Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 442

Holly panicked for a moment before quickly saying, "Whitney, what's with the sarcasm? I only heard from the help that they saw you entering Justin's mansion. I was worried you were getting yourself into trouble with Justin. Everyone knows he's bad news, and I rushed over because I was concerned..." She was still trying to muddy the waters.

Whitney scoffed, "Yeah, Holly brought a crowd with her, and just in time to see Justin pinning me down. My reputation was destroyed in front of everyone. If you were truly worried about me, you should have notified Dad first. You should've been relieved not finding me at Justin's place. Instead, you made sure this scandal became the talk of the town, having the Lippert family hunt me down, only to find me disheveled!"

Her words systematically pointed out Holly's inconsistencies.

Hudson was taken aback, indeed, Whitney had disappeared, and he was informed later. Holly hadn't notified him first.

Whitney reminded him, "Dad, remember the incident when my sister and I wore the same dress? You remember, right?"

Hudson's gaze towards Holly grew colder as he recalled how Whitney was nearly ostracized for supposedly being jealous of her sister.

He looked at Holly angrily, "I can't believe this, Whitney has only been home for two days, and you've shown your true colors, Holly. I didn't expect you to be so intolerant, moving against her in the Lippert family, you're trying to ruin her!"

"Honey, I didn't, why would you take her word over mine? Whitney, you're so malicious, framing me for Joanne's scheme? Tonight was clearly Joanne's plot. She's after Whitney's shares, so she coaxed Justin into targeting Whitney. I was also roped in by Joanne to look for Whitney."

Smooth talker.

Whitney laughed piercingly, "Dad, about the 10% shares you gave me, you didn't tell anyone, right? Strange, how did Joanne know about my shares unless Holly is in cahoots with Joanne?"

Holly's face turned pale, realizing her slip-up.

Hudson was shocked, trembling with anger, he pointed at Holly, "You witch, it was you who informed Joanne, wasn't it? You two have been thick as thieves, don't think I haven't noticed. I even saw you talking to her tonight, no wonder."

"Father, please calm down, Mother didn't mean it, maybe there's been a misunderstanding," Florence interjected, biting her lip.

"Quiet, what misunderstanding could there be!"

Hudson looked at Holly with utter disdain, "After twenty years, I thought you had changed, but you're just the same. Servants, take the lady upstairs to reflect! If you dare go against Whitney again, I'll have you kneeling in the Sheldon family chapel!" "Hudson, you'd treat me like this over a bastard daughter?"

Holly was furious, glaring at Whitney, "Ever since she returned, you've only had eyes for her! You've forgotten about Florence, our daughter, who's always thinking of her sister. It's just that I couldn't stand it..."

"Mom, how could you be so foolish? Whitney is family. Dad, Mom was just worried about me, please forgive her," Florence quickly played the victim, hoping to clear her name.

Hudson softened slightly looking at Florence's coughing figure, "If only Florence wasn't unlike you, do you think I could tolerate you and your daughter any longer! Enough, Florence, go rest. You and Sienna go back to your rooms and think over your actions!" Holly shot Whitney a venomous look, and Florence's glance, though concealed, was undeniably filled with resentment.

Whitney coldly watched the mother-daughter duo perform, successfully detaching tonight's events from Florence. Sacrificing the pawn to save the castle, Florence remained the favored daughter in Hudson's eyes.

It seemed revealing Florence's true nature wouldn't be easy, but Holly and Hudson's relationship was irrevocably damaged, and he would surely keep his guard up against her from now on. Tonight was not in vain, Whitney thought coolly.

Hudson turned, affectionately ruffling her hair, "Whitney, she's just looking out for Florence, not wanting you to join the Sheldon Group. Your stepmother, eh? I've considered divorcing her, but it's not the right time yet... Don't worry, in a few days, I'll take you to the old house to meet your grandfather, and then we'll get you into the company." Whitney was surprised, the thought of Hudson considering divorce was unexpected. It seemed he truly loved her mother, warming her heart. Yet, with the Sheldon family's alliance with the Walker family, divorcing wouldn't be easy...

-

Sienna, eavesdropping by the door, rushed upstairs to knock on Holly's door.

Fuming, she said, "Aunt Holly, Uncle Hudson is taking Whitney back to the old house to introduce her to Grandpa, to get her into the company!"

Holly wasn't surprised, "Did your uncle say anything else?"

Sienna hesitantly muttered, "I also heard Uncle Hudson telling Whitney... he's thinking about divorcing you."

Boom, Holly stiffened, trying to maintain her composure, "Those were just angry words. After all these years, how could he think of divorcing me over Whitney's troubles? Don't spread this around, Sienna." It was a warning.

Sienna trembled, "I know Uncle Hudson was just angry. Don't worry, Aunt Holly, I won't talk about it."

"Good, now leave."

After Sienna left, Holly, furious, smashed the items on her desk. She knew it, Hudson, that bastard, had never truly loved her. Thinking about divorcing her, was he planning to kick her and Florence out of the Sheldon Group?

Holly slumped into the chair with a scowl, grabbing her phone to shoot off a text, her voice dripping with self-pity as she vented, "You need to come out with me tomorrow. Hudson, the jerk, wants a divorce. Isn't it time you stepped in? For the sake of the Sheldon Group, for Florence. How much longer will you hide?"

---

The Lippert family.

Ludwik was digging into the night's events, having Parker recount the ordeal of Whitney's kidnapping by Justin to ensure the woman was indeed unharmed.

"Ludwik, I've also heard that the servant who took Whitney to Justin's mansion was arranged by Mrs. Riley."

Joanne... Justin's mother.

Ludwik was all too clear on Riley's intentions.

Approaching Justin's mansion, Ludwik casually flicked away his cigarette butt and made his way inside, his tall figure disappearing through the door.

Parker raised an eyebrow in anticipation.

Sure enough, Justin's screams soon echoed from within.

If Ludwik was personally handling this, Justin was in for it... Parker frowned and rushed in.

"...Ludwik, why the heck are you hitting me? Ah! Ah!"

Justin, already roughed up by Parker and waiting for Joanne to call a doctor, was suddenly pinned down by Ludwik and beaten mercilessly, without a hint of emotion. Ludwik called out to Parker, "Mind lying down here for a photo?"

Parker paused, realizing Ludwik's intention, and groaned internally, "Ludwik, am I really your brother or what?"

"If you were, you'd take one for the team."

"..." Parker was speechless but complied, lying down.

With a click, Ludwik took the photo, finished up the beating, and stood up. Justin, through his cries, protested, "You're just trying to frame me, I'm not into guys..."

"Ludwik, how dare you hit my son?!" Joanne, accompanied by a doctor, stormed in, both shocked and furious, and immediately shouted, "Someone, get the Master, get Riley, Ludwik is bullying Master Riley!"

Ludwik looked down at Joanne indifferently, finding a reason for his actions, "Your son slept with my little brother, and I'm here to get some payback."

Parker almost choked on his own spit. Ludwik couldn't say it was for Whitney, but 'this reason' was something else.

"Bullshit! My son isn't interested in men! Don't slander your brother!"

"His scandal has already spread throughout the Lippert family. Or perhaps, Joanne, you'd like tonight's scandal to be revealed as well?" Ludwik's eyes turned icy.

Joanne's face went pale. Her scheme against Whitney tonight... if that got out, she'd be in deep trouble.

She immediately lost her nerve to speak.

As Ludwik left Justin's mansion, a maid holding a lantern stopped him, "Sir, Camilla would like a word with you."

"Grandma? What does she want?" Ludwik frowned.