Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 761

The officer furrowed his brow, looking troubled as he glanced at Ludwik. "Mr. Lippert, this lady indeed is Audrey's mother. She came all the way from Banyan City, being the first to report to the police that her daughter contacted Whitney before she passed." "If it's convenient, we'd appreciate Ms. Valentine's cooperation to shed some light on the situation."

Whitney felt a storm brewing inside her, even though Audrey's death had nothing to do with her directly. The very person who had called her in the afternoon was now gone, leaving her with an unsettling weight on her shoulders.

She came clean, "Audrey called me, mentioned she wanted to discuss something. But I never got to see her, and then her mother burst in saying she was gone. This woman lost her daughter, her emotions are running high, I'm not going to press charges." The officer nodded, "We'll take her back to the station for a talk. Ms. Valentine, regarding Audrey's death, we might call you in for further inquiries. Please be prepared."

"I'll cooperate," Whitney said, her mind elsewhere, her brows knitted together.

After the police took the woman away, she decided to call Bryce, "Bryce, I heard about Audrey's passing. Did you know?"

"I did," came Bryce's calm yet regretful voice. "I'm at the funeral home right now. Audrey was indeed an employee at the Lutz Group, and it was my mother who strongly recommended her. I feel a responsibility as her boss, and given the good relations between the Perlman and Lutz families, I'm here to manage her affairs. It's tragic, her being so young and meeting such an unexpected end."

Unexpected?

Whitney's brows furrowed slightly, "I'm coming to the funeral home. The Perlman family reported to the police, thinking her death has something to do with me?"

"What's going on?" Bryce's tone darkened.

After Audrey's accident, he had immediately taken charge of managing the situation, not expecting someone from the Perlman family to approach Whitney. This was an unwelcome complication.

"I'll explain when I get there."

Hanging up, Whitney massaged her temples and walked out of the Sheldon Group to her car.

Suddenly, Ludwik caught up to her, taking hold of her delicate wrist. "Whitney, you seem distraught, not in the right state to drive. Where do you need to go? Let me take you," he said, concern tinting his deep-set brows.

He had overheard bits and pieces, Audrey was apparently Bryce's secretary.

manage on my

refuse, noting his clean, crisp white shirt and trousers, obviously having rushed over from the Lippert family

into his refined features, her eyes flickered, "Ludwik, thanks

you all the

your presence here, it's

to?" he asked again, his tone

a distance, Whitney realized she was indeed too shaken to

she handed over her car

passenger seat, securing her seatbelt before taking the

the way, she pondered over Audrey's cause of

later, they arrived at

unbuckled her seatbelt, glancing at the handsome silhouette beside her, "Bryce is at the

but cautioned in a low tone, "If that girl's family dares to bully you, call me right

but didn't have the heart to explain, merely nodding

she encountered unfamiliar faces from the Perlman family, all seemingly recognizing her and shooting daggers her way with

right? If my daughter

everything? The car was an electric model with a brake malfunction, leading to Audrey's fatal crash. We

a pure accident. In other words, Mr. Perlman, even if Audrey hadn't been on her way

as he covered his eyes, sobbing, "But why did my daughter go to see your

last night, and Audrey came to say goodbye this morning, seeing me upset. Maybe she meant well, wanting to talk to Whitney. After all, Audrey and I worked well together, and were friends outside of work. Mr.

he used to be, and that the Perlman family might need his support in the future. Finn,

had called, and Whitney wondered if it was an attempt to patch things up between her and Bryce. They

Audrey never struck her as

didn't quite fit the bill for

death was quickly ruled as an accident caused by a vehicle system failure that led to a fire and explosion. Her cremated remains were taken away by the Perlman family that very