Chapter 152


    In the South City Police Station, the interrogation hall was silent except for the creak of leather shoes


    and the asional shuffling of papers. As heir to the Lippert family fortune and a titan of industry in


    Banyan City, Ludwik sat with his entourage, his presence too formidable to be confined behind bars.


    However, Braxton was also an influential figure in the government, so the police did not dare to take


    this matter lightly either.


    The investigative proceedings hadsted only a couple of hours the previous night, and it had been a


    long wait


    since then.


    Ludwik could not leave for the hospital, and updates on the situation did note swiftly.


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    As dawn’s tentative light seeped through the windows, marking the end of a sleepless night, Ludwik’s


    unreadable eyes lifted coldly, his gaze cutting across to the precinct entrance like a frost–covered


    de.


    Felix watched with a mixture of awe and fear. Another visitor had arrived, a shareholder from United


    Realty Corporation. Felix knew who Ludwik was hoping for and what disappointment he was trying to


    mask. He had called Whitney numerous times–why had she not picked up? Had she not promised…


    Whitney, fraught with nerves, pushed through the precinct doors. The chilly coastal wind hadshed at


    her the whole drive, whipping through her open car windows and drying her damp clothes. She had to


    appear normal, for Bryce had dyed her and now feared she was toote.


    Pregnant and anxious, she stumbled into the hall and immediately spotted Ludwik’s imposing


    silhouette. He sat tall and lean, his noble features tight with tension, an aura of icy detachment


    surrounding him. In his arm, he cradled a delicate hand, the wrist bandaged, while ine, ever the


    attentivepanion, whispered to him, her touch gentle upon his arm, her handkerchief dabbing


    gracefully at his brow.


    ine stood, conferring swiftly with the shareholders as if orchestrating their next move. Ludwik, stoic


    as ever, I was about to light a cigarette when Felix’s voice sliced through the tension.


    “Madam…” Felix’s gaze fixed on the entrance as he called out to Whitney.


    All eyes, including those of the United Realty Corporation executives, turned to see.


    Ludwik’s piercing gaze settled on Whitney, his expression colder than the steel of a knife. She stood


    disheveled, looking like she had been dredged from the depths of a stormy sea, her face worn and lost.


    Felix rushed to her. “Madam, why have you only just arrived? I told youst night toe quickly. Boss


    needed


    you.”


    Realizing his potential blunder, Felix mped his mouth shut.


    Ludwik’s stare turned cial, his disappointment palpable. He had been informed of her whereabouts


    the night


    before.


    A whole night had passed, and she arrived only now?


    He nced at her once more, then turned away, his cold indifference like a de to Whitney’s already


    chilled


    heart.


    She felt drained, watching ine’s tender ministrations, her heart sour with regret yet relieved for


    Ludwik. She hoped that her desperate actions from the night before had been worth it.


    At this time, a new group entered from another door. It was Braxton’s son approaching Ludwik.


    Ludwik stood, his towering presencemanding the room. Braxton’s son, a man of about fifty and


    shorter in stature, approached with a changed demeanor, caution in his eyes. “Mr. Lippert, please


    understand our family’s distressst night. My father is our cherished patriarch, and his illness during


    your meeting was unforeseen. Our call to the authorities was justified.”


    “Of course,” Ludwik replied, his voice a mixture of understanding and formality. “How is Braxton fating?


    “Last night, we nearly lost him, but by some miracle, he clung to life and has sessfully undergone


    surgery.”


    With those words, the tension in Ludwik’s brow eased slightly.


    ine squeezed his hand excitedly. “Bro, you’re cleared!”


    Whitney watched their sped hands, her heart bitter yet silently rejoicing for his sake.


    But then, Braxton’s son added, “My father has awakened, and I’m here to convey the oue of the


    project, but I’m afraid thend will go to anotherpany.”


    The executives‘ faces turned ashen.


    Unruffled, Ludwik apologized with a steely calm. “Mr. Tarrington, I ept responsibility for Braxton’s


    condition and the consequences. I won’t contest thend bid any further. United Realty Corporation will


    not profit at the expense of Braxton’s health. I wish him a speedy recovery and will ensure the best


    medical care for his future treatment.”


    Braxton’s son, taken aback by Ludwik’s nobility, nodded with a newfound respect. “Mr. Lippert, you’re a


    man of great character, both inside and out. It’s no wonder you’re Banyan City’s leading businessman,


    having built yourpany from the ground up. This setback must be costing you hundreds of billions. I


    hope you’ll ovee this challenge.”


    With a few courteous words, he had addressed apany’s very survival.


    Ludwik remained unshaken, his gratitude cool. “Thank you.”


    As Braxton’s son and his party left, the United Realty Corporation executives could hardly sit still. They


    respected Ludwik’s authority, but his youth was belied by his formidable tactics. This project was vital to


    the corporation’s foundation.


    Shareholders stood up in a huff, pointing fingers at Whitney. “Mr. President, the bid was prepared by


    Whitney. If she made a mistake, she should be the one held ountable. Drag her over to Braxton and


    clear the air. We can’t afford to lose this piece ofnd!”


    “Yeah, it’s all her fault. Her irresponsibility has led to such a huge blunder on your part!”


    “You trust her too much, Mr. President!”


    Whitney felt as though their words were piercing her skin, the pain sharp in her heart. She never meant


    to harm


    him.


    The bid was wless; every detail was ounted for.


    But her uncle had used her, and she was left with no defense, unable to confess the truth.


    Ludwik watched her with a chilling gaze, silent as frost.


    Yet ine stepped forward, her voiceced with anger and concern, “Whitney, you’re the CEO of Skye


    Gem; preparing a bid is a no–brainer for you, so Bro trusted you with it. I’m not questioning your


    integrity, but mistakes in data like this are highly suspicious. Is it possible… do you harbor some


    resentment towards Bro?”


    Her seemingly offhand remark nted seeds of doubt, causing the shareholders‘ expressions to shift,


    dramatically.


    “Mr. President, could Whitney be harboring a malicious intent by messing up the data on purpose?”


    “Whitney, what’s your endgame in sabotaging the President and causing us to lose a major deal?” The


    shareholders demanded angrily.


    Whitney’s gaze turned icy, her frown deepening as she eyed ine, sensing that she was deliberately


    stirring the pot.


    Could she know something?


    The secret of her uncle’s revenge…


    Ludwik’s stare became sharp and piercing as he looked at Whitney, his dominating presence making it


    impossible for her to meet his eyes.


    The tall, imposing man walked over to her, and in the end, he asked her nothing in front of the


    shareholders, his silence serving as her shield.


    He gave her a frosty once–over and asked only one cold question, “Where have you been all night,


    fromst evening until this morning?”