Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 508

"Grandpa, Grandma, Ludwik rushed over just for me..." Florence said, her voice choked with tears as she turned away. "Ludwik's here?"

The Sheldon elders' attention was immediately captured.

Emma was the first to approach, her eyes red with emotion, as she said to Ludwik, "Ludwik, you're so thoughtful, worrying about Florence's father."

Ludwik had been on the road, already informed about Hudson's post-surgery condition. His brows furrowed, his gaze never straying far from Whitney, who was visibly pale. Swallowing, his tone was cool, "The elders need not worry." "How can we not worry? Florence's dad... he hasn't woken up..." Emma clung to Ludwik, crying.

Ludwik's voice remained steady, "There's still hope for Mr. Sheldon to wake up. If the elders permit, I will arrange for a team of the world's leading neurosurgeons to come to Emperor City for Mr. Sheldon's long-term treatment." "Is that... convenient?" Jared was surprised. Though the Sheldon family was among the top three in Emperor City, securing a team of internationally renowned medical experts wasn't a challenge. But when compared to the resources of the Lippert family, the first financial dynasty, they were somewhat slower.

"With Ludwik handling it, of course, it's convenient. We're deeply grateful, Ludwik!" Emma immediately chimed in, looking at Florence with moved eyes, "Florence, Ludwik's taking such good care of your dad, aren't you going to thank him?"

Florence's eyes, filled with a mix of sorrow and shyness, hadn't spoken yet when Holly, who had returned with them, smiled and said, "Mom, asking Florence to say thanks is making it too formal. You and Dad might not know since you've been at the hospital. Today, Ludwik and Florence announced their engagement, and it's all over the news in Emperor City!"

"What? Today?" Emma's eyes widened with joy.

Holly nodded calmly, then wiped away her tears, "It would have been such a happy day. Sadly, with Hudson's sudden incident, the wedding celebration for Florence and Ludwik had to be postponed. But as long as their love remains strong, Hudson will surely be at ease." Florence glanced at Holly, then at Whitney, tears falling, "Dad would be happy to hear this news, even in his sleep. Especially since Ludwik is arranging for the best medical team for him. I believe Dad will recover!"

Emma beamed, "Now that the Sheldon and Lippert families are united, with Ludwik's help, my worries are eased."

Jared looked at Ludwik approvingly, "When did you and Florence decide to get engaged? You didn't even notify the Sheldon family..."

Ludwik stood erect, his presence seeming distant despite being close to Florence.

Florence quickly averted her gaze, noticing his deliberate silence, his intimidating eyes cutting through her like a cold breeze, waiting to see how she would answer. She awkwardly responded to Jared, "Grandpa, you know how Ludwik is, always decisive and swift." "Indeed, congratulations to you both!" Jared smiled.

Ludwik's face remained expressionless, his stern features adding to the tension. The moment Florence had tried to hold his arm, he had moved away, and at that moment, she didn't dare get closer. Biting her lip in frustration, she looked at Whitney, who appeared like a shell of herself. She had already won!

"Has Mr. Sheldon been brought out?" Ludwik didn't mention the engagement, focusing solely on Hudson.

Jared found it strange. Wasn't he happy about the engagement?

Holly quickly sensed the elders' surprise. Ludwik's demeanor was too cold. She chuckled, "Ludwik, thank you for caring so much about Florence and her dad. He should be out of surgery soon..."

Just then, the surgery room doors swung open. Whitney, who had been lost in thought, suddenly tensed. She was the first to approach the gurney. Hudson lay there, silent, his head wrapped in thick bandages, blood still seeping through. Tears fell from Whitney's eyes again, "Dad..."

As she held Hudson's hand, Holly also came over, crying loudly as she clung to his chest, "Hudson! Hudson, how did you end up like this? It hurts so much..."

Whitney watched her perform with cold eyes! The hatred in her mind made her tremble with anger, beyond control. She grabbed Holly's hair, pulling her up and away from their dad.

"Ah... what are you doing?" Holly's cry of pain came before she could play the victim in front of the Sheldon elders. Suddenly, she was released. Whitney fell to the ground, her vision blurring until she could no longer hold on, falling into darkness.

"Whitney!"-Ludwik's voice rang out sharply as he rushed over. But she was too weak to respond. He scooped her up, her frail body in his arms, realizing how much she had lost weight recently. Light as a cloud, her pale face softened by tears, struck a chord in Ludwik's heart. Carrying her, he turned around, his eyes blazing, "Felix, get the emergency room doctor!"

"Right, Mr. Lippert. Ms. Valentine must've been beside herself with panic..." Felix tried to offer some comfort before he left Mr. Lippert's side, rushing to the reception desk to replace a doctor.

The Sheldon elders were taken aback by Ludwik and his assistant's actions. Whitney had fainted. But why was Ludwik the one rushing to her aid? Did Ludwik know Whitney?

"Ludwik, has my sister fainted?" Florence approached, trying to hide her displeasure behind a mask of concern. She had expected Ludwik to at least play along for appearances' sake, to answer her and let go of Whitney. But to her shock, Ludwik shouldered past her without a second look, cradling that woman as he dashed towards the corridor!

"Ludwik! Grandpa and Grandma are here... Maybe Whitney just needs some air, let the doctor take a look," Florence said, her face turning pale with anger, trying to block his path weakly.

Only then did Ludwik spare her a glance, and then he looked at the puzzled expressions on the Sheldon elders' faces. Jared sensed Florence's unhappiness and spoke up, "Ludwik, you're engaged to Florence. It doesn't seem quite right for you to be holding her sister like that."

"What's considered right then? My engagement to Florence isn't exactly 'right,' is it, Florence?" Ludwik's piercing gaze turned cold as he asked Florence with a meaningful sneer. The color drained from Florence's face! She hadn't expected him to publicly call her out, utterly disregarding her feelings. She clenched her teeth, feeling the shift in her grandparents' demeanor.

Ludwik added, "Let's get one thing straight, I called a medical team for Mr. Sheldon, and that's the extent of my involvement with him."

His words were a direct slap to Holly's face. Holly's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, trying to smooth things over in a hurry, "Ludwik, have you and Florence been having a rough patch lately?"

Ludwik, still holding Whitney, strode off. Leaving a chill in his wake, enveloping the few people in the corridor, Jared fell into a stern silence, turning to Florence, "Florence, isn't Ludwik engaged to you? What's with his coldness towards you? And the way he's acting, it's as if he's known Whitney for quite some time?"