Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 409

Mr. Lippert had someone with him named Parker, who managed to track down the lead to an abandoned junkyard. How they found any clue in that mess was beyond me.

I had a word with Drew earlier. After he kidnapped the kid and took him back to Emperor City, he ditched the car in a junkyard but never got around to scrapping it!

Florence's eyes flashed dangerously, "The kid needs to be hidden well. This mess, Drew's sloppy work. How many junkyards are there in Emperor City?"

"Probably dozens," Myra replied.

Florence relaxed slightly, "Well, that gives us some breathing room. Let's find a chance for Drew to quietly dismantle the car. Turn it into scrap metal, and they've got nothing on us."

Myra frowned, nodding in agreement, though the thought of searching through tens of thousands of scrapped cars was daunting...

-

Ludwik checked his phone and saw a text from the girl, "Ludwik, I'm home. How's everything in Banyan City? Are you working hard?" It came with a cute emoji.

Without replying, he stood in the middle of the junkyard. Parker, taking off his gloves, approached, "I used some connections to check Emperor City's road surveillance. Found that unregistered black car. It got plates in Emperor City and was driven close to here. But, with two junkyards around, each with over a hundred thousand scrapped cars, it's going to take some time to search through."

Ludwik frowned, meaning Sammy's trail ends here.

"Keep looking. If we find the car, we find Sammy's fingerprints, and who put the plates on it," he turned to leave.

Parker caught up, glancing at his expression, "So, how does it feel, returning to the Lippert fold, Emperor City's golden boy?"

"Like walking into a lion's den," Ludwik summed up succinctly.

Parker snorted, "Tough being the heir to such a family, huh? You're not even in the company yet and it's already a battlefield. That Jarvis guy seems like a piece of work."

"Tomorrow then," Ludwik's gaze was ice.

"..." All Parker could do was give a thumbs up.

Back at the hotel, Ludwik loosened his tie and first called Dr. Ford to check on his mother's condition. Then, he finally replied to the girl's message, "I'm in Emperor City."

The girl's reply came instantly, full of surprise, "Why are you in Emperor City? On a business trip? My home's in Emperor City too, when can we meet?"

Ludwik paused, then Dr. Ford's report came in: Mr. Lippert, given your mother's condition with the nosebleeds, she'll need a transfusion within a fortnight. Make sure that girl starts taking better care of herself, especially with her heart condition and emotional stress.

He frowned, typing, "We can meet anytime. How about I send a nutritionist your way?"

"Sure. But wait for me these next few days. I'm turning down a marriage proposal. I like my relationships clean and clear. Let's have a proper date after that~"

Ludwik grimaced, typing 'Okay,' then rubbing his temples, he opened Danny's Facebook page, lost in thought...

-

Meanwhile, in Banyan City.

"Word on the street is, you're the bastard of Hudson from Emperor City, huh? Born into wealth and with a right to the Sheldon fortune, and yet you choose not to return to the Sheldon family? Honestly, I can't decide if you're foolish or just cowardly."

Whitney glared at her pursuer, "Lying in a hospital bed and you're still keeping tabs on me? Really, thanks for the concern!"

"Don't mention it. I just have some secrets that I can't help but share with you. Care to listen?"

Whitney squinted, keeping her stance neutral, waiting to see what scheme was afoot.

Elaine smirked playfully, "Don't look so guarded. I'm the good guy today. I just wanted to inform you that your biological mother, Parisa, was killed by Hudson's current wife. If I were you and wanted to uncover the truth, I'd go back to the Sheldon family and stir up some trouble."

Whitney's gaze shifted abruptly, reminded of Torin's speculation that morning. She pondered, deciding to bluff, "Where did you get this information? The Tennyson family was swindled by the Bartels, and now you're trying to pin it on someone else?"

"I did not!" Elaine became frantic, seeing Whitney unmoved and quickly retaliated, "After what you've done to us, the Bartels family, why would I blame someone else? What would be the point? Your mom was indeed killed by Mrs. Sheldon, my mother told me herself. When the Tennyson family's medical empire went bankrupt, my mother knew best. She said Mrs. Sheldon had a hand in it. And your mom's death by poisoning? It wasn't the Bartels who drugged her; it was Mrs. Sheldon, I swear! Don't believe me? Listen to this recording."

Elaine played back Delphine's words.

Whitney's head pounded. Delphine spoke with a gossip's tone, which sounded genuine. The implication was that the Bartels family took advantage of something initiated by Mrs. Sheldon.

When mom and Hudson broke up, Mrs. Sheldon took her place. The timing and motive fit. Torin mentioned that back then, mom received a call from Emperor City that enraged her to the point of a heart attack. Who else could have incited such fury in her mother?

Whitney clenched her fists, her eyes suddenly piercing as she shot a look at Elaine, then abruptly stood up and grabbed Elaine by the neck. Before Elaine could react, Whitney had her pinned by the bed, sneering, "I hardly think you're telling me all this out of the goodness of your heart. What's your real angle here?"

Elaine's eyes shifted slightly.