Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 434

Ludwik didn't react to her sharp sarcasm; he was already accustomed to her quick wit. That revealing dress had to go.

His tone grew colder and angrier, "Don't make me repeat myself. And don't think for a second that I'm oblivious to your little game, deliberately clashing outfits with her. You just wanted to outshine her at tonight's party and attract more male attention that's all!" Ludwik had heard Sienna mention this right when he arrived, forming his opinion early on. At the time, he hadn't cared much, but now with Florence in tears, nauseous, and hypotensive, he felt compelled to stabilize her emotionally.

Whitney balled up her fists, itching to punch his annoying face. He actually believed Sienna, and now here he was, forcing her to change dresses-clearly another one of Florence's schemes. Tears of frustration welled up in her eyes as Whitney looked up, glaring at him hatefully.

"Me, on purpose? Ludwik, do you have any idea that this revealing dress was deliberately given to me by Florence's mother! She wanted me to be ridiculed, then play the victim, looking all pitiful because she can't compare to me in looks, hoping some idiots would fall for her damsel act. Like..." Whitney's voice dripped with sarcasm as she glanced at him.

Her biting sarcasm ignited a fire of anger between Ludwik's brows. "If you don't want to be laughed at for vulgarity, then take it off! What, got to the Emperor City and became a frog in the well? Can't move your legs seeing those rich boys, forgot about your 'Bryce'? Still want to wear that to seduce someone? In my eyes, Florence looks a hundred times more dignified and beautiful in that dress than you do. You look terrible. Take it off! Tonight, only she can wear red. I don't want her to be upset over a dress clash."

He wouldn't let her wear something like that, attracting other men's fantasies. Damned woman, doesn't she have any self-respect? And yet, he, in his current position, had no right to dictate her actions, but his heart was still arrogantly possessive. Listening to his mocking and heartless words, Whitney felt a surge of pain, bitter and unbearable. This was the man she had loved, who now saw her as less than nothing once his affections changed.

"Florence really is your treasure!" She laughed coldly, "So, to keep her from frowning even a bit, I'm not even worthy to wear the same color as her? Well, sorry, unless I go out naked, I'm wearing this 'vulgar' red dress till the end! Ludwik, you have the time to block me, why not go amend the laws of Harmonia Country instead?"

After her scathing mockery, Whitney threw the deep green dress to the ground, stomped on it a few times, then scoffed, "Asking me to wear green, what, trying to announce to the world I'm green with envy?"

"You're insisting on this?" Ludwik's voice turned icy, "Stop right there."

Whitney kicked the door in defiance! Ludwik moved towards her, forcefully grabbing the strap of her gown, his voice deep and cold, "If you won't change, I'll have to help you."

"Jerk, you wouldn't dare." Whitney struggled.

With a 'rip', his grip was too strong, accidentally tearing a hole in the shoulder of the gown. Her bare shoulder exposed to the air-conditioned chill, Whitney shivered slightly, her skin even paler. Her face drained of color, furious, she turned to pull away, "Let go!" "You need to change out of that torn dress." He refused to let go.

Suddenly, a 'tearing' sound was heard again, Whitney felt her shoulder completely exposed, her chest unprotected. Under the overhead lights, the dress slid down to her heart, her stick-on bra falling to the ground. Ludwik's eyes widened in shock, not expecting to cause such an accident. His gaze involuntarily shifted to her uncovered skin, smooth and full, curves trembling like a frightened rabbit in her arms.

He was stunned, his handsome face stiffening, turning slightly red, until a man's swallowing sound broke the silence. "I'm sorry." He bent down, his voice low, "I'll pick it up for you, but you still need to change."

"Get lost!" Whitney guarded her dress with one hand, her face flushed with anger. She glared coldly, and before he could bend down, she swiftly kneed him in a sensitive spot.

"Ugh..." Ludwik's handsome face twisted in pain, his hands clutching his stomach. "Whitney, you...!" Damn woman, how many times was she going to hit him there? "Serves you right!" Whitney shot back, hastily fixing her torn strap, shooting him a cold look before turning and running out the door.

Parker emerged, sighing at the sight of Whitney running downstairs, tears in her eyes, "Ludwik..."

Ludwik stood up, his face clouded with anger, and chased after her.

Downstairs at the banquet hall.

As Whitney descended the stairs, she spotted Florence and Sienna, both casting glances upstairs, obviously waiting for something. When Sienna saw Whitney still in her red dress, her surprise was evident, her expression displeased. That cold look seemed to say: Why haven't you changed out of that dress, you tramp?

Whitney's mind raced, understanding their anticipation for her embarrassment. She was determined to surprise them. Glancing at the gathering crowd, Whitney confidently stepped down, stopping a few feet from Florence and suddenly speaking up loudly, "Sis! Sorry, I didn't change out of my red dress, don't be mad..."

Seeing her unchanged, Florence's already dark mood darkened further. A hint of foreboding crossed her mind as Whitney's loud declaration attracted the attention of many nearby elites. One of them, curious, commented, "Whitney, your dress might be a bit old-fashioned, but you've made it the highlight of tonight. Why change it?"

Whitney flashed a bitter smile, loudly explaining, "Because my dress clashed with my sister's. Even though I tried to explain I wore it first and could show the surveillance footage, my father believed me. Seriously, Ludwik dotes on his sister way too much, pushing me aside. But sis, that green dress you had Ludwik give me, it's just horrendous!"

"I didn't..." Florence tried to gather her thoughts, suddenly going pale and coughing.

"Whitney, put a cork in it." Down the stairs came Ludwik, striding forward, irritation written all over his face.

Whitney glared at Florence, a picture of aggrieved innocence, "Look, I can't help the way I look or my body shape, sis. This dress I'm wearing is hideous, and still, Ludwik thinks I look better than you in it! Is this what you really think deep down? Insecurity won't solve your problems, sis. If it's that bad, why not try some fillers, give your curves a boost, or heck, get a whole new look. Then you might actually outshine me, right?"