Chapter 268
Brielle’s eyes were rimmed with redness as she slumped into a seat, eventually leaning back on the
sofa and drifting off to sleep.
When she awoke, it was already the next day, and her head throbbed with pain. Limping, she managed
to make herself some food and tried contacting Max again, only to be greeted by the mechanical voice
on the other end.
She had been blocked.
Brielle felt like a needle had been jabbed into her heart. She forced a self–mocking smile. Was this
what they called reaping what you sow? It seemed Max really wanted to end things.
Deted, Brielle put down her phone and stared nkly at the ceiling.
She spent the next three days at home in a daze, unable to muster the courage to reach out to him
again.
On the morning of the third day, Aubree called, insisting that Brielle shouldn’t wallow at home. After
freshening up, Brielle hailed a cab to the diner.
Aubree, upon seeing her, furrowed her brows with concern. “You’ve lost a ton of weight. Haven’t you
been eating these past few days?”
Brielle managed a weak grin as she took a seat. “I did eat, but I didn’t really have an appetite.”
“I’lle stay with you for a while, to take care of you.”
“No need, I can manage on my own.”
Brielle feared that if the conversation with Aubree went on any longer, she wouldn’t be able to keep
herself from spilling everything about Max.
He had decided to go back to his high and mighty world, and she had no right to drag him down from
his pedestal. He was meant to be untouchable, perched high above the rest.
Brielle never dared to expect more. After all, Max had never shown his feelings.clearly. Perhaps he had
felt a flicker of affection, but it was too faint, easily discarded.
Constantly tiptoeing to reach another person was exhausting for anyone. Being left behind like this,
oddly enough, felt like a relief. Better to have never owned than to always be in fear of losing.
She had always been such a pessimist when it came to love.
The meals had just arrived when Brielle heard her name being called. Looking up, she was surprised to
see Miranda. It felt like an eternity since they hadst met. These three days had felt like a long year.
Seeing Miranda’s face, Brielle was momentarily stunned, as if suddenly dragged back into the real
world.
Chapter 268
Miranda had been too preupied with the Haywood family affairs to join thedies for their afternoon
teas, as they were busy dealing with Lillian’s mess, with the police refusing to budge.
Miranda couldn’t avoid today’s luncheon and was surprised to find Brielle there. Her chest felt like it
was burning with fury as she approached. “Brielle, is that really you? How dare you show your face
around here!”
Brielle frowned, feeling as if fate was ying a cruel joke on her.
The other well–to–dodies following Miranda had also heard of Brielle and began to gossip.
“Isn’t this the daughter you raised? Why doesn’t she even greet you when she sees you?”
“So heartless. You might as well have raised a pet.”
These were the wives of CEOs who had dealings with the Haywood family, banding together to
ostracize Brielle, the unwanted upstart. In their eyes, Brielle was a pitiful woman, abandoned by
her former fiancé.
Brielle couldn’t believe she couldn’t even have a peaceful meal with Aubree without being disturbed.
She frowned and said, “Miranda, is there something you need?”
Miranda’s chest heaved with rage. How dare Brielle ask her if she needed something?
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“Did you have something to do with Lillian’s situation? usations of hiring a hitman, really? You’re
quite the storyteller, Brielle. Anyway, you seem fine to me, so let’s settle this privately. I’ll give you some
money, and you can drop the charges.”
Brielle found itughable, so much so that she actuallyughed out loud. “Miranda, if you really are that
free, maybe you should spend more time teaching your own daughter how to be at decent human
being.”
Thatment seemed to strike a nerve for Miranda, her eyes shing with malice. “It’s all your fault! If
you hadn’t interfered back then, why would we have taken you in? And how would Lillian have ended
up suffering out there? She missed out on a good education because of you! You have a big
responsibility for the way Lillian turned out!”
As Miranda finished speaking, the other high–societydies chimed in with. their constions.
“Miranda, let it be. Why lower yourself to argue with a country bumpkin? Gics is important. you
know.”
“Exactly, like mother, like daughter. If the parents are bad seeds, the child will be too. reasoning with
her.”
There’s no
They all began to tear Brielle down, from her hair to her toes, as if they couldn’t disparage her enough.