Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 474

"Nothing to worry about."

Whitney turned slightly, her hand clutching the warmth of the injury behind her, her face pale and expressionless as she eyed Ludwik and the woman he was protectively cradling.

Her icy stare stung Ludwik, and he finally noticed the corner of the desk, right where her back was.

"You..." His voice lost a measure of its calm.

Whitney replied with a mocking tone, "Mr. Lippert thinks we did something to your Nyx? Is it so hard to believe she barged into my office and fell all by herself? I didn't even touch her. And now I'm supposed to take the blame for this?"

"Sis... it was clearly a misunderstanding. You thought I was stealing your project, you got angry, and I got in the way... Let's just say I fell on my own, okay? Ludwik, please don't fight with her over me."

Florence, pale and clutching her chest, could hardly speak, her ankle trembling uncontrollably.

Ludwik, seeing the burn not only hadn't healed but had worsened, likely to cause an infection, clenched his heart in fear. "Breathe slowly, Florence, what exactly happened here?!"

His angry shout echoed through the office, silencing everyone.

Florence looked at him with pitiful eyes, biting her lip and shaking her head as if afraid to continue, especially with Whitney watching.

Whitney scoffed at her performance.

Sandy, unable to stand it any longer, stepped forward with courage, "Mr. Lippert! Nyx ran into the assistant manager's office, trying to steal our group's project. We caught her red-handed. I said I would notify the higher-ups, but Nyx, unable to cover it up any longer, played the victim. She fell on purpose, reopening her wound, trying to get your sympathy! But we won't let her get away with this. Without the talent, she resorts to theft, and even Mr. Lippert, in front of everyone, can't just cover for her, right?"

lips tightly, his gaze sharp. "You say she

will prove everything! Besides, we all

eagerly, "I saw

"Hand it over."

at

stepped forward and took the document from

chair, taking care to

lips, not missed by

"Bang!"

document onto the desk, his expression turning cold

Whitney flickered a glance.

over, saw Ludwik's finger pointing at the project's authorship:

gasped in disbelief, examining the sloppy and childish planning within. Even the jewelry designs looked like they

silent, as if all air

piecing things together, her

enough? This is my project, mine alone! I know it's not great... I have no experience. But I worked hard on it, hoping to show you, maybe get some advice. But I was too shy, so I thought I'd leave it on your desk secretly... as a thank you, I even brought you breakfast. Ludwik... I didn't expect such a misunderstanding from my sister. Why? Just because

The mood shifted dramatically.

narrowed, understanding

his gaze turned icy, glanced at Whitney's desk, where indeed a warm

given it's about 4% of the Sheldon Group shares. I get why she'd want it. So she misunderstood, thinking I stole her project..." Her tears fell, her voice filled with sorrow and pity, subtly suggesting that Sandy and Whitney were intentionally slandering

office erupted in

thought Florence was just there

Florence's ankle, Ludwik's concern for her