Chapter 216


    Tiana closed the room door as Valerie sat at the bedside, handing a ss of water to Whitney.


    Turning around, Tiana couldn’t help but vent her thoughts. “You know, I used to think Ludwik was the


    epitome of charm. But now? Bryce, he’s like the George Clooney of men – mature, suave, and just as


    alluring. Sure, he may not have the old-money background or the clout Ludwik has, but he’s not far off.


    It’s like choosing between ice and fire. If it were up to me, I’d go for the one who knows how to treat a


    She finished with a sly nce at Whitney.


    Valerie saw Whitney’s distant gaze and nudged Tiana, whispering with a sigh, “After what Whitney’s


    just been through, you know as well as I do, thest thing on her mind is another


    man.”


    “But she’s a catch, isn’t she? Simon, Ludwik, Bryce… Apart from Simon, which one of them isn’t. a


    one-in-a-million guy? Whitney is a knockout.”


    Whitney managed a small smirk at Tiana’s teasing.


    Delighted, Tiana patted her shoulder. “Look at yourself, Whitney. Ludwik has turned you into a shadow


    of yourself. If you ask me, he’s no better than a maniptive jerk, not the only one suffering, and yet he


    believes every word from that bitch, time and again misunderstanding you. Let him stew in his own


    mess.


    Now he’s set to get hitched to ine in four days, and you’re supposed to be getting engaged to Bryce


    the day after. Time to move on and stop pining over him. He wasn’t even there for his own child.”


    Tiana trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.


    Whitney’s heart skipped a beat, still haunted by the recent events. Shaking her head, she muttered,


    “Maybe there’s no future for us. Ever since Natalie’s ident, it’s been one long exnation after


    another. He wouldn’t listen and wouldn’t believe. I’m tired. I almost lost my child. I’m scared now. It’s


    time to let go of him.”


    Though the pain lingered, voicing her thoughts seemed to bring relief.


    She wiped the tears from her cheeks, revealing a faint smile.


    Valerie and Tiana came over, tenderly stroking her hair. “Whether you let go or not, you can fool others


    but yourself. Whitney, you still have your child to stay with you. And if you want, Bryce could be by your


    side too.”


    Whitney gave Tiana a speechless look, shaking her head. “Let’s not talk about feelings. I’ve been hurt


    enough. I just want to protect my child right now. I’ll focus on giving birth and not dwell on anything


    else. Don’t worry, I’m not knocked down yet. There’s so much more for me to do. Oh, Tiana, any


    updates about that investigation into ine’s surgery?”


    “Just about to tell you,” Tiana began, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I found out that on


    the day of Natalie and ine’s surgeries, two doctors were on call, neither the top experts from TriMed


    Hospital’s renal department. Ludwik is a major investor at TriMed, and his mother’s surgery should


    have had the best resources. But ine imed Natalie’s condition was sudden, and the other doctors


    were all unavable.”


    Tiana’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Guess where those two doctors used to work?”


    Whitney understood immediately. “The Bartels family’s medical center in Emperor City?”


    “Exactly. That part of their resume vanished, and it’s old history. I had to hack into the medical system


    multiple times to find any trace.”


    Taking a deep breath, Whitney’s eyes shed with resolve. “Tiana, check how many kidney transnts


    were scheduled that day, especially during the same time as Natalie’s. Find out who those patients


    were!”


    At Whitney’s suggestion, Tiana and Valerie paused, exchanging knowing looks.


    Tiana’s eyes widened. “Are you suggesting ine might have-”


    Before she could finish, Whitney nodded, a silent understanding between them. “Be careful!”


    After a few hours, Bryce returned swiftly from a meeting in the afternoon. Tiana and Valerie exchanged


    winks and discreetly made their exit.


    Whitney rolled her eyes at her friends, trying to dispel the awkwardness. “Don’t mind their looks.


    They’re just being fanciful and leaving us with embarrassment.”


    Bryce chuckled. “I don’t find it embarrassing at all. In fact, I quite enjoy it.”


    She deflected, changing the subject. “Bryce, if I may be so bold, how old are you?”


    “Thirty-two. Do you think that’s a bit too old for you?” He kept the mood light, signaling to the nurse to


    help Whitney out of the hospital room.


    Whitney cleverly avoided answering his question, asking instead, “Where are we headed now?”


    “I promised to help your apartment hunting. I’ve shortlisted a few suitable ces.”


    Whitney got into his Cayenne, noting the understated luxury that matched his demeanor. The watch on


    his wrist spoke of subtle affluence, and his light gray shirt softened his presence.


    Unlike Ludwik, who even in the simplest white shirt seemed to radiate an imposing presence, Bryce


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    was all ease and quiet strength.


    Shaking off the thoughts of Ludwik, Whitney felt a tinge of defeat.


    Sensing the dip in her mood, Bryce turned on the radio, deliberately ying a light-hearted broadcast.


    He didn’t say much, but the gesture was thoughtful and warming.


    Whitney nced at him, receiving aforting smile in return.


    The car came to a stop in front of a serene high-rise apartmentplex.


    “This is the ce,” Bryce said as they walked in. “I’ve checked the area, and this is the safest and most


    months. Even in a ckout, you won’t have trouble getting up and down.”


    Whitney liked the apartment, but as she approached the window and her gaze fell on a nearbykeside


    vi, her brows furrowed. “Mr. Lutz, this seems awfully close to where you live. And it’s quite a distance


    from Skye Gem Ltd. Themute would be inconvenient for me.”


    “You’re right,” Bryce admitted with a hint of a smile.


    Bryce chuckled with a touch of sincerity in his voice, “I get worried with you living so far away, Whitney.


    It’s not convenient for you either. Now that we’re ‘engaged’, it’s easier for you to pop over when my


    rtivese visiting. As formuting, I’ll drive you to and from work.”


    Whitney wanted to argue, mentioning she was nning to buy a ce near her friend Tiana’s.


    But if she needed to y along with his charade, it seemed she really had no choice but to live nearby.


    She wasn’t picky about amodations and pulled out her credit card, “Then let’s buy this ce.”


    “Do you really think you need to pay?” Bryce pushed her hand back gently.


    Politely shaking her head, she replied, “Mr. Lutz, we’re not in that kind of rtionship. Even though


    Skye Gem Ltd. is on the brink, I can afford this. I never thought about buying a ce before because I


    felt I had a home, but now… it’s time to start anew.”


    Bryce frowned at her constant reminders of their clear-cut agreement.


    But at herst sentence, he feltfortable, smiling slightly, “Starting over, you’ll find happiness again,


    trust me. It’s not that hard.”


    “Before our engagement party, I’ll invest in Skye Gem Ltd. No matter how much they try to suppress


    us, I can hold my ground. For the next two months, don’t worry about a thing. Just focus on having the


    baby, and I’ll support you returning to work after. I know you’re a strong, independent woman.”


    Whitney was touched by his willingness to take on the risk for Skye Gem Ltd.


    They say the best way to get over a rtionship is to start a new one, but did she have the courage?


    All Whitney could do was quietly squash any fantasies he might have, “Thank you for helping me so


    much, Bryce. I can’t repay you, but I’ll help you secure your position at the Lutz Group. After the baby is


    born, we might have already made things clear to the Lutz family, and I hope your parents will forgive


    us.”