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.

quiver of rage in her voice,

A brief moment passed.

let out a

your back, he's been with 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! We could've saved Sammy... But when the hell did Florence

Tiana cut through Whitney, leaving deep, sharp

Tiana's hand away, facing the news with a self-mocking laugh, "Tiana, you've said everything I wanted to

please don't do this! I know how hurt you are, nothing could be

her face ashen but calm, "I'm

Stop pretending! Ludwik betrayed you, promising to deal with Florence... but he's just a heartless liar," Tiana's

roll down Tiana's cheeks, feeling as

They were intimate, engaged it was only a matter of time before they had a child. I'm not hurt

her tears

feel your pain. This man has

but contempt! But then,

Florence. Could there be some manipulation at play here?

be using this as a ploy to trap Ludwik because

once Natalie

be useless

come after her. So, she's stirring up trouble, claiming

knew Tiana was trying

my father's aide mentioned that Florence took leave from Sheldon Group, resting at

Ludwik's child!" Tiana,

even matter

the TV screen, "Our sources at Lippert Group have confirmed that Jason is negotiating with Mrs. Sheldon. They're trying to reach Ludwik to verify the allegations of mistreatment. We will continue to follow this story and provide answers to

dropped, a cynical smile playing on her lips, "Holly's put on quite the performance. Whether or not it's his child,

the face of such revelations, even her hopes for Ludwik felt