Chapter 340


    Brielle managed a wry smile, wishing she was in the know.


    Aubree ced her hands on Brielle’s shoulders firmly. “Is there something you’re keeping from me?


    Bri, trust me, anything you tell me stays between us. I’ve never breathed a word to Andrew, I know he’s


    not your biggest fan, but you mean so much more to me than he does.”


    Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Brielle trusted Aubree, of course, but the thought of her secret being out there still cast a shadow of


    worry across her face. Not knowing who the puppet master was behind the scenes made Brielle feel


    helpless.


    Aubree had also brought over a couple of bottles of wine. “Fancy a ss tonight?”


    Brielle shook her head, and just as she reached for her phone, Aubree stopped her. “You really should


    just chill at home for a few days, don’t look at anything, don’t think about anything. After such a big


    ordeal, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.”


    Aubree wasn’t good at lying to Brielle’s face, so she spotted the fib instantly.


    Aubree, uneasy, pulled back her hands and deted into a nearby chair. “Fine, but if you go looking for


    news, don’t say I didn’t warn you. You’re just asking for trouble.”


    It didn’t take long for Brielle to understand what “asking for trouble” meant. Just half an hour before, the


    media had been aze with talk of the Barnes family and the Dorsey n’s uing nuptials.


    The catalyst was a photo Alivia had posted on her social media. It featured two hands, side by side,


    each adorned with a ck bead bracelet, clearly a matched set.


    The caption was equally romantic.


    -No longer content to watch from the shore, he’s ready to dive into the waves of passion.


    Comments were flooding in by the tens of thousands, all of them well–wishes.


    “The couple I’ve been rooting for! Matching in pedigree, looks, talent, and education!”


    “There really is love in high society. With their looks, their kids are going to be stunners.”


    “I heard Alivia’s the dream girl for plenty of Beaconfield’s golden boys. Who knew she’d fall head over


    heels just like the rest of us.”


    “When’s the wedding? The courthouse is practically rolling out the red carpet for you two.”


    Aubree watched Brielle from the corner of her eye, noticing a slight tremor of Brielle’sshes as she


    scrolled through the messages. Suddenly feeling a pang of empathy, Aubree snatched the phone and


    pped it down on the table. “Stop torturing yourself. He’s just another jerk. You’ll find someone way


    better than Max!”


    Brielle’s mind nked for a second, but then she just smiled. “I’m fine.”


    Chapter 340


    Aubree wasn’t convinced. She knew Brielle had a soft spot for Max, and now that he seemed on the


    brink of engagement, there was no way she was just fine. She must’ve been too heartbroken to even


    realize it. “Bri, if you’re hurting. Just say it.”


    But Brielle genuinely wasn’t hurting: she just felt a bit stifled. Why would Max give Alivia such a photo


    op? She couldn’t believe that Max would tangle with her while nning a wedding with Alivia. If their


    wedding were truly imminent, Max wouldn’t ask Brielle to wait for his return.


    She had a hunch he had something important to tell her; it was just that he had left in such a hurry that


    he only asked her to wait for him.


    Seeing Brielle’s silence, Aubree knew her friend was still heartbroken and quickly tried to console her.


    “There are plenty of fish in the sea. We’ll just find you a new one. You’re not stuck like me, Bri. You’ve


    still got a shot. And hey, you’ve been with Max. You didn’t lose out. What does it matter if he gets


    engaged to Alivia? I bet they haven’t even slept together!”


    Brielle’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “And how would you know that?” Max and Alivia had


    known each other for years; it was unlikely nothing had ever happened.


    “Andrew let it slip, said you were Max’s first, you know.”


    A sweet warmth spread through Brielle’s heart, and her cheeks grew hotter. He was her first, too. Their


    firsts were shared, something special. She had thought Max and Alivia had done it.


    Ifst night hadn’t happened, seeing that photo would have been a blow to her heart. She would have


    consoled herself by thinking that so many women adored Max, and he couldn’t possibly reciprocate


    everyone’s feelings. Besides, she had been prepared to y the lone role in her unrequited drama.


    Her faint stirrings of affection had never been a thunderous explosion in Max’s world, at best, a quiet


    sob.


    Brielle looked down, feeling her heart bloom with every beat. “He’s probably not getting engaged.”


    Aubree was surprised Brielle was still defending Max at a time like this. After a moment’s thought,


    Aubree admitted to herself that Max hadn’t really done anything wrong. After all, he wasn’t engaged to


    anyone. He hadn’t let anyone down.


    Chapter 341