime he hadn't committed, how

last night, provocatively sitting on his desk, unusually bold. She had ensnared him completely, leaving him oblivious to everything else. Placing a document in his

Hmm.

immense favor she did him, was all part of a meticulously planned scheme. Ludwik scoffed. His

who had been standing there, finally stiffened, almost recoiling a step back. At that moment, Jarvis emerged

well done. You've really added a feather

up suddenly, just as Ludwik approached, stopping right in front of her. The 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?

then it all clicked. A cold smirk crept across his lips, growing wider, until it twisted into a grimace

was you, wasn't it?

being grilled over coals, her throat parched, yet her face bore a mocking smile, "Yes, it was me." He suddenly laughed, a sound filled with either venom or bitterness, "You hate

her teeth and fists, thinking of what he owed her and