Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 250
“Come on, how did you know she was pretty before I even mentioned it?”
There was an awkward silence before Daniel, resting an elbow on the bar, rolled his eyes. “You think I’m a gullible three–year–
old kid, huh? A kidnapper, my foot. That was clearly a nurse with a crush on you!”
Ludwik’s lips twitched, and he shot Daniel a side–eye without a word, casually adjusting his tie.
Felix knew that Mr. Lippert fiddling with his tie was a sign he was relaxed. Daniel, the little goof, had not even suspected that the
‘kidnapper‘ was his mom.
With a chuckle, Felix teased, “Danny, did you forget you’re actually three and a half and easy to fool?”
Daniel’s mature composure took a hit. His chin jutted out in both embarrassment and defiance at the jab about his age.
For some reason, Ludwik sneezed repeatedly.
Daniel glanced over, showing slight concern with an indifferent tone, “Roll up the car window for him, will ya? The old man’s
getting weaker by the day.”
Felix shivered, thinking, “Danny, your dad just got back from an andrology check–up with your mom. He’s pretty sensitive to the
word ‘weak‘.”
Sure enough, Ludwik’s face darkened, and he gave Daniel a sharp look. “You’re awfully chatty today. Want me to throw you
overboard?”
Daniel clamped his mouth shut reluctantly.
He sensed his old man was weighed down by worries today and not in high spirits. The sneezing had to be because someone
was bad–mouthing him, right? He wanted to cheer him
1. up.
Clearly, the father–son duo was having a tense day, and his attempts to lighten the mood were not effective.
Daniel huffed in frustration.

Whitney parked her car, her phone buzzing with a new message.
It was from Tiana. [Whitney?]
She had called Tiana the night before using a new number, as her old number had been terminated three years ago. Was that
why Tiana was too scared to pick up?
Whitney felt an inexplicable surge of emotion and bit her lip as she read the message over and over. Tiana’s tone seemed so
casual. But could she really be unaffected by everything?
Chapter 250
Whitney sniffled, ignoring another pressing call from Orion.
She replied with a tremor in her fingers. [It’s me, Tiana. I’m back, and I need to see you today.]
Then, she tucked her phone into her purse and walked with furrowed brows into the restaurant’s private dining room.
Orion lounged in his chair, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the woman walking in.
He gave her a once–over and whistled. “Looking good, I see. Who knew you’d be such a knockout when not pregnant? My dive
into the ocean three years ago to pull you aboard was worth it.”
“Keep your sleazy eyes to yourself, Orion.”
Whitney sat down with a cool detachment.

It was almost comical how she had jumped into the sea with Sammy in her arms, only for Orion to be out fishing on a yacht in
Sea Bay at the same time. She had struggled in the cold waves for hours, and he probably saw her much earlier but only chose
to rescue her when she was at death’s door.
When she woke up, she immediately asked why he had bothered to save her at all.
Orion had laughed with his crooked smile, revealing a long–term plan. “Keeping you alive to use against Ludwik someday?
That’s the sweetest deal ever.”
Twisted, but true.
Since Whitney’s return to the country, she had found that the Imperial Gem Corporation’s market value had plummeted by
billions.
In three years, Ludwik had driven the Lippert family to desperation. The massive corporation Orion had stolen from him had
become the laughingstock of Banyan City. Orion was barely hanging on; without a new plan, he was headed for certain doom.
Now, Orion eyed his lifeline and slid a contract across the table. “Join Imperial Gem as a jewelry designer. The pay’s great; just
follow my orders to snatch deals, and we’re golden.”
Whitney was not naive and scoffed. “So you want me as a human target? Just by sitting in Imperial Gem, I could ruffle some
feathers, right?”
“Smart girl. Why spell it out when you know the score? Don’t you want to crush Ludwik with your own hands?”
Orion smirked. “You have no choice. I saved your life three years ago, and this is your chance for payback. Ready to join me in
gutting their empire?”
Whitney’s eyes narrowed; his blatant manipulation was no secret.
But why should she not play along?
First, she could not refuse the offer. Second, she had returned with a desire to unsettle certain

