Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )

-

"Uncle Bob, this ain't the time to be coddling him. You think Jarvis bailing him out is out of the goodness of his heart?

His motives are anything but pure. Currently aligned with the Patrick clan, do you reckon he's gonna look out for our Riley? Clear your head, man!"

Ludwik lunged for the phone, but Riley, steadfast in his beliefs, shoved it aside, "Hurt my boy and you're no kin of mine!

The Lippert clan's pretty much done for, so don't push me!

I've got folks intercepting Justin as we speak. He'll be coming home, not following Jarvis!"

"Enough, both of you!" Erin, tears streaked across her face from a recent call, barged in, pointing accusatorily at them, "With all that's happening, the eldest in jeopardy, my husband suspended by the military, and here you are bickering like children. It's clear as day - the Patricks have us surrounded, in business and in politics.

Mom, honestly, the Lippert family's downfall is on these two - one stealing another's wife, the other sneaking company secrets. And neither brother can control their sons, utterly powerless!"

Ludwik, cold as ice, retorted, "Aunt Erin, my faults are mine alone. Leave my father out of it."

"And that's supposed to excuse the eldest? Can't manage his wife, his stepson, not even his own blood," Erin bit back, her words dripping with sarcasm. "What are you glaring at? Ludwik, you're about to lose everything.

The top dog of Harmonia might just change to Jarvis, for all we know. Who knows what his deal with the Patricks is - maybe him and Thea are an item..."

"Shut it," Ludwik couldn't tolerate another word.

The matriarch, fuming, turned to her daughter, "Yuan Yuan, get your Aunt Erin out. Your dad needs peace!"

"Mom, always taking his side..."

The corridor was a picture of exhaustion, the Lippert family worn to their limits.

Ludwik, drained yet stoic, his face a mask of numb determination, made sure his grandmother was seated comfortably before moving to the window, seeking a moment of clarity amidst the chaos. "What's the deal between Weiman Technologies and the Patricks?"

He dialed Felix, "Check who's running Weiman. Is it that guy Mr. Liam mentioned, tied to the Patricks? Ludwik?"

Minutes later, Felix had the answer.

"Mr. Lippert, the head of Weiman Technologies is indeed tied to the Patricks. It's Wade."

"Wade?" Ludwik's mind raced at the mention, a middle-aged man's face flashing before his eyes...

With clenched teeth, he spat out the name, his face a picture of utter astonishment...

A mile from the station, Justin shrugged off Riley's goons with disdain.

"Master Justin, please, go back!"

"Riley said you can't go with Jarvis."

But they were laid out by Jarvis, their pleas falling on deaf ears to Justin.

Justin kicked them aside, fuming at the thought of Ludwik's betrayal earlier that day.

"I'm not going back. Tell my spineless father he's not the one to challenge Ludwik, but I am. Once Ludwik's down from the losses, I'll be stepping up as CEO!"

Jarvis, impressed, "You've got the makings of a leader."

In the car, Justin was grateful, "Jarvis, man, thanks. If it weren't for you, Ludwik would've had me locked up."

"How could I let him? We're brothers. Come with me to the Patricks."

"The Patricks?" Justin eyed him warily, aware of their burgeoning power.

He gripped tighter, "Jarvis, what's your angle with the Patricks? They're rising stars, and with you in the mix, are you after the CEO seat?"

Jarvis laughed it off, "I'm just a pawn for the Patricks. Ludwik? He's no concern of mine. Don't worry; I've got plans for revenge."

Justin, reassured, let his guard down, and upon arriving at the Patrick domain, was treated like royalty, ending up in a club surrounded by high rollers.

A beauty approached, batting her eyes at Justin, "You're quite the looker, Justin. Heard a lot about you."

"And who might you be?"

"Oh, just a cousin of the Patricks."

"Quite the beauty," Justin, ever the flirt, made his move.

-

"Ludwik!"

Back at the hospital, Riley, filled with regret, burst into the room, "Justin's in trouble, Ludwik. I should've listened to you!"

"What's going on?" Ludwik stood up, concern etching his face. "Didn't you send someone to pick him up?"

"He absolutely refused to come back

with the bodyguard! Insisted on hanging out with Jarvis, went

clubbing at night, and somehow

Patrick's wife. Ended up gettinel

ended up flirting with Carson

beaten to a pulp by Carson right there in the bar and was taken away."

"My son!" Joanne Nelson rushed over, pleading with Ludwik, "Please, you have to save Justin. He must have been set up by Jarvis. What are we going to do? He's our only son."

Erin exclaimed angrily, "Brother, your

son's been messing up big time.

Ludwik told you not to spoil him, but you wouldn't listen. Now he's fallen right into Jarvis's trap. Of all the women, why did he have to mess with Carson's?"

Carson is one of the notorious Patrick siblings.

Everything had spiraled into the very scenario Ludwik dreaded, "Uncle, Jarvis is covering his tracks." "What?"

Riley shook, finally piecing things together. If Justin was manipulated by Jarvis to steal the microchip... and if Justin spills everything at the police station, Jarvis won't be able to escape either. That's why Jarvis had him bailed out so hastily, playing right into Jarvis's hand.

"Ludwik, I'm regretting everything now! People at the bar said Justin was beaten to a bloody pulp by Carson, severely injured. Please, for the sake of him being your cousin, find out where they've taken him. I can't lose my son!" "Don't worry, I'm on it now." Ludwik got up, his mind weighed down by the gravity of the situation.

His gaze turned sharp, a storm brewing within him. The Lippert family had been hit with one calamity after another, cornered into despair at every turn, barely leaving him room to breathe.

An invisible force seemed to be manipulating everything behind the scenes.

Jarvis, and... Wade!

This man, who showed up at the Lippert family dinner, Thea's unremarkable older brother. Him, and even Jason, they never suspected Wade!

A chill ran down his spine.

Taking a deep breath, Ludwik felt the weight of the world on his shoulders, the Lippert family's fate resting solely in his hands now.