Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 494

"Let's face the truth! She's a snake, with no room in her heart for Whitney! The little love left in our marriage is gone, thanks to her. I can't possibly live with a woman like that." "Dad, there's got to be some misunderstanding between Mom and Whitney."

Florence sobbed, "Before Whitney came back, Mom was kind and gentle. She never had issues with anyone in the Sheldon family, but everything changed when Whitney returned..." She looked pitifully at the grandmother.

Emma thought, Exactly!

Hudson looked deeply at Florence, "Florence, your mom tried to have Whitney killed. That's a serious crime. I'm even wondering if you knew about this?"

Florence was on the verge of tears, "Dad, I didn't know anything. I've been out of town the past few days..."

"Hudson! It's bad enough you suspect Holly, but to doubt your own daughter? I wonder what spell Whitney has cast on you! Why is it so easy for her to claim she's been framed by Holly? I heard she had an accident before she was kidnapped. One misfortune after another, who knows who she crossed in this town? Sienna mentioned Whitney picking on Florence at the S-T Group, bullying even a frail girl like her. Think about it, how arrogant she must be? A country girl like her, lacking manners, probably made enemies left and right!" Hudson: "Mom!"

Whitney walked into the villa's yard, only to hear Emma's loud complaints. Despite having no expectations from this 'grandma', her heart sank. Even with concrete evidence against Holly, Emma still believed Sienna and Florence, showing clear bias towards Whitney. Danny was about to burst in. Whitney stopped him. Parker arrived too, looking grim. He was followed by a few of his elite men.

Parker squinted, "Ms. Valentine, seems like you're in hot water here with the Sheldons."

Whitney forced a smile, saying nothing. She calmly walked in, facing the chaotic crowd in the Sheldon family's living room. She looked at Emma and scoffed, "Dad, grandma refusing to believe Holly harmed me is one thing. I just need to show her that the only people I've offended are Holly and my sister. They've been harboring ill intentions, kidnapping someone important to me before I even returned here. Everything will fall into place."

"What?" Hudson was confused. Holly was stunned too. Only Florence, upon hearing the word 'kidnap', felt her pupils shrink. Whitney didn't give Florence time to react and walked straight to Hudson, "Dad, I need to talk to you in the study, it's important."

"Sister, what could be so secret that you need to talk to Dad alone?" Florence, panicking, tried to probe. Whitney's gaze hardened, her fury apparent. Seeing Whitney's serious demeanor, Hudson hesitantly nodded. Before heading upstairs with Danny, Whitney glanced at Parker. Parker nodded, his men stationed outside the villa, ready to prevent Florence from making any moves. As Whitney and Hudson entered the study, Florence became increasingly anxious.

-

In the study, Whitney got straight to the point, "Dad, I actually have another son. He's Danny's twin."

Hudson was shocked! She explained, "Before you came to pick me up in Banyan City, he went missing during a kidnapping. I suspect he's being held in one of the Sheldon family's villas!" Hudson struggled to comprehend her words. "What are you talking about? That's absurd! Are you suggesting someone in the Sheldon family kidnapped a child? Nonsense!"

Facing Hudson's anger, Whitney was prepared. She presented all the 'evidence' stored by Ludwik at the police station. Detail by detail, she handed over her suspicions and the evidence to Hudson. After reviewing it, Hudson's expression changed repeatedly, collapsing into his chair, his breathing erratic, disbelief in his voice, "Florence kidnapped your child? How could this be, I can't believe it..."

"When Sammy was kidnapped, he tore off a piece of Florence's handkerchief embroidered with a unique flower. The Sheldon Mansion gardens these rare toxic flowers, worth a fortune each! Florence's handkerchiefs, all made from silk, match the material of the evidence exactly. Do you really believe this is a coincidence? If you're unsure, perhaps we should inspect that sealed-off villa. There's definitely something amiss there! I'm desperate to replace your other grandson, he's been held captive for a month!"

Hudson tensed every muscle.

-

Outside, Florence, eavesdropping by the door, turned pale as ice. It felt as though someone had choked her, her eyes, full of malice, flickered towards a trembling Holly. Florence pulled her mother aside, frustrated, "I told you to keep Danny away from the villa, why didn't you watch him?"

Holly replied in confusion, "It must've been yesterday! I was overwhelmed; Dad brought that brat home. I instructed the butler to keep an eye on him. Little did I know, he sneaked into your room and even saw those flowers you planted in the backyard! But Florence, how did Whitney replace your handkerchief? Didn't you say Drew took care of the getaway car?"

Florence was livid, that question was for Drew to answer. It turns out, Sammy had torn off a piece of the flower pattern from her handkerchief during the kidnapping. Each of her handkerchiefs was uniquely embroidered with silk, featuring the distinctive Tiger Lily pattern, a personal touch from her embroiderer. You wouldn't believe it, but Sammy, of all people, was the one who noticed something so small, so crucial! And Whitney, she was the one who found that clue!

Florence's heart skipped a beat. Whoosh-the study door swung open. Hudson stormed out.

Holly glanced at Florence, "If they decide to search the mansion..."

Florence gave her a look, silently telling her mother to zip it. The two pretended to have just stepped out from a bedroom. Hudson's gaze shifted to Florence, filled with disbelief. He couldn't wrap his head around why Florence would kidnap Whitney's son. "Florence, the last villa in the backyard, the one filled with your old school stuff, you wanted it sealed to keep pets away. Dad hasn't opened it for years. Now your sister wants to take a look inside..."

"Why does she want to see it?" Florence approached innocently, trying to stop him. "Sis just got back to the Sheldon family, why the sudden interest in a storage shed?"

Hudson frowned. Without the truth, he wasn't ready to accuse Florence of anything. "She wants to look, let her. It's no big deal."

"But Dad!" Florence objected again, stepping in front of Whitney, "You said it, it's filled with my old stuff, it's got my privacy. I don't want every little thing in there to be on display."

"Is it privacy you're worried about, or are you guilty?" Danny sneered, his eyes red with anger.

"You're in over your head, kidnapping someone you shouldn't have. Once the truth comes out, and I replace my brother, your wicked deeds will be known to the whole world!"