Love beyond the mask (Whitney)

 noveldrama

The simmering rage in Bryce's eyes had been churning for far too long. Stomping back into the house, he snatched up the phone, squinting his sinister eyes, and dialed a number. "Audrey, are you asleep? If not, come over to my suite at the wedding hotel!"

"Bryce?!" came Audrey's excited squeak from the other end.

Today, at Bryce's wedding, Audrey's dream of marrying had been shattered. However, the wedding took a dramatic turn when a man caused a scene, and the bride was kidnapped.

This had become the talk of the town in Banyan City.

And now, in the middle of the night, Bryce was calling her, asking her to come over?

Surely he wasn't looking to discuss something serious. As a well-known socialite, she had been subtly trying to get close to Bryce under her family's matchmaking efforts. There was nothing serious for them to talk about... could it be—

The thought that it was the dead of night filled her mind with dreams of romance.

Could it be that Bryce, in his rage and disappointment, had turned to her instead?

This could be the perfect opportunity to make her move.

"I've been worried about you, Bryce, I couldn't sleep. Please wait for me, I'll be right there."

Twenty minutes later, Audrey arrived at Bryce's suite, dressed in a sexy mini skirt. Standing in the center of the room, she looked at Bryce, who was coldly seated on the couch, his legs crossed. The usually gentle and refined look in his eyes was now ruthlessly cold in the darkness.

Audrey was startled by his appearance, but at the same time, her heart raced at his handsome, indifferent demeanor.

No matter what was going on with him, she impatiently whined, "Bryce, isn't the air conditioning on? It's so hot in here."

Audrey's voice was coquettish, as she slightly pushed her jacket open, revealing a glittery spaghetti strap dress underneath. The thin fabric almost became transparent under the light, revealing her curves.

Bryce slammed his glass down and stood up, his tall figure looming over her, and he abruptly lifted her chin.

"Audrey, haven't you always liked me?" he asked emotionlessly, a malicious charm flickering in the corner of his eye.

"Bryce, I'm so shy... yes, I do like you..." Audrey admitted with a flushed face. This man was mature and capable. Although he wasn't as prominent as the man who had disrupted the wedding earlier, his future in Emperor City was undoubtedly bright.

Just a nod from him, and she would willingly climb into his bed, even if it meant being his secret lover.

Glancing at the marriage bed behind her, a thrill of victory mixed with a hint of scorn surged within her. Wasn't that Whitney all high and mighty today, the proud daughter of the Sheldon family?

Yet, it seemed this marriage bed would end up blessing her instead.

Audrey boldly wrapped her arms around Bryce's neck, gently stroking, "Bryce, what do you want to do?"

The mischievous charm in Bryce's eyes vanished, and he threw her onto the bed with a burst of violence, tearing at Audrey's clothes after sending a text message...

In Emperor City, at the Sheldon Mansion, Florence was also up all night. The news of Ludwik boldly kidnapping Whitney right from the wedding had caught her off guard.

She had never expected things to take such a bizarre turn. Ludwik's actions were completely unpredictable!

He had vanished with Whitney in the blink of an eye!

How could he just disappear?

Florence and Holly were furious when they heard the news, feeling as if their hearts were bleeding.

She had calculated that Bryce would never let Ludwik get away from the wedding unscathed. In a fierce conflict, if Whitney had refused to comply, and considering Ludwik's heart condition, he would have rather destroyed everything, including Whitney, than let her be with Bryce.

That was the outcome Florence had hoped for!

Yet, Ludwik had abandoned everything to run away with Whitney!

Where had he gone?

Florence had Myra send out many to inquire both the Lippert Group and Banyan City were searched.

But she found nothing.

As dawn approached and there was still no news from the Lippert family about Ludwik's return, it was clear he had truly disappeared. Wasn't the Lippert family's WisdoChip Co. in a critical phase of development? How could he just leave everything behind?!

And his act of kidnapping Whitney at the wedding had become national news.

This brought direct negative attention to Florence, making her the laughingstock of the Emperor City elite circle in just one afternoon.

"Ludwik has eloped! It seems he's truly smitten with Miss Sheldon. To think he'd elope, leaving Florence with her big belly to become the butt of the joke."

"I always knew Ludwik wasn't that into her. Their engagement was so high-profile. I bet she got pregnant on purpose."

"How does that saying go? 'Steal the

chicken without losing the rice.' Florence used to have a good reputation, frail and uninvolved with the world. Now we see her truez colors. Where's her non-competitive nature now? She's fought over her sister's man."

"Poor thing, even with a baby, Ludwik doesn't want her. Even if Jason likes her, she'll struggle to marry into the Lippert family now."

The socialites even mocked Florence to her face.

Furious and humiliated, Florence couldn't bear to leave the house all afternoon. Everyone was talking about it, talking about her. Her chances of marrying into the Lippert family were now slim.

Ludwik's actions had clearly rejected her, telling her not to hold any false hopes.

Falling madly for Whitney to the extent of eloping was something he had done.

Honestly, Florence was beyond disappointed Ludwik was never meant to be one of those men ensnared by love. He was supposed to be aloof, unmatched in his grandeur, standing tall and heartless at the very pinnacle of Harmonia Country's social ladder. And yet, for a woman named Whitney, he was throwing it all away!

*Ding Dong*

In a rush, Holly burst in with Florence's phone in hand. "Florence, you've got a text."

Florence looked up, hoping against hope it was good news from Myra.

But as she watched the video that played, she was so furious she nearly passed out. Her eyes, usually as gentle as a deer's, blazed with anger as she hurled the phone to the floor.

"What happened?" Holly jumped, startled, and hurried to pick up the phone.

Florence's voice, usually so soft, twisted with rage as she clutched the bedsheet. "He's in bed with that... that woman, Whitney...

A big, plush red bed - is Ludwik pretending it's their wedding night or what?

Has he lost his mind? Damn it, doesn't he know Whitney and Bryce got their marriage license?

Mom, do you think he's had some sort of mental breakdown?

If he doesn't come back to Emperor City, I'll be the laughingstock, doomed to never marry into the Lippert family as I'd hoped!

It's all Whitney's fault, that woman has completely seduced him.

I wish she'd just die... cough, cough!"

"Florence! Calm down, please. You

mustn't stress yourself out while you're pregnant." Holly, too anxious to even glance at the phone, immediately went to support her daughter, her emotions a mix of

concern and skepticism. "Who sent you this video?"