Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 459

A chill traced Florence's cheek as she blinked innocently, "Just three more days, I remember. I'll do my best for Ludwik's mom." "Thank you," Ludwik said.

After grabbing breakfast at the S-T Group's cafeteria, they were heading back when Florence suddenly spotted Whitney and Sandy chatting and laughing over work matters. Florence's expression darkened. She realized that Sandy was seeking Whitney's support.

Sandy had always been a tough nut, not at all like Sienna, who fawned over Florence.

Florence had never liked her, least of all because Sandy was the illegitimate daughter whom no one in the Sheldon family thought Florence was wrong to bully. Everyone blamed Sandy.

The thought of Sandy trying to escape her grasp and cozying up to Whitney, possibly spilling her secrets...

Florence narrowed her eyes and ascended the stairs quietly.

Back in his office, Ludwik began to work as Florence followed.

Seeing him busy, Florence offered, "Ludwik, it's my first day, and I'm not really sure what to do. Can I make you a coffee?"

"Sure, take it easy. You're just here to get a feel for the place. Your well-being comes first," Ludwik advised without looking up.

Florence smiled and headed to the break room.

She prepared two aromatic coffees and stood by the window, observing the office space. Spotting Sandy returning to her desk and Whitney to her office, Florence added more water to the coffees, making them dangerously full. Carefully, she chose to walk past Sandy's desk.

As Sandy bent over her drawer, Florence approached, a malevolent glint in her eyes.

She stopped, whispering venomously, "Sandy, cozying up to Whitney, thinking she can take me on?"

Startled by Florence's sudden presence, Sandy, haunted by childhood memories, turned around, her hands hesitating in the air.

Florence, feigning shock, stumbled backward, spilling the coffees. Most of it scalded Sandy's neck, while Florence deliberately splashed some on her own ankle.

She fell, crying out in pain.

Sandy, her face whitening from the burn, jumped up, the chair clattering behind her, and yelled, "What are you doing?!"

"I-I'm so sorry... It was an accident..." Florence whimpered, tears welling up in her eyes as she curled up on the floor.

The commotion quickly drew the attention of their colleagues.

"What's going on?"

Sandy's assistant rushed over, "Sandy, are you alright?"

"Nyx's ankle got burned!" Florence's assistant shouted.

Ludwik emerged from his office, his authoritative presence instantly silencing the room.

"Ludwik, I-I..." Florence lay on the floor, coughing and unable to get up.

Her skirt had ridden up, revealing a swollen, reddened ankle. Ludwik knelt beside her, concerned, "What happened here?"

He looked around, his gaze stern, "What's going on?"

In the Sheldon family, Sandy knew Ludwik was Florence's boyfriend, and the burn on her neck made her shiver in pain.

"Mr. Lippert, it seems Nyx was walking with the coffees and accidentally bumped into Sandy," Florence's assistant explained.

"I didn't!" Sandy, defiant, clenched her fists, "She called out to me on purpose..."

"Ludwik, don't blame Sandy. I was so happy to see my cousin, I called out, and she pushed me..."

Despite Florence's plea not to blame Sandy, the insinuation was clear.

Sandy, feeling both hate and fear, knew Florence's schemes all too well.

"Why did you push her? You're her cousin, you should know she's frail. Was it on purpose?" Ludwik's inquiry was cold.

Seeing Florence's worsening condition, Ludwik helped her up, "Is it bad?"

"Ludwik, it hurts!" Florence's tears fell, "But I can't apply any medicine, right? I'll bear it."

Then, tears streaming, she added, "Don't blame Sandy. It wasn't on purpose..."

Ludwik frowned, knowing how critical these three days were for his mother's health and that Florence couldn't afford any complications. He turned to Sandy, his face stern, "Apologize to Nyx."

Humiliated, Sandy looked at Florence's seemingly fragile form, tears in her eyes, "Mr. Lippert, I got burned too, and I didn't push her..." Ludwik, focused on Florence, demanded an apology, his imposing stance intimidating Sandy into silence.

"Apologize, or else," his voice brooked no argument.

Tears fell as Sandy shook, refusing to apologize.

"Fire her!" Ludwik's patience snapped.

"No!" Sandy's world collapsed, her gaze locking with Florence's smug triumph.

All her struggles within the Sheldon family, her hard-won job at S-T Group, all seemed in vain against Florence's machinations.

Desperate, Sandy wondered, who could possibly help her now?

"Mr. Lippert, what on earth did my colleague Sandy do to warrant being fired on your command?" Suddenly, Whitney's voice cut through the tense atmosphere.

Sandy turned around, her eyes sparking with emotion.

Whitney, in her high heels, marched out of the office, her slim figure seemingly fragile against Ludwik's absolute authority. Yet, the woman walked straight up to Ludwik and Florence, unyielding. She glanced at Florence, almost wrapped protectively in Ludwik's embrace, a sharp coldness flickering in her eyes.

Florence, on seeing Whitney, had a dark gleam in her eyes. Getting rid of Sandy was just a convenient move; her true target was Whitney. Protecting Sandy would mean crossing Ludwik, exactly what Florence intended. "Ludwik, I think I need to put some ice on this; it hurts so much..." Florence clung to Ludwik's shirt, collapsing into his arms as if boneless.

Under normal circumstances, Ludwik might have instinctively pushed her away. But with Whitney there, witnessing his anger and scorn, recalling her disagreeable demeanor that morning, his irritation flared uncontrollably.

Ludwik, holding Florence, coldly eyed Whitney. "Do I need the approval of an assistant manager to fire someone? Didn't you see your subordinate deliberately push Florence, causing her to scald her ankle? She cannot be compromised, so I must punish Sandy!" "Fire her!"

"Hold on!" Whitney interjected sharply, her voice heavy with sarcasm, "Oh, 'she cannot be compromised', really?"