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Chapter_99
The pain in Whitney’s chest was unbearable, gnawing at her from the inside out. As she stood there, trying to steady her breathing, Elaine nudged the man next to her, a gleam of satisfaction in her eyes.
“Bro, look who’s here—Whitney!”
Ludwik’s face froze, his cold eyes narrowing as they locked onto Whitney, now approaching them. His gaze hardened, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his features.
Whitney had come in her usual understated elegance, dressed in a simple black V-neck evening gown. No heels, no extravagant accessories. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders in soft waves, and her skin—smooth, almost translucent—caught the light just so. She was a vision of delicate beauty, a subtle pink flush to her cheeks that hinted at the blusher she’d used.
Her mere presence was enough to draw the attention of numerous men in the room.
Ludwik’s face grew icy, and he seemed almost taken aback. He hadn’t seen her for days, and now, seeing her in front of him, her image looked thinner than he remembered. Taryn had mentioned she hadn’t been eating well lately.
As Ludwik stared at her, his emotions seemed torn. Elaine, noticing his distraction, forced a smile, her voice laced with mock concern. “Bro, did Whitney come to see you? I’ll go check on her.”
Ludwik nodded approvingly, and Elaine, ever the schemer, moved toward Whitney, her voice dripping with faux sweetness. “Whitney, you finally made it! I was starting to worry about you and Bro. What’s going on?”
Whitney’s eyebrows knitted in concern, but there was a flicker of triumph in her eyes—she wasn’t blind to what was happening. Elaine’s words were loaded with insinuations, her facade of kindness slipping away.
Elaine leaned in closer, her voice almost conspiratorial. “Don’t worry, Bro’s been busy working these past few days with me. That night he got drunk—it was me who took care of him all night. No other woman took advantage of him!”
Whitney barely blinked at the sharpness of Elaine’s playful smile. She could feel the hostility bubbling just beneath the surface. Elaine had finally let go of her sweet, innocent act. Now, she was openly trying to provoke her.
Whitney’s gaze shifted toward the distant figure of Ludwik, her heart sinking. She wasn’t foolish—Elaine was trying to bait her into a confrontation.
With a cool smile, Whitney responded, her voice just as calm as Elaine’s had been. “With you taking care of him, I’m at ease. After all, L himself told me not to be jealous of anyone, especially you. He sees you as a sister. But, while you might look after him for a day, I’m the one who’ll be by his side for a lifetime. We have countless moments of affection ahead.”
Elaine’s smile tightened, but she kept her composure. “That’s wonderful, Whitney. No misunderstandings, then. Bro’s over there. Should I take you to him?”
Her offer seemed gracious, but Whitney wasn’t fooled. The suggestion was clear—Elaine was trying to control the situation. “Couples meet when they wish. No need to trouble yourself, Ms. Elaine,” Whitney replied with a quiet, cutting edge to her words.
Elaine heard the message loud and clear.
She turned and walked away, but her smile was tight, her fists clenched in frustration. Whitney had refused to take the bait, and Elaine was growing impatient. If only Whitney had slapped her, Ludwik would have been furious, and the whole thing would’ve worked out perfectly for Elaine. But she wasn’t done yet.
Back with Ludwik, Elaine feigned concern, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “Bro, Whitney seems upset. She doesn’t want to talk to me. Maybe you should go charm her?”
Ludwik’s gaze snapped to Whitney, standing alone at the edge of the crowd. His expression darkened as he muttered, “Am I out of my mind? A fickle woman like that is better off gone.”
Pride and possessiveness were evident in his voice—he could not tolerate what he perceived as any hint of flirtation or deceit.
Elaine’s eyes lit up at his response. She turned to Hannah, a silent signal exchanged between them. Hannah, who had been watching from the crowd, immediately slipped into action, making her way toward Whitney.
Elaine leaned in, her voice a low whisper. “Hannah, I’m just Big Bro’s date tonight, but Whitney’s here, and it seems like his attention is on her. You might want to…”
Hannah’s eyes narrowed in anger. She had waited too long for an event where Ludwik would be present, and now Whitney was getting in her way. “Watch how I deal with her,” she sneered, rallying her clique of socialites.
Elaine stood back, arms crossed, watching the drama unfold. Whitney might have seen through her tricks, but Hannah was another matter. Hannah, with her temper and reckless nature, was a loose cannon.
Whitney stood in a quiet corner, wrestling with herself. She had wanted to confront Ludwik, but Tiana had warned her not to play hard to get. She was ready to soften up, to find some common ground.
But before she could make a move, she was suddenly shoved from behind, spilling her drink onto the dress of a nearby socialite.
“Oh my goodness, who did this?” The woman turned sharply, fury in her eyes.
Whitney, struggling to regain her balance, stumbled into the woman. “What’s your problem? Looking for trouble?” Her eyes widened as she recognized the socialite. “Oh, you’re that disgraced Valentine heiress, aren’t you?”
The woman’s face contorted with disgust. “You’ve got nerve, don’t you? Still trying to steal my husband?”
Whitney’s mind raced. She turned to find the source of the shove and spotted Hannah, a smug look on her face. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks. This had been set up.
“Ms. Valentine, are you trying to seduce my husband?” one of the women sneered. Whitney recognized her as Scarlett, part of Hannah’s clique. “You’ve been trying to use your status at Skye Gem to get business favors, haven’t you? How shameless!”
Hannah’s glee was impossible to miss. She stepped forward, her voice dripping with venom. “It’s understandable you want to talk business, but it’s indecent to eye someone else’s husband. You might as well leave and save yourself the embarrassment.”
The words cut deep, but Whitney remained unfazed. She locked eyes with Ludwik from across the room, his back still turned. A cold surge of anger flared inside her.
Without a word, she grabbed two glasses of wine from a passing waiter and, without hesitation, splashed them across Mrs. Wendt, Hannah, and Scarlett, their elegant gowns now drenched.
Silence enveloped the area. The socialites gasped, but it was broken by Hannah’s shrill scream. “Whitney! Have you lost your mind?”
Whitney cracked a dangerous smile, her eyes gleaming with defiance. “Right, I’ve gone mad. Ever heard of being kidnapped and left with a mental scar? I might be sharp in business, but I don’t play nice when it comes to two-faced women. I fight one when I meet her, and if they come in twos, I’ll take them on together.”
With a swift motion, she grabbed a handful of Hannah’s hair. Hannah, stunned and restrained by her strapless gown, was easily toppled.
Elaine, watching from a distance, realized the situation had taken a turn. Whitney wasn’t going down without a fight. This wasn’t just a slap—it was a warning.
But before things could escalate further, Mrs. Wendt and Scarlett jumped into the fray, pulling at Whitney’s hair. It looked like a brawl was about to break out when, suddenly, a strong hand gripped Whitney, pulling her away from the chaos.
“What in the world is going on here? Ms. Valentine, are you alright?” Bryce’s voice was filled with genuine concern as he shielded her behind him, stepping between her and the oncoming storm.
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