Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 847

Parker licked his teeth nonchalantly, "Bryce is just throwing a fit because his dirty laundry's out in the open. Uncle, just tell him straight up, I'm your nephew. Anything else that's legit, just block him and move on."

"Rubbish!"

At his age, with his status and power, yet he had to deal with this kid's antics.

Phineas hung up the phone, just stepping out of the CEO's office, when Bryce's angry voice erupted downstairs, laced with a thick, mocking laughter, "Mr. Wilson, you've been quite the Houdini since last night! Nolan tried reaching Inko Group multiple times last night, calls unanswered.

This morning, you dodged us again.

And as soon as our new product press conference starts, Parker comes out claiming he's your nephew?

What a perfectly laid trap between you and Ludwik!

Even if you stand behind Harmonia Country's president as a financial tycoon, you're still new to Emperor City. Playing these games with the Patrick Group and my Lutz Group, you really don't see us as equals, do you?" Phineas studied Bryce's increasingly fierce face.

He used to see this young man as refined and upright, a perfect gentleman.

At some banquet, Phineas even found himself liking him.

Though Phineas never paid attention to Emperor City's gossip, he heard Bryce had taken over his wife's company.

Not exactly a saint.

Hands behind his back, eyes slightly narrowed, he smiled leisurely, "Mr. Lutz, given my position, why would I need to play you?"

"You're still playing dumb!" Bryce, pushed to the edge, eyes ablaze, suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Phineas by the collar, beyond caring about repercussions, ready to burn all bridges, "You gave the Patrick Group and me second-rate technology! You gave the best aerospace tech to Ludwik.

You hid this, one played me, the other acted innocent, until two months later when the product's developed, Ludwik plans to crush my Lutz Group, doesn't he? Why help him?

Because Parker is your nephew... isn't he?!"

Phineas raised an eyebrow, "You already know the answer, why ask?

Mr. Lutz, seems like you're acting out in desperation.

Parker is indeed my nephew, I admit that now.

Don't you get it? He wanted to make a scene, I indulged him in this minor cooperation.

Still confused? Let me spell it out for you, both the Patrick Group and the Lutz Group were out of the game two months ago by Inko Group.

Got it?"

"Phineas... you old bastard! Do you think you can just walk away from this mess?

I want you to go public now and admit, you purposely swapped out the top-notch technology, this was your conspiracy with Ludwik!"

Phineas, annoyed and dismissive, chuckled coldly, "Mr. Lutz, who told you Inko Group's top technology necessarily had to be above all others, like Hausen Group's tech?

If you're disappointed with the tech I provided, I apologize.

From now on, I'll learn from my nephew's company, how about that?"

"You, the Inko Group's CEO, are playing dumb with me?" Bryce was livid.

The secretary nearby, smirking, grabbed the completely out of control Bryce, saying, "Mr. Lutz, it's understandable to be upset, but if you keep this up, we'll have to call the police."

"You bastard!" Bryce, face twisted with indignation, pointed at Phineas and roared, "I'll sue you! Hausen Group is a sham, you capitalized on my eagerness to collaborate, tampered with the contract, I'll sue until Inko Group is no more!"

"Go ahead." Phineas, unfazed, casually pulled out the contract they had signed, laying it out, "Both our legal departments were present at the signing. If there's even a single violation in this contract, I'll take your surname, Bryce." Bryce's heart seemed to stop as he stared, dumbfounded.

He thought by coming here in a rush, Phineas would at least show guilt, and if it went to court, at least some loopholes in Inko Group's initial partnership could be unearthed.

But he underestimated Phineas's cunning and overwhelming power. If he really wanted to target the Lutz Group, at this critical moment, the Lutz Group could be easily crushed.

In a panic, Bryce quickly left.

But no sooner had he gotten into his car, his anger not yet subsided, the secretary suddenly turned around with a tablet in hand, his face pale, "Bad news, Mr. Lutz, your confrontation with Phineas somehow got recorded and uploaded online!" "What?" Bryce leaned over, grabbing the secretary by the collar.

The secretary, trembling, handed over the tablet, "Just leaked a couple of minutes ago, and this damn leaker even highlighted the key points: first, Phineas himself confirmed the president of Hausen Group is his nephew. Second, and here's the kicker: both the Patrick Group and the Lutz Group were already written off by Phineas at the start of the collaboration with Inko Group.

Mr. Lutz... our product already failed to launch, and now with Phineas's recording out there.

Doesn't this mean, in the eyes of Emperor City's entrepreneurs, our Lutz Group has completely lost Inko Group's support?

Not just lacking support, according to Phineas's words, Inko Group, and both the Patrick and the Lutz Groups have drawn lines..."

As news spread like wildfire, every major company started to back away from the Lutz Group as if it were cursed.

At the Lutz Group's headquarters, a mob of angry CEOs who had previously signed deals were causing a scene at the front gates, accusing the company of pulling a bait-and-switch by producing inferior goods. They were demanding astronomical sums in compensation. Bryce sank back into his car seat with a whoosh, his gaze icy as he clenched his forehead, on the verge of exploding. "First, we need to stabilize the companies currently collaborating with the Lutz Group!"

"It's no use," the assistant lamented. "Seeing Phineas turn against you, everyone's trying to sever ties. It's not just the companies with product orders; other partners are gathering at the Lutz Group's gates, looking to terminate their ongoing projects!"

"These ungrateful swines," Bryce seethed, his face turning ashen. "We can't let them create a spectacle; the negative publicity would be disastrous. Let's silence a few of the biggest complainers by settling their claims."

"Mr. Lutz! You've forgotten, all our capital is tied up in the Sheldon Group's Sky-Surprise Inn project. We're even in debt to the bank for a whopping two hundred billion. And now, Fortu-Nova Bank, through their legal department, is breathing down our necks for repayment. If we don't settle our dues with the bank in five days, the Lutz Group will be blacklisted and have our assets frozen!"

Bryce stared out the window, the fleeting lights casting sinister shadows in his eyes. He ground the name Ludwik between his teeth in frustration. After a moment of icy contemplation, he looked up, his eyes fierce. "Sky-Surprise Inn... Quick, to the Sheldon Group. I've got three hundred billion in assets tied up in that construction site that hasn't been liquidated yet. Retrieve those funds first!"

The driver floored the accelerator.

Meanwhile, in Ludwik's mansion...

Parker watched the controversy around the leaked recording grow online, a sly smile playing on his lips. However, his amusement was short-lived as his phone exploded with furious texts from Phineas.

He shrugged nonchalantly, casting a glance at the unflappable Ludwik.

Ludwik, having just finished scanning the news of the uproar at the Lutz Group's headquarters, set down his glass of red wine and turned to Whitney with a chilling smirk. "Darling, it's time for you to head to the Sheldon Group and set our next plan in motion." Whitney's clear, almond-shaped eyes slowly lifted to meet those of the man orchestrating the grand scheme, her gaze steady and unwavering.