Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 771

"You must be wondering who let me in, huh?"

Sienna couldn't be more smug, her gaze cold and triumphant as she stared down her rival. "Did you really think that just because Florence lost her backing, I wouldn't find someone else? Think again. I've gotten close to Elodie, and we're hitting it off like a house on fire. And Whitney, don't get too cocky. Florence hasn't been pushed out of the game yet; she's just biding her time."

Whitney met her stare with a frosty look. "If you're here just to spout that, you're wasting my time. Your Uncle Hudson's already up and about, and it won't be long before he finds out Florence is a love child, not his own flesh and blood. What's she going to lean on to get back into the Sheldon Group then, hm?"

"You..." Sienna's grip tightened around her wine glass, her face flush with anger.

Whitney scrutinized her with a cool detachment, a hint of understanding in her eyes. "So, you've cozied up to Elodie, huh? Let me guess, you told her you're my cousin, and used my name to curry favor with her, right?"

Sienna's face went scarlet, caught off guard by Whitney's accurate guess. She snapped back with venom, "Elodie is my BFF now, Whitney, and you better back off. You've already fought over Ludwik with Florence, and you're married now. Shouldn't you be settling down? I'm warning you, Ludwik's caught Elodie's eye. Stay away from him, you old hag."

Old hag...

This wasn't the first time Sienna had hurled that insult at her, even though she was only a few years younger.

Whitney swirled her wine glass lazily, a playful smile on her lips. "Well, I'm on my second marriage, and you're still single. Maybe we should ask around, see who's really the old hag here?

at 23, you

hit a nerve. Sienna, not as naturally charming as Sandy or Florence, had tried her hardest to flirt with the high society bachelors, but to no avail. Shane and others of his stature had shown no interest in her. "Bravo, Whitney, bragging about a second marriage now, are we? Using your fox-like charm to lure men, hooking Bryce and then making moves on Ludwik,

the future vice president's daughter. Just

a final withering glance,

Sienna, but by Ludwik, for unwittingly making her an enemy by flirting with young girls like Elodie.

-

comments. "Elodie, I told you Whitney is nothing but trouble. I told her to stay away from Ludwik, and she had the nerve to mock me. She's underestimating you, Ms. Miller. You have to teach her a lesson." Elodie's face darkened as

uncle's barely out of his coma, and the Sheldon Group is in turmoil. Besides, she and Mr. Nelson are just acquaintances. You're Mr. Nelson's cousin; you don't need

him, trying to charm him. "Mr. Lippert, where are you off to?

to join?" Ludwik's tolerance for the woman

only at the party to meet Phineas, but realizing Phineas hadn't shown up, he knew Elodie had tricked him. Still, for the sake of the Lippert family, he played

have security clear it out for a private chat," Elodie

no sense of decorum," he

pouted and followed. "Mr. Lippert, you're not rushing off to see Whitney,

attended your welcome-back party. If I had known you'd be ungrateful and resort to threats, I'd rather

her pride. "Ludwik, can't you see I like