Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



"You really have some nerve, strutting around with her like that.

It's one thing to be sneaky, but don't make everyone else suffer by watching it.

And now you're thinking of buying a house in Brew Hill? Who do you think you're fooling?

The sales manager-!"

Whitney turned her head sharply and called out.

Seeing it was Miss Whitney from the Sheldon family, now the young executive of the Sheldon Group, the sales manager's demeanor changed instantly. He approached with a polite smile, "Whitney, are you here to look at a house at the foot of Brew Hill?"

"I'm not interested in looking. How many villas are there in this area?"

"Five standalone villas, starting at fifty million," the manager replied honestly.

Whitney cast a cold glance at Holly. "I'll buy all five villas! They won't be sold to you. Besides, given your uncle's current status, Holly, with you leaving empty-handed, there's no way you could afford a house in Brew Hill!"

"Whitney! Who do you think you are, you arrogant witch! Let me tell you—"

Holly's face turned red with anger as she was humiliated, her fury boiling over from old and new grievances. She stormed over and grabbed Whitney's collar, a sinister smile on her lips. "Don't think just because you're riding high now you can trample all over us.

Of course, I can afford a house in Brew Hill.

And let me tell you, my Florence is no pushover. You think kicking her out of the Sheldon Group means she's finished, that she'll never rise again?

Ha.

Do you know why I'm here to buy a house in Brew Hill?

Because I'm waiting for the day when you and your Sheldon family are kicked out of your fancy house!

That day is coming, and," Holly leaned in close to Whitney, her smile venomous, her teeth clenched, "it's coming soon! What are you so pleased about?

My Florence is making her comeback."

Whitney's eyes narrowed, picking up on something different in Holly's spiteful words.

She stood face-to-face with Holly, who couldn't help but laugh manically, "You, Ludwik, Hudson, all of you will be dealt with by her.

Ha ha.

Whitney, who's really got who in the palm of their hand here?

You think having Ludwik and your dad means you can defeat Florence?

No, you're the real loser."

A wicked gleam shone in Holly's eyes, as if she was aware of something Whitney wasn't, a hidden plot. Holly pushed Whitney away, saying bitterly, "You won't let me buy today. That's fine.

I'll be watching, and soon enough, I'll be living back in Brew Hill!

Hugh, let's go."

Hugh said nothing, but his dark eyes lingered coldly on Whitney.

It seemed like he, too, knew what Holly was hinting at.

Were they plotting something with the long-gone Florence?

Whitney squinted, watching the two walk away, her mind racing with icy clarity. Holly's malicious snickers lingered in her thoughts as she recalled what she'd said, that Florence would soon return.

And she seemed to be coming back with some kind of power, determined to take down both her and Ludwik?

She said Whitney was the true loser...

Whitney's face tightened, her gaze like midwinter as she returned to her car, gripping the steering wheel, her brow deeply furrowed. Wasn't Florence supposed to have run away from Empire City because she couldn't hack it, simply fleeing?

Ludwik had claimed she'd escaped to Eurovoria, and he even went after her.

But now Ludwik was back, and Florence was still hiding out in Eurovoria-what for?

Holly's bravado did it mean Florence was returning with a vengeance from Eurovoria?

Who was she relying on? Over in Empire City, Bryce Lutz had already been shut down.

Who else could Florence turn to for a comeback?

Whitney couldn't make sense of it.

And then there was Ludwik, who hadn't breathed a word about Florence-did he know about some scheme she was hatching?

She quickly started her car and drove back to Delight Mansion.

She wanted to call Ludwik and get to the bottom of things, to find out what had happened in Eurovoria and what he'd discovered. But when she dialed, Ludwik's phone was busy.

Whitney bit her lip, gripping her phone tightly, a flash of irritation crossing her face.

He was in Empire City; it wasn't like his phone could be out of range.

So that meant... he was ignoring her call?

That jerk.

She'd reached out to him, and he didn't even pick up. What could be so important that he wouldn't come back to the Lippert family for days, ignoring their son, just hanging out with Parker Doonan...

And not telling her a thing.

After a few minutes of waiting, there was still no callback.

Whitney was thoroughly annoyed, retreating to her room in a huff.

During this time, she did call the Lippert family landline, ostensibly to complain about the kids, but she had ulterior motives-just a bit of strategic bluffing.

She was still concerned about the kids' safety.

From the Lippert family staff, she learned the kids were asleep by ten.

Whitney sighed softly before hanging up the phone.

She closed her eyes, leaning her head against the sofa in her bedroom, hugging her knees, unable to sleep.

She wondered, given Sammy's unusual provocations tonight, was he up to something?

A son who'd never talked back suddenly said she was too controlling, that knocking on his door was rude, not respecting his personal space. There had to be something going on.

Needing personal space...

That's what Whitney had thought, and that's why she played along, pretending to be upset, using it as an excuse to return to Delight Mansion.

If they needed space, she'd give it to them.

She also figured these two hadn't left the house in two days, probably plotting something.

As soon as she returned to Delight Mansion, the two of them were definitely going out. As for where they'd go, that was exactly what Whitney was itching to find out.

The night before, she had discreetly slipped a phone under the seat of Ludwik's Bentley.

No one knew about it not even the bodyguards noticed.

Starting tomorrow, she could keep an eye on that phone to figure out what those two little rascals were up to.

With these thoughts swirling in her mind, she didn't fall asleep until well past midnight...

Whitney had a rare dream about her mom.

In the dream, her mom looked like

she did in those old

ne

photos-youthful and vibrant, with a ponytail,captivatingly young and beautiful. Her eyes, almond-shaped and expressive, mirrored Whitney's own, looking at her with the familiar warmth Whitney remembered from her childhood.

Out of nowhere, Parisa Tennyson softly said to her, "Honey, I'm back..."

Whitney jolted awake, her heart racing.

She rubbed her head, looking around

in panic. The room was still dark but the first light of dawn was starting to peek through the window. She glanced at the clock-it was just past six in the morning.

Just a dream.

They say you dream of what you think about during the day.

Could it have been seeing that photo at her dad's place that triggered this dream?

But then, why did her mom say, "Honey, I'm back"?

It felt so real, as if she were truly alive!noveldrama

At first, Whitney was spooked, blinking rapidly as she tried to steady her nerves, but then she wondered if the dream might be a sign.

Just like her uncle mentioned recently, how their grandfather had come to him in a dream, asking where her mom was.

Was she really back?