Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 185

His words steered the conversation with a potent force.

Ludwik strolled in leisurely, tali and commanding like an elegant hawk, his towering presence slightly

overshadowing Orion

His smiled lightly, as if speaking was beneath him.

By his side, Elaine was the first to show her discontent, “Mr. Orion, always the pot calling the kettle

black, aren’t you? It was your family that wrestled away the Imperial Gem Corporation. Skyfaith

Electronics was built from the ground up by Ludwik. He just had the foresight to keep his cards close to

his chest. Sure, a merger with Imperial Gem could’ve been on the table, but you lot couldn’t wait to

snatch up the smallest of seeds. Ludwik simply let you have your little victory. What do you call that?

Short–sighted, that’s what.”

Elaine’s words were sharp as knives, and instantly Kaden and Orion’s expressions darkened.

The atmosphere at the summit was tense and charged.

Subtly, many business folk shifted towards Ludwik’s side, as if drawn by an invisible force.

The balance of power was palpable.

“Elaine, there’s no need to waste your breath on him,” Ludwik said, his voice as rich and languid as a

cello, yet laced with authority.

The room fell into a hush. Women gazed at Elaine with a mix of envy and admiration.

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Whitney watched from a distance as Elaine stood shoulder to shoulder with him in battle, a perfect

match for his stature and poise.

Bitterness tinged her heart. So Elaine shared all his secrets, while she, Whitney, was left in the dark.

He was powerful, not the fallen man she had imagined. He hadn’t stumbled; he had simply shed his old

skin.

Clearly, the Imperial Gem Corporation was but a trifle to him; after all, he had the might of Skyfaith

Electronics at his command.

Whitney found him intimidating, an enigma that was impossible to unravel.

He didn’t need her pity or her misguided offer of help.

She chuckled ruefully to herself but couldn’t help feeling happy for him. Clutching the pills in her hand,

she wanted to give them to him, to walk over to him.

But the crowd around him was dense, circling him like he was a legend in the world of business, and

she felt too insignificant to break through.

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Now, it seemed he wouldn’t see her, wouldn’t pull her into his world anymore.

In the crowd, Elaine confidently linked her arm with Ludwik’s, shooting Whitney a look that was

undisguised in its triumph, boasting, and mockery.

Whitney met her gaze with a stoic expression. Suddenly, she remembered something Valerie had said:

why hadn’t Elaine left Ludwik when he seemed to be failing?

Now, Whitney knew the answer.

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Elaine had always known Ludwik was never truly beaten, which was why she clung to him so fiercely,

resorting to extreme measures like a kidney donation.

Whitney clenched her fists.

Then, Ludwik stepped to the center, lifting a glass of wine with an air of icy command that silenced the

room without him uttering a word.

Felix, standing by his side, was equally animated.

cane at Chen and tus family, Felix let out a cold chuckle and announced loudly, “Skyfaith Electronics‘

latest wwwww–ation, the Aute Chip will soon go to market, and we welcome all major enterprises to

discuss partnerships Of course, we have our standards. No matter how much some companies are

willing to invest,

The announcement sent a ripple of excitement mixed with apprehension through the crowd.

Eager tech companies pipes up. “Mr. Lippert, what are your conditions for partnership? Please, tell us

The Morc Chip had been a year in the making, the focus of global attention, promising to solve issues

of matability, and Skyfaith had a firm grip on the market!

Ludwik sipped his drink, his slender fingern flicking the glass rim with a devilish charm that seemed to

dance w his eyes

Felix continued. “Skyfaith Electronics will not supply smart chips to any company under the Imperial

Gern Corporation”

We will not cooperate with the Lutz Group.”

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The last company he mentioned seemed to come with difficulty. “Nor will Mr. Lippert collaborate with

Skye Gem Ltd”

Silence fell around them Kaden’s face twisted with discomfort, a public slap from Ludwik to the Lippert

family. But it wasn’t just the Lipperts who were discomforted.

Whitney’s face paled as she retreated several steps, her ears rang with Felix’s declaration.

Mr. Lippert would not partner with Skye Gent Ltd.!

