Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 703

He couldn't wrap his head around it, dismissing the idea as ludicrous. "Dad, I just bumped into someone who fits the description you gave of the Inko Group's chairman-a face I've never seen before. I'm going to look into who's bought the new estate in Brew Hill." Jason nodded, his brows furrowed in frustration. "This is bad news. Your uncle found out that Wade Patrick is also investigating Inko Group. Looks like they want in on the partnership, same as us!

Ludwik, right now, the Lippert family is struggling to compete, not just with the Patrick Group but even with the smallest of companies.

You need to find out who this chairman of Inko Group is, and fast."

Ludwik's eyes darkened with determination.

"The money from the sale of Everwood Villa Estate, I plan to invest it in finance and real estate. For real estate, Shane Nelson is my first choice for a partnership. I'll go see him this afternoon." Jason looked anxious. "Shane, do you think he'll be willing to help us? When the going gets tough, people start showing their true colors, and the Nelson family is the second most powerful clan." Ludwik's gaze was profound. "Exactly because they're second, do you think the Nelson Group will bow down to the Patrick family? Shane's been biding his time; he has no respect for someone like Wade." Jason looked at his son. "You have a way with words, the very trait I admire in you, Ludwik. You're back. No matter how tough it gets, we have to keep the Lippert family standing. Go on!

I remember Shane, a young man who's made a name for himself at the Nelson Group. He's not easy to sway, as slippery as an eel. Convincing him won't be easy."

Ludwik was confident. "Everyone has a weakness, or something they desire."

"By the way, have you found Parker?" Jason suddenly asked.

"Of course," Ludwik replied, his lips pressed into a thin line. "I don't believe he's dead. Felix has mobilized all our resources."

"Don't forget about Parker's elder brother. Only by finding him can you win this lawsuit."

Ludwik's expression turned cold. "I won't let Jarvis get away with this."

-

Tossed about, Tiana Melford felt her stomach churn as if she was in the throes of a storm. Her head pounded, her throat felt blocked, she couldn't breathe. Instinctively, she turned over and vomited.

Only after expelling a large amount of seawater in an ungraceful manner did she slowly open her eyes, weak and disoriented.

Holding her stomach, she gasped for air, her lips pale. "Where... where am I? Not in the sea anymore?"

"Hmph, if you were still in the sea, you'd be dead by now," a coarse male voice retorted.

The voice then turned to someone nearby. "She's alive, coughed up the water herself. Should we inform the young master? After all, it was he who insisted on saving her." Young master?

Who could that be?

Tiana's vision gradually cleared, and she finally took in her surroundings.

Her body swayed as if she was in a cabin.

Right, the cruise... and Parker!

She distinctly remembered the man who had dived into the sea to save her, his strong arms, his glasses-the signature of Parker!

"Parker? He saved me, right? I remember, I'm sure it was him."

Tiana murmured, tears of relief in her eyes, her heart trembling. Parker wasn't dead.

Otherwise, how could she have seen him saving her?

She hurriedly rolled off the bed, crawling towards the man in front of her. "Please, where is Parker? I need to see him!"

"Parker? We don't have anyone by that name here," the sailor frowned, pushing her away. "You sure you haven't lost your mind to the sea?"

Tiana froze. "Then who saved me?"

"The young master."

Tiana's eyes moved sluggishly. "Then I need to see your young master!"

"The young master only saved you; he didn't say he wanted to see you. He pulled you aboard and left you aside. Doesn't seem like he knows you. You're not in a position to demand to see him."

"No, I know him. I've been searching for him for so long..."

At the door, another sailor looked annoyed. "Don't waste your breath on this woman! The boss is about to return from Emperor City. He went to Inko Group and heard the young master saved a woman. The boss is worried about his condition, told us to lock this woman up, to avoid any trouble from unknown origins."

"Boss?" Tiana was utterly bewildered. Where was she, and whose territory was this?

And Parker, was he the young master they were talking about?

Her heart raced with urgency, but before she could struggle further, they restrained her. In her panic, she choked on water and passed out.

"Damn, she's fainted again, not breathing!" The sailor checked and said, uncertain. "Should we inform the young master?"

The sailor at the door turned and walked out, frustrated.

-

When Tiana woke up again, she found herself in a brighter place, lying on a soft, comfortable bed.

Her eyes snapped open. "Parker..."

Not far behind a screen, two figures stood.

A middle-aged man frowned sharply at the girl on the bed and asked the young man opposite him, "Parkie, do you know this woman?" "No."

Hearing that familiar voice made Tiana's breath hitch.

It was Parker. She knew and remembered his voice, deep and magnetic, always calm, not as cold as Ludwik's.

"Parker..." Tiana immediately got up and walked towards them.

"So, if you don't know her, why did you save her?" the middle-aged man asked with concern, though his tone was stern.

The young man seemed lost for words.

Frowning, his eyes behind the glasses flashed an indecipherable emotion.

"What if she's up to no good? What if she purposely fell into the sea to make you save her? Parkie, you've just escaped from the jaws of death. I've barely managed to save you, and before meeting your mother, you better not cause any more trouble!" Uncle...

Tiana's mind was in turmoil, but she couldn't think any further, rushing out from behind the screen.

She grabbed the man's arm and pulled him over with an unexpected force.

The young man, caught off guard, spun around, his brows knitted in confusion, his cool, hazel eyes scanning her face-

And there it was, a cute, pretty face that, despite not being strikingly beautiful, made his heart skip a beat. There was a quickening in his pulse, and strangely, a sense of déjà vu.

Yet... he didn't recognize her.

"Parker? Is it really you, it's you..."

Tiana was ecstatic, tears instantly welling up and falling in large drops. Without a second thought, she leaped onto him, hugging him like an octopus, "You darned man, do you have any idea how worried we've been!

So, you've been hiding here, what on earth is this place?

Why didn't you get in touch with Ludwik, huh? He's been beating himself up, thinking he got you killed.

And Cherry... oh, do you have any clue how long Cherry cried for?

You heartless jerk..."

She pounded on him, but slowly realized something was amiss; the man wasn't engaging with her at all.

Tiana lifted her head, only to meet a pair of bewildered, hazel eyes. The naturally upturned corners of his eyes were now cold and distant, looking at her with an unfamiliar disdain.