Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 858

Florence never thought Ludwik would pull such a bold move, flipping Bryce's world upside down.

With Bryce out of the picture, she had barely settled back into the Sheldon Group when Whitney's shadow loomed over her once again, threatening to kick her out. Florence was determined not to spend her life being overshadowed and tormented by Whitney. That woman... was now her only way out. Staying would only lead to being caught by Whitney eventually.

"Fine, I'll leave. But will the journey be safe? And the baby, the doctor said there might be a risk of premature birth in the next two months."

Bryce glanced at her belly with disdain, his eyes blazing with hatred, "I want Ludwik to suffer deeply in the future, and you must bring this child into the world. I'll have someone escort you. Tonight, you'll disappear without a trace, same goes for when you arrive there. But remember, Florence, once you find that woman, don't even think about pushing me aside.

You're a fake, and I know everything."

Bryce pointed at his own eyes with two fingers, his face sinister as he warned her, effectively silencing Florence's scheming thoughts. She gritted her teeth inwardly.

He knew her secret, and it seemed she couldn't shake off this dog.

With a flattering smile, she said, "If I make it big, I'll definitely help you, Mr. Lutz, through this tough time."

Bryce smirked, ambition still burning in his eyes, and patted her face, "That's more like it. I'm counting on your good news. Better do as I say."

-

At the Patrick family.

In the study, Wade and Jarvis were fuming. Jarvis cursed out loud, "These arms dealers from the Middle East are acting like bandits. It's our fault our product didn't hit the market, but why should these companies demand ten times the compensation? The contract stated double.

Uncle, we're about to lose five hundred billion just to these three arms dealers.

Forget lending Bryce two hundred billion; the Patrick Group's liquid assets are nearly drained.

And all the small and large domestic orders are starting to cancel on us.

I even reached out to those elite circles in Emperor City who used to suck up to you, and hardly anyone's taking my calls!

It's all because of Phineas's Inko Group. Their influence is too vast.

Just when the Patrick Group rose to be the top enterprise in Harmonia Country, we still can't compete with them."

Of course, they couldn't.

Wade's expression darkened. The Patrick Group had risen hastily after taking down the Lippert family, a feat accomplished in just two months.

Riding on the reputation of defeating Jason Lippert, Wade had become a figure not to be underestimated by Emperor City's elite, thinking he had secured his position as the top household.

But he hadn't expected Jason's son to lie in wait so deeply, outmaneuvering his own father.

This act of revenge took the Patrick Group by surprise.

Without a century-old foundation, the Patrick Group's rise was fueled by draining the Lippert family, lacking core technology within. Wade had hoped to establish the Patrick Group's foundation with Inko Group's aerospace technology but failed miserably. This battle had dealt the Patrick Group a severe blow, with losses mounting.

All that remained of the Patrick Group was the money stolen from the Lippert Group.

Damn it, now Ludwik was doing everything to bleed the Patrick Group dry.

A newly emerged Patrick Group could collapse as swiftly as it rose.

The elite of Emperor City were sharp, none believed the Patrick Group could withstand this storm, especially not against the financial powerhouse Phineas behind the president.

Sides had already been chosen.

After receiving a call from his subordinate, Jarvis, cursing under his breath, exclaimed, "Uncle! The Lippert family is now strutting around proudly. Ludwik's aerospace technology has been applied to rocket launches, and many companies are eagerly signaling their desire to collaborate with the Lippert family.

Damn it, how does a fallen Lippert family still manage to resist and gradually get on top of us?!"

"Why?" Wade slammed down his cigar and looked up at his son, "Tell me why. Because Ludwik is more calculating and skilled than you! Jarvis, you grew up beside Jason, raised as his own before he acknowledged Ludwik. He passed on everything to you. And what have you learned from Jason's skills?

You're too frivolous and impulsive."

Jarvis, seeing the indifference in his father's eyes, felt aggrieved. Wade was his biological father, yet since he and Thea had betrayed Jason and returned with Wade, he had never felt any fatherly love.

If there was any fatherly affection, it was from Jason, stern yet generous.

Jarvis couldn't help but scoff, scratching his sinister brow, "Now you think I haven't learned enough? Why didn't you educate me properly when I was younger? In your quest for the Lippert family, you abandoned your own son on the battlefield, letting Jason, with his kind heart, take me in. He raised me for eighteen years! If it wasn't for my mother staying with the Lippert family, secretly favoring and protecting me, what would I be now?

You don't even deserve to be called a father, yet you lecture me?!

Saying I'm incompetent, what, do you have another son or something?!"

"You... you know?" Wade's face was a picture of shock.

Wade had a long conversation with Thea about whether to tell Jarvis that he was his biological son, and they decided to keep it under wraps for now.

He could see that Jarvis was ambitious and greedy, a man who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. Knowing his true parentage could only make him more arrogant and manipulative, and Wade wasn't ready to be held hostage by his own son's machinations. "How did you find out? Did Thea tell you?" Wade questioned, his tone tense.

"Thea? She's my mother!" Jarvis retorted, his eyes locking onto Wade with a sinister and indifferent gaze that seemed to pierce right through him.

Wade realized the truth then, "So she told you. When?"

"Why keep it from me? What are you planning?" Jarvis pushed, refusing to back down.

"Jarvis! I was only considering that the Patrick Group is still on the rise. The time isn't right yet," Wade replied, his face darkening with frustration.

Jarvis, unimpressed and visibly agitated, half-smiled, half-sneered, "You've had a son for over twenty years and now that he's finally back, you're in no rush to acknowledge him. Is it really about timing, or do you have other plans?"

"How dare you! Your mother and I endured so much within the Lippert family to get to where we are today. Do you think this was easy?" Wade's anger flared as he slammed his hand on the desk and stood up.

Just as Jarvis was about to confront him, the door abruptly opened.

Thea rushed in, "Jarvis, what are you doing? Now that you know the truth, he's your father. You can't speak to him like that!"

Her face was filled with worry as she quickly moved to Wade's side, attempting to soothe him, "Wade, Jarvis is just upset about the recent events surrounding the Patrick Group. And with you disciplining him on top of that, well, he's always been proud and stubborn. You've just reunited with your son, let's not fight."

"Hmph," Wade snorted, glancing at Jarvis with a mix of anger and deep-seated resentment, "Listen to him questioning me, doubting my decisions. This is what your coddling has led to!"

"Don't talk about my mom," Jarvis shot back, his tone biting.

"Enough!" Thea intervened, seeing that both Wade and Jarvis were at their boiling points. "Can't you see the situation we're in? We don't have a strong company to fall back on. Everything depends on the Patrick Group. I thought Wade's love for me was unwavering, deep."

But ever since she returned to the Patrick family after her divorce from Jason, Thea began to suspect that Wade's love might have changed long ago.