Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 549

Whitney glanced up, her eyes locking onto the breaking news headline that detonated in her mind like a bomb, plunging her into an abyss of silence...

It felt as though an unseen force had yanked her into a chasm of darkness.

She froze, her body trembling slightly, her face draining of color.

On the TV screen, Holly's face appeared.

Tears streaked down her cheeks, a far cry from her usual composed self, "My daughter, Florence, is pregnant with Ludwik's child! The Lipperts are the top family in Harmonia, while the Sheldons... we're just not in the same league. I'm at my wits' end. I'm so worried, I don't know where Ludwik has taken my Florence? Our family's security reported that Ludwik has abducted Florence! God have mercy, she's pregnant, and I don't know what Ludwik plans to do. Will he force Florence to terminate the pregnancy? I'm deeply concerned. Please, let the media spread the word and help me find my Florence..."

The scene shifted back to the reporters, but Whitney couldn't bear to watch any longer.

She remained still for a long time, barely breathing, a sharp pain fragmenting her resolve and crushing her slowly rising hopes.

Her heart shattered, throbbing with a numb yet unbearable agony.

Florence was pregnant?

She stumbled backward...

"Whitney!" Tiana rushed over, steadying Whitney as if she were leaf in the wind. Tiana's grip tightened as she watched the news unfold, her anger palpable.

She saw Holly's tearful plea to the camera.

She couldn't see Whitney's face, but she could imagine the turmoil she was going through.

Not just Whitney, even she felt a shock that resonated through her entire being, struggling to accept the news.

watching," Tiana tried to control the quiver of rage in her voice,

A brief moment passed.

a light laugh,

her all along! I thought, after you went through all the trouble to reveal Natalie's illness to him, he would finally see Florence for the vile creature she is! I thought he would act!

from Tiana cut through

news with a self-mocking laugh, "Tiana, you've said everything I wanted

do this! I know how hurt you are, nothing could be more devastating

head, her face ashen but calm, "I'm not

you not be hurt? Stop pretending! Ludwik betrayed you, promising to deal with Florence... but he's just a heartless

roll down Tiana's cheeks, feeling as if they were

detachment, a hollow laugh escaping her "He didn't lie. He's been with Florence all along, hasn't he? They were intimate, engaged it was only a matter of time before they had a child. I'm not hurt I'm just.. how will we ever save Sammy now? It breaks my heart to see him constantly abandoned

her tears finally

your pain. This man has shattered your

but contempt! But then,

so heartless as to ignore his own mother's vengeance just to be with Florence. Could

be using this as a ploy to

once Natalie gets

she'll be useless

will come after her. So, she's stirring

Tiana was trying

that Florence took leave from Sheldon Group, resting at home these past days. What else would she need

Ludwik's child!"

it even

glued to the TV screen, "Our sources at Lippert Group have confirmed that Jason is negotiating with Mrs. Sheldon. They're trying to

the performance. Whether

her lip, at a loss for words. In the face of such revelations,