Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 840

Catching a glimpse of Whitney's furious face, he, aware of the inside story, hurriedly explained, "Parker had his reasons. To keep his being alive a secret, he had no choice but to shut Endora up.

It was all an act.

And Tiana, too, how could she not understand a man in crucial times?

Besides, Parker and Tiana's relationship has always been ambiguous, never officially declared.

So, it's not like Parker really wronged her, right? He was already engaged."

"What did you say?" Whitney exploded, punching the man hard on the chest, her face fierce, "Typical jerk talk! Tiana falling for Parker should be considered Parker's good luck. He's been leading Tiana on, how can he not be responsible?

And as soon as his fiancée shows up, he ditches Tiana, just like you, a total jerk!"

Ludwik, hit by the accusation unawares, fell silent, his lips pressed tight, at a loss for words.

"Whitney, I told you, Parker was just pretending.

Find time to tell Tiana the truth, ask her to play along."

Whitney looked at him with a speechless expression, "And you think she'll believe that?

She'll think I'm just trying to comfort her!

You don't see it; Tiana acts tough, but after what Barclay did to her, she's fragile inside. That's why she's been scared to start something new for years."

"Sorry, my bad. Let's just drop it, okay?"

Ludwik instantly opted for a softer approach: "Sometimes, men have to put on an act for the greater good, just like when I had to pretend with Florence for my mother's spinal surgery."

"Wow, playing the victim now, are you? Saying you did nothing wrong?" Whitney's face turned cold instantly.

"No, no, no. I'm at fault, all my fault. I was too dumb to tell you the truth."

Ludwik regretted his decisions, but he was in the same boat as Parker, hampered by various considerations at the time.

He couldn't let Parker make the same mistakes. Once this half-month was over, he was definitely going to clear things up with Tiana. Parker was innocent.

"...Whitney, don't go." Seeing her turn to leave in anger, Ludwik's face fell as he followed her.

Entering the room, Whitney began packing, telling her sons, "Mommy's done with her recovery. It's time to go back to Delight Mansion. You boys decide, stay with Ludwik or come home with me?" Ludwik protested, "Whitney! You don't have to force the kids to choose. My place has plenty of room for you."

"Thanks, but this isn't my home. I'm not comfortable here."

Whitney politely declined, her tone all business, "But we're still partners. If you need me to play along with Bryce at the office, just email me."

"...," Ludwik felt helpless, his handsome face clouding over.

Was it necessary to make such a clean break over Tiana?

Was his status now lower than her best friend's?

Holding back his frustration like a restrained beast, Ludwik followed her.

"Whitney, don't be so heartless. The kids need you..."

Danny, carrying his backpack, walked up, looking disdainful, "If it weren't because you're my dad, I'd tell you straight - you're so lame! Can't even chase a woman properly." "You think you can do better?" Ludwik was tempted to spank him.

"Hmph, if I did, it'd be dangerous for you. You'd stand no chance against a rival like me."

"...." Ludwik realized where the boy's arrogance came from - himself.

Biting back his frustration, he found Sammy increasingly agreeable, "If we have to split custody again, I only want Sammy."

"But I don't want you." Sammy, his laptop on his back, delivered a quiet zinger.

Ludwik: "..."

Watching his sons leave with Whitney without a backward glance, he questioned his existence. Was he just a sperm donor?

-

Back at Delight Mansion.

After handing the kids over to the bodyguard, Whitney immediately headed to the neighboring villa to find Tiana.

Barging in, she found Tiana, dressed for work and holding her laptop bag, ready to leave, "Whitney, you're back? Been waiting long? I'm ready; let's head to the Sheldon Group."

Whitney carefully examined Tiana's fair face, trying to spot any signs of distress despite Tiana's efforts to appear normal, her eyes slightly red.

Tiana, masking her feelings, "Whitney, let's not talk about him, okay? I don't want to hear about that man right now," she said, turning away and heading for the car.

Determined, they drove to the Sheldon Group. As expected, Bryce was holding a meeting about the groundbreaking ceremony for the Sky-Surprise Inn project set for the afternoon, with funding finalized by the next day.

Whitney and Tiana exchanged looks and stormed into the meeting room, drawing surprised glances from the shareholders, many of whom Whitney suspected had been swayed by Bryce.

Her gaze then fell on Florence, visibly pregnant, occupying the deputy project manager's seat.

Next to Florence, Bryce casually lifted those warm eyes and with a hint of smugness, said, "Whitney, you made it to work? Just in time. Today, we're breaking ground on the Sky-Surprise Inn project-a whopping investment of five billion to create what will be the next jewel in the Sheldon Group's crown."

His tone carried the arrogance of someone who felt they already had the Sheldon Group in the palm of their hand.

"Cut it out!" Whitney slammed her fist on the table, her face flush with anger but her voice controlled, barely containing her fury. "The day you're talking about, my father was on his deathbed. I couldn't make it, and the shareholders made a snap decision in my absence. Your five billion? The Sheldon Group doesn't want it. And don't you even think about forcing it into the project, trying to take over the core of the Sheldon Group!

Mr. Liam, Mr. Evans, I do not approve of starting the groundbreaking ceremony today."

Mr. Liam and Mr. Evans's faces darkened a bit, considering they had already accepted a generous bribe from Bryce in private.

"Whitney, decisions made by the board aren't just overturned on a whim," Mr. Liam sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.