Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 462

Whitney glanced over at Sandy, "So, Sandy, you..."

"Whitney, since Mr. Nelson invited you, I guess I'll sit this one out," Sandy said, her tone cold and timid, her demeanor towards Shane distant and detached.

Shane squinted his eyes, a smile on his face that betrayed no emotion, "The more the merrier, right? Is she your assistant?"

"Yes, this is Sandy, my cousin," Whitney introduced.

"Oh, Sienna's sister, right?" Shane seemed to recall.

Whitney chuckled. She was new to Emperor City, and while it was expected for the local elite to be well-acquainted, Sandy, being a child out of wedlock, probably didn't mingle in the same circles as Sienna. It seemed Sandy didn't know Shane. The group sat around the table, an awkward silence hanging in the air.

"I got this burn cream, top-notch stuff the hospital recommended. Won't leave a scar," Shane said, pulling out a tube.

Whitney grimaced, "I told you, I didn't burn myself."

Shane, seemingly disinterested, tossed the cream on the table, catching a glimpse of Sandy biting her lip, his brow furrowing slightly.

With a smirk, he handed the cream to Whitney, "Well, whoever needs it, can use it!"

Whitney thought about it; the cream, especially if bought by Mr. Nelson, wouldn't be cheap, so she accepted it, "Sandy, I'll have my assistant give it to you later."

Sandy was studying the menu, her short, ink-black hair covering her collarbone and brushing against her wound, causing her pain. She gasped softly.

Shane glanced at the assistant, who immediately helped Sandy with her hair.

"Please, go ahead and order, Ms. Sheldon!" Shane handed the menu to Whitney.

Whitney, noticing his eagerness, felt the need to clarify, "Actually, Mr. Nelson, I'm engaged. It was arranged by my father, and I hope you won't take this too seriously." Shane's reaction was neither surprised nor saddened, his determination unwavering, "No worries, an engagement can be broken, right?"

"Anyway, I intend to pursue you, so expect to see a lot of me. Hope you won't replace me too bothersome, Ms. Sheldon."

Whitney was too annoyed to speak.

Sandy, surprised, glanced at Shane and then at Whitney's restrained demeanor, a smile playing on her lips. Shane's gaze swept over her, his own smile widening as he teased Whitney, "Surely I'm a match for you, right?" Ding-dong, the restaurant's entrance bell rang as several people walked in.

A notably statuesque and stern figure among them automatically lowered the room's temperature with his presence.

Not to mention, his gaze landed on Whitney's table, witnessing the man opposite her fervently pursuing her, sending a chill down everyone's spine!

Florence also looked over, a smile on her lips, "What a coincidence, my sister dining here. But why with Mr. Nelson? Oh, their hands seem to be touching. Doesn't she have a fiancé...?"

With that, Florence frowned deeply, "I must be seeing things wrong, Ludwik. My sister isn't the type to be so fickle, right?"

Her reminder made Ludwik recall the earlier physical interaction between Whitney and this man!

One Bryce was enough, and on her first day at work, another suitor appears. She's always cold or sarcastic towards him at the office, always clashing with him, but now she's all smiles and flowers with another man! Ludwik felt a thorn in his side, his handsome face turning cold, "And who is he?"

"That's the Nelson family's eldest son," Florence said, turning to see Sienna walking in. She deliberately added, "I guess Mr. Nelson is pursuing my sister. After all, returning to the Sheldon family makes her a good match... But why hasn't she told Mr. Nelson about her fiancé?" She managed to darken Ludwik's mood further and catch Sienna's attention with Mr. Nelson, sitting at Whitney's table.

Sienna, like a lit firecracker, glared at Whitney, her fists clenched in jealousy, "Mr. Nelson wouldn't fall for someone like her, a girl with a country bumpkin fiancé who embarrassed herself in front of the Sheldon family! And now she's trying to seduce Mr. Nelson? Whitney, you'll see!"

Saying so, she stormed over.

Florence smiled secretly, having intentionally led Ludwik here after spotting Whitney and Mr. Nelson dining together.

"Sienna, don't be rash..." Florence said half-heartedly.

Sienna pushed past Sandy and took a seat, angrily confronting Shane, "Mr. Nelson, don't be fooled by Whitney, a second-hand good. She's got a fiancé from the countryside, even brought him to the Sheldon family to make a fool of herself! And you're pursuing her? Am I hearing right?" However, Shane's attention was entirely on Sandy, who had fallen from her chair, hitting her neck against the table corner in pain.

She broke out in cold sweat, her assistant rushing to help, "Sandy! Are you alright?"

Shane's gaze turned icy as he looked at Sienna, immediately reaching for Whitney's hand with a cold laugh, "Whom I pursue is none of your business, Sienna. I like Whitney!"

"You!" Sienna felt humiliated in front of the man she admired, her gaze venomous as she stared at Whitney.

Meanwhile, Ludwik glared at Shane's hand, wishing he could shatter it with his gaze.

Shane likes her? Publicly confessing?

And this woman, she doesn't pull away or reject him. What, does she enjoy being pursued like this?

Whitney was actually stunned, replaceing Shane's behavior towards her peculiar.

Sienna's accusations didn't bother her, but why did Shane react so aggressively?

She clumsily withdrew her hand, not wanting to start a brawl with Sienna in the restaurant. Picking up the menu, she said, "Mr. Nelson, shall we order?"

Shane shifted his gaze from Sandy, offered Sienna a cold look, and smiled warmly at Whitney, "Sure, what would you like?"

"Sandy can't handle spicy food... Let's go with something light, like chicken soup, and a few side dishes," Whitney suggested. Meanwhile, Florence's delicate voice, neither too loud nor too soft, chimed in, "Ludwik, I'd love some chicken soup too." Ludwik's eyes, cold as ice, moved from Whitney back to Florence and he smiled, "If that's what you like, then we'll order it." "Secretary, pack up all the chicken soup and side dishes in the restaurant!"

The man's unique, cool voice caught Whitney's attention. She hadn't missed Florence ordering the same soup as her. What was Ludwik's intention with this move?

Was he trying to embarrass her by accompanying Florence for lunch and not leaving any soup for her? Florence liked chicken soup, so he decided to leave none for her? Her eyes turned icy, her lips pressed tightly together.

Shane stood up, furrowing his brows and said diplomatically, "Ludwik, right? Sorry, but Ms. Sheldon at my table ordered the chicken soup and side dishes first."

"So what?" Ludwik stared him down, a spark of anger in his eyes, a clash of male egos, "Secretary, buy this restaurant. We're dining here. Everyone else, you can leave!" Watching his demeanor change, Whitney saw a side of him reserved only for Florence, aimed at hurting her.

Her face drained of color, and she stood up, walking out first.

"Whitney..." Sandy bit her lip, enduring the pain as she followed.

Shane also stood, looking at Ludwik with his imposing demeanor and then back at the retreating Whitney.

At the Lippert family banquet that night, Shane had noticed something, and he couldn't help but laugh, "Ludwik, everyone's gone now. Are you happy? Enjoy your meal!" "Ludwik, why did you have to drive my sister away for me?" Florence cooed, eyeing Whitney with a mix of sweetness and reproach.

Whitney, as if she hadn't heard, continued to walk out of the restaurant coldly.

Watching her leave, ignoring him, Ludwik clenched his jaw. Far from pleased, his expression turned even darker!