Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 447

Isn't this just Sienna stirring up trouble at the last minute?

Whitney flashed a cold look and calmly whispered to Hudson, "Dad, I'll explain to you later."

She straightened up, her slender figure poised, and walked over, pulling out two gifts. "Grandma and Grandpa, this is my first time back at the family mansion, and I've prepared a little something for you both, hoping you'll enjoy it." The butler handed the gifts over.

Emma opened hers to replace a jade bracelet, pretty average in her eyes, something she couldn't care less about, probably worth a few thousand dollars.

That's when Holly chimed in with a smile, "Whitney really loves her grandma, though she could improve her taste a bit. Grandma prefers high-quality pure jade. Florence, on the other hand, has given quite a few nice ones." This reminded the old lady, who looked at Florence tenderly, "Florence knows exactly what I like."

Then, looking back at the jade bracelet, she was even less impressed. She gave Whitney a cold look, "If you don't understand jade, you might as well learn a thing or two from Florence."

Bryce couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

Florence, standing by her grandma's side, said, "Grandma, it's the thought that counts with my sister's gift. She just wanted to make you happy."

Hinting, the gift was indeed a bit modest.

Emma couldn't help but snort.

Whitney laughed, eyeing Florence and the old lady, "I didn't know grandma valued jade so much, nor did I know my sister was such an expert? This bracelet is made from ancient jade from the Ming dynasty. It might not look impressive, but it's priceless. I used to run a jewelry business and had a few treasures on hand. I really wanted to make grandma happy, so I personally polished this priceless treasure. I didn't expect my sister to think the gift was modest, and Holly thinks I need to improve my taste? It seems grandma isn't someone who values wealth over everything, otherwise, how could she fail to see the value of this bracelet?"

After she finished, the expressions on Florence and Holly's faces completely changed.

The old lady's face turned a mix of shock and disdain. She had all the finest bracelets on the market, but had never seen this kind of raw jade?

Now Whitney was sarcastically calling her out for being shallow and materialistic, unable to see the value of this raw jade!

The three women were fuming, but saying anything more would only make them seem shallower.

Whitney made it clear she had experience in jewelry. In other words, don't mess with her.

Florence was secretly grinding her teeth.

Hudson glared at Holly, having seen through her antics that night, "I warned you not to stir up trouble today."

Holly was seething with rage, casting a helpless glance at someone in the crowd.

That person didn't meet her gaze.

"Alright." Jared, observing quietly, looked at his granddaughter for the first time and noticed the teapot she gave, "Grandpa likes this gift. You're Whitney?"

"Yes, Grandpa." Whitney pondered, unable to gauge Jared's demeanor, which was gentle yet distant.

The old man, shrewd as ever, then turned to Bryce, "And you're her friend?"

Bryce stepped forward, introducing himself, "Hello, Jared, I'm Bryce, from Banyan City..."

Just then, a tall figure in a black suit, Ludwik, entered the Sheldon family's doorway, his presence commanding and impossible to ignore.

Upon noticing the crowd, Ludwik slightly raised his eyebrow, his demeanor cool and collected.

Florence hurried over to him, coughing with excitement, "Ludwik, you finally made it. My sister's fiancé has been here for a while now. See, that gentleman over there... Sienna said she was picking someone up from the airport today and ran into my sister going to pick up this man early in the morning. She even took a photo-"

Florence proudly showed Ludwik the photo, shyly saying, "My sister is really good to her boyfriend."

Ludwik glanced at the photo: Whitney and Bryce embracing at the airport.

He looked up, scanning the man standing in the Sheldon family's living room, and Whitney by his side, looking almost like a devoted wife.

In that moment, Ludwik's gaze turned icy.

After three years, Bryce was again her fiancé, and she brought him to meet the Sheldon family elders!

What had he told her the other night at the Lippert family? To stay away from men!

He had just dealt with Justin, and she turns around to officially introduce Bryce?

Ludwik's anger surged. The vulnerability and slight intimacy from the other night now felt like sharp knives mocking his overthinking. She had really just used him!

How dare she? Playing him while introducing Bryce to her family?

The chill in the man made Florence secretly sneer, her voice sweet, "Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, and Dad, Ludwik is here."

The room fell silent.

All eyes turned to the door-to the imposing man making his entrance, his perfect features unmatched.

The Sheldon family's women gasped quietly, having thought Whitney's fiancé was decent, but next to Ludwik, he was immediately overshadowed.

Jared, too, lost interest in what Bryce was saying, standing up with his cane.

There were rumors that the newly returned Ludwik was a formidable figure, having dealt with Riley in just three days. Now the Lippert family was wary of him!

The old lady's face lit up with a smile, "Ludwik, you're here! Florence was just talking about you."

"Tonight's Sheldon family dinner is graced by Ludwik's presence," Holly said, smugly glancing at Whitney.

Just moments ago, Bryce was the center of attention, but now, as he continued his introduction, he and Whitney were left standing alone.

The Sheldon family gathered around Ludwik and Florence with all the subtlety of a Thanksgiving parade, showering them with compliments and jostling to get a spot in Ludwik's good graces. Bryce's fists clenched at his sides. His eyes narrowed at Ludwik and the way Florence was snuggled up next to him, a flash of surprise crossing his face. "He's actually become your sister's..." "Yeah." Whitney caught the surprise in his voice; she had felt the same heart-wrenching pain.

Even now, seeing them together, looking every bit the perfect couple, she couldn't help but feel a sharp twinge of pain.

She hadn't expected to see him at the Sheldon family's dinner party. She thought he'd be with Danny at the Lippert's, celebrating a typical American holiday.

He didn't even stay with his son. Was Florence that important to him? Did he really need to have dinner with her every day?

And to think, just yesterday, when Justin had his mishap, she actually thought Ludwik cared about her...

Her heart felt like it was being squeezed.

"Ludwik's gone too far." Bryce's voice was filled with anger and hurt. "What's his deal with your sister? You come back to Emperor City and get hurt like this, and you don't tell me?"

He glanced at Ludwik, then firmly took Whitney by the shoulders, pulling her to his side. "You shouldn't have to endure this! Even if he is Ludwik now, I'll protect you. I won't let you push me away anymore, Whitney. Accept me." Having someone to lean on when you're tired and cold can indeed make all the difference.

A hint of sadness passed through Whitney's eyes, but she had never felt that way about Bryce....

She almost shook her head instinctively, but then she caught Ludwik's cold glance out of the corner of her eye. For some reason, Whitney just went silent.

Ludwik had excellent hearing, much to Bryce's dismay. He heard Bryce's confession!

Ludwik's gaze towards them was as cold as ice, seeing Bryce holding her, and her fragile form seemingly relying on Bryce's embrace...