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Chapter_208
The PR manager’s eyes briefly flickered toward Elaine before turning to point a sharp, accusing finger at Whitney. His voice carried an edge of frustration as he spoke, “Since the video of Ms. Valentine and the Lutz Group CEO surfaced, Skyfaith’s reputation has been thrust into the spotlight. Mr. Lippert, your reputation is paramount, especially after the company’s high-profile debut. Your wife’s affair will undoubtedly impact Skyfaith’s stock prices, and we cannot afford such damage.”
Ludwik’s gaze shifted from the PR manager to Whitney. His expression was unreadable, but something in his eyes darkened with dawning realization.
The PR manager pressed on, his words cutting through the air. “And with Elaine attending the summit as your partner, the public’s been buzzing about her involvement. The rumors surrounding you, Elaine, and Ms. Valentine are everywhere, tarnishing Elaine’s reputation too.”
Ludwik’s eyes turned to Elaine, a bitter self-mocking glint flashing in his gaze. The realization hit him hard, like a punch to the stomach. How foolish he had been. He had abandoned the woman who truly cared for him, all for the hope of forgiving Whitney. And now, he knew the truth.
Whitney and Bryce had already been intimate. The guilt and hope he had clung to earlier that morning felt pathetic now. His heart felt empty, scraped clean, leaving no trace of tenderness. What was left to love in someone like her?
With a cold sigh, he pulled Elaine closer, gripping her hand firmly. “Elaine’s reputation will not suffer because of this,” he said, his voice cold and decisive. “Go ahead with the strategy. Do whatever it takes.”
The PR manager nodded, continuing with the plan. “The best move right now is for you and Ms. Valentine to sign the divorce papers as quickly as possible. We can backdate the divorce to before the 28th. Once the public knows you’re divorced, the scandal will no longer involve you, and Whitney’s mistakes won’t tarnish your name. Meanwhile, we’ll announce your engagement to Elaine, giving Skyfaith a fresh headline to shift the public’s attention.”
Whitney stood in stunned silence, her fists clenched as the weight of the situation sank in. A sense of dread settled in her chest. She glared at Elaine, suspicion creeping into her mind. Who had leaked the video?
Elaine, sensing Whitney’s gaze, returned it with a cold, victorious sneer. Her voice was smooth, almost too sweet, as she spoke, “Ludwik, please don’t worry about me. My reputation can weather a little scandal. But Skyfaith… your company, your empire—it means everything to you. I don’t want to see it suffer because of this.”
Ludwik waved his hand dismissively. “Lawyer, bring the divorce papers. What are we waiting for?”
Elaine, feigning surprise, allowed a sly smile to creep onto her lips as the papers arrived. This was exactly what she had planned—a swift, humiliating divorce that would force Ludwik to end his marriage to Whitney.
The lawyer presented two sets of divorce papers. Without sparing Whitney a second glance, Ludwik tossed them at her, his face twisted in disgust. “Sign it,” he commanded coldly. “Take your things and leave. Don’t soil my floors with your presence. You’re nothing but trash, and I won’t waste another moment on you.”
The words hit Whitney like a physical blow, deeper than any punch could. The cruelty in his dismissal left her breathless, her heart sinking under the weight of the pain and disbelief.
With trembling hands, Whitney forced a slow, bitter laugh as tears streamed down her face. She picked up the pen, her voice barely above a whisper as she muttered to herself, “I stayed to look after you, thinking you needed help. But clearly, you don’t care. I’m relieved, actually. Let’s part ways, once and for all.”
Ludwik froze at her words, the weight of her bitter farewell landing like a blow to his chest. Parting ways… the finality of it gnawed at him, blurring his vision. He stood motionless for a moment, before Whitney set the pen down, clutching her chest with a quiet sob.
“Just my cousin,” she whispered, almost pleading. “You promised to let her go.”
Ludwik’s laugh was sharp and mocking, his voice dripping with scorn. “Consider it a condition of our divorce,” he sneered. “Felix, throw her out. The thought of having touched her makes me sick.”
Whitney’s hands balled into fists, anger and frustration bubbling beneath the surface, but she said nothing as she watched him storm upstairs.
Elaine followed closely behind, a mask of satisfaction painted on her face. As she reached Ludwik, she gently touched his arm, her voice laced with fake concern. “Ludwik, your hands are shaking again…” she murmured, soft and sweet. “Let me give you a treatment. You need to rest properly.”
Ludwik’s weary gaze met hers, a small, self-deprecating smile curling at his lips. “After everything, you’re the only one who really cares about me.”
Elaine’s eyes gleamed with quiet triumph, her smile soft and knowing. She let him lean on her, watching as the last of his doubts faded. She had him exactly where she wanted him.
With the signed divorce papers, Whitney’s chances were gone. The finality of it hit her like a sharp ache, and she turned her back on the life she had once shared with Ludwik.
Later, as Ludwik settled into his bed, Elaine moved behind him, her eyes cold and calculating. She retrieved a needle from her acupuncture kit, the sedative working quickly as Ludwik succumbed to sleep. She made sure the doors and windows were securely locked before pulling out her phone to record a video.
A sly smile spread across her face as she whispered, “Ludwik, your kisses hurt so much…”
Upstairs, the sounds of intimacy filled the house, and downstairs, Whitney froze. The unmistakable noises from above shattered her resolve. Her heart sank, each throb of the migraine in her head growing stronger, making it harder to breathe.
Clutching her chest, she felt the fragments of her heart crumble away. Ludwik had made it clear—he was done with her. There was no turning back. Her last chance had been ripped away, and all that remained was the cold, unbridgeable distance between them.
With a trembling smile, Whitney forced herself to stand, calling Tiana for a ride. As she made her way out of the mansion, she took one final look around. It was truly over. The sanctuary of love, once filled with shared memories, now felt like a cold, empty shell.
She had been delusional to think she could win him back, that staying would somehow change things. But she had forgotten one simple truth—once a mirror is shattered, it can never be whole again. And love? Love couldn’t survive the betrayal, manipulation, and lies that had corrupted it.
With a strained voice, Whitney handed Felix a packet of pills. “These are for his panic attacks. Make sure he takes them regularly, and keep them away from Elaine. If anything happens to him, I trust you’ll contact me discreetly.”
Felix took the packet, a weary sigh escaping him. “Ms. Valentine, it’s clear you still care for him, even if he doesn’t know it.”
Whitney choked back the tears threatening to spill. She nodded silently, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on her. “I know…” she whispered.
As her ride pulled up, she glanced back at the mansion one last time. With a broken heart, she left—leaving not just the house, but the life she had once dreamed of with Ludwik behind.
