Chapter 554


    Ricardo’s confidence suddenly deted, and Brielle, standing by with a frown creasing her brow. just


    wanted to hurry over to Max’s ce. Why was there always something blocking her path?


    “How much is it?”


    Keagan was taken aback and instinctively responded, “He owes a million now.”


    “A thousand in principal, and now you’re asking him to pay back a million withpounded interest.


    Isn’t that a bit heartless?”


    “Ms. Haywood, he signed the contract himself.”


    Brielle stared at the document, clearly written in ck and white, her expression growing cold. “Send


    me the ount details. I’ll transfer the money to youter. And stop giving him a hard time in the


    future.”


    Keagan’s gaze flitted between the two, noting Ricardo’s reddening ears and Brielle’s icy demeanor, and


    snickered, “Looks like you’ve taken a shine to him, Ms. Haywood.”


    Brielle turned her head and nced at a bewildered Ricardo. “Next time, before signing anything, get a


    lawyer to look it over. Even if you can’t find one, there’s free legal advice.


    online.”


    Ricardo understood that Brielle thought him foolish for always getting duped, and he nodded in


    agreement.


    Brielle immediately transferred a million to Keagan, who walked away satisfied upon receiving the


    money. He even turned back to snap a few photos of them standing together, sending them to a certain


    number. The picture had an artistic ir to it. It was merely Brielle looking up and lecturing the younger


    Ricardo, but with the sunset outside the hall, the scene took on an ambiguous hue.


    After sending the photo, a dark chuckle escaped Keagan’s lips, and he said no more.


    And soon enough, the photonded on Max’s phone. At that moment, Max was in a meeting in the


    study of Premier Pce. His expression darkened upon seeing the photo. He suspended the meeting,


    giving the attendees fifteen minutes to refine their wording, while he stepped out into the hallway to call


    Michael.


    “Max.”


    “Father, such tactics are beneath your dignity.”


    Michael let out a soft chuckle, cing a white chess piece on the board in front of him. “But you’re


    anxious, aren’t you?”


    Max didn’t respond, and Michael’s voice continued. “When Brielle was at Dorsey International, she saw


    you often and didn’t have time for distractions. But showbiz is different, and it can


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    corrupt the soul She’s just a child raised in foster care. Who knows how much resentment she’s built up


    over the years? When she sees someone who’s been in her shoes, she can’t help but offer a helping


    hand. The young man’s got talent, I hear. Brielle just paid off a million for him. She’s never been so


    generous with herself, but she’s soft hearted to an


    outsider.”


    Max gripped his phone tightly, a storm brewing in his gaze. “If these are the extent of your tactics,


    Father, I will be very disappointed.”


    “Of course, there’s more toe. You’ll see, Max. I’ve said before, you and Brielle won’t make it You


    don’t really trust her, and she’s not that into you. Today, she’s soft–hearted towards that boy, and


    tomorrow, she could be softer still. That boy is from her world, she doesn’t have to worry about being


    unworthy or strain on her tiptoes to reach. It won’t be exhausting for her.”


    Each of Michael’s words was heavy, pressing on Max’s chest. Max felt a pang of defeat, something he


    had never experienced in the business world.


    Would Brielle really be tired of him? He never wanted her to tiptoe to reach him.


    “Max, Jose and I are ying chess, so I won’t keep you. This is just the first day. There will be many


    more incidents toe. As the heir to Dorsey International, the president no less, are you really going


    to fret over a woman? If you were with Alivia, you wouldn’t be suffering like


    this.”


    The old man’s cunning was evident. Michael had sessfully manipted the psychology of a couple


    in love, with Alivia adding fuel to the fire for good measure.


    After hanging up, Max asked Patrick, who was standing by, “Check Brielle’s ounts.”


    Once the meeting was over half an hourter, Patrick came in with the report. “Sir, Ms. Brielle’s ount


    is indeed short of one million.”


    Max’s fingers twitched. He thought he’d be angry, but he wasn’t. There was no anger, no rage, just a


    faint sense of being slighted. It was like his heart had been bitten by a venomous creature, the toxin


    slowly injecting into his body, turning his limbs cold.


    On the very first day, the very first day, Brielle had spent a million on a stranger.


    She and Max had known each other for so long, and the scarf Brielle was knitting for him was still


    unfinished. Beyond that, there seemed to be nothing else.


    The worst thing was theparison.


    He felt his heartpletely numbed by the toxin, as if a hole had been torn open and cold winds were


    pouring in.