Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 849

Bryce felt like he'd been hit by a ton of bricks. Tiana's words left him reeling, his face drained of color.

What did she mean?

He staggered back, feeling as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head, freezing him to his core and stopping his thoughts dead in their tracks.

He had thought the Sheldon Group was in the bag, never suspecting that from day one, he'd been playing into Ludwik's hands.

Ludwik and Whitney had both played the victim so well... Whitney had seemed completely defeated, practically handing over the Sheldon Group to him on a silver platter!

So this was Ludwik's master plan, making him bleed money from both sides.

It all clicked.

That snake Whitney, had she arranged for those shareholders downstairs just to stall him?

She had tied his billions into the Sky-Surprise Inn project so effectively he couldn't pull it back now!

"You're all in on this, plotting against me, Whitney? Is this your twisted way of humiliating me? Well, you're not walking out of here today!"

Bryce lost it. In a fit of rage, he swept his arm across the desk, sending papers flying.

Whitney stumbled back from his shove but coolly pulled out a small knife she'd prepared earlier, holding it up defensively as Bryce's face twisted in fury.

With a cold smirk, Whitney warned, "You better calm down, Bryce. A showdown with me won't end well for you. Think about the Lutz Group. Your billions are already tied up in the Sky-Surprise Inn project. And those documents you just shredded? I have copies. But your real trouble is just starting. Like being hounded by creditors, and having mobs demanding payments at your office... The Lutz Group's reputation is hanging by a thread. If you add a scandal with the police to your woes, your carefully built reputation will be ruined. Was it worth all those years of plotting against me, only to throw it away now?"

Bryce's face turned ashen.

Remembering Ludwik's advice, Whitney knew Bryce wouldn't dare touch her now. Sure enough, he was too caught up in his own mess.

Using the knife to keep Bryce at bay, Whitney slowly retreated.

Bryce, seething with hatred, pulled back his punch and slammed his hand on a chair, hurling it towards Whitney, causing a thunderous noise in the finance office. He glared at Whitney one last time, realizing his immediate concern was to salvage his billions. He stormed out, bellowing for his finance manager to claw back his funds and stop any further payments to the construction site immediately.

The entire floor echoed with his rage.

As the dust settled, Tiana rushed to Whitney's side, both shaken by Bryce's outburst.

"Bryce was like a madman just now... terrifying..."

"People can do crazy things when they're desperate," Whitney said quietly, her eyes closed.

Tiana shivered, recalling Bryce's past actions against Whitney. "He got what he deserved!"

Whitney didn't respond, simply grabbing her bag and heading out of the finance office. But instead of leaving, she made her way to the Sheldon Group's executive floor, once commandeered by Bryce and Florence.

Standing in the expansive hallway, Whitney looked toward her father's office, her determination hardening.

"It's time to take back the Sheldon Group."

"Cody, you're here," Whitney noticed him approaching from behind.

"Has Florence shown her face today?"

"Since the Lutz Group's product launch failed, she hasn't dared to come in. She's always been cunning, sensing trouble for Bryce today."

With a cold laugh, Whitney instructed, "Throw out her things, and Bryce's too. Everything."

"Right away, boss! With Bryce on the brink of bankruptcy and legal troubles ahead, his grip on the Sheldon Group is over. You're free to take the reins again. And with the Lippert family's new product making waves, and Ludwik's return to form, no one will dare mess with the Sheldon Group now."

Whitney was about to correct Cody's overenthusiasm when Tiana chimed in, amused by his flattery towards Ludwik's prospects.

Cody, remembering his initial disdain for Ludwik, quickly added, "I never expected Ludwik to be such a mastermind, biding his time and taking hits. These past months, he's been quietly enduring, plotting his comeback."

It's not just me who thinks he's done for, even the big shots in Emperor City like Mr. Sheldon think Ludwik's beyond saving."

Tiana rolled her eyes, thinking if she wasn't in the know, she'd also believe Ludwik had spent the past month wallowing in despair, his efforts to win back his love as futile as a snowball's chance in hell.

It just goes to show, a sharp mind doesn't need to be constantly busy.

A high-class jerk is still a jerk.

Compared to him, Parker is like a whole different breed, a real go-getter, Parker...

Tiana clenched her fists tighter, why think about him? Her recent time with Endora had been going smoothly, at least.

Yet, her heart still felt like it was being sliced open, an intense pain stabbing through her.

-

Bryce rushed to the construction site of the Sky-Surprise Inn project.

As soon as he got out of his car, he called over his secretary, his brooding eyes narrowing in frustration, "Whitney wants to see me ruined? Ha, get on the internet and hire a bunch of trolls right now. I want a sob story out there. Take the lead in slamming Ludwik. Say it wasn't bad enough he cheated with my wife, now he's colluding with Inko Group to play me, and together with Whitney, they're maliciously freezing my investment funds at the Sheldon Group! Their goal is to corner me, so they can carry on their affair without shame!

Get the trolls to drum up sympathy for me, stir up the public's outrage.

I need public opinion on my side. Once I get the internet's sympathy, maybe I can turn the tables with their support."