Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 769

Elodie beamed with excitement as Bryce handed her a beautifully wrapped gift. "Elodie, congratulations on your graduation and welcome back home! This is a little something from my wife and me. Just a token of our affection. We wish you all the happiness in the world." Whitney was taken aback by Bryce's thoughtful gesture, suspecting the gift to be of considerable value. Bryce certainly knew how to play the social game, she thought, a skill she hadn't noticed in him before.

"Thank you so much!" Elodie chirped, accepting the gift with a playful glance at Whitney. "But, Mr. Lutz, I'm surprised you brought your wife along. This welcome home party was meant to be a small gathering, you know."

Whitney stiffened at the apparent snub.

Elodie's mom intervened, her tone a mix of annoyance and politeness. "Elodie, that's no way to speak to our guests. Mr. Lutz's wife, Whitney, is quite the figure in the Sheldon Group, a young executive with as much influence as you have cheer. And she's a good friend of your brother Shane. It's an honor to have her here."

"Mrs. Lutz, I'm terribly sorry for my daughter's rudeness," Mrs. Miller apologized, her words dripping with forced courtesy.

"No worries," Whitney replied with a serene smile. "It's Elodie's party, after all. She's entitled to her preferences. Sometimes, a crowd can be overwhelming."

Whitney understood Bryce's intention to bring her along was probably due to the family ties with Shane, who was also close to her.

arrived with Sandy Turner, catching Whitney off guard. She

noticing Whitney's surprise, teased her for not informing him

of Bryce's ulterior motives. Whitney observed Bryce, recalling how he had ingratiated himself with Ronan at a previous gathering. She realized Bryce's talent for flattery and subservience, a stark contrast to

meanwhile, playfully accused Bryce of being a charming talker, a skill Whitney must have been familiar

a turn when Elodie's affection for Ludwik became the center of attention. As Ludwik made his entrance,

sight of Ludwik, her proclaimed object of affection, stunning in a formal suit. Despite her bold declaration, Ludwik maintained a polite distance,

grateful to Ludwik for a past favor, welcomed him warmly. Bryce, however, seethed with jealousy and frustration, his plans against Ludwik having failed previously. Ludwik's arrival, coupled with Elodie's infatuation, only added fuel to Bryce's growing resentment. As the party continued, the dynamics between the guests hinted at underlying tensions and alliances, with Ludwik's

people noticed Ludwik's presence

at Elodie's bash," someone muttered under

at Mr. Wilson's gathering, saved Elodie's life, and now he's cozying up to the Miller

Now, it looks like

His ex, now going by Claire, is here too. Tonight's gonna be

buzzed

a chill in his gaze. He pressed his lips together, a picture of cool detachment, opting to ignore the snide comments. Bryce's