Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 438

Holly and Joanne.

One was determined to ruin Whitney's reputation. A scandalous night with Justin, the notorious playboy, would ensure Whitney's disgrace, shattering her chances of joining the prestigious Sheldon Group.

Joanne, lured by Holly's machinations, coveted Whitney's 10% stake in the Sheldon Group. Fearing Hudson's wrath, she schemed to have Whitney 'seduce' her son, Justin. This way, Justin could marry into the Sheldon family, helping Riley stand up to Ludwik in the corporate arena.

But shortly after they barged into the villa, Joanne let out a shriek!

By the poolside, Justin and a muscular, shirtless man were entangled in a compromising position. Their shirts lay scattered around, painting a scandalous picture.

Joanne was dumbstruck, watching her son's bare behind being spanked with a belt. Her cheeks flushed purple with shock, and her muscles twitched in disbelief. "Ew! Justin is so gross, he's actually with a man, a man!" Sienna, ever the blabbermouth, couldn't keep it to herself.

Instantly, everyone who had followed Joanne into the villa turned their attention to the scene.

"Justin, you little rascal, what's the meaning of this..." Joanne's voice was a mix of anger and disbelief as she rushed over.

"Mom, it's not what it looks like, he just jumped me!" Justin scrambled to pull up his pants and defend himself.

Heidi, always one to enjoy a spectacle, clicked her tongue, "Who would've thought Justin had it in him, not minding the company of either sex!"

"Damn it! I told you, it's this guy-he-" Justin was cut off as Parker covered his mouth and nose.

Parker, feigning disgust, leaned in closer, "Oh, Justin, you weren't calling me 'disgusting' when you were enjoying it, were you?"

"..." Justin was on the verge of exploding.

had escalated beyond

of Justin and another man, realized this wasn't part of the plan. The

after scouring the pool area and finding neither Whitney nor any signs of struggle, Holly wondered if Whitney might

dashed into Justin's mansion,

later, Holly

son's indiscretion left her wishing she

Justin was once again

with me to notice any girls, he said he's

Justin

like she could vomit

just disappear, Joanne, Heidi, I must find her. How will I explain this to the Master if something happens

too," Heidi offered, seizing the

text to Ludwik as

relationship with Whitney?" Justin, fuming, confronted Parker from

face, "Chill, I almost threw up my dinner. I'm

of an incident three years ago when, under the influence and mistakenly ending up with Endora, he had

being here. But at this point, who'd

from the Lippert family for a large-scale search

-

receiving the text,

with a plea to visit the Lippert family's private

for personal space and freedom, assuring Florence she was in good hands before rushing off to address the urgent matter, leaving Florence to her devices. Florence had the look of an angel but was boiling inside. Reflecting on it, Ludwik only showed her tenderness in front of his family or at the party earlier to get under Whitney's skin. Alone, his true colors showed through: distant, aloof, and merely polite out of obligation. Every time she tried to hold his arm, he would swiftly pull away, a clear rejection of

such circumstances, she didn't stand a chance to captivate his

her looks. She