Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 418

Natalie insisted those photos were all a misunderstanding, declaring her son would never lie!

Whitney felt a wave of absurdity wash over her as she reflected on everything she had done that afternoon: foolishly romantic gestures, giving him countless chances, her heart softening for him yet again. She thought of how Natalie had persuaded her, the dim hope in Danny's eyes turning into despair. He wouldn't text back, wouldn't answer calls, just saying, "I'm swamped, got a meeting." He also said, "You shouldn't have come to New York, go back to Oakville and stay with Danny." All the chaos turned into a sharp irony, stripping away her defenses and crushing her heart into a dull ache that spread throughout her body.

How could she and her son be so naïve to believe he was just busy with work? He was indeed busy-busy dating, shopping, and dancing with someone new, too occupied to spare Danny a thought. Thinking of her sons, Whitney felt as if her heart was being crushed, leaving her gasping for breath.

"Ludwik..." Florence gently shook the man's arm.

Ludwik quickly averted his gaze, his eyes cold as ice, looking away from the pale-faced woman opposite him. The last thing he wanted was happening right before his eyes. How could she be Florence's sister, Hudson's daughter? No wonder he thought Florence looked familiar at first sight...

"Florence, is this your boyfriend? But isn't he the Ludwik from the news? Oh my God, I'm not mistaken, am I?" Sienna burst out, screaming in shock. Her outcry drew the attention of the elderly Hudson, who took a closer look at the man. Hudson, advanced in years, hadn't seen clearly before due to the backlighting. Now, recognizing the man, he was utterly stunned.

Hudson looked at Whitney with a complicated expression, his mind spinning, unable to grasp the situation fully before asking Florence, "Florence, is he really your boyfriend?"

"Father, could there be any doubt?" Florence chuckled, "Ludwik and I had love at first sight, and I only found out today that he is indeed Ludwik."

"Let's not talk about my boyfriend right now. Where's my sister?" the girl said softly, gently looking up.

Hudson sighed internally, pulling Whitney closer, "This is your sister, Whitney."

"Whitney? What a lovely name," the girl approached with a friendly gaze, "Sister, I'm so happy to meet you for the first time. I've been sick since I was little, couldn't bring much joy to our parents. Welcome to the family, you're the long-lost heiress, we've always had a place for you at home." Hudson's wife walked over, not sparing Whitney a glance, expressing her sympathy to Florence, "Florence, don't blame yourself; you're the most considerate and caring child."

"Ha, Florence, she's just an illegitimate child, what kind of heiress is she? You're just too kind, giving her undeserved honor!" Sienna sneered coldly.

Florence, distressed, coughed, "Sienna, why would you say that? Our sister has just returned..."

"Don't get worked up." Ludwik instinctively reminded her to keep her emotions in check.

Whitney's eyes stung with pain, watching him show concern for another woman. Florence, blushing, took his hand, shyly introducing him, "Sister, this is my boyfriend, Ludwik. Sorry to spring this on you." Ludwik's jaw tensed, his face cold. His hand was held by the girl, and he wanted to pull away, but under the watchful eyes of the Sheldon family, he was already too deep in the play.

Whitney managed a cold laugh, "Such a handsome man, acting like a scoundrel, how could he possibly offend me? His actions are 'a feast for the eyes,' 'quite the spectacle'!" Ludwik understood her sarcasm, as if pierced by invisible barbs. His expression turned frigid, his heart sinking into an abyss.

"Is that how you speak? Are you trying to stir trouble? Uncle, I'm not being difficult, but this kind of illegitimate child just can't stand seeing others happy!" Sienna's words were sharp. Florence helplessly pulled her, "Maybe sister was just joking."

"What joke. Sister, when choosing men, you really need to keep your eyes wide open. Of course, if after careful consideration you chose this kind of man, that's another matter entirely." Whitney's tone was teasing.

Florence smiled innocently, feeling a chill in her heart, sensing an underlying message in her words. Holly paused, glancing at Hudson as if pondering Whitney's words, then quickly laughed, "Who would have thought Florence's boyfriend turned out to be the newly returned prodigal of the Lippert family? What a coincidence..."

"Mom, indeed." Florence smiled shyly, "I thought Ludwik was just an ordinary guy, turned out to be quite the mix-up."

"This just shows, it must be fate that brought our Florence such noble luck." Hudson's wife laughed, sizing up Ludwik, a young man of outstanding appearance and stature, rare in this world. The Sheldon Group was a century-old powerhouse, but compared to Harmonia Country's wealthiest, the Lippert family, they were not on the same level. The Lippert family's wealth and power were unmatched, reigning over Harmonia Country for decades.

Hudson's wife showed a sycophantic smile, "Florence, why not invite your boyfriend Ludwik inside?"

Florence, extremely shy, seemed to remember something, turning to Whitney with a smile, "Oh, sister." She took out a beautifully crafted ceramic mug from her bag, offering it with both hands, "This is our first meeting, and I didn't know what to get you. Ludwik and I made this ceramic mug on our date today; please accept it as a small token."

Whitney stared at the mug, feeling as if the word "date" plunged her into an icy well. Her eyes moist with coldness. A mug they made on a date, given to her, was indeed a gift sharper than a knife, reminding her, was it offered in the guise of a brother-in-law, a bloodless way to kill.

Whitney squinted her eyes at Florence, getting a first real glimpse of what Holly was all about. It seemed this "stepsister" was a real piece of work, and now Whitney's mind was swirling with questions. Was Florence really as innocent as she appeared, or was there something more cunning beneath the surface?

And if she was unaware of her being Ludwik's ex-wife, that was one thing. But if she knew and still acted this sweet and innocent, then she was playing a game at a level even Elaine couldn't reach!

Whitney hid the coldness in her hazel eyes, clutching her heart that seemed to spasm with pain. Her gaze stubbornly fixed on Ludwik, filled with a mix of sarcasm and hurt. She was dying to see if he had anything to say in his defense. When the cup was offered and Whitney refused it, the atmosphere turned icy.

Florence looked helplessly at Ludwik, "Ludwik, does sister not like it?"

Her innocent act made it seem as if Whitney's refusal was the cruelest rejection imaginable.

"Florence, let it go. She's from a small town, probably only interested in flashy jewelry and riches. How could she appreciate the value of something handmade, something you, being from high society, cherish?" Sienna couldn't stand it any longer and lashed out with a mix of cold mockery and sarcasm. "You've always valued simplicity, believing that things made by hand are the most precious. But commoners like her wouldn't understand that." Hudson's wife frowned upon hearing Sienna's words, her gaze on Whitney turning critical.

"Nonsense! Whitney is the CEO of a publicly traded company. She's worth more than you, Sienna!" Hudson jumped to his daughter's defense. Holly's eyes flickered with discontent at the sidelines.

Ludwik's brow furrowed, understanding all too well why Whitney had refused the gift. He had seen the hurt in her eyes, and his heart ached in response. He stepped in front of Florence, his voice low and firm, "Florence, people have different tastes. Perhaps next time you could choose a different gift."