Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 862

She called out to him several times, "Mr. Lippert," her voice timid and filled with a hint of affection.

Even when he was unconscious, he wasn't unaware of these moments.

Later on, this woman, Natalie, with courage summoned from who knows where, used all her funds to purchase the soon-to-be-auctioned Lippert Resort, saving his last shred of dignity.

Natalie had never spent a day by his side, making their relationship quite awkward.

Yet, the intentions Natalie harbored towards Jason were as clear as day to him.

In comparison, Thea was the blemish of his life.

"What's wrong? Did I speak out of turn and frighten you?" Jason's heart warmed as he asked Natalie in a soft, warm tone.

She was of a timid nature.

Natalie shook her head in a daze, her gaze falling on Thea, who looked mortified and embarrassed on the ground. For once, Natalie allowed a slight smile to break through, "I even think Mr. Lippert is absolutely right. Those who have hurt you, I don't wish for Mr. Lippert to show them leniency, for they might just hurt you again."

"Natalie, you wretch, what are you trying to stir up? Feeling proud now, are you? Look at that worn-out old face of yours, do you really think Jason would fancy you? A whore, back in the day seducing Jason, giving birth to a bastard child, you're nothing but a disgrace!" "Shut your mouth!"

Jason was instantly furious, turning to glare coldly at Thea. However, before he could speak, Natalie stepped forward, though pale, she said to Thea, "Thea, you better watch your mouth. I've never harbored any inappropriate thoughts towards Mr. Lippert, otherwise, I would've brought my child to seek help in Emperor City long ago. And you, having been Mrs. Lippert for all these years, wouldn't have had such an easy time. It seems you've been plotting against the Lippert Group, only to find yourself regretting your marriage now? I believe, you thought he couldn't forget you. But let's be honest, even an outsider like me can see he's had enough of you. So perhaps, don't be too confident."

"You! You..." Thea was trembling with anger at Natalie's insinuating mockery, unable to retort.

"Let's not bother with her, let's go."

Jason didn't even deign to give her another look, indifferently taking Natalie's hand.

Only then did he notice she was shaking all over, her pale cheeks bolstered by enormous courage.

Jason's heart softened instantly; she was genuinely afraid of causing trouble.

This was her standing up for him, angrily retaliating against Thea.

For some reason, he wasn't just not angry at Thea's appearance; instead, his lips curved in a slight smile, his gaze deepening as he looked at Natalie, his voice even lower, "Don't stoop to her level!"

Natalie sighed, "It just angers me, she still thinks she can use you."

"Let her dream on."

Jason was disdainful; he had never loved Thea, not for a moment in his life.

His tolerance towards Thea was for the sake of family and business.

Since she was ungrateful, she was solely to blame for everything today.

"Jason...Jason! Can't you, for old times' sake, sell some of the Lippert Group's new products to me? I'm talking about buying, Jason, please help me this once, help me and Jarvis get through this tough time..." Thea, not willing to give up, tried to follow. Natalie moved her lips slightly.

It was clear Thea's intentions were not genuine.

She looked towards Jason.

In his firm expression, there was not a trace of sympathy, not even anger.

Jason scoffed coldly, closing the car door, his gaze icy as he departed with Natalie.

Thea, banging on the car window, was soon left behind in a cloud of exhaust!

Her face darkened with rage, she took off her high heels and threw them at the car, "Jason, you're heartless! After thirty years of marriage, you leave me to fend for myself... you leave me to fend for myself!"

Crying and shouting, her face turned deathly pale.

Remembering Natalie's piercing critique, she felt an overwhelming sense of humiliation.

She had been confident, thinking maybe Jason would soften towards her, hoping to reconcile and remarry!

But now, it seemed, she was deluding herself.

Jason was merciless, and he never loved her.

Her coming to him today was nothing but a self-inflicted humiliation... Natalie, however, appeared like a long-suffering victor.

Would Jason choose Natalie to be by his side in his old age?

Thea realized her heart was filled with venomous jealousy.

Why should she, who enjoyed thirty years as Mrs. Lippert, yield her position to another woman?

She truly regretted it now!

-

Not long after Jason invited Natalie to the Lippert family's quaint cottage, Whitney also arrived.

It was her first visit since the Lippert family's fall from grace.

The cottage, though not as luxurious as the Lippert Resort atop Brew Hill, had a distinctly homey atmosphere. The garden, likely tended by Camilla, was neatly arranged with flowers and plants, and a gardener was seen taking care of it. Deep in the yard, children's laughter filled the air.

Stepping through the gate, Whitney was immediately enveloped in a warm, welcoming vibe.

As she appeared, Danny, who was happily chatting with Natalie, saw his mom and rushed over excitedly, "Mommy! You came, did daddy bring you here? I'm so happy!"

"Mommy, I missed you too." Sammy followed at a more leisurely pace behind Danny.

Whitney's eyes instantly softened at the sight of her children, her tense nerves from the past few days finally relaxing, her face breaking into a sweet smile as she opened her arms, "Mommy missed you too. Today, I came to take you both back home..." "This is their home." -A timely male voice chimed in from behind.

He watched as the children hugged Whitney's legs, one on each side.

Ludwik's eyes narrowed as he stretched his strong arms out, enveloping her and the two kids in a big, warm hug.

"What are you doing!" Whitney jumped like a startled deer, feeling his firm jaw pressed against her hair. She glanced at Natalie standing by the entrance of the hall, feeling like she was about to explode.

"Let go, Ludwik, don't do this, the Lippert family is inside..."

"What am I doing?" Ludwik smirked, feigning innocence, "Can't I hug my kids too?"

"Why do you have to join in when I'm hugging them?" Whitney wished she could secretly stomp on his foot.

Such a killjoy!

"Because I miss my boys too. And all three of you are my treasures, I don't want to play favorites. You're my treasure too, Whitney." Ludwik explained as if it were the most natural thing in the world. His warm breath cascaded through Whitney's hair strand by strand.

Her scalp tingled under the intensity of his presence, mature and overpowering.

She felt her cheeks burn under Natalie's watchful eyes.

In Whitney's moment of embarrassment, Sammy couldn't help but come to his mommy's rescue, "Ludwik, you're so full of yourself, letting go of mommy's waist like that. Are you trying to sneak a kiss?" "..." Ludwik's face darkened at Sammy's accusation.

Looking at his standoffish son, he let go with a helpless expression, "I certainly did not. Why would I need to sneak around to kiss your mommy? I always do it openly..."

Whitney's cheeks flamed even more as she abruptly stomped on his foot!