Love beyond the mask (Whitney)

Chapter 138

Whitney lowered her gaze gently, awaiting the precise moment when he stepped into the room.

“Why would you partner with them? Was this intentional? To embarrass me, to make me look bad in

front of the Perlman family? Whitney, you’re so cruel!”

“All I wanted was one thing. My uncle is my only family, and you’ve been holding out on me. Who do

you think is the cruel one?” Whitney rose sharply to her feet.

Troy watched without interruption.

Faith’s expression cooled as she clutched the proposal, eyeing Whitney, “Are you really serious about

this?”

“Absolutely.” Whitney turned, her face set with a chilling resolve, “Faith, this deal with Skye Gem Ltd. is

only advantageous for your company. Take it home and mull it over. We’ll talk details in a couple of

days.”

“No way!” Simon lunged for the proposal, “Skye Gem Ltd. will never partner with their company,

never!”

“Simon, you’re no longer the CEO of Skye Gem Ltd. You can’t make decisions for Whitney. And

Whitney, I’m looking forward to cooperate with you.” Troy smirked, snatched the proposal and left.

After the siblings departed, Simon’s eyes reddened with rage as he glared at Whitney, “Why are you

driving me into a corner! Do you know that since I lost the position of CEO, my father has started to

doubt me? Troy has stolen the show at today’s Perlman Group shareholder meeting. Now you’re

teaming up with them, and I’ll be the laughingstock of the Perlman family!”

Whitney observed his frantic and tormented expression indifferently.

Once upon a time, when he and Monica had pushed her into a corner, she had felt just as helpless and

desperate. This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

What goes around comes around.

Ignoring his pleas, Whitney turned and walked out of the office with icy detachment. Simon was furious.

He reached out to stop her.

Just then, at the company’s main entrance, a stunning figure walked in. Simon’s face froze as he saw

Scarlett. She noticed Simon’s grip on Whitney’s arm and her face turned icy instantly, “Simon, what are

you doing?”

Scarlett was well–informed about Simon’s entanglement with the Valentine sisters.

She was already bothered by it, yet had a fondness for Simon. He had approached her for a marriage

alliance, aiming for the support of her substantial family assets.

Scarlett approached with an air of pride.

From a distance, Whitney confronted Simon, whose expression was turning increasingly cold, “I asked

Scarlett to come. I have a recording of your sweet nothings from last night in my phone. What do you

think will happen if I let her listen to it now?

Your marriage alliance with Scarlett will fall apart, and so will your inheritance from the Perlman family.

Unless you hand over the contact book to me, and I could forget about the collaboration with Troy and

Faith!”

Simon clenched his fists, looking at Whitney’s angelic yet ruthless face, feeling she was both familiar

and a stranger. The cold clarity in her eyes was stunning, not a trace of sympathy left within them.

He’d fantasized about reclaiming his legacy from the Perlman family, rekindling their past romance and

winning her back.

It seemed he had overestimated himself. She had left his world completely since long ago.

He was the one who pushed her away! He was the fool, blinded by Monica’s frail appearance. He was

selfish, unable to wholeheartedly love someone beyond his own benefits.

Tears welled up in Simon’s eye, driven by regret but outweighed once again by self–interest.

Whitney forced him to make a choice.

He looked at her with a darkening gaze, his voice choked with difficulty, “Fine, I’ll give you the contact

book. Just don’t play that recording to her. And the deal with Faith, call it off!”

Whitney’s hand, which had been reaching into her bag, withdrew slightly.

She looked at Simon, feeling amused inside. She had no recording, actually. It was a bluff, but she

knew Simon wouldn’t risk it.

“Cool,” she said, her voice as steady as still water.

Scarlett approached in irritation. But before she could scold Whitney, Simon walked over to Scarlett,

took her hand and led her away with a softened tone.

Whitney stood in the lobby and texted him: [I need to get that today.].

Half an hour later, a defeated Simon returned: [Come to my place to get it.)–

Whitney was cautious and invited the general manager of Skye Gem Ltd. to accompany her. then they

got into Simon’s car.

They drove to his apartment in silence. Whitney had no intention of speaking.

Simon glanced at her through the rear–view mirror several times, his eyes flickering with calculated

thoughts. After seeing Whitney the previous day, he had looked through the contact book carefully,

noticing a name that kept reappearing.

With a sly smile, he turned to Whitney and said cryptically. “Maybe it’s for the best. You might uncover

some secrets.”

Whitney frowned, unsure what he meant.

Upon arrival, Simon stepped out of the car.

Whitney waited at the door.

As the sun went down and the sky began to darken, Simon returned with the contact book.

Seeing it, Whitney’s eyes misted over with warmth, as if she saw her grandfather’s figure.

That was his belonging!

She quickly snatched it and turned to leave, but Simon grabbed her wrist. Whitney turned with a

furrowed brow, “What now?”

His eyes held a meaningful chill as he stared at her, “Whitney, I asked you yesterday if you knew the

identity of the man behind the mask. You didn’t answer. You still don’t know, do you?”

“Do you know who that man could be?”

Whitney paused, her curiosity not piqued by whether L was a fake or not. Today, she had found herself

unable to resist asking him again.

Seeing her eyes flickering, Simon stepped forward and was ready to share his supposition.

But Whitney cut him off with a mistrustful tone, “I’m not going to listen to your wild guesses. You hardly

know him. How could you possibly know who he is? I’m not curious because he’s a real part of my

life.”

“Real, huh?” Simon let out a cold laugh, glancing at the contact book before reminding her, “There’s a

name in there you should take a good look at when you get home.”

If that masked man truly is Ludwik Lippert…

Simon smirked sardonically.

Whitney watched his smirk with furrowed brows. She was puzzled. She clutched the contact book

tightly and entered her car.

Just as she was about to leave Simon’s condo, her cell phone rang.

It was L.

Whitney quickly answered, a slight smile on her lips, “What’s up?”

“You’re not at the office?” The man’s voice was cool and shadowed with an ominous tone, “You actually

went to see Simon without telling me? Have you forgot what I told you?”

Whitney guessed he must have called the office and spoken to Harper. And then in a fit of anger, he

had tracked her down.

She frowned slightly, a bit exasperated, “I didn’t sneak off to see him. I took leave properly, and I had a

legitimate reason to meet him. Listen –”