Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 487

"He's gone to replace Florence, damn the consequences.\"\nWhitney glanced into Parker's eyes, a mix of a sneer and tears shimmering in her gaze.\nParker moved closer, trying to soothe her, "Let's not get mad now! He's just out of surgery; we can't let him risk his life like this. Come on, we need to replace him!\"\nWhitney yanked the IV needle from her hand, a droplet of blood spilling out.\nHer expression was icy, \"If he doesn't care about his own life, I certainly won't.\"\nWith that, she left the hospital room, decisively returning to her own room next door.\nParker's forehead creased in frustration. How had Ludwik managed to reset everything to square one?\nFurrowing his brows, he had no choice but to sprint out, chasing down the corridor and yelling, \"Ludwik!\"\nParker's anxious voice echoed in Whitney's ears.InShe stood by her hospital bed, lost in thought for a long while, until eventually, her mouth dry, she lay down and clenched her fists.\nShe decided not to dwell on whether he lived or died.\nHer face was too pale, causing Sandy to worry and go seek a doctor. InDanny was napping on the couch, oblivious to the unfolding drama. InWhen the doctor arrived, he reinserted the IV for Whitney, and about half an hour later, Hudson rushed into the hospital. InHis complexion was pale, \"Whitney! Such a big ordeal, and you nearly lost your life. Why didn't you tell me?\"\n\"Dad, I didn't get the chance..." Whitney immediately sat up, looking towards Sandy.\nSandy guiltily stuck out her tongue.InHudson, both angry and worried, said, "Don't blame Sandy! You were in such a severe accident, it made the news. If I hadn't noticed you didn't show up for work and called Sandy to ask, I'd still be in the dark!\"\n\"Sorry, Dad.\"\nHudson scrutinized her carefully from all angles, then reviewed the medical chart at the foot of her bed.\nHis expression turned grave, \"Poisoned?\"\\"Some thugs forced it on me.\" Whitney answered evasively, avoiding eye contact.\nHudson clenched his fists, pacing back and forth, his anger rising, "On my way here, I called the police department. They hauled your car out of the water and found the brakes had been tampered with. That's why you had the accident!\nWho's trying to harm you? They cause an accident, and then they kidnap you for a second round of harm, is that it?\nAnyone who dares to harm my daughter, I'll make sure they pay!\"\nWhitney calmed down, only now having the chance to reflect on the accident and kidnapping.InShe looked up, shaking her head, "Dad, I think the accident and the kidnapping were done by different people.\"\nHudson's expression darkened, "What?!\"\n\"I think so, too,\" Parker announced, appearing at the doorway.\nHe had returned, and Whitney's gaze snapped to him.\nHe was alone, without Ludwik. Had he not found him?\nSomething seemed lodged in Whitney's throat, but she refused to inquire further.\nParker's eyes briefly met Whitney's, his expression serious.InHe had caught up with Ludwik by the hospital's ambulance, but couldn't convince him to stay. Ludwik was adamant about not letting him accompany him to Banyan City, as if fearing Parker would uncover something there.\nParker was sure this had something to do with Natalie and Florence.InLudwik had instructed him to stay behind to protect Whitney and to investigate her accident further.InHe still cared deeply for Whitney.\nParker sighed internally, stepping forward to say, \"The one who tampered with the brakes wanted it to look like an accident, to avoid getting caught.\nBut the ones who kidnapped Whitney had a different M.O.\"\nWhitney nodded, recalling that night, "I drove to the bar, and my car was fine until then. So, I guess my car was tampered with in the bar's parking lot. Checking the surveillance footage should give us some clues.\"\nSandy corroborated, \"Yeah, before we drove to the bar, I was in Whitney's car too. It felt normal.\"\nParker frowned, "Ludwik and I had the police check the surveillance footage from before the accident that night, but it turns out the bar's parking lot cameras were broken.\"\nWhitney's eyes narrowed, "That's too convenient. It means the person who first tried to harm me knew you were checking and immediately destroyed the evidence.\"\n"The first person who tried to harm you, you mean the one who tampered with your brakes?\" Hudson asked, furrowing his brows. In\"Yes, Dad. Why do I think it was two different people?\nBecause my car was stuck on the overpass for about 20 minutes, waiting for Mr. Doonan and the police to rescue me.\nDuring those 20 minutes, I was fine, just scared to get out of the car.\nBut then, suddenly, someone tried to push my car off the bridge!\n That was the second group, trying to take advantage of the situation. Inl had to think fast, jumped out of the car, and fought them off, altering their original plan.\"\nParker added, "So, the thugs kidnapped you as a last resort?\"\n\"Exactly. Staying on the overpass, I was just waiting to be pushed into the river. I forced their hand to kidnap me.\nBut later, I could tell they changed their minds. InOriginally, they wanted to kill me, but then they drugged me, wanting to torture me severely. In This must have been the employer's orders. Those thugs even told me the boss wanted me to suffer!\"\nHudson's expression turned icy, "They dared to treat my daughter like this?!\n Two groups? Whitney, you've only been in Emperor City for a short while. Have you crossed anyone?\"\nIndeed, Whitney was new in town. Inlf she had crossed anyone, her mind immediately went to the Sheldons, and then... Thea!\nShe held a shocking secret over her.\nBut Thea bore no grudge against her, so she wouldn't intentionally torture her. InThus, the accident might have been related to Thea?\nAs for the kidnappers...InWhitney's gaze turned cold, chilling to the bone at the thought.InShe looked up at Hudson with a sharp gaze, \"Dad, let's set aside who tampered with my car for now; we can continue to investigate that.\nLet me talk about the mastermind behind my kidnapping. She wanted me dead and to suffer, so her hatred must run deep. Init has to be someone close to me. Who do you think it could be?\"\\"Someone close to you?\" Hudson wasn't foolish. His eyes hardened, and he immediately thought of Holly, who had been targeting Whitney frequently.\nHis face stiffened, and his hands involuntarily clenched into fists. InHudson stared at Whitney, torn between disbelief and determination. After all, he and Holly had been married for over two decades. He found it hard to believe that his wife could be so malicious, let alone suspect that all of this might have been orchestrated by Florence, their daughter!\nIt seemed only Florence could harbor such deep hatred to torment her this way. InWhitney was resolute in exposing the mother-daughter duo.\nShe confessed, \"Dad, I truly haven't wronged anyone else. And I don't want to suspect Holly...\nBut if we involve the police in the kidnapping, it'll just tip off whoever's behind this, giving them a heads-up.\nMaybe we should try a different tactic.InWhen you go back, just say I've managed to identify the faces of the three culprits, and that the police have sketched them for an arrest. In That way, whoever's pulling the strings will panic and try to deal with the culprits. In Their slip-up will inevitably reveal themselves. You just need to keep an eye on Holly's financial transactions. That will tell us if she's involved.\nlf it turns out she's innocent, I'm more than willing to apologize.\nBut if she's involved and manages to slip away this time, who knows? Next time, I might not be so lucky.\"