Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 308

"You go around bad-mouthing my friend, trying to drag her into your mess, and you think I won't stand up to you? Do we really need to schedule a proper time for this confrontation?" Whitney stepped in front of Tiana, shielding her with her 5'5" frame, her presence overwhelming Endora.

Her defiant tone made Endora's eyes widen in shock, "You dare hit me? Do you know who my fiancé is? Guards, seize her!"

Several of the Melford family's bodyguards quickly surrounded them.

Tiana, pale-faced, tugged at Whitney's sleeve.

Noticing Tiana's torn dress strap, Whitney's gaze turned even colder.

Fearless, she even allowed a smile to play on her lips as she faced Endora, "Oh, I'm well aware that the famous Mr. Doonan is your fiancé. Why don't we invite Mr. Doonan over to sort this out?" She glanced at Tiana, hitting Endora where it hurt.

The last thing Endora wanted was for Parker to see Tiana and stir up more trouble.

Endora's face clouded over, and she scoffed, "You assault me, and think you can get away with it, Ms. Valentine? This isn't over. With everyone here as witnesses to your violence, let's call the police!" Whitney smiled again, "Calling the police? Perfect. Let's see who they believe when they replace out who came looking for trouble first, acting like a puppet master, encouraging Mr. Uriah to harass my friend?"

"Ms. Valentine, why must you be so aggressive? Yu Fei is my friend, and I know her well. She's a straightforward and innocent girl. Perhaps she was just trying to warn Mr. Uriah, thinking he was being deceived by Miss Tiana. Maybe you've misunderstood?" A soothing voice cut through the tension.

Everyone turned to see Elaine approaching gracefully, the picture of benevolence.

Whitney sneered inwardly. Was this her chance to stir up drama using Endora?

But Whitney wasn't afraid.

Raising an eyebrow, she retorted, "Oh, so Endora is Elaine's friend? Birds of a feather flock together, I see."

"What do you mean by that?" Elaine feigned hurt, "I'm just trying to keep the peace. Let's not blow this out of proportion."

"Elaine, why bother playing nice with her? Everyone knows what kind of person she is. Riding on her recent popularity, does she really think she's something special? As for reputation, Whitney and Tiana are perfect for each other, teaching her how to climb the social ladder through Mr. Uriah."

"That's a lie!"

Tiana, trembling and pale, protested, "I was only presenting my project to Mr. Uriah. Everyone saw it until you manipulated him into harassing me..."

Elaine, maintaining her gentle demeanor, turned to Tiana, "Ms. Melford, it's not that we don't believe you, but your past does raise some questions. Now, with nothing to your name, using the Melford Group's reputation to deceive others doesn't look good on you." She glanced at Whitney with a smug look.

Using the situation to her advantage, she aimed to wound Whitney for overshadowing her earlier.

Elaine, hailing from the prestigious Bartels Group, carried weight in her words.

The whispers around them started, "It takes two to tango. Even though Mr. Uriah's behavior was out of line, who knows if it wasn't Tiana's seduction plan?"

"The Melford family is desperate, Tiana could do anything."

"Endora said Whitney taught her, showing Whitney's true colors. With the backing of Skye Gem Ltd. and Royal Jewelry Company, it's clear she's had her share of male support."

"Compared to Elaine, a true lady of grace, there's a clear difference."

Elaine reveled in the gossip, while Endora looked smug, watching Tiana grow even paler.

Whitney, squeezing Tiana's hand reassuringly, mocked Elaine, "Elaine is quite the socialite, her words carry weight. But if you're going to talk, be responsible!

I wonder, Elaine, do you have any concrete evidence of Tiana's alleged misdeeds? Spreading rumors without proof, where's your sense of decency?"

The crowd was momentarily stunned.

Elaine tried to keep her composure, "Ms. Valentine, there's no need to attack me. The scandal involving Ms. Melford was public knowledge. Her involvement with thugs and the subsequent photos were all over Banyan City's headlines. It's a pity what happened to her." However, Whitney had set a trap, "I'm curious, Elaine, how did you, a socialite unacquainted with Tiana, come to know so much about her past? Not even the police had all the details, yet you're well informed. It makes one wonder if you had a role in it?" Closing in, Whitney's gaze was piercing.

Elaine's face went pale, realizing she had fallen into Whitney's trap.

Attempting to play the victim, Elaine pleaded, "Ms. Valentine, defending your friend doesn't mean you can falsely accuse others. I was merely speaking up for Yu Fei, but you've turned this against me..."

Her act of innocence was transparent.

Whitney looked around, planting seeds of doubt, letting everyone make their own judgments.

She then turned to Elaine with a smirk, "So, Elaine, being falsely accused doesn't feel great, does it?"

"If you've got something to say, bring facts to the table. All you do is beat around the bush and stir up trouble. Look where that's gotten you, right?"

Elaine's face twisted in anger, struggling to replace a comeback to Whitney's sharp retorts.

That witch, setting traps left and right, and now Elaine had walked right into one!

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Elaine noticed the shift in the room's atmosphere. Gritting her teeth, she managed, "The stuff about Ms. Melford... I admit, it was hearsay. I couldn't tell fact from fiction. I was just trying to do Yu Fei a solid, Ms. Valentine. No hard feelings, okay?"

"No hard feelings," Whitney replied, her words clipped, a smile playing on her lips-a smile so chilling it sent shivers down Elaine's spine.

"As for you, Ms. Endora, consider that slap a closed chapter. I'll cover any medical bills. But insult Tiana again, and it's on sight! And if you want to run crying to Mr. Doonan again, be my guest." Whitney's grin widened.

Endora was seething, desperate to tear Whitney apart. Whitney knew Endora didn't want Parker replaceing out about Tiana's situation, which gave her free rein.

Swallowing her pride, Endora remained silent.

"Tiana, let's get out of here," Whitney said, pulling Tiana away, ignoring the judgmental stares, and walked away.

"Ms. Valentine, wait..." Elaine suddenly stepped forward, reaching for her, but Whitney, concerned for Tiana and not in the mood for more drama, instinctively pulled away.

Before their hands even touched, Elaine let out a sharp cry, her high heels losing their battle with gravity, tumbling down hard next to Whitney.

From the angle, it looked like Whitney had pushed her.

"Ludwik, I...I don't know what happened with Ms. Valentine," Elaine cried out in distress.

Whitney, turning back in confusion, saw Ludwik's stern approach and couldn't help but roll her eyes and chuckle coldly at the absurdity.

Elaine was resorting to such low tactics now?

As Ludwik, with his long strides, came over, first helping Elaine up a gesture Whitney found overly concerned-then turned his scrutinizing gaze on Whitney, his expression darkening. "What happened here?" Ludwik demanded, towering over her.