His public announcement was a warning to all of Banyan City’s companies–to deal with Skye Gem Ltd.

was to make an enemy of Skyfaith Electronics.

Was this how he plan to punish her?

The pills in Whitney’s hand pressed painfully against her palm,

She looked down, remembering that she had come to offer him medication, concerned he might lose

control today. She wanted to support him.

And him? He never lost. He was intent on crushing Skye Gem Ltd.

She felt suddenly foolish, full of misplaced concern and care.

Retreating to a corner, she felt the urge to escape the place.

Suddenly, someone grabbed her arm. She turned to see the manager of Skye Gem Ltd.

His gaze was urgent. “Whitney, you’re really here!”

“Nyx, what are you doing at the summit?”

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1 came looking for you! Whitney, you’ve been unreachable for a month. You have no idea how badly

Skye Gem Ltd. has been suppressed. It’s that man, Ludwik. He’s been economically sanctioning Skye

Gem Ltd. Did you know?”

“I know.” Whitney replied, her voice laced with bitterness. She had been too absorbed to spare a

thought for Skye Gem Ltd., assuming that Ludwik, in his supposed downfall, wouldn’t be able to act so

swiftly.

“How is Skye Gem Ltd. faring now?”

The stock market had crashed, the jewelry collaboration was down the drain, and the production lines

ground to a halt. If not for a last–minute order that had come through a few days ago, we’d be declaring

bankruptcy! The company had over 30,000 employees. What do we do about them? They’re all waiting

for their paychecks!” “How could this happen…”

“Ludwik’s squeeze play left us no wiggle room!” Nyx bellowed with rage. “I tried to contact you, called

you over and over, but couldn’t get through!”

Whitney immediately pulled out her phone to check, and to her astonishment, she had blocked Nyx’s

number. How was that possible?

A sudden realization hit her, during the time she was hospitalized for her pregnancy, Tiana had

meddled with her phone.

It dawned on her that Tiana and Valerie didn’t want her to worry, so they deliberately kept the dire

situation at Skye Gem Ltd. from her.

“Now that I’ve finally found you, Whitney, you need to come up with a plan, and fast. Tonight’s our

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chance, we need to drum up some business, or Skye Gem Ltd, won’t make it to the end of the month!”

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Nyx grabbed her hand and started walking, “I just talked to a mall tycoon a moment ago; he said he

could give us a spot to set up a booth. We’re sitting on a mountain of unsold jewelry, we need to sell it

to make payroll, Whitney. It’s a rare opening, and you need to talk to him.”

Without giving Whitney a chance to respond, Nyx was already pulling her towards a bustling banquet

hall deep within the crowd.

Whitney’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, yet her gaze couldn’t help but drift to the center of the

crowd where Ludwik stood tall and aloof, surrounded by admirers yet as cold as ice, his aristocratic

bearing unapproachable as he ascended to the second floor.

His and Elaine’s silhouettes disappeared at the balcony overlooking the first floor.

As Elaine walked away, she glanced down from the railing to see Whitney being led by the manager

towards the banquet hall.

She quickly made her way to a secluded spot, with Jaxon in tow.

Elaine lifted her champagne glass, her lips curling into a venomous smile as she whispered low, “Make

sure those tycoons know what they should do. They better deliver.”

It wasn’t until Nyx pulled her up to a round table that Whitney snapped back to reality.

Nyx immediately greeted the standing businessman, “Maddox, meet the boss of Skye Gem Ltd.,

Whitney.”

“Ah, a lady boss, young too. Please, have a seat!” Maddox said.

Whitney eyed the table of male tycoons, her brow furrowing subconsciously.

Just now, Ludwik had announced he was cutting ties with Skye Gem Ltd.

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These businessmen should be running away from her.

And with her mask on, they were all looking at her. Did they recognize her?

Now, Ludwik had no idea she was here.

The scandal of her allegedly embezzling his fortune was his disgrace

She couldn’t afford to be seen in public with him. People would relish the gossip and ridicule him

behind his back.

Whitney tensed, her brows knitting together in caution, and she quietly pulled at Nyx, whispering,

“Something’s off about this. Let’s get out of here.”

Chapter 186

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