Chapter 19


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    The door closed slowly, and Brielle remained rooted to the spot, unable to move an inch. She had


    known Aubree for years but never realized the depth of the rtionship between


    her and


    Andrew. A tumult of emotions churned within her, like waves crashing and winds howling. Didn’t


    Andrew have a fiancée?


    Brielle’s head lowered, her longshes casting deep shadows across her face, as she stood


    motionless.


    The hallway was quiet and elegant, but the noisesing from the man had been anything but.


    Perhaps mindful that Max was still waiting in the private dining room, Andrew had finished quickly. His


    lips, his shirt cor, were smudged with telltale marks of lipstick.


    Leaning against the mirror, legs weak, Aubree raised an evebrow with a smile, “Tessa didn’t take good


    care of you?”


    Andrew, with a touch of cruelty, patted her cheek and said coldly, “This kind of affair isn’t something


    she’s cut out for.”


    Aubree didn’t reply, her face ghostly pale.


    Andrew left her with a simplemand, “Clean yourself up ande out,” before he was


    gone.


    Once the washroom was silent again, Aubree straightened her attire before exiting, only to spot a


    shadow around the hallway corner.


    “Bri…”


    Aubree hadn’t expected Brielle to be there, and in a sh of panic, she wasn’t sure how much Brielle


    had seen. She knew her actions were no better than those of Lillian, and almost instinctively she tried


    to justify, “You have to understand, Andrew and Tessa-it’s just a business arrangement. There’s no


    love. Besides, Tessa has always been frail and has never cared for romance.”


    Aubree had a host of excuses to rationalize this twisted rtionship. Brielle’s eyes were calm as she


    eventually asked, “Do you think there’s love between me and Spencer?”


    Aubree shivered and found herself at a loss for words.


    The shock to Brielle was palpable. The very person who had just been condemning Lillian had


    suddenly be the next Lillian.


    “Bri, you wouldn’t understand love. I’ve adored him for over a decade, since we were kids.


    16.05


    Chapter


    The recent runaway episode? It was all because of his engagement to the Rond family.”


    Andrew only saw her as a tool, but Aubree was powerless to stop her feelings. If there were a switch to


    turn off love and retract all emotions, she would give anything to flip it.


    “Bri.”


    Usually cheerful and bold, Aubree had never felt so scared.


    Brielle was about to leave when the dining room door creaked open. Andrew appeared, a smirk of


    smug satisfaction spread across his face, yet itcked any trace of genuine emotion. “Little Canary,


    best forget what you just saw.”


    He had noticed Brielle all along but didn’t care.


    Unable to bear it anymore, Aubree stepped forward, her hand raised for a p, but her wrist was


    caught mid-air by Andrew, who wore a mocking smile, his lips stained with red, “Go back first.”


    Brielle watched this unfold, frowning, and through the slightly ajar door of the booth, she locked eyes


    with Max.


    Max remained indifferent, toying with a ss of wine, and casually patted the seat beside him.


    Brielle, still wrapped in his jacket, just wanted to return it and leave. She didn’t look at Aubree or


    Andrew, feeling the entire situation was beyondprehension.


    Approaching Max, his scent enveloped her-a warm woody note with a hint of crisp rose-in the dim


    space. It lingered on her skin, impossible to shake off.


    “Uncle Max, your jacket.” She slid off the suit jacket and ced it neatly on hisp.


    But Max just held her wrist, ‘Feeling down?”


    Of course, Brielle felt awful, like she had swallowed a fly. The nauseating sensation hovered in her


    chest, impossible to expel.


    With the booth room door closed, isting the pair inside, Andrew held Aubree’s arm, “Acquaintance?”


    Aubree’s heart trembled. Even if they were strangers, he should have stopped immediately when he


    noticed someone nearby.


    Andrew raised an eyebrow with a smirk, “You seemed more eager than me just now, Aubree. After all


    these years, why do you bother to act so innocent?” In some ways, Andrew and Aubree were alike-


    blunt, sparing no one’s feelings.


    Aubree raised her hand again, this time with more finesse, and the pnded crisply.


    “Snap!”


    2/3


    16.06


    Andrew’s head jerked to the side, his tongue touching his cheek. He scoffed and swallowed back the


    faste of blood, “Come to my vi tonight. I’ll fuck you good. If you


    don’t show up, don’te looking for me again