Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 819

That night, Bryce had given her a beating so bad that I had no choice but to carry her back for treatment, waiting anxiously for the injury report to come out.

Frankly, I wish she had cheated on me instead. Blame me, why don't you? I was ambushed by Bryce's goons at the police station, hit in a spot that left me powerless. If you don't believe me, go check my hospital records!" Ludwik spilled the beans to the reporters without holding anything back.

Whitney stared at him, dumbfounded. His handsome, stoic face seemed to betray no emotion. What was this guy doing? Going to such lengths to clear her name, was he really willing to throw away his pride?

She stealthily pinched his muscular arm, trying to silence him.

But Ludwik just caught her hand, winked, and whispered in her ear, "It's okay, a real man doesn't mind losing face to protect the woman he loves. Besides, I don't need to prove anything to them. As long as you know I can handle it, that's enough." Whitney was speechless, her cheeks turning a bright shade of red.

What did she know? He was acting all cocky before even making a full recovery.

"I think you're just bluffing now. You're probably beyond help," Whitney couldn't resist pouring cold water on him.

Ludwik's forehead creased with annoyance. Was she dissatisfied with their last night's encounter?

"It'll get better, why don't we give it another go when we get back?" His face lit up with a mix of earnest and anticipation. Whitney glared at his striking features. If not for the crowd around them, she might have kicked him into next week.

However, his diversion did help to alleviate some of her frustration with the press's probing questions. "Forget about them. The media's just looking for a circus. Let's get out of here."

Ludwik's commanding presence pushed back the encircling reporters, and he guided her into the car.

As they drove away, Tiana was busy scrolling through the hot gossip about Whitney's alleged affair, ready to hack into the troll accounts Bryce had bought. But then she noticed something. "Hey, the scandal doesn't seem to be blowing up anymore... Those trolls are quieting down too?

Damn... And there's Florence, that snake, hiring trolls to play the victim, claiming she was unfairly ousted from the Sheldon Group by you. She must be hoping to use public sympathy to worm her way back into the Sheldon Group."

"If she's in cahoots with Bryce, and he's using her as a pawn to get his hands on the Sheldon Group, he must have promised her a return to her old position," Whitney clenched her fists.

Ludwik, legs crossed, looked up at Tiana. "Has Bryce backed off?"

"It seems so. The scandal about Whitney's affair hasn't spiraled out of control."

Ludwik smirked. "He's scared. I told him we had dirt on his club escapades, and he's afraid Whitney might go scorched earth on him."

Whitney glanced at him, about to speak, when Tiana gasped at a screenshot from a netizen. She clicked on it, exclaiming, "Ludwik! Some reporter dug up your medical records from the andrology clinic-look at this-'erectile dysfunction,' clear as day..." Tiana's face flushed pink, and the netizens were in an uproar. Suddenly, the narrative around Whitney's affair began to shift.

Netizens started questioning, "If Ludwik and Whitney couldn't be intimate, does that really count as cheating?"

"Hugging and kissing don't count as cheating?"

"That's just emotional infidelity! Geez, who knew Ludwik was actually impotent. Poor guy."

Tiana shoved these comments in front of Whitney.

Whitney's cheeks burned with embarrassment, her earlier words forgotten. "Ludwik, look at what you've done now."

"Ludwik, this is kind of a bold move to clear Whitney's name, totally sacrificing your own reputation," Tiana said, unable to hide her admiration. "Man, you really threw your pride out the window to win Whitney over."

"Bryce actually gave me the idea. No worries, I'm almost healed. What outsiders think doesn't bother me, as long as Whitney knows I..."

"I don't want to know, just shut up," Whitney cut him off, her face a beacon of embarrassment, wishing he'd drop the subject.

Ludwik coughed lightly, his fingers brushing his lips, sparing her further discomfort. "The scandal should gradually die down now. Bryce, as furious as he might be, wouldn't dare stoke the flames knowing you have that damning video of him."

"But he's weaseled his way into the Sheldon Group. With his devious ways and talent for schmoozing, it won't be long before he has the old shareholders eating out of his hand..."

Whitney sighed deeply. "Too bad, even if my father stood up now to denounce that power of attorney, the contract's in black and white. Legally, it's unlikely to be deemed signed under duress."

"I've told you, I have a way to deal with Bryce." Ludwik's face turned stern, his gaze on her sending a chill down her spine, reminding her of the Ludwik who had never truly vanished, just hidden his edge from view.

Her mind felt heavy, unable to conjure any plan that could salvage the Sheldon Group from crisis.

"What's your plan?" she pressed him.

Ludwik's hand enveloped her cold fingers, his warmth reassuring. "You'll see when we get back to the villa."

Whitney looked at Tiana, who shrugged, indicating she was also in the dark about Ludwik's confidence.

Back at the villa, Parker was waiting.

Since he couldn't yet reveal his whereabouts, Ludwik gestured for him to come over. "Parker, tell Whitney who you are."

Whitney looked at Parker, puzzled.

Parker had an epiphany and decided to come clean, "Ludwik wanted me to let you know that I'm actually Mr. Wilson's nephew, directly involved with the Inko Group. I've been the one pulling the strings on this partnership. Ludwik had my uncle step in, striking a bogus tech deal with the Patrick family and Bryce, swindling them out of a total of 800 billion in investment. Bryce himself put down 300 billion.

When the real tech developed by the Lippert family hits the market, the Patrick family and Bryce are going to be gobsmacked.

This was Ludwik's masterstroke, a classic bait-and-switch, draining the Patrick Group and Bryce dry."

Whitney's eyes widened in shock.

The Inko Group had this sort of connection with Parker?

She turned to look at Ludwik, realizing he had been scheming with Parker in the shadows, orchestrating a business coup.

So, the Patrick Group poured in 500 billion and the Lutz Group 300 billion, all for naught?

"Ludwik, you're ruthless. So, what you're saying is, you've been playing possum?" Tiana gasped, raising an eyebrow at him, acknowledging his counterattack while he still played the part of a down-and-out Ludwik. Ludwik's gaze was icy, unmoved, "What I'm saying is what comes next.

Whitney, Bryce has already sunk 300 billion into this. Do you want to hollow out his company?

Then play along with his game. Pretend to concede, and negotiate with the Sheldon Group. He wants full control of the real estate project? Have him fork over 500 billion to buy the Sky-Surprise Inn project. Didn't your dad's contract mention selling it to the Lutz Group at a bargain? 500 billion is steep, but if he's determined to swallow the Lutz Group whole, he'll definitely take the risk!"