Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 675

Whitney shook her head, disbelief in her voice. "Sounds young, but which youngster has that kind of cash?"

She was clueless about the bidder's identity.

"Huh, so Wade finally backed down? Is the auction over then?"

Sandy couldn't help but chuckle, feeling somewhat relieved.

Whitney stood up, her voice laced with disdain, "I told you, Wade's too tight-fisted. To think he'd cough up two billion dollars-even for the Patrick clan, that's a stretch." Mid-sentence, their private booth door burst open-

Two bodyguards, looking menacing, blocked their path. "You two were driving up the prices, weren't you? Don't move, Mr. Jarvis wants a word."

Jarvis?

Whitney's face paled slightly.

"Well, look who we have here. Ms. Valentine herself was the one shouting out those bids. And here I thought it was some blind fool!"

Jarvis appeared at the door, a figure clinging to his arm-a delicate-looking person, whose face, softened by the dim light, broke into a smile. "Dear sister, you might fancy Ludwik all you want, but don't drag the Sheldon name into this. We, the Sheldons, would rather not pick a fight with the Patricks." Whitney recognized the voice then.

Florence?

She was dumbstruck, disbelief written all over her face. Florence stood there, arm in arm with Jarvis!

attending the auction as

would lay low for a while after being ousted from the Sheldon Group and her illegitimacy exposed,

did she become

Ludwik, and planning to marry

Sandy was equally shocked.

Florence, then jabbed Whitney's arm, whispering in disbelief, "I'm absolutely floored! She's thrown herself into Jarvis's arms, and he's taken her in, knowing full well she's been with another? Isn't he just

a while, we just hadn't been close. If Mr. Jarvis wishes to align with the Sheldons, considering the Patricks' current standing, wouldn't I be bringing honor to my

eyes were brimming with mockery, a

Whitney's gaze turned icy.

blatantly

smile, "Jarvis, as far as I'm aware, you're all about the benefits. To you, someone without value is like trash. You do

smile vanished, her frustration

provocation was clear, and Jarvis,

child, but I've always had a thing for taking what's someone else's. I once fancied Ms. Valentine here, but she never gave me the chance. A fling could be fun." Florence was on

out Jarvis, their first real interaction. She was desperate to flaunt her new connection to the high society, thus tagging along with Jarvis uninvited, not expecting to confront Whitney so directly. The earlier flirtation was all an act. Jarvis's intentions were still a mystery to her, but she

frowned, not buying the casual

concluded, was up to no good, a sentiment echoed in her thoughts about Ludwik's mistress. Her disdain was palpable, "If Mr. Jarvis and Ms. Sheldon are keen on a show of affection, they're better off finding someone else. Your little drama? Couldn't care

pinching pennies from the Lipperts, bit by bit, to beef up the Patrick Empire, right?" Whitney said,

"Whitney, you

can afford

you speak, will ya? Just because you're now the hotshot CEO doesn't mean the Sheldon Corporation is your personal playground. Keep rubbing people the

Chasing fame and fortune so hard you'd forget