Chapter 431


    Alivia thought for sure that Brielle would be a bundle of nerves, maybe even shoot Max some subtle,


    desperate looks. But from start to finish, Brielle was the picture ofposure.


    The cooler she remained, the more Alivia felt like a jester, juggling her emotions for naught.


    A sh of bitterness crossed Alivia’s eyes as she tilted her head up to Max and said, “Since you’ve


    brought Ms. Brielle along. I’ll skip going in. You must want her to meet your mum, right? I’d just be a


    third wheel. I’ll swing by this afternoon.”


    H


    To any guy, it sounded like the epitome of understanding – faultlessly so. It was at this moment that


    Brielle realized Alivia could y the game far better than she had expected.


    Such a woman was truly formidable.


    Hearing Alivia’s words, Max simply nodded. Alivia shed a smile at Brielle, a cursory greeting of sorts,


    before making a swift exit.


    The moment she turned away, her face twisted slightly. The thought of Brielle carrying a child and the


    possibility of Max finding out any minute now, had her on pins and needles.


    She bowed her head and shot a text to Martha. [Aunt Martha, Max has brought that woman to see you.


    I think I’ll stay away to avoid being a burden. If you need someone to chat with, just holler.]


    Just moments ago, she’d been all magnanimity, but in her message to Martha, she yed the pity card


    to the hilt. Since Max was with another woman, it was best for Alivia to lie low.


    Martha trembled with fury upon reading the message. Alivia wasn’t concerned about Marthal actually


    getting sick. A meltdown would y right into her hands, perhaps even lead to Martha dealing with


    Brielle’s “problem” personally.


    Max and Brielle stood at the door. Max pushed it open and saw Martha by the window, phone in


    hand.


    Strolling over, Max asked, “Mother, feeling any better today?”


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    Martha’s gaze


    was sharp, slicing past him tond squarely on Brielle, but it was fleeting, and her expression quickly


    softened. “Better, thanks to Alivia. She found some caretakers to keep mepany. They’re quite the


    chatterboxes.”


    Then, her eyes slid over to Brielle, giving her a thorough once–over. Brielle frowned, sensing a distinct


    difort, as if she’d been appraised inside and out and judged quite unfavorably.


    “Max, who might this be?” Martha asked, delicately sipping tea from a nearby cup.


    “She’s a director at Dorsey International. Thought I’d bring her by to see you,” Max replied.


    Martha felt a wave of scorn well up inside her. Was this the seductress who had bewitched Max? Sure,


    she was attractive enough up close, but she paled inparison to Alivia. Martha


    11:46


    Chapter 431


    was certain that Max had been tricked by her allure. Her heart twisted ufortably at the thought of


    the text she’d received from Alivia, disying her fake distress.


    Alivia was the daughter–inw Martha had picked out, and there was no way she should step aside for


    some nobody.


    Knowing her son, Martha realized that the more she resisted, the likelier Max was to ignore her


    completely. He’d always been independent, with his own way of thinking and doing things. Any misstep


    now could make things worse.


    So Martha nodded. “If you’re by his side, you must be quite capable. Max, the doctor had a word with


    me this morning about some new medication. He said to have a word with you when you arrived.”


    Knowing the importance of the medication, Max got up, instinctively ready to whisk Brielle away with


    him, when Martha interjected, “Leave the youngdy here, Max. With Alivia absent, I could use the


    company.”


    Oblivious to Martha’s full grasp of his rtionship with Brielle, Max turned to see if Brielle was okay


    with staying. She nodded slowly, sensing Martha had something to say to her alone.


    Once Max was gone, Martha dropped the facade, her gaze returning to that ufortable scrutiny.


    Despite feeling slighted, Brielle, as the younger person in the presence of an elder. chose to remain


    silent.


    “Ms. Brielle, which Beaconfield n do you hail from?”


    “None. I was raised in an orphanage,” Brielle replied.


    A dangerous glint passed through Martha’s eyes. An orphan upstart had climbed her way into her son’s


    life? It wasughable.


    “Have you been done it with Max?”


    The question hung heavy in the air, the silence between them thick and suffocating. Brielle felt the cold


    of Martha’s indifference seep into her fingertips.


    Martha knew everything.