Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 445

"What night are you talking about, Mrs. Lippert? I'm totally lost here," Whitney replied, her expression a perfect blend of confusion and innocence.

Thea squinted her eyes, understanding Whitney's game but not about to play into it.

Sitting with the posture of a queen, Thea pressed her lips together, took a sip of her coffee-black, no sugar, as was her style and elegantly slid a card across the table.

Her eyes were frosty as she spoke, "Fill in your terms, Ms. Valentine. Keep your lips sealed, or else, what do you think will become of you?"

Whitney's hands clenched under the table. She knew all too well the kind of power Mrs. Lippert wielded; a woman of her standing could make people disappear without breaking a sweat. The secret Whitney had stumbled upon was like a ticking time bomb.

Yet, accepting money was off the table. It would only make Whitney more vulnerable to Thea's manipulations.

With her eyes downcast, Whitney looked the picture of calm. Raising her head slowly, she smiled, her voice barely above a whisper, "Mrs. Lippert, Jarvis is your son, isn't he? The biological kind." Thea's demeanor changed in an instant. She had known from the start that Whitney's observant eyes were trouble.

Suddenly, Whitney shifted from defense to offense, holding her ground with grace.

"Oh, please," Thea scoffed, gripping her coffee cup, "You think you can blackmail me? Ms. Valentine, you're playing with fire. Everyone knows Jarvis was picked up from a battlefield by the General. He shares no blood with the Lippert family. Watch your mouth, or it'll cost you." Whitney remained silent, but Thea's tense tone confirmed her suspicions.

Pushing the card back, Whitney spoke with a hint of self-preservation, "I won't spread rumors. I just wanted to make you aware that I know something. What I stumbled upon that night... well, I wouldn't want to cause any trouble for Jason or Ludwik. I value my life too much for that. It's up to you, Mrs. Lippert, whether you see me as a threat."

Thea's cold demeanor was unmistakable.

Whitney stood up, her voice steady, "Mrs. Lippert, I've had my coffee. I'll be leaving now. Enjoy yours."

She walked out, her heart racing.

Thea had her bodyguard follow Whitney, then made a call. Jarvis on the other end asked,

she's keeping quiet, but watch out for her and Ludwik. If they get close, she might back him up. Once your adoptive father finds

unreadable, "She's just a girl. If she steps out

needs to be watched closely. We can't let her

at the secrets hidden within the Lippert family. It was like a chess game spanning over two decades,

were they aiming to

in a

herself, feeling like

-

"Bryce."

smiled at Bryce, who was approaching

man reached her, pulling her into

teasing him, "Mr. Lutz, you've become quite the charmer.

opened the

her, his feelings clear but patiently restrained. He had heard that Ludwik

into

Florence with a sneer, "Isn't this Whitney with that married man

into the man's identity, unaware that Whitney's marriage to Ludwik was

found out, "Ms. Sheldon, this man is Bryce, Whitney's

of Ludwik. She decided to

-

of relationships and secrets that entangled their lives. Bryce flashed a grin. "The headquarters for

the outskirts of the city, Whitney was astounded. "Can you believe Emperor City still has such prime real estate