Love Beyond the Mask novel Chapter 668

After dropping Sammy off, Whitney headed straight to the headquarters of the Sheldon Group.

As she made her way through the halls, the buzz about Ludwik's arrest by the secretary's pool was impossible to miss.

The Lippert family had been monopolizing the headlines in Emperor City lately, much to everyone's curiosity.

With a heavy heart, Whitney entered Hudson's office.

Cody was busy sorting through some documents. He briefed her on the Sheldon Group's operations before switching topics, "Miss, I heard the Lippert family is planning to sell off their insurance, hotels, and semi-smart subsidiaries."

Whitney took off her glasses, acknowledging Cody’s knack for gathering industry insights swiftly.

"It seems like the Lipperts are strapped for cash. Selling off is probably their best move right now."

As Whitney signed off on some documents, curiosity got the better of her, "Who made the decision to sell?"

"Rumor has it, since Ludwik got picked up by the cops, it’s been Jason, battling a stroke, trying to hold the fort. Despite being the top family in Harmonia Country, talents like Ludwik are rare in the Lippert clan. None of Riley’s side can really stand on their own."

Cody, suddenly remembering something, handed over an invitation, "Oh, there's a huge business auction happening in a few days in Emperor City. They're auctioning off the Lippert Resort."

"The Lippert Resort?" Whitney echoed, recalling Tiana mentioning something about this.

Still, the realization hit her hard. She had always seen the Lippert Resort as a more dazzling and robust institution than even the royal palace.

"The Lippert family has truly fallen," Whitney murmured softly.

"There was no other way," Cody sighed, "They desperately need the cash. The Everwood Villa Estate is the crown jewel of Brew Hill, its luxury and grandeur outshining all other estates below the hill. Legend has it that Jason chose that location because of the auspicious 'Purple Qi coming from the east' believed to bless the hilltop. Business folks always look for lucky signs, everyone wanted that estate.

"But I heard the Patrick family has been quietly advising other elites to keep the bidding low, to not exceed the asking price."

Whitney couldn't hide her disdain, "The Patrick family really knows no shame."

Ever since they started targeting the Lipperts, the Patricks never played fair.

Even Whitney knew, Wade and Thea had probably planted Jarvis as a spy within the Lipperts years ago. Such audacity.

"It's out of desperation. But now, except for the Nelson family, it seems everyone else is looking to the Patricks for cues."

Cody shrugged helplessly, "With the invite already here, do you plan to attend? I hear every tycoon in Emperor City will be there."

Whitney had no interest in pandering to the Patricks.

"Why would I go? I can't afford it." She shook her head. Something like the Everwood Villa Estate would start bidding in the billions.

Pushing aside her mixed feelings, she concluded, the Lippert family's fate was none of her business anymore.

"Back to work."

Cody chuckled, spreading out more documents for her, "Miss, you sitting there, you look just like a CEO! This is the attitude, focus on making the Sheldon Group thrive. Let karma handle the scum, that's divine justice."

Whitney paused, surprised. Although Ludwik was indeed a devil, she didn't expect her colleagues to view him as such a villain.

Perhaps, it was his actions towards her that were unforgivable.

She quickly changed the subject, "Did you also gossip about your boss's personal life when you were my dad's assistant?"

"Ah, my bad, I'll leave now," Cody said, quickly packing up the invitation and exiting with a flushed face.

---

Nighttime in the detention center.

Ludwik found himself in a cell shared with a dozen others.

"Dinner time!"

The guard threw in the food and water dismissively. Ludwik glanced at the stale soup with a deep frown and reluctantly picked up the water to drink.

But less than half an hour later, he felt a sudden weakness coursing through his body.

Cold sweat and palpitations overwhelmed him. Ludwik knew something was wrong and struggled to stand.

The other inmates exchanged glances and started to surround him, their smiles sinister.

"What’s this about?"

Ludwik, ever perceptive, sensed the hostility.

"Who sent you?"

But it was too late. His body refused to cooperate, drained of all strength.

The lead inmate, a bulky man, mocked, "How does it feel, Ludwik? You used to look down on us common folks, and now here you are, sharing a cell. It’s fate, isn’t it? Time for us to get 'acquainted.'"

Without another word, he picked up a chair and smashed it over Ludwik's head.

Ludwik hit the floor hard, acutely aware of the danger but cursed with a body that wouldn't respond.

What had they put in his water?

Ludwik gritted his teeth and struggled to his feet, only to be immediately slammed into by a horde of about twenty men, relentlessly punching and kicking him.

He grabbed a chair, clumsily swinging it in defense.

Normally, he could handle these guys without breaking a sweat.

But today, obviously outnumbered and his body weakened by drugs, he couldn't fend off the relentless beating.

Soon, his forehead, cheeks, and body were stained with blood, trickling down his ruggedly handsome features. The pain contorted his face into a grimace, and just as he was about to pass out, he saw a towering figure pull out a knife, violently stabbing towards his knee and slicing upwards.

"Get lost." Ludwik mustered all his strength to resist, but his deep voice quickly turned into a heart-wrenching groan.

The blade reached his abdomen, plunging in mercilessly!

"Ah—" Ludwik looked down in disbelief as blood gushed from the wound, a sharp agony spreading through him.

He clenched his fists tightly, a muffled grunt escaping his throat.

"Heh, Ludwik, a strapping lad like you must've had your fun, huh? Heard you've charmed your way through the sisters of the Sheldon Group. Makes us jealous. How about becoming a eunuch from now on?" The tall man sneered, seeing Ludwik's trousers soaked with blood.

"Who sent you!" Ludwik roared, his face pale, the intense pain somehow clearing his foggy consciousness a bit.

He pressed against the knife, slicing open his flesh, and kicked the tall man away, his eyes bloodshot.

Who could be so ruthless? To send men after his life?

Was it Jarvis? The Patrick family? Who could it be?!

His vision blurred with a crimson haze, he pressed hard against his wound, mustering the last bit of his strength to stagger towards the jail's main door, "Someone help! Police!"