Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter_58
Tiana’s eyes widened as she flipped through the menu, trying to ignore the buzzing of Whitney’s phone. When she excused herself to take the call, Tiana let out a low whistle. She had her own agenda—prying into the mess involving Monica, and it was clear things were about to get even messier.
When Whitney returned to the table, Tiana wasted no time showing her a headline on her tablet. “Monica’s plagiarism scandal is blowing up, dragging down Skye Gem Ltd.’s stocks. The Valentine family’s shares took a nosedive today. The shareholders must be getting restless.”
Whitney raised an eyebrow and gave a small, wry smile. “Monica’s got the Valentines backing her, but with a scandal like this, the shareholders I know aren’t fools. The Valentine family’s falling apart, and Skye Gem Ltd. is caught in the fallout. They’re worried about their stakes.”
Tiana laughed lightly, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “So, they come running to you, the former CEO of Skye Gem Ltd.? Classic move.”
Whitney’s expression hardened just a little. “For years, Monica’s been riding my coattails, and now they’re finally realizing who the real expert is.”
As if on cue, Whitney’s phone buzzed again with another call from a Skye Gem Ltd. shareholder. The tension in the air was palpable. This could be her chance to reclaim her position. She answered the call, her eyes narrowing with intent. This was a step closer to getting her company back.
When she hung up, Tiana was practically bouncing in her seat, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “Holy smokes, Whitney! You had me tail Roselyn last night, and you won’t believe what she led us to!”
Whitney’s attention shifted immediately, her curiosity piqued. Tiana booted up the surveillance footage, showing exactly what Roselyn had been up to. Whitney had instructed Tiana to track Roselyn’s movements, and it was clear that the woman had successfully wormed her way into Preston’s favor. But this wasn’t what Whitney was expecting.
Roselyn was trailing Preston?
Whitney leaned in closer, her gaze fixed on the screen. It was then that a new scene unfolded before her eyes. Roselyn had followed Preston to a villa, but the real shock came when an elderly woman and a young boy emerged from the villa, clearly trying to keep their identities under wraps. The boy, hidden beneath a hat, was carefully shielded, and it didn’t take long for Whitney to piece it together.
Preston, ever the gentleman, scooped the boy up and cradled him in his arms, looking every bit the father. A young woman soon appeared at the gate, and the scene played out as Whitney expected—Preston greeted her with a hug and a playful pat on the rear.
“Is that a secret love child of your dad?” Tiana asked, her voice full of surprise.
Whitney nodded thoughtfully, her suspicions rising. “It seems likely. Preston has always been obsessed with sons, and if the boy’s around five or six, then it fits. But the twist is Violet—Preston’s mother, my grandmother, who supposedly retreated to the countryside for health reasons. She’s been hiding away, raising the boy.”
Tiana blinked, her mouth falling open. “Your grandmother? Seriously? And you’re telling me this is the son Preston’s always wanted?”
Whitney nodded, her thoughts swirling. Violet, the sharp-tongued, manipulative matriarch, had never approved of Whitney or Monica. Yet, she’d managed to gain the upper hand by secretly raising a grandson—a son Preston could proudly claim.
The irony wasn’t lost on Whitney. She observed the scene with detached amusement. “I almost feel sorry for Roselyn. She wanted to climb the ladder, but turns out Preston’s already got a son. What can she possibly gain from this?”
Tiana laughed, though there was no humor in Whitney’s voice. “She’s in for a rude awakening. No way Preston’s going to favor her now, especially with this secret son in the picture.”
Whitney’s eyes narrowed. “We should thank her for this discovery, though. Tiana, can you find out where Violet and the child are staying?”
Tiana gave a firm nod, a smirk playing on her lips as she understood the task. “Consider it done.”
Meanwhile, Roselyn was hiding behind a bush, her mind spinning with the discovery she’d just uncovered. The anger on her face was evident, but it was clear she hadn’t caught the entire conversation. As Preston spoke with his mother, he pulled out a pocket watch—inside was a photo of a woman who looked hauntingly familiar. Whitney’s mother.
Roselyn’s eyes widened with the realization. The woman in the photo was none other than the one Whitney had often spoken of—the woman who had met her untimely death years ago, under mysterious circumstances.
Back at the diner, Whitney’s focus was now fully on the task at hand. She checked the time—it was already two in the afternoon. She needed to call the villa to confirm when L had left, and as soon as she did, Tiana was right there, smirking with anticipation.
“So, what’s next on the agenda?” she asked.
Whitney’s lips curled into a knowing smile. “We tail L. If he shows up at Imperial Gem Corporation’s tower claiming to ‘work,’ he’ll be in hot water. He won’t be able to hide much longer.”
Tiana’s grin widened. The two transformed into detectives, eager to uncover more of the secrets surrounding L and Ludwik. They quickly swapped vehicles and set off in pursuit, keeping their eyes trained on the Bentley as it rolled out of the mansion’s gates.
Inside the Bentley, Felix glanced at Ludwik, noticing how worn out he looked. The CEO seemed distracted, his mind clearly elsewhere. “Did Ms. Valentine not let you in last night?” Felix couldn’t help but ask. “You seem like you haven’t slept in days.”
Ludwik’s gaze flickered toward the rearview mirror, and he turned his attention to the car behind them. “Who’s in that car?” he asked, his voice sharp.
Felix glanced nervously at the car tailing them. “I’m sorry, Sir. I didn’t notice them. I’ll have it surrounded immediately.”
Ludwik, however, wasn’t interested in a confrontation. “Wait a second,” he said, his eyes narrowing as he studied the car behind them. “Let them follow.”
Felix looked at him in surprise. “In the BYD… is that Ms. Valentine? She swapped her car to tail you?”
Ludwik’s lips curled into a faint, mysterious smile as he leaned back in his seat. “We won’t be going to Imperial Gem Corporation today. Take us around the overpass.”
Felix hesitated but obeyed, his mind racing. Was Ludwik playing a game with Whitney? Was he planning to lead her on a wild goose chase? The thought brought a sly grin to Felix’s face. But Ludwik’s true intentions were still a mystery.
And perhaps, just perhaps, the cat was about to be let out of the bag.
