Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 478

The chill in the air was palpable as Ludwik glanced at Florence. She was set to leave for Banyan City in the afternoon.

His impatience was evident. The decision he made last night had been a struggle.

It wasn't that he didn't care about Whitney's feelings. But in reality, he had no choice.

"You might not agree, but it's the truth. Florence's proposal was better than yours; she won the contest fair and square. The General Manager will announce the results to the company and the public!" Ludwik spelled out each word with emphasis. A gleam of triumph shone in Florence's eyes. The 4% stake in the Sheldon Group was now hers! With Ludwik's intervention, even her father couldn't back out now.

She shot Whitney a venomous look.

Whitney staggered back as if weightless, her gaze fixed on Ludwik's lips, but his words were incomprehensible to her. Turning around, she dashed out, overwhelmed by disappointment.

"Keep an eye on Florence," Ludwik hastily ordered his assistant before rushing after Whitney.

He caught Whitney just as she was about to enter the elevator, pulling her out and dragging her into an adjacent empty office.

Without a word, he left her there, hoping to keep her safe from any rash actions.

But Whitney was seething, her eyes fixed on him with utter loathing. "How dare you do this to me? How can you just decide the outcome of the contest, sacrificing fairness for her happiness?! Do you have any idea what losing this contest means for me?" Tears streamed down her face, scorching Ludwik's heart.

He wanted to reach out, to wipe her tears away, but his hand clenched into a fist instead. "Is it really just about not getting that 4% stake? Are you so afraid of her taking your place as the heir? The shares and the Sheldon Group will still be yours in the end." He had heard Florence say the same thing last night, which had swayed him to disadvantage Whitney temporarily.

"Florence is your sister. Couldn't you have let her win just this once? If it's about honor, you've already won plenty of accolades in the jewelry industry. She has nothing. She's been seriously ill; why do you have to take this so seriously?" Ah, the irony.

He painted her as a woman obsessed with wealth and power, fighting over shares.

The pain in Whitney's heart felt sharper than the loss of the contest itself, more piercing than his reasoning for making her lose.

to win? What kind of sickness does she have that you'd treat me this way?! What if I

once mentioned how Florence loved

think I care about those shares? No, it's Florence who's using you to get them! Losing the contest means facing backlash from the media and the Sheldon family. I'd be ousted from the Sheldon Group and become an outcast in the Sheldon family. That's exactly what Florence wants, isn't it? And you too, right? Ludwik, I despise you! You have no clue why

what? Tell me!" Ludwik

face, Whitney was there to investigate her mother's death, to

had fallen for Florence, siding with

completely in that

hollow laugh, Whitney vowed, "I'll never forget how you sacrificed me today to please her. Ludwik, from now

a sharp pang in his heart, knowing

Yet, the ache persisted.

you don't understand me.

pushed him away, and just as he reached for her, his phone rang. It

changed drastically as he let go of Whitney to answer

confirmed her suspicions

a scornful laugh,

hadn't had the chance to explain his recent trip to Banyan City and the search at Elaine's house that turned

"Yes, I'll bring Florence to the airport by

response furrowed his brow

condition is worsening, severe anemia has led to her falling into a coma. Mr. Lippert, we're preparing a blood transfusion. Please make sure

call, his hand trembling

-

locked herself in her

the contest quickly spread throughout the

was rife since Florence's proposal had been

Florence's victory, regardless of how she achieved it,