Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 442

Holly panicked for a moment before quickly saying, "Whitney, what's with the sarcasm? I only heard from the help that they saw you entering Justin's mansion. I was worried you were getting yourself into trouble with Justin. Everyone knows he's bad news, and I rushed over because I was concerned..." She was still trying to muddy the waters.

Whitney scoffed, "Yeah, Holly brought a crowd with her, and just in time to see Justin pinning me down. My reputation was destroyed in front of everyone. If you were truly worried about me, you should have notified Dad first. You should've been relieved not finding me at Justin's place. Instead, you made sure this scandal became the talk of the town, having the Lippert family hunt me down, only to find me disheveled!"

Her words systematically pointed out Holly's inconsistencies.

Hudson was taken aback, indeed, Whitney had disappeared, and he was informed later. Holly hadn't notified him first.

Whitney reminded him, "Dad, remember the incident when my sister and I wore the same dress? You remember, right?"

Hudson's gaze towards Holly grew colder as he recalled how Whitney was nearly ostracized for supposedly being jealous of her sister.

He looked at Holly angrily, "I can't believe this, Whitney has only been home for two days, and you've shown your true colors, Holly. I didn't expect you to be so intolerant, moving against her in the Lippert family, you're trying to ruin her!"

"Honey, I didn't, why would you take her word over mine? Whitney, you're so malicious, framing me for Joanne's scheme? Tonight was clearly Joanne's plot. She's after Whitney's shares, so she coaxed Justin into targeting Whitney. I was also roped in by Joanne to look for Whitney."

Smooth talker.

Whitney laughed piercingly, "Dad, about the 10% shares you gave me, you didn't tell anyone, right? Strange, how did Joanne know about my shares unless Holly is in cahoots with Joanne?"

Holly's face turned pale, realizing her slip-up.

Hudson was shocked, trembling with anger, he pointed at Holly, "You witch, it was you who informed Joanne, wasn't it? You two have been thick as thieves, don't think I haven't noticed. I even saw you talking to her tonight, no wonder."

"Father, please calm down, Mother didn't mean it, maybe there's been a misunderstanding," Florence interjected, biting her lip.

"Quiet, what misunderstanding could there be!"

Hudson looked at Holly with utter disdain, "After twenty years, I thought you had changed, but you're just the same. Servants, take the lady upstairs to reflect! If you dare go against Whitney again, I'll have you kneeling in the Sheldon family chapel!" "Hudson, you'd treat me like this over a bastard daughter?"

forgotten about Florence, our daughter, who's always thinking of

foolish? Whitney is family. Dad, Mom was just worried

longer! Enough, Florence, go rest. You and Sienna go back to your rooms and think over your actions!" Holly shot Whitney a venomous look, and Florence's glance, though concealed, was

watched the mother-daughter duo perform, successfully detaching tonight's events from Florence. Sacrificing the pawn

relationship was irrevocably damaged, and he would surely keep his guard up

Sheldon Group. Your stepmother, eh? I've considered divorcing her, but it's not the right time yet... Don't worry, in a few days, I'll take you to the old house to meet your grandfather, and then we'll get you into the company." Whitney was surprised, the thought of Hudson considering divorce was unexpected. It seemed he truly loved her mother, warming her heart. Yet, with the Sheldon family's

-

the door, rushed upstairs to knock on

to the old house to introduce her to Grandpa, to get her

"Did your uncle

Hudson telling Whitney... he's thinking about

words. After all these years, how could he think of divorcing me over Whitney's troubles? Don't spread this around, Sienna."

was just angry. Don't worry, Aunt Holly,

"Good, now leave."

truly loved her. Thinking about divorcing her, was he planning to kick her and Florence out of

a text, her voice dripping with self-pity as she vented, "You need to come out with me tomorrow. Hudson,

---

The Lippert family.

the night's events, having Parker recount the ordeal of Whitney's kidnapping by Justin

the servant who took Whitney to Justin's mansion

Joanne... Justin's mother.

was all too clear

flicked away his cigarette butt and made his

an

enough, Justin's screams

Justin was in for it...

the heck are you hitting me? Ah!