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Novel Catalog
Chapter 207
Ludwik didn’t press further, nor did the conversation continue. He simply sat in silence, watching as Whitney slowly finished two bowls of oatmeal.
Then the phone rang.
“I need to sign some paperwork,” Ludwik said, standing to go upstairs.
“Oh,” Whitney responded, surprised by his unexpected willingness to speak. Could things between them be thawing? Her heart raced with cautious hope, but fear clung to her like a shadow.
After clearing the dishes, she returned to her room to grab her phone—and froze. Several missed calls blinked on her screen. Bryce. Valerie Bartels. Nyx from Skye Gem Ltd. Tiana, who had called more than a dozen times.
Just as she was about to return the call, her phone rang again.
She answered with an unusual hint of cheer. “Tiana? What’s going on? Why so many calls?”
Tiana’s voice was tight with urgency. “Whitney, have you seen the news? You’re in serious trouble.”
Whitney’s stomach dropped. “What news?”
She tapped into the day’s trending topics—and her breath caught.
Mr. Lippert’s Wife Caught in Scandalous Affair – Explosive Hotel Video Leaked
She clicked on the headline with trembling fingers, and as the video played, the blood drained from her face. The world spun.
“Whitney,” Tiana’s voice echoed in her ear, frantic, “why were you in a hotel with Bryce? The timestamp’s from December 28—weren’t you in South City then? Could someone have set you up?”
Whitney couldn’t respond.
“The story’s everywhere. I tried to stop it, but I couldn’t. I believe you—but Ludwik? I’m not sure he will.”
A sound from upstairs startled her.
Whitney’s heart lurched. She bolted from the room.
At the top of the stairs, Ludwik emerged, fury written in every line of his face. His eyes were fixed on his phone.
Outside the villa, Elaine glanced at the viral headline on her own device and smiled grimly. She dialed quickly. “Jaxon, call Skyfaith’s PR manager and tell them to get to Everwood Villa Estate—now.”
She slipped inside the house just as Whitney reached the bottom of the stairs.
“Ludwik, I—” Whitney’s voice cracked.
Elaine rushed to his side. “Ludwik, don’t look at the news right now. You’re still not fully recovered. Let’s go for a walk instead.”
But Ludwik didn’t even blink.
His phone was still playing the video—Bryce’s voice unmistakable, his breathing ragged. Whitney’s heart plummeted.
“Ludwik, please, it’s not what it looks like. Let me explain—”
“December 28,” Ludwik growled. “You said you were in South City with Braxton. Yet here you are, in a hotel room with Bryce? That’s your idea of saving someone?”
He stepped down slowly, each word sharp as glass. He stopped inches from her and shoved the phone in her face. “Quite the show—biting each other’s lips off like starved lovers. I really thought you wouldn’t cross the line. Was I just a fool to you, Whitney? Was humiliating me fun?”
Whitney shook her head desperately. “That night, Bryce was drugged! He called me in a panic. I went to help him. He lost control—that’s why he was in the tub with me. There were just a few… accidental kisses before I subdued him with acupuncture. Nothing happened!”
“Do you think I’m blind?” Ludwik’s laugh was hollow. “The video’s only eight seconds, but it says everything. You were wrapped around him like you never wanted to let go. How long has this been going on—weeks? Months? While I played the fool?”
“I haven’t! I don’t love him. I love you—I went to South City for you,” she cried.
Elaine stepped forward, face twisted with false sympathy. “Whitney, stop lying. Bryce is Braxton’s favorite student. You went for him, not Ludwik. You’ve been working with Bryce all along!”
Whitney’s voice snapped. “Elaine, shut up!”
But Ludwik’s expression had already hardened. He let out a bitter, joyless laugh.
Elaine seized the moment. “Ludwik, you need to hear the truth. Whitney’s been playing you from the start. When Keegan came after you, she was already working with Orion. Bryce was just the next man in line! They’ve been intimate for a long time. She even cheated while she was pregnant. And now she’s pretending to care for you? Please. She’s after your stake in Skyfaith Electronic Tech!”
The blow landed. Ludwik staggered, the betrayal too raw.
He stared at Whitney, disgust written across his face.
Elaine smiled inwardly. Her plan was working.
Ludwik’s hand shot out, gripping Whitney’s throat.
Her eyes widened in horror as she clutched at his cold, trembling fingers. “Elaine’s setting me up! I swear I went to save Braxton—for you! Bryce had nothing to do with it!”
“Shut up, you lying tramp.” Ludwik sneered. “Ten minutes ago, I asked what you were doing that night. You said you were at Braxton’s side the whole time. But you forgot about that little hotel scene, didn’t you?”
He was trembling now—rage, heartbreak, humiliation all boiling over.
“You came to see me the next morning, soaked like a drowned rat. Disgusting. Now I know why.”
His hand lashed out and struck her cheek. The crack echoed in the room.
Whitney stumbled back, the slap ringing in her ears. Her cheek burned, and her vision blurred.
Ludwik’s breath heaved. His eyes dropped to her belly, and something in him snapped.
“That child is mine—and you’ve been defiled by another man!” he shouted, voice shaking. “What does that make me? A joke? A clown? I’ve never been this degraded in my life. I swear to God, I want to end you right here!”
He raised his hand again—
“Mr. Lippert!” a voice bellowed. “What in God’s name are you doing?”
The door flew open. Felix charged in, followed by several PR managers from Skyfaith Electronic Tech.
He threw himself between them and grabbed Ludwik’s arm.
“Mr. Lippert, we have a situation. The scandal has exploded online and Skyfaith is caught in the crossfire. You need to deal with the crisis immediately.”
Ludwik’s chest heaved as his fury clashed with the weight of corporate duty.
Whitney, dazed and shaking, sank to the floor—bruised, broken, and disbelieved.
And Elaine, standing quietly in the background, could barely suppress her bitter smile.
