Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



"Let's wait for Mr. Sheldon to wake up before discussing this further.

Right now, what's crucial is for you, Miss Whitney, to get a grip on how things work around Sheldon Enterprises. Show your grandfather what you're made of. The company's going through some rough waters, and it's your job to steady the ship. There's a lot to be done.

I'll call a meeting with the senior management later. Use this opportunity to make a good first impression on them."

Cody immediately took charge, organizing the schedule like a pro.

Whitney nodded, "Cody, you and the other fired shareholders will be reinstated tomorrow."

Mr. Rufus and Mr. Cook were both elated and grateful, "Miss, we'll support you all the way.

It's clear the old man still has his reservations about you. That just means you need to step up even more. Once Mr. Sheldon wakes up, he'll definitely stand by you. After all, Sheldon Enterprises might very well be yours to inherit one day."

Whitney wasn't thinking that far ahead. Checking the time, it was already past four. Tonight was going to be a long one.

"Let's get that meeting started. I want everyone to get to know me better."

As Whitney was about to ask the secretary to prepare a temporary office, Sandy came over and nudged her arm, gesturing mysteriously towards Mr. Sheldon's office.

Whitney raised an eyebrow and quietly pushed the door ajar, only to find the matriarch and patriarch hadn't left yet.

Jared sat silently in the big office chair.

Florence was on her knees in front of him, tears streaming down her face, "Grandpa, I swear, I had no idea about my true parentage. Mom never told me anything, and I always thought of Hugh as a dear uncle. I can't believe they deceived me, deceived all of us in the Sheldon family. I feel so guilty and tormented. My existence is so tainted.

No wonder I've been sickly all my life, as if punished by the heavens.

Grandma... please take care of yourself. I probably won't be able to stay by your side anymore.

I'm a disgrace to the Sheldon family, a person who shouldn't have been born.

I... I might as well die now..."

As Florence weakly tried to hurl herself against the wall, Jared was stunned.

The grandmother couldn't stand it any longer and rushed to embrace Florence, tears in her eyes, "Florence! What are you thinking?

Holly! Come and talk some sense into her."

"Mom, Dad, it's my fault. Florence didn't know she was born out of wedlock. Please, Dad, forgive her," Holly pleaded, wrapping her arms around Florence. "It's me who deserves to die. My most kind-hearted daughter, it's all my fault!"

The grandmother glared at Holly with disdain.

After a moment's thought, she said, "Grandpa, Florence is begging for mercy, she might truly be innocent. If Whitney accuses Florence of being a part of this, considering Florence's frail health and her attempt to prove her innocence through death, maybe we should stop pushing her. Do we really want her to die to be satisfied?

Florence... you're carrying Ludwik's child. This child is also suffering."

"Grandma... you always understood me best. You know the injustice I suffered." Florence sobbed heavily in her grandmother's embrace, her eyes conveying a mix of despair and defiance.

This flash of defiance was caught by Whitney, who was watching from the doorway.

Sandy, fuming, wanted to barge in, "Grandma's lost her judgment, to think she'd fall for Florence's act even now. She must be senile!"

"There's no need to go in,"

Whitney coldly intervened, scoffing, "Can't you see? Florence's act was specifically aimed at your grandmother. If you go in now, you'll only end up looking heartless in her eyes, nothing more."

Sandy realized Whitney was right, both about her and herself.

If Whitney had rushed in, it would have only made things worse.

Sandy clenched her fists, "Are we just going to stand by and watch Florence manipulate Grandma?"

Whitney had anticipated this,

"Florence wouldn't give up so easily.

Now that the heir position has slipped through her fingers, and with her child tosing its leverage for a good marriage, she's bound

the sympathy card with our

grandparents. They've spoy

her

rotten since she was little, of course, they can't bear to see her suffer now.

She can't possibly leave Sheldon Enterprises, especially not now. She might still cause trouble.

"Even if our grandparents are swayed by her, her reputation is in tatters outside. Being labeled as an illegitimate child will haunt her. I wonder, who will she turn to for a comeback?"

Sandy gave a nod, "The elites in Emperor City are all about who you know and what you can do for them. Let her see how it feels to be scorned as an illegitimate child!

I doubt anyone would bother to help her. We're not fools, after all."

Whitney's eyes narrowed slightly. Who knows?

Given Florence's ambition and unwillingness to accept her lot, she's unlikely to back down quietly.

In the conference room, Whitney held the first high-level meeting of the Sheldon Group.

The scandal that broke out in the

net

company today was the talk of the town. With the speed of lightning, Whitney had ousted Hugh and swiftly taken over as the new head of the company. The senior executives treated her with duenoveldrama

respect but remained observant.

Whitney knew all too well how challenging it was to break into one of Harmonia Country's top three corporations.

She quickly got into the groove of the meeting.

Florence watched Whitney stride confidently into the conference room and take her seat at the head of the table with a mix of boldness and authority.

She felt a surge of hatred so intense she could almost bite through a silver spoon in anger.

Holly seemed to have aged years in

moments, her eyes lifeless as she slumped to the floor. After a while, she gently touched the trembling Florence, "Florence, Hugh's fall was unexpected. He won't be able to enter the Sheldon Group again.

It was our oversight that let that woman get ahold of your hair for the test.

The company won't tolerate this, and neither will your grandfather.

Luckily, you were smart enough to play on their sympathies and ensure you stayed.

As long as you're part of the Sheldon family, you still have a chance..."