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Chapter_184
Ludwik turned toward Orion, his posture straight and his expression a study in calm authority. His eyes, once burdened by uncertainty and doubt, now shone with the confidence of a man who had weathered the storm and emerged stronger for it. The transformation was striking, and it sent a ripple of unease through the room.
“Betray the Lippert family?” Ludwik’s voice rang out with quiet strength, each word deliberate. “No, Orion, I simply outgrew them.” The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning, and a stunned silence spread through the gathering.
Orion’s face flushed with anger, his fists clenching at his sides. This was not the Ludwik he had once mocked, the one he had discarded as weak and easily controlled. No, the man before him was something else entirely—someone who had taken the power of Skyfaith Electronic Tech and turned it into a formidable force. The tables had completely turned, and Orion wasn’t prepared for it.
Kaden, standing off to the side, watched with a mix of disbelief and dawning respect. His entire world had been built around the idea that Ludwik was nothing without the Lippert name. But the evidence before him, the man standing confidently before Orion, was challenging everything he had once believed. Ludwik had made something of himself—and it was clear that the world was watching.
“Outgrew them?” Orion sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. “Is that what you’re calling it? You had everything handed to you, Ludwik. Everything. And now you’re abandoning it all for a tech company? Don’t kid yourself. You’ve always been a schemer. It was only a matter of time before you revealed your true intentions.”
Ludwik’s gaze remained unflinching, but there was a sharpness to his eyes now, as though the years of betrayal had honed him into something far more dangerous than the man Orion had once known. “If you had been paying attention, you would have known that I’ve been building Skyfaith for years. While you and your family fought over scraps, I was laying the foundation for something bigger.” The words hit their mark, and the murmurs around the room grew louder.
Whitney, standing near the back, couldn’t tear her gaze from Ludwik. Her heart was racing as she processed what she was hearing. This was the man she had once known, the one who had been humiliated, struggling to survive in the shadow of his family’s legacy. But now, he stood before them—a powerful figure, commanding respect. The pride she felt for him was almost overwhelming, but there was also confusion. The man who stood before her now was unrecognizable, and a part of her wondered if he even needed her anymore.
Elaine, ever the opportunist, stood beside him, her smile self-satisfied as she rested her hand possessively on his arm. “You’ve made quite an entrance, haven’t you, darling?” she purred, her voice smooth and calculated, contrasting sharply with the tension in the room.
Ludwik barely acknowledged her, his attention still fixed on Orion. “Is there something you wanted, brother?” His words were laced with disdain, a tone that reflected years of rivalry and bitter betrayal.
Orion’s fists tightened further, his frustration mounting. But he took a deep breath, trying to regain control. “This isn’t over, Ludwik,” he growled, his voice low with barely contained fury. “I will take back what’s mine, and I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Ludwik’s lips curled into a cold, knowing smile. His eyes gleamed with a challenge that none could ignore. “Go ahead, Orion. But know this: the game has changed. And this time, I’m not playing by your rules.”
The tension in the room crackled like static, as though everyone present could feel the stakes rising higher with every passing moment. What had started as a family rivalry now seemed to be about something far more significant—power, control, and who would emerge victorious in this high-stakes battle.
Whitney couldn’t look away from Ludwik. She had never seen him like this—so assured, so commanding. The transformation was breathtaking, but also unsettling. Her emotions were a tangled mess—pride, confusion, and an undeniable sense of loss. The man before her was no longer the same one she had known, the one who had been vulnerable, struggling. But now, it seemed that Ludwik had become someone else entirely—someone who may no longer need her.
Elaine, still basking in her own sense of triumph, smirked as she watched the exchange. She had won this round, but there was something darker in her eyes. As she turned her attention back to Ludwik, she could feel the shift in the air—Whitney was no longer a simple rival. She was a threat.
Before Whitney could process any further, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning, she was surprised to see Valerie standing there, her expression unreadable.
“Whitney,” Valerie said quietly, her voice a soft but firm warning. “You need to stop. This… this is beyond anything you’ve imagined. You can’t keep chasing after him. He’s not the man you once knew.”
Whitney’s heart clenched painfully at Valerie’s words. The truth behind them stung, but deep down, she knew her friend was right. How could she continue fighting for something that was slipping away, something that no longer existed? How could she walk away from the man she had once loved, even though the man standing before her now was a stranger?
“I don’t know if I can,” Whitney whispered, her voice breaking under the weight of her emotions.
Valerie’s hand rested gently on her shoulder, offering a silent comfort. “You don’t have to. Just remember who you are, and don’t lose yourself in this.”
Whitney nodded, but the storm inside her heart didn’t subside. As the evening continued to unfold, it was clear that the summit was no longer just about business—it was about something much more personal. Loyalty, ambition, and love were at odds, and Whitney couldn’t help but wonder who would come out victorious in the end. Would it be the man she once knew, or the cold, powerful figure who stood before her now?
