Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1139

Parker leaned in, his voice low and conspiratorial. "Ludwik wants Bryce to tip his hand. The moment Bryce thinks he's in the clear, his greed will get the better of him, and he'll start cashing in those contracts in broad daylight."

"That's when you point him out to the President," Parker continued, his eyes glinting with the promise of retribution. "By then, Bryce will be caught red-handed. And even if Ms. Tennyson's gone, Ludwik will see to it that her assets are recovered. Bryce and Florence won't get a penny."

Phineas paused, his expression dark with anger and sorrow. "How could Bryce dare to harm Ms. Tennyson? How did you let him get away with it?"

"When Ms. Tennyson returned, she discovered Florence wasn't her biological daughter. Bryce acted too swiftly, and Ludwik couldn't stop him in time..."

On the TV screens lining the wall, a news report blared about the Lippert Group being investigated by the authorities. The Lippert family's stocks were plummeting, and a throng of disgruntled partners and journalists surrounded Jason outside the company headquarters.

Phineas frowned. "You mentioned Ludwik was apprehended by the President, and now the Lippert family is under scrutiny. And you still won't let me meet the President, all for the sake of catching Bryce?"

"The evidence of Bryce and Florence's involvement in Parisa's death hasn't surfaced yet. Now that the Lippert family is in trouble because of Bryce, he'll be feeling smug. His next move might be to have Florence, as the supposed heir, seize control of Inko Group. After all, Parisa owned a significant share."

"When they start diverting Parisa's funds and bribing officials, that'll be the time for you to act. But even then, you'll only be able to prove Bryce's attempt on your life."

Parker's phone buzzed with a call from Shane, interrupting his grim monologue. He glanced at the screen, furrowing his brow before answering. "Mr. Nelson, the news is everywhere about the Lippert family investigation. How's Jason holding up?"

"Forget about that for now, Mr. Doonan. Whitney's found her mother! Or rather, Jared Sheldon found Parisa first. They've secretly brought her to my hospital."

"Rescue teams are still searching the canyon to avoid arousing Bryce's suspicions. You need to head to the police station and inform Ludwik."

"Are you serious? Ms. Tennyson's alive?" Parker was incredulous, marveling at Ludwik's uncanny intuition. It was indeed Hudson who located Parisa.

"Whether she's alive or not is uncertain. Whitney was pretty distraught."

Shane wasn't ready to celebrate prematurely. As his car pulled into the Nelson Hospital parking lot, he sprinted towards the emergency room.

and frantic, assisting doctors as they wheeled her parents

Shane called

from Parisa's cold wrist, unable to detect a pulse. She rushed towards Shane, panic in her eyes. "Mr. Nelson, can you get the best doctors for the

A fall off a cliff and poison-this was

"Don't worry, I'll bring in the nation's top experts. Did the ambulance manage to revive

work, her heart didn't start beating again." Whitney's eyes brimmed with tears, suspecting Florence's poison

had called earlier, mentioning Florence had been to her lab. The poison could have come from

anxious gaze sharpened suddenly. She fished her phone from her bag, immediately calling Sammy. "Sammy, Sammy! Mom needs Ryan. Your grandma's been poisoned, and Ryan might know of an antidote from the lab. Can you get him

his hospitalized "little sister sweetheart," instantly understood the gravity of his mother's words. Had mom found his

never met his grandmother, but

feet, leaving Danny's side. "Mom, I'm going

son, take some bodyguards with you," Whitney pleaded, leaning

of the operating room, knowing both her parents were in there, teetering on the

been conscious when rescued, able to speak with her. But her mother, whom she'd never met, lay with eyes closed, never having seen her

Whitney's heart ached.

lose hope. The doctors will test Ms. Tennyson's blood for the poison, and as long as

"I know Florence's tricks too well. Her poisons are

offered what comfort he could. "The doctors are still fighting for her,

her tears, wishing the doctors would never emerge with

and the police still at

my dad, bribed one of the officers to keep it under wraps and

around," Shane

and search

looked at him with a chill in her

in the hole, but we need Bryce