Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 524

Whitney couldn't help but sneer inwardly, but softened her voice, "Grandma and Grandpa, I didn't mean anything by it. I'm just worried that Uncle Mike, being a bit introverted and naive, might get tricked into revealing Dad's condition." "Right, with Dad still in a precarious situation, your concern makes sense," acknowledged Jared, accepting Whitney's reasoning.

Emma's expression softened a bit as well.

After they had left, Dad's assistant stepped forward, his gaze filled with admiration and relief as he looked at Whitney. "It's a good thing Mr. Sheldon has a daughter like you by his side."

"But if you were suspicious of Hugh, why didn't you just tell Jared and Grandma directly?"

"Would they have believed me?" Whitney's expression was cool. "Especially Grandma, who hardly accepts me as her granddaughter. But Hugh, he's their beloved son. My only choice was to set this trap, to let them see the truth for themselves. Once Hugh's true colors are revealed, I'll replace a way to get a DNA test between him and Florence. Then, Grandma and Grandpa will know everything. They certainly won't allow Hugh and Holly to continue their scheming."

The assistant nodded. "You've gone through a lot to protect Mr. Sheldon's company."

Whitney asked him for a favor, "Until Hugh is out of the picture, please keep an eye on his activities within the Sheldon Group. If necessary, leave a few informants."

The assistant, aware his position was at risk, nodded solemnly.

Whitney's phone rang. She saw it was Felix calling.

She wasn't in the mood to answer, but recalling something, she quietly closed the door to the hospital room and answered, "What's up, Felix?"

"Ms. Valentine, it's nearly lunchtime. Mr. Lippert had someone send over some lunch for you. You're still at the hospital, right? The delivery should be arriving soon."

Whitney took a deep breath. "I can manage my own meals, thank you very much!"

Felix's lips twitched-he was just the messenger.

Whitney changed her tone. "Felix, send me his bank account details."

"Whose?... Oh, Mr. Lippert's? I'll send it over right away."

Felix didn't hesitate, regardless of what Ms. Valentine intended to do. As long as she asked for Mr. Lippert's account details, it gave Mr. Lippert a reason to talk to Ms. Valentine. After receiving the bank details, Whitney immediately transferred ten million to Ludwik.

She tossed her phone back into her pocket, where Tiana was waiting for her downstairs at the hospital.

But before she could reach the elevator, her phone rang again.

Pressed by the crowd, Whitney didn't look closely at the caller ID until she heard Ludwik's deep, mellow voice, "Why are you sending money?"

Whitney inhaled sharply, glanced at the caller ID, and clenched her phone.

Her tone was polite yet distant. "Thank you for arranging Dr. Ivan for my father. I don't need you to cover the consultation fees."

"I've sent the ten million back to your account. If you want to thank me, you should do it in person."

His unilateral decisions frustrated Whitney. "Then I'll transfer it to your company's account!"

"Including the remaining three hundred million for the golf course? I would accept that." Ludwik sounded softer now.

Whitney pressed her lips together, not responding.

He looked at his phone, his fingers resting on the table as if the black screen reflected her delicate face.

He slightly raised an eyebrow, shifted his broad shoulders, the white shirt tightening, and Ludwik's voice lowered in mock pain, "Whitney, about the herbal remedies you gave me, I might have got the dosage wrong. It's actually made the pain worse. Can't you come over to the Lippert mansion and show me how to use them properly?"

Her brow furrowed, but she quickly cooled down, scoffing, "The Lippert family has wealth to spare. Surely you're not short of doctors?"

With that, she hung up decisively!

Ludwik lifted his finger, its well-defined tip pressing against his temple.

She was no longer easily softened towards him.

Even a simple conversation was difficult.

Such stubbornness.

He sent a message, "Your lunch has arrived. Make sure to eat well until your stomach problem is sorted."

Whitney arrived downstairs just in time to receive a stack of lunchboxes from the delivery person, along with Ludwik's message. Her brow furrowed deeply.

Tiana came over from the hospital

garden, catching a glimpse of Ludwik's message. She snorted with a mix of amusement and disdain, "Looks like the bad boy wants to play the heartfelt lover now? His shamelessness knows no bounds. Has he forgotten he's engaged? But seriously, I replace it weird how Ludwik's suddenly so concerned about your meals."

Whitney sat down on an empty bench, eyeing the pile of meal boxes, her brow knitted, "Want some?"

"It's meant for you, why would I eat it? Let's see-bird's nest porridge, wow! And fish maw, these are all nourishing. Does Ludwik think you're that frail...?"

As Tiana rambled on, she suddenly remembered something odd Parker mentioned to her, to keep an eye on Whitney and not let her randomly take medications.

Her eyes flickered, her tone shifting, "Whitney, is there something odd about your health? Ludwik's obsession with your meals is just too weird. Maybe you should check yourself?"

In her mind, Tiana entertained a shocking possibility but quickly dismissed it as improbable.

She scrutinized Whitney.

"What are you staring at? The last check-up showed acute gastritis," Whitney said, placing her right hand on her left wrist to feel her pulse. After a moment, she concluded, "My pulse is weak, but other than that, I don't feel any different." If it were pregnancy, Whitney surely would've noticed herself!

So, it couldn't be pregnancy...

In her mind, Tiana tentatively discarded this astonishing thought.

Besides, Whitney showed no signs of morning sickness. And surely, she wouldn't still be involved with Ludwik, right?

"It must be my imagination," Tiana muttered to herself.

"What were you thinking about?"

"Nothing! Aren't you meeting Bryce this afternoon? Let's head out after you eat. Just have what Ludwik sent, don't waste it!"

Whitney glanced at the lunch box in front of her, determined not to waste any food, she opened it.

In the middle of her meal, her phone buzzed with a call from Sandy, who was out house-hunting on her behalf. She'd found a couple of promising properties in an upscale gated community.

Whitney turned to Tiana, "My friend

Sandy's waiting for me at this posh neighborhood to show me some villas. But I've got to meet Bryce first. How about you take a look at the places for me? I trust your judgment. Sandy's pretty easy-going, you'll like her."

"Sure thing!" Tiana seemed to understand that Whitney's visit to Bryce might be a bit delicate for company.

After parting ways with Tiana, Whitney headed to the Terravista Hotel where Bryce was staying.

His room was none other than the luxurious penthouse suite. As Whitney walked in, she noticed the room's butler applying ointment to a bruise on Bryce's shoulder.

Whitney's eyebrows knitted in concern at the sight of the bruising. "Bryce, what happened to you? How did you get hurt?"

Bryce stood up as soon as he saw her, quickly slipping on a pale blue shirt and gently took her hand. "It's nothing, really. The city's Building Inspectorate suddenly decided. investigate the abandoned

I and I ended up being 'invited' for a talk. Ended up with a few souvenirs," he said, his voice laced with a hint of sarcasm.

development project I bought elet

"Who did this to you?!" Whitney pressed, her mind flashing back to Ludwik's menacing words the day before, her expression darkening instantly.