Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 404

was dead?"

Hudson knelt on one knee in front of the gravestone, his hand tenderly caressing the black-and-white photo of the woman etched upon it. His smile was bittersweet as he murmured, "Parisa, you kept the truth from me so well. Why did you lie to me, saying our daughter Whitney's mind reeled, thrown into turmoil.

Ten minutes later, in a house at the base of the cemetery hill.

Hudson sat down slowly across from Whitney, introducing himself simply, "My name is Hudson. I live in Emperor City, Whitney. This time, it was this kind gentleman beside you who brought your mother's keepsake to me, along with a message. That's how I found out you were still alive. You've been carefully protected by your mother all this time." Whitney hesitantly glanced at Torin.

Torin, excited and joyful, nodded vigorously, signaling to her-Missy, go ahead, call him Dad!

Yet, Whitney couldn't bring herself to say it, her gaze lingering on Hudson. With Emperor City hosting the prestigious Sheldon family, ranking among the top three in all of Harmonia Country, and judging by the dignified and noble aura of the man before her, it seemed he was indeed her father. The Sheldons were known as a century-old dynasty, illustrious and grand.

To Whitney, all of this felt distant and unfamiliar. Recalling Torin's words about her father's family background, she couldn't quite pinpoint her feelings, "You... came all this way for me?"

Her indifferent tone took Hudson aback, but he quickly recovered with a smile, "You're so much like Parisa in spirit. I've missed out on so many years with you, my daughter. My wish is to bring you home, to make up for the familial love you've been deprived of, to cherish and care for you closely."

Whitney furrowed her brows, taken aback. The Sheldon empire was vast, a realm far beyond the reach of Banyan City's influence. Her thoughts then drifted to the Valentine family, and the complicated entanglements with Monica Valentine and her daughter. Before she could further ponder, a wave of fatigue washed over her, signaling her weariness of the high society dramas.

Whitney showed no interest, instinctively shaking her head, "I'm sorry, but I'm quite content with my life as it is."

"Whitney," Keegan didn't want her to make a hasty decision, his brow creased in concern, "What kind of life are you content with? I understand you might feel distant from Jared."

A flash of guilt crossed Hudson's face, "Do you resent me? Actually, I sought out your mother when you were just a baby, wanting to acknowledge you. The position of the eldest daughter in our family has always been reserved for you. But your mother was stubborn, determined to sever ties, and vanished, claiming you were sick and had passed away. It broke my heart for years, even after having another daughter with my current wife. I instructed everyone to refer to her as Ms. Sheldon. You've always had a place in my heart." Whitney remained silent, contemplating whether her father was as terrible as she feared. She couldn't help but ask, "What was the nature of your relationship with my mother? Did you have a family, and she was your mistress?"

"No, she was never that!" Keegan responded with a pained expression, "Parisa and I were deeply in love, classmates in college. However, back then, the Tennyson family didn't match up to the Sheldon Group, according to my grandparents. Caught in a web of family schemes, I ended up entangled with my current wife. Upon replaceing out, your mother left me, pregnant with you. At that time, the Tennyson family faced financial ruin. I wandered aimlessly for months, my wife suffered a miscarriage, and I married her as compensation. I attempted to reach out to your mother later to assist the Tennyson family, but she despised me and refused. From then on, the Tennyson family vanished without a trace..."

Whitney's heart churned with emotion, realizing the depth of her mother's tragic love story. It felt like a saga of manipulation and betrayal within the wealthy elite. She felt sorrow and indignation, piecing together that her grandfather must have taken her mother into hiding in Banyan City. The downfall of the Tennyson family, orchestrated by the Bartels Group...

"So, Whitney, come home with me. As Hudson's daughter, you deserve a better life, and you have a right to my estate."

"Let your father take care of you," Keegan added, hoping to persuade her.

Yet Whitney remained cool and detached, standing up to leave, "Ms. Sheldon... I appreciate your offer, but you already have your own children to worry about. The world of the elite is complicated, and I have no desire for your wealth. I won't bother you further." "Whitney, it's your right. Torin and I both wish for you to have strong protection," Keegan said with depth.

Hudson admitted, "I have no sons, only your sister and my wife at home. Your sister is frail but kind-hearted. You needn't worry about being mistreated at home; I will protect you. I've prepared 10% of the Sheldon Group's shares as a welcome home gift, and there's a place for you in the company. I've heard great things about you!"

For many, the offer might have been irresistible. But Whitney, still resistant, simply said, "Dad, I'll call you that this once. But I won't be coming back."

With a polite nod, Whitney pushed Keegan's wheelchair and left.

Torin, looking at Hudson's disappointed face, signed, "I'll try talking to her again."

"Thank you," Hudson sighed, his expression grave, "Finding Whitney is no longer a secret within the Sheldon family. The elite world is indeed fraught with conflict, and I must bring her under my protection to prevent others from targeting her."

Torin was taken aback, his good intentions now seeming questionable in the complex dynamics of the Sheldon family. Doubt crept in about whether his efforts were right or wrong.

-

Whitney returned home, her heart heavy with mixed feelings. The revelation of her origins loomed large over her, leaving her feeling completely adrift. Whitney's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts she yearned to share with someone.

The first face that flashed through her mind was Ludwik's, mature and reassuring...

Whitney shook her head fiercely. Why on earth would she think of him?

She berated herself, irritated by the lingering dependence she felt towards him, despite hating him so fiercely. Perhaps, emotions weren't so easily cast aside. Clutching her fists, Whitney tried to suppress her emotions and dialed Tiana, still unsure of how to broach the subject.

Tiana's voice came through, annoyed, "Whitney, that woman Elaine is the worst! She couldn't get her claws into Ludwik, so now she's messing with Ashton and Valerie. I was supposed to go with Valerie for a check-up today. She thought... she might be pregnant. And there, we ran into Ashton, arm in arm with Elaine. That witch must've fed him some kind of spell because he actually believes that she didn't mean to harm Natalie, that she didn't donate her kidney out of fear and had someone else do it instead. Elaine's playing the victim, saying she's down to one kidney and begging Ashton to take care of her. Ashton, the fool, felt sorry for her and agreed. It makes me sick. Seeing Ashton like this broke Valerie's heart. She didn't even go through with the check-up, just ran home crying."

Whitney gripped her phone tighter, knowing well that if Valerie was pregnant, the child was undoubtedly Ashton's. A chill spread across her face. Her disdain for Elaine knew no bounds. But Elaine held the fate of Sammy's life and death in her hands, or else Whitney would have already sent this vile woman straight to hell!

-

At the hospital.

Elaine, nestled in Ashton's arms and feigning pain, saw Valerie leave in tears and couldn't help but smirk triumphantly. Even if she had lost Ludwik, Ashton was still her loyal fallback. All she had to do was snap her fingers, and Ashton would abandon Valerie to marry her. She always found a way to make Whitney and her friends miserable!

Focusing on the matter at hand, she quickly pulled out a photograph, "Ashton, remember I asked you to look into the girl who's been hanging around Ludwik? Did you replace out who she is?"