ã€ŠMaster of his heart (Brielle and Max)ã€‹


 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1

    Max Dorsey never imagined he¡¯d wake up under a woman in a woman¡¯s bed. Brielle snagged his cor

    and nted a wet kiss on his neck, ensuring she left a telling mark before releasing him.

    ¡°Morning, Uncle Max.¡±

    After the greeting, she leaned in for a passionate good morning kiss on his lips.

    Max¡¯s hair was a tousled mess, his hawk-like eyes narrowed slightly, and he chuckled, his hand

    yfully squeezing her neck. ¡°Brielle, you¡¯re quite bold.¡±

    Taking him for a ride, she certainly was bold.

    His grip tightened.

    Brielle¡¯s face turned a deep shade of red as she shed him a charming, breathless smile, ¡°Life is too

    short, better make every moment count, right?¡±

    Max paused, a frosty glint in his eyes as he let her go and reached for his clothes.

    ¡°Uncle Max, where are you off to now?¡±

    His features were staggeringly attractive. Even a casual nce sent shivers down one¡¯s spine. ¡°Off to

    pick out a plot for you in the cemetery. Do you prefer a sunrise or sunset view?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s pupils dted, and she looked away sheepishly, ¡°You¡¯re really funny, Uncle Max.¡±

    Max stood nearly six-foot-three, an imposing figure with a ck rosary bracelet giving him an

    otherworldly air. He was the Dorsey family¡¯s fifth son,monly known as The Priest. ¡°Coffin

    preferences? What kind of wood do you fancy?¡±

    There was not a hint of a smile in his eyes. His wrist bones were tense, and his dark eyes, slightly

    lowered, were tinted with a hint of indifference.

    Brielle licked her lips, ¡°Is there also a coffin? It looks like you want to preserve my whole body. Should I

    say thank you?¡±

    I

    Max had never encountered such an audacious woman. A few specks of ruthlessness surged in his

    eyes. His long finger lifted, tilting her chin up.

    Her face was one of the most stunning in Beaconsfield. Describing her as breathtaking wouldn¡¯t be an

    exaggeration, but she was vain, pretentious, and pompous, the type of woman he despised the most.

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°You want to remain intact?¡±

    ¡°If you are generous enough.¡±

    She didn¡¯t have a mboyant beauty, rather a delicate and soft air, her expressions softening her

    features just right.

    Max suddenlyughed, the harshness in his eyes receding, but his grip on her grew firmer. He

    tormented her until she winced in pain, his other hand tracing down along her waist.

    The cold touch of the ck rosary bracelet against her skin made her tense up. He wasn¡¯t flirting: he

    was appraising her like an item for sale.

    ¡°Can¡¯t Spencer satisfy you?¡±

    Spencer was Brielle¡¯s fianc¨¦, Max¡¯s nephew.

    But not for long. Spencer had been caught in bed with her best friend, and now Brielle had returned the

    favor with this grand gesture.

    What a delightful game!

    ¡°What do you mean, Uncle Max? I assure you, there¡¯s nothing untoward between your nephew and

    me.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s voice was dripping with seduction, her glossy tongue peeked out from between her lips,

    enchanting like a siren.

    Max narrowed his eyes. In Beaconsfield, countless women desired to be with him, but he had never

    taken them seriously. And now, his soon-to-be niece-inw had seeded.

    A dangerous aura began to envelop him.

    ¡°Are you sure this is what you want?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Brielle had just enough time to let out a gasp before a wave of intense trepidation swept from her throat

    to her stomach, as Max pinned her back onto the bed.

    ¡°Mmph.¡±

    His force was overwhelming, ensnaring her limbs and torso with an overpowering grasp.

    In the end, Brielle couldn¡¯t even summon a sound. It wasn¡¯t until the jarring ring of her cellphone that

    she blinked awake from the chaos.

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2

    Brielle nced at the date on her phone screen and realized she¡¯d lost herself in another night.

    Outside, the rain wasing down in buckets, and the warmth wrapped around her waist tightened

    like vines. She reached for her phone and saw it was Spencer calling, so she hit the answer button.

    ¡°Hello?¡±

    The man beside her seemed to stir awake. Brielle quickly lowered her voice, ¡°Spencer,

    what¡¯s up?¡±

    Her throat was so hoarse she could barely speak, so she got out of bed to pour herself at ss of

    water to soothe it.

    ¡°Where have you been these past couple of days? Lillian and I have been texting you like crazy, and

    you haven¡¯t responded.¡±

    Brielle tied her robe and met the man¡¯s gaze as she lifted her head. He had a strong presence, with a

    high nose and deep-set eyes, which gave him an air of aloof coolness.

    A sense of relief washed over her: Sure, she was spent, but at least she¡¯d managed to cheat on

    Spencer as well.

    What goes aroundes around.

    ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t see them. Is there something wrong?¡± Brielle nonchntly picked up the suit jacket from

    the floor.

    ¡°Uncle Max is back in town. I¡¯m picking you up in ten minutes for a family dinner.¡±

    Before Brielle could reply, Spencer hung up. Brielle raised an eyebrow and then turned to

    Max.

    ¡°Uncle Max, you are going back home?¡± Her tone was teasing and alluring.

    Just then, a knock came at the door.

    Was Spencer here already?

    She nced at Max, searching for even a hint of guilt on his face. Nothing. He looked as

    casual as if he were in his own home.

    Brielle pointed to the bathroom and chuckled. My fianc¨¦¡¯s here. Mind hiding out for a bit?¡± Her tone was

    casual, but the message was clear.

    The voice outside was unfamiliar. ¡°Ms. Brielle, I¡¯m here to deliver Mr. Dorsey¡¯s clothes.¡±

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    Brielle opened the door to find an assistant-like figure holding a suit, greeting respectfully

    to her

    He didn¡¯t ask much about her rtionship with Max, typical of Max¡¯s people.

    She took the suit and handed it to Max

    ¡°Quite sensible¡± The tone that emerged from his throat was like a brook with a hint of snow, chilly and

    indifferent. Despite the lingering lust in his eyes, once the suit was on, Max reverted to his usual cold

    and abstinent demeanor.

    Brielle remembered how fiercely he¡¯d been in bed, and she mused that his moniker, The Priest¡¯ was

    quite the misnomer. Even so, as she caught sight of the bruised nail marks on his back, her cheeks

    flushed without reason.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    After bringing him to this apartment while he was drunk, she never imagined they¡¯d end tangled

    together more than once.

    She thought to ease into a conversation, but her phone rang again. It was Spencer, sounding impatient.

    ¡°Are youing down?¡±

    She thought about the fact that the guest of honor at the family dinner was still here, so why rush?

    But Spencer had little patience for her, ¡°The rain¡¯s heavy, and there¡¯s traffic ahead. Don¡¯t make me wait,

    and remember your ce.¡±

    His disdain was undisguised.

    Brielle didn¡¯t feel like arguing, so after hanging up, she kissed Max in a sort of vengeful defiance. His

    fingers responded by gripping the back of her neck. Spencer¡¯s car was waiting downstairs, and she

    reveled in the secret thrill of the moment.

    ¡°Brielle, be careful not to get burned when ying with fire,¡± Max warned.

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3

    Riding shotgun in Spencer¡¯s car, Brielle¡¯s mind was still reying Max¡¯s words.

    Be careful not to get burned, huh?-

    Her marriage to Spencer was an arrangement made by their families. The Dorsey family held an

    unrivaled position in Beaconsfield, while the Haywoods barely made the top ten. Next to the Dorseys,

    they were essentially small fry.

    Her little stunt had allowed her to let off some steam, but it also meant she¡¯d crossed one of the most

    untouchable figures in the circle of the elite.

    The rain was pouring down, reducing visibility, and within two miles, traffic had slowed to

    a crawl.

    Spencer, already in a foul mood, frowned upon seeing her bundled up in a turtleneck, her chin almost

    disappearing into her cor.

    ¡°Is that what you¡¯re wearing?¡±

    It was early fall, hardly the season for turtlenecks. Despite Brielle¡¯s striking looks, it was a

    bit odd.

    Thinking of the love bite Max had left on her neck, the corners of her lips curled up. ¡°Yeah,¡± it¡¯s chilly

    with the rain.¡±

    ¡°Such a delicate flower,¡± Spencer muttered, his irritation growing.

    Brielle¡¯s pale fingers brushed her cor. ¡°Haven¡¯t been to the office these past two weeks?¡± Spencer

    despised her tone, as if nothing mattered to her. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business where I go.¡± He honked the

    horn twice in quick session, feeling like sharing the confined space with Brielle was pure torture.

    The phone rang. It was Spencer¡¯s. From the corner of her eye, Brielle noticed the caller

    ID-Lillian.

    Unlike the impatience he showed her, Spencer¡¯s face softened immediately upon answering. ¡°Lillian,

    you¡¯re up? Don¡¯t go out in this awful weather. You have a fever? How bad is it?¡±

    His voice went from joy to concern, then to panic. Brielle twirled a strand of hair in front of her, not

    asking further.

    Spencer cursed under his breath, hung up the phone, and then angrily punched the steering wheel.

    Brielle found his frustration amusing. If he¡¯d gone up to her apartment just now, he would have

    discovered her scandalous affair with another man. However, Spencer never

    1/3

    showed interest in her affairs, nor had he ever visited her apartment.

    Imagining his future reaction, Brielle¡¯s lips formed a smirk.

    Suddenly, Spencer yanked the car key out and, without bothering with an umbre, stepped into the

    deluge.

    ¡°Not heading to your home?¡± Brielle rolled down the window and called out to his retreating figure.

    ¡°She¡¯s sick; I need to check on her. After all, Lillian is your friend.¡±

    Brielle closed the window, her eyes brimming with sarcasm. ¡°Then you¡¯d better take good care of my

    ¡®friend.¡±

    Spencer paused for a moment before disappearing into the rain.

    Brielle sighed. Once unfaithful, always useless. She watched the rainstorm outside and turned to find

    that Spencer had taken the keys with him. Her brow furrowed in

    annoyance.

    The traffic ahead began to move, but her car was stuck, quickly attracting a chorus of honks and

    curses.

    Brielle wanted to search for an umbre, and got out the car. However, she stumbled upon several

    used condoms wedged in the seat¡¯s crevice. Her face turned pale, and nausea hit her.

    Opening the glovepartment, she found a limited edition lipstick, a gift she¡¯d once given to Lillian.

    Only thirty in the world, a rare find.

    She chuckled, closing thepartment. She chose to ignore the tant provocation.

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    She stepped out of the car, soaked through by the rain, only to watch helplessly as a traffic cop

    directed her car to be towed awa

    away.

    Standing amidst the bustling downpour with nowhere to hide, she wiped the rain from her face and was

    about to make her way to the sidewalk when a ck Bentley pulled up

    beside her.

    The Bentley¡¯s license te bore a conspicuous series of 1, and a small g next to it. That g

    signified that the car could freely enter any ce, even military no-go zones.

    She raised an eyebrow and slipped into the car ¡°Uncle Max, what a coincidence.¡±

    Max barely nced at her before looking away, his fingers idly ying with the ck rosary on his

    wrist. ¡°Did my nephew dump you?¡±

    So much for The Priest, she thought. Brielle found Max to be more of a devil than a cleric, always keen

    to jab where it hurt.

    ¡°Uncle Max, I took good care of you in bedst night, didn¡¯t I? Why do you act like you

    2/3

    don¡¯t know me now?¡±

    Sheughed charmingly, and there was a captivating charm in her eyes as they lightly. swept across

    him. Her words bore no trace of the humiliation or frustration of being abandoned.

    Patrick, in the front seat, quietly put up the privacy screen, unwilling to listen to any more from the

    backseat.

    ¡°Not bad at taking care of me?¡± Max repeated her words, thenzily swept his gaze ove her. ¡°You were

    like a dead fish, all noise, no action. What¡¯s so good about that?¡±

    Brielle clenched her jaw, forcing a smile. ¡°Sorry that you had to fuck a ¡®dead fish¡¯ so hard. I almost

    thought you¡¯ve never seen a woman before.¡±

    Retaliating with sarcasm, her smiling lips pressed together, appearing somewhat pitiful.

    She leaned to get out of the car but was roughly pulled back by a strong grip. Max¡¯s fingers settled on

    her wrist, pinning her down as he told the driver, ¡°Head to Premier Pce.¡±

    Premier Pce, Max¡¯s residence. It seemed he had decided to skip the banquet, eve though he was

    the guest of honor,

    Brielle froze, her disheveled state not fit for the event anyway. She leaned into his embrace instead.

    Max looked down at her, his eyes dark and inscrutable like winter snow.

    ¡°You are not gonna walk out now?*

    ¡°Uncle Max,¡± she retorted with a smirk, ¡°how can a dead fish walk?¡±

    3/3

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4

    How the tables had turned.

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Satisfied, Brielle sat back, not caring whether she had dampened his suit or not.-

    The ride to Premier Pce was wrapped in afortable silence, as if by unspoken agreement, and

    neither of them felt the need to engage in idle conversation.

    Brielle knew that Max¡¯s attentiveness wasn¡¯t due to pity or a flutter of the heart. He was predator at the

    top of the food chain, having made his mark on Wall Street at the tender age of seventeen,

    orchestrating the biggest corporate merger of the year. His rise to fame was built on the ruins of his

    rivals. A man like him, she mused, didn¡¯t have a heart to

    spare.

    A chill ran through her, and she sneezed uncontrobly. A clean nket was tossed her way. Looking

    up, she saw him engrossed in papers on hisp, not sparing her a nce.

    ¡°Thanks, Uncle Max,¡± she said, grabbing the nket and drying her damp hair.

    As the wrought iron gates of Premier Pce slowly swung open, even Brielle, no stranger to grandeur,

    couldn¡¯t help but be captivated by the opulence within.

    The car came to a halt at the vi¡¯s entrance, and Patrick stepped out to respectfully open the door for

    them.

    The cold air hit Brielle as she stepped out, causing goosebumps to spread across her skin. She rushed

    to keep up with Max, a smirk ying on her lips. ¡°Am I the first woman to set foot in here?¡±

    Max paused, and Brielle nearly bumped into him. His eyes twinkled with amusement as he gestured

    toward a maid trimming hedges in the distance. ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Then I must be the first woman to make it to your bed sessfully, right?¡±

    Her chin was lifted by his firm grip, forcing her to meet his gaze. Panic fluttered in her chest. She had

    initiated this game, but the ending wasn¡¯t hers to dictate.

    ¡°Yes,¡± he answered simply.

    Brielle was at a loss for words, her mind momentarily adrift. By the time she collected herself, Max had

    walked away. She took a deep breath and bit her lip before catching up to him, her voice light and

    carefree. ¡°So, Uncle Max, you gonna look out for me from now on?¡±

    Entering the vi¡¯s grand hall, he loosened the tie around his neck. The rosary beads glinted darkly.

    ¡°Depends on how you behave.¡±

    She took that as a sign of a potential long-term arrangement. Brielle thought of Spencer,

    1/3

    Chapter 4

    and that tiny bit of regret instantly disappeared.

    Spencer found her dull, his mother Faith thought her restrained, and the Haywood family believed her

    to be demure. They were all wrong. She was wild at heart.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Uncle Max. I¡¯ll take good care of you.¡±

    Max raised an eyebrow, his dark eyes indifferent. He casually unbuttoned his shirt, scooping her up in

    his arms. ¡°Until I tire of you

    ¡°You don¡¯t mind that I¡¯m a dead fish in bed?¡± She was still holding a grudge over their

    earlier encounter.

    Max¡¯s master bedroom was dark as he pinned her against the door. ¡°Noints. You just lie back

    and enjoy.¡±

    Brielle was thankful for her striking looks, but before she could ponder any further, she was swept up in

    lust once again.

    Their bodies were close, their souls drifting apart. She knew too well that Max was an extreme, a

    madness that could devour everything.

    Falling for Spencer, she could walk away unscathed. Falling for Max would be a catastrophe, a point of

    no return.

    After another night at Premier Pce, Brielle returned to her apartment to freshen up before heading to

    the office.

    Her phone was bombarded with missed calls-some from the Haywood family, others from Spencer¡¯s

    mother, Faith.

    Last night¡¯s dinner party, spoiled by Max¡¯s absence, had obviously been a debacle. As the prospective

    daughter-inw, her no-show was a breach of etiquette.

    She dialed Faith, but before she could utter a word, the woman¡¯s interrogation began.

    ¡°I asked you to keep an eye on Spencer. I heard he hasn¡¯t shown up at the office for weeks. Brielle,

    what have you been doing?¡±

    Standing outside the towering Dorsey Tower, Brielle looked up at the skyscraper piercing the sky.

    ¡°Faith, he won¡¯t take my calls.¡±

    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you go find him? I thought you were smart, Brielle. I ced you in Dorsey International

    to watch over him. Now that Max is back, thepany¡¯s bound to face turmoil. As a finance graduate

    from Beaconsfield College, you should understand what that means.¡±

    Max had rarely been at the helm of Dorsey International, preferring to pull strings from abroad. Even

    so, thepany¡¯s performance had soared under his leadership, with

    2/3

    Chapter 4

    stocks skyrocketing.

    Now that he had returned, the ckers at Dorsey International were understandably unsettled.

    ¡°Think about it, Brielle. If you can¡¯t handle this, then perhaps this marriage arrangement isn¡¯t

    necessary.¡±

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5

    Faith¡¯s tone was icy, her words dripping with disdain as though Brielle was beneath her notice. Brielle

    knew that if she didn¡¯t take action, the next call would be to the Haywoods, and then her parents would

    be on the line, lecturing her on herck of charm and tact.

    She was tired of being a puppet on strings. After hanging up, she texted Faith the address of the

    suburban mansion, Spencer¡¯s little love nest. If Faith cared to dig, she would discover her son¡¯s

    mistress.

    Brielle also wondered if Faith already knew about Spencer and Lillian¡¯s affair, which would exin her

    increasingly imperious attitude. Not only did Faith expect her to y the dutiful daughter-inw within

    the Dorsey n, but she also expected her to handle Spencer¡¯s business affairs. Talk about making the

    most of her assets.

    When Brielle arrived at Dorsey Tower and pushed open the office door, she found the entire floor eerily

    silent.

    Everyone sat up straight, casting anxious nces toward the elevators. Whispers echoed through the

    cubicles.

    ¡°All the execs got called up for a meeting. Word is Mr. Dorsey¡¯s not staying abroad this time.¡±

    ¡°The Wall Street Journal had a feature on him just the other day-Harvard wunderkind.¡±

    ¡°Looks like a shake-up at Dorsey International.¡±

    At her desk, Brielle thought of the man who had left her bed that morning, now presiding over the top

    floor, and the corner of her mouth twitched with amusement.

    He was sexy in bed, and just as much so in a suit and tie.

    She had barely sat down when a tap on her shoulder made her turn. ¡°Why¡¯s the director not here? If he

    skips the exec meeting, our department¡¯s going to be in the crosshairs, right?¡±

    That was her coworker Lucinda, the only one who knew about her and Spencer.

    Brielle clipped on her badge, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    A hint of surprise appeared in Lucinda¡¯s eyes, followed by a deeply hidden disdain. ¡°Isn¡¯t he your

    fianc¨¦? Really? With your looks, you can¡¯t even keep a man?¡±

    Beauty was an ace up her sleeve, but it wasn¡¯t everything.

    Brielle graduated from the top university in the country, Beaconsfield College. However, in apany

    like Dorsey International, you could randomly throw a brick, and it would hit a high-achieving graduate

    from an Ivy League school. However, not everyone had her stunning looks.

    Chapter 5

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°Brielle, I saw the director with another woman at the mallst week. Don¡¯t tell me you got two-timed?¡±

    Lucinda¡¯s pity hinted at the harsh reality of marrying into wealth.

    Brielle sighed and organized her documents, ¡°Maybe.¡±

    As she finished, the elevator dinged, and Spencer emerged, suave in a grey suit. Hel quickly

    straightened his tie and smoothed out any wrinkles-clearly,st night¡¯s indulgences had taken their toll.

    Brielle handed him the organized files.

    Spencer¡¯s face twisted with distaste as he impatiently headed to the private elevator, ¡°You¡¯reing to

    the meeting with me.¡± She had prepared the files. If he was questioned, she¡¯d be the safety.

    The atmosphere on the top floor was tense, the senior executives ready for battle.

    Spencer felt a shiver of dread as he entered the boardroom and met the cold gaze of the man by the

    window. He greeted respectfully, ¡°Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    Behind the main seat was arge French window. Max sat there, like a tree covered with frost in winter

    when everything withers, devoid of warmth.

    The boardroom was silent, the directors rigid with sweaty palms.

    Brielle recognized many faces from the Dorsey family, some even elders to Max. She pressed her lips

    together in a small smile, meeting Max¡¯s impassive stare. He really was a different person off the bed.

    Spencer, pale-faced, found a seat, regrettingst night¡¯s indulgences.

    ¡°Thud.¡± A file hit the table, filled with countless receipts of personal expenses-luxury cars, vis,

    furniture, rugs-charged to thepany ounts.

    ¡°An exnation?¡± Max¡¯s eyes swept over everyone, finally resting on Spencer.

    Spencer paled further, ¡°Mr. Dorsey, I¡­ His heart pounded with regret for arrivingte and being the

    focus of scrutiny. The suburban vi was for Lillian, charged to thepany.

    Max chuckled softly, tapping the marble table, For whom?¡±

    It was a p to Spencer¡¯s face, but with many Dorseys present, he couldn¡¯t admit to infidelity.

    ¡°For my fianc¨¦e.¡±

    Brielle rolled her eyes internally. She was the scapegoat for Lillian again.

    Max looked down,nguidly closing his eyes, ¡°Really? Then consider it a gift I¡¯m giving to

    my future niece-inw. But don¡¯t let it happen again.¡±

    The warning was for everyone.

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    Chapter

    With Max¡¯s reputation as a Wall Street prodigy, no one would challenge him on his first day in charge.

    Two hourster, the meeting ended, and the directors left with grim expressions.

    Brielle, knowing Spencer barely noticed her, lingered at the back.

    Meanwhile, Max remained seated by the window. He saw her close the door and walk

    towards him with quick steps in her high heels

    ¡°Uncle Max, you¡¯re really something.¡±

    Of course, she had to butter up her sugar daddy.

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6

    Max¡¯s gaze did a quick sweep over her face before he murmured, ¡°Leave.¡±

    Brielle wasn¡¯t offended, she knew his sternness was just a show of authority for others, not truly

    directed at her. After all, she did benefit from the situation.

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    She was about to sweet talk him a bit more when the conference room door burst open. Spencer stood

    there, his face clouded with anger. ¡°What are you still doing here?¡± he snapped

    Brielle hadn¡¯t expected Spencer to double back like this. He usually paid her no mind. With no choice,

    she pretended to tidy up the papers on the table, gave Max a respectful nod, and left the room.

    Spencer, in his sharp suit, didn¡¯t dare meet Max¡¯s gaze and mumbled, ¡°Uncle Max, I apologize for her

    ignorance. She doesn¡¯t know any better.

    Max responded with a nonchnt ¡°Hmm¡± and looked away.

    Outside, Spencer grabbed Brielle¡¯s wrist tightly. ¡°Did you go squealing to him? For heaven¡¯s sake,

    Brielle, you¡¯re ady of the Haywood family. Haven¡¯t you ever seen money before?¡±

    The disdain in his eyes was like a thorn, brutally piercing Brielle¡¯s heart.

    Brielle found him utterly ridiculous. She didn¡¯t know where he got the idea that she was money-hungry

    and promiscuous. Maybe because she had only been brought back to the Haywood fold at the age of

    ten, he assumed she carried an air of poverty about her.

    ¡°Spencer, we¡¯ve known each other for thirteen years. Have you ever given me anything?¡± she shot

    back. So what made him think she was after money?

    v ever

    Spencer clenched his teeth, his irritation boiling over. ¡°You wish! The Haywoods only wanted totch

    onto our family¡¯s influence. Let me tell you, stop meddling in things that don¡¯t concern you. I don¡¯t like

    you one bit. Just stay in yourne, and eventually, I¡¯ll make things clear to my family, and we can part

    ways amicably.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s wrist throbbed painfully under his grip, likely bruising. ¡°Spencer, it was your who wanted this

    engagement in the first ce, and now you want to call it off. What exactly do the Dorseys take me

    for?¡±

    Indeed, it was a teenage Spencer who had insisted on the alliance with the Haywoods, charmed by

    Brielle¡¯s looks and top-notch academic performance. They were ssmates, and Spencer, used to

    getting his way, thought she was the only girl worthy of him. The Haywoods naturally agreed, and

    Brielle had no say in the matter. The Dorseys probably thought it was just child¡¯s y and didn¡¯t object.

    Now, the only reason the marriage contract hadn¡¯t been dissolved was because of her status as a top

    university graduate and her choice of a finance major, both of which

    1/4

    could help Spencer secure his position at Dorsey International.

    For ten years this engagement had dragged on, and Brielle had been nothing but devoted, pouring her

    heart and soul into it.

    And what had he done? Carried on an affair with Lillian, and while with her, he¡¯d take every opportunity

    to belittle Brielle as dull, unfeeling, mechanical.

    Ha, if the Dorsey family saw her as some cheapmodity to be used and discarded, she wasn¡¯t

    about to sit back and take it

    ¡°Being engaged to you has been the biggest mistake of my life. It¡¯s utterly revolting!¡±

    Spencer¡¯s words were meant to wound, and they struck Brielle like a plunge into icy waters. A stifled

    pain grew in her heart, and she couldn¡¯t help but wonder how he would react if he found out about her

    and Max.

    ¡°Let go. There¡¯s a department meeting this afternoon. If you¡¯re going to have a meltdown, do it

    somewhere else.¡±

    Spencer, fearing Max might emerge from the conference room, thought he had hit a nerve with Brielle

    and, with a self-satisfied snort, released her. ¡°Mom sent you to spy, actually took yourself seriously.¡±

    and you

    Rubbing her sore wrist, Brielle wished she could swing a punch at him. ¡°I¡¯m heading downstairs.

    Remember to transfer that vi into my name.¡±

    Spencer¡¯s eyes bulged in disbelief, and he almost shrieked, ¡°What did you just say?¡±

    Brielle looked up, smiling. ¡°Uncle Max said it was a gift for me. So, please tell Lillian to move out.¡±

    ¡°You!¡±

    Spencer had never seen this side of Brielle, and he clenched his fists in rage. ¡°You¡¯re really all about

    the money, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t bother to refute. A two-million-dor vi was not something she was willing to hand over

    to Lillian.

    Ignoring Spencer¡¯s teeth-grinding behind her, she returned to her office. The office was buzzing, and all

    eyes were on her. Brielle frowned upon hearing the whispers about a ¡°fianc¨¦e.¡± Her rtionship with

    Spencer had been exposed.

    She looked up at Lucinda. With an apologetic grip on her own clothes, Lucinda said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I spoke

    too loudly, and someone overheard.¡±

    Spencer stepped forward, impatiently tugging at his tie. ¡°So they know. What can you do

    about it? It¡¯s not like it¡¯s going tost anyway.¡±

    In front of everyone, he showed no regard for Brielle. She received many sympathetic

    2/4

    Chapter 6

    looks, but it suited her just fine. She felt the same way.

    After work, a Haywood car came to pick her up.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, thedy has requested your presence.¡±

    It must have been Faith who called.

    Brielle reluctantly got into the car, and before she could even step through the Haywood¡¯s front door,

    she heard Lillian¡¯sughter from inside.

    ¡°Miranda, your tea is delightful. Bri has always praised it, and even Spencer mentioned it.¡±

    ¡°Lillian, it¡¯s been so long since you¡¯ve been home. I thought you and Bri had grown apart. Did you

    receive the gift I sent youst time?¡±

    ¡°It was too extravagant. I felt awkward epting it.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense, take it. Why stand on ceremony with me?¡±

    With pressed lips, Brielle paused in the foyer to change her shoes and saw Lillian massaging Miranda¡¯s

    wrists. If you didn¡¯t know any better, you¡¯d think they were mother and daughter.

    Miranda looked over with a beaming smile, ¡°Bri, Lillian¡¯s been here all afternoon, where have you

    been? Did you get Faith¡¯s call? Spencer is still young and restless-cut him some ck next time, will

    you? Don¡¯t be so headstrong.¡±

    Brielle set her bag down, meeting Lillian¡¯s gaze

    Lillian offered a timid smile, awkwardly settling back onto the couch, ¡°Bri, are you mad at me? I¡¯m sorry,

    I¡¯ve been sick these past two weeks and I don¡¯t really know anyone else here, so I ended up calling

    Spencer.¡±

    Miranda took her hand, her face a picture of concern, ¡°What, sick? You¡¯ve got to take care of yourself.

    Spencer¡¯s a pampered young man, all thumbs, how could he take care of anyone? Next time, just call

    Bri. If that¡¯s not an option, I¡¯ll send someone over to look after

    you.¡±

    ¡°Miranda, I don¡¯t want to impose.¡± Lillian was visibly flustered, casting a quick nce at

    Brielle.

    Brielle¡¯s expression remained cool as she walked over and sat down on the couch, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte,

    you should head home.¡±¡±

    Lillian paled, her shoulders shrinking as if she were a small, pitiful creature, ¡°Bri, you really are upset

    with me, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯ll call Spencer right now and tell him to stop fussing over me.¡± Her hands

    trembled slightly, barely able to grip her phone.

    Miranda frowned in disapproval, ¡°Bri, you and Lillian grew up together in the same orphanage, and you

    two have known each other for years. Don¡¯t you know her by now?

    Lillian has always been frail. Don¡¯t be so cold. You might scare her.¡±

 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7

    Brielle and Lillian indeed grew up in the same orphanage and were as close as sisters.

    They celebrated life¡¯s little victories and consoled each other¡¯s defeats as if they were blood. On

    Brielle¡¯s seventh birthday, a two-year younger Lillian had saved up enough to buy a $13 cake. It was

    the cheapest of the cheap, the kind of cake where you could still taste the bitterness of economy in the

    frosting And when Lillian brought it out, clumsy as she was, it tumbled to the ground, a heap of broken

    dreams.

    They sat there, tears mingling withughter, making a pinky promise-when they had the means, they

    would feast on the finest cakes and cherish every birthday like a treasure.

    So, when the Haywoods found Brielle on her tenth birthday, she didn¡¯t hesitate to bring Lillian along,

    pleading with the Haywoods to enroll them both in school.

    In different sses but never apart, the girls were inseparable. But the corrupting allure of wealth can

    change a person. Those who once fretted over every meal suddenly found themselves in opulence,

    and their hearts hardened.

    ¡°Miranda, Lillian¡¯s cheeks flushed with guilt, her eyes brimming with tears.

    Brielle thought of the used condoms in the car, and the deliberately left lipstick, ¡°Mom, since you like

    her so much, why don¡¯t you adopt her as your daughter?¡±

    It was a retort made in anger. Yet, a flicker of serious consideration passed through Miranda¡¯s eyes.

    Brielle felt a sting of humiliation, sharp as a thorn. She¡¯d forgotten that in this house, Lillian was the

    golden child. Even the house staff couldn¡¯t stop singing her praises.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Hadn¡¯t Brielle, too, given her heart and soul to Lillian?

    Lillian, always ying the damsel with her fragile fa?ade.

    ¡°I¡¯m giving you three days to move out of that vi,¡± Brielle suppressed her anger, feeling as if her

    mouth was filled with the taste of blood.

    Ironically, she always felt like she burdened her family by bringing Lillian back. So, no matter what she

    did, she wanted to be the best. However, her achievements couldn¡¯tpare to Lillian¡¯s sweet words.

    In the end, she was the outcast in her own home.

    Lillian, hearing her words, sneered inwardly. The vi had been a gift from Spencer-what right did

    Brielle have tomand her?

    While harboring such resentment in her heart, she wore a look of grievance on her face, biting her lips.

    ¡°Bri, please don¡¯t be angry, I¡¯ll do as you say.¡±

    Brielle had no desire to watch the performance. She stood up, ¡°I won¡¯t keep you for dinner.¡±

    1/3

    Chapte

    Miranda, looking on, held Lillian close, ¡°Bri, what¡¯s gotten into you tonight?¡±

    ¡°Miranda, it¡¯s my fault. I had nowhere to live, so I moved into Spencer¡¯s vi in the suburbs. Bri¡¯s

    misunderstood, Lillian exined.

    Disappointment filled Miranda¡¯s eyes, ¡°Spencer has so many properties. Lillian can stay in one. It is no

    big deal. If you secure him as your husband, all his assets will be eventually.¡±

    yours

    ¡°Mom,¡± Brielle stood tall, her voice steady, ¡°then maybe Lillian should just marry Spencer.¡±

    ¡°You!¡± Miranda¡¯s chest heaved with anger. ¡°You¡¯re bing more and more outrageous.¡±

    Brielle felt her heart tear open. All those years of obedience, the Haywoods wouldn¡¯t tolerate even the

    slightest mistake from her. On the other hand, Lillian, who was always clumsy and had consistently

    poor grades, was seen by them as naturally innocent and in need of protection.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Lillian what she¡¯s done? And while you¡¯re at it, check how many times she¡¯s slept

    with Spencer in that vi.¡±

    The moment the words left her mouth, Miranda¡¯s hand flew across her face.

    Brielle didn¡¯t see iting. She touched her swiftly swelling cheek in disbelief, a harsh pain making her

    bend slightly to cope. A bitterugh escaped her as she grabbed her bag, ¡°When Lillian moved out at

    eighteen, you all were heartbroken. If that¡¯s the case, I might as well make it a double celebration and

    leave Spencer to her. After all, you wanted to adopt her as your daughter. I won¡¯t disturb your

    celebration.¡±

    ¡°Brielle!¡± Miranda roared, unable to believe the daughter who had always been sopliant could be

    so confrontational.

    Brielle was already at the door, Lillian¡¯s sobs, apologies, and Miranda¡¯sforting words chasing after

    her.

    Miranda didn¡¯t believe Lillian capable of such things. ¡°I can¡¯t believe Bri would fabricate such lies to

    nder you,¡± Miranda said.

    The irony wasn¡¯t lost on Brielle as she clutched her bag, white-knuckled.

    Once in her car, she licked her dry lips, tasting blood. With a press on the gas, she drove

    away.

    Arriving at her apartment building, she saw Spencer¡¯s Porsche, him leaning against it, smoking. His

    greeting was anything but warm. ¡°Lillian¡¯s missing, Brielle. Did you hassle. her again? I told you, she¡¯s

    with me because I forced her. If you¡¯ve got a problem, take it out on me, not her. She genuinely cares

    about you, and treats you like a sister.¡±

    Without missing a beat, Brielle pped him hard.

    Spencer¡¯s head turned with the impact, his chiseled jawline swelling. The p was

    2/3

    Chapter 7

    merciless, leaving him dazed. After a few seconds, he touched his face, Incredulous, ¡°You hit me?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say to take my anger out on you?¡± Brielle spat back.

    Spencer¡¯s lips trembled, ¡°You bitch-¡±

    He couldn¡¯t finish his curse, his mind a nk te of fury.

    ¡°Thank you. I feel much better now,¡± Brielle said, stepping past him into the building.

    ¡°Brielle!!¡± Spencer shouted, kicking a trash can in a fit of rage.

    Brielle ignored him, entering her apartment to calm her boiling emotions. She even started working

    overtime, going throughpany emails on herptop.

    Since her graduation, she¡¯d been positioned at Spencer¡¯s side, naively thinking the Dorsey family saw

    her as one of their own. It was only now that she realized how masterfully Faith had yed her hand.

    Michael had all the young bloods up and at ¡¯em early, cing them in Dorsey International with high

    hopes they¡¯d make something of themselves.

    Brielle, the top student from Beaconsfield College with a degree in Finance, was a wiz. With her

    smarts, Spencer¡¯s performance outshone all the other greenhorns. The glory was Spencer¡¯s, and so

    was the year-end bonus. What was in it for her?

    In the future, if Spencer grew tired of her, the Dorsey family could dissolve the engagement with an air

    of superiority. All those years she¡¯d put in they¡¯d amount to

    zilch.

    What a genius move.

    ¨C

    Brielle pressed her lips together, trembling with rage. In thepany¡¯s internalwork, she found

    Max¡¯s private profile and shot off an email with her whistle-blowing letter attached. It was a detailed

    ount of Spencer¡¯s embezzlement and negligence.

    Brielle waited and waited, until she dozed off on her desk, but no reply came.

    When she woke up, it was 6 a.m. and her eyes were sore. She saw a new message notification on her

    computer screen. With a surge of excitement, she clicked it open, only to be met with one icy word-

    ¡°Rejected.¡±

    That son of a bitch.

 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8

    On the way to the office, Brielle clenched her jaw in frustration.

    One reason was the throbbing pain in her cheek, and the other was the aches all over her body from

    spending the night sprawled across the desk.

    Upon seeing her arrive, Lucinda hurriedly handed over a stack of documents, ¡°Brielle, the director sent

    back your reportst night, and now Integral Elements Inc. has been hounding us for the bid proposal.

    If we don¡¯t get it to them by nine tomorrow morning, it¡¯ll be seen as a forfeit.¡±

    Lucinda¡¯s tone wasden with reproach as she spoke. Previously, Spencer never meddled in these

    affairs, so the approval of the reports was solely on Brielle¡¯s shoulders.

    However, because of the pst night, Spencer let personal grievances creep in and deliberately

    rejected the report. The report concerned the acquisition of Integral Elements Inc., and Brielle had

    already met with the head of Integral Elements Inc. Failing to submit the bid proposal at this critical

    juncture would tarnish not only Dorsey International¡¯s reputation but also her own.

    Grinding her teeth, Brielle dialed Spencer¡¯s number, only to be greeted by a familiar female

    voice.

    ¡°He¡¯s in the shower.¡±

    It was Lillian¡¯s voice.

    Brielle took a deep breath, ¡°I don¡¯t care what he¡¯s doing right now; if he¡¯s not at the office within half an

    hour, I¡¯m taking this report straight to the top floor.¡±

    Lillian was clueless about these matters. She had deliberately not told Spencer about her visit to the

    Haywood familyst night, and when Spencer returned to the vi and found her gone, he indeed made

    trouble for Brielle.

    Lillian¡¯s lips curled into a smirk, ¡°Half an hour, huh? Guess you¡¯ll be waiting then.¡±

    The call ended abruptly, and Brielle set a thirty-minute countdown on her watch.

    Lucinda had overheard the conversation, especially the suggestive mention of the shower. Her gaze

    shifted from sympathy to disdain and finally settled into a sneer. ¡°Brielle, we don¡¯t mean to rush you, but

    procuring Integral Elements Inc. is a short-term goal for our department. If this gets dyed because of

    your personal issues, all our hard work goes down the drain.¡±

    The me should have fallen on Spencer, but being a Dorsey, no one dared challenge him. So, to

    everyone else, Brielle, perceived as a woman of no significant background and scorned by Spencer as

    his fianc¨¦e, naturally became the scapegoat.

    Now, with Max himself at the helm of Dorsey International, the slightest disturbance

    1/3

    1604

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    caught his attention, and indeed, the whole department suffered the consequences.

    Ignoring the stares around her, Brielle sat down and waited for Spencer¡¯s call. In less than ten minutes,

    Spencer did call back.

    ¡°Brielle, I¡¯m not satisfied with your report on Integral Elements Inc., so I¡¯ve decided to have Lucinda

    take over your duties.¡±

    Spencer might have been cavalier about thepany, but his status afforded him veto power over

    anyone in the department.

    ¡°Spencer, keep personal grudges personal. What¡¯s the point of dragging thepany into this? We¡¯ve

    dispatched so many people to Integral Elements Inc., invested so much time. and resources.¡±

    ¡°This is your problem, Brielle.¡± Spencer¡¯s tone was dismissive and even a bit nasty, ¡°You¡¯ve made your

    bed, now lie in it.¡±

    Taking a deep breath, Brielle grabbed the report from her desk and headed straight to the executive

    floor. Her colleagues were surprised by her bold move, and their eyes betrayed a hint of mockery.

    Patrick didn¡¯t show any surprise when he saw hering, ¡°Ms. Brielle, the president is in a meeting.¡±

    Brielle decided to wait right there. Integral Elements Inc. was pressing hard, and Spencer couldn¡¯t care

    less about the sess of the bid

    ¡°The president¡¯s meeting will go on until 3 p.m., followed by an international video conference until 7

    p.m. At 7:30, he¡¯ll depart for a charity g, and won¡¯t return home until

    9.¡±

    Patrick flipped through the schedule, his tone diligent andmitted. Finally, pushing his gold-rimmed

    sses up his nose, he concluded, ¡°The president will be avable after 9 p.m.¡±

    Though his words held no hidden meaning, Brielle still felt a subtle hint of intimacy in them, which made

    her cheeks warm.

    ¡°May I have a way to contact him directly?¡± The Integral Elements Inc. matter had to be discussed with

    Max personally.

    ¡°Sorry, without the president¡¯s permission, I can¡¯t make that decision.¡±

    With that, all of Brielle¡¯s hopes were extinguished. She inwardly mocked herself for a moment. To this

    assistant named Patrick, she was no different than anyone else. In his eyes, Brielle was just the same

    as all the others. Coming to the executive floor in was already overstepping her bounds..

    person

    So what if she was an employee of Dorsey International? Unless she was part of the management,

    meeting Max required an appointment.

    A smallpany like Integral Elements Inc. didn¡¯t even reach the financial threshold to request the

    upper management¡¯s attention for the acquisition.

    Her decision to seek Max out with the report was nothing short of ludicrous. Realizing this, Brielle finally

    saw her ce clearly.

    She was nothing more than a bed partner for Max, disposable at his whim. The talk of protection was

    nothing more than pillow talk.

    Recalling the patheticint letter she had sent the night before, she felt a wave of shame wash

    over her. Brielle slid the report back into her bag, nodded politely, and stepped into the elevator.

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9

    The moment she stepped into the office, all eyes were drawn to her like mas. They felt like sharp,

    judgmental knives, ready to peel away the facade she had so carefully

    constructed

    Whispers swirled around her

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    ¡°Must be off to see Mr. Dorsey again. Some people have all the luck. Marrying into wealth sure has its

    perks¡±

    ¡°Marrying into wealth? Please, there¡¯s not even a ring on her finger. Didn¡¯t Mr. Spencer publicly deny

    any engagement?¡±

    ¡°Besides, word has it Mr. Spencer deliberately dyed the bid proposal because he¡¯s got

    issues with her.¡±

    ¡°But I heard that Brielle¡¯s family is quite wealthy. Otherwise, how could she get engaged to Mr.

    Spencer? Don¡¯t prestigious families emphasize matching social status?¡±

    ¡°Ha! Since when do rich people drive cars worth only tens of thousands? No chauffeur even. She just

    happened to be Mr. Spencer¡¯s ssmate, which is how she even got a foot in the door.¡±

    ¡°No wonder. Taking advantage of Mr. Spencer¡¯s naivet¨¦, she probably hoodwinked him into an

    engagement.¡±

    After what Spencer had said yesterday, everyone was even more convinced of their

    theories.

    Brielle had always been an outlier in the department,nding a manager pos Mergers and Acquisitions

    division straight out of Beaconsfield College, stirri discontent among her peers.

    Now with the revtion of her engagement to Spencer and her modest backgrou everyone suspected

    nepotism or worse, that she traded her body to get ahead. To self-proimed elite, she was no different

    from a courtesan.

    The financial world was notorious for its hierarchies, and those within it often develop an inted sense

    of self due to the massive capital they handled, imagining themselves as titans of the age.

    Brielle, with her natural allure, had been unwee from day one. In the three years she¡¯d been there,

    Lucinda was the only one she could really talk to.

    Lucinda handed her the department¡¯s internal phone with a casual tone, ¡°Severalpanies have sent

    their bids to Integral Elements Inc. The president previously discussed a price of 130 million with you,

    but they¡¯re now hoping to hit the 200-million

    mark.¡±

    13

    16.04

    Brielle had done her homework on Integral Elements Inc., poring over annual reports and other

    investment banks¡¯ research. She had even checked multiple simtion models; 130 million was the

    sweet spot. The sudden jump to 200 million was a clear indicator that otherpanies were courting

    them.

    She dialed Integral Elements Inc., but instead of the president, his assistant picked up.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, we¡¯ve yet to receive your bid. It seems you¡¯re not serious enough.¡±

    ¡°Our bid will be on your desk by nine tomorrow morning. However, your new asking price is a departure

    from our previous discussions, and I¡¯d like to discuss this in person with Mr. Tanner.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, Mr. Tanner is very busy,¡± came the curt reply.

    An excuse, no doubt. Tanner was probably meeting withpetitors.

    Brielle stood up, signaling three of her team members, including Lucinda, ¡°Book the next flight out.

    You¡¯reing with me to Integral Elements Inc.¡±

    The ones she picked, especially the two male colleagues, were none too pleased to be bossed around

    by a woman they considered to be a backdoor hire. Graduates from prestigious schools, they all had

    dreams of greatness.

    Brielle had been decisive in her role, never showing weakness or seeking help in a damsel-in-distress

    manner, always maintaining a cool demeanor that seemed to threaten their sense of male pride.

    What was the point of a woman being so assertive, they thought, when she was destined for

    domesticity?

    But with Brielle as the manager and Spencer currently absent, she was the one in charge.

    Integral Elements Inc., a smallponents manufacturer waiting to go public, was nestled in a

    neighboring town, providing over 3,000 jobs to the localmunity.

    Brielle had been preparing for months with her team to acquire Integral Elements Inc. Now with the bid

    proposal stalled by Spencer, she had no choice but to fly out personally to make her case.

    As she and her team boarded the ne, Max was wrapping up a meeting on his end.

    Back in his office, he opened hisptop as Patrick brought him a cup of coffee, ¡°Mr. Doesey, Ms. Brielle

    stopped by earlier.¡±

    Max paused, setting down his coffee to check his inbox. Aside from the email from the previous night,

    there was nothing new from her. She must be upset, he thought.

    Max tapped a few keys and sent Brielle a message ¨C just a question mark. As the international

    conference call started, there was still no word from her. Max turned his attention back to the screen,

    his expression unreadable.

    Brielle arrived in the neighboring city by four in the afternoon. The group then took a local bus straight

    to the town.

    Before entering Integral Elements Inc., Brielle straightened her attire. Thepany was housed in a

    quaint five-story office building, with sprawling factories just a kilometer away, employing the whole

    town.

    She had already researched Tanner, the young millionaire who returned to his hometown after college

    to start a business and enriched not just himself but his entiremunity.

    To persuade a man like that, she knew that mere talk of fame and fortune wouldn¡¯t

    suffice.

    ¡°Sorry, Ms. Brielle, Mr. Tanner is currently entertaining guests,¡± the receptionist informed her upon

    arrival.

    Brielle smiled and gestured towards the lobby sofas, ¡°We¡¯ll wait right here.

    The receptionist had no choice but to oblige, offering them refreshments as they settled

    1.

    Lucinda¡¯s expression was one of cool indifference as she settled into her seat, her words dripping with

    sarcasm as she criticized Integral Elements Inc.¡¯s penny-pinching ways. ¡°After all these years, they¡¯re

    still holed up in this small town,¡± she muttered.

    ¡°Brielle, why did we bother toe in person? Without Integral Elements Inc., there are still other

    companies. We need to maintain a higher posture. After all, we represent Dorsey International. Your

    decision is not wise at all.¡±

    Lucinda had held her tongue until now, but the audacity to speak her mind came from a text she had

    just received from a colleague.

    Mr. Spencer had decided to promote her over Brielle, to put her in charge as the manager of the

    Mergers and Acquisitions department.

    With a smirk, she thought, why bother with the pretense of deference in front of Brielle any longer?

 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10

    Brielle¡¯s knees doubled as a makeshift desk for herptop as she cast a nce at Lucinda. ¡°Have you

    looked into thispany¡¯s cash flow, market share, profits, and sales forecasts?¡± she asked, her tone

    casual but pointed.

    Lucinda¡¯s face tightened, her annoyance growing by the second. Being called out in front of the others

    like this was a low blow from Brielle.

    Fingers dancing across the keyboard, Brielle didn¡¯t need a physical proposal in front of her; she had

    meticulously analyzed the future trends of Integral Elements Inc.

    The firm wasn¡¯trge, but it was a powerhouse of profitability, with each employee generating a

    whopping three hundred percent profit for thepany.

    What¡¯s more, Integral Elements Inc. had cut costs to the bone by eliminating packaging, engineering

    design, and marketing expenses.

    ¨C

    Their long-term rtionship with Dorsey International was built solely on reputation no small feat. Just

    that alone made their trip worthwhile.

    After quietly finishing up her notes, Brielle looked up at the trio before her.

    ¡°Organize the reports you¡¯ve prepared yourselves,¡± she instructed calmly.

    Lucinda was the first to express shock. ¡°What reports?¡±

    The two male colleagues¡¯ brows furrowed in confusion. ¡°You mean the proposal? But wasn¡¯t that kicked

    back by Mr. Spencer?¡±

    Brielle took a deep breath, her gaze sharp. ¡°Besides the proposal, I want all the preliminary research

    we¡¯ve done on Integral Elements Inc. ¨C their distribution channels, logistics, you name it. If we¡¯re going

    to impress Tanner, we need to understand thispany inside. out.¡±

    Lucinda, who hadn¡¯t even brought herptop, stood there empty-handed. ¡°Why all the fuss? We¡¯re

    here. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡±

    ¡°Lucinda,¡± Brielle¡¯s voice turned icy. ¡°If that¡¯s your attitude, you might as well go back now. I didn¡¯t bring

    you here to make snarkyments. You¡¯re employees, and if you don¡¯t even have the basic data with

    you, what do you think we¡¯re here for? To have tea with Tanner?¡±

    Lucinda¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment and anger. She usually got on well with Brielle, but today

    had been a series of humiliations.

    Recalling the text from that colleague, she snapped. ¡°This mess is your fault! If you¡¯d just groveled to

    Mr. Spencer, we wouldn¡¯t be here getting eaten alive by mosquitoes!¡±

    With that, she stormed off, forwarding the incriminating text to the two male colleagues.

    ¨C [Lucinda, Mr. Spencer was in the office this afternoon. He¡¯s making you manager, and

    1/3

    Chapter 10

    Brielle¡¯s been demoted!]

    Now she was the boss, and Brielle was nothing. Poor thing got cheated on by her fianc¨¦ and lost her

    job. Haha, she didn¡¯t even know yet.

