Love beyond the mask (Whitney)



"Alright, off you go!" Jared said, managing to sit back down with the help of his butler.

The mansion was quiet, its classic architecture reminiscent of a bygone era, with lanterns hanging under the eaves. Each wing of the house was like its own separate cottage, much like the estates you'd find in old European tales.

Whitney walked towards the west wing, her peripheral vision catching a glimpse of the courtyard in the center, beyond which lay the parking lot.

Memories flooded her mind uninvited.

A year ago, when Hudson had first brought her to Sheldon Mansion, that was the day Bryce had seized the opportunity to follow her, pretending they were engaged. Ludwik was there too.

The rivalry was intense. As the most eligible bachelor of Harmonia Country, Ludwik had mocked Bryce relentlessly, pushing him into the dirt. Jealousy had flared, and Ludwik had cornered her in the bathroom, bullying her mercilessly.

Her cheeks flushed with the memory, her brows knitting together at the thought of Ludwik's irrational behavior. The man's arrogance, born of his privileged background, had granted him the power to trample over others.

Perhaps it was his powerful stature and haughty personality that had driven Bryce to seek revenge, his greed growing over time.

Relying on the Patrick Group, Bryce had risen from the shadows, using her in his scheme of vengeance. Even now, Bryce remained a significant problem.

The tangled web of cause and effect between them was complex.

She hoped that Ludwik, having faced his downfall, would temper his reckless arrogance. Otherwise, dealing with someone as cunning as Bryce could lead to his downfall.

Shaking her head, Whitney snapped back to reality. Why was she even worrying about Ludwik?

A frown crept over her face as she dismissed her wandering thoughts and approached Hudson's study, knocking on the door.

"Come in," came Hudson's refined voice.

With a smile, Whitney pushed the door open. "Dad!"

"Whitney?"

Hudson looked up in surprise, pen in hand over documents. Seeing his daughter, he stood up immediately, his secretary moving to assist him.

He waved the secretary off, his tall, lean figure walking over. "My dear, what brings you home today?"

"Are you saying I haven't visited you in a while?"

Hudson's expression was stern. "Aren't you? After getting me discharged from the hospital, you've left me here without a word."

"That's not true."

Whitney knew he wasn't really angry, so she smiled coyly. "I was just worried about your health, so I came to check on you." "Ludwik is back from Eurovoria?" Hudson asked.

"How did you know?"

"I ran into Shane the day before yesterday; he mentioned it."

He walked over to the sink and washed his hands.

The man, nearing fifty, had hands that were long and distinct, with veins slightly pronounced, both graceful and handsome.

Looking at Hudson's profile, Whitney thought he must have been as handsome as Ludwik in his youth.

She suddenly thought of her mother...

The frequently mentioned mother cast a shadow over her mood, stirring emotions. After a few seconds of contemplation and staring at her father, Whitney couldn't resist touching upon his painful past.

"Dad, have you ever thought about mom over these years?"

At her question, Hudson's hands stilled, and in the dim light, his distinguished features were unclear.

But his profile seemed to sink.

Hudson's brows tightened, his hands gripping the cup's edge so tightly that Whitney saw hot water spill over.

A pause, then she whispered, "If you don't want to answer..."

"There's nothing I can't answer," Hudson said, his voice suddenly hoarse. "Not mentioning her doesn't mean I don't miss her.

I do miss her. Every day, every moment, these years, she's always on my mind.

Whitney, my love for her has never changed..."

Turning to face her, the strands of white in his hair seemed more pronounced. His eyes were reddened, the lines around them tightened by his expression, showing deep pain.

Whitney was shaken, unable to speak, struck by the love and regret in her father's eyes.

She looked at him, trying to speak, "I thought... after all these years, with a complete family, even when you brought me home, you never spoke like this."

Lowering his gaze, Hudson looked

towards a locked drawer on his desk, speaking softly, "Back then, I had responsibilities, a family, a wife; I couldn't be honest with you for fear of losing your respect.

But now, after divorcing Holly, after these twenty-some years, I'm finally free.

I can love your mother openly again.

She was the only woman I've ever truly loved, my deepest regret. The love she gave me was something no one else could, and the love I gave her indirectly led to her demise.

I'm sorry to her, and I'm sorry to you.

If I had been stronger, more resolute, perhaps I wouldn't have lost her so carelessly.

No matter the reason, whether your grandmother's disapproval or Holly's schemes, it was my fault first and foremost.

Her personality was like a lily, untainted and independent, which led her to leave me, carrying you.

Even when Holly and the Bartels family targeted her, I was oblivious.

Those years, with you in Banyan City, she must have despised me deeply.

It was my lack of effort, my mistakes."

Hudson's soliloquy was filled with remorse, his handsome eyes reddening further, until he seemed to have exhausted all his strength, leaning on the desk, silent for a long time.

His solitary silhouette, like a soulless sculpture, made Whitney look away, unable to bear it.

She realized her father had silently kept her mother in his heart all these years, living in the past with pain, love, and regret.

Regretting his lack of persistence

years ago, he couldn't bring his

mother back from leaving Emperor

ne

City. Unfortunately, she met her untimely demise in Banyan City at the hands of Holly, a fact he discovered too late to change anything.

He must be living in agony.

It was also through his father's eyes that Whitney came to understand the depth of an unforgettable, bone-deep love.

She managed a hoarse chuckle, "You once said, you and mom were college sweethearts."

"Yeah," Hudson replied, his eyes taking on a distant look filled with tender nostalgia. "Parisa was the belle of the campus. She was breathtakingly beautiful back then,

าวเ

just like you are now. But, in reality, she was a bit of a bookworm, naively shielded from the world by your grandfather. She was incredibly innocent."

Recalling his youth, Hudson's eyes shimmered with a soft, wistful laughter.noveldrama