Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



With every ounce of hatred in her heart and nowhere to unleash it, Whitney spat out, "You're cruel and shameless, relying on your current status as Ludwik..."

Cruel? It was just yesterday when Parker had mentioned she'd only see him as cruel. Indeed, how could she possibly see the care he had for her anymore?

It didn't matter now; after all, she hated him to the bone and couldn't understand him.

Ludwik gently put her down, like a lover fixing her blouse, his eyes hiding a tender look, but his adam's apple rolling coldly, "As long as you understand. Even if I'm as fickle as the weather, you're stuck being single, Whitney. After all, you once crossed paths with me!"

Their conversation and confrontation ended there.

He jumped out the window, arrogant and scoundrelly.

Whitney trembled, cursing him silently a hundred times over in her heart.

It took a while before she managed to wipe away the tears on her face, took a deep breath, and emerged with wobbly legs and a pale face.

The Sheldon family's dinner had already ended, and the living room was buzzing with conversation.

Hudson seized the moment to announce to the patriarch, "Taking advantage of tonight's family dinner, I'd also like to inform everyone that Whitney will be joining the Sheldon Group in a few days. Her resume is impressive, and she will become a part of the Sheldon family's succession..."Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

As his words fell, the room reacted with mixed emotions.

Whitney walked in, naturally attracting everyone's gaze.

Bryce approached her, "Why were you gone so long?"

His deep gaze lingered on Whitney's lips for a moment, hesitating slightly, remembering Ludwik had also stepped out to make a call.

"I felt a bit sick to my stomach," Whitney murmured, catching a cold glance from Bryce, who was already standing with Florence, looking perfectly matched.

He didn't look her way, as if the coercion in the restroom had never happened.

Indeed, a scoundrel switching sides seamlessly.

Florence, noticing Whitney, focused on her freshly applied lipstick. The woman was detail-oriented. Despite Ludwik not returning from the direction of the restroom, his beautiful lips carried a scent, which Florence had detected.

Seeing Whitney's lips, Florence's suspicions tightened, her grip on her handkerchief fierce.

Her eyes darkened with malice, convinced Whitney had seduced Ludwik earlier.

Her father was speaking up for her! Florence looked towards Hugh with a plea in her eyes.

Jared pondered, "Hudson, are you sure about letting Whitney join the Sheldon Group?"

"Father," Hugh, seated in his wheelchair, finally spoke up, "Whitney has just returned home, and being an illegitimate daughter, it's a bit too much trust to place in her as a successor. Sister, brother-in-law, what do you think?"

Whitney turned sharply towards Hugh, having not spoken to him today, and yet he was openly opposing her?

Kathy Sheldon paused, not usually involved in the company matters, and her husband, Kurt Turner, was even less connected...

Before Kathy could respond, her daughter Sienna scoffed, "Uncle's right. Our side of the family definitely opposes Whitney joining the company. Why should she? Florence hasn't even joined yet. There should be some order in succession, right? Mom!"

"Oh yes, big brother, you keep saying Whitney is impressive, but we have no proof of that," Kathy spoke, eyeing Emma's reaction.

Florence internally rejoiced, playing the victim, "Grandpa, I don't care about the succession. But with everyone opposed, they might be worried about sister's capabilities..."

Whitney scoffed internally at Florence's act of virtue signaling.

Of course, she couldn't boast about herself now. She stepped forward quietly, "Grandpa, whether I join the company or not doesn't matter to me. I just don't want to disappoint father. If everyone's worried about me, I'm willing to start as an intern, subject to the same evaluation as any other employee. Would that be acceptable?"

Florence's expression shifted slightly.

Sienna pointed at Whitney

mockingly, "Sounds nice, doesn't

want to disappoint uncle? Or is it

about seizing the Sheldon Group'set

inheritance! Dream on, you

illegitimate daughter, with a fiancé from Banyan City of all places. With your background, you're hardly fit to join the Sheldon Group!"

Ludwik frowned, but upon hearing 'fiancé,' his lips thinned, remaining silent.

Some guests looked towards Bryce and Whitney, eager for the drama.

Bryce maintained his composure, but his eyes were cold. He, too, was a favored son of fortune, yet he felt powerless to help Whitney, especially with Ludwik's disdainful glance making him feel belittled.

Whitney gently patted his arm,

stepping forward to coldly address Sienna, "If you're going to talk about me, at least get it right. The Lutz family is dignified and cultured. Miss, your words are a real credit to the Sheldon family! Better not mention you're part of the Sheldon family when you're outside. With your manners, people will only wonder about the family upbringing!"

Her words struck hard, and the previous onlookers retracted their gazes.

"You!" Sienna was infuriated, stomping her foot. Whitney didn't just slap her face metaphorically; she did it in front of all their relatives!

Yet, Emma remained silent, not coming to her defense.

"Heh," chuckled Sandy from the corner, earning a fierce glare from Sienna.

Florence smiled, looking up, "Ludwik, see how sister clings to Mr. Lutz's sleeve? She must really love her fiancé."

She got what she wanted, watching Ludwik's expression turn sharply colder. Dignified and cultured? Was that a jab at him for being violent?

"Enough!" Jared finally spoke up, his

gaze fixed on Whitney. The elite always valued lineage, and Whitney, being illegitimate, was a concern, yet she was no simple character. Her defense seemed aimed at Bryce but cleverly shifted focus to her own family's values, suggesting that denying her a role in the Sheldon

Group would paint the Sheldon family in a negative light.

He pondered, "Hudson, let's bring Whitney on board at S-T Group, starting as an intern. If she doesn't pass the assessments, we'll let her go as she suggested."

Hudson grimaced, "S-T is just a small subsidiary of the Sheldon Group..."

"Bro, the smaller the company, the better the training ground. Besides, the Lipperts own a stake in S-T, so it's not exactly small fry," Hugh chimed in, a rare intervention on his part.

Outnumbered, Hudson found it hard to argue further.

Whitney understood this was a move to suppress her. She squinted at Hugh, the man in the wheelchair with the somber demeanor. He rarely spoke, but when he did, it seemed aimed at her joining the company. He had no control over the Sheldon Group, so why the hostility?

Moreover, his exchanges of glances with Florence suggested a deep affection for her.

Could their uncle-niece relationship be that strong? And then there's Florence, looking frail and pallid, much like Hugh's somber expression...

Stop right there. Whitney frowned, deciding not to delve into matters related to her father.

"That settles it, then," Hudson finally conceded, whispering to Whitney, "You'll have to bear with it for now."

"Dad, sis is so talented, she'll shine anywhere," Florence said sweetly.

Emma looked at her fondly, "Oh Florence, always encouraging your sister. You're just too naive and kind."

"Exactly, Florence. She's here to vie for the successor position, please don't be so naively sweet!" Sienna exclaimed, frustrated.

Florence coughed lightly, her smile innocent, "That's just who I am. Ludwik, you don't think I'm too naive, do you?"

"Not at all. It's nice," Ludwik replied after a glance at Whitney. Wasn't she complimenting Bryce?

"As long as Ludwik likes it," Florence blushed.

Whitney felt like gagging, scoffing. At that moment, a laugh echoed from a corner; it was Sandy, seemingly Sienna's estranged elder sister.

Sandy nodded towards Whitney in acknowledgment.

Whitney nodded back, her gaze returning to Florence, wondering. Florence hadn't expressed interest in joining the Sheldon Group herself tonight. Was S-T Group beneath her, or did she have other schemes?

Either way, Whitney sensed Florence wasn't going to sit idly by and watch her join the company without making a move.