Love beyond the mask101-200

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Chapter_135

Simon stood before Whitney, his figure cast in shadow, the dim light flickering around him. His eyes, once filled with defiance, now showed traces of desperation and regret, lingering in the air between them. His voice, shaking with raw emotion, broke the silence. “That’s the only thing I have left from your Grandpa… and if I give it to you, you’ll just throw me away, won’t you, Whitney? I know I’ve been wrong. I realized too late… it’s you I love, not Monica. Please, can’t you give me another chance?”

He took a step forward, his trembling hand reaching toward her. His fingers quivered as they neared her delicate ones, but Whitney recoiled, stepping back with chilling indifference. Her eyes, cold and unwavering, locked onto his with a hint of disdain. “If I hadn’t taken control of Skye Gem, would you be standing here, professing your love for me now? The moment Monica stepped down, your affections shifted, just like flipping a switch. And now you claim to love me, but you’re still chasing after Scarlett. Do you even know what love is, Simon?”

The words stung, but Simon, caught in the spiral of his regrets, couldn’t let go of his plea. His mind flickered back to the gala, the night he arrived with Scarlett, while Whitney had silently watched, a witness to his betrayal.

His hands ran through his hair, gripping his head in agony as he groaned. “It wasn’t me, Whitney. It was my mother, forcing me into that relationship for the inheritance. I never wanted it. I was blinded by Monica’s false promises. And Scarlett… she’s just a front. Please, just give me some time. Leave that masked man at your side. Do you even know who he really is? How can you follow someone like that? Come back to me…”

Whitney’s gaze hardened, and the patience she had once shown drained from her. She was done with excuses. Rising from her seat, she fixed him with a cold, steely stare, her voice slicing through the tense air. “You’re still not going to give me the contact book, are you?”

Simon’s face twisted with stubbornness, and his voice grew firm. “I won’t—unless you come back to me.”

Whitney’s eyes darkened with finality. “Tomorrow is the deadline.”

Without another word, she turned on her heel, her heels clicking sharply against the floor as she walked away, leaving Simon standing in the midst of his last-ditch plea. His words hung in the air, unanswered and futile.

Once inside her car, Whitney exhaled slowly, allowing herself a moment of clarity. She pulled out her phone and dialed a trusted manager at Skye Gem. “Contact Troy and Faith Perlman tonight. Let them know the board has voted Simon out as CEO, and we’re interested in a partnership with Troy’s company. Have them meet us at the office tomorrow.”

The manager’s hesitation was brief, but he understood her intentions. “Got it. I’ll handle it.”

With that dealt with, Whitney swiftly texted Tiana: Can you get me Scarlett’s number?

Tiana’s response came quickly, though tinged with confusion: Whitney, what are you plotting now?

Whitney rubbed her temples, the weight of everything pressing down on her. It wasn’t plotting—it was survival. She needed that contact book, her last link to her grandfather, and she would go to any length to retrieve it. Her thoughts turned to her uncle, the only family she had left. She couldn’t afford to wait any longer.

By the time she arrived at United Realty Corporation the following morning, her mind was already running through the plans ahead. Felix hadn’t returned yet, but she knew he would soon. L’s flight details had been confirmed, and she had everything timed perfectly. At exactly 9:00 AM, the door to her office swung open.

Castor stormed in, his face scratched and bruised, his eyes burning with accusation. “You did it, didn’t you? You released that video yesterday! Just as I was about to make you speak at the meeting, all hell broke loose. My wife showed up, and I couldn’t find you anywhere—you’re guilty as sin!”

His voice was seething with rage, but Whitney remained calm, her expression neutral. Harper, standing by her side, gave a subtle nod, confirming that the chaos of the previous day had already spread among her closest allies.

Whitney met Castor’s furious glare with quiet resolve. “What are you talking about, Castor? Your infidelity is already the talk of the company. It’s ruined your reputation—and now, you’re dragging the company down with you.”

“Don’t play the victim with me!” Castor hissed, his voice rising. “I know what you’re doing. You pushed Elaine out, and now you’re targeting me. I won’t go down without a fight!”

He lunged forward, but Harper stepped in front of Whitney, a protective shield. Whitney, however, gave a subtle gesture, signaling her friend to step aside. She could handle this herself.

Castor, in his rage, grabbed Whitney’s arm, pulling her toward him. At that moment, the door opened again, and Felix stepped aside to reveal an imposing figure: Ludwik, the CEO of United Realty.

“What the hell are you doing, Castor?” Ludwik’s voice was low, chilling.

Castor froze. His body stiffened, and his eyes widened with realization. He stumbled backward, releasing Whitney’s arm. Ludwik moved toward her, protective and steady.

Ludwik’s gaze softened as he looked at Whitney, but when he turned to Castor, it was ice-cold. “What did you want to do to my wife?”

“I’ve been wronged!” Castor pleaded, his voice trembling with desperation. “You don’t understand! Your wife… she released my private video at that meeting yesterday. She humiliated me, ruined my reputation, and jeopardized the hotel group’s project. That’s why I came to confront her.”

Ludwik didn’t respond immediately, his presence commanding the room. He didn’t look at Castor, instead focusing solely on Whitney, his expression unreadable.

Finally, Whitney spoke, her tone calm but lethal. “Castor, you have no proof. Without evidence, your claims are meaningless.”

“You… you’re just going to let her get away with this?” Castor spat, his fury building.

Ludwik cut him off with a single, decisive word. “Enough.”

He stepped around Whitney’s desk, eyes never leaving Castor. “You’re fired, Castor.”

Castor’s face drained of color, and his voice broke in disbelief. “Why? I’m just a minor manager. I’ve contributed to the company. My private life doesn’t affect my professional abilities. Please… please be lenient!”

Whitney spoke again, her voice a quiet but cutting finality. “Damage to the company’s image, Castor. That’s interference.”

Castor’s desperation deepened. “Only people in this firm know about the incident. I swear, it won’t leak. It won’t hurt the company’s reputation!”

Whitney raised an eyebrow, tapping on her tablet. “Castor, your dirty laundry is trending online. Women scorned by their husbands are already tearing you apart on social media. You’re infamous now.”

Castor’s knees buckled. He collapsed onto the floor, his voice faltering. “This… this can’t be happening.”

Whitney didn’t even acknowledge his pleas. Instead, she handed Ludwik a voice recorder. “Mr. President, I have a recording you might want to hear.”

Ludwik’s gaze darkened as he listened to the audio—Castor and his allies mocking Whitney, revealing their true natures.

When the recording ended, Ludwik’s eyes narrowed, his decision clear. “Felix, bring me everyone who spoke in that recording, especially your secretary.”

Harper stepped forward with a delivery receipt from the previous day. She handed it to Ludwik. “Mr. President, Castor bullied the VP to the point that the restaurant manager refused to serve her. I had to order delivery upstairs for her.”

The receipt was a simple yet powerful testament to Whitney’s struggle. Ludwik’s resolve hardened. “Throw Castor out. Fire the restaurant manager. Now.”

“Mr. President…” Castor’s voice trailed off, his body trembling. He had no words left.

As Castor was escorted from the room, Whitney remained unflinching. This was a huge victory—one of Elaine’s biggest supporters was gone. With Castor out, one of her key supporters had been removed, and Whitney had weakened Elaine’s influence over United Realty.

But Whitney knew this was just the beginning. Elaine was still out there, plotting. Whitney would be ready.

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