Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



In the office.

Ludwik's gaze was glued to his phone, scrolling through the trending news: she and Bryce, cozy in the mall, hugging and caressing each other's faces, her cheeks flushed with a rosy tint, trying to hide her wide, sparkling eyes.

Their affection was on full display, like a couple madly in love, both intimate and ostentatious. It wasn't a staged photo but rather candid shots. She looked genuinely happy!

Clenching his phone tightly, Ludwik abruptly stood up, his knee knocking against the table with a resonant thud. Parker, hearing the cold collision, knew it was too late but walked in anyway, raising an eyebrow in concern.

At first glance, he saw Ludwik, standing rigidly before his desk, eyes filled with a frosty chill. The bright blues of the skyline through the large floor-to- ceiling windows behind him seemed miles away, unable to soften his brooding demeanor, making him appear even colder.

Without thinking, Parker blurted out, "Maybe it's just Skye Gem Ltd. drumming up some publicity, creating a buzz with Whitney."

"Do you believe that?" Ludwik tossed his phone aside and sank back into his chair, his large frame making a muffled sound. His voice was chilling. Parker thought to himself, it didn't matter whether he believed it or not, what mattered was Ludwik's belief. But the look in Ludwik's eyes was intimidating.

He had grown to resent Whitney after a misunderstanding but that didn't mean he had let her go. Whitney was his, a possessive thought deeply ingrained in him.

Parker, seeing him tormented and unsure of what to do, ventured again, "Ludwik, regardless of how Whitney feels about you, she doesn't seem like someone who would just move on to someone else. Her and Bryce... it's not real."

"Then bring her here, I want to ask her myself!" Ludwik demanded, his Adam's apple bobbing with a mix of cold fury and desperation.

Parker lowered his voice, meeting Ludwik's fierce gaze, "Are you sure you want me to do that? Let's not talk about whether I can actually bring her here. Whitney probably won't give you the answers you're looking for. You two are like magma and an iceberg, best not to touch."

Parker was speaking the truth, reflecting on the cruel reality between him and Whitney, Ludwik felt a pang of sorrow! A feeling of helplessness seeped from his clenched fists. Was he just supposed to watch as rumors about her spread online? Bryce hugging her, what would they do next? Kiss?

He flipped open his expensive pen, trying to divert his attention, unwilling to further damage office documents, "These photos online are an eyesore. Make them disappear."

Parker knew that each photo of Bryce hugging Whitney was like a dagger to Ludwik's eyes. "It's either staged or someone's deliberately framing Whitney. Look at these comments online; it's polarized. Some are mocking you for being a sore loser, and others are shaming Whitney, calling her shameless, accusing her of meddling in your engagement with Florence... Ah, there are even accusations of Bryce being a homewrecker. It's damn satisfying."

Hearing Parker ramble, Ludwik's icy gaze thawed a bit. But before Parker could instruct Felix to engage PR damage control, Whitney's camp unexpectedly released a statement—

At the mall.

Nyx was the first to notice something was amiss. She rushed to Whitney, "Ms. Valentine, it's not good, you and Mr. Lutz are trending." Whitney stepped away from the counter to quickly check the trending photos on her phone. She and Bryce had been snapped while showcasing jewelry to customers, the angles all quite suggestive, with shots of Bryce holding her, tucking her hair behind her ear, even pinching her earlobe. To anyone, these photos screamed intimacy.

Nyx reported, "Your past has been dug up, somehow linking you to Ludwik. Social media uncovered that Ludwik had publicly declared his intention to marry you just days ago. Now here you are, looking cozy with е Mr. LutzДnitially, the comments were tame, teasing Ludwik for being openly snubbed by you, suggesting you've moved on. But then, the narrative shifted to you meddling in Ludwik's relationship, with our newly launched Skye Gem Ltd. being bombarded with comments calling you a homewrecker, even

suggesting we're selling 'adulterous' jewelry-'We won't buy.' There are also comments mocking Mr. Lutz as a kept man... This could very well be the Lippert family's PR at work."

Whitney's brows furrowed as she scrolled through the comments. Then Bryce joined in, "Who's behind this sneak attack? The direction of × online comments is being manipulated. Whitney, let's end

today's event early. The et

here haven't caught wind of the trending news, so they won't react. For any jewelry sold today, we'll handle refunds privately if there's trouble. We can't let today's sale continue to fuel the fire."

Whitney nodded, instructing Nyx, "Gather the sales staff. Start winding down as customers check out."

But it was already too late! As Whitney and Bryce attempted to leave swiftly, a swarm of reporters blocked their exit, bombarding them with questions.

"Your name is Whitney, right?"

"What's your relationship with this gentleman?"

"And your connection with Ludwik from the Lippert Group? He was engaged to your sister, Ms. Sheldon, before. Did you cause him to break off the engagement to be with you?"

"If you've seduced Ludwik, then is this gentleman your sugar baby? Given you own a jewelry company, do you think your colorful private life will impact your business? Do you admit to being the other woman, interfering in your sister and Ludwik's relationship?"

The reporters' provocative questions echoed through the mall, putting Whitney in a tight spot. Several female customers who had purchased jewelry stared in disbelief.

Whitney's temper flared, facing such targeted defamation. If not Florence's doing, then whose? Her eyes turned cold as she pieced together Florence's motive, pushing her towards Ludwik.

"Is it possible that among these reporters, some are plants from Ludwik's PR team, deliberately here to tarnish me and Bryce?" Whitney pondered, her brow furrowed in concern.

"Whitney!" Bryce exclaimed, as he

rushed over, positioning her

protectively behind him. With his broad shoulders shielding her, he

whispered urgently, "Let them savet

whatever about me; it doesn't

matter. Don't respond to anything about me. The more you say, the

worse it could get. But this

nonsense about you seducing

Ludwik, you've got to clear that up.

Otherwise, that stain won't wash off, and it'll hurt Skye Gem Ltd.'s

business!"

Bryce had seen right through the charade; it was all Florence's doing. The photos too! But why would he mind playing this game? He knew Whitney could see through his feigned distress. Given her fiery spirit, how would she address the reporters?

She wouldn't let him be slandered as some gigolo. A slight smile played on Bryce's lips as he relaxed, "Maybe, you should just clear the air with the reporters now. Saving your reputation is what's important."novelbin

Whitney nodded in agreement. Stepping slightly from behind him, she faced the glaring camera flashes with a steely gaze, raising her voice, "I'll overlook your biased comments for now! Whoever paid you to be here, you know it yourselves. As for me seducing Ludwik? Complete nonsense!"