Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 153

Chapter 153 

Whitney translated the coldness in his tone, he was questioning her tardiness; his world had been shaken, yet she seemed indifferent 

She understood his sense of loss, but she had to swallow all the bitter consequences silently. 

She could not tell him that she had run off to secretly save Braxton, turning danger into safety, all because of the sin her uncle had committed 

She felt guilt weighing heavily on her soul. 

Nor could she mention being trapped in a hotel with Bryce. In such a situation, she feared it might drive him mad. 

Ludwik waited, a slow count of seconds ticking by. 

Whitney choked back her bitterness, only able to look at him with hollow, sorrowful eyes and feign indifference. “1 was taking care of Uncle in Banyan City, and my presence here wouldn’t have changed anything.” 

The man’s grip on her collar suddenly loosened, his knuckles elegant and beautiful, yet so chillingly cold. Staring blankly at his large hand, Whitney raised her eyes to meet his, now cold and indifferent, and felt the tears that had long been falling inside her heart. 

He stood upright, his eyes red with anger, gazing into the distance. 

The shareholders were discontent. “Mr. President, can you believe what she’s saying? The vice president herself, with her errors, is still so brazen. She relies entirely on your favor!” 

“Her incompetence could’ve ruined the company.” 

“And then there’s Elaine, who dragged her sick body here last night, dealing with everything smoothly this morning 

“There’s no comparison. What’s so good about Whitney anyway?” 

The shareholders‘ complaints filled the air, and Elaine’s hidden smirk widened with satisfaction. 

She walked tenderly to the man’s side, saying, “Bro, you’ve been up all night. Go rest for a while before we visit Braxton” 

Ludwik’s lips were tightly sealed. Without another word, he left Whitney behind, his tall, stern figure getting into 

the car. 

The convoy sped away, leaving behind the chill of the police station on a winter morning, along with trailing exhaust fumes 

Felix closed the car window and looked back at Whitney standing forlornly at the police station entrance, his eyes welling up with pity. He refused to believe she was so indifferent, absent from South City last night to care for her uncle. Plus, her appearance at the station suggested she had run there, her clothes soaked. 

What had happened? 

But Ludwik was livid, clearly unwilling to inquire further. 

Thus, Felix dared not provoke him and sighed silently. 

Whitney slowly squatted down, staring at the sunlight streaming down. It was a beautiful day, no snow not too cold. 

Yet her heart, why did it feel so cold, as if she could never climb out of this abyss? 

It hurt so much, she wanted to say, but she could not as she watched him walk away in utter disappointment. Maybe it was for the best, an end. 

Chapter 153 

His disappointment in her, perhaps even suspicion, was the perfect end to a love that should never have been. 

To sever their shared future. 

Because of the guilt her uncle had instilled in her and the remorse she felt towards this man, she was tormented to the brink of madness. 

Her phone rang. It was her uncle. She answered numbly. 

Keegan’s voice was laced with disappointment. “Did you save Braxton last night? Whitney, you just couldn’t bear to see him in trouble. I was so close to success, and you’ve cost me to faill 

Whitney did not know how to awaken his conscience, her voice filled with sorrow, “Uncle, revenge can’t be sought this way, this is about taking a life for money” 

“What do you know? He owes me! Just insist it was your mistake and don’t expose me, or else, with his means, you know what will become of me!” He was warning her to remain hidden. 

With her face in her hands, Whitney’s eyes shimmered with tears. To protect her uncle, she had said nothing earlier. 

But this life was driving her mad. 

Perhaps it was nearing the end. 

He would discard her for such a grave mistake and banish her from United Realty Corporation. 

Whitney clutched her chest, crying yet laughing. 

At South City Private Hospital. 

Ludwik visited Braxton in the ICU, where the Braxton’s consciousness was fairly clear. He was recounting the previous night’s events, “In my delirium, I thought I saw a white figure, a young girl, performing a procedure over my head 

The Tarringtons exchanged puzzled looks, assuming the old man was confused by his illness. 

Ludwik’s brow furrowed. Braxton’s condition had been dire the previous night; when Ludwik had entered the police car, Braxton had been taken by ambulance, the doctors shaking their heads. 

He knew he was in deep trouble, but everything had miraculously turned around by morning. 

“Ludwik, you have integrity, but the land deal has been finalized. It’s gone to the previous bidder,” Braxton said, his eyes still showing admiration for the young man. 

Ludwik nodded calmly. “It was my oversight. Please focus on your recovery.” 

“You don’t seem like someone who makes errors. Who did you entrust with the bid?” Braxton inquired. 

Ludwik did not reply, merely nodding before turning to leave the room, 

In the corridor, Ludwik’s eyes narrowed as he asked, “Which company was the previous bidder?” 

Felix understood his implication. The previous day’s events had been suspicious, Ludwik’s competitors had been in lengthy talks with Braxton from afternoon until evening, deliberately delaying, causing Ludwik to be late. 

And then there was Whitney’s error in the bid, coinciding with Braxton’s stroke. 

It all seemed too convenient. 

Now that the land had gone to that company, Felix immediately began investigating. 

“Mr. Lippert, it’s an overseas construction firm, Felix replied with a frown, “Their representative yesterday was the chief delegate. The owner of the company is shrouded in mystery, quite secretive.”