Chapter 648


    Michael knew better than to try to oust Max In a game of patience. He had watched his youngest son


    grow Into a man who could keep his lips sealed just as tightly as his father, If not more so.


    Having finished thest stroke of his calligraphy, Michael set down the brush and


    epted a handkerchief from the butler to clean his hands. “What’s your n with the Clements


    family?”


    “Haven’t you already done everything that needs to be done?”


    A chill flickered in Michael’s eyes. He finished wiping his fingers and handed the handkerchief back to


    the butler. “I’ve spoken with the Clements family and made some concessions. The damages are


    around a billion dors.”


    Max considered this for a few seconds before responding. “It can be deducted from my personal


    ount.”


    “Max!”


    Michael’s anger red, and he pped the desk. It was the first time he’d evershed out at Max like


    this, a hint of frost in his re. “All this for a woman. You seem pretty content to be the butt of the joke.”


    It was a harsh usation. After all, any random chapter from Max’s life thus far had been nothing but


    highlight reels. He was never the topic of ridicule.


    “Father, having Brielle by my side is icing on the cake.”


    Michael’s breathing grewbore; it was the first time he’d been this incensed. His chest heaved in silent


    laughter, though it was anything but humorous. “I’ve heard Martha’s condition has worsened. The


    sanatorium has called you several times, and you’ve been ignoring them, even going as far as


    instructing the doctors to take drastic measures.”


    “Mother’s emotional state was too agitated. I did what I felt was best for her.”


    “Absurd!”


    A cup shattered at Max’s feet.


    Michael’s brow furrowed deeper, his tone ice–cold. “I remember that wager with Brielle well. I won’t


    make things difficult for her for at least half a year. But if you continue with this outrageous behavior,


    don’t me me for breaking our agreement. Max, I won’t touch you, but I can’t make the same promise


    for Brielle. She has too many vulnerabilities. Do you think you can protect everyone involved?”


    It was a tant threat. His most prized son was brawling in the streets – it was an affront to everything


    Michael stood for. Moreover, it was with the heir to the Clements family, a brother who had grown up


    beside Max.


    1/3


    Michael was a seasoned businessman, and he knew when to hold back. “I’ll have Alivia spend more


    time with your mother. Consider how you might make it up to her. Jose enjoys collecting art. I happen


    to have a piece he would appreciate, ‘The Twelve Scenes of Landscape.”


    The rpense wasn’t for Alivia but for the Barnes family.


    Michaei added, “You know Alivia wants more than that.”


    “Father, that’s all I’m prepared to offer.” Max’s words were blunt, typical of his nature, and not prone to


    deception.


    Feeling the conversation would only serve to aggravate him further, Michael waved Max


    away.


    Before leaving, Max instructed the servants to clean up the broken ss. Then he stepped into his car


    parked outside. He was about to reply to Brielle’s message on his phone when the car window was


    tapped. It was the butler.


    The butler spoke with due respect. “Sir, Mr. Michael recently assigned someone new to Dorsey


    International to be your assistant. He forgot to mention it earlier and sent me here to inform you. Also,


    he insisted that you are not to dismiss this person.”


    Who could this new person be that required Michael’s personal attention?


    Max nodded slightly. When he drove to Dorsey International and saw the woman who appeared on the


    top floor, his brow furrowed ever so slightly.


    His new assistant was a woman with a passing resemnce to Brielle. If Sydney had merely copied


    Brielle’s dress sense, then this woman had captured Brielle’s essence. Her every gesture,bined


    with the resemnce, could easily be mistaken for Brielle’s under the dim lighting.


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    She was Michael’s nt. Michael had not explicitly stated it, but Max understood the implication. As


    part of the deal to settle the brawl with Andrew, this woman had t by Max’s side as his secretary.


    remain


    Max was not one to be provoked by such tactics. His gaze lingered on her for a moment before he


    entered his office.


    The woman respectfully stood at the entrance, not following in, but consulting with the people about the


    other procedures here.


    These people all knew Brielle, but Brielle had been fired. Before, there was a Sydney, who deliberately


    came to the top level to wander around, but she has recently disappeared. It was said that her family


    had reported to the police and Dorsey International had also helped to find her, but they had not been


    able to find her.


    Now there’s another one who looked so much like Brielle and had a simr temperament to Brielle,


    which seemed a little aloof.


    23


    People who were used to the genuine were not fond of the counterfeit, and they initially. thought this


    woman was like Sydney, just an Imitator. However, after spending just two hours with her, everyone


    found that her abilities were very strong, even far surpassing. others.


    Upon asking, it turned out that she was a Harvard graduate and a master’s degree holder at a young


    age.