Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 209

Whitney took a deep breath, “Felix, when is Yael getting out?”

Felix pulled out a note, “Contact the number here tonight, and you’ll find out where Yael is. Actually, Mr.

Lippert has always been quite nice to her.”

Whitney stiffened, the reality hitting her hard. He had only used her cousin as leverage, getting close to

her on a couple of occasions.

Now, he must feel as sick as someone who had swallowed a fly.

With a mocking turn of her head, Whitney took one last look, her gaze freezing in place.

In the upstairs master bedroom window, Elaine stood in a bathrobe, the collar hanging wide open,

revealing several love bites, brazenly

assaulting Whitney’s eyes.

No matter how much she tried to hide it, those marks choked Whitney with a silent pain.

Elaine couldn’t be more smug, her sneering smile as if to declare her

victory!

Today, indeed, she had won.

But Whitney was determined to expose the truths. She walked out with her fists clenched tightly.

“Whitney!”

Tiana and Valerie had both come, shocked at her withered and swollen

appearance.

Without a word, Valerie immediately helped her into the car.

As they drove down the mountain, the atmosphere in the car was heavy. Tiana kept glancing in the

rear–view mirror, her worried gaze

repeatedly meeting Whitney’s.

Whitney’s smile was uglier than tears as she spoke of the heaviest matters with an eerie calm, “I left

him, I know you both were worried about me. I had signed the divorce papers this time.”

Valerie was slightly shocked, realizing in just a few days, Whitney had moved from stubbornly staying

to helplessly leaving.

One could only imagine what Ludwik had done to her.

“Leaving him is for the best. Look at you, tortured beyond recognition. If love is lost, let it go. You and

your child’s safety are the priorities. Why staying there to be tormented by him and Elaine?” Tiana was

furious.

Whitney touched her belly, remembering Bryce’s words about considering her child’s future.

That’s why she had made this decision today.

She forced a bitter smile, “I know it’s time to let go. Today he was intimate with Elaine, that’s the bottom

line of my tolerance. He will surely marry her, and I can’t leave my child without protection or let it fall

into the hands of a stepmother like Elaine.”

“What? That scumbag couple!”

Tiana clenched the steering wheel, glancing at her phone where the trending news had just updated,

“No wonder half an hour ago Ludwik falsified your divorce date, and Skyfaith Electronic Tech

announced his engagement to Elaine with much fanfare. Did he push you to move up the divorce date

so Elaine wouldn’t be slighted?”

“Yeah,” Whitney forced a smile.

“Damn, as soon as Skyfaith Electronic Tech’s announcement went out, Ludwik was off the hook! The

comments below are bizarre, all the firepower is directed at you and Bryce. Now Skye Gem Ltd. and

the Lutz Group are getting trashed!

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People are sympathizing with Ludwik, congratulating Elaine, but they’re calling you an adulteress and

Bryce a home–wrecker. I’d get it if they targeted Bryce, but you’re clearly the victim. Who leaked that

video?”

Whitney fell into thought, then her phone rang.

It was Bryce, sounding anxious, “You finally answered the phone, Whitney. Did you see that video? I’m

sorry, did Ludwik misunderstand you? I can explain it to him.”

Whitney’s brow furrowed, “Mr. Lutz, you said you would destroy all the cameras that morning. How

could such a video still be leaked?”

“I did destroy them.”

Bryce sounded frustrated, “It might have been live–synced to someone else’s hands. I’ve checked,

Elaine had sent someone to that hotel recently, trying to dig something up. Could it be her?”

If Whitney had harbored any doubts against Bryce before, his tone now

swept them away.

As she had suspected, it was Elaine who had got the video and leaked it, with the clear aim of

attacking her and driving her away.

Besides, why would Bryce stage such a thing that also implicated the Lutz Group in a public relations

fiasco?

“Whitney, such a video can seriously damage a woman’s reputation. I’m truly sorry. How can I make it

up to you? I’m right outside Skye Gem Ltd. Your company is also in big trouble.”

As he spoke, Nyx’s call came through.

“My manager called me, Mr. Lutz, I might need to go to the company right away.”

“I’ll wait for you. Whatever I can do for you, I won’t hesitate.” Bryce’s soothing voice cut off.

Tiana and Valerie looked over.

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Preoccupied, Whitney immediately answered Nyx’s call.

An anxious voice came through, “Ms. Valentine, can you come to the company now? Your video is

everywhere, and the company is being bombarded with calls from the media, just receiving insults. The

shareholders are furious and want you to take actions.”

“I’ll be right there.” Whitney’s face turned pale.

Tiana hit the gas, speeding up.

They soon arrived at the Skye Gem Ltd. building, driving into the underground garage. Whitney got out

and saw Bryce waiting.

She nodded slightly. Without further ado, she went straight to the CEO’s office.

Inside the office, the PR department was overwhelmed with calls from

the media.

Several shareholders were staring at the now–green stocks. Seeing Whitney arrive, their anger was

palpable, “Ms. Valentine, this scandal is a fatal blow to Skye Gem Ltd. We were already suffering from

economic sanctions, and now our employees are panicking. The internet is full of people criticizing you

for indecency, and your image is directly affecting the the company. If you can’t save the company, we

might as well sell off our shares right now!”

Whitney’s brow was tightly knotted, “Please calm down. There’s been a misunderstanding with that

video. Mr. Lutz and I haven’t done anything, and Mr. Lutz is here too, we can explain everything

openly.”

Bryce walked in with a suave grace, “Ms. Valentine is right.“.

The PR manager of Skye Gem Ltd. shook her head, “Ms. Valentine, explaining to us isn’t going to cut

it. The online crowd isn’t buying it. Right now, they’re rallying behind Ludwik and Elaine, and there’s a

bunch of trolls fueling the fire!”

The mud was being slung at her and Bryce directly. Whitney knew the

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culprit was Elaine.

Bryce glanced back at his team.

A manager stepped forward and approached the group, “I’m the PR manager for the Lutz Group. Our

firm has been hit hard as well, but we’ve devised a plan that could save both Skye Gem and the Lutz

Group.”

The shareholders of Skye Gem were anxious, “What’s the plan?”

“Taking a leaf out of Mr. Lippert’s book, we play into their hand by admitting that Ms. Valentine and Mr.

Lutz are an item, but only after her divorce, of course. That way, even if the public disapprove, you’ll be

in the clear. Then we can stage an engagement. An alliance between Skye Gem and the Lutz Group

will turn the tides of public opinion into a romantic success story, restoring both companies‘ images!”

The shareholders paused, then nodded in agreement, “This is the best course of action available!”

However, Whitney shook her head with composure, “I disagree. The video is clearly a misleading one,

and I refuse to be forcibly linked to

Mr. Lutz.”

Besides, she had just signed her divorce papers today. If Ludwik saw her ‘officially‘ with Bryce, wouldn’t

it confirm she was desperate to be with Bryce?

Even though they were parting ways, she didn’t want him to

misconstrue the situation.

Bryce’s piercing gaze narrowed as he persuaded, “Whitney, I personally don’t mind. If it benefits both

our companies, I’m willing to play along.”

Seeing Mr. Lutz agree, the profit–driven shareholders of Skye Gem immediately took Whitney aside,

whispering, “Ms. Valentine, Skye Gem is on its last legs. Don’t be stubborn now. Mr. Lippert is clearly

out for blood. This is the time to lean on the robust Lutz Group. And let’s be

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honest, you and Mr. Lutz make quite the pair! Skye Gem needs this help desperately!”