Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 320

Zane's brow furrowed in frustration, "Are you telling me the other 'dead' kid is still alive, under Whitney's care?"

"It caught me off guard as well. I stumbled upon it in South City. Those two little brats have been sneaking around behind our backs, mocking me for a while now! After returning to Banyan City, in the dead of night, I secretly sent someone to exhume the grave where Ludwik buried the infant years ago and take the bones for a DNA test. And sure enough, that baby wasn't..."

"Luckily, Ludwik hasn't noticed yet. Those two troublemakers, they look exactly alike!" Elaine said through gritted teeth.

"After you forced Whitney to jump into the sea back then, you were too complacent. Even if the bodies had decomposed, you should've checked the DNA. Now we're left with so many loose ends!" Zane couldn't help but scowl.

"Enough, all you do is blame Elaine. She's panicking too, isn't she? If Ludwik hasn't noticed the other bastard child, we'll just take care of it!" Delphine said harshly.

Zane pursed his lips, looking at Elaine, "This needs to be dealt with immediately and without alerting the Bartels family. Keegan serves as a warning; it's a sensitive time."

Elaine felt a chill at her father's indifference, but she also knew the gravity of the situation. It couldn't involve the Bartels family or herself any further.

Who would do it?

Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts when suddenly, her phone vibrated. Looking at the caller ID, Elaine suddenly had an idea...

Delphine continued to incite her daughter, "Do it all in one go, take both kids out! Daniel has lived for three years, which was enough. Initially, we thought Whitney was gone for good, and he was of no consequence. Now that all three are alive, they will become a major threat. If Ludwik discovers the twins are alive and well, might he forgive Whitney? Would he still marry you then? Think about it!"

Elaine clenched her fists hard; her mother's words were exactly what she had anticipated. She couldn't let the 'dead son' deep hatred unravel between Ludwik and that woman. Moreover, it seemed Ludwik was reluctant to have children with her now, an ominous sign! Feeling threatened, her face turned cold, "I'll handle it. You and father keep an eye on Keegan's case."

---

At 3 AM, Bryce secretly transported Jaxon's 'body' to a cottage on the outskirts of town. Whitney waited in her apartment for his call, detailing the body switch process. Despite the shock, she took a deep breath.

Without rest, she brought medicine and summoned two private doctors to the cottage overnight. Jaxon, after taking a 'death-faking pill,' needed an antidote. But before that, Whitney had to leave evidence of Jaxon 'being killed by the Bartels family.'

This evidence, to be presented at her uncle's trial in a few days, needed a plausible explanation for Jaxon's resurrection and to accuse the Bartels family of silencing him.

After the doctors preserved the evidence, she began treating Jaxon until dawn. Gradually regaining consciousness, Jaxon was sweating profusely, as if in a nightmare.

"My daughter...!" Jaxon cried out, waking up.

Daughter?

Whitney stared at his youthful face, knowing he hadn't started a family.

"Are you awake?" Whitney approached his bedside.

Jaxon weakly opened his eyes. Without wasting words, Whitney extended her hand, "You sought my help, and I saved you. At death's door, you saw the true face of the Bartels family. Now, you have no choice but to rely on me, to tell the court everything the Bartels family instructed you to do, to clear my uncle's name. It's the only way out for you and your family. Jaxon, write down everything that happened. I know you've hidden some evidence; hand it all over."

Jaxon gave a bitter smile, eyes downcast, "First, get me well; I can barely speak right now."

"Of course."

The death-faking pill had damaged his lungs; recovery would take a day or two before he could walk. With her uncle's trial just five days away, time was pressing. Whitney instructed the doctors to administer an injection. Stepping out, she instructed Bryce, "Keep a few bodyguards on him. As soon as he can walk, I need to press him for evidence."

"It should be fine now. Your uncle's case looks promising on the day of the trial," Bryce breathed a sigh of relief, offering his phone with a light chuckle. "As for the Bartels family, they think they're in the clear."

The phone displayed the morning news.

"Last night, a suspect committed suicide in Banyan City jail. Jaxon, overwhelmed with guilt, took his own life in the police station. His employer, the Bartels Hospital, expressed condolences and cooperated with the police investigation, claiming Jaxon's ashes..." Zane, rarely seen in public, appeared calm and relaxed in the photo.

Whitney glanced at Jaxon inside the cottage, a cold smirk crossing her face. Yet, she couldn't truly relax. After getting into her car, she contacted Tiana, "Tiana, how's the investigation into the Bartels Group's pharmaceutical plant in Banyan City going?"

"No luck. I found other illegal drugs from the Bartels family on the black market. But the hallucinogen your uncle took, from production to sales, the Bartels family has erased all traces. Also, Whitney, I had an old friend in the police department take a closer look. The bribes for the corrupt guards and inmates trace back only to Jaxon, not the Bartels family."

Whitney's brow furrowed. In this case, Jaxon was her only lifeline. His testimony and evidence would be the biggest proof against the Bartels family!

"I'll start with Jaxon. Tiana, if you can't replace anything, stop searching to avoid alerting the Bartels family... By the way, after you returned from South City, why have you been so quiet these last few days? Nothing happened, right?"

Tiana hesitated, not wanting to burden her friend with her own troubles. But she'd been so distracted lately. After a pause, she ventured, "Whitney, I'm thinking of moving. How's the rent at your apartment complex?"

"Why move all of a sudden?" Whitney caught on immediately.

Tiana paled on the other end of the phone. The day Cherry had been caught by Parker, even though she'd managed to snatch back her child and flee, the fact remained that Parker had seen her! What if Barclay found out soon? She hoped Parker wouldn't meddle. And then there was the troublemaker, Endora! She instinctively wanted to avoid Parker...

---

Late at night, in a luxurious hotel suite. Elaine moaned incessantly under Jarvis, clinging to him for more even after he stopped.

"That's three times already. You think I'm made of steel?" Jarvis slapped her behind, pushing the woman off as he gasped for air and lit a cigarette with a devilish grin.

Elaine, sweaty and seductive yet visibly frustrated, retorted, "Ludwik could go five times in a night. Why can't you?"

Jarvis's face darkened. Being compared by a woman was the last thing any man wanted. Especially to his Ludwik!

He flicked his cigarette ash harshly, as Elaine realized her mistake, comparing him to someone else and then complaining.

She immediately pounced back, rubbing against him in frustration, "I didn't mean it like that, darling..."

"Stop acting in front of me. I like the real you."

Jarvis scoffed, lifting her chin and sardonically commented, "Oh, so Ludwik and his ex-wife could do it five times, and that got you all worked up? I wonder why you came running the moment I called."

The mention of them made Elaine's breathing uneven again!

"Don't talk about them. It annoys me," she feigned teary eyes.

"Oh, what's bothering you then?" Jarvis smirked, pinching her body playfully.

Seeing she'd piqued his interest, Elaine unevenly spilled the beans.

Jarvis, quick on the uptake, turned to glare at her, "Such a small issue. A couple of brats, I can handle that for you, no?"

"Would you really help?"