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!"

up, curious, and saw an elderly lady with silver hair, leaning on a cane, making her way to the

kind-hearted old

Lippert,

down. I'm just old bones and seldom join these young folks' gatherings. Jason invited me for dinner, and I'll be off to the backyard afterward," the elderly voice said, warm and detached from worldly concerns as she took her

Whitney blinked in astonishment.

Justin attempted to engage her in conversation a few times and even passed her dishes. Whitney keenly

the meal,

most of the Lipperts had departed, Whitney stood up, seeking a quieter spot to

frame casting a daunting shadow, his handsome features darkened by the night. He flicked his cigarette ash, saying, "If I were you, I'd stay

he's worse than you in

dripped with

a word of advice. He

disdain in his voice was palpable, labeling her a woman scorned for reasons beyond her

the exchange pointless. Now that he

"Worry about your precious Florence. Why care about

was not taking his advice and instead choosing to

inwardly, he noticed Parker lurking

Reluctantly, Parker stepped forward.

on her until she

before looking directly into Ludwik's eyes, "Do you still love Whitney,

question hung in the air, heavy with

abruptly stopped as his phone

he said, furrowing his brow. "You should head out

watched him leave, his questions left