Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 1137

The car pulled up at the company's entrance, and Jason stepped out with a determined stride. His authoritative gaze swept over the chaos unfolding in the lobby, and his heart sank. As he walked in, he was immediately met by Shane.

"Shane?" Jason asked, surprised.

Shane had been waiting for him, "Mr. Lippert, Ludwik asked me to meet you here."

"You should brace yourself... let's talk inside."

Jason's thoughts were immediately with his son. He asked urgently, "Has Ludwik been taken to the police station? What happened? He was perfectly fine yesterday!"

His voice was a mix of anger and worry. Shane pressed his lips together, glancing at the people in uniform bustling around the Lippert Group's lobby, avoiding the mention of Ludwik.

Jason didn't have time to wait for an answer. As soon as he entered the company, officials stopped him, flashing their badges. "We're from the Bureau of Corporate Crime Investigation. Are you Mr. Jason Lippert, the chairman of the Lippert Group?"

Jason's brow furrowed, his eyes sharp and assessing the situation. Law enforcement was sealing off the company!

His expression was steely as he replied, "Yes. I am the chairman of the Lippert Group. We've been a cornerstone of Capital City for a century, operating legally and paying taxes without any violations. What is the meaning of this? What is there to investigate in a law-abiding company? And who sent you?"

"It was me!" A voice called out from behind him.

Jason turned, his expression shifting as he recognized Ronan Miller from the Treasury Department. He knew of him, but they weren't well acquainted.

Shane noticed Ronan too, but more importantly, he saw Bryce walking in with a smug demeanor. Shane's face darkened as he pieced everything together.

Meanwhile, Jason addressed Ronan Miller with a steady voice, "Ronan Miller, good day. Why have you suddenly sent an investigative team to the Lippert Group? Has the Lippert Group committed any crimes recently?"

"Mr. Jason Lippert, I'm just following orders," Ronan said with a raised eyebrow, gesturing upwards with a knowing smile. "Your son angered the President, who ordered us to arrest him. Surely, you know that by now. This, of course, means a full investigation into Ludwik's company. Someone as morally questionable as him must have a company with issues."

"That's nonsense!" Jason rarely lost his temper, but this time he was furious. "Ludwik hasn't committed any crimes, and the company operates with integrity. What grounds do you have to investigate us? Sealing off the company disrupts our operations!"

"Mr. Jason Lippert, the President has ordered this investigation. Do you think you can continue business as usual?" Ronan warned. "I suggest you check the Lippert Group's stock price. It's already plummeting. Look at your shareholders, they're on edge. A company can't withstand this kind of scrutiny. Shareholders, you might want to consider selling your shares while you can. There are buyers out there!"

Bryce cast a meaningful glance at the Lippert Group shareholders, arching an eyebrow.

Jason quickly checked the company's stock price, and sure enough, it was in turmoil. The news of the investigation had spread like wildfire.

He looked up sharply, his gaze like a dagger towards the instigating young man. Shane quietly intervened, "That's Bryce. He's orchestrated this entire situation against Ludwik. But now is not the time to lose your cool. Ludwik warned you that once Bryce gained power, he'd make a move against the Lippert Group. Our current troubles are unavoidable, but it's all part of Ludwik's plan. No matter what happens now, you need to stay calm and not confront them head-on."

"But they're trampling all over us! How can I not fight back? Even if we're innocent, a presidential investigation can easily lead to false charges. The stock is plummeting, and the shareholders will soon want to sell. I can't allow that."

"It’s indeed impossible," Shane said, stepping closer to Jason. "Phineas woke up."

Jason's head snapped up in surprise.

Shane continued, "Mr. Doonan is on his way to the hospital to check on his uncle. This is one of Ludwik’s aces in the hole."

Jason finally steadied his racing heart, suddenly remembering, "The news also mentioned he kidnapped another wealthy woman. Who on earth is it?"

"Whitney’s mother. We’re doing everything we can to find her, hopefully alive…"

As soon as Shane finished speaking, his phone buzzed. Seeing the number, he answered promptly, "Whitney..."

"Mr. Nelson! The search dogs found my father… and my mother! They’re both in grave danger. My mom doesn’t have a pulse. Can you get to Nelson Hospital right away? We need to rush her in for emergency treatment, but Bryce absolutely cannot find out!"

Shane felt a surge of adrenaline. "Of course! Get them there with the bodyguards secretly."

Finally, some good news!