Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 450

With every ounce of hatred in her heart and nowhere to unleash it, Whitney spat out, "You're cruel and shameless, relying on your current status as Ludwik..." Cruel? It was just yesterday when Parker had mentioned she'd only see him as cruel. Indeed, how could she possibly see the care he had for her anymore? It didn't matter now; after all, she hated him to the bone and couldn't understand him.

Ludwik gently put her down, like a lover fixing her blouse, his eyes hiding a tender look, but his adam's apple rolling coldly, "As long as you understand. Even if I'm as fickle as the weather, you're stuck being single, Whitney. After all, you once crossed paths with me!" Their conversation and confrontation ended there.

He jumped out the window, arrogant and scoundrelly.

Whitney trembled, cursing him silently a hundred times over in her heart.

It took a while before she managed to wipe away the tears on her face, took a deep breath, and emerged with wobbly legs and a pale face.

The Sheldon family's dinner had already ended, and the living room was buzzing with conversation.

Hudson seized the moment to announce to the patriarch, "Taking advantage of tonight's family dinner, I'd also like to inform everyone that Whitney will be joining the Sheldon Group in a few days. Her resume is impressive, and she will become a part of the Sheldon family's succession..."

As his words fell, the room reacted with mixed emotions.

Whitney walked in, naturally attracting everyone's gaze.

Bryce approached her, "Why were you gone so long?"

His deep gaze lingered on Whitney's lips for a moment, hesitating slightly, remembering Ludwik had also stepped out to make a call.

"I felt a bit sick to my stomach," Whitney murmured, catching a cold glance from Bryce, who was already standing with Florence, looking perfectly matched.

He didn't look her way, as if the coercion in the restroom had never happened.

Indeed, a scoundrel switching sides seamlessly.

Florence, noticing Whitney, focused on her freshly applied lipstick. The woman was detail-oriented. Despite Ludwik not returning from the direction of the restroom, his beautiful lips carried a scent, which Florence had detected.

suspicions tightened,

darkened with malice, convinced

her! Florence looked towards Hugh with a

you sure about letting

seated in his wheelchair, finally spoke up, "Whitney has just returned home, and being an illegitimate daughter, it's a bit too much trust to place in her as a successor. Sister, brother-in-law, what do you think?" Whitney turned sharply towards Hugh, having not spoken to

company matters, and her husband, Kurt Turner, was even

should she? Florence hasn't even joined yet. There should

victim, "Grandpa, I don't care about the succession. But with everyone opposed, they might be worried

at Florence's act of virtue

don't want to disappoint father. If everyone's worried about me, I'm willing to start as an intern, subject to the same evaluation

Florence's expression shifted slightly.

pointed at Whitney mockingly, "Sounds nice, doesn't want to disappoint uncle? Or is it about seizing the Sheldon Group's inheritance! Dream on, you illegitimate daughter, with a fiancé from Banyan City of all places. With your background, you're hardly fit to join

but upon hearing 'fiancé,' his lips thinned,

looked towards Bryce and Whitney,

of fortune, yet he felt powerless to help Whitney, especially with Ludwik's

patted his arm, stepping forward to coldly address Sienna, "If you're going to talk about me, at least get it right. The Lutz family is dignified and cultured. Miss, your words are a real credit to the Sheldon family! Better not mention you're part of the Sheldon family when you're outside. With your

hard, and the previous

just slap her face metaphorically; she did it

remained silent, not coming to

Sandy from the corner, earning a fierce glare from

clings to Mr. Lutz's sleeve? She

got what she wanted, watching Ludwik's expression turn sharply colder. Dignified and cultured? Was that

was a concern, yet she was no simple character. Her defense seemed aimed at Bryce but cleverly shifted focus to her own family's values, suggesting that denying her a role in the Sheldon Group would paint

board at S-T Group, starting as an intern. If she doesn't pass the assessments, we'll let her go as

a small subsidiary of

Lipperts own a stake in S-T, so it's not exactly small fry," Hugh chimed in, a rare intervention on his part. Outnumbered, Hudson

wheelchair with the somber demeanor. He rarely spoke, but when he did, it seemed aimed at her joining the company.