Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 363

"Whitney, what's wrong?"

At the venue, Keegan noticed Whitney seemed a bit distracted.

"It's nothing," Whitney's gaze involuntarily drifted back, lost in a sea of unfamiliar faces at the wedding reception.

She redirected her attention, furrowing her brows slightly, "Feels like someone's watching me?... Let's go, Uncle."

"All these high-fliers are heading downstairs for Ludwik's chip launch. You going?" Keegan asked her as they stood by the elevator.

Right then, the elevator doors opened on the ground floor.

The Skyfaith chip launch?

Whitney paused, her mind instinctively jumping to Jarvis. She frowned, her eyes betraying her thoughts. Before she could react, the crowd pushed her out of the elevator.

In the main hall, the Skyfaith Sharp-F Chip launch was just starting. Ludwik, clutching a folder and flanked by Skyfaith's top brass, strode into the venue. But before he could reach the stage—

Suddenly, two figures blocked his path, their expressions urgent, brandishing their phones and bellowing, "Mr. Lippert! What's going on? There's a rumor online about a Sharp-F Chip data leak, is it true? This video, clear as day, claims not only has the data leaked, but also that the Sharp-F Chip can't launch today because of a research mishap!"

The speaker was the CEO of Tyche Inc., visibly outraged as he presented a viral tech scoop. PotenTech's CEO was equally furious, confronting Ludwik, "We've been waiting for this chip launch, ready to start production. We spent billions on its patent, and now there's a pre-launch data leak. Mr. Lippert, how do you explain this to us?"

As they finished, the surrounding businessmen were stunned, then a murmur spread. Reporters, smelling a story, all rushed over.

Ludwik pursed his lips, silent.

On the stage, a Skyfaith executive, after receiving an urgent call, hurried over, "Mr. Lippert, Mr. Lippert, it's bad news. The Sharp-F Chip failed its final test; the doctor found a critical data error, it's unusable. The Sharp-F Chip... can't launch as planned."

"What?!" The CEO of Tyche Inc. was on the verge of fainting, clapping his hands in frustration, "Ludwik, a faulty chip, are you playing us?"

Just then, Jarvis appeared, a smirk playing on his lips. After Elaine's video debacle, it was his turn. In the video, he showed his profile, but he didn't mind being exposed. Typically, in such dramas, the focus is on how the woman behaves.

Jarvis coldly stared at Ludwik, his gaze also sweeping over his stepfather, Jason. Near the stage, Jason frowned slightly, taking a few steps toward Ludwik, "Ludwik, how could there be an issue with Skyfaith's chip?"

"I'm not sure," Ludwik shook his head, his tone nonchalant, his demeanor unchanged. He gestured, and a Skyfaith executive took the stage, apologizing profusely, "Sorry, everyone, the Sharp-F Chip launch is temporarily halted. We will investigate the data leak and find a solution for the research mishap..."

"What's this nonsense! A big tech company producing faulty chips, are you pulling a fast one? Ludwik, you owe us compensation." The CEO of Tyche Inc. exploded on the spot.

Reporters spread the bombshell news online. Skyfaith's chip debacle quickly became top news. Related to this, Skyfaith's stock began to plummet.

Ludwik, unfazed, exchanged a glance with Felix. Felix smirked and nodded. Ludwik's icy gaze caught Jarvis in the distance, his lips curling into a cold smile, preparing to return to the company, waiting to net his catch.

Just then, the entrance was stormed by several officers in prosecutor uniforms. Approaching Ludwik, their demeanor was serious, "Mr. Lippert, we're from the Banyan City Ethics Committee. We've received a report that you've been bribing officials through your Gemstone Exhibit Project. The bribe money was hidden in a contract document. Our team is currently searching your company for evidence. If we find that document, and it proves the allegations, you will be arrested for bribery, which is a serious offense. Please come with us to the station."

The room went silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Ludwik seemed caught off guard, "The Gemstone Exhibit Project?"