Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 424

Hudson glanced over, shaking his head. "It's empty, just stuffed with odds and ends. We had to seal it up because we were worried the family dog might get in there and start chewing everything." "Is that so?" Whitney frowned, but her gaze couldn't help but drift back, drawn by some inexplicable pull, perhaps the eeriness of the antiquity.

Hudson's true intention wasn't to show her the room but to find a quiet spot to talk to his daughter. His voice carried a hint of resignation, his eyes complex. "Whitney, tonight's developments were unexpected. Florence and Ludwik dating came as a surprise. I can see you're hurt. Is there something between you and Ludwik that I don't know about? It's only recently we've reconnected, and I'm still catching up on your life. I blame myself for this. The merger between the Lippert family and the Sheldon Group seems set in stone, and I'm afraid it's too late to change anything..."

Listening to his apology, Whitney's heart felt bitter. She scoffed, shaking her head. "Dad, don't blame yourself. This isn't on you. It all boils down to my poor judgment in men. I couldn't care less about this merger with the Sheldon Group now." "This is all so sudden; I'll look into it," Hudson said, squinting at her. "You're not staying here tonight?"

Whitney needed to get away, to catch her breath. She was putting on a brave face, but alone, she'd face her rawest emotions. Tears glimmered in the corners of her eyes as she smiled. "No, I'll be leaving shortly. Danny's waiting for me back home." "If Ludwik wasn't so influential, I'd give him a piece of my mind," Hudson said, his frustration evident.

Heading back inside, Whitney grabbed her bag, and Hudson's driver followed her out. Under the porch light, the elongated shadows of a man and woman entangled, seemingly in an embrace. Florence stood close to Ludwik, whispering sweet nothings, oblivious to the world around them.

Whitney's steps halted abruptly. The sight of Ludwik bending over to accommodate Florence, a profile Whitney once adored, now dripped with irony.

"Ludwik, you're so tall. Doesn't it tire you to stoop down to talk to me?" Florence's voice was sugary sweet.

"Not at all."

you think I'm

voice was patient,

inadvertently caught Whitney's approaching shadow. "My sister's so beautiful. I was stunned when I first saw her today. She's much prettier than me. Sickly people like me just don't have that kind of glow. Do you think, after seeing my sister, you could ever

silent, his affection more than mere liking, yet doomed

looked down. "I'm being boring, aren't

health. Florence, you're beautiful in your own way. Remember to check

nod. "If only every dog didn't block the path," a voice

to see Whitney clutching her bag tightly, her eyes vacant as if she hadn't seen him. Brushing past

but suddenly swayed, nearly collapsing. Ludwik, unsure if Whitney was to blame, instinctively caught Florence.

Just bumped by my sister," Florence managed to say, gasping with a pained

of light and shadow making her appear even more fragile. A shadow crossed Florence's eyes as she caught

---

the Sheldon family's study, Hudson eyed Holly with a serious expression. "Florence has been abroad for treatment and only returned to the country half a month ago, avoiding Emperor City. As her mother, you have no idea where she's been? And how did she come to meet Ludwik privately? You're really

to report everything to me. Since coming back, Myra's been with her. I didn't pry daily. Maybe they fell in love at first sight during a

gaze sharpened, pressing on. "So it's just a coincidence that I bring Whitney home the same day Florence brings Ludwik to meet us? And this merger between the Lippert and Sheldon families,

of me? I had no idea that Florence was dating Ludwik, and according to Florence, she was just as