Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



What in the world was going on? Bryce was still detained, and nobody had mentioned a word about it to her. It caught her completely off guard.

A flicker of cold light passed through the corner of her eye. This sudden mess at Inko Group seemed all too convenient, didn't it?

Phineas had just turned into a vegetable!

It wasn't possible for Inko Group's shareholders to start acting up so soon, was it?

And to make matters worse, the turmoil directly caused Parisa to panic, and she had decided to return home.

This couldn't happen.

If Parisa went back to Harmonia Country and happened to see Whitney, that would be the end of everything!

No.

In her and Bryce's plan, there was no room for Parisa returning to Harmonia Country.

Her face turning pale, she rushed up to Parisa, shaking her head, "Mom, you can't go back to Harmonia Country."

"Why not?" Parisa frowned, not yet noticing the sudden change in Florence's demeanor.

"It's just... Mr. Wilson and I might have been merely colleagues, but after years of working together, he's been protective of my privacy, never leaking any of my information back home. He respects me, and I owe him the same respect. Now that he's critically ill, I should visit him and provide comfort to his family. It's crucial for the stability of our branch office as well. Plus, the branch office is in shambles, with negative news breaking every three days! I can't trust anyone else with it! Saving the situation is crucial, and I need to go back. Besides, I don't even know where my brother and father are buried; it's time to pay my respects and investigate the persecution they faced."

Her tone suggested she had considered this from multiple angles and was determined.

Damn Inko Group, why did it have to implode right now, creating a whole mess out of nowhere!

Florence was furious inside, almost to the point of feeling sick.

She had prepared thoroughly, even promising Bryce that she would handle the referral well.

They had only anticipated trouble for Phineas, thinking Inko Group needed a helping hand.

Parisa wasn't supposed to drop everything and rashly return to the unfamiliar Harmonia Country over this.

They had control over everything at home.

But fate had other plans!

Biting her lip in frustration, she blurted out, "Mom, you just can't go back to Harmonia Country! Trust me this time, Bryce won't let you down. Even with a bit of trouble at Inko Group, he can handle it. Just wait and see what he can do?"

"Inko Group isn't just any branch office; I can't leave it in the hands of someone I don't trust."

"But I really can't let you rush back to Harmonia Country, I'm only thinking of you!"

"Why?" Parisa's gaze sharpened, noticing Florence's unusually pale face and her vehement opposition to returning to Harmonia Country, even sensing an inexplicable urgency in her eyes.

"I'm worried about you!" Florence repeated, unable to provide a solid reason.

Her heart raced with panic. If Parisa went back, what then?

"What exactly are you worried about? I'm the CEO, traveling for business is routine, and Erik, with his skills akin to a secret agent, is always by my side, not to mention the bodyguards.

Florence, this isn't something for you to worry about.

Anyway, I've made my decision."

"No! Mom, you really shouldn't go back. Harmonia Country isn't as simple as you think, and Emperor City has been turned upside down by Ludwik, it's fraught with danger," Florence desperately conjured up various dangers.

Parisa remained unimpressed, "If this Ludwik is indeed a villain, then it's all the more reason for me to go back and face him. What do I have to fear? You said he has designs on usurping Inko Group; I cannot let him succeed."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, hinting at suspicion.

Florence became desperate, "Mom, he wouldn't even spare the innocent child in my womb, coming after me to rip open my belly and steal the child, aiming to eliminate future threats. Do you think he would

respect you?

His ambitions know no bounds, full of evil deeds, and Emperor City is his turf; he won't be courteous to you.

I... I'm just afraid for your safety. We're safer here in Germinia.

Let Bryce handle things back home for now, he can take care of those issues.

Besides, Harmonia Country is a thorn in your side, and Emperor City has memories of dad... Do you really want to return to that place of sorrow, to face him again?noveldrama

You've been suffering from headaches and tormenting memories; this trip might trigger your condition to worsen!

I can't bear to see you in any danger!"

She made it sound like everything she did was out of concern for her mother, worrying about her health, her emotional pain.

Yet, why couldn't Parisa see genuine sorrow in her daughter's face?

Instead, what she saw was urgency.

Urgency for what? An urgency to prevent her from returning home.

What was her true motive?

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Parisa studied her daughter closely, sensing the inconsistency between her words and her heart, her gaze turning cold. She remembered the night she rushed back to Germinia, Florence lying in the outskirts, tearfully accusing Ludwik of his crimes.

She had almost believed Ludwik was beyond redemption.

Now, Florence was persistently against her returning home.

Was she genuinely concerned for her safety, or was she afraid that Parisa would see Ludwik for who he truly was, contradicting her story and exposing her lies?

"Florence, are you trying to stop me from going back home? Mom finds that very odd," Parisa suddenly spoke up.

Florence looked into her calm face and felt her heart skip a beat.

She nervously clenched her fingers.

Parisa scrutinized her, her gaze landing on Florence's eyes, trying to decipher, "What's strange to me you're so keen on recommending Bryce to help me. But honestly company matters should not be your concern, because you're out of your depth!

The second thing that strikes me as odd is that you seem really anxious, not because you're worried about me facing danger or getting into trouble with Ludwik.

But rather... you're scared of me going back home?

Why is that? Florence, I don't want you keeping secrets from me. Is there something back home you haven't told me about, and you're afraid that I'll find out once I'm there?"

"No! That's not it!"

A chill ran down Florence's spine, thinking how darn difficult Parisa was to deceive!

She immediately denied it, lifting three fingers in a solemn vow, "Mom, every word I say to you is the truth, may I be struck by lightning if I lie! There's no other reason; I'm just scared that something might happen to you back home, and I can't bear the thought of losing you!"