    Brielle could sort everything out here herself. When the time came, Lucinda would swoop in with the

    proposal and seal the deal with Tanner. All the credit would be hers, and Brielle¡¯s efforts would be for

    nothing.

    The two men had been in a sour mood since boarding the ne, but out of respect for Brielle¡¯s

    position, they had followed her. Now, with the text in hand, they found an outlet for their frustration and

    quickly followed Lucinda out.

    ¡°Lucinda, don¡¯t be upset. She can¡¯t do it alone.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s always been like this, acting all high and mighty. Let¡¯s head back and watch her fail.

    They left as if it was all Brielle¡¯s fault.

    Lucinda felt a surge of relief and adopted a softer tone, ¡°Ah, negotiation is really a man¡¯s game. Once

    I¡¯m manager, I¡¯ll make sure the guys step up.¡±

    That was exactly what the men wanted to hear, winning their approval. The trio booked tickets home,

    leaving Brielle alone in the waiting area. Blinking away the sting of tears, she tucked a lock of hair

    behind her ear and dove back into the data.

    A new email popped up, a single question mark from Max, dripping with condescension. After a

    moment¡¯s hesitation, Brielle deleted it. She wasn¡¯t going to wait for a savior in a

    suit.

    With newfound rity, she focused more intently on her work. After another hour, she finally saw

    Tanner, nked by two associates, walk in.

    Gathering herptop and files, Brielle approached him.

    ¡°Mr. Tanner, long time no see,¡± she greeted, extending a hand with a warm smile.

    Tanner recognized her but frowned at the thought of the still-missing proposal, feeling yed by Dorsey

    International. ¡°Ms. Brielle, what are you still doing here?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Tanner, the missing proposal was my oversight, but I¡¯m hoping you¡¯ll give me another chance. This

    is the prospectus I¡¯ve prepared for Integral Elements Inc. I hope you¡¯ll consider it before making your

    decision.¡±

    Tanner, a man in his forties with an imposing yet efficient demeanor, looked at the thick prospectus,

    intrigued by its heft. ¡°Seventy-five pages?¡±

    Most prospectuses

    were a few pages at best; this one was a tome.

    ¡°It includes my analysis of Integral Elements Inc.¡¯s operations, debt-to-equity ratio, and as

    2/3

    16.05

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Chaph

    you hold a hundred percent stake in Integral Elements Inc., you know well that thepany needs this

    IPO opportunity.¡±

    The sheer volume of the seventy-five-page document was a testament to Brielle¡¯s dedication, and it

    softened Tanner¡¯s initial skepticism.

    ncing at his watch, his expression softened further. ¡°I have another meeting in ten

    minutes.

    Brielle sighed in relief and gestured for him to proceed.

 Chapter 11

    Chapter 11

    Tanner didn¡¯t waste any time getting to the heart of the matter. ¡°Going public might seem appealing, but

    it goes against the very ethos we¡¯ve built at Integral Elements Inc. We¡¯ve always prided ourselves on

    the quality of our products, yet the costs of an IPO are astronomical.¡±

    For thepany, hitting the stock market could mean a surge in funding and the chance to scale up

    operations significantly. For the shareholders of Integral Elements Inc., it meant a swift cash-out

    opportunity.

    But there was a downside, a heavy one. Going public would mean being held hostage to short-term

    gains. Cutting corners on quality to meet quarterly targets was apromise Tanner couldn¡¯t stomach.

    ¡°Mr. Tanner,¡± Brielle started, her voice steady and convincing, ¡®apany¡¯s purpose is to create jobs

    and innovate, right? If we end up preupied with repaying corporate debts, we¡¯ll lose focus on

    maintaining our standards. You have the helm now, but with Dorsey International¡¯s offer, you could take

    thepany public under our wing, all the while retaining your control. Dorsey International is ready to

    invest heavily in R&D, without forcing a relocation from your hometown.¡±

    The prospect of retaining control was tantalizing. Other firms might have dangled fatter checks, but

    none could offer the reins.

    Tanner eyed Brielle, aware that he mustn¡¯t seem too keen, lest he lose the upper hand. ¡°Ms. Brielle, if I

    have Dorsey International¡¯s bid on my desk by nine tomorrow morning, we can talk turkey.¡± After all,

    Brielle¡¯s words were just that-words-until they were inked on paper.

    Brielle exhaled a sigh of relief. To Dorsey International, Integral Elements Inc. was a mere morsel, and

    control was a small price to pay for a potentially lucrative acquisition. Now, the real hurdle was the bid

    document. Tanner¡¯s interest was piqued, and a prompt submission would all but seal the deal.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Tanner. I¡¯ll pull out all the stops.¡±

    The negotiation had been amicable enough. Rubbing her tired eyes, Brielle booked an evening flight

    back to the city. When Brielle arrived at thepany, there were still many people working overtime in

    the department. Colleagues surrounded Lucinda, showering her with congrattions.

    Lucinda was basking in the glow of her apparent triumph. When she caught sight of Brielle, her

    eyebrows lifted with smug satisfaction.

    Brielle¡¯s face remained impassive. She had gone to Integral Elements Inc., despite Spencer¡¯s call, not

    wanting to waste the prospectus she¡¯dbored over for nights on end.

    1/2

    16.05

    Chapter 11

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    She had also set a trap. Tanner¡¯s willingness to consider a partnership with Dorsey International had

    been swayed by the seventy-five-page document. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have given her the time of

    day. His concern was for the thousands of employees, not names or profits; he wanted a gesture of

    sincerity. If Lucinda thought she could take her ce, a rude awakening awaited her at tomorrow¡¯s

    meeting.

    Ten minutester, Lucinda approached Brielle¡¯s desk, barely concealing her triumph.

    ¡°Send me those files on Integral Elements Inc., will you? Mr. Spencer has handed me the bid. I¡¯ll be the

    one talking to them tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve no files.¡±

    Lucinda¡¯s face paled, her chest heaving with indignation. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s gaze slid away as she chuckled lightly. The data is mine-gathered through my own efforts in

    the field. It doesn¡¯t belong to thepany.¡±

    Lucinda¡¯s ambitions were no longer hidden. ¡°Brielle, don¡¯t me me for speaking the truth. You¡¯re just

    too petty, no wonder Mr. Spencer doesn¡¯t like you.¡±

    With Spencer¡¯s backing, Lucinda felt untouchable. ¡°Hand over the files, or don¡¯t bothering in

    tomorrow.¡±

    Brielle paused briefly, reflecting on her contributions. Discarded like yesterday¡¯s news, she, felt a

    tightness in her chest at the thought. ¡°It¡¯s not just tomorrow. I won¡¯t being back at all. Tell Spencer,

    without me, the acquisition of Integral Elements Inc. won¡¯t go through.¡± Lucinda scoffed. ¡°As if we need

    you. The deal will go smoother without.¡±

    Brielle had no desire to waste any more time in this office. The trap was set, and by morning, Tanner

    would find the ws. As she imagined the so-called elite scrambling, a surge of satisfaction washed

    over her. Did Spencer really think she had no other options beyond Dorsey International? He had no

    idea that his rise at Dorsey International wasrgely thanks to her tireless efforts.

    Meanwhile, Spencer kept ncing at his phone, expecting an apology from Brielle by nightfall.

    Offending him meant having to answer to the Haywood family.

    With a snort, he twirled his phone in his hand. If Brielle admitted her mistake and promised to stop

    pestering Lillian, he might just forgive her. After all, Brielle waspetent, no doubt about that.

 Chapter 12

    Chapter 12

    But by 10 p.m., Brielle hadn¡¯t sent a message. Spencer felt uneasy, as if something was slipping out of

    control. Yet, thinking of the Haywoods¡¯ attitude towards him, which was like they¡¯d dly gift-wrap

    Brielle and deliver her to his bed, a flicker of relief crossed his eyes. After all, Brielle would have to give

    in eventually.

    Brielle packed her belongings, printed her resignation letter, and left it on her desk. Then, with a box in

    her arms, she descended to the lobby.

    No sooner had she steadied herself than a blinding light shone on her. She raised her hand to shield

    her eyes and turned to see a familiar license te.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    Her first thought was whether this man wanted her again. After all, there was hardly any other reason

    he would seek her out.

    The car slowly approached and came to a halt The door opened. Brielle, still clutching the box, bent

    down to peer inside and, sure enough, saw the man in a suit, looking a

    ras dazzling as a painting but just too cold.

    ¡°Uncle Max,¡± she called out without any intention of joining him. She really wasn¡¯t in the mood tonight.

    Max¡¯s fingertips lightly yed with the rosary on his wrist, his demeanor indifferent. After a long pause,

    he softlymanded, ¡°Get in.¡±

    ¡°If I do, with Uncle Max¡¯s stamina, I¡¯m sure I won¡¯t be able to leave.¡± She held the box earnestly.

    Brielle intended to create a promiscuous persona around Max. It¡¯d be better to keep their

    entanglements strictly to the bedroom. Otherwise, she feared she might one day fall too deep.

    One Spencer was already draining enough, and Max clearly yed in a different league.

    Moreover, Max never asked if it was her first time when they slept together. He simply didn¡¯t care.

    Adults all knew the rules; it was unreasonable to pretend otherwise.

    Max arched an eyebrow, a slight smirk tugging at his lips because of her words. His gaze dropped to

    the box in her arms. His cool fingertips sped her wrist and forcefully pulled her in.

    ¡°Quitting your job?¡± The box she held was too conspicuous to go unnoticed.

    Brielle didn¡¯t struggle and leaned into his embrace. They¡¯d slept together. There was no point in

    feigning modesty now. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve been cast aside after serving my purpose.¡±

    Since she was resigning anyway, she might as well continue setting a timebomb here with Max. She

    hoped when the bomb exploded, Spencer would be able to withstand the st.

    1/2

    Chapter 12

    ¡°Uncle Max, Dorsey International has so many ventures-can you handle them all? There¡¯s so much

    opportunity for graft.¡±

    He caught her chin between his fingers, sensing the subtext in her words, ¡°Like what?¡±

    ¡°Have you noticed the building not far from Dorsey International? Spencer and the other directors built

    it specifically for new product development. It cost a fortune. You probably didn¡¯t receive the approval

    contract overseas because they split the total investment into smaller amounts, each just under the

    threshold that would require your personal approval. How much do you think they skimmed off?¡±

    Spencer¡¯s negligence in departmental affairs meant she knew all about these dealings.

    Max had mentioned thepany¡¯s public ounts on his first day, but the directors¡¯ petty theft was

    just a drop in the bucketpared to what could be.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been to that building. The entrance boasts an antique 18th-century screen and a set of vintage

    vases. Every chair is a peach wood piece from the French Empire era, beside Empire-style disy

    cabs adorned with British enamel tableware. The floors covered with $50,000 Persian carpets. For

    a research building, why the need for such luxury?¡±

    are

    Max watched her quietly for a while before looking up and instructing someone in front, ¡°Investigate

    this.¡± The billion-dor building, supposedly a research center, was probably just a yground for those

    directors. It was well hidden.

    Brielle¡¯s eyes curved in satisfaction. Once the building¡¯s secrets were exposed, Spencer would be in for

    it. Her gloominess at losing her job instantly vanished.

    ¡°Uncle Max, they hold a party there every Friday. Spencer calls it the ¡®Friday Night Decadence Club.¡¯

    You should raid it then. You¡¯d catch them red-handed.¡±

    Spencer was waiting for her apology, right? Ha. She¡¯d use Max to dismantle his happy haven.

    Max¡¯s fingertips traced her waist before addressing Patrick, ¡°Did you hear that?¡±

    Patrick nodded respectfully and made several phone calls to arrange everything.

    Max¡¯s chilly fingertips touching her skin sent a tingling sensation like small currents burrowing through

    her pores. ¡°What reward would you like?¡± His voice, always cool and indifferent, somehow didn¡¯t seem

    harsh.

    ¡°A reward?¡±

    Brielle rxed her body, her gazezily downturned in a seemingly flirtatious yet innocent. manner.

    She wasn¡¯t trying to be seductive, but her eyes were enchantingly so.

    As she mulled over the idea of a reward, her phone rang. It was Lucinda, likely frustrated after a

    setback at Integral Elements Inc. With the contract signing the next day, they must have called Tanner

    tonight. It probably didn¡¯t go well.

    Chapter 12

    Brielle hung up, only to receive a text message shortly after.

    [Brielle, Tanner said you have the prospectus. How selfish to take such an important document. What

    company would want someone like you? Hand it over now!]

    Lucinda was clearly losing her cool. They had called Integral Elements Inc., Tanner had picked up, and

    when asked about the prospectus, their response wasckluster. Tanner had been blunt and hung up

    without considering their feelings.

    Facing Tanner and Integral Elements Inc. tomorrow would likely result in a tongueshing. The thought

    of the impending embarrassment made everyone nervous. All these people were top talents; they

    couldn¡¯t stand such treatment.

    Lucinda sent another message.

    ¨C [The data you usedpany resources to investigate belongs to thepany. You have no right to

    take it.]

    Brielle almostughed at the message. She¡¯d seen shameless, but this was a

    new level. Having someone like that rece her was Spencer¡¯s goal, and indeed, it filled her with

    defeat and indignation.

    No worries, she¡¯d got another trick up her sleeve now, a real doozy waiting for Spencer.

 Chapter 13

    Chapter 13

    Brielle dismissed the barrage of notifications on her phone with a flick of her thumb, ¡°Patrick, could you

    stop at the next intersection, please?¡± Her tone was indifferent,ced with a weariness that seemed to

    seep into the bir around her.

    Through the rearview mirror, Patrick tried to glean some sort of cue from Max¡¯s expression, a sign of

    what he might be thinking, but his face was impassive. As they reached the crossroads, he obeyed the

    request and brought the car to a smooth halt.

    Brielle clutched the box a little tighter, a flicker of disappointment crossing her mind. She had half-

    expected Max to ask her to stay, but he remained seated, his demeanor as detached as a statue

    devoid of emotion.

    ¡°Uncle Max, not even a goodbye?¡± she teased, resting against the window, her long hair falling around

    her face, making it seem even smaller. Her eyes caught the reflection of the vibrant streetlights,

    beautiful and clear. She was just joking, and before waiting for a response, she walked across the

    pedestrian walkway, carrying her box.

    Max watched her in silence, his gaze lingering long after she¡¯d faded from view.

    She was like a wounded animal, licking its injuries alone, trying to bristle with soft spines to protect the

    last remnants of its.dignity amidst the turmoil.

    Brielle walked with her back straight, only slowing her pace when she was out of the reach of that

    prating gaze.

    Her apartment was close by. The chill of the evening breeze was just what she needed. Hope only bred

    greater disappointment.

    The ringtone of her phone cut through her thoughts. It was Spencer calling this time. Anxious about not

    receiving an apology from her, his impatience was palpable.

    Brielle snorted softly and promptly blocked his number.

    Soon after, Lillian¡¯s call came through. Probably Spencer again. Those two were inseparable. Another

    number blocked.

    Once inside her apartment, she powered on herputer to browse job listings but noticed a new

    email in her inbox instead, an offer letter for the position of Director of Mergers and Acquisitions at

    Dorsey International. The sender was Max.

    Her fingers trembled slightly, and her eyes widened in disbelief as she read and reread the

    message.

    Was she being offered Spencer¡¯s job?

    She replied with a simple question mark. There was a hint of trepidation, fearing she might be

    misreading his intentions.

    16.05

    Max probably hadn¡¯t arrived at the Premier Pce yet. He sent it from the car? Imagining him with a

    stern face, typing each word of this email. Brielle¡¯s lips curved up, and she quickly saw the reply.

    ¨C[Reward.]

    A terse response, yet it oddly warmed her heart.

    -[Uncle Max, is this you ying favorites?]This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    The thought left her feeling ted, as if the world was celebrating with fireworks. She had left feeling

    suffocated, and now she had an opportunity to return and turn the tables. She wasn¡¯t about to let it slip

    by.

    The impending troubles with the Dorsey and Haywood families could wait. For now, the thrill of the

    moment was what mattered.

    Expecting no further replies, she was surprised to receive another email, containing just one word-

    [Yeah.]

    A wave of emotion washed over Brielle. She had never received any gifts from Spencer during their

    long acquaintance, and in her thirteen years with the Haywood family, all she had to show was this

    modest apartment. Even the car she drove was bought with her own sry.

    Theparison made the disappointment more ring. Spencer was nothing, not even worth a dime.

    [Rest assured, Uncle Max, I am ready to devote myself entirely to the cause.]

    She sent the message with a sense of mischief, enjoying this odd game they yed. Max seemed to

    have a peculiar fondness for it.

    After sending the email, she closed the job search tab and ordered somete-nightfort food,

    including a few bottles of wine.

    Fresh out of the shower, the doorbell rang.

    Assuming it was the delivery person, she wrapped a towel around her hair and opened the door. The

    man on the doorstep nced at her attire, his anger giving way to surprise.

    Brielle stepped back, pulling her robe tighter, the cor barely hiding the marks on her neck.

    Spencer? What was he doing here?

    His gaze lingered on the outline of her body beneath the flimsy nightgown; and he frowned in

    disapproval. ¡°Dressed like that to answer the door? Brielle, you¡¯ve grown bold.¡± He was incensed that

    she had the audacity to block him, and moreover, Lucinda had mentioned she was thinking of

    resigning.

    ¡°As if resigning is some sort of threat, he sneered, his eyes finally catching the marks on

    her neck

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Spencer wasn¡¯t a three year old child, and he felt his anger surging ¡°Brielle, you¡¯d better

    exin yourself!!

    He¡¯d left simr marks on Lillian more times than he could count, but seeing them on

    Brielle incensed him

    Brielle no longer bothered to cover up, her arms crossed defiantly. If there¡¯s nothing else. I¡¯d appreciate

    it if you left.

    Spencer shoved past her, his anger palpable as he frantically searched the apartment, checking behind

    curtains and furniture. It was almostical.

    Just then, the food delivery arrived. Brielle popped open a bottle of wine and began to eat in the living

    room.

    Unable to find anyone, Spencer¡¯s fury seemed ready to explode. ¡°Don¡¯t forget our engagement! Brielle,

    you¡¯re just like Lillian said, a shameless flirt!¡±

    She chuckled lightly, swirling the wine in her bottle, ¡°And Lillian teaches you about shame while in your

    bed?¡±

    His body tensed under her gaze, and he clenched his teeth. ¡°Isn¡¯t it normal for men to y around? But

    when a woman does it, it¡¯s called promiscuity. You¡¯re supposed to be ady of the Haywood family. If

    the media gets a hold of this, do you realize the consequences?¡±

 Chapter 14

    Chapter 14

    Brielle suddenly lost her appetite. She didn¡¯t have the energy to listen to Spencer¡¯s rage anymore. She

    went straight to her bedroom, changed her clothes, and stepped out.

    Spencer was still in a raging fury, answering Lillian¡¯s call at the same time. When he turned and saw

    Brielle heading out the door, he frowned, ¡°Where the hell do you think you¡¯re going thiste? Can¡¯t you

    show a little decency? Are you that desperate for a guy?!¡±

    Brielle was already infuriated with his antics. ¡°Whether I¡¯m desperate or not, you wouldn¡¯t know, would

    you? What¡¯s the matter, I¡¯m not allowed to find myself somepany when you¡¯re out with other

    sluts?¡±

    Spencer¡¯s pupils dted slightly. In a fit of anger, he threw his phone towards her. ¡°Say that one more

    time! Who are you calling a slut?!¡± Even now, he was defending Lillian.

    The elevator doors had closed, and the phone smashed against the wall, spiderwebbing

    the screen.

    Brielle held back her frustration. Through the elevator ss, she could see the faint marks on her neck.

    She was so flustered by Spencer¡¯s outburst that she¡¯d left the apartment in a

    low-cut top.

    However, the thought that these marks were Max¡¯s handiwork, a sweet revenge, was oddly satisfying.

    Everyone treated her like a pushover, but they never considered that one day this pushover would grow

    sharp teeth.

    Feeling somewhat relieved, she got in her car, and right on cue, Aubree called. ¡°Bri, asleep yet, or up

    for some drinks?¡±

    Aubree had just returned from abroad. She was Brielle¡¯s only real friend, and her nigh was always

    vibrant.

    ¡°You¡¯re back in town?¡±

    Starting the car, Brielle thought a drink might do her good. Her celebration had been so rudely

    interrupted, she¡¯d simply celebrate elsewhere.

    ¡°Justnded. How did you handle that snake who dared to mess around with Spencer behind your

    back? Does she forget who funded her college tuition? The Haywood family! If I see her tonight, I

    swear I¡¯ll tear her face apart!¡±

    Aubree was fiery and never held back her words. When Brielle found out about Spencer¡¯s affair half a

    month ago, she immediately told Aubree. At that time, Aubree couldn¡¯te back because she was

    abroad and cursed them out over the phone.

    Given Aubree¡¯s temperament, she¡¯d have sted them on social media, but Brielle convinced her not

    to.

    Aubree, a heiress to the Clements fortune, had a wide social circle. One post from her, and

    1/31

    16.05

    14

    the entire elitemunity would know.

    It wasn¡¯t time to burn bridges with the Dorsey family yet. Besides, her current fling with Max was

    revenge enough. And this covert strategy was more effective than public. insults, it hit the Dorseys

    where it hurt

    ¡°How else could I handle it? Spencer¡¯s been treating her like she¡¯s the apple of his eye¡±

    ¡°Damn, has Spencer gone blind? What does he even see in that little damsel?¡±

    Pulling up to Tequ Sunset, Brielle immediately spotted Aubree at the entrance. Aubree was dressed

    to kill, her allure starkly contrasting Brielle¡¯s demure elegance, as vibrant as a blooming rose

    Aubree¡¯s sharp eyes caught sight of the marks on Brielle¡¯s neck and raised an eyebrow, ¡°No way, you

    still go down on Spencer after he¡¯s slept with Lillian so many times? Aren¡¯t you afraid you¡¯ll get

    poisoned?¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t Spencer.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s eyes widened, and she gasped in shock.

    Brielle, despite her stunning looks, had always yed it by the book. Ever since her engagement to

    Spencer, she maintained a safe distance from other men. She even once dered she¡¯d wait until her

    wedding night. And now, in no time at all, she¡¯d gone behind Spencer¡¯s back with another man,

    ¨C

    Aubree had always told her, rtionships were just that simple went for it when there was attraction.

    You gotta live in the moment, not the rtionship.

    She didn¡¯t expect that during her time abroad, Brielle had finallye around.

    ¡°Who¡¯s the guy? How was he? Tsk, those marks have faded. Must have been intense back then, huh?¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t be as open as Aubree about such matters in public and pulled her toward a secluded

    booth. However, Aubree grabbed her hand and nodded towards the entrance, ¡°Look, who¡¯s that?¡±

    Brielle followed her gaze and saw Lillian being hassled by a few men. Lillian still wore that fragile

    expression, biting her lip as if on the verge of tears. A few drunk men surrounded her, spouting filthy

    words.

    Tequ Sunset was renowned in Beaconsfield, and they had a membership system-your needed to

    shell out a million just for the privilege of a membership card, so the clientele was elite.

    Lillian had a membership card, obviously bankrolled by Spencer.

    Brielle narrowed her eyes. She had created billions in assets for Dorsey International over three years.

    She orchestrated every major merger and acquisition, and yet, she¡¯d reaped.

    2/3

    1605

    Chapter 14

    none of the rewards. Instead, Lillian was cashing in.

    Seeing Brielle, Lillian¡¯s eyes welled up, ¡°Bri, please help me.¡±

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Aubree cursed under her breath, fixing her re on Lillian, ¡°You¡¯re doing this on purpose, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Lillian shrank back, her lips quivering, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to. I¡¯m sorry. I just thought you both looked really

    nice tonight, and you¡¯re regrs here, so maybe you could talk to them?¡±

    Her words conveyed two things to the drunk men trying to take advantage. One, that Brielle and

    Aubree were attractive. Two, that as regrs, they were likely more approachable.

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother me, go bother them.¡± That¡¯s her implication.

    Not just Aubree, even Brielle found thisughable. However, she was wary that Spencer might show

    up, especially since he had been on the phone with Lillian before she left.

    The sight of them together made her nauseous, best to avoid it, but it wasn¡¯t easy to shake off the

    group of strangers that had closed in.

    ¡°You snake!¡±

    Aubree couldn¡¯t contain her rage any longer, stepping forward to p Lillian across the face.

 Chapter 15

    Chapter 15

    Brielle was dragging her into the bustling crowd of the bar. ¡°Aubree, if you start a fight, she¡¯ll just end up

    crying on Spencer¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Damn! As if I¡¯m afraid of him!¡±

    Brielle knew Aubree wasn¡¯t scared. Hell, she herself wanted to p Lillian. But this was a nightclub, a

    regr haunt for the city¡¯s elite. If Aubree and Spencer had a showdown, tomorrow¡¯s headlines would

    be all about them. The Dorsey family and the Clements family would be dragged through the mud.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t your brother going to be on your case if you make a scene?¡±

    At that, Aubree mmed up, her cheeks burning red with frustration.

    The dance floor was packed and the DJ had just dropped a beat-heavy track that whipped the crowd

    into a frenzy. The two of them got separated in themotion.

    Left with no other choice, Brielle found a quiet corner in the hallway to call Aubree.

    Aubree, jostled by the crowd, looked up to see a tall, familiar figure at the entrance and felt a shiver of

    fear. ¡°Bri, where are you? I¡¯m fine, but jeez, I must¡¯ve walked under adder or something today. I just

    saw my brother. It¡¯s all that witch¡¯s fault. I want to tear her to shreds right now.¡±

    Coming back to town and walking straight into trouble was infuriating.

    Just as Brielle was about to calm her down, a deep, foreboding male voice the phone, ¡°Who¡¯s clothes

    are you nning to tear to shreds?¡± Then the line with a cacophony of noise.

    Aubree had been abroad because she ran away from home.

    be through led

    Her brother, Andrew, was ruthless. Among Beaconsfield¡¯s most prestigious famil Clements family

    ranked second, and Andrew was the heir.

    The call cut off, and as Brielle tried to redial to check on Aubree, she backed into a w chest. The hand

    that now casually wrapped around her waist sported a rosary. She looked up to see a familiar face.

    ¡°Uncle Max?¡± What was he doing here?

    The man had an aura of cool detachment about him, even in his casual suit. In the dim, almost intimate

    lighting of the club, he still exuded a regal presence, but his fingertips. brushing over the marks on her

    neck betrayed his rougher side-calluses perhaps from years of handling guns, or maybe from wielding

    knives.

    Brielle shivered under his touch, noticing another man standing behind him. Andrew squinted at her,

    amusement flickering in his eyes.

    ¡°Well, well, if it isn¡¯t the Max¡¯s little canary¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t know him as Andrew She was good friends with Aubree but had never visited the

    Clements family

    However, she recognized that face. Just two days ago, at this very club, she had boldly spiked Max¡¯s

    drink with distilled vodka-a high-proof alcohol that could floor even the most seasoned drinker. As she

    was helping a tipsy Max out, Andrew caught them.

    Andrew had amanding presence, like a dangerously seductive vampire out of a gothic tale.

    ¡°Let go of him now, or I guarantee you¡¯ll be missing those hands of yours soon.¡± The threat in his eyes

    was palpable.

    Brielle met his gaze with false bravado. ¡°I¡¯m a little canary he kept.¡±

    Andrew paused, his menacing aura dissipating as he smirked, surprisingly stepping aside. She

    managed to whisk Max away to her apartment.

    Brielle didn¡¯t expect to run into Andrew so soon again, and hearing his words made her cheeks burn

    involuntarily. She sneaked a nce at Max. His gaze still lingered on the marks on her neck.

    After a moment, he removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders, buttoning it up to cover the

    mottled marks. Not even the brightest stars could outshine the tender look in his eyes.

    A warmth spread through Brielle¡¯s chest, and fearing the vulnerability of the moment, she scrambled for

    a distraction.

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Uncle Max, is he a friend of yours?¡±

    Andrew chuckled at her words, ¡°So, you are a little bird ying around.¡±

 Chapter 16

    Chapter 16

    The words carried with them a sting of mockery, and even the nces that swept over her felt like the

    hissing of a venomous snake.

    Max had only briefly embraced her before letting go, as if the momentary tenderness had never

    existed. Maybe Brielle had just seen it wrong.

    The manager of Tequ Sunset approached with a deference that bordered on reverence, ¡°Mr. Dorsey,

    Mr. Clements, your drinks have been delivered to the private booth, if your please.¡±

    Andrew¡¯s lips curled into a smirk, ¡°Max, why not bring your little canary along?¡±

    They were close to the entrance of Tequ Sunset, but the private booth they were headed to was a

    world apart from the crowd.

    Tequ Sunset, though a glittering den of indulgence, had its hierarchies. People like Max and Andrew

    belonged to a more secluded building out back. Unlike the wild dance floor, the atmosphere there was

    refined, more suited for romantic escapades or plotting.

    corporate conquests.

    Brielle knew she shouldn¡¯t go. She started to retreat but then caught sight of two men entering through

    the main door: Spencer and Cameron.

    Cameron was Brielle¡¯s older brother, but since Brielle had only joined the Haywood family at ten, their

    rtionship was distant. And like Miranda, Cameron had shown a considerable fondness for Lillian.

    Now that the Haywood family¡¯s reins were in Cameron¡¯s hands, every time he returned from a trip, he

    would bring Lillian a carefully selected gift, whereas for Brielle, it was merely something a sales

    assistant had offhandedly rmended.

    Cameron spent little time at the Haywood family home, preferring his own vi and thepany of his

    regrpanions, but Brielle always suspected that his affectionsy with Lillian, for she had once

    seen them kiss. Presumably, he was just another man that

    Lillian had charmed.

    Brielle took a step back, quickly turning her back to them, and buried herself in Max¡¯s

    embrace.

    Spencer caught sight of Max and his demeanor shifted to one of respect, ¡°Uncle Max.¡± Anxiety tinged

    his face because Lillian had found herself in trouble here. After exchanging pleasantries, he looked

    ready to leave.

    Cameron, however, nodded in acknowledgment and said, ¡°Mr. Dorsey, I¡¯ve long admired. your

    reputation.¡±

    Then his gaze shifted to Andrew, his brows knitting slightly, ¡°Mr. Clements, I didn¡¯t expect

    1/2

    16:05

    to see you here.

    Cameron had spent thest year abroad and had crossed swords with Andrew in a

    takeover battle. Andrew¡¯s name carried weight in Beaconsfield for he was known to show no mercy to

    his adversaries. Unlike Max¡¯s cold aloofness, Andrew did everything with a fierce edge.

    He was fire, bold and brutal, while Max was the coolness of water.

    Fire burns bright, and water runs deep

    Fire is showy, and water is understated.

    When Max and Andrew first met over a decade ago, Andrew had dered he would set Antarctica

    aze.

    Antarctica, and of ice, represented the essence of water, which typically extinguishes fire, but

    Andrew¡¯s bold im implied that with enough ferocity, he could evaporate all the water. The two never

    came to blows, as Max had headed to Wall Street. Now standing together, their rtionship seemed

    extraordinary,

    Brielle finally snapped back to reality, realizing this must be Aubree¡¯s brother. Lost in thought, she felt a

    cool fingertip pinch and rub her earlobe. Her whole body shivered, her ear instantly flushed red, the

    heat climbing, leaving her parched and breathless.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Max¡¯s action drew the attention of the three other men to Brielle. Spencer was the first to speak, ¡°Ms.

    Alivia is back in the country?¡±

    The mention of Ms. Alivia drained the color from Brielle¡¯s cheeks. In high society, everyone knew of that

    celebrated young socialite. Brilliant and stunning, she was dedicated to her research, reportedly having

    a close rtionship with the elder Dorseys.

    Years ago, the Dorsey family had proposed a marriage alliance with her, which she had declined,

    opting instead to study abroad, a decision that had be the subject of much admiration.

    Could it be that the marriage she rejected was with Max?

 Chapter 17

    Chapter 17

    Strangely, a bout of difort washed over Brielle¡¯s heart.

    Spencer was in a hurry to find Lillian, so after exchanging pleasantries, he and Cameron took their

    leave. As soon as they left, Andrew lowered his head to light a cigarette.

    ins

    ¡°Speaking of Alivia, you two really are in sync, wearing the same ck rosaries for so

    many years.¡±

    Brielle looked down and stepped back.

    Andrew, ever the stirrer, couldn¡¯t resist a jibe, ¡°This little canary, up close she really is a looker. No

    wonder you haven¡¯t snuffed her out He didn¡¯t miss the marks on Brielle¡¯s neck, clearly the handiwork of

    Max¡¯s roughhousing.

    Brielle managed a smile, quicklyposed herself, and with feigned delicacy, she clung to Max¡¯s arm,

    ¡°Uncle Max, I was so nervous, afraid that my fianc¨¦ or my brother would catch wind of our little

    dalliance.¡±

    Herment sent a flicker of amusement across Max¡¯s eyes, and made Andrew¡¯s cigarette drop to the

    floor. Andrew¡¯s face showed rare frustration, his gaze towards Max indescribable. The girl might be

    pretty, but she was a bit too affected for his taste. He really didn¡¯t get what Max saw in her.

    Max leaned in slightly, murmuring, ¡°Your choice of words is impable.¡±

    Brielle rolled her eyes inwardly. He really fell for that act. The romantic thoughts climbing in her heart

    shattered at the mention of Alivia. She adjusted her clothing. ¡°Uncle Max, if you have business to

    discuss, I¡¯ll get going.¡±

    However, a strong hand reached out, pulling her deeper into the corridor.

    Meanwhile, not far off, Cameron stood amidst the crowd, his brow furrowed, feeling that the woman

    had a resemnce to Brielle. Disdain shed in his eyes as he dialed her number. He rarely contacted

    this sister; after all, he had been the sole heir to the Haywood family¡¯s fortune until this interloper came

    along to share the pie.

    Obviously, he wasn¡¯t pleased, but Brielle¡¯s only use was that she brought back Lillian, the woman he

    adored.

    Before the call connected, a frail voice came from behind him. ¡°Cameron¡­¡±

    His irritation vanished as he put away his phone and turned around, wrapping his arms protectively

    around her shoulders.

    ¡°I told you not to work here, didn¡¯t I? Lillian, why don¡¯t you use the credit card I gave you?¡±

    Lillian¡¯s lips quivered, her eyes reddening, ¡°The Haywood family has been so good to me. How could I

    spend your money? And¡­ and Bri and I had a falling out.¡±

    Chapter 17

    ¡°Cameron, I want to pay off my debt to the Haywoods as soon as I can. Spencer got me a membership

    here, and I only found out it costs a million. I don¡¯t know how to face him

    now

    Cameron¡¯s heart softened. He loved Lillian¡¯s straightforward nature, ¡°It¡¯s just a million. Use my card to

    pay it off. Lillian, I-¡®

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    He cut off as Spencer approached with a few others, and Cameron fell silent.

    Cameron had confessed his feelings to Lillian before. She hesitated greatly, eventually saying that if

    she really got together with him, it would make things awkward with Brielle. Best friends since

    childhood would suddenly be sisters-inw. With Brielle¡¯s temperament, it was unlikely she¡¯d

    ept it. So, Cameron found Brielle even more distasteful, feeling she couldn¡¯t stand to see Lillian

    happy.

    Elsewhere in the Haywood family living room, Miranda sighed as she ordered the room to be cleaned.

    Sitting across from her was her husband, Robert. The mention of Lillian brought a pang to her heart.

    ¡°That¡¯s the situation. Brielle must have been provoked somewhere to nder Lillian like that. I feel like I

    don¡¯t even know her anymore.¡±

    Robert held a newspaper in his hands and frowned at his wife¡¯s words. ¡°Hasn¡¯t she always been

    obedient?¡±

    ¡°Yes, she has won so many awards and graduated from Beaconsfield College. I think maybe she has

    always looked down on Lillian. Lillian is kind but weak, and has always been a bit slow. We hired so

    many tutors for her, and in the end, we had to pay into a university. So deep down, she feels inferior.

    Imagine how hurt she must b hearing Brielle¡¯s words.¡±

 Chapter 18

    Chapter 18

    Robert set down the newspaper he had been reading, ready to share his thoughts, when he noticed the

    nanny descending the staircase

    ¡°Sir, Ma¡¯am, I was tidying up Miss Lillian¡¯s room and I found this, the nanny said, presenting a

    handwritten journal with Lillian¡¯s familiar scrawl on it.

    The entries spanned years, right up until Lillian turned eighteen and moved out.

    Miranda hates spicy food. I must remember not to add chili next time.

    Miranda had a few extra helpings of the dessert I made. Seems chestnut vor is her favorite.

    ¨C

    Bri got mad again. Not sure if it¡¯s because I hired a tutor. I¡¯ve tried saying no, but it was no use. I just

    want to study hard and make them proud.

    Bri pped me. I was stunned by her deep resentment. I want to move out but I¡¯m not of age yet.

    Robert has a sensitive stomach. I should make some soothing soup for him and keep antacids ready in

    his study.

    ¨C Cameron asked me what I wanted for a gift. I thought about it and asked for a watch Bri likes. But

    when I gave Bri the watch, she mocked me. Living with the Haywoods, I never wanted topete for

    affection.

    Miranda flipped through the pages, each one filled with care for her, Robert, and Cameron. And as for

    Brielle, Lillian always wanted to mend their rtionship, despite the hurt she endured.

    Miranda trembled with fury. She had never imagined her daughter could be so two-faced. ¡°Can you

    believe what she¡¯s done?! I thought she genuinely cared for Lillian, but it was all an act!¡±

    The journal was old and hidden away, clearly not meant to be discovered. The sincerity in the journal¡¯s

    wordsid bare Brielle¡¯s true, repulsive nature.

    Miranda gritted her teeth. ¡°Both girls came into our family together. I treated them the same. Lillian is

    such a sweetheart, and Bri¡­ If only Lillian were our own.¡±

    Robert¡¯s expression soured. Every line and entry were filled with kindness and concern, without a trace

    of self-pity, only a wish for Brielle¡¯s happiness. Had they known, they would have never let Lillian move

    out, but in the end, Brielle was the daughter of the Haywood family.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be upset. Once Bri marries Spencer, we can bring Lillian back, or maybe buy her a vi nearby. I

    heard the poor child¡¯s been working hard to repay us. Cameron tried to give her some financial help,

    even offered her a card, but she wouldn¡¯t take a penny. Stubborn

    16.05

    Chapter 16

    girl.

    Miranda nodded, utterly disappointed in her own daughter.

    Brielle, of course, had no idea she¡¯d already been saddled with such a dark reputation. Approaching

    the private dining room, her phone rang. It was a call from a charity. organization. Stepping aside to a

    quiet corner, she answered the call.

    The moment she earned her first paycheck, she had donated most of her sry to this charity, directing

    the funds to the Sunflower Children¡¯s Home, the ce where she and Lillian grew up. Today was the

    day for her monthly donation, but she had forgotten amidst her busy schedule.

    A middle-aged man¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Ms. Brielle, hello. We¡¯ve sent this month¡¯s funds to

    Sunflower Children¡¯s Home. The organization recently held an event teaching the children how to make

    pies. As theirrgest benefactor, the director has been eager to meet you.¡±

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll send this month¡¯s donation promptly. As for making pies, I¡¯ll pass. very skilled, and I¡¯d

    prefer the director not know it¡¯s me donating.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Ms. Brielle. We won¡¯t disturb you further.¡±

    I¡¯m not

    After hanging up, Brielle was about to turn down the corridor when she spotted Andrew smoking at the

    entrance of the dining room, a woman at his side. The dim hallway cast a shadow over the pair,

    standing too close for mere acquaintances.

    The woman wore an outfit Brielle recognized as Aubree¡¯s.

    Aubree took the cigarette from Andrew¡¯s lips and ced it between her own. A bold red lipstick mark

    soon stained the cigarette filter.

    Frozen in ce, Brielle remembered Aubree was the adopted daughter of the Clements family, and

    Andrew was their heir. There was no blood rtion between them. Their current proximity was far from

    sibling-like.

    As Brielle pondered this, Andrew grabbed Aubree¡¯s wrist and pulled her into the nearby

    restroom.

    The restroom door had barely shut before Aubree was pressed against the sink, her legs. instinctively

    wrapping around Andrew¡¯s waist.

 Chapter 19

    Chapter 19

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    The door closed slowly, and Brielle remained rooted to the spot, unable to move an inch. She had

    known Aubree for years but never realized the depth of the rtionship between

    her and

    Andrew. A tumult of emotions churned within her, like waves crashing and winds howling. Didn¡¯t

    Andrew have a fianc¨¦e?

    Brielle¡¯s head lowered, her longshes casting deep shadows across her face, as she stood

    motionless.

    The hallway was quiet and elegant, but the noisesing from the man had been anything but.

    Perhaps mindful that Max was still waiting in the private dining room, Andrew had finished quickly. His

    lips, his shirt cor, were smudged with telltale marks of lipstick.

    Leaning against the mirror, legs weak, Aubree raised an evebrow with a smile, ¡°Tessa didn¡¯t take good

    care of you?¡±

    Andrew, with a touch of cruelty, patted her cheek and said coldly, ¡°This kind of affair isn¡¯t something

    she¡¯s cut out for.¡±

    Aubree didn¡¯t reply, her face ghostly pale.

    Andrew left her with a simplemand, ¡°Clean yourself up ande out,¡± before he was

    gone.

    Once the washroom was silent again, Aubree straightened her attire before exiting, only to spot a

    shadow around the hallway corner.

    ¡°Bri¡­¡±

    Aubree hadn¡¯t expected Brielle to be there, and in a sh of panic, she wasn¡¯t sure how much Brielle

    had seen. She knew her actions were no better than those of Lillian, and almost instinctively she tried

    to justify, ¡°You have to understand, Andrew and Tessa-it¡¯s just a business arrangement. There¡¯s no

    love. Besides, Tessa has always been frail and has never cared for romance.¡±

    Aubree had a host of excuses to rationalize this twisted rtionship. Brielle¡¯s eyes were calm as she

    eventually asked, ¡°Do you think there¡¯s love between me and Spencer?¡±

    Aubree shivered and found herself at a loss for words.

    The shock to Brielle was palpable. The very person who had just been condemning Lillian had

    suddenly be the next Lillian.

    ¡°Bri, you wouldn¡¯t understand love. I¡¯ve adored him for over a decade, since we were kids.

    16.05

    Chapter

    The recent runaway episode? It was all because of his engagement to the Rond family.¡±

    Andrew only saw her as a tool, but Aubree was powerless to stop her feelings. If there were a switch to

    turn off love and retract all emotions, she would give anything to flip it.

    ¡°Bri.¡±

    Usually cheerful and bold, Aubree had never felt so scared.

    Brielle was about to leave when the dining room door creaked open. Andrew appeared, a smirk of

    smug satisfaction spread across his face, yet itcked any trace of genuine emotion. ¡°Little Canary,

    best forget what you just saw.¡±

    He had noticed Brielle all along but didn¡¯t care.

    Unable to bear it anymore, Aubree stepped forward, her hand raised for a p, but her wrist was

    caught mid-air by Andrew, who wore a mocking smile, his lips stained with red, ¡°Go back first.¡±

    Brielle watched this unfold, frowning, and through the slightly ajar door of the booth, she locked eyes

    with Max.

    Max remained indifferent, toying with a ss of wine, and casually patted the seat beside him.

    Brielle, still wrapped in his jacket, just wanted to return it and leave. She didn¡¯t look at Aubree or

    Andrew, feeling the entire situation was beyondprehension.

    Approaching Max, his scent enveloped her-a warm woody note with a hint of crisp rose-in the dim

    space. It lingered on her skin, impossible to shake off.

    ¡°Uncle Max, your jacket.¡± She slid off the suit jacket and ced it neatly on hisp.

    But Max just held her wrist, ¡®Feeling down?¡±

    Of course, Brielle felt awful, like she had swallowed a fly. The nauseating sensation hovered in her

    chest, impossible to expel.

    With the booth room door closed, isting the pair inside, Andrew held Aubree¡¯s arm, ¡°Acquaintance?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s heart trembled. Even if they were strangers, he should have stopped immediately when he

    noticed someone nearby.

    Andrew raised an eyebrow with a smirk, ¡°You seemed more eager than me just now, Aubree. After all

    these years, why do you bother to act so innocent?¡± In some ways, Andrew and Aubree were alike-

    blunt, sparing no one¡¯s feelings.

    Aubree raised her hand again, this time with more finesse, and the pnded crisply.

    ¡°Snap!¡±

    2/3

    16.06

    Andrew¡¯s head jerked to the side, his tongue touching his cheek. He scoffed and swallowed back the

    faste of blood, ¡°Come to my vi tonight. I¡¯ll fuck you good. If you

    don¡¯t show up, don¡¯te looking for me again

 Chapter 20

    Chapter 20

    With that, he turned on his heel and strode into the private room without a moment¡¯s

    hesitation.

    Aubree stood still, her fingertips trembling slightly. A mix of affection and grievance ebbed and flowed

    within her, surging up and receding again, causing her an unbearable

    difort.

    She took out her phone and sent a message to Brielle, knowing she didn¡¯t want to see her, and she left

    first.

    After watching Andrew enter the private room, Brielle felt uneasy all over. Andrew acted as if he had

    completely forgotten the awkward moment just before, deftly snuffing out his cigarette in the ashtray,

    ignoring Brielle¡¯s presence as if she were invisible.

    Women, in his opinion, were like monsters. You could treat them like dogs, beat them until your hand

    ached, but in the end, they would still love you. He had always been the golden. boy, never giving

    much thought to the sort of affection that came running at a beckon.

    To him, women could spend all day dreaming of love, but for men, it was all about those few peak

    seconds.

    Andrew took out another cigarette and finally broached the topic of the evening. ¡°Breaking into that

    foreign market is like gnawing on a tough bone. I¡¯ve been circling for half a year to secure mining rights

    for three ore sites, and the rest are monopolized by Infinity Brilliance. They guard against me like I¡¯m a

    wolf.¡±

    Max chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair and pushing a ss of juice towards Brielle, ¡°Aren¡¯t you a

    wolf?¡±

    Brielle considered leaving, but knowing Andrew¡¯s temper, she couldn¡¯t predict how he might react.

    Fortunately, with Aubree gone, she had time to cool down and put her thoughts in order.

    Andrew clenched the cigarette between his teeth as if he was biting down on the jugr of an enemy,

    ¡°If I had been born a few years earlier, what would those bastards matter? If it weren¡¯t for their control

    over ny percent of the global diamond mining resources, I wouldn¡¯t bother dealing with those

    savages who point guns at your head at the drop of a hat. This time, securing the mining rights for

    those three mines nearly cost me my life.¡±

    Brielle listened to their conversation, her thoughts slowly settling.

    The Clements family was renowned in the jewelry business, with the two most famous brands in the

    region under their banner. But with scarce mineral resources at home, and South Africa being rich in

    them, decades ago, some shrewd investors had bought up arge portion of the South African mining

    rights.

    The Clements had managed to procure a few mines, whichid the foundation for their

    1/2

    16:06

    Chapter 20

    fortune. However, with Andrew¡¯s generation, the opposingpany had resorted to gun-to-the-head

    tactics, trying to force him to relinquish his mining rights.

    Andrew¡¯s nature would never allow him to submit, but the current leader of Infinity Brilliance was as

    relentless as Max.

    Max¡¯s gaze was calm, ¡°Doesn¡¯t the director of Infinity Brilliance, Mr. Lynch have a fatal

    weakness?¡±

    The director and his wife were deeply in love, but while on al

    e years s business trip, his wife gave birth to a daughter. Due to the old generation¡¯s monopoly in the

    diamond industry, they had made many enemies worldwide.

    Their daughter went missing. A youngdy, who should have been born to the finest resources, was

    now lost without a trace. Each year, their people would send someone to look for the daughter.

    Andrew smirked, extinguishing another cigarette in the ashtray, ¡°I know what you¡¯re getting at, but that

    child disappeared just after birth twenty years ago. Who knows where she could have been trafficked to

    by now.¡±

    ¡°With Mrs. Lynch¡¯s level of concern for her daughter, you could negotiate.¡±

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    The domestic turf belonged to the four great families. If the Clements family were willing to help find the

    child, a small business concession would surely be eptable to Mrs. Lynch.

    Andrew narrowed his eyes, nodding as he considered the strategy. His gaze shifted to Brielle, and his

    lips curved into a sly smile, ¡°Little Canary, what gem do you desire? Consider it a gift upon our

    meeting.¡±

    Brielle detested his tone. ¡°There¡¯s no need for Mr. Clements to go to any expense.¡± She spoke with an

    air of indifference.

    Andrew¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously, his lips thinning like a de.

    Brielle believed that if Max weren¡¯t present, this man would not hesitate to put a gun to her head. In his

    eyes, a human life was but a piece of pretentious paper.

    After a while, Andrew rose to his feet, ¡°Aubree¡¯s waiting for me at the vi. I¡¯ll be off then. Little Canary,

    we¡¯ll meet again.¡±

 Chapter 21

    Chapter 21

    The threat in his words sent a shiver down Brielle¡¯s spine. She was facing a man who had long held

    power, whose presence was somanding it could make her tremble.

    Instinctively, she leaned closer to Max, and when they were finally alone in the booth, she swallowed

    hard, her voiceced with anxiety, ¡°Uncle Max, you¡¯ll talk him out of it, right?¡±

    The marks on her neck were still visible under the dim lights, hinting at a possibility of sensuality.

    Brielle wouldn¡¯t mind if something happened between them in this private booth. After all, the privacy

    here was impable, and she doubted any waiter woulde in to interrupt.

    She reached out, her hand seeking warmth, but all she found was the cold ss of her drink.

    ¡°Go back,¡± he said, his gaze indifferent as he draped his suit jacket over her shoulders again, ¡°Stay out

    of Andrew and Aubree¡¯s business.¡±

    The implication was clear-if she meddled and something happened, he might not intervene. Knowing

    Andrew, he was capable of anything.

    Brielle pushed down a twinge of frustration and looked up at him, ¡°Andrew is engaged to Tessa, and he

    and Aubree are technically siblings. What kind of rtionship is that? If Andrew¡¯s influence on Aubree

    is inevitable, then Aubree¡¯s feelings for him are either hate or love. Clearly, it¡¯s thetter. I don¡¯t want

    my friend to get hurt.¡±

    She had imagined many responses from Max, but none as cold as his next words.

