Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 698

Tiana was in utter despair, her mouth gagged as her world turned dark, forcefully stuffed into a burlap sack and knocked out cold.

The woman's harrowing scream stopped abruptly.

Bryce, hidden behind the door, broke out in a cold sweat. Despite being Whitney's best friend, Tiana had become too much of a liability, especially after uncovering his dark secrets.

He had no choice but to silence her today, or she would spill everything to Whitney.

That could ruin everything.

He still needed Whitney by his side; Tiana could not be allowed to interfere.

With a sinister smirk, Bryce emerged, "Hold on, grab her phone for me!"

The bodyguard quickly found Tiana's phone and handed it to Bryce.

Bryce, with a dark frown, didn't even glance at the sack as he coldly ordered, "She's been snooping around for Parker lately, right? Ha, might as well dump her in the sea near the old factory. But make sure she's silenced first, we can't afford any slip-ups." The bodyguard nodded, swiftly disappearing into the shadows of the club with the sack over his shoulder.

In the ensuing silence, Jarvis watched Bryce methodically send a text from Tiana's phone, his amusement evident as he clapped, "Mr. Lutz, your capability for crime is truly remarkable.

To kill with such cold, calculated precision, even fabricating evidence?

Planning to dump her at the factory, so if Whitney ever questions Tiana's disappearance, you can easily blame it on her search for Parker. Claim it was an unfortunate accident and move on. Brilliant.

Playing the wolf in sheep's clothing so convincingly in front of Whitney. Your methods are indeed ruthless."

Bryce's eyes flickered with annoyance. He was determined to outmaneuver Jarvis and Wade, keeping his machinations well hidden.

How else could he rise to become a renowned entrepreneur in Emperor City during its darkest times?

He intended to twist Whitney around his finger, and he had plans, big plans!

Anyone in his way, like Tiana, would simply be removed.

"Nolan, I appreciate you covering for me tonight. I owe you one," he said politely, "If Mr. Patrick needs anything, just let me know. I have to take care of this woman first, excuse me." As Bryce walked away, Jarvis's cunning eyes shimmered with a cold light.

Bryce, capable of murder without a second thought, was proving to be a challenging puppet to control.

He needed to inform his uncle...

-

In the secluded factory, the howling sea breeze filled the air.

The bodyguard kicked the sack down the slope.

Tiana, waking up in horror, felt the blood on her forehead and the stark terror as she fought against the confines of the sack.

With a heavy thud, she hit a sharp rock, pain searing through her, but her motions ceased.

Before she could comprehend her situation, a foot stomped on the sack.

"Bring the knife," the burly bodyguard commanded.

Knife? What were they planning?

Terror-stricken, Tiana squirmed.

"The boss, Mr. Lutz, said to silence her before dumping her."

Swallowing hard, Tiana's whole body turned ice-cold, "Please, don't kill me!

Just throw me into the sea. I'll die anyway. I can't stand pain."

"Quit your whining. With that evidence, you were a dead woman the moment Mr. Lutz decided. We're just following orders."

As the bodyguard raised the knife, Tiana heard the air slicing, her despair peaking. In a desperate move, she shifted, managing to dodge the blade and threw herself over the rocks.

Her only chance at survival was the sea - better than being stabbed to death.

The sack rolled off the rock and plummeted into the sea with an unexpected speed.

"Damn it!" The knife-wielding bodyguard froze, then rushed to the cliff's edge, too scared to leap after her. Watching the sack disappear, he turned and shouted, "Couldn't you have held her down?" "Boss... she was too quick!"

"Boss, there's blood here. You must've hit her."

The bodyguard's phone rang - it was Bryce calling.

Panic whitened his face as he stood, exchanging worried glances with his men.

One of them, sweating nervously, pointed at the blood, "I saw it, you hit her right in the heart!"

"A woman as weak as her, falling into the sea, she's bound to die. Just tell Mr. Lutz that!"

"Hello, Mr. Lutz..." the bodyguard swallowed hard.

Bryce's voice came through, icy, "Is it done? Is she dead?"

"I... I hit her heart, then threw her into the sea. You can rest easy, Mr. Lutz."

Bryce, sensing the hesitation, pressed, "Are you sure she was dead before she hit the water?"

"Absolutely. Four men against one woman, and with that fall... She's gone. The sea will carry her away from Emperor City."

Only then did Bryce relax, confident they couldn't fail to kill Tiana.

"You'll be compensated. Leave Emperor City immediately!"

"Understood."

-

Surrounded by endless water, Tiana struggled against the burlap sack, the sea's currents dragging her deeper.

Cursed sack, limiting her movements!

If she bled into the sea, sharks might be drawn to her. She could truly be doomed.

She fought against the whirlpools, but her strength was waning fast. Helplessly, she watched the shore recede...

Until the cold was nearly enough to consume her consciousness.

Suddenly, a cruise ship appeared, stationary in the midst of the sea.

"Help..." Tiana's heart surged with hope. Clenching her teeth, she pushed herself to stay conscious, desperately swimming towards the ship, "Help..." Weakly, she waved her hand.

On the deck stood a figure, tall and lean, watching.

Wearing his signature gold-rimmed glasses that obscured his striking, almost mischievous, blue eyes, he stood there, seemingly lost in thought. Suddenly, his gaze fixed on a tiny speck on the ocean's surface...

"Stop the boat."

"Uh, Mr. Sterling?" The uniformed sailor was taken aback, uncertainty lacing his voice, "Did you want us to halt, sir?"

"Can't you see? There's someone out there," the man spoke, a rarity in itself.

This was indeed a curiosity.

Ever since their employer had fortuitously saved Mr. Sterling, he had been a man of few words. The severe injuries had led to memory loss and a peculiar ailment that robbed him of his voice. And today, he had spotted a soul adrift at sea, seeking to save this person?

"Hurry! Save her," Mr. Sterling commanded with an urgency that brooked no argument.