Chapter 527


    Andrew’s eyelid twitched in irritation as he rubbed his cheek. “It wasn’t him.”


    “So, Tessa, then?”


    “No way, she’d nevery a hand on me.”


    “Who else would you let slide, then? I’m almost worried you buried someone beforeing here.”


    Andrew’s fire went out in a puff. That p hade from Aubree. It was because he had the gall to ask


    Aubree to cook for Tessa.


    When he found out Aubree had gone to Premier Pce, he’d wanted to follow, but with the tension


    between him and Max, he’d just met Aubree on the street corner to pass on Tessa’s message.


    Without a word, Aubree pped him again, then stormed back into Premier Pce, calling him trash.


    Andrew had been in these circles too long, never learning to think about others. Hisfort was his only


    concern. So he thought his request of Aubree was reasonable, but her reaction was unexpected.


    There was a p, but no words were exchanged.


    Damn, had he been too indulgent with Aubree? When it came to him, she hit him with no hesitation–as if


    she put her whole strength into it.


    Usually, Andrew would turn to Max, who was a good listener despite his stoic demeanor. But afterst


    night’s harsh words and a punch, Andrew’s thick skin wasn’t enough to face Max again.


    Andrew’s gaze fell, lips pressed tight.


    Jaired, casually crossing his legs, twirled an orange in his hand. “Look, Andrew, I’m not one to talk, but


    what you said to Maxst night, that was low. You know how rough Max had it growing up.”


    A kid who never smiled or cried would face cold shoulders even at the top of the food chain. Martha even


    brought in a shrink at one point. Not just any shrink, but the kind you’d find at a psychiatric ward.


    When you were out of step with the world, people thought you were a monster. And with the Dorsey


    family’s high status, thest thing they wanted was a freak in the family.


    So, doctors frequented the Dorsey household, trying to diagnose Max with something, anything, to


    exin hisck of emotional disy.


    When Michael decided to make ten–year–old Max the heir to the Dorsey fortune, everyone was


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    15.27


    Chapter 527


    floored. How many assassination attempts would the kid face? How much backstabbing would he


    endure in private?


    Everyone thought Michael didn’t care for his youngest son, that he was setting Max up to fail, using him


    as a shield against the majority of blows, and waiting to put his favored son in ce once Max was out of


    the picture. Even Max’s friends thought that way, instructed by their families to believe it.


    Max excelled in everything but social skills. Quick to learn anything but how to get along with others.


    Andrew hadbeled himself ackey, a hanger–on, because his “brotherhood” with Max was something


    he’d instigated, challenging Max to duels,petitions, and one–sided derations of war. So, calling


    Max unfeeling and a machine, was probably a deep cut for him.


    Andrew had been regretting his words sincest night. He could call Max trash, scum, but never a


    machine.


    Andrew stood up, frustration boiling to the point where he wanted to kick the coffee table in front of him.


    “So you think it’s my fault? Max thinks of Brielle, don’t I think of Tessa? If Brielle’s out to get Tessa,


    should I just stand by and do nothing?”


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Kenzo, lounging on the sofa, had been silent the whole time. Now, he merely opened one eye to nce


    at them, then dropped his gaze again, as if disinterested in the whole affair.


    When the two were arguing, the third was not wee to spectate, so Andrew turned to Kenzo. “Kenzo,


    what’s your take?”


    Kenzo’s eyelid fluttered. He rarely got involved in disputes. He opened his eyes, picked up his tea, took a


    delicate sip, and offered a gentle smile. “Brielle was a friend of mine. She’s actually quite reserved, not


    the type to stir up trouble.” The implication was clear: Tessa might’ve been the instigator.


    But of them all, Andrew had the biggest prejudice against Brielle. After all, she was the one who had


    helped an intoxicated Max right under his nose. Their first meeting was so dramatic that Andrew never


    warmed to Brielle afterward.


    In his eyes, she was the kind of woman who’dtch onto any opportunity to climb the socialdder, even


    at great personal cost. He didn’t believe Brielle truly loved Max.