Love Beyond the Mask novel Chapter 336

“...Not really, it's kind of awkward.”

Jason's lips tightened slightly, a hint of evasion in his gaze as he summoned his aide and swiftly exited the room.

Ludwik watched the older man's towering figure disappear, his eyes flickering with emotion.

"Dad, I think Grandpa Joe is way better than my real grandpa. My real grandpa, he's never even looked at me," Daniel complained as he fiddled with the toy Grandpa Joe had sent him.

Ludwik settled back onto the couch, his long legs crossed, and lit a cigarette. Through the haze of smoke, his gaze was as cold as ice. "You don't have a grandpa in Banyan City. He only had Orion as a son."

"Doesn't that make you his son too?" Danny asked innocently.

Ludwik didn't have an answer for that.

His phone rang several times, calls from Elaine, which he ignored with a furrowed brow.

Soon after, Felix's phone rang. He approached, "Mr. Lippert, it's Elaine... The Bartels Group lost the court case today, they're under investigation, and their pharmaceutical plant in Banyan City is getting blasted by netizens. It seems Elaine is..."

"If she's expecting me to help the Bartels family out of this mess, to cover up for the media, tell her not to bother calling for the next few days."

Felix, sensing Mr. Lippert's stance towards the Bartels family, nodded and went out to return the call.

Ludwik stood up, his mood turning colder. He picked up his son, aiming to avoid Elaine's potential confrontation by suggesting, "Danny, how about Dad takes you out for dinner? We could stay at the River-View Villa tonight."

"I want to see Mommy!" Daniel's lips curved into a small smile, appreciating his dad's rare agreeable attitude. "I watched today's court case. Mommy was amazing, taking down the bad guys. I want to celebrate with Grandpa George!"

"..."

The thought of Whitney and Keegan happily getting into Bryce's car outside the courthouse, looking like a happy family, darkened Ludwik's expression instantly. "No way!"

-

Upon her return from Banyan City Jail, where she had completed the paperwork for her uncle's bail, Whitney received a call from Yael. The young girl, along with Torin, had hurried back from abroad and was already waiting at the apartment.

Seeing her father and daughter reunited, tears and emotions ran high. "Dad, I missed you so much! You've lost so much weight. These three years in jail have been so tough on you. Thank goodness cousin Whitney managed to get you out," Yael cried.

"Sweetheart, thanks to Whitney's efforts, our family can be together again."

"It was a close call today. Whitney came up with a brilliant strategy at the last minute to corner that sneaky Jaxon," Tiana said indignantly, scrolling through the news. "Look at this, the court case and the news have caused quite a stir. The police arrested Zane on the spot. Even people from Emperor City can't escape the law when they break it. The Bartels family's pharmaceutical plant in Banyan City was a major source of their income. Now their stocks have plummeted, and the plant is blocked by netizens. Whitney, your revenge plan against the Bartels family has started off with a bang!"

Keegan, looking bewildered, turned to Whitney. "What revenge plan, Whitney?"

Seeing his confusion, Yael sighed deeply. "Dad, you targeted the wrong enemy for your revenge. It wasn't Ludwik. Our family's real enemy has always been the Bartels family. They were responsible for Grandpa and Aunt's deaths."

Keegan was visibly shocked.