    ¡°Phencetic acid, dopamine-when people interact, they release a cocktail of hormones that create the

    illusion of love.¡±

    a

    His emotionless analysis came off as if he were a deity, observing the world¡¯s entanglements as

    nothing more than fleeting distractions. Brielle was ovee with a chill. She knew Aubree all too well.

    Usually full of passion and allure, Aubree would only soften and pull in her sharp edges when she was

    around Andrew. If she wasn¡¯t in love with him, she wouldn¡¯t show such humility.

    What Brielle hadn¡¯t anticipated was Max¡¯s own rationality-hisplete disbelief in love¡¯s existence.

    ¡°If love is just an illusion, then why do people get married?¡±

    She was desperate to find examples to counter his point, but Max remained unfazed. ¡°It¡¯s oxytocin and

    vasopressin at work. Even our connection is simply a result of testosterone,¡± he exined.

    Speechless, Brielle felt a cold draft sweep through her. In a sudden move, she grabbed his tie and

    pushed him down onto the couch. She didn¡¯t know why she did it, but when she.

    1/2

    kissed him, she felt a little sce in her heart.

    Biting down on his corbone, she licked the beads of blood that surfaced, ¡°Uncle Max, did you study

    economics and psychology?¡±

    Max tilted his neck slightly, his hand cradling the back of her head, facilitating her nipping. ¡°Economics

    andw. Psychology was a minor.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    He had touched upon three disciplines that advocated absolute rationality.

    ¡°And now, what do you think is influencing us?¡± She deliberately tilted her head back, both hands

    hooked around his neck, with sultry eyes.

    Max¡¯s fingers traced her lips gently. Her face was beautiful, with eyes shaped like petals, which were

    cold when not smiling, but disarmingly charming with a grin.

    ¡°Dopamine.¡± The initial passion all came from dopamine, but dopamine didn¡¯tst long. From its

    perspective, possession was dull, and rtionships built on dopamine were an exciting yet short-lived

    roller-coaster ride.

    Watching the asceticism on his face waver slightly at her advance, something stirred in Brielle.

    ¡°Uncle Max, you don¡¯t have a fianc¨¦e, do you?¡±

 Chapter 22

    Chapter 22

    She had no intention of bing the other woman in anyone¡¯s story.

    Who Max held as his cherished memory was none of her business. Her aim was clear: she wanted to

    get back at a few members of the Dorsey family through Max. And she had to admit, getting tangled up

    with a guy like Max was no loss.

    The Priest sometimes showed mercy to the mortal women, and the way he mingled with the mundane

    was truly thrilling. To outsiders, he personified frost, but in bed, he was a different man.

    Brielle was worldly in her own ways, and after Max hadid out his theories, she found herself more

    drawn to him than ever. Knowledge was the highest form of allure, and every word he spoke seemed to

    entice her.

    And in Max¡¯s eyes, her gaze was just as inviting. What happened next came naturally.

    When it ended, Brielle fell asleep in his arms. Both of their phones were buzzing with notifications, but

    they were ignored.

    The marks on her neck hadn¡¯t faded before new ones were added.

    ¡°Uncle Max,¡± she said, her cheeks flushed, shedding her usual decisiveness and rity, ¡°The oxytocin

    and vasopressin you mentioned, they provide a longsting sense of happiness. Although dopamine is

    fleeting, it can draw people into a rtionship filled. with passionatemitment. That¡¯s the reason

    why people choose to get married.¡±

    She hadn¡¯t forgotten her earlier query, murmuring before she fell asleep, ¡°I¡¯m not like you. believe love

    isn¡¯t an illusion but an instinct. Some are born with it, while others will never

    experience it.¡±

    Max looked down at her and couldn¡¯t resist leaving a faint kiss on her lips. ¡°You might be right,¡± he

    conceded.

    When Brielle awoke, it was already noon the next day in her familiar apartment. Her phone. was

    flooded with missed calls-from Lucinda, her colleagues, and one from Tanner.

    Tanner had called just once, probably having heard about her resignation, so he was checking in as a

    formality.

    Brielle remembered her unfinished business with Integral Elements Inc.-that wasn¡¯t something she

    could just walk away from.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    She dialed Tanner¡¯s number.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle,¡± Tanner¡¯s voice was unexpectedly warm. ¡°Heard you left Dorsey International. Found a

    new gig yet?¡±

    Without that sincere prospectus, Tanner wasn¡¯t keen on coborating with Dorsey

    16.06

    International. Brielle, however, was someone he wanted on his team.

    Brielle found it amusing. ¡°How did this morning¡¯s negotiation go, Mr. Tanner

    Tanner knew all the ins and outs of the business world and was aware she was setting trap. Even

    though she had included him in her schemes, he admired her for it and didn¡¯t take offense, ¡°Mr.

    Spencer and Ms. Lucinda still have much to learn, it seems.¡±

    It looked like those two hadn¡¯t had much sess today. After all, Tanner was the sole architect behind

    Integral Elements Inc., a veteran of the business battlefield, not someone Spencer could easily handle.

    ¡°Mr. Tanner, the terms we discussedst time are still on the table. I¡¯lle to sign the contract myself,

    but I need to push the date back three days. Once I¡¯ve secured the position of department head, I¡¯ll

    contact you personally.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, you¡¯re twenty-three this year. Aspiring to a director¡¯s chair is a bit of a stretch, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Brielle had joined Dorsey International right after graduation, amounting to only three years of work

    experience. Even at anotherpany, she¡¯d be considered a senior employee at best, let alone at the

    fiercelypetitive Dorsey International.

    How cutthroat was Dorsey International? On his first day, Max implemented a racehorse. mechanism

    for all departments and teams. Whether it was the staff or the products, everyone was put on the same

    starting line topete, and Dorsey International would allocate resources ording to the rankings.

    This survival of the fittest theory kept everyone on their toes, and though those ousted by Dorsey

    International were hotmodities elsewhere, no one wanted to be the one who failed in such an elite

    gathering.

    So for Brielle to aim for a director¡¯s role at such a young age was almost a fantasy. Even if she was

    talented, the management wouldn¡¯t agree.

    Nothing was absolute, so Brielle didn¡¯t talk too much for fear it would be off-putting. What always

    moved a man like Tanner was capability and sincerity.

    ¡°Mr. Tanner, I¡¯ve read your early interviews. I wonder who influenced you five years ago when Integral

    Elements Inc. shifted from manufacturingponents to establishing a tech talent agency, and started

    coborating with several educationalpanies to create tworge private schools aimed at nurturing

    talent for Integral Elements Inc. It was an open innovation move, yet thepany¡¯s market value has

    been dropping every

    year.¡±

    This was Tanner¡¯s sore point. When apany reached its peak, it sought innovation. Everyone

    agreed with the decision at the time, but it led to disaster, leaving thepany in a position where it

    needed to be acquired.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, anyone can find out what you mentioned with a little research. It just shows

    2/3

 Chapter 23

    Chapter 23

    ¡°Developing new products called for freshponents, and back in the day, what you called innovation

    was siphoning off resources from other parts of Integral Elements Inc., causing the original production

    lines to operate below capacity. Plus, you went ahead and splurged on some fancy new production

    machinery, which sent costs skyrocketing and profits tumbling down. Open innovation turned into a

    pretty facade for haphazard experimentation. Quality parts, that¡¯s where Integral Elements Inc. really

    shines. You¡¯re on Dorsey International¡¯s radar because of that unwavering quality. But aiming for the

    untapped education market? You strayed from your main game five years ago.

    Brielle¡¯s voice was steady, her fingers tapping lightly on herptop, filled with all the datal she¡¯d

    compiled for Integral Elements Inc.

    ¡°Mr. Tanner, you should know that if someone opens a burger joint in a small town, the business model

    isn¡¯t one-size-fits-all. Because if that person tries to set up shop in another town, there¡¯s a good chance

    they¡¯ll find another burger joint already flipping patties, and suddenly there¡¯s nothing special about the

    original ce. It¡¯s the uniqueness that¡¯s the real deal.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Tanner, the initial interview was very enlightening for me. The reporter asked you a question about

    the business boundaries of Integral Elements Inc. Do you recall that?¡±

    It was thepany¡¯s first brush with the press. Tanner was a self-made man, riding high

    at the time.

    How had he responded? He said too many folks focused on boundaries, not the core.

    ¡°If you picture boundaries as gravity, every object, by virtue of its mass, creates gravity. affecting every

    other bit of matter. The difference is-the farther from the core, the less the pull. Or, if its own mass is

    small, the weaker its influence. Everything¡¯s boundless, so I don¡¯t believe in setting limits. As long as

    the core is solid, I¡¯ll make it.¡±

    Back then, he put such stock in apany¡¯s core, but sess can blind you. After many years, for the

    first time, someone reminded him so clearly that he had forgotten his original intentions.

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    A flicker of realization and amazement crossed Tanner¡¯s eyes before he finally asked, ¡°Ms. Brielle,

    when do you take the helm?¡±

    She smiled. ¡°If all goes well, next week.¡±

    ¡°Then here¡¯s to a fruitful coboration.¡±

    After the call, Brielle let out a sigh of relief. She brewed herself a coffee, her phone. chiming with a

    bank transfer notification. The funds had gone to charity, leaving her ount just shy of twenty grand.

    Material things never mattered much to her. Other than her modest apartment, she¡¯d given

    1/2

    16.06

    everything to charity.

    The head of Sunflower Children¡¯s Home had been like a father to her, having rescued her when she

    was on the brink of starvation. He¡¯d paid out of pocket for her hospital bills, which led to a costly

    divorce.

    Brielle always felt indebted, so most of her paycheck went to living expenses and the rest to the

    Sunflower Children¡¯s Home.

    years, she hadn¡¯t

    Her sry from Dorsey International was decent, but even after three yea indulged in luxuries.

    A reminder on her phone showed today was Miranda¡¯s birthday. Having lived with the Haywood family

    for over a decade, it was still necessary to buy gifts, but even if she spent the whole twenty grand,

    Miranda probably wouldn¡¯t bat an eysh.

    Brielle decided to get crafty. She changed clothes and headed out to the supermarket for baking

    supplies, nning to whip up a birthday cake herself.

    Miranda had a sweet tooth but always fretted over calories, so Brielle picked low-calorie options for the

    cake.

    Just as she finished the cake, her phone rang. It was Robert. ¡°Bri, where you at? Lillian¡¯s getting

    hungry.¡±

    It seemed that Lillian would also be at the family dinner tonight.

    16.06

 Chapter 24

    Chapter 24

    Lillian had always been a staple at every major family gathering, her presence as expected as the

    turkey on Thanksgiving.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Brielle suddenly lost her appetite for the outing. I¡¯m swamped with work, Dad. I¡¯ll have someone drop

    off the cake.¡±

    Robert nced at Spencer sitting across from him. Spencer was seated next to Lillian, and his

    complexion didn¡¯t look very good.

    That morning¡¯s negotiation with Integral Elements Inc. had been a battlefield, with Tanner sparing no

    one¡¯s feelings, his sharp tongue rattling the upper echelons of management. If it hadn¡¯t been for the

    protective wing of Spencer¡¯s father, Max would have gotten wind of it by now.

    And that-Tanner, he had the gall to dress down the whole M&A department like they were rookies. He

    was just smallpany¡¯s man. Where did his audacity evene from?

    It all came back to Brielle.

    Spencer was holding his rage, and with Brielle not answering his calls, he nned to take it out on her

    as soon as she showed up.

    However, Brielle was a no-show, and now with Robert¡¯s remark, ¡°Bri¡¯s caught up at work. She¡¯ll

    probably bete,¡± the Haywood family seemed to be still in the dark about her resignation.

    Sarcasm covered Spencer¡¯s face as he leaned back, the front legs of his chair already dangling in the

    air. ¡°Workingte? What job does she have to workte at? I¡¯ve already fired her. She just doesn¡¯t want

    toe, does she?¡±

    His words frosted the atmosphere.

    First it was Lillian, her face shadowed by disappointment, instinctively leaning towards Cameron as if to

    distance herself from Spencer.

    ¡°Bri¡¯s still mad at me. I¡¯m sorry, Miranda, that your birthday has been soured by this.¡±

    Miranda was trembling with indignation. Her own daughter made up excuses to skip her birthday! And

    with Spencer there, she felt utterly humiliated.

    She bit back her anger, pulling out her phone and calling Brielle on the spot.

    Without pleasantries, Miranda cut to the chase, ¡°Spencer¡¯s here, and why didn¡¯t you tell us you¡¯re not

    at Dorsey International anymore? What¡¯s gotten into youtely, Bri? Are you trying to break our

    hearts?¡±

    Parents never admitted to ying favorites, especially not when the favorite was an outsider.

    1/2

    16:06

    ¡°I don¡¯t care what you¡¯re doing. Get over here now!¡± And with that, Miranda hung up before Brielle

    could even respond.

    Looking at the cake she had made herself, Brielle had no choice but to grab it and leave her apartment.

    Family ties held her there, aplete fallout was not an option unless the Haywoods crossed a line

    they hadn¡¯t yet dared.

    Back at the Haywood residence, Miranda was seething ¡°Let¡¯s start eating. We can¡¯t wait for her.¡±

    Lillian hesitated before retrieving a cake from the fridge. ¡°Miranda, I made this myself, your favorite

    chestnut vor.¡±

    Miranda¡¯s mood softened at the sight of Lillian, ¡°Bless you, Lillian, always so thoughtful

    Lillian offered a tight-lipped smile, ncing at Spencer and then at Cameron, whose usually brooding

    demeanor softened under her gaze.

    The sound of a car came from outside the door. It was Brielle¡¯s mid-range sedan.

    She was quick to enter, holding the cake. Seeing the family gathered cheerfully at the table, she felt like

    an intruder.

    ¡°Dad, Mom, Cameron, she called out as if she hadn¡¯t noticed Spencer and Lillian.

    With a cake already on the table, she handed hers to the housekeeper. ¡°Put this in the fridge, please.¡±

    The per had been working for the Haywood family for over a decade, skilled a reading the room. As her

    grip loosened, the cake fell to the ground. The cake Brielle had spent hours on crumbled to pieces.

    Brielle gave the housekeeper a nonchnt look.

    The housekeeper¡¯s eyes shed contemptuously, ¡°Miss, that cake must¡¯ve cost a pretty penny, huh?¡±

    Before Brielle could reply, Mirandaunched into a tirade. ¡°No matter the cost, does it have the sincerity

    of a homemade one? Lillian even chose my favorite vor. Youe home dragging your feet, and

    you even pretend not to see your sister and fiance. I¡¯m starting to wonder if you¡¯ve been possessed.¡±

    The old Brielle had been sopliant.

    Then Mirada thought of that diary. It seemed to Miranda that Brielle had only been pretending all along,

    and now she didn¡¯t even care to maintain the facade.

    16.06

 Chapter 25

    Chapter 25

    Bricite took a deep breath, the tension in the room palpable-like she¡¯d crashed a private party. She felt

    like an unwee quest, her presence a hard pill to swallow for some.

    She should leave, but she didn¡¯t. Instead, she picked a spot, sat down, and breezed, ¡°Mom, happy

    birthday. Looks like we the Haywoods might just have double the reason to celebrate tonight.¡±

    Miranda¡¯s face was a mask of frost, her annoyance clear at the sight of her daughter. Belle¡¯s next

    words rooted her to the spot.

    Cameron, isn¡¯t it time to make things official with Lillian? I saw you two hugging three years ago.

    Surely, you haven¡¯t let her slip away, have you?¡±

    Cameron was taken aback. Brielle was thest person he expected to bring this up. After Lall, Lisa had

    made it clear that the idea of her best friend bing her sister-inw

    msde Brielle queasy.

    itice mood around the table shifted. Miranda¡¯s face lit up as she gaped in disbelief. Lillian was such a

    wonderful person, entirely deserving of her son. If they got married, Lillian would officially be part of the

    Haywood fold.

    intCameron you and Lillian, are you really¡­¡±

    avinands was over the moon, as if she wanted to drag the couple to the registry office right

    in die are there

    meron

    haunt anticipated their rtionship being thrust into the spotli beeper many since Lillian hadn¡¯t given

    him a definitive answer yet. Brielle¡¯s A amed mer heardie perfect opportunity to make things official.

    turnausted to look achillian, only to find her face a picture of panic. Under the

    doubledhed Spencer¡¯s sleave in a silent plea for help.

    artcors potenc vective instincts red. He saw Brielle¡¯s move as venomous-using ywood years cars

    affection like a noose around Lillian¡¯s neck to coerce her into

    myian Canicron.

    lon clenched het hementnmmerally cursing Brielle for meddling.

    Crosy tamtitch!

    1.

    pping rod bombonbilet pohooned the weight on Brielle¡¯s chest. While the others lost their bette, here

    seemed now have proved. She lowered her head to cut into the steak and ikea sip of red

    wett/GentCranston congrats on the upcorning nuptials. You two are al Ich made in heaven,iven

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    meron had never seen isinils in couch a favorable light. His gaze softened as he looked Libian. ¡°Lillian

    what do role thank think?¡±

    16 05.

    Lillian bit her lip as tears fell. To Cameron, they were tears of joy. To Spencer, they were tears of a

    woman cornered and in distress.

    Brielle smirked, seeing right through the act. ssic. Always the damsel. Lillian never needed to step

    forward herself. She could resolve everything by hiding behind others. Her maniption was top-notch;

    no wonder she had men wrapped around her finger.

    ¡°Lillian, if you don¡¯t fancy my brother, just cut him loose. What¡¯s with the tears? Are you overwhelmed

    or just ying the victim? Or, is it that you¡¯ve got a better offer?¡±

    Before the words had fully left her mouth, Spencer stood up, his patience at its end. ¡°Enough, Brielle!

    Back off!¡±

    Brielle took another delicate sip of her wine, all nonchnce. ¡°Why so defensive? Cam¡¯s cool. What¡¯s

    got your gears grinding?¡±

    This was Haywood territory, and any overt reaction from Spencer would be as good as a confession to

    the observant eyes around them. Spencer stiffened, itching to take a piece out of Brielle.

    Brielle, eyes on Cameron, feigned wholehearted support, ¡°Cameron, I¡¯m totally on board with this future

    sister-inw of mine. Go for it.

    Cameron frowned, puzzled at Lillian¡¯s silence.

    Lillian knew she had to speak up or the night would end in disaster. Her lips trembled. ¡°Cameron, I¡¯m

    grateful for your care. Miranda, you¡¯ve been wonderful to me, and Robert, you too. I consider you all

    family. This proposal is so sudden, I¡¯m just not prepal

    She trailed off, unable to articte her true feelings. Her words were all nonser ambiguous and vague,

    yet they gave Cameron a glimmer of hope.

    1606

 Chapter 26

    hapter 26

    Cameron breathed a sigh of relief. It¡¯s indeed a little abrupt. ¡°No worries, take your time to

    think it over.¡±

    Spencer¡¯s face darkened with fury at the side. The woman who frequented his bed was now

    considering settling down with another man. How had he never noticed Cameron¡¯s affection for Lillian

    before?

    But besides Cameron¡¯s feelings, the instigator that brought this to light was even more despicable. He

    shot Brielle a venomous re, but she remained as cool as if it was just another day.

    While they were talking, Brielle had finished her meal, delicately wiping the corners of her mouth with a

    napkin. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve discussed my brother¡¯s business, let¡¯s talk about mine, shall we? Spencer,

    don¡¯t you have something to say?¡±

    in seize Spencer stiffened, his face turning a shade paler. Brielle wasn¡¯t seriously going this chance to

    trap him in marriage, was she? Disgust swept through him, and suddenly, he lost his appetite

    completely.

    ¡®Brielle, are you itching to get hitched with me or what?¡± he asked, his tone dripping with disdain,

    though he was careful to keep it subdued out of respect for the Haywood family.

    Lillian, who was on the sidelines, heard this and clenched her fists secretly in anger. Brielle, that bitch,

    no wonder she purposely talked about her and Cameron tonight. It turned out she wanted to marry

    Spencer herself. Lillian¡¯s fingernails dug into her pal marring the skin.

    Lillian used to deliberately lead Brielle to find out about her and Spencer, and even lur Brielle to that

    vi so she could catch them in bed together.

    Back then, while Spencer wasining about Brielle¡¯s dullness, he was fucking Lillia good and

    hard. And Brielle had stood at the door, her face ashen.

    Lillian had thought she won easily, but tonight reminded her that as long as Spencer¡¯s engagement

    stood, she would always be the mistress lurking in the shadows. She couldn¡¯t ept that.

    Brielle hadn¡¯t expected Spencer to twist her words so, and seeing his face that was filled with aversion,

    she found it almostughable. This man was far too full of himself.

    ¡°It¡¯s not about getting married. It¡¯s about breaking off the engagement.¡±

    Once she returned to Dorsey International, Faith and Miranda, and even Spencer¡¯s father would be

    after her. It¡¯s better to dump him first than be dumped, at least to save some dignity.

    Spencer froze, and after a moment, felt an unbearable sense of humiliation. It was a

    16:06

    Chapter

    humiliation that struck out of nowhere, and the memory of the marks he¡¯d seen on Brielle¡¯s neck surged

    forward like a p in the face.

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    The woman he had no desire to bed, had been with another man.

    He felt rage and bitterness. Who would want to sleep with such a log? She must be frigid in bed

    The jab hit a raw nerve, and heshed out without thinking ¡°Brielle, what, got a taste for those male

    prostitutes, did you? How low can you get? You are engaged to me, yet you¡¯ve been with other men.

    The mere thought of you makes me sick.¡±

    His words cast an eerie silence over the room. Miranda, already in shock, felt the room spin as she

    processed this new revtion.

    With a fianc¨¦ as eligible as Spencer, her daughter was still fooling around. She couldn¡¯t believe it, fear

    creeping into her disbelief as she demanded confirmation. ¡°Is what Spencer¡¯s saying true?¡±

    Brielleughed lightly, surprised Spencer would bring such matters into the open. The nerve of him.

    ¡°Spencer, don¡¯t you have someone you like? Or are you just ying the field, with no intention of

    marrying?¡±

    Her words not only hit Spencer but grazed Lillian too. Lillian fought to keep her expression neutral, her

    jaw clenched tight. She tried to convince herself that Brielle was just trying to drive a wedge between

    them.

    Spencer loved her, and he had made promises. He surely wanted to marry Brielle, sticking to him like

    gum on a shoe, impossible to shake off.

    just

    Spencer was caught off guard by this statement, and almost instinctively, he answer. Of course, he

    wanted to marry Lillian. But then he caught sight of Brie smile, and the promise died on his lips.

    What was happening to him?

 Chapter 27

    Chapter 27

    The air at the dinner table was thick with unspoken tension, which erupted violently when Miranda

    suddenly lost her cool. She grabbed Brielle by the hell have you been up to outside this house?¡±

    or of her blouse. ¡°What the

    Brielle had only just finished a tryst with Max the night before, and the faint marks that had begun to

    fade were now a vivid crimson. As her cor was yanked open, those damning marks were exposed to

    the scrutinizing eyes of everyone present.

    Miranda froze, then, unable to contain her fury, she pped her daughter across the face. ¡°How could I

    have raised a daughter like you! Get out! Get out of

    my sight!¡±

    It was all over. Her daughter had been fooling around behind the back of the Dorsey family¡¯s son. If

    Faith got wind of this, the Haywoods would be in jeopardy.

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Faith, who never tolerated any nonsense, would never allow her son to marry a fickle

    woman.

    How did things get this bad? Miranda¡¯s fingertips quivered with the urge to s

    p her daughter again, but she found herself powerless, torn between regret for raising such daughter

    and resentment towards Brielle¡¯s disobedience.

    Brielle wiped the corner of her mouth where the p hadnded harder than ever before. She should

    feel heartbroken, but instead, there was a bizarre sense of relief.

    Lillian, witnessing the scene, felt like she¡¯d just won the lottery. Brielle, always so prim and proper, had

    been cavorting with someone behind closed doors. She feigned shock, covering her mouth, ¡°Bri, have

    you been cheating on Spencer?¡±

    Brielle calmly fixed her slightly disheveled hair, ¡°My fianc¨¦ has been keeping a bitch as his mistress on

    the side. Why shouldn¡¯t I get my revenge? Spencer, you were right. He did indeed show me what I was

    missing.¡±

    The thought of a male prostitute, one who wouldn¡¯t even show his face, and yet made Brielle willing to

    break off her engagement, was a humiliation too intense for Spencer to believe. Spencer¡¯s chest

    heaved with anger, his eyes red with rage.

    Brielle was always soposed. How could she fall for a male prostitute? How could she go crazy like

    this?

    Spencer felt a metallic taste in his mouth, as if tasting blood. His fianc¨¦e was ready to toss him aside

    for a male prostitute. It was an embarrassment, a slight that made him feel an unfamiliar pang of hurt.

    She even said that male prostitute was irresistible, words that didn¡¯t sound like they coulde from

    Brielle.

    Spencer¡¯s heart ached. Was he not attractive enough? Was his family not prestigious enough? How

    dare she!

    1/2

    16:07

    ¡°I disagree. His voice was hoarse, his gaze piercing, ¡°I will not dissolve our engagement, Brielle. You¡¯ve

    lost your mind.¡±

    He didn¡¯t understand why he wouldn¡¯t agree, only that he couldn¡¯t stand to stay there any longer.

    Brielle had changed so much.

    Spencer had never wanted to destroy someone so badly, all because of that detestable male escort. If

    he ever found that gigolo, he would make him pay dearly.

    Brielle hadn¡¯t expected Spencer to react this way, and it only added to her frustration. Yet, seeing the

    color drain from Lillian¡¯s face brought her a twisted sense of satisfaction. So, Lillian, his long-term

    mistress, meant so little to Spencer after all.

    However, it still wasn¡¯t enough. She remembered the rage and humiliation of catching them together.

    Comparing that to what they were experiencing now, it was a drop in the

    ocean.

    ¡°Mr. Spencer, you sure have a big heart, knowing your fianc¨¦e has been promiscuous and yet refusing

    to break off the engagement. Seems like you have a taste for being cuckolded.¡±

    Herugh was cold as her gaze swept over the shocked faces around her. She gracefully picked up her

    purse.

    After tonight, the Haywoods would no longer see her as the obedient daughter. The Dorseys probably

    wouldn¡¯t hear about this shameful affair right away, as no one present would want to spread such

    disgraceful news. Except for Lillian-who knew what she might stir up.

    But Brielle didn¡¯t care anymore. Things had escted to a point of no return.

    The constraints of both the Haywood family and the Dorsey family made her feel. miserable day and

    night. It would be better to break free from them sooner. And somehow, she had always suspected

    Spencer wouldn¡¯t let go of their engagement so easily. He had been talking about it for years, yet aside

    from verbal humiliation, he never

    took action.

    That was why she chose Max.

    Max was herst card to y to end this engagement-a card she wouldn¡¯t y unless absolutely

    necessary.

    Because the stakes were high, and it was a card she couldn¡¯t control. It could set off a chain of events

    she wasn¡¯t ready to deal with yet.

    712

    16:07

    Clehtprente

    he stopped od tfromthe Hatwoodgroeidenice,

    rating a breath of reiler as it she wana

    ing all and toxicity from harerun tshshebad revertelt such a surse of liberation.

    on the agenda was to porecte for her newtich inoroughly she was about to go barkac show her

    colleaguoseno ob dotat ndtvet wtion show as truly capable of.

    Nie ven on her lips as she felten be brichterhansad of her wrhout a single atton, sile hopood to

    hercaic elutinoso anonedhat she drier a few blocks than

    ing beam of high-beam headlights dad dreyevanststinctively, she jaded thou

    no wheel in a panic.

    holight the high-beam was an ident en at first, hire from the corner of her eye, she

    the other vehicle barreting towards he temporaleled st shy swervact, spinning the he hard. The car

    jolted violently barbering agrondhoer before crashing into a side flowerbed

    orehead stamned against the windshield, thebainesclocking her unconscious.

    the car¡¯s hood starting to spoke, drielte unbuckdico naree seatbelt and saw two men

    onching her

    l¨¦rielle, our boss would litte a word with you

 Chapter 28

    Chapter 28

    TEM was bogov, and fonamomem, she even wordered thedenemen were rizmen

    by Lin. After all, Lillian had bean ruddanchbuch dad Secunserter

    diche out of the question conner to have cozieduD TO SOSHGA soz dhaten

    10 Spencers DRCK.

    Novourboss?) she demanded.

    Woodyabards were expressions of ice as thevioulted beren buyout kn koom.c

    muns stielle.

    nd it

    okcies were notably pronounced, and an aura of cold pressionalsitsen envelop berartvetrained

    honters. Brielle knew any struggle would likely and win a shacopped che se sreven put, allowing

    herself to be dragged to another vehiclecle

    hersino ordove when she saw the mansion they outed up to she knew notbctly

    a supumonen-ner

    panencerda thener boarn membar at Dorsey international musthavere contwind of of

    SOKOTIMAYANENDE noro Spence, a role Ryan had fought booth and narito soburaferior

    candiwow was about to fall into the heads of an outsicer. T

    outsudestaca o to the person be sea to keep an eye on his own son of the the informant thehaavtach

    mohad to be removed. And dict car acadera? Meram e varma.ng.

    Ive had adappopste toute froth the Dorsey fernity but hadnexpected to norme

    nocase so stily

    Trencatanochoronorabnost stativohewanting to send a tattoxetinathan

    thened wited code to her rescu but at least someone would know tonniterere her

    valerworre

    wever, tha monumente he had horonone mer ndad, she remembered solucionsha nove

    ¡®s private numbestehermunication had always been over email

    tet out a tyciabeteangst seculdevevanotify anyone to im he rentams.

    inwhile, Max bestratooded up an overseas no ea conference, rubbing his termolec es

    is evervining to cunaratorion?

    ick standing by perutty ononded WM Dorsey we ve checked. They re indeeded inna a gathering at an

    hout hang on dindavo de initial funding was mainly managedd

    a tano

    van, though the palm marengere he visto ced.¡±

    n was using Dorsey internationois funus do for its own advantage, treating it lea

    onal piggy bank The so stated Nightht orcedadcace club gathering wasnuustior apo

    De few trom ma corsiv omrz inchcludson excuaves tent other curnpanies

    uring a wealth of contacts and resoumasconarancse directors.

    is fingertips tapped lighty on the base chartaidehades tono legs sheather suite sers, the hem

    rioinanpito revealdada akey creases obeks.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    vas the epitome of restraint, yet mahsesin onlyse saeneo to amplify his ing one want to tear off nis

    said. Untenonatawhoadommenellioncione

    ins appetite sure is growing.

    shut hisocon. What¡¯s Faith been up totein

    1 was the quintessential societydy, and even eene vesis of narnace she still ted an ac of pride, but

    that pride nan see worn done yans nent intideltie

    is still trying to reciatin ivans affections, and shes bebecue recsinaly harsimon son However. Spencer¡¯s

    perance he s been que se odd incecent yearsh?he¡¯s nato leverage her sons sess to mand tier

    rtionshawothitehounusband.

    boromance? Avabout like Spencer holding towabirememopsnisnon was

    nceivable.

    bk Max berely s second to think of Brielle, Get me benciale¡±

    ich used, then quicklypiled Faith¡¯s file and handed at over witoveverence.

    Max nced at it and frowned, tossing it into the trash. ¡°I meant Brielle¡¯s file.¡±

    3/3

 Chapter 29

    Chapter 29

    Patrick froze in ce, his mind racing to catch up with the unfolding situation. If it had been anyone

    else, they probably would have seamed by now.

    Max had been a paragon of restraint for years, never seen in close proximity with any woman Emotions

    that came naturally to most seemed absent in him, which was why Patrick was so astounded the first

    time he visited Brielle¡¯s apartment. He had prepared himself mentally all the way there, just to make

    sure he didn¡¯t gawk at Brielle the moment she opened the door.

    Now Max was asking for Brielle¡¯s file again, and this was the first time he¡¯d shown interest in someone

    outside of a business partner.

    ¡°Here¡¯s Ms. Brielle¡¯s file. She¡¯s quite exceptional in her capabilities.¡± Patrick added thest bit on

    impulse, but Max¡¯s expression remained unfazed.

    Could it be that he¡¯d guessed wrong? That Max wasn¡¯t particrly interested in Brielle?

    Max scanned the documents with a cid look, his eyebrows lifting slightly when he saw her academic

    aplishments. And she¡¯d maintained her leading position throughout her time at Beaconsfield

    College, graduating at the top of her ss. Afterward, she went straight to Dorsey International.

    Max¡¯s eyebrows arched again at the sight of her 50K monthly sry.

    A top student from Beaconsfield College, with so many cases under her belt, was only making a 50K

    monthly sry at Dorsey International?

    Patrick had apparently noticed that as well. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s Spencer¡¯s but Ms. Brielle¡¯s sry has

    always been at that figure.

    Graduates of Beaconsfield College typically started at top firms with srie of thousands of dors,

    Brielle¡¯s paycheck was indeed modest inparison Faith¡¯s doing.

    Could Brielle really tolerate that?

    Faith¡¯s,

    Thinking about the person who showed a mix of submission and sharpness before flicker of

    amusement crossed Max¡¯s eyes. ¡°Does she have a weakness that Faith is exploiting?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve wondered about that myself, so I did some digging and found there¡¯s a connection with the

    Sunflower Children¡¯s Home. Ms. Brielle grew up there until she was ten, and that property should have

    been auctioned off again after the government¡¯s deadline expired. Faith, however, pulled some strings

    and got the deadline extended by another five years.¡±

    Patrick¡¯s report was thorough, including a detailed analysis of the Sunflower Children¡¯s Home.

    1/2

    Chapter 29

    Developers had been vying to turn the property into an amusement park three years ago when the

    deadline approached, and the government had even considered opening it up for bidding, but the issue

    was quietly dropped,

    Max flipped through the pages nonchntly, musing over Brielle¡¯s eptance of the director position, a

    slight smile forming on his lips.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    ¡°By bing director, she¡¯s crossing Faith. If Faith is holding this over her, how can Brielle dare return

    to Dorsey International?¡±

    Patrick¡¯s checks flushed a hint of red, and he cleared his throat subtly, ¡°Perhaps that¡¯s why Ms. Brielle

    chose you.¡±

    Max understood instantly. From the moment their rtionship escted beyond professional, Brielle

    had this angle in mind.

    ¡°Moreover, Ms. Brielle was smart to get Faith to agree to a five-year dy. They must have. signed a

    contract, so even if they fall out now, Faith can¡¯t touch the Sunflower Children¡¯s Home for at least that

    period. As for whates after, Ms. Brielle hasn¡¯t made any demands of you yet. Maybe once the

    rtionship ends, she¡¯ll naturally bring it up.

    Patrick¡¯s voice was very serious, and when he spoke, he didn¡¯t hold back. He was confident that Max

    wasn¡¯t lost in a fool¡¯s paradise and had probably been aware of Brielle¡¯s ulterior motives since the

    moment he woke up in her apartment for the first time.

    7607

 Chapter 30

    Chapter 30

    shshechos felpanty montheystudy.

    sandy subwean in animo anal and by hu vide was a corpous ternate assistem. Th

    was knee in beste ftude Redrandon

    tuons and the scase was very y

    indexavagant,

    surrounded by a neu monoton co document and without warning, he hung one at nelle. thought ven

    had rare thorn brains than is.¡±

    rstruck her cheek, and though she new better than to retaliate

    nottyan head-on world.onivunhchasten har demise.

    ract was tive very onesho and Fand had hatt sidred, which extended the lesse of these

    Children¡¯s ricme by invevavesy swasthanh Parc who had dealt with the matter, and

    of such a real estate deal weytonstronomical not mention the five years of hes that came with it

    WITH

    tason/Brtelle had etways consideredthedane peiserous satory from Dorsey

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    cato include the§ßerusso obtight

    Itowy, Mr Ryan,¡± she said, feighingborancecance

    2e was venomous Germinate this aquecoens went with Baithanediater. And while It exin your

    appointment as directorek don¡¯t coverjow repeating myself Brielle, ret cut would be as sy as preppine

    on arashant.

    act stimted that if faith breached the agreementeradesalty, she w

    wer Children¡¯s Horne two hundred millem decals are sunt Estante corporation, let alone an individual

    like aith Fan,

    ince more. was clear he had chand destin

    could with Rya

    Bridle started, maintainingposure, the tetres article diontybaly drow any from Cornev

    imemnational, and i¡¯ve been savKWRY TOEye Spencer Sorth umerous mergers and acquisitions. its a

    fer deal for bodi pethusarties.

    decerary eamach Michael¡¯s raise and had madera mareirosairaseiamond

    generation: Such an opportunny wasn¡¯t something that condomer be bought with

    berty rights.

    ueless van barked. ¡°Come in!¡±

    do

    Id

    Jot

    tephe door swing open and several burly bodyguards entered and forenforced hes men. ne and

    pushed arpille side while the others began unbucking the betts tilts with a

    Dilvency

    waned inwardly refusing to swallow the pill, but her jaw was swiftly dislocaseok ated,

    Vats of polcricketing pain through her-she neatly passed out out

    Chapter 30

    ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    Fear crept into her eyes as she desperately tried to back away, only to be pinned down by

    the men.

    Ryan pushed his assistant aside and strode over. ¡°I hear you and Spencer haven¡¯t shared a bed in

    years. You know I¡¯m capable of anything. If you don¡¯t want to be gangbanged, revoke the contract and

    return the Director position to Spencer. Just be a good little manager and support Spencer from the

    shadows, like you have been since the day I recognized your talents.¡±

    He sneered, patting Brielle¡¯s face mockingly. ¡°Or to put it another way, just be Spencer¡¯s stepping

    stone, or neither you nor those kids at the Home will be safe. Don¡¯t push me.¡±

    Brielle paled, the drug making her weak and feverish. Fear had taken hold.

    Every member of the Dorsey family was formidable, especially those on the board, each harboring their

    own dark ambitions.

    ¡°Spencer says you want to call off your engagement? You think you¡¯re worthy to make that demand?¡±

    Ryan¡¯s foot came down hard on Brielle¡¯s hand without hesitation. She broke out in a cold sweat, unable

    to suppress a whimper as red-hot anger red in her eyes. The pressure intensified until her bones felt

    like they might shatter.

    ¡°You manipted Faith into signing that contract, ying on her affection for Spencer. But to me,

    you¡¯re transparent. I dictate whether you live or die.¡±

    Biting her lip until blood appeared, Brielle fought the encroaching darkness as Ryan¡¯s foot finally lifted,

    just before she could pass out.

    Gasping for air, her vision blurred, all she could hear was Ryan¡¯s icy voice, ¡°I¡¯m sparing your life, but

    just barely. Once they¡¯re done with you, you¡¯ll still be nothing more than a stepping stone for Spencer.¡±

    The sound of leather belts hitting the floor filled the room.

    ¡°No,¡± she whispered weakly, ¡°please¡­¡± But her pleas were drowned by the overwhelming terror seizing

    her heart.

    Fumbling for her phone, her trembling, agonized hands failed her. Any rescue would do. Even if it were

    Spencer.

    As a man¡¯s hand forced her head up, the door abruptly opened-it was one of Ryan¡¯s men.

    ¡°Sir, Max has arrived unexpectedly.¡±

    212

 Chapter 31

    Chapter 31

    Ryan thought his ears were ying tricks on him. How on earth had Max shown up here, of all ces?

    He frowned, nced down at Brielle, then directed a stern look at the bodyguards, ¡°Keep an eye on

    her. Make sure she doesn¡¯t make a peep.¡±

    The guards, who had been busily unbuckling their belts, stopped and nodded respectfully.

    Ryan took his time descending the staircase, spotting Max lounging on the sofa with Patrick tagging

    along.

    It was Max¡¯s first time visiting, and he¡¯d always been a reserved person, with even less interaction with

    the rest of the Dorsey family.

    At that moment, Faith graciously brought out a tter of fruits, relief washing over her when she saw

    Ryan was unapanied by his female assistant.

    Ryan¡¯s history of parading mistresses through the family threshold wasn¡¯t new. The first few times had

    caused quite the scandal, leading to a public ruckus from Faith. The uproar had be the talk of the

    Dorsey family, only to be met with Ryan¡¯s ruthless retribution.

    In her earlier years, Faith had been the devoted housewife, but sensing Ryan¡¯s growing impatience

    with her, she¡¯d thrown herself into her own business ventures.

    With Dorsey International loomingrge in the backdrop, herpany thrived, yet its annual revenue

    was a mere drop in the ocean.

    Later, she¡¯d had an epiphany. Secure her son Spencer¡¯s position, and she could reim Ryan¡¯s

    affections. After all, despite his notorious escapades, Ryan had never sired an illegitimate child.

    Spencer was Ryan¡¯s sole heir, his importance unquestioned.

    Faith forced a smile, ¡°Max, what brings you here sote? Trouble at thepany?¡±

    Max casually sipped his tea, taking his time to reply, while Patrick nodded in confirmation. ¡°Mrs.

    Dorsey, someone blocked the CEO¡¯s car tonight-a pregnant woman.¡±

    No sooner had Patrick spoken than a visibly expecting woman was ushered in. Pale-faced and visibly

    shrinking upon seeing Faith, the woman clutched her belly and burst into tears the moment her eyes

    fell on Ryan.

    Ryan¡¯s expression darkened. He couldn¡¯t recognize her.

    Equally flustered, Faith¡¯s voice turned icy, ¡°What is this?¡± She red at Max, lips pressed tightly

    together, panic swelling within her.

    Max set down his cup, voice imbued with a chill, ¡°She¡¯s been tailing me since I left Dorsey International,

    brazen enough to stop my car-apparently, a mess my brother here has

    created.¡±

    1/2

    16:12

    Chapter 31

    The woman¡¯s voice was hoarse with sobs as she rushed toward Ryan, ¡°Ryan, I¡¯ve been trying to see

    you, but Dorsey International wouldn¡¯t let me in at all, and your wife has been making trouble out of it,

    even trying to get me to abort this baby.¡± Her re then turned venomous towards Faith.

    Faith¡¯s throat tightened, her hands wringing together on herp.

    Michael never concerned himself with the bedroom antics of his son. Even illegitimate children didn¡¯t

    matter as long as they proved themselves worthy. But Faith would never allow anyone to threaten

    Spencer¡¯s position. This unborn child could not be allowed to exist. She never anticipated the woman

    would go to the lengths of stopping Max¡¯s car.

    Furious, Ryan signaled the guards by the door, and the woman was promptly dragged away. He

    managed a strained chuckle, ¡°Sorry about this, Max. Didn¡¯t mean to make a spectacle.¡±

    ¡°The skeletons in my brother¡¯s closet are quite the sight,¡± Maxmented dryly, eyes following the

    woman¡¯s retreat before resting on Faith. His gaze held nothing but made Faith feel unbearably

    exposed.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    ¡°I would prefer not to have women clinging to my car wheels, wailing like banshees. Nor do I want

    Dorsey International¡¯s stocks to suffer because of a director¡¯s personal affairs. He smiled, a smile that

    sent shivers down Ryan¡¯s spine and left him feeling as though he¡¯d stepped on an ice pick, frozen in

    ce.

 Chapter 32

    Chapter 32

    ¡°Ryan, what you¡¯ve gotten yourself into this time is absurdly over the top.¡± Max never saw himself as

    one of the juniors, and he slowly stood up, his voice steady, ¡°And that nephew of mine, Spencer, I don¡¯t

    care about the dames you guys keep, but I sure as hell don¡¯t like them parading around me.¡±

    Ryan¡¯s face turned sour, finally realizing why Max had stripped Spencer of his position. It seemed

    Spencer¡¯s little mistress from the suburban vi had decided to mess with Max.

    What a foolish move!

    His hand, dangling at his side, clenched into a fist. He wished he could take care of that woman right

    then and there.

    Then he thought about the woman he¡¯d been with tonight, the one who had shamelessly thrown herself

    under Max¡¯s car wheels. No wonder Max had chosen toe over at night.

    Twice now, they had crossed Max¡¯s line. If there was a next time, forget Spencer¡¯s directorship-his own

    seat on the board would be on the line.

    He was furious and resentful, but Max, holding fifty-one percent of Dorsey International¡¯s shares, was

    the absolutely of thepany. Whoever he wanted out, had to pack their bags and leave, pronto.

    He couldn¡¯t afford to cross Max, at least not now.

    ¡°Max, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take care of it all. I already heard about Spencer¡¯s mess, and you promoted

    Brielle?¡±

    As he descended the stairs, Ryan had thought Max was here because of Brielle. He even suspected

    there might be some sort of illicit affair between them. Why else would he promote Brielle?

    However, within the M&A department, Brielle seemed to be the only one capable of stepping up as

    director.

    A little digging by Max would reveal who had really been behind the recent acquisitions. Brielle¡¯s

    competence was beyond question; she was a piece he had to keep close at hand. Max-chuckled, ¡°If

    not her, then who?¡±

    So unabashed. If there was something going on with Brielle, he wouldn¡¯t be openly mentioning her

    name.

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Ryan rxedpletely. His n to ruin Brielle tonight had been based on the suspicion that she was

    involved with Max. With his doubts dispelled, there was no need to push her

    to the brink.

    1/2

    1612

    ¡°Brielle¡¯s quite talented. I¡¯ll make sure Spencer learns a thing or two from her.¡±

    Max nced upstairs nonchntly, then casually looked away. ¡°I¡¯ve got other things to handle, so I¡¯ll

    leave you to it.¡±

    Ryan couldn¡¯t wait for him to leave, his gaze now fixating on Faith.

    Faith hurried to see Max out. Only when the iconic ck car vanished did both their faces

    darken.

    Ryan didn¡¯t hesitate to p her, ¡°Are you satisfied with this mess?¡±

    Faith¡¯s face swelled from the p, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect her toe to Max.¡±

    Ryan snorted and walked into the house, ¡°There better not be a next time.¡±

    Faith took a deep breath, her pride had been worn away by the years with Ryan.

    Heading upstairs, Ryan pushed open the door to his study and was hit by the stench of blood. Brielle

    was there, squeezing a piece of broken ss, having cut her own thigh to stay alert under the drug¡¯s

    effect.

    The bodyguard stuffed a towel in her mouth and wrapped her up, forbidding her from cutting any

    further.

    Brielle was sweating bullets, her pupils shrinking as Ryan returned. Then she went still.

    Ryan removed the towel from her mouth, ¡°Brielle, I¡¯ll let you off the hook tonight. I won¡¯t touch the

    Sunflower Children¡¯s Homend for now, but you need to keep an eye on Max for me.¡± His tone was

    airy, as if he had no doubt she wouldply.

    ¡°The director position is just for you to watch over for Spencer temporarily. He¡¯ll be back soon, andter

    you¡¯ll be my eyes. If Max gets close to any woman, I want to know immediately.¡±

    Little did Ryan know, the one closest to Max was Brielle herself.

    2/2

 Chapter 33

    Chapter 33

    Brielle¡¯s inner sneer was a frozen de as she slowly rose to her feet. No bodyguard dared to stop her

    this time.

    She looked disheveled, almost unable to stand from the pain. However, when she met Ryan¡¯s gaze, it

    was cold. The deep-seated disgust and resentment hidden within her were like knives cutting through

    bone.

    ¡°Brielle, if you keep looking at me like that, I promise you won¡¯t live to see tomorrow¡¯s sunrise,¡± Ryan

    warned, waving a dismissive hand. ¡°Get out. And keep me updated on Max¡¯s every move.¡±

    eyes

    As director of mergers and acquisitions, she often had meetings up in the ss tower, always close to

    Max.

    Max didn¡¯t trust any of the directors at Dorsey International, but he had just shown a rare approval of

    Brielle¡¯s skills, ensuring their paths would cross again soon.

    Ryan sneered to himself. Brielle was nothing but a puppet he¡¯d controlled since she was young,

    disposable the moment she ceased to be useful. Spencer would never marry such

    a scheming woman.

    Lowering her gaze, Brielle thought of the ¡°gift¡± she¡¯d prepared for Friday, licking the blood from the

    corner of her mouth. The feeling of suppressed rage ready to burst forth was like a tempest, sweeping

    through her entire being. She would remember tonight¡¯s

    humiliation.

    ¡°Rest assured, I¡¯ll keep a close watch on Max.¡±

    Ryan knew she would say that, his eyes glinting with disdain. ¡°What are you waiting for?

    Get out!¡±

    It¡¯s like sparing her life entitled him to her eternal gratitude.

    Brielle moved slowly, an undercurrent of rebellion stirring within her. The Haywood family was partly to

    me for this mess. Robert and Miranda owed Ryan too many favors; over the past decade, their

    business ties had only tightened. Even Robert and Miranda had to y by Ryan¡¯s rules, let alone

    Brielle.

    What Ryan didn¡¯t realize was that this pawn could bite back.

    Reaching the door, Brielle saw Faith sitting on the couch, holding her face and sobbing softly. She

    looked away, finding the whole scene absurd.

    People despising each other while ttering each other. Everyone wanting to be above the rest, yet

    crawling before one another. This world was thoroughly rotten.

    She moved forward, teeth clenched, blood from her leg trailing down, leaving spatters on the floor, but

    she felt no pain.

    1/2

    16:12

    Chapter 33

    Then she stepped outside and saw the car waiting in the distance, and the man standing by it. He

    leaned against the vehicle in the quiet night, the dim streetlights stretching their shadows long enough

    to nket the street.

    After a while, Max patted the car, signaling her toe over, just as he had once casually patted the

    spot beside him at the karaoke bar.

    Brielle admitted that hearing he was there had set off countless thoughts. But when she descended

    and didn¡¯t see him, they all vanished. Max was still the untouchable man in the clouds, not there for

    her.

    Seeing him now made her heart soar back to heaven from the abyss. His mere presence could shake

    the business world, let alone stir the heart of a young woman.

    With her mind nk, she followed her instincts towards him.

    Max was impressive, his mere presence enough to bring tears to her eyes. Brielle fought the tears in

    her eyes as she approached.

    She bypassed the usual yful greeting of ¡°Uncle Max,¡± fearing her voice would betray her tears, and

    slid into the car.

    She could pretend he was here for her, she thought.

    Max stood a moment longer before returning to the car. Brielle, leaning against the window, nced up

    at him as the door closed. She was tired, her throat burning.

    The car¡¯s motion prompted her to lean onto his shoulder, then slide down, her head resting against his

    thigh. This position wasfortable, allowing her to gaze up at his cold, distant chin. ¡°Uncle Max, did

    youe to rescue me tonight?¡±

    His hand, unusually gentle, prevented her from slipping further. ¡°Not really,¡± he replied coldly.

