Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 781

"I... I..."

Before Whitney could finish her sentence, Bryce, with a chilling demeanor, cut in, "I just called Ronan to apologize personally. He suggested I keep my distance from now on."

Whitney's eyes flickered slightly.

Bryce's refined features contorted with an ugly rage, revealing a loss of control. "Ronan said you're pushing your luck, bullying him into slapping Ms. Miller at his daughter's party, and only then did you let it go. He said he's scared to cross you now!"

Whitney frowned, not believing she was in the wrong.

"Bryce, Ronan's narrow-minded, and I'm sorry if my actions caused you trouble. But Elodie was the one constantly provoking me, I couldn't just take it lying down..."

"Stop making excuses. Do you know what else Ronan said?"

A hint of malice flashed through Bryce's eyes as he abruptly interrupted her. "He said tonight, you and Ludwik were sneaking around in the bathroom, stirring Elodie's rage. Is that true?! Who are you texting on your phone right now?"

With a low roar, Bryce's anger burst forth uncontrollably.

Whitney's face turned pale, her gaze inadvertently falling on the mobile phone on the washbasin.

Afraid Bryce would see Ludwik's flirty texts, her face displayed an unnatural expression.

Perhaps to others, she could deny and lie, but facing Bryce, her lawful husband, she couldn't be so deceitful.

Indeed, she had helped Ludwik tonight...

Seeing her silence, the tension Bryce had been holding back finally snapped.

Unable to maintain his composure, he exploded, "Whitney! You shameless woman, how could you do this to me?

I've given you chances over and over, not to mention I'm aware of your several meetings with Ludwik. I kept silent, just tolerating you.

And this is how you repay me?

Any slight touch from me, and you act as if it's the end of the world, but with Ludwik, you're so willing, even going as far as to have a fling with him at Elodie's party. How could you be so cheap?"

Bryce tried to hold back.

But Ronan's fury and Whitney's betrayal tonight made it impossible for him to pretend any longer.

The thought of them sneaking around at the party, making a fool of him, ignited a raging storm within him, wishing he could tear the woman before him to pieces.

Whitney stared at Bryce, dumbfounded.

His gaze was cold and disgusted, as if he wanted to devour her. His usually gentle features now distorted, bearing no resemblance to his usual cultured and gentle demeanor. It was as if he had become a different person.

So unfamiliar.

To hear such contemptuous and venomous words from his mouth was shocking.

Although understandable, his anger, felt by any man, would be unbearable.

Clutching her fists, Whitney apologized with a bitter taste, "Bryce, I'm sorry... I could never truly accept you. I don't want to lie to you or to myself. No matter how hard I try, I just can't live with you..."

Slap!

A crisp, fierce slap landed on Whitney's cheek.

The man's force was sinister and heavy, knocking her to the ground and against the edge of the bed.

Whitney's face quickly swelled.

Before she could recover from the shock, Bryce, like a madman, lunged at her, tearing at her clothes forcefully.

"After sneaking around with Ludwik, you tell me you can't live with me?"

Never had she imagined a day when she and Bryce would fight like this.

To everyone, Bryce had always been seen as a gentle and never-angry man.

Even in the year she and Ludwik got married, they had never fought, let alone Ludwik hitting her.

But now, her face, arms, and legs were all sore, covered in bruises.

Breathing coldly, a glint of resolve flashed in Whitney's eyes. This Bryce, was that the real him?

If his true nature was so dark, volatile, and unpredictable, while he always pretended to be gentle and amiable, then such a man was truly terrifying.

At that moment, Whitney was almost certain. If Bryce was capable of such cruelty, could he have done something to Tiana for investigating him, leading to her disappearance?

And what about Audrey's sudden death...

Gripping the steering wheel tightly, Bryce's ferocious image flashed through her mind, and she knew she could no longer coexist with this man.

After Whitney stormed out, Bryce didn't chase after her. Instead, he returned home, his frustration boiling over into a destructive tantrum that left his living room looking like the aftermath of a wild party gone wrong.

When the dust settled, he surveyed the chaos he'd wrought. A grimace twisted his handsome features—a tangible sign of his deep regret. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath, "I lost it."

He knew now wasn't the time to show his worst side to Whitney, not if he wanted to avoid pushing her away for good.

Picking up his smartphone, he began obsessively sending texts to Whitney: "Whitney, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to lash out at you. It's just... the thought of you and Ludwik together drove me over the edge. No guy could stand that. I realize I lost control and went too far. Please come back. Let's not fight. I'm scared of losing you. I love you."

After sending the messages, his eyes narrowed, a determined glint within as he made a call to Florence: "Whitney might not play along anymore. Get the paperwork ready for a deep partnership between Sheldon Group and Lutz Group. I'm heading to the hospital tonight to get Hudson's signature!"

Florence, ever eager to regain control over Sheldon Group, didn't mind Bryce temporarily claiming it for his own.

Her response was a cool, calculated chuckle. "Good."