Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 282

Mr. Percy was the first to lose it, his voice cracking with urgency, "Elaine, how can the auction house just refuse to sell to you like that? Now, with Skye Gem Ltd.'s assets frozen solid and shares locked, we're knee-deep in debt. You've got to pull us out of this mess!" corner you veterans of Skye Gem Ltd. into a dead end? It's despicable!"

Elaine feigned helplessness, "I wish I could help, really, I do. But my hands are tied. To tell you the truth, it's Whitney pulling strings, threatening Mr. Rufus not to sell Skye Gem Ltd. to me. Ms. Valentine's pettiness knows no bounds. It's one thing to come after me, but to

"What!" Mr. Percy exploded in anger, "So this is Whitney's doing? If she can't have Skye Gem Ltd., she'd rather see it crash and burn?"

Elaine added fuel to the fire, "Exactly. And she's even managed to tick off Ludwik. No matter how much I tried to calm him down, he was livid. He's made it clear to everyone in Banyan City not to touch your shares, leaving Skye Gem Ltd. with no way out..." Mr. Percy staggered back a few steps, his face a mask of despair, then, with veins throbbing in anger, he rallied, "It's Whitney's fault. If she plays dirty, so will we. Come on, let's give her a taste of her own medicine!"

"We'll make her pay!"

"Hey, you guys..." Elaine feigned a protest. Then, crossing her arms, a cold smile played on her lips.

Jaxon chuckled, "Elaine, you really know how to play the game."

"Let their anger towards her brew. It might just lead to her downfall," Elaine said with a sinister edge.

---

Midday, Whitney was about to whip up some lunch for Sammy when the door was pounded on furiously. Rushing to open it, suddenly, a slap flew out of nowhere, landing squarely on her cheek!

"Whitney, you selfish, despicable wretch, Skye Gem Ltd. was your grandfather's legacy. Why would you drive us to ruin?" Mr. Percy, followed by a furious mob, barged in.

Mr. Liam pointed accusingly, "We're not young anymore. When Skye Gem Ltd. went into liquidation three years ago, we had nowhere else to turn. We were counting on Elaine buying out the company, and thanks to Mr. Lippert, we were on the verge of striking it rich. But no, you had to ruin it with your underhanded tactics. We won't let you get away with this!"

Whitney, touching her cheek, paused for a moment, then calmly faced the angry shareholders. Their sudden knowledge of her apartment address... And their accusations of bringing them to ruin? They wouldn't let her off easily? It didn't take long for Whitney to connect the dots, recalling the malicious look in Elaine's eyes that morning.

She wasn't rattled, though, and asked with a smirk, "And who told you I'm the reason for your downfall?"

"Isn't it obvious? In trying to take down Elaine, you've angered Mr. Lippert. He's vowed to block any exit for us in Banyan City, leaving our shares worthless. We're practically walking dead!"

Whitney narrowed her eyes. Elaine was quite the schemer. As for Ludwik, his tactics were ruthless. But this played right into her hands. The shareholders' fury was precisely what she needed.

Whitney casually sat down, cleaning her ears, "Yes, I can't stand Elaine. Personal vendettas aside, I gambled Skye Gem Ltd. and lost. For that, I apologize to you, my uncles and aunts. But if you're sitting on unsold shares, that's on you. You had three years of chances to sell but got greedy, hoping to strike it rich off Ludwik."

"You dare blame us, after throwing it all away?" Mr. Percy, incensed by her defiance, signaled to some men outside. "Bind her and take her away!"

"What are you doing? Mommy!" Sammy's small figure dashed forward. In the interest of making the scene believable, Whitney hadn't clued Sammy in on the truth. Instead, she shielded her son, giving up the struggle, "At least let me change my clothes, will you?" Mr. Percy, knowing she had no escape, waved dismissively. Whitney retreated to her bedroom, calling Nyx, her lips curling into a smirk, "Nyx, it's time to speed up the plan. Use the billion I gave you to buy out all the shareholders' stakes at rock-bottom prices. Reveal Royal Jewelry Company's involvement, and they'll be tripping over themselves to sell."

Nyx instantly understood why Ms. Valentine had threatened Mr. Rufus the night before, continuing to freeze Skye Gem Ltd.'s assets. The shareholders were desperate. Their hearts weren't in Skye Gem Ltd. anymore. Ms. Valentine was playing a long game. After Whitney emerged, she and her son were taken away by Mr. Percy, the commotion alerting the apartment's security. But they couldn't stop the irate shareholders.

---

At Everwood Villa Estate, lunch was underway. Elaine, ever the gracious host, helped the maid with the dishes, looking at Ludwik with an air of concern, "Ludwik, I've just heard that the shareholders of Skye Gem Ltd. have gone after Ms. Valentine. They're furious and might resort to violence." Ludwik paused, dabbing his lips with a napkin, and replied coolly after a moment, "She brought it upon herself. In her attempt to thwart your acquisition of Skye Gem Ltd., she's stirred up a hornet's nest. Did she really think she'd get away scot-free?" Elaine, with her inherent kindness, added, "Still, no matter her intentions against me, I wouldn't wish harm upon her..."

"Don't be too naive." Ludwik looked at her tenderly, "Let this be a lesson for her. She needs to learn that she can't swallow Skye Gem Ltd. whole."

After Whitney returned, she was non-stop on the move. Whether it was working for Imperial Gem Corporation or playing dirty for Skye Gem Ltd., it was all aimed against him and Elaine. Especially what happened last night...

The mere thought turned Ludwik's face dark with anger, utterly devoid of pity!

"You still don't know I have a soft heart, huh?" Elaine said, her voice soft, her eyes locked on the reddish mark peeking out from his shirt collar, feeling a pang of jealousy that made her figuratively bleed. Thankfully, she had ruthlessly used the shareholders to deal with Whitney. That woman must be getting a taste of her own medicine right now! Just the thought brought a twisted sense of satisfaction...

---

A group of shareholders had thrown Whitney into an old warehouse. It was isolated, the perfect spot for her cries to go unheard.

Mr. Percy sipped his coffee, glaring at the fallen Whitney and her son on the ground, his voice laced with venom, "For the shady stuff you've pulled, we could kill you and it wouldn't even begin to cover your debts. But, out of respect for your grandfather, I'll spare your life, Whitney. All you have to do is go beg Mr. Lippert for mercy, convince him not to blacklist us, and you can walk out of here tonight. Otherwise, I can't guarantee your kid's safety!" His gaze menacingly shifted to Sammy.

Whitney placed a protective hand over Sammy, her expression calm as she firmly declined, "I will never beg Ludwik for anything. You might as well give up on that idea."

""You!" Mr. Percy was livid.

Just then, his phone rang. He stepped away to answer, and soon his expression shifted to one of surprise and delight, "Which company did you say you're with? Yes, I do hold ten percent of Skye Gem Ltd.'s shares..." Whitney narrowed her eyes.

Meanwhile, Sammy, who had been scared by Mr. Percy's menacing look, was quietly following the conversation. The old guy wanted his mom to plead with his scumbag dad, but she refused... What were they going to do? He and his mom couldn't just end up beaten to death here.

Sammy stealthily eyed the smartwatch on his wrist. He could contact Danny! Maybe Danny could figure out a way to talk to his dad and let him know they were in danger.