    ¡°I see.¡± Brielle closed her eyes. ¡°Good thing you didn¡¯t, or I might fall for you.¡±

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    She thought he wouldn¡¯t respond, but as she drifted off, she heard a faint ¡°Hmm.¡±

    That was the thing about Max-he never gave false hope.

 Chapter 34

    Chapter 34

    The car pulled up to the Premier Pce, and the private doctor was already waiting there.

    In her slumber, Brielle could feel someone tending to her thigh, bandaging it up, while a feverish heat

    made her want to turn over, only to have her wrist gently grasped.

    ¡°Hot,¡± she mumbled, her brow furrowing as she sought out a cool spot.

    Max propped her up and pressed a cold pack against her cheeks. Brielle sighed in relief, snuggling into

    thefort of his embrace.

    The doctor breathed a sigh of relief, finishing the bandage on her leg and administering a shot. ¡°She¡¯ll

    be fine after some rest, sir. No need to worry. However, this youngdy¡¯s constitution is delicate. She

    should take care in her daily routine.¡±

    Max set the cold pack aside, pulling out a handkerchief to dab at the sweat on Brielle¡¯s forehead.

    When Patrick returned after seeing off the doctor, he was greeted by this tender scene. He couldn¡¯t

    quite gauge Max¡¯s feelings-whether he was concerned or indifferent.

    If indifferent, why had Max rushed to Ryan¡¯s side upon hearing of Brielle¡¯s mishapte at night?

    If concerned, then why did he it when Ms. Brielle had directly asked?

    Having worked closely with Max for years, Patrick knew all too well Max¡¯s views on emotional

    entanglements.

    They were burdens, shackles. Release worldly attachments, and things would have clear

    structure.

    That philosophy had allowed Max to be decisive in business, sweeping through challenges with ease.

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    But Brielle was different. Her forceful entrance and asional fiery passion were like a wildfire,

    threatening to consume the cool, collected glow of his nights.

    It was like watching The Priest contend with a worldly siren-victory was anyone¡¯s guess.

    Patrick couldn¡¯t help but feel a mischievous desire to see how this drama would unfold, his lips curling

    into a smile, ¡°Sir, about the overseas conference-¡±

    His words were cut short as Brielle stirred in Max¡¯s arms, her throat too hoarse to speak. Max gestured

    for Patrick to be quiet, then brought a ss of water from the coffee table to her lips.

    Brielle took a few sips, surveyed her surroundings, and recognized the Premier Pce. She softened,

    nestling back into Max¡¯s chest. ¡°Uncle Max, are my fingers broken?¡± Her whole body ached, and she

    couldn¡¯t pinpoint the worst part.

    1/2

    16:13

    ¡°I almost¡­¡± Her voice trembled, unable to form aplete sentence.

    Fear was setting in-the fear of being vited by Ryan¡¯s bodyguards, the fear that Ryan would take her

    life.

    She looked down at her hands, which were bandaged up like little buns, wrapped tightly in gauze.

    Tears began to flow as panic filled her heart. Were her fingers useless now?

    Max was somewhat at a loss, a rare look of bewilderment on his typically stoic face. He had thought

    she would not be afraid, for she had been calm despite her disheveled state when she had gotten into

    the car.

    Suddenly, two arms wrapped around his neck, and before he could react, he was pushed back onto the

    couch. Her kisses were clumsy, like those of a puppy, causing him to furrow his brow.

    Patrick, from a distance, discreetly exited, signaling the household staff to do the same.

    ¡°Brielle.¡± Max raised his hand to push her away, guessing the medication hadn¡¯t worn off

    yet.

    Brielle¡¯s cheeks were flushed, unable to undo his buttons with her wrapped hands, so she resorted to

    biting them with her teeth in desperation.

    Max caught her hair, tilting her head back. Brielle¡¯s lips were red, and she spat out the damaged button,

    inadvertently licking her lips, gazing up at him with innocent eyes.

    Max¡¯s breathing grew heavy, his voice low, ¡°You really are asking for¡­¡±

    Asking for what, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say.

    Brielleughed, her eyes gleaming beautifully, ¡°Uncle Max, fuck me.¡±

    She was desperate to know, to confirm that she was still alive. Desperate to erase the scene from

    Ryan¡¯s study, she urged him to use her body.

    2/2

 Chapter 35

    Chapter 35

    Max didn¡¯t do what she said. He reached out to touch her forehead, confirming the fever he¡¯d

    suspected. Lifting her gently, he made his way upstairs.

    Brielle tried to pry her eyes open to gauge his expression, but exhaustion won, and she drifted off to

    sleep.

    The doctor, who¡¯d just left, was hastily summoned back and spent the night administering IV fluids.

    The entire Premier Pce was in an uproar. The seasoned butler, Wesley, paced the living room full of

    vim and vigor, asionally consulting with Patrick. ¡°Should I whip up some chicken soup for Ms.

    Brielle?¡± he asked. ¡°We got some fresh chicken this morning. Maybe add some ginger for good

    measure.¡±

    Patrick knew there was a misunderstanding. Brielle¡¯s fever and vomiting the night before had somehow

    convinced the entire household she was pregnant. The rumors grew wilder by the minute.

    ¡°No need, Mr. Wesley, Ms. Brielle is just down with an ordinary fever.¡±

    Wesley couldn¡¯t sit still, though, and ordered the kitchen to stew a chicken. Thinking of Brielle¡¯s slender

    frame, he also demanded a whole lobster be prepared.

    Hands sped behind his back, Wesley personally oversaw the chicken stewing in the kitchen. ¡°Don¡¯t

    make it too salty.¡± he instructed.

    The household staff buzzed with curiosity.

    Max was usually so aloof, and only a few had been to Premier Pce. Ms. Brielle had

    visited just twice, and each time she was in Max¡¯s arms.

    ¡°Could she be the futuredy of the house?¡±

    ¡°But isn¡¯t Mr. Max and Ms. Alivia a pair?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Alivia has an outstanding appearance, conducting research abroad, andes from a good

    family. However, in terms of looks, this Ms. Brielle is not inferior either. I just wonder which prestigious

    family she belongs to.¡±

    Wesley overheard the servants¡¯ gossip and coughed into his hand. The chatter ceased immediately.

    Wesley then made his way upstairs, his knock on the door much softer than usual. Brielle had burned

    with fever all night, her lips now cracked and parched. She was still asleep. After knocking for a bit,

    Wesley headed to the study across the hall.

    This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .

    Max, still in his meeting, looked sharp in a gray suit, his features serene Wesley didn¡¯t want to intrude,

    so he simply brought in a cup of coffee.

    1/2

    16:13

    Chapter 35

    Max nced up, inquiring, ¡°Is she awake?¡±

    Wesley¡¯s eyes lit up. In the midst of a meeting, yet Max was concerned about Ms. Brielle¡¯s condition.

    His cheeks flushed with excitement. ¡°Not yet, Sir. I¡¯ve had the kitchen prepare chicken soup.¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Max returned his focus to theputer screen. ¡°Continue.¡±

    Wesley knew themand wasn¡¯t for him, so he quietly left.

    Brielle was jolted awake by the jarring ring of a cellphone. Instinctively, she reached for it beside her

    pillow. The slight movement sent a sharp pain through her hand.

    Turning over, she felt the soft duvet and slowly surveyed her surroundings.

    This was Premier Pce. She was in Max¡¯s bed.

    After a whole night of fever, the heat had subsided, but her body felt as though it had been drained of

    all moisture, her lips cracked. As she struggled to sit up, the bedroom door opened and Max entered

    with a tray, giving her a nce.

    Brielle paused her attempt to get out of bed until he came closer, cing a ss of water to her lips.

    Her hand was bandaged like a bun, making it impossible to take the cup herself. She had no choice but

    to sip from his hand until the ss was empty. After drinking, she licked her parched lips, the scent of

    soup tantalizing her senses.

    Max set the tray down, picked up a spoon, and stirred the bowl before bringing a spoonful to her lips.

    Brielle was overwhelmed by the gesture, sinking back onto the bed before blinking in disbelief. ¡°Uncle

    Max, this isn¡¯t a dream, is it?¡±

    16.19 ?

    2/2

 Chapter 36

    Chapter 36

    Max paused and set his bowl down on the nightstand.

    The maid, already waiting by the door and keenly observant, quickly stepped in with a bowed head.

    She carefully took the bowl and began to feed her with meticulous

    attention.

    Brielle instantly regretted her impulsivement. Had she kept quiet, she might have enjoyed the

    privilege of Max¡¯s personal care. But now, she didn¡¯t have the nerve to ask him to continue.

    After finishing the soup, she finally felt strong enough to get out of bed. The maid was gone, and it was

    just the two of them left in the room.

    Outside, the sun was zing, its rays cloaking the garden beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. Max sat

    in a chair by the window, the very picture of grace, his fingers tapping away on the keyboard.

    Brielle had managed to pull herself out of the fear she had felt the night before, but now -she felt

    neglected, and a bit bored. She got out of bed and moved closer to him, standing

    behind his chair. She inhaled his crisp scent and nced at the screen. ¡°Hatfield Inc., huh? Are you

    nning to take over thispany?¡±

    Dorsey International was a giant in its field, having started with semiconductors. The older generations

    began with transistors, and while overseaspanies were already in the game, nobody domestically

    had realized the future impact of transistors. Thus, the first domestic processors came from the Dorsey

    family.

    The industry was the first in human history to develop at an exponential rate.

    Over the years, the Dorsey family had risen to the top in the transistor processor market. However,

    since Max took charge, he began cutting back on many superfluous operations, keeping only two core

    businesses.

    In his first year, he shed over seven thousand positions, nearly a third of thepany¡¯s workforce.

    Not only that, amid howls of protest, Max sold off several subsidiaries, securing a billion dors in cash

    flow for Dorsey International.

    Everyone thought Dorsey International was strapped for cash and tightening its belt, but in the following

    year, Max led Dorsey International on a campaign of conquest, mes of battle burning bright.

    Now, Dorsey International had formed a diversified industrial chain with numerous luxury brands in its

    portfolio. It was said, half-jokingly, that the executives were either buying something or on their way to

    buy something.

    A few years ago, a financial newspaper even exaggeratedly imed that from the top of Dorsey Tower,

    everything as far as the eye could see was part of its empire.

    1/2

    16:52

    ¡°Uncle Max, pursuing Hatfield might be tricky. I remember five years ago apany tried to take over

    Hatfield, but their management immediately implemented a poison pill strategy. The tug-of-warsted

    two years, and the suitor eventually had to back down.¡±

    Brielle was too close, her breath tickling Max¡¯s ear. To see the screen better, she leaned in, resting her

    chin on Max¡¯s shoulder. This posture was too intimate, like she was snuggling up to him.

    Max didn¡¯t push her away but instead slid theptop closer, ¡°What¡¯s your take on this?¡±

    ¡°Hatfield is family-owned, structured much like Dorsey International, but its management ys a

    different game. Dorsey has been aggressively expanding its territories and sectors, while Hatfield has

    always stuck to perfumes, avoiding overexpansion and not chasing profits. They even use eco-friendly

    packaging in response to national environmental initiatives. The Hatfield family owns over seventy

    percent of the shares, spread across more than two hundred members, with no single heir holding

    more than five percent. For Dorsey International to take them over, we¡¯d be looking at a prolonged

    battle of at least a year.¡±

    She leaned in with a yful twinkle in her eye, ¡°Plus, the takeover is bound to fail. During my time at

    Beaconsfield College, I met one of their family members. After that hostile takeover attempt, most of

    the Hatfield heirs have locked up fifty percent of thepany shares in a rigid trust arrangement.

    ording to their n, these shares can¡¯t be sold without the consent of over seventy-five percent of

    the family members. So, during this lock-up period, no one can take over Hatfield.¡±

    This was Hatfield¡¯s secret, known only to the family. Max turned, surprised, and gave her a look.

    Feeling suddenly awkward, Brielle straightened up, ¡°He was drunk at a party and let it slip. Everyone

    else forgot, but I remembered.¡±

    Max closed theptop, decisively abandoning the Hatfield project.

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Uncle Max, you trust me just like that?¡± Brielle was taken aback by his decisiveness.

    ¡°A leader employs those he trusts and trusts those he employs.¡±

    Her heart warmed at his words. She had nned to be flippant in front of him, but now

    she couldn¡¯t utter a word.

    The Haywood family didn¡¯t believe her, and the people at Dorsey International humiliated her, but Max

    trusted her.

    2/2

    16:52

 Chapter 37

    Chapter 37

    Realizing the awkward atmosphere, she quickly changed the subject, simultaneously diverting her own

    attention. ¡°Uncle Max, tomorrow is Friday. How do you n to y out this scene?¡±

    The stakes involving that building were high, with several board members of Dorsey International

    reaping benefits. If he made a move on this, there would be inevitable turmoil within Dorsey

    International.

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    ¡°We¡¯ll do what needs to be done.¡±

    Max¡¯s voice was casual, wrapping up one meeting before diving into another.

    Brielle realized just how busy he was; even as he sipped his coffee, his other hand was methodically

    tapping away at the keyboard. Feeling rather bored standing there, she was about to suggest a stroll

    downstairs when she noticed someone sent Max a video call invitation.

    Brielle¡¯s eyesight was sharp. The screen disyed-Alivia.

    Max was in the midst of a meeting, but his finger identally hit ept. The screen revealed a

    beautiful face against a backdrop of towering bookshelves. And on Max¡¯s side, his bedroom-and an

    unexpected shadow of a woman.

    Brielle hadn¡¯t expected Max to take the call. Tactfully, she sidestepped, ensuring she was out of the

    video frame, but Alivia had already spotted her, only to look away indifferently momentster.

    ¡°Max, you at Premier Pce?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Alivia¡¯s expression stiffened, quickly capturing the image of the face that had just appeared. ¡°I¡¯ve got

    the stuff. I¡¯m on vacation next month. Shall I bring it back for you?¡±

    Max finally looked up, ncing at the screen, ¡°Isn¡¯t Kenzoing back?¡±

    Brielle wasn¡¯t eavesdropping, but at the mention of ¡®Kenzo¡¯, she paused.

    Kenzo Barnes, the prodigal son of the Barnes family, Alivia¡¯s brother.

    ¡°My brother¡¯s already left. I forgot to give it to him.¡± The woman sounded annoyed, then quickly perked

    up, ¡°But me bringing it to you is just as good.¡±

    ¡°Kenzo didn¡¯t visit you?¡±

    ¡°He made a quick loop around Palm Beach and then left.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s typical of him.¡±

    1/3

    16:52

    Brielle could tell that Max¡¯s tone had shifted significantly. It seemed Max and Kenzo had a solid

    rtionship, and by extension, he was quite gentle with Alivia. Their familiarity was a unique

    atmosphere that outsiders couldn¡¯t prate. Without intruding, Brielle quietly opened the door and

    stepped out.

    The butler, Wesley, awaited her downstairs, greeting her with a warm smile. ¡°Ms. Brielle, feeling any

    better?¡±

    She nodded, eyes catching the sight of a massive bookcase near the floor-to-ceiling windows, adorned

    with various books.

    Wesley, fearing she might be bored and considering her bandaged hand, suggested, ¡°Ms. Brielle, do

    you watch movies?¡±:

    Brielle didn¡¯t decline and discovered Wesley had queued up a scientific research-themed film.

    Inevitably, her thoughts drifted to Alivia.

    Having spent over a decade in Beaconsfield, Brielle hadn¡¯t integrated into the Haywood family nor the

    social elite of the town of Beaconsfield.

    The young elite often flocked to soirees, but Brielle seldom attended. Between her demanding studies

    and distaste for sycophantic gatherings, she preferred solitude.

    At the one single event she attended, she heard Alivia¡¯s name whispered among the crowd. Eight out

    of ten elite young men fancied Alivia.

    Since her school days, Alivia¡¯s grades had been ster. No one dared reduce her to a mere trophy. And

    among Beaconsfield¡¯s men, Max stood out. His innate business acumen had caught his grandfather¡¯s

    eye, who entrusted him with significant responsibilities without

    hesitation.

    Facing external skepticism, Michael, a top-tier businessman, never concealed his favoritism towards

    Max.

    ¡°Max isn¡¯t someone I found; he¡¯s a gift from above.¡±

    The term ¡®genius¡¯ seemed insufficient for him.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, the garden is in full bloom. If you find the movie dull, feel free to take a stroll, Wesley

    suggested.

    Leaning back, Brielle mused at the butler¡¯s overly kind treatment. With a smile, she replied, ¡°Scientific

    stuff is a bit over my head. I¡¯m a finance girl, after all.¡±

    Finance was all about money, sometimes feeling crass. She asionally felt the same.

    Wesley brought over a dessert, still smiling, ¡°It makes no difference, really. If Mr. Max likes it, whatever

    you do will be fine. If he doesn¡¯t, whatever Ms. Brielle does¡­well, it¡¯ll be fine

    too.¡±

    Language is an art. Amused and aware of the butler¡¯s likely misunderstanding, Brielle

    2/3

    16:52

    chose not to rify.

    Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, Alivia ended the call and texted Kenzo. [Kenzo, did Max get

    a new assistant?]

 Chapter 38

    Chapter 38

    Just now, that woman was clearly at Premier Pce, and not in the study or the living room. The

    bedroom, then?

    But Max¡¯s bedroom was a sanctuary. Aside from the housekeeping staff, he never allowed others to

    enter.

    Kenzo¡¯s response was swift. [Max changing assistants? Not a chance.]

    [Go check for me, will you? During my video chat with Max, I saw a woman. Does he have a girlfriend

    now?]

    [Max couldn¡¯t possibly have a girlfriend.]

    Alivia felt a wave of relief wash over her as she read this. Exactly, if Max really had a girlfriend, not only

    would someone from her family notify her, but Michael himself would personally call her. She nced

    down at the screenshot in her hand, certain she hadn¡¯t encountered this woman at any social

    gatherings-definitely not a rich girl from a prominent family. She¡¯s probably just a new hire of Max¡¯s. As

    for her presence at the Premier Pce, perhaps there was some urgent matter.

    She decided not to concern herself with it. After all, this was a trivial person, hardly worth her attention.

    Unbeknownst to Brielle, she had already been appraised from head to toe. Halfway through her movie,

    her phone buzzed with a message. At the top of the list was one from

    Aubree.

    The shock of the previous night, coupled with a high fever that left her delirious, had made Brielle

    instinctively shut the world out. Now, seeing Aubree¡¯s name, she finally remembered the incident at

    Tequ Sunset.

    Back when Andrew and Tessa announced their engagement, the two families celebrated over avish

    dinner. Aubree had missed that dinner, opting instead for drinks with her.

    At the time, Brielle didn¡¯t give it much thought. Now, with the situation clear, she realized she might

    have been too carefree, as the signs had been there all along.

    But Aubree could like anyone she wanted. Why on earth would it be Andrew? Andrew was ruthless to

    others and even more so to himself,pletely unhinged.

    His obsession with Tessa was so deep it seemed he¡¯d hold her in the palm of his hand if he could. For

    Aubree to get entangled with him was, to put it bluntly, demeaning. Just the way Andrew treated

    Aubree that night, using her as nothing more than a tool for his frustration, made Brielle¡¯s chest tighten

    ufortably.

    She didn¡¯t reply to Aubree¡¯s text. Instead, she booted up aputer to search for news

    about Andrew.

    1/2

    16:52

    The public profiles of these high-society bachelors were all impable. Ivy League graduates, heirs to

    the Clements family fortune, worth over a billion¡­

    She scrolled down and stumbled upon news about Infinity Brilliance. The Clements family was

    coborating with Infinity Brilliance.

    The news had been released just an hour ago, and it was already trending. Infinity Brilliance was a titan

    in the diamond industry, and its owners knew how to y the marketing game generation after

    generation. Their most sessful campaign had linked diamonds to engagements.

    No one knew why diamonds became synonymous with marriage proposals. It seemed like an unwritten

    rule everyone just followed. However, Brielle knew thepany well from her college days, and it was

    all just a brainwashing marketing scheme.

    Infinity Brilliance was notoriously domineering in their industry practices, and this was the first time

    they¡¯d so publicly coborated with a rivalpany. She was about to scroll further when her phone

    pinged again with a message from Aubree. [Bri, can you tell me what¡¯s going on with you and Max?]

    Aubree had thought long and hard before sending that message, not expecting an immediate

    response. She had been taken aback to learn about the so-called ¡°little canary¡± from Andrew¡¯s lips. She

    also understood that Brielle was in no mood to engage with her

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    now.

    Brielle stared at the message for ten minutes. Their years of unspoken understanding told her this was

    Aubree¡¯s olive branch.

    [We have slept together.]

 Chapter 39

    Chapter 39

    Aubree¡¯s gaze was glued to her smartphone screen, her heart racing with anticipation for Brielle¡¯s reply.

    When the message finally popped up, a sudden wave of relief washed over her, and they instantly fell

    back into their usual banter.

    [You hooked up with The Priest?! Bri, you totally hit the jackpot!]

    Aubree had been feeling pretty down, but Brielle¡¯s news perked her right up. She couldn¡¯t help but keep

    probing for juicy details. [Does he kiss with tongue? Is it intense? I mean, a

    like him, a real catch ¨C does he actually get passionate in bed?] guy

    ¨C

    Aubree was nothing if not blunt in their private chats. She was dying to get Brielle to spill everyst

    detail. Brielle, on the other hand, was quite the opposite. Influenced by Aubree, she had grown more

    comfortable talking about such matters, but she was nowhere near as forting.

    Did Max kiss with tongue? She stared at the message just as Max descended the staircase, indicating

    the meeting was over.

    He was dressed to the nines in a custom-tailored ck suit that made his skin look especially perfect,

    the overhead lights softening the sharp lines of his face. A man like Max, if he ever decided to cast his

    net, he¡¯d probably catch everyone in it.

    Top-notch looks, top-notch pedigree, and top-notch savvy ¨C he was pretty much wless. If he had a

    w, it was probably that he was a bit too impersonal.

    Max was fastening the cufflinks on his shirt as he caught her gaze. ¡°Doesn¡¯t your hand hurt?¡± He

    approached, his eyes settling on Brielle¡¯s hands.

    In her eagerness to chat with Aubree, she had unwrapped her bandages. Her hands were swollen but,

    thankfully, not broken.

    ¡°Uncle Max, has anyone ever told you how dashing you look in a suit?¡±

    He meticulously fastened the topmost button and nced down at her at her words, his eyshes

    casting a faint shadow over his eyes.

    Brielle¡¯s yful teasing was just a facade. With Max staring intently at her, her mind hit a wall, and she

    felt a flush of warmth rise to her cheeks.

    ¡°Uncle Max, if you keep looking at me like that, I might not be able to stop myself from doing something

    rash.¡±

    It¡¯s a universal reaction

    ¨C

    any woman would inevitably feel the urge to lean in for a kiss. Brielle felt a flicker of attraction, but

    catching the calm in his eyes, she quickly suppressed it. The words ¡®heart flutter¡¯ simply did not exist in

    Max¡¯s world.

    He remained detached from others¡¯ admiration, affection, or desire, watching from a distance until it

    faded away.

    1/2

    16:52

    Chapter 39

    Brielle had seen his wild side in bed, but it was passion without desire. He was a man of extreme

    rationality, so much so that he could pull away from the brink of ecstasy at a moment¡¯s notice, stepping

    out of the chaos with ease.

    Brielle looked away,ughing softly to herself.

    Max tilted her chin up, noticing the fading imprint on her cheek, and asked with curiosity, ¡°What¡¯s so

    funny?¡±

    ¡°Uncle Max, there¡¯s a line from ¡®The Little Prince¡¯ by Antoine de Saint-Exup¨¦ry, ¡®Please,

    tame me.¡±

    ¡°I

    Brielle had always been a top student with a unique, mellifluous voice that unwittingly carried a hint of

    seduction. The phrase was an invitation a plea for closeness.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¨D

    Max was the untouchable priest, the unattainable prize. Women wanted to worship him yet also

    yearned to drag him into the depths and devour him. Everyone wanted to be near him, even if only as

    an obedient pet. So, ¡®Please, tame me, was her unspoken request.

    Max met her gaze and gently patted her cheek, his touch feather-light. ¡°Cut the theatrics around me.¡±

    Though his words were dismissive, his eyes betrayed a flicker of

    amusement.

    Brielle knew she had pleased him. Indeed, he was susceptible to such charms. But Brielle knew her

    limits. After all, he was her sugar daddy. Flirting with danger was one thing, but to overstep was to court

    disaster.

 Chapter 40

    Chapter 40

    Brielle lingered at the Premier Pce until Friday before returning to her apartment.

    In truth, she had expected to be sent back the day she woke up, but Max hadn¡¯t broached the subject.

    However, when she attempted to flirt with him the previous night, she was swiftly pinned against the

    massive floor-to-ceiling window.

    ¡°You don¡¯t want your hands?¡± His tone was casual, as if her advances hadn¡¯t affected him. Brielle tried

    nibbling at his Adam¡¯s apple and noticed his eyes darken, his voice bing husky. ¡°Does Spencer

    know you¡¯re such a firecracker in bed?¡±

    She couldn¡¯t remember her response, only the crackling sound akin to mes consuming wood and the

    dance of ever-changing shapes of fire before her eyes. The vibrant colors burst before her, swirling,

    eventually turning into stars scattered across the sky.

    When she finallyy beneath him, she heard him softly say, ¡°Thanks for the hospitality.¡±

    Now, remembering it still made Brielle¡¯s ears burn. She rubbed her ears, trying to focus her

    attention on theputer screen in front of her.

    Today, the news about that building would break, and of the implicated directors, Ryan was bound to be

    the most affected. Michael likely wouldn¡¯t allow Max to pull out so many people at once, so someone

    needed to be made an example of.

    Thinking of Ryan, a chill passed through Brielle¡¯s gaze.

    At twelve sharp, Dorsey International announced the removal of Spencer¡¯s position.

    At twelve ten, Dorsey International further announced the revocation of Ryan¡¯s directorship.

    At twelve twelve, a heavyweight document circted within Dorsey International, causing

    an uproar.

    The directive, issued by the president¡¯s assistant directly to each department, strictly required all

    departments to manage personnel ording to this ssification.

    Having been kicked out of the work group chat by Lucinda and unfriended by several colleagues,

    Brielle could only find the document on the Dorsey International¡¯stest news website. After reading it,

    her eyebrows slowly rose.

    Before Max¡¯s return, Dorsey International¡¯s hiring, retention, and even dismissal of employees was

    largely at the discretion of department heads. But this document meticulously ssified all employees

    based on their skills and alignment with thepany¡¯s values into four categories.

    The first category,beled as Scrap Metal, consisted of those with poor skills and values

    1/2

    16:52

    Chapter 40

    drastically misaligned with thepany. Dorsey International had no ce for such employees.

    The second category, Iron, included those whose values matched thepany but whose

    performance fell short. These employees would be given a chance to transfer. To put it inly, a sales

    employee failing to meet performance standards might be asked if they wished to switch to a different

    position, with thepany offering at least one. opportunity to choose.

    The third category, Steel, represented the core of thepany¡¯s workforce.

    The fourth category, Gold, consisted of employees with exceptional abilities and values highly aligned

    with thepany.

    Beyond these four, there was a fifth type: those with top-notch skills but low value alignment, known as

    Rust. These were the most challenging to deal with, with

    management needing to address rust as a priority.

    Rust was worse than Scrap Metal. Thettercked both skills and values, posing no significant threat.

    Rust, however, was corrosive; highly skilled and potentially influential, such individuals could lead

    others and, if they turned against thepany, cause considerable damage.

    For Rust, no matter how great the loss topany performance, not a minute could be

    wasted in removal.

    Brielle grasped the intent behind the document and sensed the unrest brewing within. Dorsey

    International.

    Scrap metal, Iron, Steel, Gold, Rust. These ssifications were innovative and resonated with the

    grassroots.

    Max had not only achieved a warning shot with the building situation but had also used it as an

    opportunity to overhaul thepany¡¯s management system.

    Brielle had always seen Max as a shrewd and detached figure who belonged in the clouds, holding

    vast resources, perhaps only seeing the grandeur of fleeting dreams. But it turned out, he could also

    see from down low, witnessing the myriad human conditions among the ordinary staff.

    In the financial sphere, he truly was a godlike figure.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    2/2

    16:52 #

 Chapter 41

    Chapter 41

    Chapter 41

    The phone on the side started ringing, a call from Tanner at Integral Elements Inc.

    The stir caused by Dorsey International was anything but quiet, and Tanner had heard all about it. His

    voice carried a hint of delight. ¡°Ms. Brielle, should I be offering you congrattions?¡±

    Spencer¡¯s director position had been revoked, and even though the M&A department was still in the

    dark about their new director, Tanner, who had been informed ahead of time, made a point to express

    his position early on.

    Brielle was in high spirits and couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°Mr. Tanner, I¡¯ll officially sign the contract with you

    on Monday.

    ¡°I¡¯ll await your arrival then.¡±

    After hanging up the phone, Brielle felt like she had released a weight from her chest.

    Ryan and Spencer were probably stewing in their own troubles at the moment and wouldn¡¯t be

    bothering her any time soon.

    Come Monday morning, Brielle dressed intentionally in a sharp ck suit.

    From the ground floor to the top, the entire building was enveloped in a tense atmosphere. After all, the

    staff ssifications had been handed down, and those marked as ¡®Rust¡¯ would soon receive their pink

    slips.

    The air pressure in the M&A department was particrly low today, especially for Lucinda, who had

    just been promoted to manager not long ago and felt a certain unease. ¡°Who do you reckon the new

    director is? Even Mr. Spencer got the boot, so the neer must have some serious clout, right?¡±

    ¡°The marketing department lost several old-timers this morning, now those in management are walking

    on eggshells. To parachute in at a time like this, maybe it¡¯s. someone handpicked by Mr. Dorsey

    himself.¡±

    Handpicked by Mr. Dorsey? Lucinda scoffed at the thought, ¡°Come on. Do you really think Mr. Spencer

    is that easy to dismiss? He¡¯s Mr. Dorsey¡¯s nephew, for crying out loud. No matter how solid the

    neer¡¯s background, can it really outshine the Dorsey family? I bet it¡¯ll just be a suspension of a

    few days, and he¡¯ll be back by next month at thetest.¡±

    Everyone nodded, agreeing that Mr. Spencer was, after all, a Dorsey.

    The M&A department door swung open, and everyone was surprised to see the woman standing there.

    Lucinda was the first to snap back to reality, her brows furrowing, ¡°Brielle! What are you doing here?

    We asked you for the prospectus from Integral Elements Inc. and you¡¯ve been dragging your feet.

    What, got cold feet now?¡±

    1/2

    Brielle held several documents in her hands, including the much-discussed prospectus. She scanned

    the room with a smile and headed for the director¡¯s office.

    Before she could open the door, Lucinda blocked her way. ¡°I¡¯m talking to you. You¡¯re being utterly

    disrespectful. You¡¯re no longer with the M&A department, so please leave, or we¡¯ll have to call security.¡±

    The other colleagues watched the scene unfold without intervention. Firstly, they didn¡¯t particrly like

    Brielle, who was known for not being the most diplomatic, and secondly, they were all too eager to

    witness a catfight.

    Brielle looked Lucinda up and down, noting that she had dressed up for the day and was wearing a

    sleeveless mini dress that unted her figure. Presumably, she was trying to make a good impression

    on the new director. Too bad, it was all in vain.

    ¡°Ms. Lucinda, you¡¯d better prepare yourself. You¡¯ll be meeting Tanner soon.¡±

    Lucinda¡¯s face turned sour, ¡°What are you implying, Brielle? Stop bossing people around!¡±

    The others began to murmur in discontent. It was work hours, and here was Brielle, strutting in as if she

    owned the ce, sporting a triumphant look. On what grounds?

    Brielle opened the director¡¯s office door, half-stepping in with a cool demeanor. ¡°I am now the director of

    the M&A department. I believe I have the right to ¡®boss people around.¡±

    As her words hung in the air, Lucinda burst intoughter, ¡°I think you¡¯ve been so shaken you¡¯re not

    thinking straight.¡± Mr. Spencer was gone, and here was his unwee fianc¨¦e, daring to make a

    scene.

    ¡®Within five minutes, I want to see the bid from Integral Elements Inc. Brielle, not bothering to say more,

    shut the door with a ¡°bang¡±.

    Lucinda was too close to the door and nearly got hit in the nose. She stepped back, her heart racing.

    The rest of the staff began whispering among themselves.

    ¡°Has Brielle lost her mind? How can she spout such nonsense?¡±

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t look like she¡¯s bluffing.¡±

    ¡°Guys, check the email that was just sent to the department. It has the announcement. The new

    director is¡­¡±

    The person who first noticed the internal email suddenly dropped their voice, and the others hurriedly

    checked theirputers.

    up

    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.

    Lucinda, already pale, felt even more uneasy as an eerie calm settled over the department. ¡°What¡¯s the

    name? I don¡¯t believe Brielle has the guts! Mr. Spencer despised her, how could she possibly-!¡±

 Chapter 42

    Chapter 42

    She trudged to her cubicle, firing up her email with the usualck of enthusiasm, but as the name atop

    the message loaded on her screen, the color drained from Lucinda¡¯s face, leaving her ashen.

    Around her, theplexions of her colleagues went through a spectrum of hues,

    eventually settling on a collective look of pensive dread, all eyes flickering toward the director¡¯s office

    door.

    Lucinda felt as if her strength had left her body. She slumped into her chair, powerless.

    A colleague approached, cing a sympathetic hand on her shoulder, ¡°Ms. Lucinda, didn¡¯t Ms.

    Haywood just mention the proposal?¡±

    Now, no one dared to call out Brielle¡¯s name in casual familiarity; it had to be the respectful ¡®Ms.

    Haywood.¡±

    Snapping back to reality, Lucinda quickly retrieved the proposal. The feeling in her gut was. akin to

    swallowing a fly-disgusting, unbearable, and impossible to ignore.

    Standing before the director¡¯s office, Lucinda was acutely aware of the pitying nces. thrown her way.

    Her face was pale, her fingertips clutching the proposal with white-knuckled intensity. After a few

    seconds of hesitation, she pushed open the door.

    Brielle stood at her desk, focused on sorting through documents. Her hair was pulled up. with a few

    strands framing her delicate swan-like neck.

    A surge of envy shed through Lucinda¡¯s eyes. Why did this bitch deserve it all?

    Suppressing her emotions, Lucinda announced begrudgingly, ¡°Ms. Haywood, here is the proposal from

    Integral Elements Inc.¡±

    Brielle took it, her gaze brieflynding on the empty coffee mug on her desk-another one of Lucinda¡¯s

    tasks. Lucinda caught the hint, her manicured nails digging into her palm.

    That bitch!

    Taking a deep breath to stave off an outburst, Lucinda managed to pour a fresh coffee without a

    change in her expression.

    Brielle didn¡¯t verbally mock her, but her silence was cutting, making Lucinda extremely ufortable.

    Lucinda stood awkwardly, wanting to ask a question but fearing the cold rejection. Her heart was in

    turmoil.

    Brielle sipped her coffee while flipping through the proposal. It was one she had prepared earlier and

    was wless.

    It took Lucinda a while, but she finally managed to say, ¡°There¡¯s an executive meeting in twenty

    minutes. Ms. Haywood, you¡¯re expected to attend.¡±

    1/2

    Brielle nodded absentmindedly, surveying the office. ¡°Ms. Lucinda, I¡¯m not fond of this office d¨¦cor.

    Would you mind arranging a makeover? Shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Lucinda felt a tingling at the scalp, nearly passing out from rage.

    Brielle didn¡¯t wait for an answer, just grabbed her documents and headed to the penthouse.

    That bitch! Lucinda raged inwardly countless times, her eyes glinting with malice as

    s she dialed Spencer¡¯s number. She refused to believe Spencer couldn¡¯t handle Brielle.

    ¡°Mr. Spencer, hello, this is Lucinda.¡±

    Spencer, who was dealing with his own irritations at home, scowled upon receiving her call. ¡°What is

    it?¡±

    Lucinda swallowed nervously, knowing full well that Spencer was not someone to cross. She chose her

    words carefully.

    ¡°Brielle came to work today, and she¡¯s been made the new director. She even asked me to redecorate

    the office-a space you personally designed, Mr. Spencer. I wasn¡¯t sure.

    Spencer sprang from his couch, his eyes ame, ¡°Who¡¯s the new director?!¡±

    Lucinda flinched. Perhaps he wasn¡¯t informed of Brielle¡¯s promotion?

    Indeed, Spencer was in the dark. Demoted without exnation, scolded and sent home, and now with

    Ryan called back to the Dorsey family estate due to some property issues, no one had filled him in on

    Brielle¡¯s situation.

    The directorship of the Mergers and Acquisitions department?! That was not meant for Brielle!

    Fuming, Spencer smashed his phone on the floor and stormed out, driving off in his shy sports car.

    Something had happened that he was oblivious to.

    Hearing the call disconnect, Lucinda¡¯s eyes sparkled with glee. It looked like Spencer was on his way.

    She couldn¡¯t help but smile smugly. Brielle¡¯s triumph would onlyst a few hours.

 Chapter 43

    Chapter 43

    Spencer floored the gas pedal all the way to Dorsey International, and when he reversed to park

    beneath the towering edifice, he scraped a Lamborghini that was just pulling into the spot next door.

    Recognizing the familiar license te, his brow furrowed with irritation as he stepped out of the car. Of

    all the rotten luck, he just had to run into this jinx!

    A petite girl emerged from the other vehicle, her nose adorned with designer shades, her skin so

    smooth it almost red in the sunlight. She nced up at the imposing Dorsey Tower, slid her

    sunsses off, and let out a sharp whistle that cut through the hustle and bustle of the crowd before

    tossing them carelessly back into her car.

    The tattoos covering her exposed, pale arms belied her girlish demeanor, giving her an air of

    rebelliousness.

    Upon s

    seeing Spencer, she turned and greeted him with a casual swagger. ¡°Spencer.¡±

    Tiffanie Harkins, d in a crop top tank, slung her purse over her shoulder with a mboyant toss.

    ¡°I heard you got the boot from Maxie, and that Brielle got bumped up to director?¡±

    Tiffanie was the indulged daughter of Victoria, the Dorsey family¡¯s fourth daughter, notorious for her

    extravagant spending and for cycling through boyfriends like seasonal outfits. She was the ck sheep

    of the capital¡¯s elite, her reputation in tatters sinceing of age.

    Spencer¡¯s gaze lingered on the rose tattoos adorning her arm, his expression souring. ¡°Who told you

    that?¡±

    Tiffanie blinked, stifling an udylike yawn. ¡°Just got back from the family estate. Uncle Ryan¡¯s getting

    an earful from granddad. Broke a couple of priceless vases too.¡±

    Hoping to avoid further entanglement, Spencer made to head upstairs to settle scores with Brielle.

    Tiffanie, never short of cash, simply called for a tow to the garage and shed a toothy grin at Spencer.

    ¡®I¡¯m actually headed up to see Maxie too. Let¡¯s ride up together?¡±

    A flicker of disgust passed through Spencer¡¯s eyes at the sight of her dressed so inappropriately, daring

    to strut in front of Max in such garb.

    They entered the elevator together, and Spencer¡¯s rational mind began to regain control. This was the

    time for executive meetings; making a scene now would only put him further in Uncle Max¡¯s crosshairs.

    As the elevator reached the top floor, Tiffanie stepped out first, her familiarity with the ce evident as

    she headed straight for the conference room, chewing her gum

    1/2

    Chepler

    nonchntly.

    Inside the conference room, the board members¡¯ faces were shades of displeasure. The document

    circted by Dorsey International the previous day had set new rules for departmental appointments,

    challenging their authority.

    None dared to speak out against the man seated before the floor-to-ceiling windows, his presence

    casting a chilling silence.

    Max scanned the room with a quiet gaze, briefly noting the newly promoted Brielle before returning to

    the matter at hand. ¡°Any additions to the document?¡± he asked coolly.

    Brielle, seemingly the most at ease, leaned back in her chair, licked her lips, and caught her name

    amidst the discussions. Her eyes met Max¡¯s just as a beam of sunlight glinted off the buttons of his

    shirt, casting an ethereal glow.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood?¡±

    It felt like a college professor calling on a student, and those not singled out exhaled in relief.

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Max¡¯s naturally downturnedshes and the way his fingers tapped lightly on the marble. table conveyed

    a sense of reserved sensuality. For a fleeting moment, Brielle¡¯s thoughts wandered to imagining those

    fingers deftly undoing a belt, and she felt a rush of heat. She quickly refocused and opened the folder.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, I¡¯ve thoroughly reviewed the document over the past few days. Thepetency value

    system and the ABC principle are impable.

    ¡°But I¡¯ve looked into the internal selection principles of several international firms and believe we could

    add two more elements: the 80/20 rule and the 2N principle.

    The others in the room thought Brielle had lost her mind, their faces etched with scorn. With this

    sacrificialmb drawing Max¡¯s ire, it might defuse his anger towards the building, sparing them from his

    wrath.

    2/2

 Chapter 44

    Chapter 44

    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Brielle maintained a calm andposed demeanor in her professional endeavors. Having made her

    point, she fixed her gaze steadily on Max.

    Max offered a slight smile, his slender fingers pausing their rhythmic drumming on the table surface as

    he asked lightly, ¡°And what might that be?¡±

    Rising gracefully to her feet, Brielle cast her presentation onto the wide screen.

    ¡°The 80/20 Principle is something I¡¯ve distilled from analyzing management systems at several major

    corporations. Please, take a look at these charts.¡±

    The attention in the room shifted towards therge screen, where a detailed summary was disyed.

    But what did it all really mean?

    ¡°I ran a number of simtions on myputer and found that the optimal span of control for a

    manager is between 8 to 12 people. This allows them enough time to ponder strategy without being too

    idle. The 20 here refers to the entry-level managers-they should not have fewer than 20 people under

    them. Given that the tasks of ground-level employees are more uniform, somepanies even have

    situations where there are 50 to 80 people under one manager, preventing lower-level managers from

    being overtasked.¡±

    After finishing her exnation, Brielle flipped to the next slide.

    ¡°The 2N Rule is designed to prevent cliquishness within thepany and mitigate any factional

    sentiment. I¡¯ve crunched some numbers from the HR department and found that many individuals

    employed by Dorsey International in the past few ye

    years had extensive work experience elsewhere. The 2N Rule permits an individual to bring along only

    one colleague from their former workce. More are wee, of course, but they would be assigned

    to different departments.¡±

    As she spoke, a few brows furrowed, and someone couldn¡¯t contain their irritation. ¡°Brielle, is there a

    point to this rule? Aren¡¯t you just trying to splinter thepany?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s expression remained unflustered as she switched the content on the screen once

    more.

    ¡°This is the HR department¡¯s personnel flow chart. If a department hires a new leader who brings a

    bunch of people from their old department, when that leader leaves, those individuals tend to follow,

    which is a significant loss for us. The 2N Rule effectively prevents this from happening.¡±

    The atmosphere within the conference room grew tense. Her words were simple and clear, leaving no

    one in the dark about their implications, but her proposed principles threatened to upend the status quo

    for many in management, and their displeasure was

    1/2

    evident.

    Many of them had secured their seats through mutual support. If group alliances were forbidden, their

    positions would be precarious. They gritted their teeth, their res sharp enough to tear Brielle apart.

    Brielle felt her argument was not yetplete and added more.

    ¡°Perhaps Mr. Dorsey could afford all managers a year to find a suitable recement for themselves. If

    they fail, they should not be assigned new projects the following year. If they still haven¡¯t found a

    recement after two years, they could be asked to step down. This ensures that the management has

    a backup and that the departure of a high-ranking staff member won¡¯t paralyze operations. For

    instance, bringing me in to rece Spencer was a very wise decision by Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    She ended her speech with a subtle ttery towards Max, also hinting to everyone that it was Mr.

    Dorsey who had ced her in her current position. Even if they resented it, they would have to stew in

    silence.

    After Brielle sat down, she looked openly at Max, confident and unshaken.

    Herst remarks had infuriated many. Additionally, everyone suspected that Brielle was polishing her

    own image, considering her position was clearly orchestrated by other members of the Dorsey family.

    How could Mr. Dorsey possibly have handpicked her!

    ¡°Ms. Haywood seems to be out of touch. Find someone to rece us? How does that maintain our

    authority in front of the staff? You¡¯ve just been promoted, so I bet

    you still don¡¯t know the first thing about managing people. My advice to Ms. Haywood is to get some

    more hands-on experience at the ground level.¡±

    Brielle responded with a smile, ¡°Selecting a backup doesn¡¯t undermine a manager¡¯s authority. After all,

    whether the substitute will take over depends on themy¡¯spetency and values matrix, as well

    as the ABC principle.¡±

    Her insinuation was clear. Were they questioning the directives issued by Mr.

    ¡°You!¡±

    The objector¡¯s face turned various shades as their lips quivered, ultimately silencin dissent in

    frustration.

    Outside the conference room, Tiffanie listened intently to Brielle¡¯s statements, her

    eye. lighting up with admiration. ¡°Spencer, I may not understand all that she¡¯s saying, but fianc¨¦e

    seems to have more than a few tricks up her sleeve.¡±

    you

 Chapter 45

    Chapter 44 Brielle maintained a calm andposed demeanor in her professional endeavors. Having

    made her point, she fixed her gaze steadily on Max. Max offered a slight smile, his slender fingers

    pausing their rhythmic drumming on the table surface as he asked lightly, ¡°And what might that be?¡±

    Rising gracefully to her feet, Brielle cast her presentation onto the wide screen. ¡°The 80/20 Principle is

    something I¡¯ve distilled from analyzing management systems at several major corporations. Please,

    take a look at these charts.¡± The attention in the room shifted towards therge screen, where a

    detailed summary was disyed. But what did it all really mean? ¡°I ran a number of simtions on my

    computer and found that the optimal span of control for a manager is between 8 to 12 people. This

    allows them enough time to ponder strategy without being too idle. The 20 here refers to the entry-level

    managers-they should not have fewer than 20 people under them. Given that the tasks of ground-level

    employees are more uniform, somepanies even have situations where there are 50 to 80 people

    under one manager, preventing lower-level managers from being overtasked.¡± After finishing her

    exnation, Brielle flipped to the next slide. ¡°The 2N Rule is designed to prevent cliquishness within

    thepany and mitigate any factional sentiment. I¡¯ve crunched some numbers from the HR

    department and found that many individuals employed by Dorsey International in the past few ye years

    had extensive work experience elsewhere. The 2N Rule permits an individual to bring along only one

    colleague from their former workce. More are wee, of course, but they would be assigned to

    different departments.¡± As she spoke, a few brows furrowed, and someone couldn¡¯t contain their

    irritation. ¡°Brielle, is there a point to this rule? Aren¡¯t you just trying to splinter thepany?¡± Brielle¡¯s

    expression remained unflustered as she switched the content on the screen once more. ¡°This is the HR

    department¡¯s personnel flow chart. If a department hires a new leader who brings a bunch of people

    from their old department, when that leader leaves, those individuals tend to follow, which is a

    significant loss for us. The 2N Rule effectively prevents this from happening.¡± The atmosphere within

    the conference room grew tense. Her words were simple and clear, leaving no one in the dark about

    their implications, but her proposed principles threatened to upend the status quo for many in

    management, and their displeasure was 1/2 evident. Many of them had secured their seats through

    mutual support. If group alliances were forbidden, their positions would be precarious. They gritted their

    teeth, their res sharp enough to tear Brielle apart. Brielle felt her argument was not yetplete and

    added more. ¡°Perhaps Mr. Dorsey could afford all managers a year to find a suitable recement for

    themselves. If they fail, they should not be assigned new projects the following year. If they still haven¡¯t

    found a recement after two years, they could be asked to step down. This ensures that the

    management has a backup and that the departure of a high-ranking staff member won¡¯t paralyze

    operations. For instance, bringing me in to rece Spencer was a very wise decision by Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    She ended her speech with a subtle ttery towards Max, also hinting to everyone that it was Mr.

    Dorsey who had ced her in her current position. Even if they resented it, they would have to stew in

    silence. After Brielle sat down, she looked openly at Max, confident and unshaken. Herst remarks

    had infuriated many. Additionally, everyone suspected that Brielle was polishing her own image,

    considering her position was clearly orchestrated by other members of the Dorsey family. How could

    Mr. Dorsey possibly have handpicked her! ¡°Ms. Haywood seems to be out of touch. Find someone to

    rece us? How does that maintain our authority in front of the staff? You¡¯ve just been promoted, so I

    bet you still don¡¯t know the first thing about managing people. My advice to Ms. Haywood is to get

    some more hands-on experience at the ground level.¡± Brielle responded with a smile, ¡°Selecting a

    backup doesn¡¯t undermine a manager¡¯s authority. After all, whether the substitute will take over

    depends on themy¡¯spetency and values matrix, as well as the ABC principle.¡± Her insinuation

    was clear. Were they questioning the directives issued by Mr. ¡°You!¡± The objector¡¯s face turned various

    shades as their lips quivered, ultimately silencin dissent in frustration. Outside the conference room,

    Tiffanie listened intently to Brielle¡¯s statements, her eye. lighting up with admiration. ¡°Spencer, I may not

    understand all that she¡¯s saying, but fianc¨¦e seems to have more than a few tricks up her sleeve.¡± youN?velDrama.Org holds this content.

 Chapter 46

    Chapter 46

    Spencer¡¯s face went as pale as a sheet, shooting Tiffanie a venomous re before reluctantly pushing

    the door open and walking in.

    Tiffanie turned, a yful smirk dancing across her face as she eyed Brielle. ¡°No need to thank me.

    Consider it a thank you for the makeup remover.¡±

    Brielle found Tiffanie¡¯s audacity amusing and raised an eyebrow. ¡°It¡¯s in my office. Let¡¯s

    go.¡±

    Tiffanie shed her cute little fangs in a grin, obediently trailing behind Brielle.

    As they reached the director¡¯s office downstairs, Tiffanie took a quick look around before her a

    gaze settled on the desk.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    ¡°You really should get a new desk. I once caught Spencer pressing Lillian against this one. Justst

    year. The whole corridor could hear her moans.¡±

    Brielle paused, her hand frozen on the drawer she was opening, feeling a wave of revulsion. She

    fought down the nausea and handed the makeup remover to Tiffanie.

