Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )

Ludwik's voice was tight with urgency as he spoke to Whitney, who had just finished reading Ashton's alarming message about a potential threat to their children from within the circles of the Patrick family. The sheer thought of someone targeting her young ones, Danny and Sammy, was enough to send a shiver down her spine.

Whitney's heart raced with fear and anger. "Is it the Patrick family who's after my kids? I never should've let you take care of them, Ludwik! You've dragged us into endless trouble, and now, because of you, my children are in danger. I can't forgive you for this. I regret ever meeting you; we've never known a day of peace since."

Her words, sharp and laden with pain, struck Ludwik hard. He had inflicted so much hurt on her in the past, making her doubt his intentions now.

"It's not the Patrick family who's after the kids!" Ludwik tried to explain, his expression growing somber.

Whitney was confused. "But didn't you say Ashton infiltrated the Patrick family? If it's not them, how did Ashton come across such information?"

"It could be someone associated with the Patrick family," Ludwik proposed, his gaze piercing. "Ashton discovered that Wade Patrick had been backing someone, a man who did his dirty work, like a loyal hound."

"Are you saying this man wants to harm my children? Who is he?" Whitney's confusion deepened.

Ludwik smirked coldly, "I suspect it's Bryce."

Whitney's eyes widened in shock, struggling to connect Bryce, the man she knew, to the Patrick family's dark dealings.

Ludwik noted her disbelief. "Bryce has always played his cards close to his chest around you, hasn't he? Pretending he doesn't know anyone from the Patrick Group. But think about it, Whitney. Bryce moved to Emperor City just a year ago. How did he rise to become a top businessman so quickly without any connections? Who's backing him?"

Whitney's mind raced. She had always wondered about Bryce's rapid success but never dwelled on it. Now, Ludwik's suspicions made her question everything.

"If Bryce is indeed working with the Patrick family, was he involved in the downfall of the Lippert family?" she pondered aloud.

Ludwik's eyes narrowed as he considered the motive behind targeting the children. "The Patrick family has been suppressing us, true, but killing my kids doesn't benefit them now. They're the top family in Harmonia Country. I think someone used this situation to their advantage, someone not directly linked to the Patricks."

Whitney felt a chill run down her spine. She had always trusted Bryce, but recent events, including Audrey's death and Tiana's disappearance, all pointed towards him.

"Ludwik, do you have proof it was Bryce?" she asked, a lump forming in her throat.

"No direct evidence yet," Ludwik admitted, his face hardening. "But consider the connections, the financial backing for his company, and his constant presence at events hosted by the Patrick family. It's clear he's not the simple businessman he claims to be." Whitney remembered the compromising video of Bryce she saw earlier that day and now, Ludwik's revelations. Everything was starting to make sense, but the thought of Bryce targeting her children was too horrifying to bear.

"Bryce has a motive," Ludwik continued, his voice cold with conviction. "The incident at Elodie's party might have been the last straw for him. His anger has been palpable ever since."

Whitney's world was crumbling. The man she thought she knew could be a monster in disguise, and now, her children's lives were at stake. Ludwik's words echoed in her mind, a grim reminder of the dangerous game being played behind the scenes of Emperor City's elite.

The thought of losing Danny and Sammy was unbearable for Whitney. It seemed like a twisted win-win for Bryce - a way to torment her to the core of her soul and, at the same time, drive a wedge between her and Ludwik by blaming her for the unimaginable loss.

Her hands clenched into fists as she recalled Bryce's dual nature revealed in the chilling security footage from earlier that day. How could she have missed the signs? Bryce, with a leather belt in hand, unleashing his fury on an unsuspecting secretary. His ability to mask his true self was terrifying. And yet, she had fallen for his charade, hook, line, and sinker.

The afternoon call from Bryce, suggesting a casual movie and dinner with the kids, now haunted her. She had, without a second thought, informed him about Ludwik picking the kids up from school. Had that been the moment Bryce decided to strike? Guilt washed over Whitney, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

"Whitney." Ludwik's voice broke through her turmoil. His large hand enveloped her trembling fingers, his touch a mixture of warmth and concern. "Don't blame yourself. You couldn't have foreseen this."

"But what if you're right about Bryce?" Whitney's voice cracked, her usual defense of Bryce absent for the first time in their conversation. "What if he's not who I thought he was?" Ludwik stared at her, his worry deepening. "Did Bryce do something? Did he hurt you?"

"No," Whitney murmured, unable to meet Ludwik's gaze. She had been blind, refusing to see the truth about Bryce, just as she had accused Ludwik of being oblivious to the manipulations of others. "Bryce... he's become a nightmare. I'm terrified for Danny and Sammy," she admitted, the fear for her children's safety outweighing her own.