Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



Her eyes blurred as she stroked her son's head, trying to explain the harsh reality to him. "Danny, he has his own life. He's engaged now, and you have to come to terms with it sooner or later. Mommy always said, we should be happy, kiddo, no need to worry about grown-up stuff. Wait for Sammy to come back, you and your brother, you're what truly matters to me, my treasures."

A tear rolled down her cheek.

Danny gently wiped it away, his young eyes brimming with more tears than hers, his intelligence shining through the sadness. “Mommy, are you not gonna forgive that jerk this time? I heard you, it's all his fault! Grandma told me today to secretly try and make things right between you two. She's so naive, and so was I."

Whitney closed her eyes in silent resignation - how could she have been so foolish? But she was done being foolish.

"Let's not talk about unhappy things now. Let's go and rest, Mommy will give you a bath."

"Okay..." Danny muttered, his gaze fixed on his smartwatch. He had called his dad several times that night with no response.

Forget it! He won't bother anymore.

"Mommy, I wanna sleep with you tonight."

"Of course, you can."

"Tiana said she'd take me to the hospital tomorrow morning. She mentioned you're busy with work and running a fever, told you not to go to the hospital."

Whitney's expression remained neutral. "There are plenty of people to look after Grandma; she'll be out of the hospital soon."

Danny bit his lip, wanting to say more but couldn't. He had a feeling, maybe this time, Mommy would distance herself from Grandma. After all, once Grandma was better, Mommy wouldn't worry about her anymore.

Sigh.

Lately, sighing seemed to be what he did most.

He was tired, constantly waiting for Sammy to return so he could share his frustrations, the two brothers standing together, looking out for their Mommy.

The next morning.

Ludwik's dark eyes were bloodshot as he momentarily stepped away from the demands of the Lippert Group. After a night spent tirelessly dealing with a crisis, shareholder anger, and falling stock prices, his face showed no emotion, but his mind was elsewhere, filled with thoughts of Whitney. Where was she? Had Parker found her?

How did she react to Florence's pregnancy? Would she ever forgive him again?

He needed to see her, and soon.

"Felix, get a hold of Parker now!"

"Mr. Lippert, you've been so focused on wrapping up company matters to not be cornered by shareholders, you haven't had a drop of water all night. You look exhausted, your eyes are full of red veins. Maybe you should rest a bit before you go to Ms. Valentine?"

Ludwik's icy gaze met Felix's.

His suit remained crisp despite the long night, not a crease in sight.

Felix sighed internally at the sight of the man before him, visibly fatigued yet relentlessly driven.

"Alright... calm down. I'll contact Mr. Doonan right away to see if he knows whether Ms. Valentine is at home." "Immediately!"

Ludwik, his figure tall and commanding, quickly descended the stairs and got into his car.

The morning light fell across his chiseled face, highlighting his handsome features, yet failing to bring warmth to his expression.

He lit a cigarette in the car, inhaling deeply, his brow furrowed, revealing no emotion.novelbin

At nine o'clock.

Delight Mansion.

A black Bentley came to a swift stop.

Ludwik stepped out, his long strides taking him to the front of the two-story villa at number four, noticing the once closed porch was now open.

The curtains of the villa's living room windows were drawn back as well.

His heart pounded with anticipation and a tremble of unease.

She was back!

et

Felix hurried to keep up, whispering, "Actually, Ms Valentine was locked up in her office the whole of yesterday. It's in the downtown skyscraper, that's why you couldn't find her immediately. Mr. Doonan later tracked her down. But after leaving Natalie's hospital room yesterday afternoon, she hasn't gone back."

Ludwik's deep gaze hardened. "She must be furious."

Felix advised, "Mr. Lippert, you really

need to talk things through with Ms. Valentine. No matter how upset she is, you have to remain patient and explain things slowly. About

ver

Florence's child, I suggest... you

deny it directly!"

The man paused, his dark eyes piercing, as he approached the door and rang the bell, exhaling a stream of smoke. "I won't lie to her about anything." Felix paused, knowing Mr. Lippert's earnestness towards Ms. Valentine. The only lie he ever told about Natalie's condition had cost him much with Whitney, and he regretted it deeply.

Felix watched anxiously as the door swung open unexpectedly fast.

Ludwik's tall frame stiffened, a smile beginning to form, but as his gaze fell onto the figure opening the door, the warmth quickly drained, replaced by a chilling air.

Felix, taken aback, blurted, "Mr. Lutz? Why are you here?"

Bryce, standing at the doorway, greeted Ludwik with a cool smile, "Mr. Lippert? What brings you here? Looking for Whitney?"

His tone was friendly, carrying into the house.

Whitney, in the study, tensed at the sound.

Bryce blocked the entrance, showing no intention of moving aside.

Ludwik's aura turned frosty as he towered over Bryce, his presence overwhelming.

His breath thick with tension, he glanced at his watch.

Nine in the morning.

Why was Bryce at Whitney's house, answering her door?

"Mr. Lippert, cat got your tongue?" Bryce edged closer, his voice a low murmur.

His words were laced with a teasing challenge.

Ludwik's veins bulged with anger, yet he swallowed it down, the volcanic fury in his chest quelled to a simmer.

He couldn't forget his current predicament, the more pressing matter at hand-he needed to talk to Whitney.

"Back off!"

With a muscular arm, he shoved Bryce aside, his annoyance evident as he adjusted his tie and strode into the house with cold determination.

There, in the living room, stood Whitney.

Alone, fragile, her pallor a stark contrast to her calm demeanor, she locked eyes with Ludwik.

Their gaze met, and a storm of emotions churned within him, his heart bounding with a tumultuous force.

But in her eyes, those beautiful almond-shaped orbs, there lay a stillness, devoid of any spark of life.

Ludwik's gaze hardened, looking down at her from his towering height. Despite the short distance between them, she suddenly seemed worlds away. For reasons unknown, a chilling premonition fluttered through his heart.

Suppressing it, he stepped forward,

et

his Adam's apple bobbing, and reached out to grasp her slender shoulders. His deep-set eyes, now tinged with red, pleaded in a hoarse voice, "Whitney... can we talk

please?"

S