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Chapter_111
Whitney’s breath was sharp, a mixture of frustration and disbelief, as she glanced at Elaine. “I swear, you really don’t know when to stop, do you? Backstabbing me like this… why, Elaine?”
Elaine’s frown deepened, but only for a moment. She quickly straightened, her face sliding into the mask of innocence she wore so well. “Backstabbing?” she repeated, feigning surprise, her wide eyes blinking in fake confusion. “Whitney, I don’t know what you mean. I’ve always been honest with you.”
Whitney’s gaze turned cold. The memory of the café earlier flashed in her mind, and with it, the realization that Elaine had been playing a long game all along—one that she had failed to see until it was too late. She had no evidence to back up her suspicions, just a gut feeling that had now turned into bitter certainty.
Elaine’s eyes glimmered as she blinked rapidly, the fake mist of tears clouding her gaze as she looked at Ludwik. “I really thought the Lotus Clubhouse was a nice place to eat, you know? If Bro thinks I had ulterior motives, well… I guess I can’t help that.”
Whitney scoffed, not bothering to hide her disgust. “You’re so innocent, aren’t you? Must be the same purity behind your tweets, huh?” she muttered, scrolling through Elaine’s Twitter account. The posts were sparse—conveniently so—but one had been deleted. Whitney’s lips curled into a cold smile as she made the connection. “You sly little thing, provoking me, then quickly deleting the evidence. But you know, that picture you took? Ludwik won’t mind if I show him, will he?”
Elaine’s eyes widened in panic as Whitney handed Ludwik her phone. He took it, his fingers brushing hers as he examined the selfie—a picture where Elaine was cozily nestled next to him. Nolan and Parker were also visible in the shot, making it appear innocent enough at first glance. But given the context, it was more than just a casual photo.
Ludwik glanced at Whitney, his expression unreadable. It was a subtle look, but Whitney caught the quiet disapproval in his eyes, as if telling her she was overreacting.
Elaine, ever the actress, immediately saw his reaction. With practiced precision, she covered her eyes, letting out a dramatic sob. “Whitney, when you’re so set on getting someone, any excuse will do, won’t it? I didn’t mean any harm. I just posted about work, that’s all. But if Bro thinks otherwise, then I guess I have nothing more to say.”
Her tone, perfectly calibrated, blended innocence and vulnerability in such a way that for a fleeting moment, she seemed like the victim. But Whitney’s smirk froze, her expression hardening, not buying a single word of it.
The doctor, oblivious to the full situation, glanced between the two women. He saw Elaine’s ‘bullied’ demeanor and immediately felt sympathy for her. “I’ve come to update you on Madam Natalie’s condition,” he said, stepping forward with the same professional air he had every time he entered the room. “Thanks to Elaine’s timely acupuncture, Madam’s condition has improved significantly. She’s now resting in the neurology department.”
Elaine’s eyes glistened with triumph, her gaze locked onto Whitney with a silent challenge.
Whitney, though she tried to mask it, could feel the burn of frustration at the back of her throat. She knew exactly what had happened. It had been her own acupuncture that had helped Natalie the day before. Yet now Elaine was claiming credit for it, knowing full well that Natalie’s memory was too hazy to remember the truth. Elaine had carefully crafted the narrative, ensuring she appeared as the caring, competent savior.
Her tactic had worked perfectly, and Whitney could feel the tide turning in Elaine’s favor. It made her stomach churn with frustration.
Elaine, still wearing that pleased, doe-eyed expression, turned her gaze back to Ludwik. “Bro, I brought your mother here for a check-up because I knew you were worried about her. I didn’t want her to see you like this. I just happened to walk in on Whitney’s misunderstanding, but don’t worry, I’ll leave you two to sort things out.” She wiped a fake tear from her eye, turning to leave, her demeanor the picture of pitiful grace.
Ludwik rubbed his temples, his expression pained, and glanced at Whitney. His silence was deafening, and his eyes betrayed no understanding of the storm that was brewing.
Elaine had done everything right—caring for his mother, rushing to the villa overnight, using acupuncture to improve Natalie’s condition. The servants had all reported her movements in glowing terms. Everything Elaine had done appeared to be selfless, and now, in Ludwik’s eyes, she was the hero.
As for Whitney, she was simply being “prejudiced,” unable to see the good Elaine had done. She was a woman overreacting, throwing accusations with no solid proof.
Ludwik sighed, his voice filled with weariness. “You’re too hard on Elaine. She’s a little… calculated, yes, but she wouldn’t hurt you. She knows how I handle things. Let’s not let her come between us, okay?”
Whitney froze, the sting of hurt flashing across her face before she could hide it. She had saved Natalie’s life, yet Ludwik was looking at Elaine as if she were the true hero, not her. It was clear that he didn’t see Elaine for who she really was. In his eyes, Whitney was just being petty and jealous.
Her fist clenched tightly. Elaine had outplayed her—she had come prepared, while Whitney had been caught off guard.
Their silent gaze lingered before Whitney muttered, “I need some air.”
Ludwik’s frown deepened, his voice firm as he addressed Felix. “Make sure the bodyguards follow her.”
Outside, in the car, Elaine couldn’t suppress the malicious smile that curled at the corner of her lips. The victory was sweeter than she had imagined.
She had predicted everything—every word, every gesture. She had carefully manipulated the situation, turning Natalie’s condition into her own success story. Elaine had used every tool at her disposal to ensure that Ludwik saw her as the benevolent, selfless woman who always had his best interests at heart. She had won. But this wasn’t the end.
As Elaine sat in the car, her phone buzzed with a new message. It was from her contact at the Lotus Clubhouse, confirming new, vital information that could change everything.
Her pulse quickened, a rush of excitement filling her. The game was far from over.
Elaine’s smile stretched wider as she already began plotting her next move.
At the coffee shop, Whitney met with Tiana, who immediately noticed the exhaustion and frustration in her friend’s face. “What’s wrong?” Tiana asked, her voice filled with concern. “Weren’t you and L getting along fine this morning?”
Whitney let out a humorless laugh, her words coming out in a clipped tone as she relayed the events to Tiana—the way Elaine had played the martyr, how she had twisted the situation to her advantage, and how Ludwik had sided with her once again.
Tiana clenched her fists, her frustration mirroring Whitney’s. “I knew it. These sneaky types are the worst.”
Whitney ran a hand through her hair, her eyes narrowed with frustration. “He doesn’t see it. He thinks I’m just being petty and jealous. He’s falling for it, Tiana. Again.”
“Classic,” Tiana said bitterly. “Some guys just can’t see a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
Whitney’s gaze hardened, her resolve hardening like stone. “But I see her tricks now. I’m done being played. She’s been acting like the good Samaritan, and I’ve been walking right into her trap. But no more. It’s all a game to her, and now I’m going to play my own.”
Tiana’s eyes flashed with concern, but she knew there was no stopping Whitney once she’d set her mind on something. “Just be careful. She’s not stupid. If you push her too hard, she’ll retaliate, and you’ll be the one in trouble.”
Whitney nodded, her jaw tight. “I know. But I can’t let her win again.”
With that, the two women made their plans, fully aware that the battle between them and Elaine was far from over. Each of them was calculating, playing their cards carefully, and only time would tell who would come out on top.
