Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



Morning, 9 AM.

Elaine, carrying a thermos food container, hurried into the CEO's office.

Ludwik had just finished an international morning meeting, his expression stern as he took some aspirin. His sleep hadn't been great for the past three years.

Initially, Elaine had claimed she could develop a new acupuncture technique for him, but it hadn't worked as well as hoped.

He found himself thinking back to three years ago, next to Whitney, when he always seemed to sleep soundly...

"Ludwik, you haven't had breakfast yet, have you? I got up early and made some buns for you," Elaine said with a smile, her concern immediately apparent. "Did Danny see the doctor? You didn't bring him back with you, and I was so worried I couldn't sleep all night."

Ludwik, already suffering from a headache, felt it worsen at her sorrowful tone.

He glanced at her, noticing the probing in her words for the first time. She was trying to find out where he had been last night.

It was obvious to Ludwik, who disliked beating around the bush, that her concern might not be genuine.

"Elaine, are you really worried about Danny?" he suddenly asked, his tone cool.

Elaine paused, her guilt making her eyes tear up as she moved closer to him. "Ludwik, are you still mad at me? I've explained it was my oversight yesterday, not checking the fish properly for Danny. Next time, I'll make sure he gets the best part. Can't you be a bit more forgiving? I grew up pampered, maybe I'm not the most attentive caretaker..."

Ludwik frowned, sensing she was diverting the conversation from her mistake.

She had been careless with Danny's meal, yet she avoided mentioning it.

Had he been too easy on her, mistaking her kindness for gentleness, allowing her to muddle the truth?

Was he blinded by her, or had she changed recently?

His expression grew impatient as he cut her off, "I've already said you don't need to worry about Danny's meals anymore. Focus on your own tasks and try to avoid creating more issues."

Elaine, slightly irritated and trying to hide her bitterness, retorted, "If I don't care for Danny, who will? Ludwik, we're about to be married. I'm naturally his new mom. Should Ms. Valentine still be involved?"

"He's happier with his biological mother sometimes. It's not a problem if she helps out."

Elaine panicked, "You mean to keep seeing Whitney after we're married? Are you planning to keep ties with her, leaving me what exactly?" Ludwik, about to lose his temper, found himself speechless.

Her accusation of him holding onto past connections struck a chord, yet part of him found the idea strangely comforting.

He suppressed an unknown emotion, denying, "Marrying you was a promise I made three years ago. I'll keep to that, don't worry."

Elaine, sensing her own slip, quickly softened, "Ludwik, knowing you care makes me so happy. You're a responsible man. It's just, you spending the night with Ms. Valentine and Danny made me overthink."

Ludwik subtly distanced himself. Since Whitney's return, especially after spending the night with her, he found Elaine's touch increasingly unbearable.

He also found himself reluctant to return to Everwood Villa Estate.

Yet, he had desired to stay at Whitney's place, even to sleep there.

Why did he react so differently to these two women?

Confused by his own feelings, Ludwik felt agitated, turning back to his work to escape the conversation.

"Focus on the wedding. Don't distract me with other matters."

"But Ludwik, the custom diamond wedding dress from Milan arrives this afternoon. Would you come with me to try it on?" Elaine said, trying to capture his generosity.

"Decide on your own," he replied, clearly disinterested.

She sulked, "This is our wedding. How can you not care?"

Ludwik, done with the conversation, looked up sharply, "Elaine, is there anything else to you besides wedding plans? You used to be a powerhouse. Get back to that."

Elaine froze, feeling utterly rejected.

Did this mean he found Whitney, the CEO of Skye Gem Ltd., more appealing?

Frustrated by his lack of appreciation for her, Elaine pondered her next moves. Perhaps, as Jarvis suggested, making Ludwik face a setback and then stepping in as his savior might make him realize her worth over Whitney.

With a newfound resolve, she smiled, "If you think I'm too idle, maybe I should drop by Skyfaith's labs and marketing department more often, instead of hovering around you."

Ludwik, eager for any respite, nodded absentmindedly, "The labs are off-limits. But you're free to visit other areas. Now, please, I need to work." Elaine, her mind racing with plans, left the office with a cold glint in her eye.

After storming out of the Skyfaith Tower, she slumped into her car, pounding the steering wheel in frustration. Twisting around, she dialed Jarvis, "Hey? I managed to get back into Skyfaith. When are you rolling out your plan?"

Jarvis snickered as he hung up on Elaine's call. Wow, more eager than he was himself.

Seems like she's feeling the heat.

The wedding was just around the corner, and Ludwik was still entangled with Whitney...

His gaze lifted from the car window, catching sight of a woman emerging from the corporate building, and he smirked.

No wonder Ludwik was so smitten. With those legs, she was leagues beyond Elaine, who was nearing her thirties.

And the more he looked, the more she reminded him of Ms. Sheldon.

Jarvis flicked his cigarette ash, chuckling to himself...

Whitney stepped out of the Skye Gem Ltd. building, on her way to discuss a project with Skyfaith Group, when a man suddenly blocked her path. He was tall, dressed in a pale pink shirt, with features that carried a hint of mischief, not the scholarly charm someone like Parker had, but something more sinister.

Whitney frowned slightly; she was sure she didn't know this man.

Yet, he approached her with a meaningful smirk, "Miss Whitney, I've heard a lot about you. I've been waiting here for a while. How about we get to know each other?"noveldrama

Whitney's gaze cooled, "Sir, do you have business with me? Please introduce yourself first."

"I have a proposition to discuss," he said with a light laugh, adding, "I'm Jarvis."

Whitney paused, something clicked, she rummaged through her purse for her phone, opening Facebook. She remembered Bryce had messaged her that morning, but she hadn't looked at it closely until now.

The message read:

【Whitney, the shadowy figure behind Jar Rail Corporation, rumored to be named Jarvis, is a big deal from Emperor City, closely tied to the Lippert family, the premier dynasty of Harmonia Country.】

Whitney's heart skipped a beat as she looked up at the man before her again...