Chapter 147


    Whitney did not respond to him; instead, her heart ached with pity at the sight of her feeble uncle. She


    pulled out an acupuncture kit and said, “Uncle, I’ve learned some acupuncture from Mom. I can’t do


    much about scar tissue, but I can try to ease your phantom limb pain with some acupuncture. Shall I


    give it a try?”


    Keegan, massaging his right leg, grimaced and nodded his consent.


    To their amazement, the treatment seemed to work wonders. Keegan looked at her with a mncholy


    smile. “Your mom was a whiz with healing. She didn’t teach you all her secrets, but what you’ve got is


    pretty darn good. If only she were still here.”


    Whitney’s expression froze. Every word from her uncle was a reminder of his hatred.


    The next day, Whitney stepped into the towering United Realty Corporation building.


    Sleep had eluded her, and it showed on her pale face.


    She happened to arrive during the morning rush, and the elevator was crowded. Maybe it was the


    stifling space or her recent emotional turmoil, but when she exited the elevator, the little life inside her


    stirred more violently


    than usual.


    Whitney had been feeling the baby’s movements frequentlytely, but it was more painful this time.


    She had no choice but to stop, leaning against the wall, slightly bending over, her delicate hand


    caressing her belly to soothe the little one inside.


    While taking deep breaths and gently patting her belly, she suddenly felt a piercing gaze sweeping over


    her.


    She stiffened and turned her head, her eyes locking with those of a man filled with emotion.


    His gaze was like a, entangling her.


    Then, as ifden with a thousand sentiments, his eyes focused on her belly.


    Whitney looked up at his deep–set features, his jawline handsome even beneath the mask, and she felt


    his gaze searing her skin.


    A deep, aching emotion welled up inside her, a maelstrom of feelings, yet she remained silent.


    He was looking at her belly. As a father who was absent for a couple of weeks, he must be missing the


    child.


    This was his child.


    Yet, it was a product of hatred, a bond that should not exist.


    She did not know the fate of this child yet. All she could do was try her hardest to protect it. Her heart


    was a mess, her anxiety and conflict bringing tears to her eyes, which she fought to hold back.


    He seemed to be struggling too, his mood dark, a frown etched between his brows.


    Whitney’s heart ached for him, but how could she feel otherwise for the man who had once harmed the


    Tennyson family in the name of his business empire?


    She turned her gaze away resolutely and suddenly doubled over with a sharp pain in her belly.


    The sound of expensive leather shoes approached, and the man’s cold aura enveloped her.


    Suddenly, Whitney was lifted off her feet as Ludwik scooped her up without a second thought for the


    bustling corporate office around them.


    Whitney tensed in his arms, the warmth of his presence searing her cold skin, leaving her momentarily


    stunned.


    After walking down


    “I’m not in pain anymore. You can put me down.”


    With all eyes on them, Ludwik had no choice but to set her down gently.


    His hand hesitated as it reached toward her slightly rounded belly, but Whitney dodged his touch.


    His hand froze in mid–air.


    His face clouded over with a frosty anger, his heart filled with irritation. He had hoped that she would


    But she had not returned to the vi.


    Not even a phone call, not a simple thank you!


    ± 2 2 2 1 2 3 3


    How long was she nning to give him the cold shoulder? Just because he had embraced ine at


    the hospital, she could not let it go?


    Ludwik’s chest heaved with suppressed rage. He nced at the pale–faced young woman before


    striding coldly past her into his office.


    Whitney knew she had angered him again, but at that moment, she could not bring herself to y a


    part in their ‘charade.’


    Her fingers trembled. Her uncle wanted her to stay and act as an insider, but every second of deceit


    tormented her.


    She wanted to leave him!


    She could not bear it, even if it meant openly standing with her uncle against him, starting the vendetta


    afresh. Rather than using a sweet knife to wound him.


    So, she hade today to hand off her work, especially the hotel group project.


    This way, her uncle could not use her to harm him.


    With this in mind, Whitney entered the vice president’s office to hand over her work and submit an


    extended leave request.


    Suddenly, the president’s office door swung open, and Felix called out publicly, “Whitney, the president


    wants you to attend the morning meeting.”


    Whitney froze. She was still on thepany’s payroll and had no choice but toply, turning on her


    heel to enter the president’s office.


    Inside the spacious office, several shareholders and executives were already present. Behind therge


    desk sat a man whose chilling demeanor seemed to permeate the room.


    No one dared to breathe too loudly, sensing the president’s foul mood.


    Whitney took her ce at the back of the crowd, close to the visitor’s sofa.


    Her mind wandered, unbidden, to a memory from half a month ago when they had dined together, and


    she had read documents to him with a mix of shyness and irritation.


    How good things had been between them then. In just a few short days, her uncle had returned, and


    everything had changed.


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    Whitney took a deep breath to stifle the pain of the sweet memories.


    As if on cue, Ludwik’s icy gaze swept over her. Whatever she was recalling, he must have


    remembered, too.


    Their eyes met, hers filled with heartbreak, his with confusion.


    Ludwik’s lips thinned into a cold line, and he turned his attention away, his voice cutting through the


    room.


    “Let’s assign the uing tasks.”


    He began discussing with the executives.


    Whitney felt like a lost soul, her pale face unable to find warmth even under the glow of the office lights.


    Then, Felix started reading from the work schedule, “Whitney doesn’t have a project at the moment;


    she can


    take over…”


    Whitney suddenly snapped back to attention. She had nned to give up her assignments quietly, but


    now she had to make her request in front of him, “President, I’ve been feeling unwelltely. I’d like to


    hand over my responsibilities at United Realty Corporation and apply for an extended leave.”


    As her words hung in the air, a brief, eerie silence fell, and everyone’s surprised gazes turned to her.


    “Whitney, we thought today you’d be back in the saddle?” One of the executives said with a half–smirk.


    ‘Yeah, Boss’s big venture is kicking off–it’s all hands on deck. You’re not thinking of jumping ship, are


    you?” Another chimed in, the smiles around the room dancing with insinuation.


    Whitney nced up, catching the frosty gaze of the man behind therge oak desk. The chill from his


    stare was practically a physical force.


    Felix, ever the peacemaker, caught Mr. Lippert’s stormy expression and hurried to smooth things over.


    “Whitne aking time off now is a bit tricky.”


    But I…”


    No buts. No more leave without my say–so. Felix, hand the five–star hotel bid over to Whitney!”


    Ludwik’s voice ut through the air, as cold and sharp as an icicle.