Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



She glanced at Hugh's paralyzed leg, a flicker of disgust briefly crossing her eyes.

Holly snuggled closer to him, her voice soft with worry. "But if we suddenly tell Florence the truth, I'm afraid she won't be able to handle it. You know how much she's looked up to Hudson since she was little, how close they've been. And if word gets out that Florence isn't Hudson's biological child, she'll be seen as an outcast by the shareholders of Sheldon Enterprises! All the plans we've been working on for years could be ruined. We can't let a small mistake ruin everything."

Hugh's gentle eyes hardened as he looked at her, a bittersweet smile on his face. "Holly, are you still disgusted by my disability?" "I..."

"You know, when you were infatuated with my brother, you didn't hesitate to use me to get pregnant. I loved you, so I helped you. All these years, you asked me to remain faithful to you, and I've done just that, never marrying or dating anyone else, waiting for you through so many lonely nights. And now you're saying Florence can't accept me as her father? Or is it you who can't accept me as a man?"

Hugh's voice grew passionate.

Holly's facade crumbled under his words, tears welling up in her eyes. "Hugh, how could you think so low of me! You're so much better than Hudson ever was. It was my mistake to be blinded by him at first. But haven't I fallen for you quickly after that? Don't doubt my feelings."

She and Florence depended on Hugh now, especially since he was about to take control of Sheldon Enterprises. Entrusting the massive company to Florence was still years away, and Holly couldn't afford to alienate Hugh now.

His gaze softened as she spoke, though the sharpness never left his eyes. He looked troubled. "Even if I don't acknowledge Florence, I think someone already suspects our relationship."

Holly blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"That day at the hospital, Whitney's gaze on me and Florence felt too sharp."

Hugh's eyes narrowed. "She's likely to suspect you first because of your past conflicts. But she might also see that I'm siding with you. Once she starts guessing about our relationship, how far off can she be from suspecting Florence's true parentage? We need to make sure Florence is wary of Whitney. If Whitney gets a hair sample from her and compares it with mine, we're all done for."

Holly paled at the thought.

That damn Whitney, always thinking ahead!

Hugh continued, "Florence is my biological daughter, and I won't let this get out. We just need to let Florence know she needs to stand on her own." Holly hesitated but eventually nodded, her eyes betraying a hint of reluctance. Hugh sneered internally, knowing her heart still wavered. He needed to secure their loyalty, to bring his daughter back under his wing after giving her up to Hudson for twenty years.

"I'll go freshen up. You talk to Florence later," Holly said, standing up.novelbin

"Right..." Holly replied half-heartedly.

As she opened the door to leave, she almost bumped into Florence, who looked up at her mother and then at Hugh through the partially open door. Holly gasped, "Florence... what are you doing here?"

"What's going on with you and Uncle Hugh? Mom, I don't understand. Who is my real father?"

Florence was enveloped in disappointment.

Holly's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Florence, listen to me."

"Florence!" Hugh stood up and called out from inside.

Florence walked away, disgust in her eyes. Holly followed her silently into her bedroom and closed the door behind them.

"Florence, please, calm down."

"How can I, when you've never told me this? How can I not be my dad's daughter? Does that mean Whitney is Hudson's only biological daughter? No, I can't believe it!"

Florence's voice was cold with

jealousy. "I refuse to acknowledge Uncle Hugh. No matter how kind he's been he's disabled. He's always been pitied in the Sheldon family," never respected. My father can't be such a person. If people find out, What future will I have?"

Holly's eyes reddened with anger. "Silence! You have no idea the sacrifices I've made!"

Florence was taken aback; her

mother seldom showed anger. Holly's eyes blazed with indignation. "Hudson never treated me with the tenderness a wife deserves! You have no idea the pain I went through, wanting to marry Hudson while he scorned me, devoted only to Whitney's mother! I had no choice but to turn to Hugh. You were conceived to ensure our place in the Sheldon family. Everything I've done was for you to inherit everything from the Sheldons. Now you know your origins, you should understand why I feared Whitney's return."

"If Hudson ever finds out you're not his own flesh and blood, we'll be left with nothing!"

Florence's mind was in turmoil, her fingers clenched tightly. "The shooting of my father... was it really you and Uncle Hugh?"

Holly let out a sneer. "Are you still feeling sorry for him? Haven't you noticed how Hudson's been treating you ever since Whitney came back?

That day, he was about to sign the papers to transfer the independent shares to Whitney. It was Uncle Hugh who made his move!

If your dad hadn't died, Whitney would already be in Sheldon Enterprises, sitting pretty as a junior director by now! What standing would you have in the company then?"

Florence swallowed hard, her gaze turning icy.

Holly sat down, wrapping her arms

around her. "know you despise your uncle, considering he's disabled and hasn't had much of a status within

the Sheldon family over the years. But he's been biding his time for us! And, your grandparents adore him, you know.

These days, he's been winning over the shareholders of Sheldon Enterprises. Just watch what your uncle can do.

He'll soon have full control of the company and will elevate you to power.

He's your real father, Florence. He'll protect you for life, loving you ten times more than Hudson ever could!"

Florence understood the implications of Holly's words.

Right now, with Hugh wanting to acknowledge her and her own power not yet consolidated, she couldn't afford to refuse.

But deep down, a wave of panic swiftly rose within Florence. Whitney was actually Hudson's sole heir... She couldn't let the secret of her birth be exposed!