Love beyond the mask1-100

Novel Catalog

Chapter_36

Whitney smiled faintly, sensing something peculiar in the atmosphere. She had only come to show Stella her preliminary jewelry designs, yet something about the exchange felt off. Stella had always been a bit too eager to please, but today, her curiosity seemed deeper than usual.

“Whitney, you’re incredibly talented! Did you finish your preliminary sketches? Can I take a look?” Stella asked, practically leaning over to get a better view of Whitney’s laptop screen.

Tiana, ever the playful friend, couldn’t help but tease. “Come on, Stella, who are you kidding? You’ve never been the studious type. What’s got you suddenly so interested in jewelry design?”

Whitney turned to look at Stella, whose face was partially hidden behind a curtain of blonde hair. Stella then looked up, her smile broad. “Well, I’ve been dying to land that Imperial Gem Corporation campaign, and you, my dear Whitney, could give me a crash course in all things sparkly.”

Whitney couldn’t help but laugh softly, powering up her laptop to show Stella the designs she had completed. “I’ve only gotten halfway through.”

“Wow, this is gorgeous,” Stella said, genuinely impressed, her voice filled with admiration.

After chatting a bit longer, Stella stood up. “I’m going to freshen up in the ladies’ room. Anyone care to join?”

Tiana tossed her a mask with a playful laugh. “Go ahead, you knockout.”

With a wink, Stella swept through the curtain, leaving the room. Whitney’s gaze followed her, but for a brief moment, she thought she saw Monica—just the silhouette of a woman standing in the hallway. Frowning, Whitney stood up and peeked outside, but the hallway was empty.

“What’s up?” Tiana asked, noticing Whitney’s shift in focus.

Whitney shrugged, trying to shake off the odd feeling. “Must’ve been seeing things,” she said, dismissing the thought. Aquatic Harmony Club was their private little spot—how could Monica possibly know about it?

Tiana nudged her gently, sensing her friend’s unease. “What’s on your mind?”

Whitney paused, frowning slightly. “Tiana, don’t you feel like Stella seems a bit… different since she got back?”

Tiana raised an eyebrow. “Different? How?”

Whitney couldn’t quite pinpoint it. There was no obvious change. Maybe it was just her overthinking things. “I don’t know. After everything that’s happened to me, she only asked about the competition once. It just seemed… off, like she was trying to steer the conversation in a particular direction.”

Tiana waved it off. “You’re overthinking things. It’s normal for her to be excited about her career. She’s chasing that ad campaign, so the sudden interest in jewelry makes sense. Don’t let all the Valentine family drama make you doubt everyone around you. You can trust me and Stella. We’ve been best friends for years.”

Tiana gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, and Whitney couldn’t help but smile, feeling a little better. Right, why was she doubting her friends?

Not long after, Stella returned from the restroom, touched up her makeup, and soon left the club with her agent. Whitney stayed behind, still working through her design drafts while Tiana chatted with her.

As evening fell, Whitney’s thoughts turned to L. She hadn’t heard from him all day, and she felt a pang of guilt. Should she call him? Her mind raced with doubts, especially with Ludwik Lippert constantly popping up in her thoughts. But then, Tiana teased her, sensing what was on her mind. “Missing your pretend hubby? Call him. You should have him come pick you up. You’re pregnant, after all.”

Before Whitney could react, Tiana snatched her phone, dialed L’s number, and handed it to her.

When the call connected, Whitney felt a warmth rise in her cheeks. “Hello, L?” she greeted, hoping for a familiar, reassuring voice.

Instead, a soft, unfamiliar woman’s voice answered. “May I help you with something?”

Whitney froze, her heart skipping a beat. Tiana’s expression immediately darkened. “Who is this? Where’s the owner of this phone?”

The woman’s tone was casual but with a strange hint of possessiveness. “He’s resting. Did you need him for something?”

Whitney’s mind raced, and she recalled the morning she had seen the silhouette of a woman getting into a car with L. Something twisted in her chest. She quickly hung up, trying to shake off the uncomfortable feeling. But the words lingered in her mind—“resting.” Why would he be resting in the afternoon? The woman’s tone was far too intimate for comfort.

Tiana tried to ease the tension. “Do you believe that? It’s probably just a female colleague, nothing more.”

Whitney feigned nonchalance, though her heart felt heavy. “In a transactional marriage, his affairs are none of my business.”

She quickly changed the subject, trying to distract herself. “I’m crashing at your place tonight, I’ve got to finish my drafts.”

Tiana nodded with a smile. “Sure, you can even sleep over if you want! No problem.”

That night, Whitney stayed at Tiana’s, and L didn’t call. She scoffed at the thought—he probably didn’t feel the need to explain himself. She convinced herself it didn’t matter.

The following day, as she sat at Tiana’s place, Whitney received a call from Natalie. A little worried, she grabbed her laptop and hurried home.

When she walked in, Natalie gently touched her shoulder. “Whitney dear, are you and that boy having a tiff?”

“No, not at all,” Whitney replied, shaking her head, trying to remain calm.

“That’s good. I was starting to wonder why you hadn’t come home. He’s been so busy lately; he might not have had time to look after you. Don’t be upset, okay?” Natalie’s words were gentle, but Whitney’s thoughts were elsewhere.

She couldn’t help but wonder, though. Was L paying attention to someone else?

Suddenly, Natalie’s tone changed, and she chuckled softly. “Actually, I didn’t ask you to come back. Your husband wants you to deliver something to him. He should be free tonight to spend some time with you.”

Whitney was confused. “What am I delivering, and where to?”

“To this hotel.” Natalie handed her a small bag. “The driver will take you.”

Whitney barely processed what was happening as she made her way to the hotel. Once inside, a servant led her into a suite that felt too intimate, the soft aroma of the room only adding to the confusion.

Before she could react, the servant shut the door behind her, saying, “Sir asked you to take a bath and rest first. The bag contains your nightgown.”

Whitney blinked in disbelief. He had her deliver… her nightgown?

Exhausted and perplexed, she decided to take a quick shower. When she emerged, she realized she had nothing to wear, so she reluctantly put on the nightgown. Too tired to care, she collapsed into bed, letting sleep overtake her.

At eight o’clock, the sound of steady footsteps echoed down the hallway. Clad in a sharp suit that barely contained his imposing frame, the man entered the suite. His expression was stern, yet his eyes lingered on the door.

Taryn, who had been waiting nearby, smiled slyly. “She finds the silence here conducive to her art. She’s probably working on her sketches, sir. By the way, you’ve been so busy. I bet you haven’t eaten yet. Ms. Natalie made you some soup to chase away the chill.”

Without a word, the man took the soup and drank it. He then approached the door, turning the handle and stepping inside.

The room was dimly lit, with a soft scent lingering in the air. A sudden ripple passed through him as his eyes fell on Whitney, asleep on the bed.

Meanwhile, Taryn hurried back to the corner, where Natalie was waiting, a sly smile on her face. “Just one bowl of that nourishing soup, and I bet they’ll patch things up. I’ve sensed something off between them since the hospital visit.”

“But ma’am, are you sure about this ‘matchmaking’? What if the young master finds out…”

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