Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 796

Ludwik's eyes were bloodshot with guilt as he scanned Parker up and down, "Are you alright? I mean, physically?" "Last I heard from Tiana, she was frantic on the phone, saying you'd been shot multiple times..."

"Nearly kicked the bucket," Parker nodded, reassuring him, "But look at me now, all in one piece, right?"

"What in the world happened to you, where did you vanish to?" Ludwik pressed, his brows knitted in concern.

Parker turned to look out the window, recounting the tale of his fall from the cliff, how his uncle had rushed to his rescue, and the month he spent recuperating on Saltland Island, sparing no detail for Ludwik.

Ludwik clenched his fists, frustrated, "Justin, that fool."

"He got played by Jarvis too! When you eloped with Whitney at your wedding, that's when Jarvis and the Patrick family must have been plotting against the Lipperts. They saw me as a threat and used Justin to frame me by stealing the chip. It was also Jarvis who suddenly kidnapped Tiana and Cherry, forcing me to leave the lab for half a day.

That's when Justin stole the chip, and shortly after, I was ambushed by hitmen hired by Jarvis at the seaside brick factory, cornered..."

"Parker, I nearly got you killed," Ludwik slammed his fist on the table, filled with self-reproach, "You even called me, asking me to take charge because you couldn't handle it alone. I was negligent, all because of Whitney."

Parker didn't comfort him, just offered a serene smile, "It's all water under the bridge, Ludwik!"

"Thank goodness your uncle saved you, but how did he happen to know you were in Emperor City?"

Parker sheepishly ran a hand through his hair, "My uncle was acting on my mother's request."

"Wait, your uncle is?" Ludwik's tone sharpened.

Parker licked his lips, "Yeah, he's Phineas, the chairman of Inko Group."

Ludwik couldn't hide his shock.

"No wonder when I bumped into Mr. Wilson's car on Brew Hill, I thought he looked somewhat like you. And at his housewarming party, I felt this sense of familiarity between you two. So, you're his nephew?" Ludwik slowly sat down, "I knew the Doonan family had their fingers in both pies in Banyan City, but I had no idea about your mother's side having such a monumental connection. Phineas is practically the financial backbone behind the president. You kept your background so hidden, it's almost like a deep secret."

"Hardly," Parker replied, modestly embarrassed, brows relaxed yet secretive, "My mother kept a low profile about her background after marrying into the Doonan family. I only found out about her presidential connections when I grew up... But my mom hardly contacts her family.

This time, knowing I was in danger, she reached out to my uncle to look after me in Emperor City.

My uncle used to live near the presidential estate, but he moved to Brew Hill in Emperor City to investigate my situation and bought a property there.

During this time, he also fell for the rumors spread by Jarvis and his crew, mistakenly thinking you had betrayed me.

The worst part was, I temporarily lost my memory, almost letting my uncle take revenge on you.

Luckily, just as Inko Group was about to sign a contract, my memory returned, and I rushed back to Emperor City."

Ludwik finally understood what he had been through.

His gaze was cold and filled with guilt. There were no dramatic declarations of brotherhood, but deep down, he was profoundly grateful to Parker.

In times of trouble, remembering to fight back to his side, that was a brother he would never forget.

Hiding his choked-up feeling, Ludwik's expression remained cool, "Inko Group is choosing partners, but don't rush this. You should focus on getting better first."

"I'm already on the mend, even got rid of the fever poison," Parker said, Tiana's face briefly flickering in his mind.

His uncle had mentioned it was Tiana who cured him of the poison.

But he couldn't remember how she did it, or where her medical skills came from?

After settling Ludwik's matter, he planned to return to Saltland Island and bring Tiana back.

"Fever poison? What's that about?"

"Got bitten by something poisonous in the sea, led to some nerve issues and memory loss. I don't remember much from that month after getting my memory back... But it's not important... Ludwik, I convinced my uncle that you were innocent.

And I made him see that neither the Patrick family nor Bryce are good people.

Now, with the Inko Group partnership under my control, my uncle can't do much about it.

I want to offer this partnership to you. If the Lippert family can introduce Inko Group's advanced technology, you'll surely overcome this crisis and turn the tables."

"Parker..." Ludwik was visibly moved, at a loss for words.

He was lucky.

He thought it would take a significant effort to prove his worth to Phineas and persuade him to partner up.

But to his surprise, the junior head of Inko Group was Parker himself.

This was truly a case of family running into each other.

With Inko Group's support, Ludwik had no worries about making a comeback, even possibly pulling down the top-dog Patrick family and the rapidly rising Bryce.

A dark scheme flashed through his deep eyes.

Parker was all too familiar with that ruthless look in Ludwik's eyes, probably plotting someone's downfall.

He smirked, leaning in, "I've got Inko Group, and you've got the skills. Let's figure out how to take down the Patrick Group and Bryce without them noticing... It's time for the Lippert family to rise again." Ludwik paused for a moment, his sharp gaze slightly shaking his head as he let out a cold chuckle. "What I want is to ride on the coattails of Inko Group to completely take down the Patrick family.

I've got a plan, Parker. Wanna hear it?"

Parker perked up, "You were clearly set up by Wade and Jarvis, ending up in this mess. That top spot of the Patrick family? They won't be sitting comfortably in it for long if you have anything to say about it. Time to hit back, hard!"

Ludwik, with a cold and fierce demeanor, laid out his plan, "So, you work your magic in the shadows, get Mr. Wilson to take the lead. Have him offer Inko Group's cutting-edge technology first to the Patrick Group, and don't forget to throw a bone to the Lutz Group as well." "What?" Parker was utterly baffled, "Give the tech to the Patrick family and Bryce? Ludwik, what are you thinking?"

Ludwik gave him a calm-yourself look, his gaze icy and stern, "Even though the Patrick family currently tops the business charts in Harmonia Country, the Patrick Group doesn't have its own brand. They've built their fortune by leeching off the Lippert family.

I've done my homework. The chip the Patrick Group showcased last time wasn't even Wade's. He just had the rights to sell Weiman Technologies' chips domestically and made a killing off the price difference.

The rest of the Patrick Group's ventures? Only their e-commerce is anything to write home about.

They lack cutting-edge technology and would need at least a year or two to build a competent team.

That's why Wade is so desperate for Inko Group's tech; it would enable them to develop new products.

So, let's give them the partnership they crave. Have the Patrick Group and Bryce throw in, say, four or five hundred billion first."

Parker began to see the genius in Ludwik's plan, "Ludwik, are you planning to fleece them without lifting a finger?"