    Tiffanie eyed the cheap bottle with a look of pity. ¡°As much as the Dorsey men are no good, Spencer

    really takes the cake. The car he bought for Lillian was worth over five million.¡±

    Brielle stepped away from the desk, her curiosity piqued. ¡°How do you know all this?¡±

    Tiffanie chuckled, pouring the makeup remover onto her arm and rubbing vigorously. ¡°Because I bought

    the same model, an import. I often buy cars, and my dear cousin asked me to handle the paperwork

    with him.¡±

    ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡±

    Tiffanie took a tissue and wiped her arms. The tattoos on them indeed disappearedpletely.

    ¡°Because you¡¯re the new director, I figured you ought to know. And as for why I¡¯m telling you only now, I

    thought if you were naive enough to be fooled by him for a lifetime, then you¡¯re not worth a few minutes

    of my time. We¡¯re hardly close, after all.¡±

    She unreservedly used up an entire bottle of makeup remover, then threw the empty container into the

    trash bin.

    ¡°Come out with me to Tequ Sunset tonight. I¡¯ll introduce you to a hot stud. If men can y around, so

    can we women.¡±

    Her face was the picture of innocence as she opened the office door. ¡°I¡¯ll go up first to get my card from

    Maxie. Wait for me after work.¡±

    Brielle was about to refuse when the conference room door mmed shut.

    Bang!

    1/2

    Chapter 46

    There was no opportunity to say no.

    Sitting down on the couch, she suppressed the wave of disgust, wondering if the couch had also been

    desecrated by Spencer and Lillian¡¯s antics. She stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows,

    calling Lucinda inside. ¡°Get someone to rece everything in this office. Everything.¡±

    Lucinda had heard from friends upstairs that Spencer was in the building and assumed Brielle would

    soon be out. Her tone was dismissive. ¡°Ms. Haywood, you might want to hold off on that. Recing

    things requires a report to the finance department, and it takes time for the funds to be approved.

    Besides, finance may not even approve it. Everything here was personally picked by Mr. Spencer.

    You¡¯ll need his permission to change it. Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself.¡±

    No sooner had the words left her mouth than a cup of ice-cold coffee sshed across her face.

    Lucinda was in a sorry state, brown coffee flowing down from the top of her head, dripping onto her

    clothes along her chin. She paused for a few seconds in disbelief before looking up at Brielle as if she

    were a monster. ¡°Have you lost your mind?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to do that for a long time. And now, I formally notify you, you¡¯re fired.¡±

    Lucinda took a few deep breaths, resisting the urge to p Brielle. ¡°You think you can fire me?! Who do

    you think you are? Mr. Spencer is here, and you¡¯re nothing but his little pet, a pet that¡¯s not even well-

    regarded. You¡¯re being cheated and still whoring yourself out for Dorsey International. How cheap can

    you get?¡±

    Brielle ignored Lucinda¡¯s rage and dialed HR from the desk phone. After a brief conversation, she

    looked up at Lucinda. ¡°I¡¯ve already submitted thepetency value assessment to HR, which aligns

    with the newly implemented ABC policy. Lucinda, if I were you, I wouldn¡¯t keep making the same foolish

    mistakes. You¡¯re here pledging loyalty to Spencer, let¡¯s see if he has the clout to bring you back after

    I¡¯ve dismissed you.¡±

    Lucinda¡¯s face turned beet red, her hands clenched at her sides. She was about to speak when the

    door was pushed open by someone from the HR department, and to her surprise, the dismissal letter

    was handed to her personally. It all happened too fast, in less than five minutes.

    ¡°Ms. Lucinda, please leave the premises now.¡±

    Lucinda¡¯s eyes bulged, feeling as if she were in a nightmare. Her lips quivered, failing to form a

    coherent response, and she left the office with tear-rimmed eyes.

    She had to find Mr. Spencer!

    2/2

 Chapter 47

    Chapter 47

    The person from the HR department looked at Brielle with a polite expression on their

    face.

    In this delicate time, she might have been hand-picked by the CEO. Those with any sense knew better

    than to cross her.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, your requests have been forwarded to the finance department, and the decorators

    should be here shortly to discuss with you. As for the vacant manager position, feel free to rmend

    someone if you have a suitable candidate in mind.¡±

    with her

    As she walked out of the office, Brielle¡¯s gaze settled on a girl tucked away in the corner. The girl

    looked very thin, her hair messy, and she didn¡¯t talk much. ¡°Let¡¯s go I think her name is Emily Hatfield.¡±

    The girl named Emily looked up, meeting Brielle¡¯s eyes. A flicker of panic crossed her face before she

    averted her gaze.

    Could it be? Did Brielle recognize who she was?

    Emily frowned nervously, deliberately tousling her already unkempt hair. The thick, ck frames on her

    nose made her even less conspicuous-if that was possible in the sea of

    office workers.

    She lowered her head and sent a text message. [I think Brielle is onto me.]

    Her phone buzzed almost immediately with a new message. [Emily, maybe just drop it. She hasn¡¯t

    really bullied me that much. You don¡¯t have to go out of your way to Dorsey International. The Haywood

    family has been good to me. If they find out, sigh.]

    Emily¡¯s face twisted in disapproval as she watched Brielle, her eyes filled with revulsion that was

    hidden behind the thick lenses.

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Meanwhile, Brielle was also observing her, recalling the files she had seen which featured Emily¡¯s

    name.

    all of

    Emily. The name stood out, and her record was impressive. She might not be appearance, but she had

    a quiet disposition and never seemed to stir up trouble

    Brielle didn¡¯t need a social butterfly like Lucinda. Someone who could earnestly g done would suffice.

    However, the thought of promoting Emily to a managerial posit after only a month at thepany gave

    her pause. The office gossip would undoubte

    escte.

    She turned to the HR staff and said, ¡°Let¡¯s leave the position open for now. If someone shows

    exceptional performance in uing projects, I¡¯ll consider them for the promotion.¡±

    The HR staff nodded in agreement.

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    Chapte

    Emily let out a sigh of relief. That brief eye contact had her worried she¡¯d been discovered, but the

    crisis seemed to have passed, and she allowed herself a quiet huff of disdain.

    Her nearby colleagues couldn¡¯t help but whisper among themselves. ¡°Emily, you¡¯ve always seemed to

    have it out for her. Is it true what you said about her bullying others?¡±

    Nodding, Emily thought of her friend Lillian¡¯s tear-stained face and felt a pang of difort. ¡°My friend

    was the one getting bullied. She¡¯d often get pped by her and was even falsely used of stealing.

    Brielle is a piece of work.¡±

    ¡°My goodness. I had no idea she was capable of such things. How could Mr. Spencer be so blind?¡±

    Emily¡¯s tone was one of scorn as she texted Lillian while responding to her colleagues. ¡°Spencer had

    eyes for my friend, but Brielle, out of jealousy, cornered him into an engagement. Don¡¯t let her aloof

    demeanor fool you, she¡¯s had her fair share of men, which is exactly why Spencer despises her. He

    knew all along she wasn¡¯t the saint she pretends to be.¡±

    The colleagues were shocked, never having heard about Brielle¡¯s personal life before.

    Emily had intended to expose Brielle¡¯s professional shorings at Dorsey International, but to her

    frustration, Brielle was meticulous at work and now, infuriatingly, even got promoted.

    [Lillian, have you heard about Brielle¡¯s promotion?]

    [Yeah, Spencer mentioned she¡¯s been seeing two guys at once. I can¡¯t believe Bri would do something

    like that. She¡¯s changed so much, and I hardly recognize her. Emily, you shoulde back. I¡¯m worried

    she¡¯ll find out about you and get the wrong idea about me.]

    [What¡¯s there to be afraid of. I chose toe to Dorsey International on my own. Even if she finds out,

    so what? Don¡¯t be scared of her.]

    Reading the message, Lillian smirked.

 Chapter 48

    Chapter 48

    Lillian put the phone down and looked down to rub her belly. She and Spencer had been ying fast

    and loose, never bothering with contraception, but her body was betraying her stubbornly refusing to

    conceive

    Lately Spencer had been especially attentive, hopeful that this time would be the charm. If she could

    just get pregnant, Brielle would be out of the picture for good.

    Faith, sitting across from her, saw her wandering off and a hint of displeasure crossed her brow Lillian

    lacked Brielle¡¯s professional prowess, but she had her own

    advantagespliant, sweet-talking, and without an overabundance of ambition.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Lillian Faith began, her voiceced with a firm reminder. ¡°I told you from the start to be mindful of your

    ce. It¡¯s Spencer¡¯s choice to keep you around, but I won¡¯t have you jeopardizing his advancement.

    His recent demotion-did you b something to Max that you shouldn¡¯t have?¡±

    There had been whispers that a woman had taken herints straight to Max.

    Faith had a soft spot for Lillian, but now she doubted whether the woman was fit to be seen in their

    circles.

    Lillian¡¯s eyes reddened, her face a picture of sincerity. ¡°Faith, I truly love Spencer, and I never wanted

    anyone to find out about us. Besides. I¡¯ve never even met Max.¡±

    Max of Dorsey International-his name was known to all. For Lillian to even dream of meeting a man of

    his stature was folly, let alone speak out of turn in his presence.

    She had seen Max¡¯s face in the financial papers, expecting Spencer¡¯s Uncle Max to be a stern,

    commanding figure with an authoritative square jaw. She hadn¡¯t expected him to be so young, so

    astonishingly charismatic.

    The very first time Lillian had seen his face, it felt as though someone had squeez heart. He was

    perfection personified, nearly surreal. It would be wonderful to cros with a man like that. Her eyes fell,

    her thoughts racing with a warm fervor.

    Faith, noting the expression on Lillian¡¯s face, frowned slightly, wondering if perhaps s was being

    paranoid. After all, Max had resources at his disposal. He could have found

    out on his own.

    Farth¡¯s eyes drifted to theptop on the table-the one Lillian had been using to do her research. Now it

    was paused on a forum page.

    [Have you heard? Brielle¡¯s been with two guys, giving Spencer a real kick in the teeth.]

    I were Spencer, I¡¯d break off the engagement pronto. It¡¯s disgusting.]

    [Who knows how many have had her? Even if she¡¯s good at her job, who¡¯s to say she didn¡¯t sleep her

    way to the top?]

    Lillian noticed Faith¡¯s prying eyes and hastily reached to close theptop. ¡°It¡¯s all nonsense. Please

    don¡¯t give it another thought Bri isn¡¯t like that.¡±

    Faith¡¯s eyes zed with an incensed red as she yanked theptop towards her, inhaling sharply.

    ¡°What¡¯s this website?¡±

    Lillian¡¯s eyes dropped, her fingers nervously twisting her blouse. ¡°I have a friend at Dorsey

    International. It¡¯s their internal forum, anonymous, so maybe someone¡¯s spreading

    rumors.¡±

    Her lips pursed, her gaze flitting about, ¡°But, Faith, you should really ask Spencer himself. That night,

    Bri was furious, confessing in front of all of us that she¡¯d been with other men. I think she just spoke

    without thinking. Spencer would know the truth.¡±

    Faith¡¯s pupils constricted fiercely. She couldn¡¯t believe someone like Brielle would speak carelessly.

    Brielle was stubborn to a fault; if she did something, she¡¯d own up to it. If she had admitted it openly,

    then there was a very good chance it was true.

    Her son had been made a fool of!

    Faith stood abruptly, wishing she could confront the Haywood family and call off the engagement on

    the spot.

    Watching Faith¡¯s livid departure, Lillian took a smug sip from her teacup on the side, a smile curling her

    lips. People could be so delightfully gullible.

    2/2

 Chapter 49

    Chapter 49

    However, Brielle was unaware of all this. After signing the contract with Integral Elements Inc. she just

    got off work, and was stopped by Tiffanie

    Tiffanie¡¯s fingertips held the card, the convertible top wide open, and the colorful

    essories looked very mboyant. She lifted her chin towards Brielle, revealing a sweet smile

    ¡°Brielle, let¡¯s roll. Time to paint the town red¡±

    Brielle and Tiffanie were not close, but Tiffanie was too presumptuous, and it seemed like she couldn¡¯t

    read the room at all. Now, she was already wavingat Brielle.

    The car was parked right outside the bustling entrance of Dorsey International, drawing curious looks

    from the staff. It was a luxury car thatmanded attention wherever it was parked.

    Tiffanie honked the horn a couple of times, her grin widening into something more genuine. ¡°Life¡¯s too

    short. Wait ¡¯til you see that movie star hunk. You¡¯ll realize how ridiculous it is to hang all your hopes on

    one branch.¡±

    Her tone

    was very innocent, and she blinked her eyes while speaking. It was difficult to reconcile such a sweet

    appearance with a messy personal life.

    Brielle took a deep breath and slid into the passenger seat. ¡°My engagement to Spencer is heading

    south sooner orter.¡±

    Tiffanie¡¯s smile faltered, and she turned with a look of surprise. ¡°What? For real? After ying the

    martyr all these years, you¡¯re suddenly done?¡±

    Tiffanie had a real knack for getting under people¡¯s skin.

    ¡°Oh, and guess what? Lillian dragged me into her group chat. There are several youngdies from

    prestigious families in Beaconsfield in the group, and they just love to make you the butt of their jokes.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    With no further ado, Tiffanie revved the engine and they were off.

    A light chuckle escaped Brielle, her posture rxed. ¡°Is she saying that I bullied her, hit her, or envied

    her again?¡±

    Tiffanie¡¯s lips were glossed with a subtle shade of pink as she smirked, ¡°Spot on. They roast you daily,

    but hey, Lillian¡¯s got the charm. She¡¯s the life of the party and everyone seems to think she¡¯s the real

    daughter of the Haywood family.¡±

    Indeed, Lillian never missed a high society gathering. The extent of her connections remained a

    mystery to Brielle. And Lillian did have a talent for drama. Her tears could flow on cue, and nobody

    seemed immune.

    ¡°It really piques my curiosity though. You¡¯re supposed to be the Haywooddy, so why does everyone

    seem to prefer Lillian? Whenever she¡¯s in a tight spot at a party, Cameron¡¯s

    1/2

    16:57

    the first to jump to her defense. And that bracelet she unts, wasn¡¯t that from some high-end auction?

    But based on what I see of your clothing, food, and lifestyle, well, the maid who collects garbage in my

    house lives better off than you.

    Brielle grimaced. Tiffanie¡¯s fingertips gripped the steering wheel, and she appeared Innocent Innocently

    cruel.

    I¡¯m not as popr as Lillian¡±

    ¡°Is that so? I think Maxie seems to have a soft spot for you

    That casual remark made Brielle narrow her eyes. She had a nagging suspicion that Tiffanie knew

    about her and Max.

    Tiffanie was an enigma, appearing naive yet every word she uttered was a precision strike.

    The word to describe her? Unvarnished.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey is always generous with his praise for outstanding employees.¡±

    Tiffanie parked outside the Tequ Sunset, and turned to Brielle with a yful gaze. ¡°Brielle, you¡¯ve

    been to Maxie¡¯s bed, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    The question struck like lightning, freezing Brielle in ce. Her blood seemed to rush to her head, face

    flushed with shock.

    Tiffanie tapped her fingers idly on the wheel, that innocent smile never wavering.

    Brielle straightened her back, finally understanding why Tiffanie sought her out. Maybe the pretense

    about borrowing makeup remover was just that a pretense. Tiffanie wasn¡¯t clueless about subtext.

    She was intrigued by Brielle, in the way a cruel child might be fascinated by a new toy. Not calcting

    in the traditional sense, but undeniably terrifying.

 Chapter 50

    Chapter 50

    Brielle¡¯s momentary panic flickered across her eyes before calm reimed its territory.

    Tiffanie seemed utterly indifferent to any expectations of a response, nor did she act as if she had just

    dropped a bombshell. ¡°Brielle, you¡¯re quite the tragic figure, aren¡¯t you?¡± she said with a detachment

    that belied the sharpness of her words. ¡°You don¡¯t want to be a burden to anyone, yet you crave love.

    But I see you¡¯vee to terms with the fact that you¡¯re unlovable. I mean, you wouldn¡¯t hook up with

    Maxie otherwise.¡±

    Her tone was innocent, yet the words cut deep.

    ¡®Poor thing, I actually feel a bit sorry for you. A guy like Maxie, you can have him for a night but you¡¯ll

    spend a lifetime trying to keep him. And he¡¯ll never love you back. He can give you anything but his

    heart.¡±

    Brielle straightened her back slightly, adjusting her posture. Her spine arched like a crescent moon,

    delicate and enticing. She lifted her chin slightly. ¡°Tiffanie, I think you¡¯ve got it wrong. Max and I, we¡¯re

    just scratching mutual itches.¡±

    She needed a temporary shelter, and Max happened to fancy her curves.

    ¡°No misunderstanding here. I admire you, so I thought I¡¯d offer a friendly warning. Everythinges

    easy to Maxie. Tell me, Brielle, what game can you y with him? Your life?

    Brielle felt as if she had been hit right where it hurt, thinking to herself that Tiffanie must be friendless.

    Such candor was blinding in the circles of Beaconsfield.

    It was like a beam of light shining into a dpidated gutter. This beam of light might identally shine

    on the corrupt and dirty in the ditch. And everyone wished the light would just go away.

    ¡°I won¡¯t fall for Max, let alone love him. But thanks for the heads-up.

    ¡°Really?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    That same naive tone.

    Brielle pursed her lips, nodding firmly. ¡°I¡¯m petty, and I hold grudges. If someone doesn¡¯t want me, I

    certainly don¡¯t want them. I got involved with Max as a way to get back at Spencer.

    The soft glow from outside reflected on her face, her gazes as still as a deep pool.

    ¡®There are many viins in this world; why should I be expected to y the saint? I can¡¯t suppress the

    urge for revenge, so I turned to Max. And as for him being incapable of love, that¡¯s a lesson I¡¯ve

    already learned.¡±

    ¡°Tiffanie, you have a profound analysis of human nature, even to the point of seeing right

    1/2

    Chaplet SJ

    through my desire for love. I admit I¡¯m lonely, but that¡¯s precisely why I humans crave love, including

    you, Tiffanie. Aren¡¯t you the same?¡±

    derstand why

    At the ripe age of twenty, she had managed to tarnish her reputation so thoroughly. It was as if she was

    dering to the world-this is who I am, indeed promiscuous and unworthy. So, spare me your love.

    a

    Without expectation, hope would never rise. Tiffanie¡¯s heart was as barren as a wastnd.

    ¡°Brielle, you-¡± Tiffanie suddenly found herself at a loss for words, unable toprehend how she had

    been so quickly overpowered.

    Brielle¡¯s gaze was direct and audacious. ¡°Tiffanie, you¡¯ve been with so many men, surely you¡¯re looking

    for one who truly loves you. Someone who loves you despite knowing your foolishness, frivolity, empty-

    headedness, vulgarity; someone who loves you even though you¡¯re

    Kind of second-rate tabloid fodder everyone criticizes.¡±

    ¡°Max won¡¯t love, and neither will you, Tiffanie. Or rather, the Dorsey n, none of them. know how.¡±

    When trapped by love, a person became deaf and blind to the rest of the world, like a ve chained to

    an oar on a tiny boat, utterly powerless. And the Dorsey family¡¯s creed would never allow anyone to be

    a ve.

    The words were straightforward and somewhat crazy, like holding a gun against someone¡¯s heart.

    2/2

 Chapter 51

    Chapter 51

    The innocence on Tiffanie¡¯s face had vanished, and within a few minutes, she broke intoughter.

    ¡°Turns out Maxie has met his match. How about I buy you a drink? I¡¯ve really found some great guys,

    all of them are quite the catch.¡± She adeptly changed the subject, her gaze sparkling once more.

    Brielle was itching to leave, but it was clear that now wasn¡¯t the right time. Stepping out of the car, her

    eyes fell upon Andrew, leaning casually against another vehicle.

    Andrew was dressed down, but his presence was stillmanding, in stark contrast to the man

    standing opposite him, who looked like he stepped out of a GQ magazine, especially his cigarette-

    holding hand, which seemed more suited to wielding a pen or painting masterpieces.

    Tiffanie noticed as well, her smile widening. ¡°Brielle, what do you think of the guy next to Andrew?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s lips twitched, struggling to suppress a chuckle, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, that¡¯s Kenzo, the most

    talented screenwriter around, heir to the Barnes family legacy.¡±

    Kenzo was nearly as tall as Andrew, but their auras couldn¡¯t be more different.

    Andrew¡¯s presence was always crackling with a dangerous spark, as if he was a lit fuse. ready to ignite

    and burn everything to ashes. Kenzo, on the other hand, exuded a gentle demeanor, his hand that held

    the cigarette was distractingly attractive, and his smile had a mischievous curl at the corners.

    ¡°You know him? You hardly ever show up to these gatherings. And Kenzo doesn¡¯t seem the social

    butterfly either. But no worries, if you fancy him, I¡¯ll go drug him for now. We can talk after you¡¯ve slept

    with him.¡±

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    Brielle rubbed her forehead, ¡°Are you sure you won¡¯t get killed trying?¡±

    you right

    ¡°Maybe, but I¡¯d have to survive because Maxie wouldn¡¯t let anyone finish the job. To snag al night with

    the most talented screenwriter of our time, I¡¯d say it¡¯s worth the risk.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s got to be a better use for that energy of yours.¡±

    Tiffanie paused, then burst outughing, ¡°I¡¯m finding you more interesting than I thought.¡±

    She had no intention of greeting the two men and was about to pull Brielle inside, but Brielle walked

    over to Kenzo, standing with a poised yet approachable air. ¡°Hey there, Kenzo, long time no see.¡±

    Kenzo put his cigarette down and tossed it in the nearby trash can before looking at her warmly.

    1/2

    ¡°Brielle?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s me.¡±

    Tiffanie didn¡¯t expect these two to strike up a conversation, her curiosity bouncing from one to the other,

    finally settling on Andrew.

    Andrew was idly flipping a lighter in his hand, the lid opening and closing with the flick of his fingers, the

    me igniting and extinguishing intermittently. Noticing someone watching him, he didn¡¯t look up.

    Tiffanie nudged Brielle¡¯s shoulder, ¡°So, are you still up for meeting that movie star with me?¡±

    Brielle wasn¡¯t keen on going, and this was a good opportunity to decline, but before she could speak,

    Andrew¡¯s mocking gazended on her.

    She felt a chill run down her spine, and then she saw Andrew pull out his phone and dial a number.

    After about ten seconds, the call connected.

    ¡°Max, your Little Canary wants to fly away to another forest. Should I just snuff her out for you?¡± His

    tone was sinister, thest few words ground out between clenched teeth.

    Brielle was somewhat afraid of Andrew; he was unpredictable, there was nothing he wouldn¡¯t dare to

    do. She had a feeling that if Max on the other end gave the go-ahead, Andrew wouldn¡¯t hesitate to

    choke the life out of her. A canary that didn¡¯t know how to endear itself to others wasn¡¯t worth keeping

    alive.

    Her heart felt squeezed, the air around her growing thin, barely able to breathe. She didn¡¯t know what

    Max said on the other end, but the next second Andrew pressed the phone to her ear.

    2/2

 Chapter 52

    Chapter 52

    ¡°Got the jitters?¡±

    Max¡¯s voice came through the phone with a chill that was like an invisible hand, steadying a racing

    heart

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°Nah, I just know he¡¯s joking.¡±

    Max¡¯s eyebrow arched, his lips curling into a slight smirk, ¡°Andrew never jokes¡±

    Brielle¡¯s breathing hitched a bit as she felt Kenzo¡¯s gaze turn more meaningful. She just wanted to end

    the call as soon as possible ¡°Uncle Max, you needed me for something?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, get ready. You¡¯re joining me on a business trip tonight.¡±

    Brielle thought she¡¯d misheard, but when it came to work, she straightened up, all business. ¡°What time

    tonight?¡±

    ¡°Flight¡¯s at ten. Patrick will pick you up.

    That settled it for Brielle, she couldn¡¯t say no to Max. She handed the phone back to Andrew with a

    thanks and then turned to Tiffanie. ¡°Something¡¯se up with work-I¡¯ve got to head out.¡±

    years ago. I

    Then she looked at Kenzo, ¡°Kenzo, I never got to thank you for that thing three yea owe you dinner.¡±

    Kenzo¡¯s gaze deepened, his smile fading a little, ¡°Sure, add me on Messenger.

    Without any fuss, Brielle whipped out her phone, added him, exchanged a few polite words, and left.

    After she was gone, Kenzo put his phone down and turned to Andrew.

    ¡°Little Canary?¡±

    The gentle smile was gone, reced by an unreadable expression.

    Andrew flipped his lighter open and lit a cigarette with practiced ease, ¡°What, scouting info for your little

    sister again?¡±

    ¡°Alivia has been nagging too much. I can¡¯t just sit back and do nothing.¡±

    ¡°Nothing special. Max will keep her close for a few days.¡±

    Kenzo¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, a spark of interest flickering in them. Max, keeping a woman close?

    Whatever the reason, Brielle was now a threat to Alivia¡¯s future. Kenzo smirked at the thought of the

    drama that would unfold.

    Chapter 52

    Tiffanie, on the side, really didn¡¯t want to stand with two men like this. It would affect her uing

    hunting. She made a quick excuse and slipped into the dance floor, eyes peeled for her target: a top-

    tier celebrity rumored to be there tonight.

    Meanwhile, Brielle returned to her apartment, clueless about where the business trip would take her or

    for how long.

    She packed a couple of outfits and, after a moment¡¯s thought, applied a touch of makeup. Then she

    grabbed all the documents she could carry, and by seven, Patrick¡¯s car pulled up downstairs.

    Brielle slid into the car and immediately noticed Max, sitting quietly with his eyes closed, head resting

    against a custom headrest, looking every bit the picture of weary nobility.

    She moved more gently, not wanting to disturb him, then leaned forward to ask Patrick in a low voice.

    ¡°Where are we headed?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, you¡¯ll see when we get there.¡±

    Reading the room, Brielle fell silent.

    Before boarding the ne, her phone rang-it was the Haywood family. The Haywood household was in

    an uproar because Faith had shown up in person to scorn them and call off the engagement.

    ¡°Brielle, get back here now!¡±

    ¡°Do you have any idea how vital the business ties between the Haywoods and the Dorseys are? Since

    Spencer still wants this engagement, keep your mouth shut. Bri, don¡¯t disappoint me. You¡¯ve been

    stepping out of line too muchtely.¡±

    That night, Brielle confessed to having an affair, making Miranda feel bot Combined with the thoughts

    from Lillian¡¯s diary, Miranda suddenly felt past years. Actually, Brielle¡¯s nature was just so deceptive

    and fickle!

    Regret washed over her for not having Lillian as her own daughter-at lea have been such an

    embarrassment.

    nger and pain.

    by these

    ¡°Mom, Spencer cheated on me first. His thing with Lillian, it¡¯s like a thorn in my

    Impatience flickered in Miranda¡¯s eyes. She felt she knew Brielle¡¯s true nature and believe a word she

    said.

    ¡°Just get back here and apologize to Ms. Faith, And don¡¯t bring up that night again. As long as Spencer

    is willing, you must marry into the Dorsey family.¡±

    Brielle had never felt so insignificant in her position within the Haywood family

 Chapter 53

    Chapter 53

    She didn¡¯t think twice before hanging up the phone.

    Minutester, Robert called again. Brielle simply turned off her phone, unwilling to be disturbed on her

    business trip.

    She grabbed her boarding pass and entered first ss. Whether by Patrick¡¯s design or pure

    happenstance, her seat was right next to Max¡¯s. As the ne took off, Max was engrossed in a

    presentation video on his tablet.

    He was quiet, his gaze intense and focused, a refreshing coolness about him that seemed

    to soothe the soul.

    Brielle, eyes closed, tried to calm her emotions, but thoughts of the Haywood family stirred

    annoyance within her. When she finally opened her eyes and caught a glimpse of the content on the

    tablet, she couldn¡¯t help but interject. ¡°Michael Porter? Uncle Max, you¡¯re into his talks too?¡±

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Max was significantly taller, he tilted his head slightly, his face holding a clean-cut sharpness. ¡°You

    know of him?¡±

    Brielle nodded. Given this was a business trip, she didn¡¯t feel the need to butter him up as she would in

    a more private setting.

    ¡°A professor at Harvard Business School, famous for his Five Forces framework,¡± shemented.

    She reached out to help steady the tablet, her fingertips brushing against his rosary bracelet. Suddenly,

    he withdrew his wrist slightly, capturing her fingertips in his palm.

    A flutter coursed through Brielle¡¯s heart, and she struggled to focus on the presentation. ¡°His framework

    is quite renowned. It even led Peter Drucker to introduce the concept into the field of corporate

    management for the first time. I thought someone of your stature wouldn¡¯t bother with these anymore.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t ttery; after all, these theories weremon talk in the financial circles. Max had made a

    name for himself on Wall Street by the age of sixteen. He had to be well-versed in such matters.

    The warmth of his palm sent her thoughts racing, her breathing quickening. He seemed at ease, as if

    her fingertips were merely an amusing trinket.

    ¡°Professor Porter was my mentor.¡± His tone was casual as he held onto her delicate fingertips, just

    holding them, nothing more, nothing less. His presence was calm, cool.

    After a moment of hesitation, Brielle gently mped down on his fingertips.

    High above the earth, every secret of the human body felt incredibly romantic and profound. Life was

    indeed a spectacr event.

    However, she was well aware that their encounter was nothing more than a y of

    circumstance.

    Behind the romance was the biting chill of reality.

    Several hourster, the ne touched down in the United States. Even as Brielle was escorted to a

    manor house, the purpose of the trip was still a mystery. She was trying to adjust to the time difference

    when she heard Patrick¡¯s voice from the garden outside her

    window.

    ¡°President, Mr. Hatfield from Hatfield Inc. is also here, for the auction as well.¡±

    An auction? Was there a famous auction happening abroad? But if it was just an auction, why would

    Max have brought her along?

    Soon enough, she got her answer. Patrick brought her a file, cing it directly before her. ¡°Ms. Brielle,

    this contains all the research on the Hartley Group.¡±

    The Hartley Group?

    Brielle had been keeping up with international news sincending and hadn¡¯t heard any updates on the

    Hartley Group.

    ¡°Tomorrow night¡¯s auction will be attended by all of North America¡¯s tycoons, and the President of the

    Hartley Group might bring up a partnership.¡±

    Brielle felt a shiver run down her spine at the thought of all the North American tycoons in one ce.

    What sort of auction would draw such avish assembly?

    Suppressing her surprise, she took the documents and began to study them intently.

    Max and Patrick left the manor, only returning around ten, carrying hints of alcohol on their breath. By

    then, Brielle had gone over the documents several times, not daring to set them aside even for a

    moment.

    Her room was dark except for a singlemp by the window. When Max stepped in, he saw her poring

    over the pages, her hair cascading over her shoulders, her features illuminated beautifully.

    There was something captivating about anyone, man or woman, when they were fully

    immersed in their work.

 Chapter 54

    Chapter 54

    ¡°Uncle Max, with the Hartley Group and Infinity Brilliance being the two most formidable financial

    powerhouses in North America, they¡¯re both set to make a ssh at the auction. Now that Infinity

    Brilliance is teaming up with the Clements Corporation, does that mean someone from the Clements

    n will show?¡±

    The room was dimly lit, the air tinged with the scent of whiskey.

    Max approached, noticing the Infinity Brilliance dossier disyed on theptop screen. beside her.

    ¡°Andrew will be there.¡±

    He sat down, wrapping his arms gently around her from behind, ¡°Scared of him?¡±

    Indeed she was, but because of Aubree, she wanted to understand what kind of Andrew was.

    person

    ¡°The Clements family is cooperating with Infinity Brilliance, and with that, no one can rece Andrew¡¯s

    position in the Clements family, right?¡±

    If the Clements family ever came after Aubree, she hoped Andrew would keep her safe.

    Max didn¡¯t respond, just held her on the window-side daybed.

    Brielle tried to ignore the warmth spreading through her heart. This was not a good sign.

    She hadn¡¯t touched a drop of alcohol, yet her skin tingled as if fingertips danced upon it, slightly

    intoxicating. Her mind went nk for a moment until she felt a tickle on her neck. His lips grazed her

    skin, not painful, almost tender. He must be tipsy.

    Brielle¡¯s eyshes fluttered, and she instinctively pulled away, ¡°Uncle Max, the Hartley Group¡¯s

    dealings with Dorsey International don¡¯t ovep. Dorsey International broke into international markets

    the year you took over. Logically, this partnership seems unnecessary. Is it because of Mr. Hartley? I

    saw he¡¯s also a Harvard grad, a friend of yours, Uncle Max? Mmm, be gentle.¡±

    A low chuckle came from the man as he lifted her in his arms, heading for the bathroom.

    ¡°Brielle, are you sure you want to keep talking business?¡±

    Brielle bit her lip, fearful of this seductive dance he was leading. It was disorienting, intoxicating.

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, you provided the info, so of course, I have to do my due diligence. Among the Hartley

    Group¡¯s core businesses, the only one that seems to connect with Dorsey International is Marketce.

    Is Dorsey International nning to list its subsidiaries¡¯ products there? If so, it could leverage the

    Hartley Group¡¯s logisticswork, saving a pretty penny.¡±

    1/2

    She was now seated on the vanity, facing a mirror a meter in diameter that reflected both of them.

    Brielle closed her eyes, unable to bear the provocative image.

    ¡°Or maybe I¡¯m wrong, and Dorsey International isn¡¯t aiming to integrate with Marketce. Thetest

    data suggests the Hartley Group intends to develop a state-of-the-art. automated grocery chain. The

    crux of such stores is the ceiling sensors that cover the entire space, necessitating Al technology,

    which Dorsey International happens to excel in. Mr. Dorsey, your foresight had you fund sensor

    research two years ago. Now, you could potentially sell this tech to the Hartley Group, with its extensive

    North American storage and logistics system, though theyck Al research.

    The sounds in the bathroom made her blush, her eyelids squeezed shut, forcing her to tilt her head

    back.

    Just then, the icilyposed man paused, pinching her chin. ¡°Go orr.¡±

    Brielle w

    was drained of strength, trying to stay lucid, but her voice faltered.

    ¡°As for the upfront costs for an automated grocery, be it Al, machine learning, or big data, Dorsey

    International has more expertise than the Hartley Group. If Dorsey International sells this entire suite of

    tech to them, then they could-¡±

    ¡°Could what?¡±

    She couldn¡¯t speak anymore. Overwhelmed, yet he pressed on, seemingly reveling in her confusion.

    How wicked.

    But ultimately, Brielle sumbed, her eyes reddening as she wed at his back in frustration and

    surrender.

    If there were two kinds of sin in this world, Max clothed was one, Max unclothed was another. Brielle

    watched herself fall with crystal rity. She remembered Tiffanie¡¯s words

    one night to win Max, a lifetime to love him.

    Such agony. But then again, he was Max.

 Chapter 55

    Chapter 55

    The next morning, Brielle turned on her phone, which had been turned off. There were many missed

    calls inside, not only from the Haywood family but also from Spencer and Faith. As for the messages

    filling the screen, she didn¡¯t even bother to look at them. She just pressed delete.

    After tidying up a bit, she made her way to the estate¡¯s living room. Max was out, likely not to return

    until the evening. Brielle hadmitted the information she¡¯d uncovered to memory, but she was eager

    to get a real feel for the work environment at the North American conglomerate¡¯s towering

    headquarters. She knew all too well that limited experience narrowed one¡¯s vision, and only by

    immersing herself in the thick of it could she truly grasp the allure of these financial powerhouses.

    Wall Street, for instance, just a stone¡¯s throw away, was the stuff of dreams for any finance

    professional. The hub of the business world, where within a mere square kilometer, over two thousand

    financial institutions and nearly four hundred thousand finance professionals converged.

    The very thought had Brielle¡¯s blood pumping with excitement.

    However, her outing faced a rocky start as a sudden downpour caught her mid-journey. She took

    shelter under a bus stop awning, watching as dark clouds amassed ominously above. Horns red in

    the distance, visibility dropping by the second.

    Brielle checked her route on her phone and decided on a shortcut down a less-traveled alley.

    ¡°Bang! Bang!¡± No sooner had she stepped into the desertedne than the sound of gunfire echoed. A

    nearby sign ttered violently in the wind.

    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Under the veil of rain, all discord seemed well concealed.

    Brielle halted, not daring to move forward. In a foreignnd, especially in carrying firearms was

    common, running up like that was seeking death.

    As she was about to retreat, a rough hand mped around her wrist. The gr enough to make her

    bones ache, and in moments she found herself pinned ag mold-streaked wall.

    ry where

    ¡°Aussie?¡± The man¡¯s tone carried a tinge of confusion, his breath hot against her ne

    Brielle stiffened, swallowing hard. The cold barrel of a gun pressed against her side m it clear that any

    sudden moves could be herst.

    Several meny in the depths of the alley, their blood mingling with the rainwater in the gutters. She

    had stumbled upon a murder.

    She didn¡¯t recognize the man, but there was something vaguely familiar about him. Then,

    1/2

    In the sh of a synapse, a photograph came to mind.

    The young son of Infinity Brilliance, the diamond industry¡¯s most favored and enigmatic figure.

    Twenty-some years ago, Infinity Brilliance lost a daughter. Neither the chairman nor this young man

    had ever ceased their search.

    Brielle¡¯s eyshes fluttered as she managed to speak, ¡°Mr. Lynch, I didn¡¯t see anything.¡±

    It was no secret that Infinity Brilliance had amassed a multitude of enemies. Their domineering rules

    and sharp practices had nearly cornered the entire diamond market.

    Dustin, taken aback that this woman knew of him, scrutinized her before pocketing his gun. ¡®Which

    Aussie family¡¯s daughter are you?

    ¡°I¡¯m just an employee at Dorsey International.¡±

    Dustin was not in his usual suit, dressed simply in a white shirt and ck pants, looking quite young.

    He reached out, fingers wrapping around her throat. ¡°Dorsey International? You know Max?¡±

    Brielle, having researched Infinity Brilliance before, was familiar with Dustin¡¯s profile. It seemed Dustin

    and Max were not on the best of terms.

    She regretted her quick tongue. ¡°I don¡¯t know him.¡±

    The wise know when to yield.

    Dustin¡¯s grip tightened, a flicker of irritation crossing his face.

    An employee of Dorsey International not knowing Max was like telling tall tales with eyes wide ope

    open. His hand formed into a w, intending to frighten her, but in the next instant, the scene before

    him shifted dramatically.

    ¡°Thud!¡±

    With a swift judo move, Brielle had him on the ground and pinned his arm with an efficient

    twist.

    Dustin was stunned, his mind racing to catch up. Instead of resisting, he looked up at her. ¡°What the

    hell?¡±

 Chapter 56

    Chapter 56

    Brielle¡¯s face was pale as she pulled out her smartphone, aiming it at Dustin¡¯s face to start recording.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, I wouldn¡¯t be doing this if I wasn¡¯t desperate to stay alive. A man of your stature surely

    wouldn¡¯t stoop to quarrel with the likes of me, right? Just promise you won¡¯te after me again, and I

    won¡¯t release this video of a woman flipping you over her shoulder.¡±

    Dustin couldn¡¯t help butugh, still pondering the strength of her move, ¡°You¡¯ve trained?¡±

    Brielle nodded, ¡°Fourth-degree ck belt.¡±

    ¡°Not bad.¡±

    Brielle was taken aback, unable to fathom what was going through this man¡¯s mind. Was he actually

    complimenting her?

    She saved the video, no longer pinning Dustin down with her knee. Dustin¡¯s shirt was drenched, and

    just then his phone started buzzing.

    Standing aside, Brielle watched as his fingers deftly yed with the gun, his whole demeanor casual

    and detached. In his eyes, human lives seemed as insignificant as dust. ¡°Andrew, you¡¯ve arrived?¡±

    Whatever the response was, Dustin, after hanging up, began to walk out of the alley. Halfway through,

    he paused and turned back to nce at Brielle, ¡°You know him?¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t reply, hearing him continue, ¡°Your eyes reacted when I mentioned Andrew¡¯s name.¡±

    She wanted to deny knowing him. After all, both Andrew and Dustin were after her life. But Dustin didn¡¯t

    wait for her refusal, abruptly grabbing her wrist and heading straight for the ck car parked nearby.

    A ck stretch Bugatti shimmered through the rain.

    Inside the spacious car, Andrew flipped his phone in his palm after ending the call. Across from him, a

    man exuding an aura of austerity pinched a piece of paper between his fingertips ¨C it was the auction

    catalogue.

    ¡°Max, what¡¯s Michael after this time?¡±

    ¡°The Ten Divine Panes.¡±

    Max set the catalogue aside. The scroll was the auction¡¯s showstopper, its price yet to be revealed.

    ???

    ¡°No wonder you needed toe personally.¡±

    This scroll had never appeared in auctions before. It was the work of a court painter from the 17th

    century. Michael had always liked collecting such pieces.

    Max nced outside. Two blurred figures approached through the rain. ¡°You didn¡¯t get into a tussle with

    Dustin?¡±

    Dustin wasn¡¯t a regr in the social circles of Beaconsfield and was unfamiliar to them. It was

    unexpected that he would join Andrew at the auction.

    The North American elite were even more intricate than the Beaconsfield set, and Dustin, notorious in

    those circles as a yboy, had a reputation as tarnished as that of a male Tiffanie.

    ¡°Why would I fight him?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re both after Lot 8, right?¡±

    Lot 8 was a one-of-a-kind timepiece. Andrew would certainly fight for Tessa, as in the past/most of

    these valuable items would end up being sent to the Rond family.

    Yeah, I¡¯m after Lot 8. Dustin¡¯s generous with women, but not every woman is worth splurging on to woo

    her.¡±

    The timepiece, by conservative estimates, would fetch around eighty million.

    Max¡¯s gaze returned to the window, the figures in the rain bing clearer.

    Brielle tried to shake off Dustin¡¯s grip, but he seemed intent on holding on tightly. Once they were

    seated in the more subdued Mulsanne, Dustin called Andrew in the car ahead.

    with

    The stretched Bugatti was not far in front, and naturally, he wouldn¡¯t share a ride Andrew. They weren¡¯t

    that close.

    They had originally agreed to meet at the auction, but now, soaked to the skin, Dustin would be

    dyed.

    ¡°Andrew, head on in. We¡¯ll meet at the auction and then you can fill me in on any you¡¯ve got.¡±

    news

    Being of simr age and with the Clements family and Infinity Brilliance confirming a partnership, the

    men had met before and dispensed with formalities.

    After hanging up and ensuring Brielle wasn¡¯t going to bolt, Dustin finally released her to start another

    conversation with the person on the other end of the screen.

    ¡°A philosophy student? You think I¡¯d like someone so stiff? All she talks about are cultural paradigms

    and shifts in consciousness. If she goes on, I might have to get a primer on Rousseau. At dinnerst

    time, she even said that the highest value is being ready to die for an internal ideal. I want her to

    surrender to me, not to some lofty cause. Look, we¡¯re

    2/3

    Chapter 56

    not on the same page. Don¡¯t bother me about her anymore.¡±

    Dustin¡¯s brow furrowed, tossing his phone aside in irritation.

    For Brielle, it was her first encounter with this privileged son of fortune. Surprisingly, she felt he wouldn¡¯t

    harm her. There was an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch goes on dates arranged by others?¡±

    It sounded like he was coerced into it.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Dustin gave azy smile, the hostility draining away, ¡°It¡¯s more like a selection of

    consorts.¡±

 Chapter 57

    Chapter 57

    Choking on his words, Brielle shifted her gaze to the road ahead, swiftly changing the subject, ¡°I¡¯ve got

    nster tonight, can you drop me off somewhere?¡±

    Dustin, eyes closed, didn¡¯t respond.

    Only when the car came to a stop did Brielle realize they were at Dustin¡¯s private vi, a retreat he

    used for entertaining hisdies.

    She stood hesitantly at the spacious entrance, feeling a strong resistance to stepping inside. The

    peculiar chair ced amid the flower stands seemed to her like some kind of kinky essory.

    This guy had a reputation as questionable as Tiffanie¡¯s. Brielle thought Tiffanie was outrageous, but

    Dustin was proving to be a whole new level of scandalous.

    An array of exotic professional gadgets was on disy,plete with a swing that seemed to cater to

    every conceivable fantasy.

    Brielle¡¯s expression grew more bizarre by the second, finally settling on a grand piano near the

    entrance that looked incredibly valuable.

    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    She breathed a sigh of relief, deliberately avoiding the other gadgets and instead, her fingers couldn¡¯t

    resist ying a key on the piano. ¡°Is there some reason for the piano being here?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± Dustin answered seriously, then walked further inside to change his clothes.

    Brielle figured the guy wasn¡¯tpletely unreliable.

    Minutester, Dustin emerged in a tailored suit, his demeanor instantly transformed to one of

    composed elegance.

    The door opened to admit a flurry of people ¨C a professional styling team had arrived.

    ¡°Go get changed.¡±

    ¡°Me?¡±

    Brielle, thinking she was just a spur-of-the-moment interest for him, was now being instructed to

    change. It couldn¡¯t possibly mean he was nning to take her to an auction. But she was indeed

    ushered into a dressing room by the entourage.

    Stepping out in a flowing aquamarine gown, Dustin raised an eyebrow. ¡°Not bad, you look much better

    than that philosopher.¡±

    It seemed he was out of femalepany and had premeditatedly snatched her up for the asion.

    Brielle was curious about the degree of trauma this so-called philosopher had inflicted on him.

    1/2

    She sat down as stylists swarmed her, closing her eyes to let them work on her face. Feeling the need

    to break the odd silence, she picked up on the earlier topic. ¡°That piano, what¡¯s the significance? I

    remember at Mr. Lynch¡¯s eighteenth birthday g, your family hired a handwriting expert to assess

    your script.¡±

    That ceremony was a grand affair, with every young socialite from North America in attendance.

    Dustin¡¯s handwriting fetched an astonishing five million at auction. Whether it was worth that sum was

    another matter entirely.

    A smirk yed on Dustin¡¯s lips, amused that she knew even this. Clearly, she kept up with corporate

    news.

    ¡°I just find it quite intriguing to use the piano as a stage. Everyone¡¯s body can y a different

    symphony. Sometimes, with a ss of wine in hand, watching the piano keys stained red, don¡¯t you

    think it¡¯s quite sophisticated?¡±

    Brielle had never been so speechless in her life. Her breath grew heavier, and her face nearly cracked.

    No wonder he was the most infamous yboy in the North American social circles. Taking a deep

    breath, she managed to maintain herposure with great effort.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, you¡¯re certainly blunt.¡±

    Dustin turned to look at her and chuckled. He rarely enjoyed himself so much. Seeing her struggle to

    stay calm was entertaining.

    Wisely, Brielle refrained from starting another conversation, fearful of what ¡®sophisticated activity¡¯ he

    might describe next.

    The styling team quickly finished preparing the two of them. She looked down at the aquamarine dress,

    thinking anything Dustin had to offer was certainly not run-of-the-mill.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, how much is this dress?¡±

    ¡°What, you think I¡¯m short on cash?¡±

    Just as Dustin finished his retort, his phone rang. ncing at the shing name on the screen, a sneer

    crossed his face. While gesturing for Brielle to head out, he answered the call. ¡°I made it clear, I¡¯m not

    interested in Scott¡¯s novels, Schubert¡¯s bads, Dcroix, or the rise of national romanticism. Stop

    calling me. I¡¯ve already got a date for tonight. Sweetheart, we¡¯re just not cut from the same cloth.¡±

 Chapter 58

    Chapter 58

    Brielle trailed behind him quietly, a sense of surreal disbelief clinging to her. The auction was only a

    couple of hours away, and she was sure Max would be looking for her soon.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, I came here with a colleague, and I should probably get back to him. If you¡¯re short of a

    date, how about we touch base at the entrance of the auction?¡± she suggested, convinced Max

    wouldn¡¯t need her as his so-called date.

    Ever since Dustin hung up the phone, a frown had taken residence between his brows. ¡°Call your

    colleague. Tonight you¡¯re with me,¡± hemanded.

    Swallowing nervously, Brielle realized she didn¡¯t have Max¡¯s number.

    Dustin raised an eyebrow and chuckled lightly. ¡°Colleague? Are you really an employee of Dorsey

    International?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

    Dustin nodded and, without hesitation, whipped out his phone, calling Andrew. ¡°Tell Mr. Dorsey I¡¯m

    borrowing one of his employees for the evening.¡±

    After delivering the message, he turned to Brielle. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±

    Caught off guard by his assertiveness, she struggled to maintain herposure. ¡°Lucinda,¡± she lied

    without missing a beat.

    Without any suspicion, Dustin ryed to Andrew, ¡°Her name¡¯s Lucinda. She¡¯ll be my for tonight. Tell Mr.

    Dorsey I¡¯ll make it up to him with dinner when I visit Australia.¡±

    date

    On the other end of the line, Andrew stared at his disconnected call, racking his brain for the name.

    No recollection..

    Dustin had a taste for striking beauty, so this ¡®Lucinda¡¯ must be exceptional. But did Dorsey

    International even employ such a woman?

    Frowning, he nced at Max, who sat with his eyes closed, ¡°Dustin just called. He wants to borrow one

    of your employees for the night, someone named Lucinda.¡±

    Max¡¯s eyshes fluttered as he slowly opened his eyes. ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°Lucinda,¡± Andrew repeated, scoffing. ¡°Since when does Dorsey International harbor such a temptress

    that Dustin personally calls to request herpany?¡±

    Max¡¯s jaw clenched, a mist of emotion swirling in his eyes before settling back into an inscrutable smile.

    ¡°Lucinda,¡± he echoed.

    He looked up and instructed Patrick with a casualmand. ¡°We won¡¯t be heading back to the manor,¡±

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    Chapter 58

    Patrick was surprised, as they were originally set to pick up Ms. Brielle. But without further questioning,

    he adjusted the steering wheel ordingly.

    The car fell into a tense silence. Andrew sensed a shift in Max¡¯s demeanor ever since that phone call ¨C

    a chilling coldness nowced with a hint of frost in his gaze. ¡°Max, didn¡¯t you bring Brielle along?

    Where is she now?¡±

    Max chuckled lightly, idly tapping his long fingers on his knee. ¡°She¡¯s at the venue.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re letting her wander around in the chaotic North American scene? If she flies into someone else¡¯s

    cage, dazzled by the glitz, she might never find her way back.¡±

    ¡°Would she not be dazzled by the glitz at my side?¡±

    Max closed his eyes again, his voice husky as he recalled the previous night. ¡°She¡¯s not that shallow.¡¯

    Andrew had his biases against Brielle. She had boldly schemed against Max at their first meeting and

    shamelessly admitted to being his mistress.

