Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 428

Sienna sourly remarked, "Florence, you're the best. You've snagged the top bachelor as your boyfriend, so you won't have to worry about anyone stealing your thunder." "How can you say that?" Florence responded with feigned innocence. "I'm just a sickly thing; how could I ever compare to you in looks? I adore your beauty too."

Her words seemed casual but struck right at Sienna's jealous heart, even Florence admired that despicable woman.

Florence cautioned, "Sienna, at tonight's event, please don't spill any secrets about my sister. It could ruin her reputation."

But Sienna narrowed her eyes, "I got it. I'll just share the juicy details of your whirlwind romance with Ludwik. It's the scoop of the year in Emperor City."

"Always the mischief-maker," Florence retorted.

Once Sienna left, Florence's eyes also narrowed.

Holly joined her, casting a glance at Sienna. "Florence, always playing it smart, using that naive girl to your advantage."

"She's just my pawn," Florence replied indifferently, pressing her perfectly shaped eyebrows. "Mom, are you really inviting Whitney to the welcoming party? I'm worried Ludwik will be distracted. Plus, Dad is clearly paving the way for her future, introducing her to high society..."

Holly and her daughter exchanged knowing looks.

"Do you think I'd let that little nobody smoothly enter the Sheldon Group? At the Lippert family's grand banquet, it's the perfect chance to ruin her. Once she's disgraced at the Lipperts', Jason will lose interest for good."

Holly's eyes gleamed. "Did you forget I still have some connections with Riley's wife?"

Florence remained silent, her eyes also scheming. "Mother, about the dress shopping..."

"Don't worry, dear. Do you think I don't know what you're implying? Tonight, you're the star. No one will overshadow you."

Florence smirked; her mother was indeed mistaken.

---

When Whitney stepped into the Sheldon family's estate, Holly greeted her warmly, "Whitney, tonight's Lippert family banquet is quite the affair. The dress you're wearing, bought from Banyan City, hardly seems appropriate. I've selected several exquisite gowns for you, worth millions, and placed them on your bed. Go change."

With a hidden taunt, Whitney just smirked.

Entering the bedroom, she saw the dresses laid out on the bed and couldn't help but laugh at their extravagance. Adorned with jewels and shimmer, they were indeed pricey, albeit several seasons old. Now, they'd barely fetch a fraction of their original price. Ah, the colors and styles - bright red, hot pink, lemon yellow - either too revealing or too bold.

Whitney narrowed her eyes, recalling Florence's innocent facade. The Lippert family, being the most prestigious, likely preferred modest and demure girls.

Holly had clearly put much thought into this setup, aiming to make Whitney appear vulgar next to Florence's pure elegance.

But Whitney wasn't worried; she was confident in her own beauty.

She chose a red off-shoulder gown, the most 'conservative' of the lot, and headed downstairs.

Myra, hiding in the main house, immediately made a call, "Ms. Sheldon, she chose the red one..."

Florence, standing in her room, smirked, "I know."

Whitney waited in front of a small villa for over ten minutes, while Holly and her daughter had already left.

The driver arrived late, apologizing, "Miss, I'm sorry for the delay. There was an issue at the company, Mr. Hudson asked me to bring you directly to the mansion." Whitney nodded slightly.

The drive to the hilltop took about ten minutes. Even Whitney, who had seen her fair share of luxury, was impressed by the grandeur of the Lippert Resort.

With snow-capped mountains as a backdrop and a lake at the front, the massive estate glowed with lights, boasting a golf course and a helipad.

As Whitney entered the Lippert family's villa, the subtle music filled the air.

She handed her bag to the doorman and stepped inside, only to be taken aback by Florence's conspicuously red, Western-style gown.

Both dressed in red, they were embarrassingly matched.

Whitney sneered internally. She had underestimated Florence's cunning.

No wonder Florence and her mother had left early, with the excuse of a sudden company issue delaying her ride.

But her father was already in the hall.

"Whitney!" Hudson turned to see her, smiling as he approached, "Holly mentioned you were picking out dresses and Florence was eager to meet Ludwik, so they went ahead... But why did you choose this dress?" Seeing Whitney's form-fitting, off-shoulder red gown, Hudson frowned slightly.

He might not know much about women's fashion, but even he could tell this dress was too revealing for the Lippert family's esteemed event.

The ladies present were all models of grace and elegance.

Whitney glanced at Holly a few steps away and forced a smile, tugging at her dress, "Dad, this was the most tasteful option available. The rest were either too short or too revealing. I thought this wouldn't be appropriate either."

She tactfully used the word 'tasteful', subtly criticizing the selection, which made Hudson glare at Holly, "What were you thinking, choosing these dresses for her?"

Holly inwardly cursed but quickly approached Hudson, feigning innocence, "Husband, I chose Whitney dresses worth millions! Whitney, don't wrong me. There were more modest options, but you specifically chose this red, shoulder-baring one. Did you see Florence in red and decide to dress festively too? But your choice is far more provocative."

Holly skillfully dragged Florence into the conversation, immediately understanding her daughter's intentions.

The Sheldon family was nothing short of illustrious, particularly when Whitney made her entrance, drawing all eyes to her.

Florence, with a gentle cough, approached with a smile that was both graceful and generous. "Sis, you're wearing red too? It looks stunning on you. Compared to me, I'm just average."

"Oh, come on," Sienna snapped, pointing at Whitney. "Florence wore red because it's her first time meeting the Lippert family elders as Ludwik's girlfriend. And you, Whitney, it's hilarious. You've just returned to the Sheldon clan for one day, and you're already so desperate to outshine Florence? Dressing so flamboyantly and alluringly on purpose?"

"Shut your mouth," Hudson frowned, puzzled by the situation but immediately stepping in to defend his daughter.

Florence quietly tugged at Sienna, "Sienna, there are so many people watching, and Jason is coming over. Please don't talk about sister like that."

"Did I say anything wrong? Florence wore the red dress to the Lipperts' first, in front of everyone. She's such a schemer!" Sienna raised her voice even more.

Jason approached, his brows slightly furrowed.

Murmurs from the crowd could be heard, "Is that Hudson's newly acknowledged elder daughter?"

"Who would've thought she's so calculating, wearing the same color as her sister on purpose, trying to overshadow her."

"And dressed so provocatively, maybe she's here to seduce some rich young gentleman at the party."

Hudson looked displeased. He hadn't even introduced Whitney, and everyone was already judging her. He was about to say something when Whitney spoke up calmly, her voice tinged with a hint of grievance, "Dad, I didn't mean to steal the spotlight from my sister. I remember changing into my gown at 5:40, quite early. And I waited at the door for over ten minutes after Holly rushed off with my sister before the chauffeur picked me up. If you don't believe me, you can check the home surveillance footage."

The crowd paused, digesting her words. If she dared mention checking the surveillance, then it seemed she indeed wore red first.

Then... eyes began to turn towards Holly, the stepmother. They were all sharp-minded people from wealthy families; they understood the games played within.