Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 436

"Aunt Pat, I'm just being hospitable, you know," Justin said, grinning cheekily.

Joanne shot her son a withering look, practically seething. She had told him to get close to Whitney tonight, but not to rush it like some headless chicken and potentially ruin her carefully laid plans... Stepping on his foot, Justin toned it down a notch. Thea chimed in, "Since you're here, why don't you join us for dinner? Oh dear, what happened to the shoulder of your dress?"

All eyes suddenly turned to Whitney, revealing the torn fabric of her dress, hastily knotted to hide the damage.

Ludwik too was looking, his gaze uncomfortably obvious.

Faced with his insincere concern, Whitney felt a provocative urge and deliberately responded to Thea, "Mrs. Lippert, this dress was tampered with by someone..."

"Let's eat! The less important folks can hold their tongues," Ludwik interjected with a cough, summoning the butler while shooting Whitney a warning glance. She wasn't to speak out or provoke him.

Whitney smirked inwardly, amused to find Ludwik also capable of nervousness. So much for his aloof demeanor, forcing her to change her dress like that.

It seemed even in the Lippert family, a veritable lion's den fraught with danger, Ludwik had to watch his step.

Now, with his alliance to Florence, he couldn't afford a scandal with Whitney, she thought bitterly.

Catching his weakness, she arched an eyebrow and looked away, leaving Ludwik to stew in his frustrations.

Ludwik, aware of her defiant little gestures, couldn't help but let his gaze linger on her, though to others it appeared he paid her no heed.

Suddenly, Ludwik stood up, turning to address the matriarch, "Grandma—"

Before anyone had started eating, the younger family members all stood, echoing, "Grandma!"

looked up, curious, and saw an elderly lady with silver hair, leaning on a cane, making

kind-hearted old lady who had

none other than Camilla Lippert, the venerable matriarch of the Lippert

invited me for dinner, and I'll be off to the backyard afterward,"

Whitney blinked in astonishment.

attempted to engage her in conversation a few times and even passed her dishes. Whitney keenly felt the atmosphere at the

the meal,

up, seeking a quieter spot to breathe in some

wall, his tall frame casting a daunting shadow, his handsome features darkened by the night.

an eyebrow, "Oh, and he's worse than

tone dripped with disbelief

of advice. He prefers women like you, who've had

labeling her a

exchange pointless. Now that he had Florence, of course, he'd disapprove of

about your precious

was not taking his advice and instead

inwardly, he noticed Parker lurking in the

Reluctantly, Parker stepped forward.

rubbing his temple, instructed, "Keep an eye on her until she leaves the

looking directly into Ludwik's eyes, "Do

question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken

suddenly changed, and he abruptly stopped as

furrowing his brow.

watched him leave,