    He knew she wasn¡¯t, of course. Many in Beaconsfield longed to share Max¡¯s bed but could only watch

    from afar ¨C except Brielle, who actually took action.

    He wondered if Max would have ended her if her seduction had seeded.

    Their second encounter at Tequ Sunset surprised him. Not only had she survived, but she thrived.

    Max harbored a faint interest in Brielle, just a flicker, but enough to put Andrew on alert. So when

    Tiffanie took Brielle to meet a male star, he feltpelled to inform Max. At least until Max was bored

    of her, she should stay obediently.

    ¡°A woman who schemes to sleep with you isn¡¯t shallow enough? In my opinion, she¡¯s just got a pretty

    face. You haven¡¯t tired of her yet, so you¡¯re still looking through rose-colored sses.¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯re tired of Aubree?¡±

    Max¡¯s mention of Aubree caught Andrew off guard. Their rtionship was meant to rot away in silence.

    ¡°She¡¯s just a pastime. Easy to call, easy to dismiss, saves me a lot of trouble.¡±

    After all, Tessa didn¡¯t appreciate his dalliances, Sleeping with a hundred different people or a hundred

    times with one person made no difference to him.

    ¡°Brielle said Aubree loves you.

    Max¡¯s words were a reminder to Andrew not to do something he might regret, but the very mention of

    love contorted Andrew¡¯s face in disgust. He knew Aubree fancied him, loved him, but men could be

    more cruel to women who loved them but whom they didn¡¯t bother

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    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    to love in return. Andrew wasn¡¯t just indifferent; he went so far as to cruelly humiliate

    them.

 Chapter 59

    Chapter 59

    He didn¡¯t really want to discuss it in front of Max. Max wasn¡¯t keen on prying either. Sensing his

    reluctance, he just went back to perusing his documents.

    The car swiftly pulled up in front of the grand building, where numerous media outlets had already

    gathered.

    However, they were kept at bay behind barricades, with not a single reporter allowed near. Only the

    relentless shing of cameras lit up the scene.

    Neither Max nor Andrew enjoyed making appearances at such events, so the car took a detour on the

    red carpet and eventually parked in a private lot.

    Inside the lobby, a crowd had already formed, nked by waist-high partitions. Consultants in sharp

    suits were on their phones, updating their far-flung employers about the auction¡¯s live bids. At auctions

    of this magnitude, collectors who couldn¡¯t make it in

    via live person would send trusted consultants to bid on their behalf, keeping in touch feeds.

    Andrew and Max were seated next to each other, and after scanning the room full of suited consultants,

    Andrew chuckled, ¡°This bidding war is insane. It¡¯ll take at least 300 million for Michael to get his hands

    on what he wants.¡±

    The auction of Eternal Whispers was bound to attract covetous nces, but there was something even

    more significant on the roster tonight, although the organizers were keeping it under wraps.

    ¡°Max, any idea what the big secret item the organizers haven¡¯t disclosed might be?¡±

    It was usually a disadvantage for the organizers to dy revealing an item, but this time, no matter who

    you asked, no one could get the details.

    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Waiters in white gloves respectfully ushered guests into the hall, and just then, Dustin¡¯s car arrived at

    the entrance. He was always a high-profile figure in the North American circuit, but after a nce at

    Brielle, he chose not to stop in front of the paparazzi¡¯s lenses. Once inside the venue, many greeted

    him, and then their gaze fell on Brielle. She didn¡¯t seem intimidated, but as she passed through thest

    doorway, she felt a piercing gaze upon her.

    Looking up, her eyes met Max¡¯s from the front row. Her pupils shrank, and she quickly tried to lower her

    hand.

    Max¡¯s gaze was indifferent, with a slight curve at his lips. His eyes trailed over her waist. before he

    subtly gestured to the seat beside him. He was indicating for her toe over. Brielle couldn¡¯t defy

    him.

    Dustin noticed the exchange and frowned, but then, with a casual air, he walked over and

    Chapter 59

    sat down with one seat separating him from Max.

    Brielle was sandwiched between them, feeling like she was on pins and needles. ¡°Uncle Max.¡± She

    called out quietly, nervously trying to exin in a hushed tone.

    Dustin, however, turned his head in surprise, ¡°What did you call him? I thought you said you didn¡¯t

    know him?¡±

    Brielle really wished she could silence him. She managed to keep a straight face, all survival instincts

    on high alert, ¡°You must have misheard, Mr. Lynch.¡±

    Just then, Max¡¯s fingertipsnded on her powder blue sleeve. Her dress was conservatively designed,

    with gatheredce sleeves that exuded elegance. With each step she took, the fishtail hem of her dress

    fluttered, adorned with sequins. Among a sea of strapless gowns, it stood out.

    However, Brielle felt like she was standing there naked, as if the fingertips on her wrist. could reach

    through the fabric and touch her skin. The warmth spread, making her heart tremble with a scalding

    sensation

    Andrew, sitting on the other side of Max, cold and serpentine.

    hadn¡¯t uttered a word from the start, his eyes

    The domineering presence of the three men silenced Brielle, who sat with a rigid back, trying not to

    show any signs of weakness.

    Her silence didn¡¯t prevent Dustin from speaking up. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, I¡¯ve long admired you. It seems I¡¯ve

    intercepted yourpanion by mistake. My apologies.¡±

    His presence was no lessmanding than Max¡¯s, and he leaned in toward Brielle with atzy smile.

    ¡°It appears Mr. Dorsey and I have simr taste.¡±

    At that, Max looked up, ¡°Simr?¡±

    Dustin nodded, but he didn¡¯t y the same high-stakes game of innuendo as Max. If truly wanted to

    pursue something with this woman, his tactics would be second to no Yet, his feelings towards Brielle

    were odd.

    Her face was undeniably beautiful, a prize he typically wouldn¡¯t pass up, but all he felt w an inexplicable

    closeness, especially under the scrutiny of her gaze, which made him want to soften.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it? Mr. Dorsey must also find her quite endearing, right?¡±

    Brielle felt a tingling sensation at the back of her head. If not for the fear of Dustin¡¯s potential revenge,

    she would have retorted.

    Endearing? For a yboy like Dustin, the number of women who¡¯ve tugged at his heartstrings was

    countless.

    Max raised an eyebrow, his fingertip tracing gently over the back of Brielle¡¯s hand, ¡°Yes,

    2/3

    she does seem quite endearing.¡±

    Despite knowing this was a game between two men, Brielle¡¯s heart fluttered at his words,

    a mix of exhration and bitterness, indescribablyplex.

    3/3

 Chapter 60

    Chapter 60

    Max was blissfully unaware of the havoc his words wreaked, lounging on cloud nine with

    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    the ease of a Sunday morning. It wasn¡¯t fair, not in the leasting on cloud nine with

    Brielle¡¯s emotions churned like a tempest inside her, and it took all her willpower to stay anchored in

    reality.

    She wanted to retract her hand, but it was impossible. His touch was feather-light, barely there. Yet to

    her, it felt as heavy as a lead weight.

    Logic and romance tugged at her in a fierce tug-of-war. Atst, she tilted her head slightly towards Max,

    her voice softening.

    ¡°Uncle Max, I didn¡¯t mean to.¡±

    Her n had been simple: visit the Hartley Group to soak in the atmosphere. But then Dustin

    happened. Dustin, the man who yed by no rules, had led to this very moment.

    Max turned to nce at her, and something about the tenderness in her eyes, soft as a pool of still

    water, struck a chord in him. Indeed, Dustin had hit the nail on the head; when she looked vulnerable, it

    was truly endearing.

    The frustration in his chest dissipated unbidden.

    ¡°I¡¯m not ming you.¡±

    Brielle exhaled in relief, then pushed her luck a bit further. ¡°I wanted to call you, Uncle Max, but I didn¡¯t

    have your number-or your assistant¡¯s.¡±

    She apologized first, then slyly shifted the onus onto Max. He saw through her little ploy, feeling a

    curious emotion bubble up inside.

    Before he could respond, Dustin turned Brielle to face him. ¡°What are you two whispering about?¡±

    His voice carried a note of displeasure, his frown deepening at the sight of their hands together. Years

    of socializing had honed his ability to sense the subtleties of such interactions, and he felt distinctly

    ufortable.

    ¡°So, Mr. Dorsey¡¯s kink is pretty special. Addicted to role-ying?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s lips pursed. If it weren¡¯t for Dustin¡¯s interruption, she was sure Max would¡¯ve given her his

    private number by now.

    Feeling a touch vexed, she couldn¡¯t resist a retort. ¡°Mr. Lynch, if you fancy it, you can call him Uncle

    Max, too.¡±

    Dustin¡¯s perfect fa?ade nearly cracked, but Max had to add fuel to the fire. ¡°I would mind that.¡±

    1/7/2

    They were in cahoots.

    Dustin took a few deep breaths to keep from erupting in anger. He straightened up and noticed the

    seats behind them filling up, which prompted him to warn Brielle.

    ¡°Some media outlets have been invited to live-stream the auction.¡± His implication was clear-if she

    didn¡¯t want her connection to Max exposed, she¡¯d better keep a low profile.

    Brielle understood his hint and murmured a thanks. Standing beside men like Max or Dustin meant

    passing public scrutiny. A misstep could spell trouble. And her rtionship with Max was definitely not

    one for the spotlight.

    She straightened up and shifted her focus to the stage.

    Three hosts had taken their ces, and the consultants in themission seats were busy on their

    phones, rying the events unfolding here.

    As the first item was unveiled, a cascade of bids erupted, each outdoing thest.

    Brielle had once had the privilege of attending a local auction with her professors from Beaconsfield

    College, but she had never witnessed one of this magnitude. Nearly every face here was a fixture in

    financial newspapers. There were even a few familiar faces, individuals who had been invited to

    participate in the graduation speeches at Beaconsfield College in the past.

    Brielle herself had no means to participate in such auctions. Her gaze drifted to a nearby seat.

    The president of the Hartley Group, a man with blond hair and blue eyes, was seated there. He sat with

    his arms crossed, noticing her gaze and meeting it with a nod-a basic courtesy.

    Brielle returned the gesture, acknowledging the greeting while her mind reyed the news about the

    Hartley Group.

    Dorsey International¡¯s coboration with them likely meant selling off the unmanned supermarket

    venture.

    In her opinion, Hartley Group should be willing to cooperate with Dorsey International, but after all, she

    did not understand the business strategy of this president. Therefore, the specific negotiation still

    depended on the evening party after the auction ends.

 Chapter 61

    Chapter 61

    The auction room was abuzz with anticipation as the eighth lot was announced-a Rolex Daytona, the

    kind of timepiece that screamed extravagance and didn¡¯t just show up at any old auction.

    The auctioneer called for the opening bid, and a peal ofughter filled the room when a young woman

    with a clear voice cheekily offered up five million dors. It was a joke, and everyone knew it.

    Brielle chuckled along, but her amusement was short-lived as Andrew coolly dropped a bid of twenty

    million dors. She turned to see him, his expression dead serious, the look of a man on a mission.

    She felt a twinge in her chest, not for herself, but for her friend Aubree. She knew that this grand

    gesture wasn¡¯t meant for Aubree. Sure, Andrew was generous with her, but the gifts he gave her,

    though expensive, were never this extravagant-certainly not the kind of thing that would have him jet-

    setting across the world to bid in public.

    As her hand curled into a fist at her side, she listened to the bids rise and fall. Andrew stood his ground,

    calm and collected with each increase. And in the end, the watch was his for a staggering fifty-five

    million dors.

    Brielle¡¯s expression soured, and Dustin, sensing her mood, leaned in close to whisper, ¡°Fancy it, huh?¡±

    He even entertained the thought that if she wanted it, he might step into the bidding ring

    himself.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    She shook her head, her voice a soft sigh. ¡°It¡¯s just not fair to my friend.¡±

    Dustin moved in even closer, their hair almost mingling as he murmured, ¡°Your friend¡¯s got a thing for

    him?¡±

    ¡°Sort of.¡±

    Squinting at Brielle, Dustin took a moment to study her face. ¡°Your friend likes Andrew, and you like

    Max-birds of a feather, you two.¡±

    Brielle tensed, hoping Max hadn¡¯t overheard. ¡°Mr. Lynch, don¡¯t be absurd. I do not.¡±

    Dustin chuckled, ¡°I kinda hope you don¡¯t. Max is notoriously tough to handle.¡±

    He leaned in again, seeming to enjoy their hushed exchange. ¡°Back in his Harvard days, some girl

    slipped him and herself a love potion.¡±

    In the midst of the grand auction, they were both engrossed in the gossip. Brielle gasped, unable to

    resist asking, ¡°Then what?¡±

    ¡°Well, she locked herself and Max in a room for a whole day and night. When the cops

    1/2

    13:22

    Chapter 61

    finally broke in, guess what?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s heart raced despite herself.

    As she looked hooked on every word, Dustin indulged her curiosity. ¡°The girl was out cold, tied to a

    chair, face flushed red. And Max? His arms were covered in blood. He¡¯d cut

    himself to stay awake.¡±

    Brielle bit her lip, impressed by Max¡¯s endurance. Then, she remembered how she slept with Max

    using one drink. She was instantly feeling guilty.

    ¡°Must¡¯ve been a weak potion,¡± she mused.

    Dustin gave her a knowing look. ¡°That stuff was banned across North America because it worked too

    well. No man could resist that. After the whole scandal, a lot of folks thought there was something

    wrong with him.¡±

    Blushing, Brielle thought of Max¡¯s fierce resolve. He was more than capable.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch,¡± she whispered, eager for more juicy tidbits,pletely forgetting the decorum of the

    asion.

    A firm tug on her wrist snapped her back to reality. Max¡¯s voice was icy as he pulled her in. ¡°You two

    practically head-to-head. What are you, bing blood brothers?¡±

    Dustin had more gossip to share, but as Brielle was whisked away, his brow furrowed in frustration.

    ¡°Max, you do your thing, I do mine. Why can¡¯t we keep to our ownnes?¡±

    Their gazes shed in the air.

    Max cracked a smile. ¡°Because it seems you¡¯re ying with what¡¯s mine.¡±

    Dustin was left speechless by the rebuke, while Brielle, flushed and flustered, lowered her head and

    straightened up, her thoughts scattering like leaves in the wind.

    13:21

 Chapter 62

    Chapter 62

    Brielle was lost in a daze, barely registering the events unfolding around her, including the fact that Max

    had secured the Eternal Whispers painting for a cool four hundred million, something she btedly

    realized.

    Eternal Whispers was the showstopper of the evening, but the auction organizers had one more trick

    up their sleeve ¨C a mysterious item that wasn¡¯t listed in the catalog and was only to be revealed live at

    the event.

    This secrecy was the reason there was such a buzz of consultants at the bidder¡¯s tables, all eager to

    catch a glimpse of the hidden gem, which could be anything from a piece of royal regalia that might

    have graced the brow of an ancient monarch to a lost

    masterpiece by a revered artist.

    The trio of auctioneers, normally loquacious, held their tongues for a moment, their voices trembling

    with excitement.

    It all seemed irrelevant to Brielle until the crowd erupted into a mor, snapping her out of her reverie.

    She looked up just in time to see the final lot revealed ¨C none other than Leonardo da Vinci¡¯s Salvator

    Mundi.

    ¡ª

    The noise level in the room skyrocketed as advisors at the bidder¡¯s tables frantically ryed the

    developments to their employers.

    The painting, which most believed belonged in the hallowed halls of the Louvre, was now up for grabs

    at the auction.

    Brielle was taken aback, and then she heard Dustin cing his bid.

    The bidding was frenzied, each offer outdoing thest, and the atmosphere reached a fever pitch with

    the final lot.

    Max and Andrew, having won their desired lots, bowed out of the bidding war, but Dustin was

    persistent, raising his bid four times, his usually nonchnt demeanor reced with steely

    determination.

    Brielle thought of Dustin¡¯s long-lost sister, wondering if he was bidding on this masterpiece as a

    constion gift for his mother, given the painting¡¯s evocative name.

    After eight rounds of intense bidding, Dustin emerged victorious, iming the da Vinci for a staggering

    nine hundred million dors.

    As the gavel fell, the lights brightened, and waiters began directing the assembly to the adjacent hall for

    the g dinner ¨C the true highlight of the evening.

    Brielle followed the crowd into the banquet hall, where the aroma of fine wine filled the air and familiar

    faces mingled in conversation.

    Her gazended on Mr. Hartley. She couldn¡¯t afford to return from her first business trip

    1/3

    13:21

    with nothing to show for it.

    Max was escorted backstage by a waiter toplete the necessary paperwork for his purchase,

    leaving Brielle momentarily alone.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    There were no acquaintances around Brielle, so she stood in an inconspicuous spot, thinking about

    how to start a conversation with the president of the Hartley Group. What she didn¡¯t expect was that a

    young guy not far away was broadcasting live on their phone. Her face appeared on the live broadcast

    screen, and although it only shed for a moment, it was enough to attract attention.

    The young man, a delegate representing his employer at the dinner, was likely attending such a posh

    event for the first and only time, hence his early announcement of the live broadcast, promising viewers

    an immersive experience of the exclusive auction.

    While media coverage was restricted to the auction itself, the post-auction dinner was off-limits to the

    press. However, no one objected to guests sharing their experience via live stream. The audience

    following the stream were primarily finance professionals, all curious to peek behind the curtain at the

    high-poweredworking taking ce.

    The boy was broadcasting live while softly introducing.

    ¡°The man over there is the president of Hatfield Inc. It seems like he hasn¡¯t bid on anything

    this time.¡±

    ¡°The blonde-haired and blue-eyed one is the president of Hartley Group. I heard that a will be making

    some new moves, and tonight we¡¯ll see who he meets.¡±

    ¡°By the way, you must be curious about the young son of Infinity Brilliance. He bid on thest auction

    item for nine hundred million dors. He¡¯s now backstage filling out paperwork, and he¡¯ll probably be

    here soon. In the North American circle, his face is heavenly.¡±

    As expected, when Dustin was mentioned, the number of people in the live broadcast room instantly

    increased. His face is indeed very handsome, and he¡¯s very wealthy. Ordinary people would not have a

    chance to see such a person, and they all wanted to see what he would look like at the banquet.

    The boy swiveled his camera again, continuing to introduce, but what he didn¡¯t know was that Brielle¡¯s

    face shed into the camera frame again.

    Questions began to pop up on the live feed.

    ¡°Was that Brielle just now? Can¡¯t be, her family isn¡¯t that wealthy, right?¡±

    ¡°Brielle? The top finance grad? I remember some forum gossip about her family being poor.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t she engaged to the Dorsey family? What¡¯s she doing here?¡±

    ¡°Who knows? It was all anonymous tips back then, caused quite the stir, but Brielle never

    2/3

    13:21

    confirmed anything.¡±

    ¡°Hey man, can you pan the camera around? Let¡¯s see if that¡¯s really Brielle.¡±

 Chapter 63

    Chapter 63

    The young man paused and slowly adjusted his camera lens. The camera settled on Brielle¡¯s face, and

    the chat erupted once again.

    ¡°Yep, that¡¯s Brielle. Man, you gotta ask her what she¡¯s doing at the g.¡±

    ¡°Could she have been, you know, taken under the wing by someone influential? There were always

    whispers about her being a bit of a wild card.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve always been curious, where do all these rumorse from? I was in ss with Brielle, and she

    always kept to herself.¡±

    ¡°Must be someone close to her spreading the gossip. I remember some forum posts about her

    supposedly being harsh to her sister, or was it a foster child? Anyway, she¡¯s crafty.¡±

    The

    young man frowned slightly at the relentless stream ofments.

    Anyone who graduated from Beaconsfield College in thest couple of years would recognize Brielle,

    but Brielle was so discreet, turning down all extracurricrs, that her ssmates hardly ever saw her.

    Her looks were too striking, voted the belle of the campus on her first day, but soon after she vanished,

    only to be seen asionally in lectures.

    The rumors about her grew wilder, with photos of her in luxury cars surfacing and forum insiders spilling

    an abundance of details, making it hard for people to warm up to her.

    ¡°Looks like the CEO of Hartley Group is chatting with Brielle? What could they be talking

    about?¡±

    ¡°Man, scoot a bit closer, see if there¡¯s some shady deal going down.¡±

    The young man had no choice but to inch closer discreetly.

    Brielle was indeed standing with the CEO of Hartley Group, Flynn, who had approached her first. He

    was the epitome of a gentleman, first confirming if she was Max¡¯s plus-one. Upon her affirmative, he

    showered her withpliments.

    Brielle, recalling Dustin¡¯s earlier reveal, figured everyone knew about Max¡¯s rumored indifference to

    romantic pursuits, which exined Flynn¡¯s curiosity about her.

    Their conversation flowed from the final lot, Salvator Mundi, to the works of

    Jacques-Louis David.

    Brielle could tell Flynn was a romantic at heart. He believed in the nobility of failure over sess,

    viewing victory often as a counterfeit or vulgar.

    Brielle lowered her gaze, instantly finding a way in, as his romanticism had a

    philosophical edge.

    1/2

    13:21

    ¡°Philosophy can merge with the business framework. Take Taleb¡¯s books, for instance. They discuss an

    idea called ¡®optionality.¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    She cleverly shifted from personal interests to business, toasting Flynn with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s about having

    options, based on three principles.¡±

    Flynn looked at her approvingly, his eyes soft, ¡°You mean like the ck Swan?¡±

    Brielle nodded, ¡°The Hartley Group has cleverly applied these rules. You¡¯re a visionary

    leader.¡±

    Flynn smiled, casually sipping his wine, ¡°I¡¯m pleased. You must¡¯ve seen my graduation speech when I

    was seventeen.

    He had spoken then about the potential impact of a ck Swan on his corporation; a theory that, when

    broken down into simplenguage, raises the question-

    Who could possibly take down Hartley Group? It was unpredictable.

    The investments apany made could have honlinear returns.

    Thepany should create more options, that is, taking controlled risks for ck Swan-level

    innovations.

    And Brielle had just alluded to optionality and the ck Swan. She was smart, knowing how to whet his

    appetite.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, representing Dorsey International, you¡¯re here for the autonomous store systems, aren¡¯t

    you?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I believe your coboration with Dorsey International will bring about favorable

    ck Swans.¡±

    They both understood that a ck Swan represented the unforeseeable.

    ¡°Mr. Flynn, to wager a controlled cost for a limitless return has always been the essence of Hartley

    Group. Dorsey International offers aprehensive retail technology package. All you need is to open

    it up to third-party tforms. In the future, department stores, bars, restaurants, and more might adopt

    this core self-service system, and Hartley Group¡¯s impable business model could forge a moat that

    nopetitor could cross.¡±

    It was the first time Flynn had met a woman so knowledgeable about a partner¡¯s business. In the

    financial world, women often stood in men¡¯s shadows, but Brielle was different, a cut above as Max¡¯s

    companion.

    Without hesitation, Flynn raised his ss, ¡°Ms. Brielle, you¡¯re quite captivating. I¡¯m looking forward to

    our partnership.¡±

    2/2

 Chapter 64

    Chapter 64

    As the live stream unfolded, the viewers were struck dumb.

    What had they just heard? ck swan events, automated stores, optionality?

    Was Brielle actually negotiating a deal with the CEO? And it wasn¡¯t some shady, under-the-table deal

    either.

    The screen fell eerily silent for a few seconds before someone cautiously offered their thoughts.

    ¡°She¡¯s top of her ss, so she should be doing alright after graduation, right? That¡¯s probably why

    she¡¯s at this kind of fancy dinner.¡±

    ¡°Is it just me, or did she get even prettier? That dress looks amazing on her.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m jealous. How can someone be so confident chatting with Mr. Hartley? And the CEO seems to really

    value her opinions.¡±

    ¡°Some folks in their twenties are discussing partnerships with industry tycoons, while others hide

    behind screens, spreading baseless rumors.¡±

    ¤·

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    The boy streaming the event saw Brielle about to turn around, quickly stashed his phone behind his

    back, and pretended to be just passing by.

    When Brielle and Flynn were discussing the logical rtionships between things, she finally caught

    sight of Max.

    Max was gracefully engaging with the people around him while making his way over. He always

    seemed to carry himself with such elegance, no matter the setting. Though a businessman, he had the

    serenity of a mountain spring ¨C calm, grand, and gentle.

    At only twenty-six, Max was a standout figure, both domestically and in North America.

    Brielle sipped her drink, feigningposure while keeping an eye on him.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, those who fall for Max are surely followers of Convulsionism, don¡¯t you think?¡± Flynn

    asked.

    Convulsionists were fervent believers from the early 18th century who held that certain objective,

    unchanging, and eternal truths existed in the world. It was about nostalgia, fantasy, intoxicating

    dreams, sweet mncholy mixed with bitter sorrow, loneliness, the agony of exile, the sensation of

    being cut off.

    Flynn¡¯s description of women who fell for Max suggested he saw him as a figure perched high above

    the clouds.

    ¡°Mr. Harper, I can¡¯t give you a straight answer about him. Perhaps, in my eyes, he embodies both unity

    and diversity.¡±

    1/2

    13:21

    Chapter 64

    No sooner had she spoken than Max arrived at Flynn¡¯s side. The conversation between the two men

    turned to matters of campus life. Brielle stood quietly, asionally looking up to smile.

    When Flynn mentioned the automated store, Max realized Brielle hadpleted her task.

    Flynn made no secret of his admiration and even shared a cordial toast with Max, ¡°You have a perfect

    companion for the evening.¡±

    Max smiled, and it was clear the two men had a close rtionship, even discussing a girl Flynn had a

    crush on back in the day.

    Behind Brielle, the boy who was still broadcasting finally mustered the courage to approach her.

    ¡°Brielle?¡± he called out softly, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

    The chat had erupted again, with several viewers tantly slinging mud at Brielle. The online crowd

    mored chaotically, many urging him to probe Brielle for the truth.

    Brielle turned around to face a young, unfamiliar face.

    Simon reached out gently, ¡°We went to the same school. Nice to meet you.¡±

    Brielle shook his hand politely.

    Simon didn¡¯t know how to broach the topic, regretting his impulsive greeting. Finally, he closed his eyes

    and blurted out, ¡°You might want to check out the Beaconsfield College forum when you get a chance.

    Someone¡¯s been spreading nasty rumors about you there.¡± Brielle paused, taken aback. She had never

    paid much attention to external opinions, and as for forums or social media, she had even less time to

    browse. These ces were often where news spread the fastest.

    ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll have a look,¡± she said.

    Simon nodded, catching the attention of Max and Flynn, who now looked his way, making him feel a

    sudden rush of nervousness. These two were familiar faces from the financial

    newspapers.

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    Chapter 65

    He quickly tucked his phone behind his back, feeling a cold sweat trickle down his spine. ¡°Well, I won¡¯t

    bother you any longer. With those words, Simon hastily made his exit, sliding into an inconspicuous

    spot before lifting his phone before his face again.

    The chat was still a hot mess, with an overwhelming number of people bashing Brielle. It was as if a

    mob had suddenly stormed in with a vendetta-and for no apparent reason, since Brielle wasn¡¯t even a

    celebrity.

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    On the other side of the screen, Lillian was glued to the live broadcast on her phone, her fingers deftly

    dialing another number. She couldn¡¯t afford to let Brielle¡¯s reputation flip Over the years, Lillian had

    nurtured a rtionship with a professional online brigade Whether it was the forums at Beaconsfield

    College, Dorsey International, or elsewhere, she had her minions entrenched, constantly churning out

    negative press about Brielle

    The strategy had proven effective.

    There¡¯s truth in the old saying: ¡°A lie told often enough bes the truth.¡± When all the chatter about

    someone was negative, people started to take it as gospel.

    Green with envy, Lillian stared at her phone screen, puzzled as to how Brielle had the gall to show up

    at such a high-profile event. Even Spencer hadn¡¯t snagged an invite. What gave Brielle the right?

    Mad with jealousy, she kept funneling money to her online army, urging them to amplify the nder

    against Brielle. As expected, the negativements multiplied, quickly drowning out any positive ones.

    Soon enough, thement section turned into a digital witch-hunt aimed at Brielle.

    Lillian finally breathed a sigh of relief when she saw no one was left defending Brielle. then shot a

    message to Emily.

    [Hey Em, have you been overseastely?]

    [Nope, what¡¯s up?]

    [Someone from the Hatfield n must have attended the auction. I spotted Brielle there and it¡¯s

    bugging me. I asked Spencer, and he didn¡¯t receive an invite either. It¡¯s all very odd, so I thought I¡¯d

    check with you]

    Emily quickly pulled up the news. The auction had been live-streamed by international media, but by

    now, it had wrapped up.

    Brielle at the auction? Impossible!

    Thinking of Brielle¡¯s notorious personal life, Emily¡¯s face twisted in disgust. There were plenty of North

    American yboys who knew how to party, and she must have caught someone¡¯s eye, that shameless

    thing.

    Lillian felt a twinge of unease reading Emily¡¯s message. Simon¡¯s live broadcast had been brief, but Max

    had made an appearance. Considering Brielle¡¯s recent promotion, could it be that she had traveled

    overseas with Max?

    Jealousy nearly consumed her at the thought of Brielle being in the same room as Max. The thought

    was like a wildfire, burning through herposure. Her chest heaved with a mix of anger and

    exasperation as she mulled over the nature of Max and Brielle¡¯s rtionship.

    Max admiring Brielle? As if! Brielle was a bookworm had a pretty face but no clue how to use it, so dull

    and stiff. Even Spencer wouldn¡¯t give the time of day to such a woman-Max certainly wouldn¡¯t be

    impressed.

    She took several deep breaths, too worked up to even think about food. Adjusting her neckline to

    reveal just a bit more, she stormed out of her apartment and headed downstairs.

    Tonight, she was visiting the Haywood residence. Cameron hade home when he heard she was

    stopping by. At this moment, there were only the two of them in the hall. Miranda and Robert had been

    scolded by Faith, and they came over to apologize.

    The engagement between their families had been a decade-long affair, with their businesses

    intertwined at every level.

    If the engagement were to be broken off, and Ryan took all his clients with him, the Haywood family

    would find themselves in a very awkward position.

    Lillian couldn¡¯t care less about that. As long as she couldnd Spencer, she¡¯d be stepping through the

    doors of the Dorsey family.

    Brielle, that lousy woman, belonged in the gutter.

 Chapter 66

    Chapter 66

    The Haywood residence was a beacon of light in the quiet of Beaconsfield, with Cameron lounging on

    the plush sofa, poring over some documents. He sensed Lillian¡¯s descent down the grand staircase

    and set the paperwork aside.

    With her lips pursed, Lillian rubbed her eyes, the embodiment of distress.

    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Cameron, has the mess been sorted out yet?¡± she asked tentatively. She was referring to the scandal

    where Faith had boldly called off her engagement, a move that had left the Haywoods red-faced with

    embarrassment.

    But what could be done? The Haywoods, though a respectable name in the top ten of Beaconsfield¡¯s

    elite, owed much of their social standing to the favor of the Dorseys. Without the Dorsey influence, the

    Haywoods were merely wealthy, nothing more.

    Lillian perched carefully on the edge of the sofa, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. ¡°Bri was

    probably just spouting nonsense the other day. If Faith really does call off the engagement, will the

    Haywoods¡­¡±

    Cameron¡¯s gaze drifted to the expanse of skin on her neck, feeling a sudden dryness in his throat. He

    averted his eyes and adjusted her cor for her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Even if the engagement is off,

    the Haywoods won¡¯t crumble,¡± he reassured her.

    ¡°Cameron, did you keep up with today¡¯s auction?¡± Lillian inquired, switching topics.

    He nodded. He¡¯d heard about it, but such events were beyond the Haywoods¡¯ social reach. ¡°Bri was

    there, but I don¡¯t know who she went with. I¡¯m always concerned she might fall in with the wrong

    crowd,¡± Lillian confessed.

    Cameron¡¯s brow furrowed at the mention of Brielle. ¡°She¡¯s the one who¡¯s been acting irresponsibly!¡±

    ¡°Cameron, don¡¯t get mad. Maybe I¡¯m misjudging her. Why don¡¯t you talk to her when she gets back? Bri

    is still upset with me. I¡¯m too afraid to call her.¡±

    ¡°Lillian, the Haywoods regard you as their own daughter. You¡¯re no less than her. You don¡¯t have to

    belittle yourself like this.¡±

    She leaned back into the sofa, an action that once again exposed her cor. Lillian was nurtured by the

    Haywoods into a woman of fineplexion. While her features were merely pleasant, her vulnerable

    charm could soften any man¡¯s heart.

    Cameron, already fond of her, couldn¡¯t resist pulling her into his embrace upon witnessing such

    vulnerability.

    Lillian struggled feebly in his arms, ¡°Cameron, let me go. I can¡¯t give you a definite answer just yet. This

    isn¡¯t right,¡± she whispered, her voice soft and deliberately coy.

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    Cameron¡¯s breath deepened, and he pinned her gently to the sofa. ¡°Lillian, I¡¯ll wait as long as it takes

    for you.¡±

    Tears began anew, as if she bore the weight of the world¡¯s sorrow. Her tear-streaked face softened

    Cameron¡¯s intentions, and he gently lifted her up,forting her with his closeness.

    Lillian sniffled, ¡°I¡¯m still worried about Bri. She won¡¯t see me now. If you can, please talk to her.¡±

    Mentioning Brielle scattered Cameron¡¯s good mood. Because of her, the Haywoods were unjustly

    embroiled in a mess. Now their parents were groveling to Faith, and who knew what they were

    enduring.

    However, he couldn¡¯t deny Lillian¡¯s request, and he agreed despite the bitter taste in his mouth.

    Lillian had achieved her aim but remained uneasy. She didn¡¯t know how Brielle managed to attend the

    dinner. If Max had taken her, Lillian was determined to ruin Brielle in Max¡¯s eyes. She had manipted

    Spencer and Cameron, and she was confident she could do the same with Max.

    And if Max became enamored with her¡­ The mere thought made Lillian weak at the knees.

    Meanwhile, across the globe, a g had just concluded.

    The media, camped at the entrance, were eager to capture the cr¨¨me de cr¨¨me of society. Only a

    few young executives were willing to face the cameras; the rest departed discreetly. Even so, the

    media would specte wildly about the departing guests, ensuring headlines across North America the

    next day.

    Brielle entered Max¡¯s car, but the atmosphere was cold as ice, seemingly crushing her with its weight.

    That frosty air emanated from Andrew, who regarded her with icy scrutiny.

    Brielle instinctively moved closer to Max, a cold sweat breaking out on her back. Andrew sneered,

    stretching out his legs and crossing them with thezy menace of a panther.

    ¡°First Dustin, now Flynn. Brielle, your ambitions are quite lofty, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    Andrew had returned to the hall after finishing some paperwork, only to witness Brielle and Harper

    chatting amiably.

    Brielle frowned, realizing Andrew always harbored hostility towards her. Resigned to this, she boldly

    reached for Max¡¯s slender fingers and caressed the palm of his hand.

    Andrew¡¯s face darkened, his eyes narrowing.

    A wave of relief washed through Brielle as she straightened her fingers and slipped them through

    Max¡¯s, a tingling sensation spreading through their intertwined hands.

    212

 Chapter 67

    Chapter 67

    Max lowered his head towards theptop, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the keys. Even in the

    confines of a luxury car, he was still engaged in a video conference with the executives back home.

    Noticing Brielle¡¯s movement, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he whispered, ¡°Quiet down, will you?¡±

    He had already muted the microphone on his end. He could hear the corporate bigwigs¡¯ reports, but

    they couldn¡¯t catch a peep from his side.

    Brielle¡¯s heart felt like it had been struck by something, regretting her impulsiveness. She tried to

    stealthily withdraw her hand, but he caught it and pressed it against the leather

    seat.

    ¨C

    There was warmth on one side, coolness on the other this extreme intimacy brewing in the dim light.

    Her remaining rationale was nearly exhausted.

    Worried that her own heartbeat would betray her, she quickly propped her head up with one hand and

    pretended to gaze out the window. The fleeting lights cast alternating shadows on her face.

    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Andrew, watching the scene unfold, was incredibly peeved, his brow furrowing enough to crush a fly.

    After a moment, his face contorted indescribably, ¡°Brielle, have you no shame?¡±

    Interrupting Max¡¯s video meeting with her antics, it was clear how slutty she could be in

    private.

    ¡°If I cared about shame, I probably wouldn¡¯t have ended up with Uncle Max.¡±

    Andrew found himself at a loss for words for the first time, his face cycling through various shades

    before he finally pulled back, deciding to drop it.

    After all, Max hadn¡¯t said a word, clearly indulging her.

    Andrew sulked for a while before feeling unbearably stifled. ¡°Max, how about we hit up The Sky Lounge

    tonight?¡±

    The g had attracted a who¡¯s who of the wealthy, and surely many would be heading to The Sky

    Lounge afterwards.

    Compared to Tequ Sunset, The Sky Lounge was an even more exclusive spot. Perched at the very

    top of the skyscraper, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows, one could look down and trample the

    city¡¯s glitz underfoot. If it were a snowy winter¡¯s night, the view was even more breathtaking. The

    ethereal beauty of the snowkes melding with the city¡¯s golden opulence was a dreamlike vista few

    could ever hope to touch.

    Dustin¡¯s infamy in the North American elite circles stemmed from the thrill-seeking month

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    15.30

    Chapter 67

    he booked The Sky Lounge for, night after night. In a media interview, he mentioned the thrill of

    pressing a woman against the ss, conquering not just her, but the city itself. Thanks to his antics,

    The Sky Lounge¡¯s profits doubled that year. It was onlyter revealed that The Sky Lounge was, in fact,

    one of Dustin¡¯s many private assets.

    ¡°Not tonight, I¡¯ve got another meetingter,¡± Max replied nonchntly, as if the glitz and mour

    couldn¡¯t catch his eye.

    Brielle adored this dismissive air of his the more austere and aloof he was, the more she longed to see

    him in disarray, with reddened eyes and fierce determination.

    Eventually, Andrew went off to The Sky Lounge alone, while Brielle apanied Max back to the

    estate.

    Max was indeed busy. After Brielle had taken her bath, she could hear him downstairs instructing

    Patrick to book flights.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, Mr. Hatfield wishes to meet. They¡¯ve booked a room at The Sky Lounge.¡±

    Max frowned, closing the folder in his hand, ¡°Tell the core team to handle negotiations with Flynn. We

    fly back home first thing tomorrow. Push back the Hatfield Inc. matters, and tell group three to resume

    the meeting in twenty minutes.¡±

    He removed his Bluetooth earpiece and rubbed his temples with slender fingers. ¡°By the way, tell the

    old man that the bidding was sessful to put his mind at ease.¡±

    Patrick meticulously organized the itinerary on his nner and added, ¡°Ms. Alivia heard you¡¯re abroad

    and would like to see you tomorrow morning, said she has something to deliver personally.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t have time for that.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Lynch just sent a message, asking if Ms. Lucinda would drop by The Sky Lounge, he¡¯s set up a

    betting pool. Uh, I¡¯m not sure if he got the wrong person. We don¡¯t have a Ms. Lucinda here.¡±

    Patrick hesitated slightly at the mention of Ms. Lucinda.

    A shadow deepened in Max¡¯s eyes as he idly twirled a pen, ¡°Tell him Ms. Lucinda was let go by Dorsey

    International.¡±

    212

 Chapter 68

    Chapter 68

    Patrick didn¡¯t join the inner circle at the auction, unaware of the reasons behind the scenes. He thought

    Dustin was on the prowl for a Dorsey International employee, so when he heard Max¡¯s message, he

    didn¡¯t hesitate to shoot back a reply.

    Dustin was sipping a ss of red wine when he received the message.

    The casino tables around him were crowded, filled with the scent of perfume and the clinking of

    sses, as the banquet had spilled over into this space. The city¡¯s nightscape stretched out beyond the

    huge floor-to-ceiling windows.

    Several women stood not too far away, gazing dreamily in his direction, but Dustin paid them no mind,

    his attention fixed on the message from Patrick.

    He, a man who flirted his way through social circles, and Max, the untouchable elite, were worlds apart.

    After the scandal involving Max broke out, Dustin had always found the man to be a bit pretentious.

    In the high-stakes financial world, men forever dominated the scene. Many daughters from venerable

    families were raised as prey from the start. They were unlike ordinary girls, boasting top-notch

    educations and glittering backgrounds, but in their parents¡¯ eyes, they were still just prey, and the elite

    men at the center of this circle were the hunters.

    It was a grand seduction, prettily termed as ¡®strategic alliances¡¯ by the outside world.

    To Dustin, Max¡¯s disinterest in women was exceedingly odd.

    Dustin, propping his cheek with one hand, scoffed and wrapped an arm around a bunny girl next to

    him, exchanging a few yful words before dropping the subject. He figured it¡¯d be the same when he

    met that woman in Australia.

    Meanwhile, Max¡¯s meeting dragged on until three in the morning. Loosening his tie as he headed

    upstairs, he was greeted by a faint scent upon flicking on the room lights.

    Was that scented candles?

    A slight bulge on the bed indicated a presence, and a woman¡¯s dark hair spread across the pillow,

    making her skin look exceptionally enticing.

    She must have found the light too harsh, for her eyshes fluttered, and she turned over. The silk

    comforter slipped slightly, revealing shoulders as delicate as a crescent moon.

    Max stood by the door, dimming the overhead lights and leaving only the bedsidemp on. He hadn¡¯t

    expected her to be asleep in his room, let alone that she had lit scented candles.

    He shed his suit jacket and took a shower. Coming out, he found her awake, slightly dazed, clutching

    theforter and looking up at him with a faint gaze. Her hair was a tousled halo in the soft light.

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    Chapter 68

    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Max¡¯s breath hitched, and he strode over, capturing her lips with his own.

    Brielle thought she was dreaming again, one of those sensual, paralyzing dreams.

    Their breaths mingled in the rising heat. By the end, she almost wanted to plead for mercy, but her

    mouth was sealed by his.

    Sweat dampened the hair at her forehead, her eyes misty. Max looked down at her, gently tucking a

    strand of hair behind her ear, ¡°Tired?¡±

    His voice was rich and mellow, like snow in a volcano, gently melting away.

    Brielle lifted her eyelidszily and hummed in response. It was a purr, cat-like, scratching at Max¡¯s

    heart with an inexplicable itch. He frowned slightly, baffled by his own emotions. The result was that

    Brielle had no strength the next morning and slept the entire flight.

    Beaconsfield was entering autumn, and she wrapped her neck with a silk scarf to cover any marks.

    Max was fond of her body. He didn¡¯t say it, but Brielle felt it. He was also particrly fond of her lips,

    especially her Cupid¡¯s bow.

    Standing in front of the airport restroom mirror, Brielle touched her lips.

    When they arrived, she told him to go ahead, staying back under the pretext of waiting for Aubree. It

    was just an excuse, a moment for her to gather herposure.

    Max was too sophisticated with his moves, perhaps unintentionally so, but always enough to leave one

    restless. This wasn¡¯t the oue she wanted.

    Brielle took a deep breath and sshed her face with cold water, cooling her flushed

    cheeks.

 Chapter 69

    Chapter 69

    Aubree arrived promptly, driving a sleek Maserati.

    Brielle, trying to hide her nervousness, casually adjusted the scarf around her neck and slid into the

    passenger seat. As she settled in, her spine stiffened ufortably, and the temperature she had

    managed to cool within herself began to rise again.

    ¡°Bri, did you hear about the scene Faith made over at the Haywood estate?¡± Aubree asked, pressing

    the gas pedal with a bit of frustration.

    Brielle sat up straight, trying to expel the thoughts of Max from her mind. ¡°Yeah, I ignored their calls.

    How did it end up?¡±

    Aubree couldn¡¯t suppress a grin. ¡°Your folks paid them a visit to apologize, but you know Faith, she¡¯s

    relentless. She used you of being a flirt and made a huge fuss about ending the engagement,

    iming you cheated on her son. In the end, I think it was Ryan who stepped in.¡±

    ¡°Ryan?¡±

    ¡°Mhm, Ryan calmed Faith down. So, the engagement¡¯s still on.¡±

    Brielle pursed her lips. Ryan had just been let go from Dorsey International, and his reluctance to break

    off the engagement was likely to avoid catching Michael¡¯s attention. Despite announcing his retirement,

    Michael still held absolute sway over the Dorsey n. And Brielle didn¡¯t want to draw his scrutiny either.

    ¡°Bri, if Michael gets involved, I¡¯m worried your situation will be really awkward. He turns a blind

    eye to the other Dorsey men¡¯s escapades, but not with Max, his golden boy. He can¡¯t have a blemish

    on his record, you get me?¡±

    Fooling around with Max in secret was one thing as long as it didn¡¯t reach the old man¡¯s ears, but

    having any other designs would be a disaster. If it came to that, no one in the Dorsey family would

    stand by her side, not even Max.

    Brielle understood this all too well, which was why she always kept a tight rein on her emotions. Falling

    for Max would mean never getting back up again.

    She leaned back, intending to close her eyes and rest for a moment when suddenly the car lurched

    forward. The sudden force startled them both.

    ¡°Screech!¡±

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    The brakes were mmed, leaving a dark streak on the pavement. Around them, the hustle and bustle

    continued, while the Maserati¡¯s rear was slightly dented.

    The car that hit them stopped, and out came Cameron and Lillian. Lillian seemed shaken, clinging to

    Cameron¡¯s arm in the aftermath. Cameron soothed her while nked by a secretary. He looked up and

    saw Brielle, a sh of disgust crossing his face. ¡°What kind

    15:30

    Chapter 69

    of driving is this?¡±

    Lillian, standing next to him, appeared surprisingly thrilled but restrained herself as if worried about

    provoking Brielle¡¯s disdain.

    Brielle felt like this was a stroke of bad luck, getting rear-ended by them of all people. ¡°The car¡¯s

    Aubree¡¯s, and you¡¯re fully responsible for the fender bender. Just deal with the insurancepany

    directly.¡±

    Cameron didn¡¯t want to engage with her, but her aloof demeanor irked him. ¡°Do you have any idea how

    much trouble you¡¯ve caused the family?¡±

    Lillian gently tugged at his sleeve, whispering, ¡°Cameron, don¡¯t be mad. Bri probably hasn¡¯t gotten the

    message yet. She was abroad, you know, with the time difference.¡±

    Her words only reminded Cameron of Brielle¡¯s deliberate non-responsiveness. Countless unanswered

    calls and texts fueled his irritation. ¡°There¡¯s a family meeting tonight. Mom and Dad want to talk to you.

    Stop being so headstrong.¡±

    By now, Aubree had hung up with the insurancepany and was irate at seeing Cameron babying

    Lillian. ¡°Cameron, who¡¯s your real sister here? Did you see at the million-dor bracelet you bought

    Lillian? Your family has no shame, treating Bri like a pawn in a marriage deal. Spencer and Lillian have

    been fucking each other like crazy, and you still treat her like a treasure.¡±

    Cameron¡¯s face turned stormy, his gaze as chilling as a crypt. ¡°Aubree, I¡¯ve known Lillian

    for

    years, and I know what kind of person she is. As for the little affair between you and Andrew, don¡¯t think

    no one knows about it.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s expression faltered, confused about how he knew.

    Lillian¡¯s eyes sparkled maliciously upon hearing this. Aubree and Andrew? Weren¡¯t they siblings?

    Concerned that Lillian might stir up trouble, Brielle quickly interrupted. ¡°Please tell mom and dad I¡¯m

    swamped with work and can¡¯t make it.¡±

    ¡°Grandpa said he wants to see you. You wouldn¡¯t want to disturb his peace in his twilight years over

    your issues, would you?¡±

    Brielle felt a sharp pain in her chest, freezing on the spot, unable to respond.

    Aubree was furious. Brielle¡¯s grandpa had been diagnosed with dementia two years ago, and aside

    from Brielle¡¯s regr visits to the nursing home, the rest of the Haywood family barely paid any

    attention. Now they were using an old man to manipte Brielle-it was utterly despicable.

 Chapter 70

    Chapter 70

    Brielle locked eyes with Cameron, her gaze unwavering. ¡°Really, Cameron? You¡¯re ying the grandpa

    card? Did you forget he¡¯s your grandpa too? He¡¯s been nothing but good to you. Is this how you repay

    him?¡±

    She had fond memories of her grandpa Julian because, when the Haywood family wanted to formally

    acknowledge Lillian as their goddaughter, it was her grandpa who stepped in to stop it, believing it was

    unfair to Brielle.

    But Julian had long since relinquished his authority, and with his dementia worsening year by year, he

    didn¡¯t have any inheritance to speak of. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been exiled to a nursing home by

    the Haywood family.

    Cameron¡¯s eyes were stormy as he red at Brielle, his anger and disgust not even slightly concealed.

    ¡°Do you think I want to bring this up in front of Grandpa? I¡¯m just reminding you, once this whole thing

    blows up, someone is bound to run their mouth to him. You know how much he cares for you. If he

    suffers because of you, you¡¯ll never live it down.¡±

    The weight of that usation was almost too much for Brielle to bear. She turned her icy gaze to

    Lillian, who was smugly watching the scene unfold, and her lips curled into a frosty smirk. ¡°So, it¡¯s all

    about that engagement with Spencer, huh? If he¡¯s not keen on calling it off, then I won¡¯t stir the pot. But

    I must say, I didn¡¯t realize he cared so much about me. Seems like hooking up with him isn¡¯t much of a

    feat. The real skill is in capturing his heart.¡±

    Lillian was seething, barely able to maintain herposure. Her hand was entwined with Cameron¡¯s,

    and in a moment of frustration, she squeezed a bit too hard, causing him pain. Cameron turned to her,

    misconstruing her grip as fear of Brielle. ¡°Lillian?¡±

    Lillian was afraid that a few more barbs from Brielle would make her lose control. She quickly

    intervened. ¡°Cameron, don¡¯t you have a meeting to attend? Don¡¯t bete. Bri¡¯s an adult. She can figure

    this out on her own.¡±

    Cameron nodded, impressed by her maturity. He looked at Brielle. ¡°I can¡¯t tell who¡¯s the real Haywood

    daughter. If you had half of Lillian¡¯s sense, Mom and Dad wouldn¡¯t be embarrassed by you at their

    age.¡±

    Brielleughed, her eyes dancing with a provocative light. ¡°You should be thankful she isn¡¯t really a

    Haywood. Otherwise, you two dating would be quite the scandal.¡±

    Her words struck a nerve with both Cameron and Lillian.

