Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 162

Despite the vanishing of a staggering 400 billion dollars from the coffers of Imperial Gem, which

threatened to paralyze the company and push Ludwik to the brink of bankruptcy, he still managed to

orchestrate a crisis at Skye Gem overnight. He was Mr. Lippert, a man whose power and Influence in

Banyan City were as vast as the

ocean.

Keegan’s eyer were bloodshot with urgency. His dreams of acquiring Imperial Gern had been dashed

because Ludwik smoothed over United Realty’s disputes in a single night. And his family, the

Tennysons, had paid a steep price for their venture into Skye Gem.

No, he could not lose the company. It was the only thing his father had left him. Small as it was, and as

much as Ludwik disdained it, if Skye Gem fell to Ludwik’s machinations, the Tennysons would be left

with nothing

Feeling as if he had been struck by lightning, Keegan rushed to Orion’s mansion at dawn.

“Boss, can we move that 400 billion dollars from our overseas accounts? I need it to save Skye Gem!”

Keegan pleaded

Orion’s usually devilish smile now took on a chilling hue. “Mr. Tennyson, you’ve got it wrong. It’s my 400

billion, not yours. Of course, for your ten years of plotting and hard work, I will throw you a bone–10

billion dollars.”

“What?” Keegan’s face drained of color as he lunged forward, grabbing Orion by the collar. A lightning–

fast realization struck him. “You’ve been using me! You’ve been after Imperial Gem Corporation all

along!”

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Brushing off imaginary dust from his hands, Orion remarked, “Well, isn’t that obvious? Blinded by

hatred, Mr. Tennyson, you forgot there’s no such thing as a free lunch. With the 400 billion in my

possession, our partnership is over.”

Keegan was escorted out by Orion’s bodyguards, his body going cold with regret.

He had been too eager, believing Orion’s claim of disdain for Ludwik and his offer of help.

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What a fool he had been! He should have listened to Whitney. Orion was indeed not to be trusted–he

had been using him for his own goal all along!

Now, how could he possibly stand against Ludwik without Orion’s funds? Even a lawsuit would not be

resolved quickly enough.

Amid his turmoil, Keegan’s phone rang with a call from overseas. The news was shocking.

“Yael kidnapped? By someone with a Harmonia Country accent, surname Lippert?”

Ludwik was merciless, abducting his daughter!

This was a move to destroy Keegan, a vicious tactic.

Keegan’s panic escalated as he realized Ludwik had even tracked down his daughter. Cold sweat

dripped from his brow, and his hatred fueled a breakdown in his rationality.

Just then, another call came through..

Laced with malice, a mysterious woman’s voice said, “Mr. Tennyson, I hear Ludwik has kidnapped your

daughter. Given his ways, I doubt she’ll be lucky. I have a way for you to stand against him and

perhaps event secure Imperial Gem Corporation.”

“Who are you?”

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“That’s not important. What is important is that I can help you turn the tide.”

Desperate, Keegan clutched at any lifeline. “What’s your plan?”

“Ludwik has a mother who lives in Everwood Villa Estate. I’ll give you her number. She’s fond of

Whitney. Use that to your advantage, kidnap her, and you’ll have leverage too, won’t you?”

Chapter 162

The call ended before Keegan could question her, and he received a text with a phone number.

Staring at Ludwik’s mother’s number, Keegan weighed his options. His daughter and Whitney were in

the clutches of a devil.

Soon, a fierce and vengeful light ignited in his eyes.

It was time for one last gambit to leave Ludwik with nothing. If he could recover other assets of Imperial

Gem Corporation, he could rise again in wealth. As for Orion’s 400 billion dollars, he vowed to reclaim

that too.

Ambition and greed fanned the flames of his hatred, and Keegan made up his mind.

After hanging up, Elaine tossed the burner phone aside, a cold smirk on her lips as she turned to her

assistant. “Keegan has left Orion’s mansion, heading for Everwood Villa Estate,” the assistant reported.

“He’s desperate and clutching at straws, Elaine said, her eyes glinting with a colder, broader smile.

She peered at the United Realty Corporation headlines on her computer screen and asked, “Has

Ludwik gone to the police station yet?”

The scandal had erupted the previous night: [Imperial Gem Corporation’s assets fully transferred,

rumors of Mr. Lippert’s wife Whitney embezzling funds. Beauty leads to downfall. Savvy CEO, not so

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savvy after all!]

The financial news had rocked Banyan City, stirring the business community all night and reaching

fever pitch by morning.

With United Realty’s failed financing and project compensation disputes added to the mix, Ludwik’s

business reputation was rapidly deteriorating, with shareholders of both United Realty and Imperial

Gem questioning his management skills like never before!

This morning. Ludwik had been summoned by the Commercial Crime Division because of an investor’s

suicide over project disputes the previous day.

This was good news, with Ludwik at the police station, Keegan could proceed with his kidnapping plan.

But given Ludwik’s status, he would likely appear briefly and be released by evening.

“No,” Elaine mused, her eyes narrowing. She had to buy more time.

Her brow arched in a cold smirk, Jaxon, I’ve got a little task for you. Anonymously stir the public opinion

about Mr. Wendt and Dante’s untimely demise at the last Joyful Manor banquet–make it a scandal. I’ve

got footage from that night of Ludwik making threats, let’s leak that to the press…”

Jaxon’s face registered brief confusion before understanding dawned. “Elaine, doing this will tarnish Mr.

Lippert’s reputation even further. He might even get detained for questioning…”

Elaine was not worried about Ludwik’s clout, she had a devious plan to get him stuck at the police

station.

That way, Keegan’s path would be clear.

Her goal would be within reach: to strike both the old bat Natalie and Whitney with one shot.

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Elaine’s lips curved into a sly smile, her arms folding across her chest. ‘Have someone keep a close

eye on Keegan’s movements. If necessary, provide him with a little help.”

Jaxon knew exactly what kind of ‘help‘ she meant.

Inside the grand manor, Natalie was hooked up to an IV, coughing and inevitably feeling uneasy.

Whitney and Ludwik had left the house the previous day and had not returned. Were those kids alright?

Had they patched things up?

Her phone suddenly rang

Natalie gently picked up A man’s voice claimed to be Whitney’s uncle, “Mrs. Lippert, there’s been

trouble. My mece Whitney has had an accident. She and Ludwik had a tiff, she took a tumble, and now

the baby is in jeopardy. She’s too heartbroken to seek treatment. Please, come quickly and talk some

sense into her, take

“What?” Natalie’s mind went blank, a severe cough bringing up blood.

How could her precious grandchild be in trouble?

She had been so looking forward to meeting her new grandchild.

Whitney had seemed fine when she left Ludwik’s bedroom that morning

Could it be that Ludwik went to find her yesterday, and they still had not reconciled?

Natalie’s pale face sighed heavily, knowing in her gut that there was a serious issue between them.

This uncle–Natalie recalled her son mentioning that Whitney’s uncle had returned to the country

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She did not doubt it for a second and immediately called her son.

But Ludwik’s phone was unreachable, and she vaguely knew there were troubles at United Realty

What to do?

Her grandchild and Whitney were both critical.

Without hesitation, Natalie, dragging her sick body, ignored the protests of the household staff and

security With a pale determination, she made her way out of the heavily guarded villa.

In her haste, she took only a housemaid, Taryn, and a driver with her.

Halfway to their destination, they were abruptly cut off by Keegan’s men!

Chapter 13

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