Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



Tiana watched Whitney return empty-handed, her heart aching uncontrollably. "Whitney, all this effort you're putting in for that jerk Ludwik, it's just not worth it! You've been busting your gut trying to heal his mom, and what does he do? Doubts you, even forbids you from treating the old lady!"

Whitney clasped her chest, a bitter smile on her lips. "He misunderstands me, and it really gets under my skin. He doesn't trust me one bit. But I guess I can see where he's coming from. He's too wound up about Natalie. That kidnapping incident with his uncle three years ago did a number on him, so he's lumped me in with the bad guys."

"But the thing is, with Natalie waking up, how could Elaine not catch wind of it? Ludwik, that scumbag, is he blind to the real threat here? Once Elaine finds out Natalie's awake, feeling guilty as sin, she'll make her move. The real danger isn't you, it's her..."

Tiana was so angry she could spit blood.

Whitney looked at her sharply, sighing. "You're frantic, I'm even more so. Natalie being able to speak is key, that's why I'm desperate to get her treatment, afraid of a relapse."

"But that damn Ludwik is blocking you..." Tiana was beyond words.

"I'll find a way," Whitney said, her brows furrowing.

After a spell of rain.

In a high-end hotel with European flair, a young woman took off her lace hat, revealing a stunning profile. The woman beside her timely handed her ginger tea, replacing the handkerchief too. With fingers like white jade, she scrolled through her phone.

A hot news item flashed up: Photos circulating online show Mr. Lippert, post his jilted wedding, still entangled with his almost-bride Elaine. Elaine hospitalized with injuries, Mr. Lippert by her side all night. Speculation is rife that Mr. Lippert and Elaine's wedding might just get a do-over.

The young woman's eyes narrowed on the news, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Elaine..." she murmured, eyes darkening, "he really does have a lot of women around him."

The woman glanced at the news, scoffing lightly. "This heiress of Bartels Pharmaceuticals got dumped at her own wedding, not a good match for him."

Meaning, she was hardly a concern.

"But how is she still making headlines?"

Seeming intrigued, the young woman took a sip of her tea, lifting her inscrutable gaze. "Myra, call Drew for me."

Myra paused, knowing Drew was Ms. Sheldon's capable man. This meant Ms. Sheldon was about to dig into Elaine. Or rather, dig into all the women around Mr. Lippert, all the news.

A sly smile played on Myra's lips, understandingly saying, "I'll get him for you."

In no time, a middle-aged man walked in, respectfully saying, "Florence..."

The young woman coughed lightly, glancing at the clock, her lips curving slightly. "He should be finishing up at Skyfaith soon, I want to see him." Myra laughed softly, yet shook her head. "Ms. Sheldon, Mr. Lippert hasn't been to work these past few days. Heard his mother's been a vegetable for three years and just woke up. Apparently, Whitney's to blame."

Her attention sharpened, eyebrows raising, eyes flickering thoughtfully. "Whitney turned his mother into a vegetable? Seems like there's a story there."

The young woman turned to Drew, tapping her cup lightly, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Drew, go find out everything..."

Myra kept her smirk light.

At TriMed Hospital.

Elaine sat anxiously in the hospital room, drenched in cold sweat, nearly losing her mind. Lyra had returned.

The woman lifted her ghostly eyes. "What's the word, Lyra? Got anything solid?"

Lyra, looking drained and pale, replied, "The old lady really woke up from her vegetative state, opened her eyes, and Mr. Lippert immediately had her transferred to a Skyfaith-owned hospital for various tests..."

"Can the old woman talk now?" That was Elaine's biggest fear.

Three years ago, she had intercepted Natalie on her way from Whitney's, driven by personal vendetta and disdain. She hadn't been kind to Natalie. Having suffered greatly, the old woman would surely remember how she was treated.

The horrific things she had done to her, once she was awake and could speak...

Elaine clutched her head, her face deathly pale, not daring to think further. How could this have happened? It was supposed to be impossible. She turned abruptly, grabbing Lyra by her clothes, biting down hard. "Did you find out why she suddenly woke up?"

Lyra stuttered, afraid of her wrath, "I heard from other maids that Taryn had been secretly administering a medicine to the old lady. And that medicine, it turns out, was specially developed by Whitney three years ago, given secretly to Taryn. Elaine, maybe Whitney has been plotting to expose you all along, step by step. I overheard the family doctor saying she discovered the neurotoxin that was administered to the old lady's body, first neutralizing the toxin, then treating her..."

Elaine's gaze widened, feeling a chill run through her. Her legs felt shaky.

It was Whitney... that bitch had been plotting so long, secretly treating Natalie. Who knows what powerful medicine she administered? Three years ago, she had brought several doctors to examine Natalie, who was practically a living corpse.

She had bribed nurses for daily monitoring, and Taryn and her crew had managed to keep up their facade! Even Ludwik's family doctor didn't notice any improvement, and over three years, Elaine had let down her guard. Thinking, the old lady would surely die, and no one would ever find out.

But Whitney had made her wake up! If Natalie speaks to Ludwik, her fake kidney donation would be exposed. All her efforts, everything, would be ruined. This was fatal.

Damn it, Natalie must not speak.

Elaine quickly asked, "What's her condition now? Does she recognize people, can she speak?"

Lyra tried to offer some comfort, "I just eavesdropped on the doctors' consultation. They mentioned that the old lady can see and hear, but she's been in a coma for three years. She can't move or speak yet. That's all I know. But Mr. Lippert has hired the best doctors in the country to look after her, and Whitney insisted on having her examined! I guess..."

Elaine's face went pale. It seemed inevitable that recovery was just a matter of time. It felt like a guillotine was hanging over her neck, ready to drop sooner or later.novelbin

In a panic, her phone rang. Elaine dashed to the bathroom and answered without looking.

It was Delphine, clueless and laughing heartily, "Elaine, I saw the photos you strategically took of Ludwik taking care of you at the hospital. They made the news, and today, the public opinion in Emperor City towards the Bartels family is all positive. You're truly my daughter! Using this favor, you can definitely keep Ludwik tied to you, making him marry you again..."

"Mother." Elaine's voice trembled, cutting her off in irritation, "Natalie woke up. She's out of her vegetative state. I'm done for. How can I even think about marriage now?"

Delphine stiffened at the outburst, her face turning ashen when she finally understood, "Damn, how is that possible? She was practically a living corpse!"

"But that's the truth. It was that wench Whitney who revived her with medication. And now, the old lady might not be able to speak, but what about in three days, or five? My doom is imminent. Once Ludwik finds out everything I've done, it's not just about him not forgiving me. He'll probably tear me to pieces and throw me in jail, don't you think?"

Delphine also paled, lips pursed. If Ludwik found out Elaine hadn't donated her kidney, not only that, but the good kidney Natalie had was...

The mother and daughter felt their worlds crumbling.

"No, we can't let Natalie speak, Elaine..." Delphine quickly regained her composure, narrowing her eyes, "There are plenty of ways to keep someone from speaking. The most direct way, we, the Bartels Group, have the means..."

Elaine clung to this like a lifeline, narrowing her eyes fiercely, "Are you suggesting..."

"You know acupuncture, and we own a pharmaceutical company..." Delphine hinted, "Stay calm! Before Natalie can speak, we eliminate this threat, and the secret remains buried. Whitney can bark all she wants, but Ludwik won't believe her, understand. I'll have the 'stuff' sent over immediately, along with a team. When they arrive, you just..."

Delphine's voice trailed off, chilling to the bone.

Elaine shivered at the thought, but she was out of time, unable to wait another second. She was in turmoil, biting her lip coldly, "Alright, let's do that."