Love beyond the mask201-300

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Chapter_280

Whitney stood unfazed as Elaine’s slap missed by inches, her sharp reflexes allowing her to dodge the attack effortlessly. Elaine’s hand hovered in the air, trembling with anger, her face a mask of fury. Whitney’s gaze never wavered, and her cool demeanor only served to intensify the situation.

Elaine, not willing to back down, took a step forward, her chest heaving with emotion. “You think you can just manipulate everyone around you, Whitney? Control everything like it’s all some sort of game?” she hissed, her voice low and venomous, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife.

Whitney’s lips curled into a sarcastic smile. “Elaine, my dear, don’t take it personally. I’m just doing what needs to be done. After all, if you really cared about Ludwik, wouldn’t you have been there last night? But I suppose you were too busy playing your little games. Or maybe you thought you could control everything, as usual.” Whitney’s words sliced through the air with sharp precision, each sentence laced with biting sarcasm.

Elaine’s expression twisted further, her eyes narrowing into slits. “You’re a vile woman, Whitney. You think you can just take whatever you want, like you have some right to ruin everything? Do you even care about the damage you cause?” The anger in her voice simmered, threatening to boil over.

Whitney, however, remained composed, her expression unchanging. “Vile?” she repeated with a laugh that lacked any warmth. “I’m just doing what’s necessary. If you’re upset, maybe you should reflect on your own actions first. Ludwik’s behavior isn’t my fault. He’s the one who’s been playing games with his emotions, and you? Well, you’ve been too busy hiding your true intentions behind closed doors. Who’s really the manipulator here, Elaine?”

Elaine clenched her fists, her rage barely contained. “You think you’ve won, don’t you?” she spat, her voice a low growl. “But this is far from over. Ludwik will be mine, and you’ll be nothing but a distant memory in his life.”

Whitney’s smile remained intact, though there was a flicker of something dangerous in her eyes. “We’ll see about that,” she said softly. “If Ludwik is a fool, then it’s his problem, not mine. But I think he’s already shown his true colors. Maybe he’ll realize that sooner or later. If I were you, I’d stop living in a fantasy world, Elaine. You’re not going to control everything forever.”

Elaine’s fury was palpable as she stepped forward again, her eyes blazing with anger. Yet, as she opened her mouth to retort, something in her posture shifted, the rage giving way to a more calculating look. She clenched her jaw, her hands trembling at her sides, but she restrained herself. “You’ll regret this, Whitney. You haven’t seen the last of me.” Her voice was low, filled with a promise of revenge as she turned away, her heels clicking against the hotel floor.

Whitney stood still, watching Elaine’s retreating form with an almost detached expression. The satisfaction she felt wasn’t one of victory, but of knowing that Elaine was no longer the one holding the strings. The game had shifted, and Whitney was in control, at least for now.

She looked down at her phone, glancing at the notifications from Mr. Rufus. The news of his defiance and the press release only confirmed what she had already suspected—she was winning. But even as the pieces began to fall into place, she knew that the game was far from over. The real test would be making sure Elaine and Ludwik didn’t see the full extent of her influence.

As Whitney adjusted the strap of her bag, she thought about how much more she had to play, how much more she could manipulate without revealing her hand. Ludwik’s anger had been a small setback, but nothing she couldn’t handle. He was, after all, just another pawn in the bigger game she was playing.

The sun outside cast a warm light over the city, but Whitney couldn’t shake the chill that ran through her as she thought of the coming days. She couldn’t afford to slip up now. With one final glance at the hotel, she stepped out onto the street, her resolve as unshakable as ever.

“Whitney!”

The voice rang out from behind her, cutting through the morning air. She turned, only to find Elaine standing there, her face twisted in pure anger. This time, however, it wasn’t just about Ludwik. Elaine’s eyes were full of hatred, but Whitney wasn’t intimidated.

Elaine took a step forward, her hand raised as though to strike again, but Whitney was quicker. She stepped to the side, effortlessly avoiding the slap and using her other hand to block Elaine’s next move.

“Elaine, good morning,” Whitney said with a smirk, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. “Looking for Ludwik? He just left, you know. Didn’t you see him go?”

Elaine’s eyes flashed with fury, but Whitney saw the hesitation beneath the rage. It was clear that something was amiss.

For a brief moment, Whitney considered giving her the satisfaction of a more drawn-out confrontation, but the satisfaction of leaving Elaine stewing in her own anger was too sweet to resist. She couldn’t let Elaine have the upper hand—not now.

With that, Whitney turned, walking past her with confidence, the weight of the situation settling firmly on her shoulders. The game was far from over, but as far as she was concerned, she had just taken another victory. And soon, everyone would see just how far she was willing to go.

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