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people, and this would be her platform to achieve just that.
A wry smile played on her lips as she signed the contract without hesitation.
Orion’s surprise turned into a boisterous laugh. He leaned in, his gesture intimate as he lifted her chin. “I never realized you
hated him so deeply. How about marrying me instead? I must admit, my brother had an eye for stunning women; you’re
practically glowing.”
Whitney jabbed his hand away with her pen, her disgust unhidden. “I have zero interest in you. And I haven’t forgotten how you
wronged my uncle.”
“Boring.” Orion retracted his hand and settled back into his seat.
Whitney’s lips twitched. Orion was indeed rotten to the core and oddly eccentric. He was, however, not cut out for business, or
he would not have fallen so hard in three years.
It wasn’t clear how much he cared for Imperial Gem, but his rakish, cavalier attitude was evident.
Curiosity piqued, Whitney asked, “Why do you hate him so much? Why go after him like this?”
Orion’s eyes narrowed in resignation, “Who wouldn’t want to be the carefree heir to a fortune? But the old man didn’t like him,
didn’t want him as his successor. So I had to step up, had to make something of myself, beat him just once, right?

But fuck, I’ve never won a single round. He’s been mired in mud since childhood while I’ve lived in luxury, yet the family elders
only see his worth!”
Whitney blinked, taken aback. “Why didn’t your dad like him? Isn’t he his son too?”
Orion paused, a twisted smile forming. “Rumor has it Natalie wasn’t exactly faithful when she married my dad. Ludwik’s
parentage has always been in question. The old man and Natalie had a terrible relationship, so naturally, he resented Ludwik by
association. Guess who benefited? Me and my mom.”
His schadenfreude was palpable, making Whitney frown.
Natalie’s name tightened something in Whitney’s chest.
But the Lippert family drama, that man’s issues, were no longer her concern.
Why should she even care?
She returned to the matter at hand with a nonchalant air, saying, “I’m willing to work at the Imperial Gem Corporation and take on
any tasks you throw my way. But I have my terms. Skye Gem Ltd.–I want to buy it back privately, and you’re going to have to pay
through the nose for that.”
“Damn, do you have to be so cutthroat?” Orion shot her a disdainful look. “Isn’t Bryce wrapped around your little finger? Why not
have him foot the bill?”
“You just said I’m cutthroat, didn’t you? That’s only against you.” Whitney replied with a casual lift of her lips.
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Orion’s face turned a shade of green, but then a sly smile crept across his face. “Isn’t the auction for Skye Gem Ltd.’s assets
tomorrow night? Sure, be my date, and I’ll bleed some cash for you.”
Whitney detected the mischief in his tone–this man was up to no good.

She did not refuse, simply picking up the contract and sliding it into her purse. “Then send the evening gown to my apartment.”
A few steps towards the door, she turned back. “Oh, and Ludwik’s refusing to have me as his doctor. He’s likely going to try to
revoke my medical license. You’ll need to find a way to protect it.”
Orion chuckled, his interest piqued as he watched her. “Doctor or no doctor isn’t the point. The real question is, can you reignite
his passion?”
Whitney frowned.
Orion stepped closer, his voice laced with innuendo. “Isn’t your uncle facing the death penalty? If I were you, I’d make Ludwik fall
for you again, achieve your goals, infuriate Elaine, and then ditch him hard. Let them taste the despair you’ve endured!”
Whitney paused, her gaze flickering. “Spare me your rotten ideas. I’m not selling myself out; forget it.”
Orion shrugged it off. “You seem a bit tempted. When you hit a wall, you’ll see it’s a good idea.”
He continued, “Remember when you had me stage those two bodies by the seaside to throw Elaine off your trail? She bought
the whole story. She probably doesn’t even know you’re back. What kind of surprise are you planning for her?”
The mention of that woman made Whitney’s fist clench. A cold curve formed on her lips.
“It’ll have to be a big surprise.”
She and Elaine would be meeting soon enough.