    Brielle pulled Aubree into the car, calmly buckling her seatbelt. Aubree nced in the rearview mirror,

    itching to reverse and smash the front bumper of that luxury sedan. ¡°Lillian¡¯s got game, fuckinh

    Spencer while keeping your brother on a tight leash. I wonder

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    Chapter

    if there are others in the circle who have been enchanted by her in the same way.¡±

    Brielle closed her eyes, exhausted from a night of being tossed and turned by Max, and now her legs

    were still weak. This new scare only added to her frustration.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    ¡°There might be,¡± she admitted.

    Aubree hit the gas. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem too cold today, yet you¡¯re all wrapped up in that scarf. You must

    have had quite the night.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s cheeks flushed, knowing she couldn¡¯t hide it from Aubree.

    Aubree pulled up to Brielle¡¯s apartment, yfully tugged the scarf down, revealing a patchwork of

    marks on her delicate neck-shades of pink and rose, testimony to how much a certain man adored her

    skin.

    Aubree whistled lowly, muttering an impressed ¡°damn,¡± then cupped her hand like a microphone and

    held it to Brielle¡¯s mouth. ¡°On behalf of all the otherdies, tell me, what¡¯s it like to sleep with Max? Is

    he as good as he looks? Is his voice as sexy in bed?¡±

    Brielle was backed into a corner but Aubree caught her wrist and pulled her back. ¡°Spill it. You have to

    tell me. Do you know what I think about every time I see Max?¡±

    Brielle shook her head, noting Aubree¡¯s curious expression. ¡°I wonder what it¡¯s like to kiss those thin

    lips of his.¡±

    212

    15:30

 Chapter 71

    Chapter 71

    Brielle shoved her head away in exasperation, flinging open the car door and stepping out. ¡°That¡¯s

    enough, really.¡±

    Aubree handed her scarf back, ¡°I¡¯m just telling it like it is. The guy¡¯s so distant, barely talks, and it¡¯s

    hard to imagine him wanting to leave all those marks on a woman¡¯s skin. It¡¯s like he¡¯s not worried at all

    about your affairing to light, you know?¡±

    As Brielle wrapped the scarf around her neck, she pondered the question. Indeed, since she started

    sleeping with Max, he¡¯d never made any effort to hide their rtionship. Was he truly fearless, or just

    didn¡¯t care?

    Aubree stepped up to her, a trace of seriousness in her eyes, ¡°Look, fun is fun, but knowingly diving

    into an abyss? That¡¯s not you, Bri. You¡¯re not like me. I fell for Andrew, and I can¡¯t get back up.¡±

    Just mentioning Andrew¡¯s name seemed to steal Aubree¡¯s breath. ¡°Don¡¯t fall for the wrong person.¡±

    That was her advice.

    Brielle didn¡¯t know what to say; she instinctively wanted to dodge the topic. Everyone knew that falling

    for Max was like a moth to a me¨Cyou could easily get burned to ashes by his allure. And yet, some

    people seemed to court destruction, flirting with death.

    There were countless such moths, so the question was: were the moths too foolish, or was the me

    too bright?

    They entered the apartment, and Aubree slumped into the sofa like she had no bones.

    Thedies of the Beaconsfield social circles had their own little group chats, and now the chatter was

    all about Andrew¡¯s watch purchase.

    Everyone thought Andrew bought it for Tessa, as he gave all his true feelings to that person.

    Aubree pulled out a cigarette, lit it with a practiced flick of her lighter, and took a deep drag. After

    blowing a perfect smoke ring, she touched the scar on her neck. It was a three¨Ccentimeter¨Clong mark.

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°You know I told you I got this scar from falling, right?¡± she said with a chuckle.

    Brielle hung up her coat and grabbed a drink from the fridge, ¡°Yeah, wasn¡¯t that it?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. It happened when I was eighteen, after I drunkenly confessed to Andrew. I didn¡¯t think

    to much. I figured after all those years he knew me, he must have loved me. Bad luck that night, I

    stumbled upon Andrew confessing to Tessa in the Clements family¡¯s backyard. He got rejected

    outright.¡±

    Aubree seemed to relive the scene as she took the cigarette from her mouth. ¡°I never expected to

    witness that. For all the arrogance Andrew showed every day, he too could be rejected. I feared he was

    heartbroken, so foolishly, I ran over to him, dering my love, suggesting we could be together.

    Andrew was still holding the rejected gift. For the first time, I saw embarrassment and anger in his

    eyes. He threw the carefully wrapped present at me, and the sharp metal edge shed my neck like

    this.¡±

    Her voice was calm as she touched the scar. ¡°That night, he still came to my room, and I didn¡¯t turn him

    away. He could hurt me, then just crook his finger, and I¡¯d forgive him. That¡¯s love for you¨Csomeone¡¯s

    always got to be the fool. But Bri, I don¡¯t want that person to be you.¡±

    Max was hardly an improvement over Andrew. At least Andrew had a heart, even if it wasn¡¯t for her. But

    Max? Did he even have a heart to give?

    He didn¡¯t even have genuine feelings, elusive like winter snow. You thought you had caught it, but once

    the temperature rose, it disappeared without a trace.

 Chapter 72

    Chapter 72

    Love not only brought bitterness but also pain. It made one lose oneself, be weak, and never be

    able to harden their heart again.

    ¡°Crack.¡± Brielle popped open a can tab, cing a Coke in front of her.

    Aubree stubbed out her cigarette, unable to resist taking severalrge gulps, ¡°Besides, the Dorsey

    family has Michael keeping watch.¡±

    Aubree seemed especially concerned that Brielle would lose her head, especially since she¡¯d already

    taken a fall for Spencer.

    But Spencer, what was he anyway? Nothing but a rain puddle, easily filled and forgotten.

    Aubree was about to add more when she noticed Brielle had already piled up a bunch of files, seriously

    sorting through work documents. Her genuine concern seemedughably out of ce at this sight, but

    then she thought again and couldn¡¯t help but give a thumbs up.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°There you go! That¡¯s the spirit. Keep it up. You got an orgasm and you got a promotion to boot. Hell,

    I¡¯d have taken a few more nights with him myself.¡±

    Brielle found it amusing, but the thought of the watch Andrew had snapped up made her smile fade

    slightly. She knew how much Aubree was hurting. After pining for Andrew for so many years, her heart

    must have bruised.

    Aubree stood up, casually cing a gift box on the table. ¡°Someone¡¯s just finished delivering a gift to

    their sweetheart and must be feeling lonely. I¡¯ve got to go.¡± Her tone was indifferent as if it didn¡¯t matter

    at all. ¡°This is my apology gift to you, I shouldn¡¯t have kept Andrew¡¯s thing from you, and congrats on

    the promotion, take

    it.¡±

    Brielle was about to refuse when she caught a look from Aubree.

    ¡°After all, if someone¡¯s willing to give a multimillion¨Cdor watch, why would they care about a little

    cash?¡± She spoke nonchntly, but Brielle still detected a deep, hidden self¨Cloathing. Once Aubree

    had left, she opened the gift box. It was a practical ne, perfect for everyday wear. After a

    moment¡¯s thought, she carefully ced the ne in the drawer. Returning to herputer desk,

    she saw new emails, mostly from her department. After dealing with a few, she leaned back on the

    couch, feeling waves of darkness before her eyes.

    ??? ?? ?? ?? ????

    Aubree¡¯s words were hard to ignore, and she was aware she was losing control. She had to do

    something to distract herself.

    Her mind shed to the boy she¡¯d seen at the banquet who had mentioned the Beaconsfield College

    forum. Brielle took a deep breath and btedly clicked on the Beaconsfield College forum. Most of the

    posts were

    about her.

    Three years after graduation, and four years in college, yet the first posts to defame her dated back

    seven years. For seven years, the nder about her had never stopped.

    Brielle didn¡¯t have to think hard to know whose handiwork it was. Lillian was an expert at this, leaving

    herself spotless, the picture of innocence

    Brielle felt sick just remembering how she had doted on Lillian like a sister, too afraid of crushing her

    self¨Cesteem to tell anyone Lillian wasn¡¯t really the Haywood family¡¯s daughter.

    Brielle put down the mouse, also recalling how she had been sent to learn Taekwondo because Lillian

    was so delicate and easily bullied, Miranda had said¨CLillian is frail and an easy target, you learn

    Taekwondo, and you can protect her alongside your brother.

    Brielle agreed, feeling responsible for Lillian¡¯s future since she had brought her from the orphanage.

    However,

    15:06

    Chapter 72

    while she was sweating in the dojo, Lillian was smartly climbing into Spencer¡¯s bed.

    She couldn¡¯t afford to dwell on these thoughts; they were too upsetting. At least she had stopped

    obsessing over Max and was now nning how to deal with Lillian.

    To defeat someone, you have to destroy what they cherish most. Lillian cared about money, status, and

    men. But Brielle cared for none of these. She only wanted her career.

    Especially after that auction, she yearned to stand at the pinnacle and look down. She and Lillian were

    not on the same path.

 Chapter 73

    Chapter 73

    On the other side, Lillian had been restless since she got into the car, fidgeting with the hem of her

    shirt, looking like she was bursting with something to say.

    Cameron couldn¡¯t resist her troubled look and gently prodded, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    With a bitten lip, Lillian voiced her nagging question, ¡°Cameron, what did you mean about Aubree and

    Andrew?¡± Curiosity was killing her. If it was really as she thought, then what right did Aubree, the

    woman who hooked up with her own brother, have to boast in front of her? Lillian was determined to

    spread the word, to have the prestigious Clements family drag Aubree back for a grilling.

    A sneer flickered in Lillian¡¯s eyes as she thought of Aubree ¨C another so¨Ccalled debutante who, behind

    closed doors, was nothing but a slut. Just like Brielle, that shameless woman who¡¯d throw herself at

    any man.

    Her heart zed with triumph, feeling like she already had them under her heel.

    ¡°Cameron, I¡¯m just curious, please tell me?¡± Her voice softened, her fingers lightly tugging at

    Cameron¡¯s sleeve.

    Cameron caved, as expected. ¡°It was something I stumbled upon by chance. I was staying at a hotel

    on a business trip and happened to see them there.¡±

    ¡°But that doesn¡¯t necessarily mean they have that kind of rtionship, right?¡± Lillian was a bit let down,

    hoping for more concrete evidence.

    ¨C

    Cameron lifted his hand to stroke her head, thinking she just wanted to hear some juicy gossip. ¡°It¡¯s

    more than that. They booked a single room for the night two adults in their twenties, sharing a room.

    Does that sound reasonable to you? Andrew isn¡¯t short on cash, and Aubree, being a foster daughter

    with no blood ties to him, shared a room with him. I hardly think their rtionship is innocent.¡±

    A gleam appeared in Lillian¡¯s eyes, her lips curling into a slow smile. But this alone wasn¡¯t enough ¨C

    she needed more damning evidence. She wanted to drag Brielle¡¯s reputation through the mud and get

    rid of Aubree, who always seemed to cause her trouble.

    ¡°Cameron, you should talk to Bri. These kind of friendships can lead one astray easily.¡±

    A mocking light flickered in Cameron¡¯s eyes. Birds of a feather flock together, no wonder Brielle had

    be so unruly.

    Lillian looked down and sent a message to her usual contacts. [Hire a private investigator to dig into

    Andrew and Aubree. I suspect an affair, and this could be a big scoop for you. Don¡¯t worry. The pay will

    be generous.]

    This team had been in her pocket for years, always eager to please her. So, upon receiving the

    message, they immediately set two private detectives on the task. This wasn¡¯t nearly enough. To marry

    into the prestigious Dorsey family, she needed to expedite Spencer breaking off his engagement with

    Brielle. Or better yet, make Brielle disappearpletely.

    Lillian looked up Emily¡¯s number and shot her a message. [Hey sweetie, I just heard that Brielle¡¯s

    getting into that auction somehow tied to Max.]

    Emily actually didn¡¯t hold much status in the Hatfield family, but she was never short of money and was

    the quintessential na?ve rich girl.

    Emily¡¯s willingness to go to Dorsey/International stemmed from Lillian¡¯s maniptions and her own

    crush on Max. Even a distant glimpse of him was enough to send her into daydreams. The thought of

    her least favorite woman trying to snag her secret crush was intolerable.

    Emily¡¯s pupils shrank when she saw the message, and she stood up abruptly from her desk.

    Impossible! Brielle was still engaged, and how dare she shamelessly flirt with Max!

    Lillian followed up with a video, clipped to mislead. It showed Max talking andughing with Brielle..

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    Chapter 73

    Emily took the bait, flooding Lillian with angry messages cursing Brielle.

    [I¡¯ll get rid of her one day! I had no idea she harbored such intentions!]

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    [How dare she! I¡¯ll tell Alivia about this, but before that, I¡¯ll teach Brielle a lesson she won¡¯t forget.]

    Lillian smirked as she turned off her phone. All she had to do now was wait for Emily to make her

    move. Indeed, a woman¡¯s hatred could be the most terrifying force in the world.

 Chapter 74

    Chapter 74

    The next morning, Brielle had barely stepped into the department when she felt a re so intense it

    could bore holes. She turned and caught sight of Emily, lurking in a corner. Emily¡¯s lips were pursed,

    her hands clenched around her cell phone as if it were a lifeline.

    Initially, Brielle thought she was imagining things until lunch break, when Patrick sauntered onto her

    floor, and that feeling of being watched intensified.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle,¡± Patrick began, ¡°Dorsey International will be coborating with Hartley Group, and Mr.

    Flynn might drop by in person. He specifically requested to meet with you and hopes you¡¯ll join him for

    the asion.¡±

    ncing at her nner, Brielle noted her schedule was jam¨Cpacked. Without a manager promotion

    yet, she was bogged down with all the minutiae.

    ¡°When¡¯s the date?¡±

    ¡°In a month¡¯s time. Mr. Flynn had a message for you.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the message?¡±

    Surprised, Brielle hadn¡¯t expected Flynn to remember someone as minor as her.

    ¡°He¡¯s intrigued by your three principles of cognition and hopes to discuss certain ethical perspectives

    with you next time.¡±

    A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. How should one live their life? Was the pursuit of

    happiness more justifiable than upholding duty? Was goodness an external trait one can intuitively

    feel?

    If it were Flynn, he would probably genuinely engage in such discussions.

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll be there.¡±

    Patrick nodded and flipped through his schedule. ¡°The president will be out of Beaconsfield for the next

    three days. If you need anything, Ms. Brielle, feel free to reach out to me.¡±

    That was as good as openly sharing Max¡¯s private itinerary. The pen in Brielle¡¯s fingers paused, the ink

    blotting the paper thickly.

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Three days. Hearing this, a twinge of disappointment flickered through her. She lowered her gaze and

    reined in her thoughts.

    She worked overtime until 10 pm before leaving Dorsey International. The building was still brightly lit,

    casting reflections on the giant ss screens amidst the myriad lights of the cityscape.

    Suddenly, Brielle felt an overwhelming sense of solitude. In this concrete jungle, even the nightcked

    warmth.

    She tightened her scarf around her neck and sneezed as a cold breeze hit her. Footsteps approached

    from behind. At this hour, many were still burning the midnight oil.

    A chill swept over her, quickly reced by warmth as a ck suit jacket was draped over her

    shoulders. Startled, she turned to see Max.

    He was on a call, gesturing to her while speaking to someone on the other end, then walked out with

    Patrick in tow. His strides were long, and in no time, he was a dozen meters ahead, his silhouette

    elongated by the lights outside the ss canopy.

    Brielle stood in the shadow of that silhouette.

    ¡°Stocks represent free cash flow, and the financial metrics are unclear,¡± his voice trailed off into the

    distance.

    Brielle felt rooted to the spot, unable to move.

    Motion and stillness, light and shadow, it was all emblematic of their rtionship. Max probably never

    felt

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    15.07

    Chapter 74

    loneliness; he moved through life with effortless grace. Just like now, casually draping a jacket over her

    shoulders without a second thought. His steps never faltered as he signaled to Patrick to take note of

    the meeting details.

    To him, it was a mere flick of the wrist. To her, it was a breathtaking moment.

    Brielle looked down and gently tugged at the fabric of the suit. It was smooth, clearly high quality..

    She stood there for ages, until her legs began to tingle, before finally moving.

    Nearby, Emily watched through thick¨Cframed sses, seething at the scene. She couldn¡¯t believe Max

    would ever drape his jacket over a woman. He was above such mundane affairs. Yet, in that moment,

    Emily felt as if he had fallen from his pedestal. This realization fueled her jealousy to the brink of

    madness.

    Her chest heaved with rage, her teeth clenched so tightly she could taste blood.

    Why?

    Fuming, Emily made a phone call. She wanted to ruin Brielle¡¯s reputation, to make sure Brielle could no

    longer deceive people with that face. And she wanted Max to know how despicable this woman was at

    heart.

 Chapter 75

    Chapter 75

    Brielle slipped out of her office, the sleek tailored zer draped over her arm. Her car had

    inconveniently hit warranty just days ago and was towed to the dealership for the fourth time. Without

    her usual ride, she was relegated to hailing cabs for hermute.

    She hailed a cab, and as she bent to get in, she was concerned about the zer getting dirty.

    Therefore, she took it off, neatly folded it, and ced it on herp before entering. As the cab

    approached her apartmentplex, a ce chosen more for its price than its neighborhood, she

    handed the driver his fare and stepped out onto the curb.

    The area was a cultural mishmash, a stark contrast to the polished corporate world she navigated daily.

    Public housing units crowded around her building, and the streets were a melting pot of characters.

    A group of young men loitered by the entrance, each with a cigarette in hand, enveloping themselves in

    clouds of smoke. The security booth had long been abandoned, and any guard who might have been

    on duty would turn a blind eye to the scene unfolding before them.

    Brielle frowned, her gaze fixed on the ground as she quickened her pace. But the ringleader of the

    group flicked his cigarette butt away and sauntered over with hands buried in his pockets. His cronies

    followed, theirughter echoing through the night air. Clearly, they¡¯d been waiting here for a while.

    ¡°Stop right there,¡± the leadermanded, reaching out to block her path, his other hand mping

    around her throat.

    The strong scent of tobo invaded Brielle¡¯s nostrils. Instinctively, she stomped on his foot and jerked

    back.

    ¡°Ow!¡± the man yelped. His patience gone, he grabbed Brielle¡¯s head and mmed it against the railing.

    Despite Brielle¡¯s self¨Cdefense training, the disparity in strength between her and the six men was too

    great. Her zer was yanked from her grip, and rough hands shoved her to the ground like discarded

    trash. Brielle sputtered, struggling to find her footing.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    The men whistled and closed in, smirks stered on their faces. ¡°Didn¡¯t ex

    taunted.

    Brielle edged backward. ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong person,¡± she insisted.

    a little fight from you,¡± one

    The leader, a scar tracing down his cheek, crouched before her and yanked her head back by her hair,

    scrutinizing her features. ¡°No mistake here, Brielle, right? Someone paid us to teach you a lesson.¡±

    The stench of his breath was nauseating. Should she scream for help? No, it waste and the streets

    were deserted. It would only provoke them further.

    ¡°How much did they pay you? I¡¯ll double it,¡± she offered, her voice steady despite the fear.

    The man lit another cigarette, blew smoke in her face, and sneered, ¡°We have principles, Ms. Brielle.

    me your own bad luck for crossing people you shouldn¡¯t have.¡±

    Retreating further, she felt the sharp pain in her ankle. Her phone, pre¨Cdialed to emergency services,

    was concealed in her sleeve. The police station was less than two miles away; they could arrive in

    under ten minutes.

    She forced a smile, buying time, ¡°You know, there are many Brielle¡¯s out there. Maybe you¡¯ve got the

    wrong one?¡±

    The man scoffed, flicking his spent cigarette to the ground. ¡°Enough crap. I¡¯ve seen your picture. Pretty

    face, but

    you shouldn¡¯t have messed with the wrong girl¡¯s man. The orders were clear¨Cto ruin your beauty.¡±

    He pulled out a switchde, the glint of malice shing in his eyes. ¡°Ms. Brielle, the price for that face

    of yours is quite high.¡±

    Brielle backed away, her hands finding dirt. She kept her expression calm as he raised the de.

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    15.07

    Chapter 75

    In a split¨Csecond move, she threw the dirt in his face and kicked off her heels, sprinting away. The man

    cursed, spitting out dirt, and ordered the others to give chase.

    Halfway to safety, her foot was sliced by shattered ss. She fell hard to the pavement, and the men

    slowed, twirling their knives with sinister intent.

    ¡°Keep running, why don¡¯t you?¡± one jeered.

    ¡°You¡¯re pretty clever, buying time like that,¡± another said. ¡°Too bad no one¡¯sing to save you

    tonight.¡±

    As they spoke, the distant wail of sirens filled the air. Police cruisers appeared on the horizon.

    Brielle barely had time to feel relief before the leader stepped forward, tossing the switchde into the

    bushes and mping a hand over her mouth. The others scattered, grabbing the de before

    disappearing.

    Brielle struggled against her captor¡¯s grip as two officers approached.

    ¡°Just ying around with my girlfriend,¡± the man lied smoothly as Brielle elbowed him in the chest. He

    staggered back, feigning surrender as the officers stepped in to shield her.

    ¡°I¡¯m not his girlfriend. He attacked me,¡± Brielle rified.

    To her astonishment, the man took a phone from his pocket, disying a gallery of cozy photos with

    Brielle¨Cembraces, kisses, all manner of intimacy.

    Chapter 76

 Chapter 76

    Chapter 76

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Brielle felt a chill creeping through her bones, her eyes widening in disbelief as she watched the two

    officers flip through the photos.

    The man remained maddeningly unppable, ¡°She¡¯s my girlfriend. Just a little tiff we¡¯re having. She¡¯s

    denying me now, but officers, this is just a lovers¡® spat, isn¡¯t it? No need to drag us down to the station,

    right?¡±

    His face was all smiles, but his eyes were full of malice. Clearly, he had nned this all along.

    Brielle pressed her lips together, knowing all too well how domestic disputes tended to be downyed

    by the police when the word ¡°rtionship¡± was mentioned. Her face darkened as her gaze fixed on the

    suit jacket clutched in the man¡¯s hand.

    With a sleazy grin, the man said, ¡°Honey, I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have treated you like that tonight. Come

    on over here, and we¡¯ll sort everything out back at home.¡±

    The photos he provided were damningly realistic, and even though Brielle knew they were falsified, she

    couldn¡¯t immediately prove it otherwise.

    The officers looked a bit shaken, and finally, they sighed. ¡°Why can¡¯t you young lovebirds just sit down

    and talk things out without making a scene and calling us?¡±

    The man, with a roguish sneer, hands in his pockets, replied, ¡°Ah, well, you know how emotional

    women can get. Sorry to bother you officers, I¡¯ll just take her and we¡¯ll be on our way.¡±

    He made a move to approach, but Brielle stepped back, her gaze sharp. ¡°Officers, there should be a

    camera at the entrance of the apartmentplex.¡±

    No sooner had she spoken than one of the officer¡¯s phones rang, indicating some directive from the

    higher¨Cups. This guy was bold in this part of town because he had someone backing him.

    The call was from someone with the Hatfield family.

    The officers exchanged nces, then waved their hands dismissively, ¡°Alright, no need to make a

    scene out of a lovers¡® quarrel.¡±

    Brielle knew someone had intervened. The night¡¯s events were orchestrated.

    But who could she turn to? The Haywood family?

    The Haywoods wouldn¡¯t stick their necks out for her, and going back to them, hat in hand, would

    probably just amuse them. She couldn¡¯t be left here. With this guy¡¯s methods, he might actually

    disfigure her.

    Brielle¡¯s eyes reddened, but against the backdrop of those photos, any defense she offered would

    seem like emotional desperation.

    She got into the police cruiser first, giving the address for the Premier Pce. She couldn¡¯t go back to

    her apartment or to the Haywood family, and she couldn¡¯t drag Aubree into this mess. Premier Pce

    seemed to be the only temporary shelter avable.

    The man didn¡¯t expect Brielle to make such a move and furrowed his brow, but ultimately, he didn¡¯t

    dare follow her into the car.

    The young officers, thinking Brielle was just unwilling to reconcile with her boyfriend, sighed. ¡°Miss, are

    you really not nning to talk things out with your boyfriend?¡±

    ¡°It will hurt your rtionship. You¡¯re both so young. Why can¡¯t you discuss this calmly?¡±

    No amount of words from Brielle would help. She stared out the window at the suit in the man¡¯s hands,

    feeling a tightness in her chest. ¡°Just take me to Premier Pce, please.¡±

    The officers didn¡¯t refuse. Besides, Premier Pce was much more than a mere haunt of the wealthy

    and powerful.

    ????????

    The police cruiser couldn¡¯t enter the premises, stopping about two hundred meters from Premier

    Pce¡¯s gates. Brielle, barefoot and forlorn, stepped out of the car.

    The officers watched her retreating figure, shaking their heads. ¡°Young folks these days are just too

    fragile.¡±

    The man had provided too many photos for anyone to believe that someone who had attacked another

    person. would fabricate such ¨¦vidence. And with the Hatfield Inc. people vouching, they truly believed it

    was just a lovers¡® spat gone wrong.

    Brielle walked barefoot for a while, feeling the cold sting on her face. The pain in her feet grew more

    pronounced until she stopped, gazing at the grand entrance of Premier Pce and let out a self¨C

    deprecatingugh.

    What good woulding here do?

    She limped to a bench at the roadside, pulling out the shards of ss embedded in her foot. Blood

    gushed forth, and the sharp pain drove back her tears.

    She took out her phone again. ¡°Officer, my name is Brielle. Someone has stolen corporate secrets from

    Dorsey International, and I¡¯d like to report it. Yes, it¡¯s him. The suit he¡¯s holding belongs to the CEO of

    Dorsey International, and there¡¯s a tiny USB drive inside with Dorsey¡¯s confidential files. Please take

    this matter seriously.¡±

    Everyone in Beaconsfield knew about Dorsey International. Any case involving Dorsey International

    couldn¡¯t be taken lightly.

    Half an hourter, Brielle and the man were brought to the police station. The man hadn¡¯t expected to

    end up there. Seeing Brielle, he feigned deep concern. ¡°Sweetheart, I said we could talk about our

    issues privately. What¡¯s this all about now?¡±

 Chapter 77

    Chapter 77

    Brielle sat in the chair, her bare feet still bleeding, her toes tensed as if immune to the pain. She didn¡¯t

    look at the man confronting her. ¡°The stolen suit belongs to Max Dorsey, the CEO of Dorsey

    International. Don¡¯t believe me? Call him now. And here¡¯s my business card.¡±

    She handed over a sleek card that confirmed her identity: Director of Mergers and Acquisitions at

    Dorsey International.

    ¡°The USB drive in the suit pocket is rted to a massive merger we¡¯ve been negotiating, valued at over

    ten billion dors. The drive is missing. Who¡¯s going to answer for Dorsey International¡¯s loss?¡±

    Her voice was calm, hershes lowered as if in thought, ¡°This man has been manipted. You might

    want to check the recent transactions in his ounts. Someone¡¯s using him to snatch Dorsey

    International¡¯s trade secrets. I don¡¯t need to tell you how grave this is, do I?¡±

    Dorsey International. Trade secrets. CEO of Dorsey International. Each term was a siren call to

    urgency. This was no lovers¡® quarrel to be brushed off.

    The man was taken aback, his cavalier demeanor vanishing instantly. ¡°Brielle, what are you implying?

    When did I rob anyone? And when did I take a USB drive? Stop slinging mud!¡±

    Brielle remainedposed, the pain in her soles sharpening her mind. ¡°Are you iming the suit is

    yours? It¡¯s a high¨Cend custom piece, each with a unique serial number and owner. If the officer doubts

    my word, you can verify the brand and trace its origin.¡±

    The man panicked. He had only grabbed the suit on a whim, never imagining it held a story.

    Brielle¡¯s presence was overwhelming, swiftlymanding the situation. ¡°I intend to uncover whoever¡¯s

    behind him, endangering Dorsey International.¡±

    A potential billion¨Cdor trade secret theft could be dubbed the case of the year. Investigators were

    already tracking the man¡¯s financial activities and found an unexined deposit of a million dors in

    his ount just hours earlier. The evidence was damning.

    The man¡¯s palms sweated as he clenched his jaw. Stealing trade secrets, with over ten billion dors at

    stake- that kind of usation could mean a minimum of ten years in prison.

    Brielle was out to ruin him and, by the looks of it, take down whoever was behind him as well.

    She seemed so harmless, yet how quickly her venomous n had unfolded!

    The police had already escted the situation to their superiors and had managed to get in touch with

    Patrick. Patrick nced at Max, who was resting his eyes, and spoke softly, ¡°The suit? Yes, it was

    indeed for Ms. Brielle. The USB drive?¡±

    Confusion flickered in his eyes. He had no idea what might be in the CEO¡¯s suit pocket and quickly

    asked with respect, ¡°Sir, it¡¯s a call from the police station.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    They were en route to a business trip, about to leave Beaconsfield. Max took the phone, his gaze icy.

    The person on the other end, realizing they were speaking to Max himself, hastily exined the

    situation, wiping sweat from their forehead.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, that¡¯s the situation. If he¡¯s indeed guilty of stealing Dorsey International¡¯s trade secrets, the

    repercussions will be dire. Even with someone to vouch for him, I¡¯m afraid¡­¡±

    Max¡¯s wrist dropped, the ck beads around it seemingly radiating a chill. ¡°And her?¡±

    The officer nced at Brielle, saying cautiously, ¡°Ms. Brielle is still here. It isn¡¯t her fault, and we¡¯ll

    recover the USB drive as soon as possible.¡±

    He was defending Brielle. Even if the loss wasn¡¯t intentional, the drive was still missing. If Dorsey

    International sought ountability, not only would the thief face jail time, but Brielle herself would

    surely be implicated.

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    ¡°Hand her the phone.¡± His tone was indifferent, the cold seemingly traveling through the phone line.

    Brielle, head lowered, knew they were speaking with Max himself. The thought of reaching out to him in

    her moment of helplessness made her smile involuntarily.

    She was fortunate not to have gone to him. That foolish yearning was best buried deep, never to see

    the ligh of day.

    Chapter 78

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, Mr. Dorsey would

 Chapter 78

    Chapter 78

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, Mr. Dorsey would like a word with you.¡±

    The staff member handed over the phone, and Brielle worked hard to keep herposure, but the

    moment she heard his voice, her eyes began to sting with the threat of tears. She pushed back that

    hint of vulnerability, striving not to let her tone betray anything.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey.¡± She called out, then bit her lip hard, the taste of iron filling her mouth.

    ¡°A ten¨Cbillion¨Cdor corporate secret?¡± The man¡¯s voice was cool, waiting for her reply.

    Brielle wiped the blood from her lip with the back of her hand, managing a smile, ¡°Yes, Mr. Dorsey, no

    need to worry. I will work with the police to recover the thumb drive.¡±

    The so¨Ccalled business secrets out of thin air only needed Max¡¯s admission to be a nailed¨Cdown

    case. However, if he refused to admit, Brielle could be detained on charges of obstructing official

    duties.

    Heaven and hell hung on his next words.

    Max didn¡¯t speak immediately. After a long pause, he asked softly, ¡°Are you hurt?¡±

    Brielle felt a sharp jab in her heart, the burning sensation was unbearable. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, about that

    thumb drive-¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    ¡°Leave it to the cops. I¡¯m sending Brent to pick you up.¡±

    His implication was clear. The thumb drive issue was legitimate. The staff members eavesdropping on

    the conversation no longer dared to dy, pressing the man about the location of the drive.

    The man was already panicking, his mind racing to the caller behind the scene. ¡°I really don¡¯t know

    anything about a thumb drive, I was just paid to disfigure Brielle, that¡¯s all.¡±

    Compared to attempted grievous bodily harm, the other allegation was significantly more severe. He

    sat rigid in his chair, his gaze fixed maliciously on Brielle.

    The police finally understood that the so¨Ccalled lovers¡® tiff was a ruse, and in their fury, they whipped

    out handcuffs and secured the man in ce. ¡°Spill it! Who¡¯s behind this?¡±

    Meanwhile, Emily was anxiously awaiting news. Pacing back and forth nervously, she was like a cat on

    a hot tin roof.

    The thought of Brielle¡¯s face being ruined sent a thrill of excitement through her. That bitch was so bold

    as to flirt with Max. This was her just deserts.

    Her phone rang, excitement shing in her eyes as she quickly answered. ¡°How did it go?! Did

    everything work out?¡±

    But the anxious, tearful voice on the other end took her by surprise. ¡°Emily, did you set me up on

    purpose? The police just called me. They said this is suspected to be a theft of Dorsey International¡¯s

    corporate secrets. This was your trap, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    Emily was taken aback, her voice filled with panic, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Weren¡¯t you supposed to have

    someone scratch Brielle¡¯s face? What corporate secret?¡±

    ¡°How should I know! That¡¯s what the police said. Emily, I did this favor for you, got that thug involved,

    and now he¡¯s been caught by the cops. If they trace the money back to me, I¡¯m done for. You better

    come up with a solution. If the other members of the Rond family find out about this, I¡¯m screwed.¡±

    Emily clenched her phone, at a loss for words. She and Sophia were good friends, and Sophia was a

    Rond, although her status was just as awkward as hers. The darling of the Rond family was their

    frail legitimate, daughter, doted on by everyone, especially with Andrew in her corner, showering her

    with attention.

    ¡°Sophia, try not to panic-¡±

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    Chapter 78

    ¡°How can I not panic! It¡¯s not you who they¡¯ll trace it back to. If it wasn¡¯t for your vendetta against

    Brielle, 1 wouldn¡¯t have gotten involved. Are you doing this on purpose? Have you been against me all

    along? We¡¯ve been trashing Brielle together in the group chats with Lillian, all gung¨Cho, and when it

    comes to taking action, you use me as a pawn! Are we even friends?¡±

    Emily didn¡¯t expect Sophia to be so blunt, and she was starting to get impatient. She had no clue what

    was happening. ¡°Sophia, maybe you should talk to Tessa? Since this involves Dorsey International, if

    she talks to Andrew, he¡¯ll surely speak with Max. They¡¯re on good terms, and Max won¡¯t hold you

    ountable out of respect for Andrew.¡±

    Sophia, seething with anger and frustration, hung up the phone with a click.

 Chapter 79

    Chapter 79

    She considered Emily a friend, and yet this was how Emily had betrayed her. She couldn¡¯t help but

    shoot a text to Lillian, spilling the beans about the evening¡¯s debacle.

    Lillian replied in no time. [So, how¡¯s Brielle holding up now?]

    A smirk yed on Lillian¡¯s lips. She hadn¡¯t expected Emily to make her move so soon. She was indeed

    too impulsive.

    Sophia and Lillian were tight, part of the same clique. [Heard she got hurt. I¡¯m livid, Emily that

    backstabber must¡¯ve set me up on purpose. I treated her like a friend, and she pulls this stunt on me.

    What am I supposed to do if the copse knocking?]

    Sophia was fiery, preferring to y dirty rather than y the na?ve card like Emily. This time, the stakes

    were high, and she was genuinely freaking out.

    [I¡¯ll have a word with Bri, try to make her drop it. Hang in there, Sophia. No matter how much she gets

    on my nerves, I¡¯ll bear it for you.] Adversity shows true friendship, and Sophia felt a wave of gratitude.

    Lillian seemed like a sincere friend.

    After hanging up, Lillian was in a whirl of emotions. As long as Brielle was down on her luck, she was

    thrilled. She had no real intention of helping Sophia out, but she knew she¡¯d need Sophia down the

    line, so the show must go on.

    After finding out which police station Brielle was at, a gleeful glint crossed her eyes. To make the act

    more convincing, she had to be there in person. And for a drama like this, there had to be an audience.

    Her acts of loyalty were no good if no one knew about them. Cameron immediately came to mind,

    followed by a call to Miranda.

    Miranda and Cameron arrived promptly, especially agitated upon hearing Brielle was at the police

    station.

    How much trouble can Brielle stir up?!

    This time she¡¯d even dragged in the Hatfields and the Ronds, as if she wouldn¡¯t rest until she¡¯d

    crossed every power yer in Beaconsfield.

    On the way to the police station, Lillian, with reddened eyes,forted Miranda. ¡°Miranda, don¡¯t take it

    to heart. Bri surely didn¡¯t mean any harm. We need to see the situation for ourselves. The call I got was

    all muddled. Maybe Bri¡¯s been framed.¡±

    Miranda looked livid, as if she wished she could teleport to the station.

    Cameron, sitting beside them, let out a scoff. ¡°She didn¡¯t mean to? Is the mess she¡¯s made not

    enough? She doesn¡¯t even care about the Dorseys, thinks she¡¯s above it all.¡±

    ¡°Cameron,e on, we should at least check things out before jumping to conclusions.¡±

    They made it there in less than twenty minutes. Inside, Brielle sat refusing any bandages, blood

    staining the slippers someone had offered her.

    Pain has a way of snapping you to attention.

    Brielle lowered her eyes and saw several police officers investigating the source of funds, mentioning

    both the Rond family and the Hatfield family.

    The thug being grilled had lost his swagger, casting panicked nces at Brielle. ¡°Brielle, maybe we

    should just let this one go, huh? You heard them, the Ronds and the Hatfields are involved. You

    really want to make enemies of both families at once?¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    He had made a name for himself in this generation by doing dirty work for Sophia, who had introduced

    him to the right people, turning him into a professional enforcer.

    Tonight¡¯s events had taken him by surprise.

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    He was known for being ruthless, but he hadn¡¯t anticipated a fall from grace, and even his connections

    seemed shaky now.

 Chapter 80

    Damn it! How did ite to this?

    Chapter 80

    Chapter 80

    Brielle¡¯s legs tensed subtly as if she couldn¡¯t hear themotion outside the hall. It wasn¡¯t until a

    disordered flurry of footsteps approached that she looked up to see three figures at the door, her brow

    crinkling in an

    instant.

    Miranda was the first to speak, trembling with fury. ¡°What on earth is going on?! A youngdy like you

    causing a scene that ends up with the police? If word gets out about some scandal, how are you going

    to find a decent marriage?¡±

    Lillian, standing beside Miranda, reached out to gently pat her back. ¡°Miranda, calm down. Let¡¯s get the

    details first.¡±

    Taking a deep breath, Miranda turned to the handcuffed man. His eyes shifted, especially when he

    caught sight of Lillian¨Cshe seemed familiar, as if he¡¯d seen her around Sophia.

    A sly grin spread across his face, sensing an opportunity. ¡°So you must be my mother¨Cinw. Look,

    Brielle and I just had a lovers¡® quarrel. Please, talk some sense into her. This isn¡¯t a good look for either

    of us.¡±

    He whipped out his phone and started flipping through a series of intimate photos. ¡°We¡¯re actually quite

    close. She¡¯s just a bit headstrong and called the cops in a huff.¡±

    Miranda, unaware of the full story, now faced a stranger unting a plethora of intimate pictures and

    looking every bit the part of a street thug. Her blood boiled, and she raised a hand to strike Brielle.

    Brielle dodged slightly, seizing her wrist with one hand, ¡°Enough.¡±

    Her tone was calm, her gaze drifting past the group to settle on the man. ¡°I hope you¡¯ll still be this tough

    when sentencing timees around.¡±

    His face stiffened, the glimmer of hope fading slowly. Was Brielle actually dismissive of her own

    mother¡¯s

    words?

    Cameron, who had been standing behind Miranda, stepped forward to pull Brielle¡¯s hand away, ¡°I

    thought your past escapades were bad enough, but to end up at the police station over some guy?

    You¡¯ve dragged the Haywood name through the mud. You better settle this quietly before Spencer finds

    out.¡±

    If the social circle caught wind of this, Brielle¡¯s chances of marrying into the Dorsey family would

    plummet, especially since Faith had already taken a dim view of her.

    Brielle¡¯s wrist throbbed under Cameron¡¯s grip, her face turning pale.

    Disgusted, Cameron released her hand, ¡°Look at yourself. You¡¯re no different from those prostitutes.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s neck was still wrapped in a scarf, her clothes in disarray, her feet shod in slippers¨Cbut none of

    them

    noticed the bloodstains on the slippers.

    The officers, seeing the three of them, hurried over, ¡°Ms. Haywood, this isn¡¯t Ms. Brielle¡¯s fault. This

    isn¡¯t just a lovers¡® spat that can be brushed aside. The Dorsey family is involved this time.¡±

    They exined the situation and sighed, ¡°We¡¯ve traced the source of the missing million dors to the

    Rond family. We¡¯ll have someone call on the Rond estate shortly, and we¡¯ve also contacted Mr.

    Dorsey. The USB drive indeed contains Dorsey International¡¯s trade secrets.¡±

    Miranda was taken aback by theplexity of the issue, especially when she heard that Ms. Rond

    would be summoned, nearly fainting with shock. She had assumed it was a minor conflict between

    young people, but it turned out to involve Dorsey International¡¯s trade secrets.

    Lillian, already briefed by Sophia, cautiously spoke up, ¡°If Ms. Rond is brought in, this will spread

    like wildfire. Could the Haywood family end up feuding with the Rond family? Not to mention, the

    Rond¡¯s are closely tied to the Clement¡¯s family. If this blows up¡­¡±

    She looked at Brielle with concern, edging closer, ¡°Bri, maybe we should settle this quietly. You work for

    Dorsey

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    Chapter 80

    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    International, so losing a USB drive isn¡¯t the end of the world. There should be backups on the

    computer. As for Ms. Rond, I¡¯m friends with her. I¡¯ll talk to her, and they¡¯ll let it go.¡±

    Even though none of this was Brielle¡¯s fault, Lillian made it sound like she was the one cleaning up the

    mess. Brielle gave Lillian a half¨Csmile, ¡°What, did the Rond family send you to plead their case?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just looking out for you. The Rond family isn¡¯t someone we can afford to mess with.¡±

    After speaking, Lillian clutched Cameron¡¯s arm in fear, ¡°Besides, Ms. Faith just made a scene at home.

    Our family is trying to sever business ties with both sides. If the Rond family puts pressure on the

    Haywood family, we won¡¯t hold up, especially with the Clements family in the mix. Bri, you can¡¯t be so

    reckless.¡±

    Her words struck a chord with Miranda and Cameron. The Rond family was not to be trifled with!

    Brielle, looking at the three of them, felt a stabbing pain in her eyes, a pain that spread to her heart.

 Chapter 81

    Chapter 81

    Miranda thought she waspromising and called over to the nearby officer, ¡°The M&A department

    director lost the USB drive. We can pin the me on Brielle alone for this matter. There must be a

    backup of that thing. Don¡¯t escte the situation. Call your people back now, and don¡¯t go look for Ms.

    Rond at this hour. She¡¯s probably already asleep.¡±

    The policemen exchanged nces before all eyes turned to Brielle, waiting for her to make the call.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help butugh, pressing her leg down slowly. The unbandaged wound throbbed with

    pain, but it also sharpened her mind. ¡°Pin the me on me alone? A hundred¨Cbillion¨Cdor business

    secret¨Cwhat do I have to answer for that?¡±

    Miranda hadn¡¯t expected such a firm stance from her. Her face soured, ¡°So what do you propose we

    do? You really want to stir up trouble with the Rond family? How can you be such a troublemaker!¡±

    ¡°Me, a troublemaker? If it wasn¡¯t for someone from the Rond family bribing another to target me,

    how would the police have found evidence in her ounts? She brought this upon herself. I will not

    settle this quietly, no matter what anyone says. Officers, please proceed as necessary. Mr. Dorsey is

    awaiting my updates.¡±

    Miranda, too angry for words, pointed a trembling finger at Brielle, but couldn¡¯t manage to spit out a

    coherent sentence. ¡°How could I have raised a daughter like you!¡±

    After a moment, Miranda¡¯s lips trembled, and she raised her hand as if to strike Brielle. Lillian, standing

    behind her, stepped forward, pretending to intervene. Yet, her fingers reached past Miranda, pulling off

    Brielle¡¯s scarf. As the scarf floated gently down, marks on Brielle¡¯s fair skin were exposed for all to see.

    Everyone present was an adult. They all knew what those marks meant. Miranda¡¯s mind buzzed, and

    her reason crumbled in an instant. Her raised hand changed direction, and in a fit of rage, she seized

    Brielle by the

    neck.

    ¡°How many men have you been with? How can you have so little respect for yourself! What have you

    turned yourself into?!¡±

    The burst of strength was formidable, and Brielle couldn¡¯t push her away, feeling the imprint of fingers

    around her neck.

    Finally, overwhelmed, Miranda¡¯s world went dark, and she fainted.

    ¡°Mom!¡±

    ¡°Miranda!¡±

    Cameron hurried to support her, the disgust in his eyes piercing Brielle like daggers.

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Brielle touched her neck, aware that Lillian had done it on purpose. Her aim was achieved.

    Lillian, too, supporting Miranda, had tears welling up in her eyes, her voice shaky with sobs, ¡°Cameron,

    what do we do? I didn¡¯t mean for this to happen. I was just scared that Miranda and Brielle would get

    into a fight, so I intervened. I didn¡¯t mean to pull off the scarf, nor did I expect this. We should get

    Miranda to the hospital first.¡± Cameron gave Brielle a dark look, his mind going to the sleazy man at the

    police station, and he felt nauseated. Brielle was raised in the Haywood family. How could she stoop to

    such men?

    He recalled her talk of male prostitutes, the thought making him want to retch. She was indiscriminate.

    ¡°Brielle, why are you acting so cheap? What do you think of yourself? With such an incident again, it

    seems Grandpa has toe over personally to beg you before you¡¯ll behave.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s heart clenched, and she bent slightly in pain, ¡°Grandpa is not in good health. Aren¡¯t you afraid

    of causing him harm by using this matter to provoke him?¡±

    ¡°The mess is of your making. If grandfather bes ill, it will be your doing.¡±

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    Chapter 81

    Cameron supported Miranda, no longer sparing Brielle a nce. ¡°You¡¯d better take the chance to get a

    healt check at the hospital. With all this recklessness, aren¡¯t you afraid of catching something? Don¡¯t

    me us fo favoring Lillian. Look at what you¡¯ve done, and what she¡¯s done.¡±

    Lillian, gripping Miranda¡¯s other hand, choked up at Cameron¡¯s words, ¡°Cameron, stop it, please.

    Getting Miranda to the hospital is what¡¯s important now.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

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    Chapter 82

    As Lillian turned away, a sly smile curled the corners of her lips. She hadn¡¯t anticipated such a lucky

    break.

    The marks on Brielle¡¯s neck certainly weren¡¯t from Spencer. After all, he had been tied up in his own

    troubles these past few days. It seemed Brielle had indeed been rolling in the hay with some unsavory

    characters.

    At this moment, Lillian felt on top of the world, as though even the gods were conspiring in her favor.

    With Brielle tarnished in such a way, who would want her now? Especially since she was on the verge

    of crossing the Ronds and the Hatfields.

    Unable to contain her glee, Lillian stealthily pulled out her phone and texted Sophia. [Sweetie, sorry, I

    can¡¯t help you this time. I tried to get the Haywoods toe, but Brielle¡¯s stubborn as a mule. Now

    Miranda¡¯s fainted from the stress, and I need to dash to the hospital. What¡¯s your game n?]

    Sophia was deeply touched by the message. Compared to the troublemaker Emily, Lillian was

    practically an angel. [I guess I have no choice but to turn to Tessa, hoping she can get Andrew to step

    in. Lillian, you¡¯ve been a lifesaver. Is Miranda okay?]

    Lillian didn¡¯t reply immediately, deliberately waiting a good fifteen minutes before responding. [Not sure

    yet, gotta go. Ugh, Bri¡¯s really not giving an inch this time.]

    Seeing Brielle¡¯s name, Sophia felt her eyes burn with rage. Indeed, that bitch! Despite everyone¡¯s

    pleas, she hadn¡¯t budged an inch.

    Sophia sneered, vowing that once she got through this ordeal, she¡¯d find someone even tougher to

    take Brielle down a peg. Next time, it wouldn¡¯t just be rumors. She¡¯d have a video of Brielle¡¯s

    escapades spread all over Beaconsfield. Then she¡¯d see how that hussy would have the gall to stick

    around.

    Although Sophia was seething with ns for revenge, panic was setting in. The police were knocking

    at her door. As the cold handcuffs clicked around her wrists, her hatred for Brielle and Emily deepened.

    She had already sent word to Tessa. Though not the favorite of the Ronds, her frequent visits to

    Tessa would surely pay off. Tessa woulde to her rescue.

    Meanwhile, the police station fell into an awkward silence with the departure of the trio.

    Brielle leaned against the cold wall, sweat beading on her forehead. Exhausted, she longed for rest,

    but she heard that Sophia was on her way.

    She didn¡¯t know Sophia, which meant someone was pulling strings behind the scenes. This was her

    chance to expose everyone involved.

    Brielle¡¯sshes fluttered, her fingers weakly curled, then rxed. Her nose tingled, eyes growing hot.

    Footsteps approached the door again, but she had no strength left to look up, resting quietly with her

    eyes closed. She knew that many people at the scene were eyeing her neck, thinking she was

    promiscuous and fickle.

    The man who was handcuffed also took the opportunity to mumble a few words. ¡°You sure get around,

    don¡¯t you? Can¡¯t me folks for wanting to ruin your pretty face.¡±

    His words dripped with scorn, his gaze trying to pierce through the fabric covering her, to strip her bare.

    Brielle felt cold, a chill rising from her feet and spreading through her body, making her lips quiver.

    The footsteps grew closer, and a respectful voice announced, ¡°Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, to what do we owe the honor of your personal visit?¡±

    Brielle forced her eyes open, but could only make out a blurry silhouette.

    He was like a beacon of light, radiating warmth as he approached. His warm palm rested on her

    forehead, and

    she couldn¡¯t help but nuzzle into it. Then her body swayed, and she was enveloped in his arms.

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    ¡°Uncle Max?¡±

    Her voice was hoarse, filled with yearning as she nestled into his chest.

    Max didn¡¯t respond, his expression as cold as ice. The temperature in the room plummeted, and

    everyone was too intimidated to meet his gaze.

    He carried Brielle out to the waiting car.

    Brielle curled into his embrace, wincing in pain. His warm palm seemed to touch her very soul, and

    fearing she¡¯d dirty his hands, she quickly recoiled. ¡°It¡¯s dirty.¡±

    She didn¡¯t know if this was reality or a dream.

