Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 759

Seeing her panicked and unfamiliar gaze fixed on him, Bryce quickly regained a sliver of sanity amidst his frustration, his handsome face immediately clouded with disappointment, pain, and heartbreak.

It almost made Whitney believe that the version of him she had just witnessed was nothing but an illusion.

Bryce held her tightly, his eyes tinged with a helpless crimson. "Whitney, do you really find me that repulsive?"

"It's not that I find you repulsive," Whitney curled up, defensively yet despairingly. "I don't know why I'm reacting like this, I'm sorry, Bryce."

She wanted to give herself to him, but when it came down to it, she just couldn't.

They had tried twice, and she had resisted both times. Maybe it would never work?

Yet, when Ludwik had kissed her last night, even managing to make her tremble and feel lost in confusion, she hadn't felt this resistance or disgust. In fact, Ludwik's presence felt familiar and captivating. If she hadn't kept her wits about her and left his study, she might have let him kiss her senseless.

Her body was treacherously accustomed to Ludwik, rejecting any other man.

This conclusion was devastating.

"Bryce, it's my fault, it's my issue. Maybe... maybe this marriage should end," Whitney said courageously.

"Don't say another word!" Bryce abruptly cut her off, his crimson eyes filled with fear and desperation as he clung to her. "Whitney, how could you say something so cruel?

I've loved you for so many years, waited for you, and finally married you. You're almost like a dream come true.

I want us to spend our lives together. If you leave me now, I don't know how I'd go on."

Whitney was stunned and speechless.

Was she really that important to him?

She wasn't moved; instead, she felt a weight pressing on her heart.

Bryce's words felt like shackles, causing her guilt and confusion.

She opened her mouth to speak, but Bryce quickly cut her off, gently stroking her hair. "I was too harsh, did I scare you?

Alright, I won't pressure you anymore.

Whitney, don't overthink, get some rest early tonight."

He comforted her softly before leaving her room with a look of dejection. However, once he closed her door, Bryce's gentle eyes instantly turned vicious and spiteful.

He returned to his study, opened a bottle of whiskey, and drank heavily. Then, he made a call to Hudson's hospital, his voice maliciously low. "Today, Whitney requested an MRI for Hudson, to check his brain function. Do not proceed with it!

Find a way to deal with Dr. Ivan, and fake the MRI results to deceive her."

Whitney, oh Whitney, so defiant, huh?

Good... I had thought, after getting my revenge on her through acquiring the Sheldon Group and leaving her by my side as a plaything.

Now, well, no longer. Sooner or later, I'll make her regret her rejection, make her wish she was dead!

-

The next morning.

Bryce, nursing a wound on the back of his head and simmering with rage from the night before, stormed into the Lutz Group. He immediately summoned Florence to his office, locking the door behind them as he unleashed his fury in a variety of ways. They were in the midst of their escapade when the door was suddenly burst open. "Bryce, on what grounds do you fire me?!" Audrey stormed in, her face a mask of indignation.

Her shock turned to rage upon seeing the disheveled woman in Bryce's arms.

She charged forward, "Well, well, I see why you've been sidelining me, keeping me at home. Bryce, you've found someone new!"

"Get out," Bryce snarled, holding Florence close, his annoyance clear. "Assistant, remove this woman."

"I won't leave!" Audrey was livid, her pent-up anger erupting. "I've been at your side for so long, and you think you can just discard me?

I'll see who this temptress is!"

She rushed forward, grabbing a document to throw at the woman.

The woman turned, her face a cold mirror of Whitney's, her smirk chilling. "Mr. Lutz, this is your secretary, isn't she? So unrefined, daring to lay hands on me?

You know who I am, right? Do you think you have the right to strike me?"

Florence arrogantly pushed Audrey away.

Audrey was dumbfounded.

This was... Whitney's stepsister?

Her incredulous look turned scornful as she faced Bryce. "Wow, Bryce, you've really outdone yourself!

So you've stooped to her. She resembles Whitney, doesn't she?

You can't have Whitney, so you settle for second best. How hypocritical, vile, and pitiful you are!"

Bryce's eyes darkened with a secret pain, his previously tender gaze now menacing. He fastened his belt and advanced on Audrey, his voice icy. "Shut your mouth! Who do you think you are? Your position was stripped because you couldn't keep quiet about Whitney.

Still don't understand why you were discarded?

Foolish women provoke Whitney repeatedly.

I promised you a place if you got pregnant, and you tried to use that to make Whitney aware of your existence?

Then I have no choice but to send you away from Emperor City."

Bryce was ruthless, dragging Audrey to the door, his voice cold as he ordered his assistant, "Pay her three months' salary. Audrey, since you're so ungrateful, the Emperor City villa is no longer yours. You're not pregnant, go back to Banyan City, and don't make me repeat myself."

"You... beast! I was with you for months, and I can't even get a villa!

You forget when Whitney betrayed you, I was the one by your side. When she came back, I moved out of your villa without a word.

Now you're with Florence... Ha, I wonder if Whitney would be sick to her stomach knowing you're fooling around with her stepsister."

"You try me one more time, Audrey. Don't test my patience.

Run back to your little safe haven in Banyan City, and maybe you'll stay out of trouble." With those final words, Bryce left her standing outside his office.

Inside, Florence leisurely buttoned up her blouse, her belly noticeably rounded. She rose from the floor, catching a glimpse of disgust in Bryce's eyes, but she quickly moved closer to him. "Mr. Lutz, are we going for another round?" "Go cool off in the lounge," Bryce replied with a cold glare.

Florence let out a frustrated chuckle, knowing she had to rely on this man to make her comeback.

Once Florence retreated to the lounge, Bryce summoned his assistant, his gaze darkening. "Audrey saw something she shouldn't have... Keep an eye on that fool. If she doesn't keep her mouth shut, well, she's digging her own grave." The assistant nodded, immediately understanding the gravity of the situation.

Meanwhile, Audrey stormed out of the Sheldon Group building, fuming. She quickly dialed Whitney's number.

"Hello? Who's this?"

"Whitney! It's Audrey. I need to see you, like, now!"