Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 771

"You must be wondering who let me in, huh?"

Sienna couldn't be more smug, her gaze cold and triumphant as she stared down her rival. "Did you really think that just because Florence lost her backing, I wouldn't find someone else? Think again. I've gotten close to Elodie, and we're hitting it off like a house on fire. And Whitney, don't get too cocky. Florence hasn't been pushed out of the game yet; she's just biding her time."

Whitney met her stare with a frosty look. "If you're here just to spout that, you're wasting my time. Your Uncle Hudson's already up and about, and it won't be long before he finds out Florence is a love child, not his own flesh and blood. What's she going to lean on to get back into the Sheldon Group then, hm?"

"You..." Sienna's grip tightened around her wine glass, her face flush with anger.

Whitney scrutinized her with a cool detachment, a hint of understanding in her eyes. "So, you've cozied up to Elodie, huh? Let me guess, you told her you're my cousin, and used my name to curry favor with her, right?"

Sienna's face went scarlet, caught off guard by Whitney's accurate guess. She snapped back with venom, "Elodie is my BFF now, Whitney, and you better back off. You've already fought over Ludwik with Florence, and you're married now. Shouldn't you be settling down? I'm warning you, Ludwik's caught Elodie's eye. Stay away from him, you old hag."

Old hag...

This wasn't the first time Sienna had hurled that insult at her, even though she was only a few years younger.

Whitney swirled her wine glass lazily, a playful smile on her lips. "Well, I'm on my second marriage, and you're still single. Maybe we should ask around, see who's really the old hag here?

Sienna, try not to focus all your energy on being a lapdog. Maybe spend some time on your looks; at 23, you already look older than me, the 'old hag'. No wonder no eligible bachelors are looking your way tonight."

That hit a nerve. Sienna, not as naturally charming as Sandy or Florence, had tried her hardest to flirt with the high society bachelors, but to no avail. Shane and others of his stature had shown no interest in her. "Bravo, Whitney, bragging about a second marriage now, are we? Using your fox-like charm to lure men, hooking Bryce and then making moves on Ludwik, and Shane? You're despicable.

Ah, but Elodie, she's the future vice president's daughter. Just wait and see how she deals with you."

With a final withering glance, Sienna stormed off.

Whitney sipped her juice, unfazed, but her gaze drifted towards Elodie. Despite her calm demeanor, she was irked, not by Sienna, but by Ludwik, for unwittingly making her an enemy by flirting with young girls like Elodie. Even divorced, he was still a source of trouble.

-

Fuming, Sienna reported back to Elodie, exaggerating Whitney's comments. "Elodie, I told you Whitney is nothing but trouble. I told her to stay away from Ludwik, and she had the nerve to mock me. She's underestimating you, Ms. Miller. You have to teach her a lesson." Elodie's face darkened as she pondered their next move. "How do we put her in her place? She's Shane's friend and a Sheldon Group heiress."

"What heiress? My uncle's barely out of his coma, and the Sheldon Group is in turmoil. Besides, she and Mr. Nelson are just acquaintances. You're Mr. Nelson's cousin; you don't need to hold back."

Elodie's gaze sharpened, noticing Ludwik's impatience to leave the pool party. She quickly followed him, trying to charm him. "Mr. Lippert, where are you off to? I was hoping you'd stay and pop some champagne with me."

"I'm stepping out for a smoke, want to join?" Ludwik's tolerance for the woman was wearing thin.

He was only at the party to meet Phineas, but realizing Phineas hadn't shown up, he knew Elodie had tricked him. Still, for the sake of the Lippert family, he played along, albeit reluctantly.

"A smoke break in the men's room? Sure, I'll have security clear it out for a private chat," Elodie suggested shamelessly, batting her eyelashes.

Ludwik's expression darkened. "A lady with no sense of decorum," he thought, choosing to ignore her and walk away.

Elodie, not one to give up easily, pouted and followed. "Mr. Lippert, you're not rushing off to see Whitney, are you?"

"Elodie!" Ludwik shot her a cold glance. "You know perfectly well why I attended your welcome-back party. If I had known you'd be ungrateful and resort to threats, I'd rather have faced your father's wrath that day than save you."

Caught off guard by his harsh words, Elodie felt a sting to her pride. "Ludwik, can't you see I like you? I've never lowered myself for any man like this before."

Ludwik's smile was icy. "Elodie, the line of women who've thrown themselves at me could circle the block. Should I entertain every advance, the Lippert family would be running a harem. You dropping your standards doesn't mean I owe you gratitude." His mocking tone hit Elodie hard, but her resolve only hardened. "But I'm not like those other women."

She cornered him with a glint in her eye, "I am the daughter of the Secretary of the Treasury. If you get with me, you could quickly elevate the Lippert family's status. Didn't you see how many people were trying to cozy up to me tonight, to get in good with my dad? Ludwik, you're a top-notch guy, you've got to see the fast track I'm offering could skyrocket your career.

The opportunity is right in front of you, all you have to do is fall for me..."

"My success doesn't need to be built on a woman's back!" Ludwik replied curtly, his tone icy as he walked away.

Elodie watched his retreating figure, prideful and unwavering, feeling tears of frustration well up in her eyes.

But the more she cried, the more she found herself drawn to his indifferent departure. He was unlike any man she'd ever met; no amount of coercion or temptation swayed him.

That aura of cool, unassailable strength seemed innate; even in adversity, he looked down on the world, utterly unmoved by power or wealth.

"What's the matter, pumpkin? Who's upset you?" Ronan rushed over as soon as he heard from the servants, his face clouding with concern. He had only one daughter, whom he treated as a treasure, fearing even a harsh word might break her. "Dad, Mr. Lippert doesn't like me. What should I do?" Elodie said sadly, then squinted, "Can you think of something, please? I must have him!"