Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



"Books say boys and girls are different. I don't wanna take a bath with Danny!" Cherry pouted.

Parker instantly fired up, "Daniel, are you trying to coax Cherry into bathing with you? Man, you're way too young to be this naughty!"

"Bro, do you even know how to form a proper sentence?" Danny rolled his eyes. "Besides, she's not even your daughter. Why the big fuss?" Parker froze, his expression stiffening.

Tiana also looked awkward, glancing at Parker with a mixture of embarrassment and avoidance.

"Let's drop the subject," Ludwik interjected. "Cherry's right about the boys and girls thing. Ms. Melford, you can stay next door. Have you guys eaten yet?"

Tiana glanced at Whitney and said, somewhat pointedly, "Mr. Lippert, we've had our dinner. We ate with Mr. Lutz just before he left."

"I haven't eaten!" Danny protested.

Ludwik's gaze lingered on Whitney, whose lips were pale and who didn't seem to have the healthy glow of someone who had eaten well.

"Go to the grocery store downstairs and get some ingredients," Ludwik instructed Parker.

Whitney's face turned cold as she said, "Do I need to spell it out for you? Mr. Lippert, you're not welcome here. Stay one more second, and I'll have the hotel security escort you out!"

Rolling up his sleeves, Ludwik replied with a slight smirk, "You heard the boy; he hasn't eaten."

"Then take him out to eat!"

Despite her foul mood, Whitney couldn't resist her son's genuine plea, "Mommy, I miss the meals Dad used to make..."

It was hard for Whitney to divide her son's affection between herself and his father without completely cutting ties.

With a suppressed breath, she conceded, "Danny, ask your dad to cook next door. I don't want him using my kitchen." "Okay," Ludwik replied, his voice low.

She just didn't want to see him, to accept him.

But he wouldn't just back down as she wished.

Before heading to the next suite, Ludwik mentioned, "The golf course land bid deposit of 300 million is still in the Lippert Group's account. Whitney, you'll need to go through my company's legal team to get the money."

Whitney glared at him, furious.

She had forgotten about this detail.

Dealing with the legalities through Skye Gem Ltd.'s lawyers in Banyan City and negotiating with the Lippert Group would be a lengthy process. The 300 million was crucial for her plans to relocate her company to Bryce's area, where every penny counted.

She had no choice but to compromise, "Give me your company's legal department's number."

Seeing her extend her delicate hand, Ludwik glanced at Parker, who immediately spun around, "Guess I'll go get those groceries then!" Tiana, worried about Whitney's emotional state and Ludwik playing hardball, stepped in, "Mr. Lippert, please don't make things difficult for Whitney." "Do you not need to set up next door, Ms. Melford?" Ludwik retorted.

"I... Whitney clearly doesn't want to deal with you. It's about being decent at this point! You're engaged, Ludwik!"

Tiana bravely tried to shield Whitney.

"Ms. Melford, why don't you come grocery shopping with me?" Parker said, noticing Ludwik's displeasure and quickly pulling Tiana away. "Hey, why are you dragging me? What if Ludwik bullies my Whitney? Parker, you and Ludwik are cut from the same cloth. I'm not leaving!" Tiana's protests were cut short as she was dragged out the door.

Cherry, upset, followed her mom.

Danny, eying his father, impatiently grabbed Cherry, "I'll help you set up your new place."

"Really?" Cherry's attention was instantly diverted. "Danny, can you take me to grab some toys?"

Danny's thoughts drifted to Sammy, the first to show him such fun activities.

His eyes glistened, "Yeah, I'll take you to have fun!"

Quietly closing the door behind him, Danny spared one last glance at the luxurious room, his mom standing far from his dad.

He sighed, hoping they wouldn't fight.

Inside, Whitney's patience was thinning, "The phone number!"

Ludwik approached calmly, his presence familiar and captivating. He looked at her earnestly, "Are you really moving Skye Gem Ltd. to share a building with Bryce?"

"That's my company's business."

His aura enveloped her, his gaze sharp, "What if I refuse to return the 300 million?"

"Ludwik, don't push me too far."

Bryce was right; he had humiliated her by knocking Shane out of the bidding and now taunting her with the land.

She didn't need his charity.

"Don't play games with people's hearts using your power," Whitney warned, her face cold.

Ludwik held her hand, calming her,

"I've never played games with you.

I'm just stopping you from siding with Bryce. Do you know how he got that failing project? Are you sure moving your company there won't bring risks?"

Whitney was disgusted, "If you hadn't blocked the golf course land, he wouldn't have had to find another way!"

"I've always said, dreaming of making it in Emperor City is a joke for him. As long as he eyes you, he won't end well. My land is yours, but not his!"

"I don't need your pity."

Ludwik's emotions fluctuated, "So you'd rather accept Bryce's pity? Owing him, have you thought about how you'll repay him? Or do you plan to marry him as repayment?"

Whitney was silent, her brows

furrowing. Bryce hadn't mentioned the cost of the land or asked for a specific amount from her. She suspected he wouldn't ask for

l

money but the thought of owing him too much, to the point possibly marrying him to repay the debt, was something she didn't want.

Yet, Ludwik's sharp sarcasm sparked her anger, "Whether I marry him or not is none of your business anymore."

"If you wanted to get hitched, you would've done it the moment we signed those divorce papers," Ludwik cut through the silence, his piercing gaze slicing through her defenses.

Whitney's cheeks flushed a deep red, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Don't tell me you actually believe I didn't marry him because I'm still hung up on you?"

"Wasn't it the case before?" he retorted, his voice heavy with unspoken emotions.

The color drained from Whitney's face.

His tone softened, a mix of regret and desolation. "Sorry, Whitney. I admit I let you down... I took a wrong turn somewhere. If Florence was no longer an issue between us, and Sammy was safely back, maybe we..."

"No maybes! We're like oil and water, and I wish you'd understand that," Whitney cut him off sharply, turning away to hide the tears brimming in her

eyes.novelbin

His heart turned cold, the usually soft lines of his face hardening.

Perhaps it wasn't the right time to bring up such topics, especially not Sammy, a subject best left untouched.

Bringing the conversation back to

square one, he pressed his lips together. "Your $300 million, I'll keep it. If you don't want to owe me, then pay the remaining $300 million for the land. Turning that golf course. into a skyscraper makes sense. It's a better spot for a jewelry manufacturing plant than any downtown high-rise. You don't need

no

to get mixed up with Bryce. From

what I know about him, you're going to have a hard time paying him back!"

Despite herself, Whitney had to admit, he wasn't entirely wrong...