Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



Ludwik wanted children, but Whitney wasn't interested.

He longed for this woman, yet Whitney refused to open her heart again.

Their relationship was a series of mistakes, with Ludwik loving intensely, suppressing a myriad of pains that no one else could understand.

But Whitney couldn't see the deep-seated tenderness in his eyes; her patience had run out.

At this moment, Ludwik seemed pitiful to Parker, as he had been deeply hurt by Whitney.

Clutching a piece of paper tightly, Ludwik slumped over the bar, mumbling to himself.

Parker, head bowed, downed a few shots in silence before standing up to call Tiana, his voice hoarse, "Ms. Melford, is Whitney really marrying Bryce?!

Is this true, or just a rumor? Is Whitney using Bryce to provoke Ludwik?

Do you know what's really going on?"

"It's not about provoking anyone. Whitney genuinely wants to move on from the nightmare that is Ludwik and leave the past behind.

Ludwik's lost it. He should see a shrink!

He gets Florence pregnant and still wants Whitney to carry his child? What's he thinking?

He thinks he can have it all? No way.

After everything, he still has the nerve to corner Whitney into marrying him?

I'd rather have Whitney marry Bryce than deal with his mess." Tiana vented, infuriated.

Parker's face darkened as he tried to stay calm, "Could you not add fuel to the fire, please?

Whitney was actually pregnant a month ago..."

"Enough, you've been brainwashed by Ludwik, making up pregnancies now.

Given his history of hysteria, Whitney went for a check-up, and there was no pregnancy to speak of. Stop trying to pin this on her.

A jerk and his friends are still jerks."

Tiana hung up abruptly.

Parker, taken aback by the accusation, thought to himself how quickly Tiana switched sides. Whitney chose Bryce, and suddenly Tiana's all for Bryce? Did she stand for anything?

After putting away his phone, Parker called Felix over from the doorway.

Seeing Ludwik sprawled over the table, drunk, Felix sighed, "Mr. Lippert used to hold his liquor way better than this."

"He's heartbroken, frustrated," Parker said, his gaze softening, "Did you think his trip to Savanterra was a walk in the park? He's barely slept, and just when Natalie's surgery went well, Florence's situation blew up.

And Whitney... losing the baby... It's like, the moment Florence got pregnant, Whitney's baby was gone. How ironic, don't you think?"

Felix nodded, "Now that you mention it... Florence found out she was pregnant so early? I've heard inexperienced girls usually take longer to realize they're pregnant. How did Florence catch on so fast?"

Parker frowned, "She planned it, sleeping with Ludwik, then timing her test perfectly. Not surprising given her ambitions."

Felix shook his head, "Life's not a novel. How likely is it to get pregnant on the first try?

From what I know, Mr. Lippert and Ms. Valentine have been trying for months."

"You seem to know a lot!" Parker teased, but inside, he was filled with doubts.

Two hours later, Ludwik woke up in the office, a splitting headache greeting him. Loosening his tie, he asked, "What time is it?"

Felix handed him a wet towel, "It's

eight in the evening, Mr. Lippert. You got drunk at the bar, so Mr. Doonan and I brought you here. Figured you wouldn't wanna go back to the Lippert mansion, so we came to the office. Maybe take a shower?"

After freshening up, Parker brought in some takeout for dinner.

"Let's eat, the three bachelors!"

Felix gave him a side glance.

Parker realized his choice of words might have been poor and quickly opened the food containers on the table.

Ludwik, now dressed, approached the table but declined, "You guys go ahead. I'm not hungry."novelbin

"Mr. Lippert, this isn't how you take care of yourself. The more upset you are, the more you should eat!" Felix said, his mouth full, trying to encourage Ludwik.

Ludwik, however, was lost in thought, his wet hair and sharp profile making him look all the more determined yet defeated.

Parker, trying to distract him from

his sorrows, leaned against the table, "What's your plan for dealing with Jarvis? Felix mentioned how your vendetta against Thea cost the Lippert Group a fortune in lost deals with the Patrick Group. Jarvis made his move on you in Savanterra because of that. You nearly didn't make it back.

Now that you're here, why not kick him to the curb?"

Ludwik's eyes flashed coldly, his focus returning, "Had you not reminded me, I'd have forgotten to retaliate."

"The way he's been cozying up to your stepmother is weird. What, is it some twisted stepson-stepmother relationship?"

Parker smirked coldly, "Who cares what's going on between them? As long as Jarvis is around, you'll never be safe at the Lippert Group. Dodging one bullet doesn't mean you won't face another."

"Word on the street is that he's got his hands deep in the Lippert family's subsidiary pies. How do you plan to uproot him completely?"

"I have my ways."

Ludwik's demeanor was as cool and

unforgiving as a winter's night. He summoned Felix, "Felix, draft me a document. We're reassigning Jarvis to a subsidiary. Let's start by stripping him of his real power.

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He's bound to object and will likely try to impeach me at the shareholders' meeting.

So tonight, gather all the information about the assassination attempt I survived in Beloria Country, and have it on the old man's desk by tomorrow." Felix cracked a cold smile, "Consider it done, Mr. Lippert!"

Parker let out a silent sigh of relief. At work, Ludwik was a machine-efficient and bloodless. That was the true measure of his stormy prowess.

As long as he could keep his emotions in check and stop dwelling on Whitney, he wouldn't be in so much pain.

"Parker," Ludwik lifted his gaze, chilling in its focus, "I've given Ryan enough time."

Startled, Parker nodded, "Understood. I'll keep an eye on his daughter starting tomorrow."

The day after the shareholders' meeting, Jarvis's demotion was official. A few shareholders remained silent, but most were opposed.

However, in the process of calling Jason, Jason showed no objection to Jarvis's demotion and kept silent.

The shareholders, as well as different branches of the Lippert family, quickly changed their stance, not daring to cross Jason.

In the end, the demotion drafted by Ludwik was passed by a shareholder resolution.

This meant Jarvis was likely facing a sort of exile to a subsidiary.

Thea was furious in secret. Ludwik, that vindictive bastard on his deathbed, still dared to target her son?