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    Chapter 83

    He was supposed to be away on business tonight, not here. Deep down, she prayed he wouldn¡¯t show

    up. She feared that the protective walls she had painstakingly built would crumble to ruins in his

    presence.

    People mustn¡¯t harbor expectations, for expectations breed vulnerability.

    The warmth under her feet hadn¡¯t faded, and as she wanted to curl up, she felt herself forcibly

    unraveled. She struggled to open her eyes, only to be met with a taut jawline, his breath cool as the

    frost, threatening to freeze one to the core. Yet, in his presence, she found a strange sense of peace.

    Outside the police station, Sophia had already been brought in. She had rehearsed countless excuses

    in her mind, plotting how she would tear into Brielle upon seeing her. How could that bitch refused

    settle things privately? How could she drag her, a member of the Rond family, into this mess?

    She was determined to teach Brielle a lesson this time.

    Getting out of the car, she saw a tall figure cradling someone into a vehicle at a distance. She was too

    far away to see who the man was.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Brielle? I need to speak with her personally,¡± Sophia said impatiently as she strode into the

    lobby, casting a disdainful look at the man also in cuffs, ipetent in every endeavor, a liability at

    best.

    On the way back to Premier Pce, Patrick, seated in the front, hardly dared to breathe.

    An hour ago, the car had nearly left Beaconsfield when it turned back. Max had personally gone to the

    police

    station.

    It was the first time Max had missed such an important meeting to deal with a woman¡¯s affairs.

    Curiosity was killing Patrick, who kept stealing nces through the rearview mirror, but Max¡¯s

    expression was icy, his hold on Brielle protective and possessive.

    The private doctor was already waiting in the foyer. It was the second time in a short span that Brielle

    had been injured. After tending to her foot injury, the doctor handed a tube of ointment to Max. It was a

    bruise¨Chealing ointment, necessary for the stark red mark around Brielle¡¯s neck, as if someone had

    strangled her with considerable force.

    The atmosphere in the foyer was tense, everyone on edge. The doctor, noticing Max¡¯s reluctance,

    carefully ced the ointment on the coffee table. ¡°Apply it morning and night, and the bruising should

    fade in three days.¡± He didn¡¯t linger, almost bolting from the oppressive presence of Max.

    Max nced at the ointment on the table and finally relented. He washed and disinfected his hands

    thoroughly in the bathroom. Upon returning, he tucked the ointment inside his suit and carried Brielle

    upstairs.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Brielle was restless in her sleep, her forehead beaded with sweat. Max gently ced her on the bed

    and squeezed some ointment onto his fingertip.

    As he spread the cool cream, her skin goosebumped, and she instinctively reached to wipe it away,

    only to have her wrist caught.

    ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡±

    He pressed her hand to the bed while his other hand skillfully continued to apply the ointment. Once

    finished, he grabbed a wet wipe to clean his fingers and looked up to see Brielle¡¯s eyes open, gazing at

    him with a mix of confusion and childlike innocence. ¡°Uncle Max, weren¡¯t you supposed to be on a

    business trip?¡±

    Max tossed the wipe into the trash and closed his eyes lightly, still visibly upset, and thus didn¡¯t

    respond.

    Brielle tugged gently at his sleeve, perhaps aware that he was angry but not understanding why. She

    was the one in pain, with a sore neck, sore feet, and aching heart. Her eyes warmed, as if tears were

    struggling to break free.

    Max watched her, his gaze softening slightly, ¡°Why are you crying?¡±

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    Chapter 83

    Brielle shook her head, trying to exin but unable to utter a word.

    Looking at her reddened nose and dampshes, Max saw for the first time her vulnerability. The Brielle

    he knew was cunning, resolute, and seductive. She had never cried like this before.

    In his twenty¨Csix years of life, Max had seen his fair share of women¡¯s tears, but Brielle¡¯s tears were

    different. They effortlessly seized his heart.

 Chapter 84

    Chapter 84

    He took a handkerchief and gently wiped her cheek.

    Her skin was soft as petals, not just on her cheeks but all over. A girl like her deserved to be nurtured

    by power

    and wealth.

    Outside, a thunderp broke the silence, and lightning split the sky. The rain began to pour down,

    quickly drenching the city.

    Max sat on the edge of the bed, and as dawn approached, he slowly walked over to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling

    window. The raindrops hit the ss like a cascade of shattered diamonds, seemingly trying to capture

    the neon lights from outside.

    At ten in the morning, Patrick gently pushed the door open. ¡°President, the video conference is all set

    up.¡±

    Max nodded, rubbing his temples as he stepped out of the bedroom. There would be three meetings

    today, ones he was supposed to attend in person. Instead, he had stood up all the executivesst

    night.

    A shadow passed through Max¡¯s eyes, and his lips tightened just slightly. That kind of mistake was

    inexcusable.

    Meanwhile, at the Rond estate, Tessa hadn¡¯t acted immediately upon receiving the newsst night.

    She nced at the hearty breakfast spread out on the table before sitting down.

    In another ten minutes, Andrew¡¯s courier would arrive with the season¡¯s must¨Chave item, a tradition

    that had be almost ceremonial over the years. Yesterday, Andrew had sent over a designer

    watch, and the envy it sparked was palpable. Ever since her engagement to the Clements n,

    Andrew¡¯s gifting had be habitual. Tessa, frail since childhood, relished Andrew¡¯s attentions but

    couldn¡¯t help feeling resentful. Why must it be her, with a constitution so delicate that even a night of

    passion was too much to bear?

    After a few coughs and dabbing her mouth with a napkin, she sipped some warm broth and then

    asked, ¡°Is it Brielle? The youngdy from the Haywood family? I haven¡¯t been to a social event in

    years. Is she well¨Cknown? Why would Sophia go after her?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    The maid shook his head, ¡°Miss Sophia is impulsive. Rumor has it she¡¯s avenging Miss Emily. They¡¯re

    quite

    close.¡±

    Tessa had no interest in getting involved in such messes, finding them tedious and the women¡¯s tactics

    distasteful. But then she thought, if she could resolve this, everyone would see just how much Andrew

    heeded

    her words.

    ¡°Miss Sophia was taken to the police stationst night.¡±

    Tessa nodded, her fingertips lightly gripping the spoon, ¡°Let the other Ronds beg for my help first,

    then I¡¯ll call Andrew.¡±

    She knew her standing wasn¡¯t enough to involve Max. It had to be Andrew who intervened.

    Her pallor was evident, and she frowned again, ¡°Do you know why Emily is targeting Brielle? Is there a

    history between them?¡±

    The maid considered for a moment and replied honestly, ¡°Both are with Dorsey International. It¡¯s

    probably a professional dispute.¡±

    Tessa nodded, not particrly concerned.

    Half an hourter, as expected, Sophia¡¯s parents called, their voices tinged with desperation. Before

    her engagement to Andrew, Tessa had suffered their disdain because of her frail health, but ever since

    Andrew had doted on her, insisting she was the only one for him, those who once scorned her changed

    their tune. Even her status within the Rond family had soared. Otherwise, with her health, she¡¯d

    have likely been shunted aside.

    Chapter 84

    Tessa deliberately ignored the calls, feigning busyness. Only on the eighth call did she answer,

    speaking softly, with an air of gentleness. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll speak to Andrew. Since it¡¯s Brielle who lost

    something, she should be responsible. As for Sophia, a financial settlement should suffice.¡±

    The callerplimented her before hanging up, and Tessa felt a surge of satisfaction. Yet, always

    cautious, she asked the maid a few more questions.

    ¡°Why did Emily go to Dorsey International?¡±

    The more she thought about it, the less it made sense. Why would Emily go to Dorsey International out

    of the blue and sh with Brielle?

    ¡°Does Brielle have another identity?¡±

    Tessa had kept a low profile for years, rarely venturing out. She wasn¡¯t aware that Brielle was engaged

    to Spencer.

    ¡°Ms. Tessa, Brielle is engaged to Spencer,¡± the servant informed her.

    Hearing this, Tessa knew things wereplicated. If Brielle was engaged to Spencer, he would surely

    get involved.

    ¡°But Ms. Tessa, you needn¡¯t worry about that. Few know of her engagement to Spencer. Besides,

    Sophia made it clear that Spencer publicly stated at Dorsey International that he doesn¡¯t favor Brielle

    and ns to call off the engagement.¡±

    Tessa breathed a sigh of relief. If it didn¡¯t involve the Dorsey family and was just an issue with ady

    from the Haywood family, the situation was manageable.

    She took a sip of tea, nning to time her call to Andrew perfectly. She didn¡¯t think her decision would

    cause much trouble for the victim, Brielle. In Beaconsfield, it was a survival of the fittest. Brielle could

    only me her misfortune for crossing the wrong people.

 Chapter 85

    Chapter 85

    Brielle woke up at eleven, the familiar ceiling above her coaxing her into reality. It wasn¡¯t a dream. Max

    hadn¡¯t left on a business trip¨Che had shown up at the police stationst night. Was it because of her?

    She swung her legs out of bed, wincing as her feet touched the cold floor. The sting from her cuts

    reminded her of the night¡¯s events. She spotted a cane nearby, left there just for her, and gratefully

    grabbed it to support her unsteady steps.

    The house was quiet as she hobbled to the study. Max was there, as she knew he would be, deep in a

    virtual meeting.

    Brielle gently pushed the door open and heard a voice from the meeting.

    ¡°The new documents have been sent down. We¡¯ve incorporated Ms. Haywood¡¯s 8120 principle and the

    2N rule into our management system. The first draft has been emailed to you, sir.¡±

    Max was silent, his microphone off. Sensing her presence, he paused but didn¡¯t turn around, as if he

    knew it was her.

    Brielle limped closer. ¡°Uncle Max, were you nning to discuss a takeover dealst night?¡±

    ¡°Mhm.¡±

    Max skimmed through the emails, nodding in approval at the content before typing a response.

    ¡°So why did youe back? I could have handled the stuff at the police station on my own.¡± She tried

    to sound casual, settling herself onto a nearby couch.

    ¡°And by handling it, you mean letting your wounds bleed without bandaging them?¡± Max¡¯s voice was

    laced with concern. If he hadn¡¯t arrived when he did, the injury could have be infected.

    Brielle felt a warmth in her chest and avoided his gaze. ¡°I didn¡¯t feel the pain.¡±

    Because what hurt and frightened her more was the inner turmoil, the loneliness of being abandoned

    by the whole world, grinding at the heart like serrated edges.

    ¡°Wasst night your way of ¡®defending ady¡¯s honor¡®?¡± she asked, her longshes fluttering like the

    wings of a bird, too fragile and touching.

    Max tried to ignore the unusual stirrings in his heart, keeping his eyes on the screen as he wrapped up

    the

    meeting.

    Defending ady¡¯s honor? His emotions had peakedst night, but not to that extent.

    Before he could respond, there was a knock on the door. Andrew had arrived.

    Brielle raised an eyebrow, almost instantly guessing why Andrew was here. She got up, using the cane

    and the wall for support, and started towards the door. M¨¢x, seeing she didn¡¯t intend to lean on him, left

    the room with a quick stride, leaving her behind.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Oblivious to his irritation, Brielle finally made it downstairs to find Andrew nursing a cup of coffee.

    ¡°Little Canary, what happened to your leg?¡± he teased as Brielle settled into a chair beside him.

    ¡°Are you here about the Rond family issue?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Sophia is involved. She¡¯s close to Tessa, who asked me toe see you.¡±

    Brielle looked down, focusing on her toes. ¡°I heard it¡¯s not just the Rond family involved, but the

    Hatfield family too.¡±

    The police station had made it clearst night that the Hatfield family yed a part. Yet, Brielle had

    never crossed either family. Why do they target her now?

    Andrew leaned back, noddingzily. ¡°You must know her¨CEmily, the Hatfield family¡¯s daughter who

    works at

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    Chapter 85

    Dorsey International.¡±

    Realization dawned on Brielle. She had sensed Emily¡¯s hostility these past days but hadn¡¯t dwelt on it.

    ¡°I¡¯ve hardly interacted with them. There must be someone else behind this.¡±

    Andrew chuckled, casting a nce at Max silently sipping his coffee. It seemed Max was leaving the

    decision¨Cmaking to Brielle.

    ¡°How should I know? I¡¯m just here because of Tessa.¡±

    His certainty struck Brielle. Not for herself, but for Aubree.

 Chapter 86

    Chapter 86

    ¡°I¡¯m curious, what exactly did Miss Tessa tell you? This whole ordeal with Dorsey International involves

    some really hush¨Chush corporate secrets. If I just let this slide, I¡¯m the one who¡¯s gonna have to

    shoulder the me. Did it ever cross Miss Tessa¡¯s mind what I, as the victim here, am supposed to

    do?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s tone was cool, the corners of her mouth twitching with a mocking smile. She had never met

    Tessa, but judging someone¡¯s fate with a light phone call? That didn¡¯t sound like the actions of a good

    Samaritan. Was this the type of woman Andrew fell for?

    Andrew¡¯s brow furrowed. He wasn¡¯t a fool. He could read between the lines of Brielle¡¯s insinuation.

    ¡°Brielle, I don¡¯t know you, but I do know Max. He wouldn¡¯t just leave so¨Ccalled billion¨Cdor trade

    secrets in his jacket pocket. Sure, I believe Sophia hired someone toe after you, but the rest?

    Sounds like a tall tale to

    me.¡±

    ¡°And what if it is a tall tale? If I hadn¡¯t known how to protect myself, my face would have been ruined.

    You do know what looks mean to a woman, right?¡±

    Andrew¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What will it take for you not to pursue this?¡±

    ¡°Well, that depends on how far you¡¯re willing to go for Tessa.¡±

    ¡°Brielle.¡± A chill passed through Andrew¡¯s gaze. If Max wasn¡¯t there, he might have already drawn his

    gun. ¡°Don¡¯t be so ungrateful.¡±

    Brielle chuckled lightly, ¡°I¡¯m the only victim here, and my refusal to settle makes me ungrateful?¡±

    Andrew had been outmaneuvered by Brielle before, and it made his blood boil. Turning to Max, he

    snapped, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to do something about this?¡±

    She was getting a bit too cocky. She was just a pampered pet, after all.

    Max, fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of his ss, felt Andrew¡¯s stare and looked up slowly.

    ¡°What would you do if someone tried to ruin Tessa¡¯s face?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d annihte them. Their whole family would pay for it.¡± The fierceness in Andrew¡¯s eyes was

    unmistakable, and he frowned in disgust at his own reaction. ¡°How can youpare Brielle to Tessa?

    Tessa is my fianc¨¦e, the woman I¡¯m marrying. Brielle is just your fleeting fancy.¡±

    In front of Brielle, Andrew spoke without a filter. It wasn¡¯t a secret, after all. Brielle was aware, too. Max

    was just having his fun. She hadn¡¯t bored him yet.

    A sting of hurt shed through Brielle¡¯s heart, and her fingers clenched at her side. ¡°Andrew, this has

    nothing to do with my ce in Uncle Max¡¯s heart. It¡¯s a matter of a man¡¯s pride.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t admit she was afraid to hear Max¡¯s response, afraid it would fall short of her hopes, so

    she cleverly shifted the focus to a matter of dignity. It was better not to harbor too many hopes on

    certain people and things.

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Their finite nature couldn¡¯t bear the weight of such expectations. Best to let go.

    Max looked up, his gaze falling on her, as if assessing her.

    Brielle stiffened, forcing a casual smile. ¡°If Uncle Max can¡¯t even protect me, a pet of his, wouldn¡¯t that

    tarnish his grand image?¡±

    Andrew hadn¡¯t expected such a response, his brows knitting together. ¡°Brielle, what are you really

    after?¡±

    Brielle looked down, pushing aside the difort, ¡°I want Sophia and Emily toe and apologize to

    me, face to face. I¡¯ve got questions for them. And that thug from the police station? He needs to be

    behind bars, or he¡¯lle after me again.¡±

    Her demands were modest. She didn¡¯t mention the so¨Ccalled corporate secrets. A non¨Cexistent issue

    can¡¯t

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    15:09

    Chapter 86

    withstand scrutiny. Besides, Andrew and Max had a good rapport. She couldn¡¯t really blow things up

    irreparably.

    Andrew lit a cigarette, his expression defiant. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll make sure theye to you.¡±

    He said more, but Brielle wasn¡¯t really listening. Once he was gone, she turned to Max. He seemed

    unaffected by Andrew¡¯s words, detached.

    Brielle¡¯s lips twitched in self¨Cderision. To him, feelings must be too cheap to consider, cheap enough

    not to waste time pondering.

    Whether it was a business opportunity or a life chance, to a prodigy like Max, only a thirty percent shot

    was worth taking for a big win; anything less was likely a loss. A fifty percent chance was a minor

    victory. And with an eighty percent certainty, the market was saturated. If you waited for a hundred

    percent certainty, you might never find such a deal in the world.

    And in the game of chances, feelings might be less than the trash by the roadside. They held no sense

    of achievement when they were too easily won.

 Chapter 87

    Chapter 87

    Brielle pushed herself to her feet, grabbing the cane that rested beside her chair. ¡°Uncle Max, maybe

    Patrick could take me home?¡± She wanted to clear her head, to regain control before everything

    spiraled beyond repair.

    Max looked up at her, stood, and pulled her into aforting embrace. ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡± It wasn¡¯t an offer

    to stay, but a promise to escort her.

    A wave of disappointment washed over Brielle, but she mustered a smile nheless. ¡°Thanks, Uncle

    Max. I appreciate it.¡±

    The drive back to her apartment was silent. Once there, Brielle leaned on her cane as she made her

    way inside. Noticing Max hadn¡¯t left immediately, she fumbled her way to the kitchen and put a kettle on

    the stove. ¡°I¡¯ve only got ck tea here.¡±

    Max settled onto the couch, not offering to help, watching her manage with her cane, as she washed

    some fruit and brought it out.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t deny her irritation. After all, she was the one who was injured. Sitting down, she tossed

    her cane aside with a huff and caught her breath. ¡°There¡¯s nothing much at home. Hope you don¡¯t

    mind.¡±

    Max¡¯s gaze softened as he noticed the sweat on the tip of her nose and the flush of her cheeks. He

    looked away. ¡°Dorsey International has incorporated your two principles into our management system.

    You should talk to finance about doubling your year¨Cend bonus.¡±

    The abrupt change in topic caught Brielle off guard. ¡°What?¡±

    Once the realization hit her, she almost choked. All this time she had been stewing in her own

    frustrations, and there was Max, still pondering over business matters? True to The Priest¡¯s form, he

    never let women distract

    him from work.

    Biting her lip in annoyance, she also considered that this was exactly what she had hoped for. His

    professional detachment gave her room to breathe.

    ¡°Alright, thanks, Mr. Dorsey.¡± She stood up, leaning on her cane, and re¨Cpresented the washed fruit. ¡°I

    won¡¯t keep you any longer, Mr. Dorsey. You probably have meetings to attend. Take care.¡±

    As she spoke, Max reached out and took hold of her wrist. Brielle¡¯s eyes were drawn to the ck

    rosary he wore, making him seem even more ethereal, as though he truly belonged in the heavens.

    ¡°Are you upset?¡±

    It was rare for him to notice her mood. Brielle looked down at the fruit in her hands. The act of serving it

    only to take it back seemed childish and foolish.

    Taking a deep breath, she ced the fruit back on the table. ¡°No, Uncle Max. You¡¯re probably used to

    exotic fruits, flown in from abroad. I didn¡¯t want to disappoint.¡±

    ¡°If you like, I can have Brent arrange for daily deliveries.¡± His tone was casual, as if puzzled by her

    preupation with such trivialities.

    Brielle¡¯s heart sank. Her concerns were far from being about the fruit. Her gaze returned to the rosary

    beads on his wrist, and she couldn¡¯t help but think of Alivia, who had a simr string, likely a gift from

    him. Giving such a gift to a woman, no wonder they found it hard to forget him.

    She extended her pale finger and toyed with the beads. ¡°Uncle Max, could you give me this rosary?¡±

    The question surprised even her. Realizing what she had said, she panicked, disregarding the pain in

    her leg. and hastily pressed her lips to his.

    Max wrapped his arms around her waist, tilting his head slightly. ¡°In such a hurry? Are you sure your

    leg can handle it?¡±

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    15:09

    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Chapter 87

    Her heart raced as she kissed him again. Why had she asked for the rosary? Why did she want it? She

    must be losing her mind.

    She lowered her head and bit gently into his neck.

    Max grasped her chin, his eyes dark and intense, ¡°You had a feverst night. It¡¯s best not to y with

    fire now

    Just as he finished speaking, a loud banging erupted from the door.

    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±

    Spencer could hardly contain the urge to smash the door down. The fact that Brielle had been to the

    police station and he was thest to know infuriated him.

    Spencer, always prideful, checked his phone multiple times. Surely, in her time of need, Brielle should

    have called him for help, but there were no missed calls from her.

    Since when had Brielle stopped reaching out to him with messages and calls? The realization stoked a

    fire within him. He was angry that he cared even the slightest.

    What right did she have, a woman who did nothing but seduce men, to upy his thoughts? Was it

    wrong for him to have slept with Lillian? Perhaps Brielle had already been with other men, keeping it a

    secret all along. It wasn¡¯t that he had cheated on her. Brielle had betrayed him first.

 Chapter 88

    Chapter 88

    ¡°Brielle! Open up right now!¡± Anger and humiliation churned within, a tempest raging in his chest.

    Brielle lounged on the couch, making no move toward the door, her arms instead wrapped around

    Max¡¯s neck.

    Max nced down at her, easing her hands away, ¡°Not going to answer the door?¡±

    Brielle snorted with amusement, pointing first at him, then back to herself, ¡°So that he can find out that

    the almighty Mr. Dorsey has graced us mere mortals with his presence to personally attend to an

    employee?¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be the end of the world.¡±

    ¡°Bang! Bang!¡±

    The pounding on the door persisted, a clear sign that if the door wasn¡¯t opened, the knocking would

    be a permanent fixture.

    Cleverly, Brielle grabbed her phone and quickly powered it down. Outside, Spencer indeed began to

    call.

    ¡°Sorry, the number you have dialed is switched off.¡± Frustration nearly drove him to crush his phone,

    but then Lillian called. Spencer paused, irritation flickering in his eyes. In truth, the specific reason he

    had ended up in Lillian¡¯s arms was now a blur. He only remembered drinking and feeling irritated by

    Brielle, unable to resist pouring out his grievances to Lillian.

    His mind, muddled by booze, remembered only the softness of her embrace, and her whispering, ¡°If it

    were me, I wouldn¡¯t let you suffer like this.¡±

    Indeed, being in his favor was a blessing, yet Brielle seemed clueless about treasuring it.

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Lillian, what¡¯s up?¡± His tone was clipped, leaning casually against the door, devoid of his usual

    warmth.

    Sizing up his mood, Lillian tread lightly, ¡°Spencer, have you gone to see Bri?¡±

    At the mention of Brielle, Spencer felt a blockage in his heart. He didn¡¯t feel loved with her, but with

    Lillian, he felt everything. Lillian was understanding, considerate, and even after knowing he was

    unwilling to break off the engagement, she didn¡¯t express her grievances. She remained gentle, not

    forcing fate, and throughout, he was the only man in her life. Compared to the fickle Brielle, Lillian was

    perfection.

    Guilt pricked at Spencer, prompting a swift denial. ¡°No, I¡¯m at the Dorsey estate. Max needed to

    discuss some business.¡±

    The apartment¡¯s poor soundproofing meant his words were crystal clear to the pair inside.

    Brielle¡¯s eyebrow arched, her fingers idly twirling Max¡¯s tie. ¡°Uncle Max, you needed him for

    something?¡±

    Max gently pressed her hand down, careful not to disturb her injured leg.

    Outside, Spencer¡¯s clumsy lies continued. ¡°Just some work stuff. Max can be quite serious in private.¡±

    Lillian¡¯s heart raced. She had never had the chance to see Max¡¯s private side or to gaze up close at

    that face, which must be a happiness in itself. She felt her mouth dry out, suspecting every woman

    probably dreamed of conquering him. Yet, here she was, without even a chance to speak to him.

    Maybe Spencer was her opportunity.

    ¡°Spencer, do you dine privately with Max? Does he know about Brielle¡¯s situation?¡±

    At the first question, Spencer almost responded, but the second question made him explode. ¡°Why

    should he know about Brielle¡¯s affairs? They hardly speak, maybe cross paths at work, but his world

    revolves around his job. When has he ever looked at a woman? Let alone one who¡¯s engaged.¡±

    Lillian exhaled in relief. Although she had intentionally leaked Brielle¡¯s attempt to seduce Max to Emily,

    and she had edited the video, she was always unsettled about why they appeared together at the

    auction. It was her lingering concern. She feared losing control of the situation.

    15:10

    Chapter 88

    Spencer¡¯s response was the reassurance she needed. Indeed, Max had been devoted to his career for

    years, his only gossip involving with one Miss Barnes, and no other woman came close.

    Brielle had merely taken advantage of her work position.

    Lillian¡¯s lips curved into a smile, her thoughts crystallizing. She longed to see Max, to speak softly to

    him. To lock gazes, even if only for a few seconds, would be enough to savor for a lifetime.

    Chapter 89

 Chapter 89

    Chapter 89

    ¡°Spencer, you go ahead and have a good chat with Max. I won¡¯t intrude,¡± she said with a considerate

    tone.

    Spencer nodded, ending the call and feeling all the more appreciative of Lillian¡¯s sensibility.

    Spencer looked up at the firmly shut door with a flicker of disdain in his eyes. He must be out of his

    mind toe all this way for a woman like that.

    Brielle? She was worth this hassle?

    His face darkened, and without hesitation, he turned on his heel and strode away, unaware that on the

    other side of the door, the workaholic ¡®Uncle Max¡® had a woman sitting on hisp.

    Brielle¡¯s hands were still looped around Max¡¯s neck, her head resting against his chest. Max¡¯s palm

    gently caressed her back before he firmly grasped her chin, forcing her to look up. ¡°You¡¯ve been

    crying?¡±

    He didn¡¯t know the ins and outs of Brielle¡¯s entanglement with Spencer, only that they were once

    engaged. As for their past affection, he couldn¡¯t care less.

    Brielle, with top honors from Beaconsfield College, a stunning face, and formidable work skills, was

    certainly more than a match for Spencer.

    ¡°Still hung up on him?¡±

    Brielle almost retched at the thought. Her, liking Spencer? Impossible.

    Her distress was only due to the shock of seeing someone she had known for over a decade change

    so drastically, as if her entire past life were a facade now cracked to reveal its true nature.

    But Max¡¯s misunderstanding wasn¡¯t such a bad thing. After all,pared to the minor difort she

    felt toward Spencer, her emotions for Max were a tumultuous wave.

    It may be better to let the misunderstanding continue. It was better than letting others know about those

    budding delusions.

    ¡°Yes, we were engaged for over a decade. How could I not have feelings for him?¡±

    The pressure on her chin increased, and she winced in pain. Max¡¯s eyes darkened, not understanding

    why he felt a pang of anger.

    ¡°You seduced me while still harboring feelings for him. Brielle, are your affections that cheap?¡±

    The fleeting emotion vanished, and he lifted her in his arms, positioning her so as not to hurt her legs.

    Getting angry over a caged canary, especially one with someone else in her heart, was pointless. He

    was to enjoy the moment and nothing more.

    Max couldn¡¯t help but repeat this mantra, yet seeing the hurt in her eyes softened him. ¡°Find someone

    new to fancy. He¡¯s not worth it.¡±

    It was the first time anyone had told Brielle that someone else was unworthy, rather than questioning

    what she deserved. Her spirits lifted, and she couldn¡¯t resist starting to unbutton his shirt.

    ¡°Uncle Max, I think we shouldn¡¯t talk about other men at a time like this.¡±

    Max chuckled, leaning in to capture her lips with his, ¡°Just don¡¯t think about him in your heart.¡±

    ¡°How could I? Ask any woman out there as long as she¡¯s not blind, she¡¯d know who to choose between

    you and Spencer. Besides, you¡¯re far better in bed than he is.¡±

    The moment the words left her lips, the warmth in the air vanished. His eyes grew cold.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Brielle knew she was pushing her luck. He had never asked how far she and Spencer had gone ¨C had

    they kissed? Embraced? Slept together?

    15:10 M

    Chapter 89

    Most people would assume that after so many years of engagement, she and Spencer must have

    shared a bed. She deliberately rified this to gauge his reaction. However, his gaze was

    unfathomable, deep as an abyss.

    The kissing resumed, along her lips, her jaw, her neck. His touch was fiercer than usual ¨C he had

    always been passionate, but never quite like this, as if he wanted to shatter her.

    ¡°How much better than him?¡±

    He paused at the peak of their passion, his question a deliberate provocation.

    Brielle¡¯s mind was hazy, fireworks exploding before her eyes. She didn¡¯t understand what he was

    asking. The world seemed to swirl into an impressionist painting. She reached out to grasp him, but her

    hands were caught and pinned above her head.

    ¡°Just a little better, or much better?¡±

    Tears sprang to Brielle¡¯s eyes. She bit her lip, refusing to speak. He was being cruel, punishing her like

    this.

    ¡°Brielle, answer me.¡±

 Chapter 90

    Chapter 90

    Brielle shook her head, tears cascading down her cheeks with increased fervor. In the hours that

    followed, it seemed he tortured her on purpose.

    ¡°Have you done this position with him?¡±

    ¡°Could he make you cry like this?¡±

    ¡°If we¡¯reparing, we should do it position by position. Did you do it in the bathroom too?¡±

    Brielle felt like she was losing her mind, torn between humiliation and the primal stirrings within her

    body. She never should have taunted a man in bed.

    ¡°Uncle Max, I¡¯m so sorry.¡±

    Her cheeks were slick with sweat as she pitifully clutched at his sleeve.

    His suit jackety discarded at the foot of the bed, but his shirt remained on¨Cthough it was a rumpled

    mess

    from their encounter.

    Brielle had always known how he was in bed, a stark contrast to The Priest. When he interrogated

    someone, his cruelty seemed to know no bounds.

    Opposite The Priest, he was like a dazzlingly colorful poison butterfly, an entangling siren, a being one

    should rightly fear and revere, yet irresistibly fall into his seductive snare.

    Brielle regretted her actions so deeply it hurt, and after many sweet nothings and tears, she finally

    managed to

    soothe the man to a stop.

    Max brushed the tears from her cheeks with a chuckle, ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡± His voice was raspy

    with a hint of post¨Cpassion, echoing close to her ear.

    The anger in her heart dissipated instantly¨Cthis was Max, with just a few words he could make one long

    to live for him, or die for him.

    The apartment was filled with sounds of passion.

    Meanwhile, at the police station, thanks to Andrew¡¯s intervention, Sophia was quickly released. As for

    the thug who started the fight, he was sentenced, and the so¨Ccalled trade secrets? Andrew had said he

    wouldn¡¯t pursue it, so naturally, the police wouldn¡¯t either.

    Sophia walked out behind Andrew, her face beaming with relief. ¡°Andrew, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely put

    in a good word for you with my cousin.¡±

    Everyone knew how much Andrew cared for Tessa¨Cwhatever Tessa wanted, Andrew would do.

    Andrew was impatient with these female squabbles, but he still had to follow through on his promise to

    Brielle. ¡°Get in touch with Emily from the Hatfield family. I want you two to personally apologize to

    Brielle, and don¡¯t you dare half¨Cass it.¡±

    Max had given him respect, and he had to do the same for Max.

    Sophia¡¯s face stiffened, her lips pursing in reluctance. ¡°She doesn¡¯t have any real status in the Dorsey

    family. What¡¯s there to fear? Besides, you said yourself there was no trade secret issue. I should be the

    one to sue her for nder.¡±

    With the Rond family and Andrew backing her, what did she have to fear from Brielle?

    ¡°Andrew, Brielle and Spencer¡¯s rtionship is just for show. Spencer doesn¡¯t even want to keep up

    appearances.¡±

    Andrew lit a cigarette, his sharp gaze pinning her down. Sophia¡¯s smugness vanished as if someone

    had, choked her.

    Chapter 90

    Andrew scoffed, ¡°I¡¯m willing to talk to you out of respect for Tessa. If you and Emily don¡¯t go, it¡¯s not just

    Brielle I won¡¯t let off.¡±

    Sophia felt a chill run down her spine, unable to move a muscle. How could she forget how

    unapproachable Andrew could be? Apart from Tessa, he had never shown favor to any other woman.

    She quickly lowered her head, avoiding his piercing eyes. ¡°Andrew, I understand. I¡¯ll contact Emily right

    away.¡±

    Andrew didn¡¯t bother giving her another nce, stepping into his car and driving away.

    Watching the car disappear, Sophia gritted her teeth in frustration. She couldn¡¯t fathom why Andrew

    insisted on the apology. What was he wary of? Spencer? Impossible. Spencer, a yboy with no real

    power, was nothing in Andrew¡¯s eyes.

    The Haywood family? Although their business had improved over the years due to their connection with

    the Dorsey family, it wasn¡¯t enough for Andrew to show them favor.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Sophia racked her brain but couldn¡¯te up with an answer. In the end, she decided to call Tessa.

    ¡°Tessa, Andrew wants me to apologize to Brielle at her doorstep. Do you think he¡¯s taking Brielle¡¯s

    side?¡±

    Sophia was well¨Cliked by Tessa. She always sweet¨Ctalked her and spent a lot of time keeping her

    company. She knew Tessa enjoyed Andrew¡¯s favors and wouldn¡¯t tolerate any other woman having a

    special ce with him.

    Sure enough, upon hearing this, Tessa sat up straight. ¡°Did he tell you that himself?¡±

 Chapter 91

    Chapter 91

    ¡°Ugh, Andrew just bailed me out of the police station, and he was like, ¡®you can¡¯t just brush this off. I

    mean, isn¡¯t Brielle just an employee at Dorsey International? Why does he have to go this far?¡±

    Tessa¡¯s breath grew heavier, and she couldn¡¯t help but cough violently a few times. She was growing

    more and more disgusted with her frail body. On most days, she could only rely on medication to keep

    going, and the slightest agitation was off¨Climits. Just hearing this news had already caused beads of

    sweat to form on her forehead.

    ¡°Should I go?¡± Sophia asked, testing the waters with her question, though deep down she had zero

    desire to go, especially since it meant seeing Emily. Just the thought that she had gotten into this mess

    because of Emily made her blood boil.

    ¡°If he said so, then just do it,¡± Tessa replied, knowing Andrew¡¯s intentions all too well. ¡°There¡¯s no way

    he¡¯d have anything to do with Brielle.¡±

    ¡°I trust Andrew, but I¡¯ve heard Brielle is quite the loose cannon.¡±

    Tessa took a deep breath, a sharp look crossing her eyes. ¡°Sophia, keep an eye out for me while you¡¯re

    out there. If you see Brielle getting too close to Andrew, give me a call.¡±

    Sophia¡¯s lips curled into a wry smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll keep an eye on Andrew for you.¡±

    After hanging up, Sophia shot a message to Emily. Emily had been living in a state of constant anxiety,

    and though she heard the issue had been resolved, she was now told she needed to apologize to

    Brielle, which instantly made her feel nauseous. [I¡¯m not going, why should I grovel to that tramp

    Brielle.]N?velDrama.Org holds this content.

    Reading Emily¡¯s response, a sneer crossed Sophia¡¯s face. [I¡¯ve got Brielle¡¯s address from Lillian.

    Andrew said we have to apologize in

    person. If you don¡¯t show, you¡¯re on your own.]

    Knowing who Andrew was, Emily felt a wave of intimidation wash over her, but at the same time, she

    was seething. Why would Andrew side

    with Brielle?

    Could it be that Brielle didn¡¯t just hook Max but was also stringing Andrew along?

    Fuming with malice, Emily¡¯s scalp tingled at the thought. An apology? Fine, she had a belly full of fire

    that needed venting anyway.

    Half an hourter, the two women arrived punctually at Brielle¡¯s apartment door.

    Sophia knocked without courtesy and then crossed her arms, ready to confront her adversary. She

    nced sideways at Emily, her expression

    colder than ice.

    ¡°Using me as your pawn, Emily, you¡¯ve really outdone yourself. After this mess, we¡¯re done. I can¡¯t

    afford a ¡®friend¡® like you.¡±

    Emily knew she would be humiliated. ¡°How was I to know Brielle was so cunning,ing up with a

    story about a ten¨Cbillion¨Cdor business secret?¡±

    And how could those six or seven men not handle one woman, letting Brielle slip away? What garbage

    help had Sophia enlisted.

    Emily kept herposure, but inside she was railing against Sophia¡¯s

    unreliable choices.

    Both outsiders in their own families, they¡¯d grown up in luxury and now could hardly stand the sight of

    each other.

    Sophia felt jinxed and banged on the door again. Inside the bedroom, Brielle was awakened by the

    heat.

    The evening sun poured through the window, casting an orange glow on the bedspread. By the

    window, a man in a simple robe was working on

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help but linger her gaze on him, not for the first time seeing Max like this, but his face

    never failed to dazzle her.

    He sat by the window, the breeze carrying his bracing scent. From noon till dusk, he had been busy for

    five hours and still had the energy to work.

    Brielle rubbed her sore back, thinking she had brought it upon herself.

    The knocking continued from the living room. Spencer again?

    She casually threw on a robe and strolled to the window, leaving a kiss on his lips. ¡°Bear with me,

    Uncle Max. Hide out in the bedroom for a bit.

    I¡¯ve got someone to meet.¡±

    Max paused, his gaze falling on her neck. The marks from before hadn¡¯t faded, now joined by new

    ones. The thought of a man outside made his brow crease, and he began fastening her buttons, one by

    one, up to the very top ¨C still not satisfied.

    ¡°Wear a scarf.¡±

 Chapter 92

    Chapter 92

    Brielle felt the top button of her blouse choking her and raised her hand to unfasten it, but Max caught

    her wrist, ¡°Or maybe try a different

    outfit.¡±

    A smirk yed at the corners of Brielle¡¯s mouth; his possessiveness was baffling at times.

    She turned and grabbed a light turtleneck sweater from her closet, not showing any sign of bashfulness

    as she stripped off the one she was wearing. After changing, she twirled in front of him, ¡°Is this better?¡±

    Max averted his gaze, his naturally longshes casting a shadow, ¡°Barely.¡±

    Rolling her eyes inwardly, Brielle walked towards the living room, making sure to grab her cane.

    She shut the bedroom door behind her with a soft click.

    Sophia and Emily had been waiting impatiently outside the door, their hands raised to knock again

    when it swung open.

    Brielle hadn¡¯t expected them. She arched an eyebrow lightly, then offered a cool smile, ¡°Make

    yourselves at home. Don¡¯t be shy.¡±

    Sophia had initially intended to directly give Brielle a piece of her mind, but upon encountering Brielle¡¯s

    smile, it felt like punching into cotton, losing the intended impact. She nced around the modest

    room, which inparison to her luxurious vi, could only be described as

    humble.

    Emily, standing next to her, struggled to mask her resentment towards Brielle.

    Brielle turned away with a measured pace and settled on the couch, cing her cane beside her,

    ¡°Come in, don¡¯t just stand there at the door.¡±

    Chapter 92

    Fuming, Emily stormed in, ¡°Brielle, don¡¯t get so smug.¡±

    Brielle nced at the table, where Max¡¯s ss of water had long gone cold. She picked it up and took

    a sip. ¡°I just have a few questions, and after that, you can start apologizing.¡±

    She set the ss down and found afortable position, eyes fixed on the two visitors. ¡°Who¡¯s the

    aplice and who¡¯s the

    mastermind?¡±

    Emily¡¯s hand clenched at her side, itching to throw the fruit from the table at Brielle¡¯s face. This

    despicable bitch was ignoring her!

    Brielle¡¯s casual demeanor only aggravated Emily further.

    Noticing the thick bandages on Brielle¡¯s leg, Emily moved forward, aiming to stomp on her foot. But

    Brielle was quick to dodge, retracting her foot and sshing the water towards Emily.

    Emily¡¯s hair got drenched, and she almost screamed as she lunged at

    Brielle.

    Sophia intervened, grabbing Emily¡¯s arm with impatience. ¡°Andrew sent us to apologize. If you don¡¯t

    y along, he¡¯ll throw me back to the police station. Emily, I don¡¯t care what beef you have with Brielle,

    but if you don¡¯t help me wrap this up, I¡¯ll never let you off the hook.¡±

    Sophia had more sense than Emily¡¯s twisted rage. She shot a disdainful look at Brielle, nning her

    revenge for after this was all over, but for now, she couldn¡¯t act on impulse, not with Andrew¡¯s

    intolerance for

    disobedience.

    Taking a deep breath, Sophia said, ¡°I don¡¯t know you well, and it was Emily who detests you. I just hired

    that thug, gave him a million to trouble you. Sadly, he messed up and let you get away.¡±

    Sophia had seen Brielle before but only from a distance. Now, up close, she realized how stunning

    Brielle was.

    With a lightugh, Brielle put the empty ss down, ¡°Why does Emily

    hate me?¡±

    Whether at thepany or now, Emily¡¯s malice was obvious. Yet Brielle had never had any dealings

    with her.

    Sophia snorted, her gaze filled with contempt, ¡°There¡¯s no one in our group chat who doesn¡¯t despise

    you. We¡¯re well aware of all your misdeeds. And as if having Spencer wasn¡¯t enough, you had to go

    after other men, and even tried to seduce Max. Emily has been pining for Max for ages, how do you

    think she feels?¡±

    So, it was Max¡¯s troublesome admirer.

    Brielle raised an eyebrow, noting another keyword¨Cgroup chat.

    Tiffanie had told her about the group chats of socialites in Beaconsfield, and in Lillian¡¯s circle, almost

    everyone looked down on her. It was all thanks to Lillian ying the victim, ruining Brielle¡¯sProperty ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    reputation.

    Brielle found it amusing, though they weren¡¯t entirely wrong¨Cshe had indeed seduced Max. She turned

    to Emily, who still looked at her with venomous eyes, as if ready to tear her apart.

    Brielle¡¯s lips curved slightly, ¡°So, you came to Dorsey International all for Mr. Dorsey? Well,

    congrattions, you¡¯re fired from the M&A department.¡±

    Emily¡¯s face froze, her eyes widening in disbelief, ¡°What did you say? Say that again!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re fired, for trying to frame your own supervisor over a personal vendetta. Isn¡¯t that reason

    enough?¡±

 Chapter 93

    Chapter 93

    Brielle¡¯s tone was nonchnt, and seeing Emily turn red with anger brought her a perverse sense of

    satisfaction.

    ¡°And you think you can fire me? Does Mr. Dorsey know you¡¯re abusing your power?¡±

    Brielle nced at the bedroom door. He hadn¡¯t known before, but she figured he must be aware now.

    Inside the bedroom, Max certainly heard themotion outside. He was about to step out when his

    phone rang¨Cit was Kenzo calling.

    ¡°Max, Alivia¡¯s back tonight. We threw her a little wee back shindig. Youing?¡±

    Tequ Sunset was the go¨Cto haunt for Beaconsfield¡¯s elite, a ce where privacy reigned supreme

    and only those with clout mingled. It was the venue of choice for their inner¨Ccircle soirees and

    gatherings.

    Kenzo nced at the woman sitting opposite him. She appeared calm, but her body was taut with

    tension. He chuckled to himself, thinking how quickly girls grow up and out of their shells.

    ¡°Another time, I¡¯m swamped.¡±

    The call was on speaker, so Alivia overheard, ¡°I¡¯ve only got a few days off before I have to return. Max,

    it¡¯s been ages.¡±

    Everyone in Beaconsfield knew about their near¨Cengagement. Back then, her pride was too strong.

    She feared rejection from Max, so she rejected him first. Now she deeply regretted it. If she had agreed

    back then, perhaps Max would have agreed to this marriage out of

    consideration for Michael.

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    She lowered her head, caressing her rosary. The cool ck beads reminded her of the identical one on

    his wrist, and her heart softened.

    Chapter 93

    ¡°If you¡¯re really tied up, I coulde over to Dorsey International.¡±

    With the conversation going this far, it would be cruel for Max to refuse. He frowned, but out of

    consideration for Kenzo, he relented,

    ¡°Tomorrow night, then.¡±

    Alivia breathed a sigh of relief, her heart swelling with sweetness, ¡°Great, I¡¯ll wait for you.¡±

    After hanging up, Kenzo gave her a teasing look, ¡°You know, you could¡¯ve just called him yourself

    instead of using me as a go¨Cbetween.¡± Alivia shot him a mock¨Cangry nce. ¡°Stop teasing me.¡±

    They weren¡¯t alone. Others sat nearby, but these folks weren¡¯t part of the same circle as Sophia.

    The elite had their hierarchies, with illegitimate children and distant rtives of prominent families

    rarely rubbing shoulders with those present unless they were introduced by someone. Alivia and Kenzo

    were at the core of the true elite, so naturally, those seated with them were central figures too.

    Everyone had heard about Alivia and Max¡¯s past, and now they couldn¡¯t resist ribbing her.

    ¡°That guy hardly ever shows up to parties. We can¡¯t even get his personal number, but you, Alivia,

    you¡¯ve got some serious pull.¡±

    ¡°Get out of here. You want his number? At an international auction abroad, I was signing papers

    backstage with him, and I tried to say hello. He didn¡¯t even nce my way. So cold, like an emotionless

    robot. I swear, you¡¯d freeze talking to him.¡±

    ¡°Alivia, that rosary¨Cdon¡¯t tell me it¡¯s a matching set with his?¡±

    Max was known for his ck rosary, but Alivia having one too certainly spoke volumes about their

    special rtionship. Even Alivia, usually soposed, blushed at this, ¡°Max isn¡¯t that scary. He¡¯s just

    not big on talking. He¡¯s quite gentle when it¡¯s just us.¡±

    Chapter 91

    ¡°That¡¯s because he¡¯s only gentle with you. After all, you¡¯re his old me.¡± Laughter erupted around

    them as they teased about expecting to celebrate their eventual nuptials. ted, Alivia let herself drink

    a few

    too many.

    Meanwhile, Kenzo sat by her side, long fingers idly spinning his ss. He didn¡¯t bring up the matter

    with Brielle¨Chis sister was probably unaware. A smirk danced on his lips in anticipation. There would be

    drama to watch in the days ahead.

 Chapter 94

    Chapter 94

    Kenzo knew his sister like the back of his hand. She was the center of their social circle, having been

    doted on since childhood. Coupled with her own impressive achievements, she wore a halo that shone

    brightly. A person like that would never settle for defeat.

    Kenzo had attended Beaconsfield College, where even then, Brielle¡¯s name was known. She was

    beautiful and unassuming, with a talent. that could have taken her even further if the Haywood family

    had not kept a tight rein on her.

    Kenzo was well aware that, if it came down to it, Brielle was every bit as

    capable as Alivia.

    Brielle¡¯s first decade was spent in an orphanage, struggling even for the most basic needs. In contrast,

    Alivia was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. From her earliest words, she was surrounded by

    differentnguages and nurtured by top¨Ctier tutors brought in by the Barnes family to cultivate her

    interests and hobbies. The amount of money the Barnes family invested in her was beyond reckoning.

    Alivia was who she was because she was a child of the Barnes family. She simply fulfilled a destiny

    that seemed written from birth. But Brielle was who she was because she was Brielle¨Cand that was the

    whole

    story.

    Kenzo set his ss down, his gazes showingyers of emotions.

    Alivia, noticing his distraction, teased him, ¡°Bro, haven¡¯t you thought about finding yourself ady? Look

    at Andrew, already engaged, and the others switch girlfriends like they¡¯re changing clothes. Max has

    me, but you¡¯ve got no one. Are you nning to be a bachelor forever?¡±

    Max has me. Those words carried such conviction.

    With a small smile, Kenzo twirled his empty ss, ¡°Haven¡¯t found anyone I like.¡±

    17.11

    Kenzo wasn¡¯t just at the epicenter of power; he was also a fixture in theplex whirlpool of the

    entertainment industry. In the entertainment industry, men and women were adept at ying games,

    and as the most talented scriptwriter, Kenzo¡¯s scripts brought fame to many, but he remained alone.

    He never publicly acknowledged having a girlfriend.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s your type? I¡¯ll keep an eye out for you,¡± she offered.

    A face shed through Kenzo¡¯s mind, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, ¡°Someone beautiful.¡±

    Alivia thought she had misheard, her eyes widening before she let out a chuckle. ¡°There are plenty of

    beauties in the industry, all those actresses with faces to die for. Haven¡¯t seen you bring any home,

    though.¡±

    The term ¡®beautiful¡® was indeed too vague.

    ¡°Beautiful, and someone who knows how to charm,¡± Kenzo added before closing his eyes.

    His presence was gentle and warm, unlike Max¡¯s chilly demeanor. Max was untouchable, but Kenzo

    was like theforting glow of a thousand homes, softening the world.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll find her for you,¡± Alivia said nomittally, thinking he was just joking.

    Kenzo withdrew from the weing party, feeling out of ce.

    Max ended his call and then heard a knock at the bedroom door. It was Emily.

    The moment the phone had rung, Emily and Sophia had heard it. And there was a man¡¯s voice from

    the bedroom, soft but unmistakable.

    Emily even thought she recognized it from somewhere. She knocked on the door, ignoring Brielle

    sitting in the living room, almost eager to

    announce that Brielle had a man hidden in her room.

    ¡°Brielle, you¡¯re shameless, bringing home some random guy. Does your fianc¨¦ know about this?¡± Emily

    spat out.

    Brielle sat on the sofa, a smirk ying on her lips, imagining the shock. on Emily¡¯s face if Max were to

    emerge right then.

    Venom filled Emily¡¯s eyes, and she had Spencer¡¯s contact at her fingertips. Why not call him over and

    catch them in the act? Without hesitation, she whipped out her phone and dialed Spencer¡¯s number.

    Chapter 95Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

 Chapter 95

    Chapter 95

    Spencer picked up the call quickly, already at his suburban vi, having just had sex with Lillian, a way

    to soothe her.

    Lilliany gently in his arms, yet she couldn¡¯t shake the desire to reach out to Max. She had to find a

    chance to talk to him.

    The ringtone of her phone broke her train of thought. As the name. Emily shed on the screen, a dark

    gleam crossed her eyes.

    Spencer knew Emily worked at Dorsey International. Lillian had mentioned her before, but he hadn¡¯t

    expected her to call him directly. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    Emily looked triumphantly at Brielle and raised her voice, ¡°Mr. Spencer, I¡¯m at Brielle¡¯s ce. