Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 222
Whitney fought to hide her flushed cheeks, wanting to suggest another store, but Claire had already strutted in with the butler in
tow.
Left with no choice, Whitney let the man lead her to greet the formidable matriarch.
In the opulent changing room, Lyra peeked out and said to Elaine, “Bryce’s mom has arrived, Miss. This is the perfect chance to
knock Whitney down a peg. Don’t you want to play some tricks on her?”
The prospect of undermining that wench was tantalizing to Elaine. A little scheming and Ludwik would undoubtedly take her side,
striking right at Whitney’s heart.
But with a cunning glint in her eye, Elaine chuckled and said, “Use your head. I’ll spare her today. Nothing’s more important than
my engagement to Ludwik. Once I’m the future Mrs. Lippert, dealing with her and that little mistake will be child’s play.”
Lyra caught on. “Miss, you’re always one step ahead. No wonder you’ve got the boss wrapped around your finger.”
Elaine smirked, her lips curling as she undressed to try on her gown.
In the lounge.
Bryce leaned in close to Whitney and whispered, “Don’t be nervous. I’ve squashed those nasty rumors about you. Mom doesn’t
follow the tabloids, and if she asks you anything you don’t want to answer, just don’t.”
Whitney nodded.
With a fond pat on her head, he introduced, “Mom, this is Whitney Valentine. You insisted on meeting her, and here she is.”
Claire, oozing grandeur, took a seat, her gaze immediately locking onto Whitney’s belly.
Whitney nervously greeted, “Claire.”
“Sit down! Don’t stand. You’ll tire the baby,” Claire said with a strange tone, casting a resentful glance at her son. “Whitney
Valentine, right? The girl who designs my jewelry. I quite liked you, although the Valentine family is a minor name, and I’ve heard
you’ve had some... complications.”

“Mom, you’re prying too much,” Bryce coughed.
Claire huffed. “Fine! He won’t let me dig into your past. He’s so protective of you. It’s all so improper, a child on the way, and only
now we’re told, and all this scandalous footage.
But since this child is a Lutz, and your family isn’t exactly well–off, I accept it. Get engaged to Bryce quickly. It’s hasty but a
double blessing, and it settles one of my worries.”
Whitney was stunned, looking at Bryce. At this moment, she finally understood what method Bryce was referring to.
She scowled in disbelief, about to object, but Bryce’s hand pressed down on hers.
He whispered urgently, “It’s the only way to make my parents happy. Don’t ruin this, Whitney. After the engagement party, I’ll
clear things up with them. Right now, I need to get through this rough patch!”
If it were not for her billion–dollar loan, the Lutz Group shareholders would not be displeased with him, and the Lutz family would
not be seeking a new leader.
She could not afford to fail at such a critical moment.
Whitney bit back her frustration, but Claire’s kind gaze on her belly made her skin crawl.
“Have you chosen a dress? Don’t go for high heels for the sake of beauty. The baby comes first.” Claire grinned, taking
Whitney’s hand in hers.
Dazed, Whitney managed a strained smile in response.
“The girl is lovely. Bryce, you should have a few more with her,” Claire said approvingly, her voice carrying through the store.

The staff glanced over, and Whitney felt the chilling glare burning into her.
Facing Claire’s smile, Whitney’s expression stiffened.
Bryce drew her closer, clearing his throat. “Don’t mind her, Whitney. She’s getting senile.”
“Perhaps Claire really is losing it!” A cold male voice rang out, laced with mockery.
Whitney turned sharply, her breath catching at the sight of Ludwik. Her face tensed with anxiety.
Bryce’s eyebrows rose as he stood, instinctively pulling her behind him.
His protective stance only darkened Ludwik’s scowl. “If you’re not senile, how did you miss the red flags when choosing your
son’s partner, someone desperate to secure a safety net?”
Whitney’s hands clenched tight, her face draining of color.
“Who are you, young man, and what do you mean by that?” Claire frowned at the strikingly handsome intruder.
“Mr. Lippert, show some class. My mother is elderly; you could at least spare her your harsh words,” Bryce confronted him.
Ludwik’s lips twisted in scorn. “I’m not the villain here. A person’s character and manners aren’t just for show; they’re etched in
their very bones.”
With that loaded remark, he downed his wine and strode past, barely sparing Whitney a glance.
“Such disrespect towards my son, what do you take me for?” Claire was fiercely protective.

Elaine, on Ludwik’s arm, turned back with a smile. “Claire, Ludwik has been more than respectful. But between us, she’s what
you’d call ‘secondhand good,‘ you understand?”
She shot Whitney a mocking look, smirking.
Ludwik frowned slightly. Given how quickly this woman had switched loyalties from his mother to the ‘new Natalie,‘ he found the
irony too pungent to intervene.
His tacit approval left Whitney feeling colder than ever.
Claire knitted her brows, turning to Whitney for an explanation. “What ‘secondhand good“? Explain yourself.”
“Mom, why bother with irrelevant people? In my eyes, Whitney is the best there is. Mr. Lippert has a business grudge against me
and is just trying to provoke me. Are you taking him seriously?”
Claire trusted her son implicitly and had refrained from looking into Whitney’s past to avoid upsetting him.
This time, both she and her husband could see Bryce meant business.
She stood up irritably. “Business grudges should be kept out of personal matters. Don’t shop in the same place as him. Banyan
City has plenty of haute couture stores, and the Lutz family can
afford it.”
“Yes, you’re right. It’s time for your beauty treatment. It’s already three o’clock,” Bryce urged.
“You cheeky boy, afraid I’ll devour her? Fine, let’s go. You’re walking me out.”
Bryce shot Whitney a glance, and she responded with a subtle nod of approval. “I’ll just pop to the restroom,” she said.
As the mother and son departed, Whitney finally felt like she could breathe again. Dealing with the social niceties had left her
completely drained, especially after Ludwik’s snide remarks had almost blown her cover.
Massaging her temples, she made her way to the ladies‘ room.
Tucked away in a cozy corner of the restaurant, the restroom was both elegant and secluded. Whitney washed her hands over
and over, the hot water turning her fingertips a rosy red until she mustered enough energy to head back out.

But upon exiting, her gaze froze as she spotted the approaching figure. The flush of warmth in her fingertips faded instantly.
Ludwik leaned against the wall, tall and imposing. The dim lighting failed to penetrate the icy depths of his eyes, casting his
features into a blend of light and shadow, making him appear both brooding and dangerously alluring. Instinctively, Whitney took
a couple of steps back.
However, he moved toward her, the smoke from his cigarette shrouding his piercing eyes in a haze. His gaze, initially obscure,
turned icy. “You can’t get engaged to Bryce! I don’t care if you’ve met his parents or whatever. You have to call it off. Do you hear
me?”
“Why should he dictate terms? Is it a case of ‘do as I say, not as I do‘?” Whitney thought as she looked back at him with a mix of
ridicule and bitter amusement.