Love beyond the mask (Whitney)

Chapter 75

“No way,” Whitney vehemently denied with a furrowed brow, her voice laced with agitation, “I haven’t

done anything illegal. It was Monica who brought in counterfeit gems, and I’m in the middle of

investigating it. I have proof that Monica purchased fake materials. I’m requesting a lawyer to defend

me, and my people will bring the evidence to the station any minute now”

That day, she had wisely secured an ace up her sleeve.

Despite her lips turning ashen, Whitney maintained an eerie calm,

The interrogator’s brow furrowed deeply. “You can’t request a lawyer. Given the severity of the case,

Hunter’s already filed an appeal against you in a fit of rage.”

Her eyebrows knotted even tighter. “Then please, just wait. The evidence will be here shortly!”

The detective’s voice was icy, “We can only delay the interrogation for four hours. After that, we have

no choice but to process you into the detention center.”

Tiana would surely rush to her rescue.

And what about L?

He must have heard by now. He would come for her, wouldn’t he?

Whitney wrung her hands, feeling a sense of helplessness. It was her first time in a police station, and

despite her composure, the magnitude of the case was beginning to unsettle her.

Monica relished her hiding, smug in the chaos.

When Elaine called, her voice carried a chill despite her soft laughter. “Feeling comfortable now? You

fool. Whitney is waiting for Tiana to save her. Did you not know that the evidence against you is in

Tiana’s hands? Remember your dear friend Stella? It’s high time her affair with Gunner made some

waves. Tiana is Whitney’s close confidante, a glaring annoyance, isn’t she? Use this opportunity to

cripple her and sour her bond with Whitney. Got it?”

Monica’s brain struggled to keep up.

How did Elaine know everything? It was unnerving.

A shiver ran down Monica’s spine as Elaine’s reminder sank in. Had Whitney cunningly left evidence Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

behind?

Monica had long resented Tiana’s assistance to Whitney.

“Of course, I’ll take care of it.”

“And,” Elaine added, her tone still light but with an edge, “imagine Whitney’s desperation, locked up for

the night. Wouldn’t you relish her suffering? A little scuffle in the detention center is par for the course.

You could even arrange for someone to keep her company. A miscarriage, a severe injury–it would all

be an unfortunate accident, understand?”

Monica felt a shiver down her spine at Elaine’s veiled threat.

She nodded briskly, “I understand.“/

Elaine ended the call with a swift click.

Monica hastily dialed Stella, then turned to Yvonne with a sigh of awe. “Mom, Elaine’s moves are

brutal, way out of our league. In the past, when we tried to mess with Whitney, we couldn’t even breach

the gates of the Lutz family. However, Elaine enters the scene at Claire’s level, and it’s like she’s

playing chess with the elites. She’s got the whole game in her hands, and she’ll crush Whitney sooner

or later, ha–ha. But why does she hate Whitney so much? She wants her to miscarry in jail! Did you

hear that? She’s more vicious than us.”

12:14 @

Yvonne simply smiled. “Didn’t I tell you that Elaine has always been close to Mr. Lippert in the Lippert

family? Last time, it was Mr. Lippert who saved Whitney.”

“Right,” Monica exclaimed in realization. “Mom, you knew all along. We’re simply riding on the coattails

of the powerful, reaping the benefits.”

“Whitney has met her match this time,” Yvonne remarked with a cold laugh.

Simon couldn’t find Monica.

His only option was to rush to the Lutz family estate to seek out Tiana.

Though his family was one of the four magnates, Simon, as an illegitimate son, held a lower status

within the tight–knit circle of the elite. At the Lutz estate, his word carried little weight; he even had to

wait half an hour before being admitted.

With a thunderous expression, Simon entered the grand Lutz Mansion, a sprawling edifice of wealth.

He finally made contact with Tiana.

Tiana, caught up in the grand celebration of Claire’s milestone birthday, was unaware of the midday

fiasco that had unfolded.

Claire had been rushed to the hospital, and Tiana had been by her side the entire time, oblivious to the

news. that the cursed diamond had originated from Whitney’s company. It wasn’t until Simon’s call that

her mind went blank with shock.

She responded with urgency, “Whitney had given me a USB drive out of the blue that day. Is that where

Monica’s evidence is? I encrypted it. I’ll go home and get it.”

As she returned to the Lutz Mansion, the aristocratic relatives were still reveling in a ball. She couldn’t

find Gunner; that scoundrel had shown up at noon only to rush off hurriedly after a phone call. His

recent behavior was increasingly off, his attention waning, and even the engagement party following his

proposal was indefinitely postponed.

Tiana grabbed her purse to leave the ball when a maid approached. “Miss Tiana, the young master

Gunner has returned. He’s asking for you.”

Gunner had come back?

Worried about Whitney in the police station but also concerned about her elusive fiancé, Tiana thought

a brief detour wouldn’t hurt. She followed the maid.

However, the maid led her into a secluded courtyard of the mansion, pointing to a door. “The young

master Gunner is in there.”

The Lutz estate was grand and lavishly decorated, but this courtyard was not Gunner’s usual abode.

With a sense of foreboding, Tiana approached the door. Just as she reached to open it, the

unmistakable. sounds of an intimate encounter spilled through the cracks. As the door swung open, a

trail of trousers and undergarments littered the floor, and Tiana’s eyes met the grappling figures on the

bed.

Her heart felt as if it had been pierced by a slow–moving sword, and a wave of ice–cold realization

washed over her.

Retreating two steps in shock, Tiana clenched her teeth and charged forward, her cry slicing through

the air, “Gunner? Stella? You filthy traitors…”

Gunner’s panic was palpable, and as he saw Tiana’s eyes brimming with red, a twinge of pain

flashed through his heart.

Tiana, let me explain…”

“Get away from me! Stella, how low can you stoop? Sabotaging Whitney wasn’t enough, so you

are sleeping

12:14

with my fiancé now? I’ll slap some sense into you!” Tiana’s fury knew no bounds as she lunged at

Stella on the bed, the betrayal igniting a wildfire within her.

Stella was the picture of serenity, even managing to curve her lips into a sly, seductive smirk. “For the

past two months, I’ve been sleeping with your fiancé, darling. How does that make you feel? Oh, and

let me spill the beans–Whitney stumbled upon your fiancé and me getting cozy a month ago. Did she

keep it a secret from you? Oh, sweet Tiana, you’re so pitiable. The whole world knows about my affair

with your man, and you’re the last to find out, left in the dark. You treat Whitney like your BFF, always

being there for her, but her? She didn’t want to complicate things, leaving you in the dark and looking

foolish.”

Tiana’s complexion turned ashen; her body felt ice–cold. “Whitney knows? No, she wouldn’t deceive

me.”

“It’s gullible souls like you that get played,” Stella chuckled, slipping into her clothes with a deliberate

slowness. She glanced at the silent Gunner, batting her eyelashes coyly. “Mr. Lutz, remember our little

agreement?”

Gunner’s expression tensed as he gave Tiana a weighty look.

Overwhelmed and heartbroken, Tiana’s youthful face was a canvas of raw emotion.

With a fierce glint in her eyes and a tilt of her chin, Stella snapped her fingers, and three men barged

through

the door.

“You…” Tiana’s head whipped around as she sensed something amiss. She stood up abruptly, but the

three men were quick to restrain her, tying her up as she struggled furiously. Her eyes sought out

Gunner, who seemed to be looking for an escape. “Gunner, are you even human? You cheat on me,

and now you’ve set these goons on me? What are you trying to do?”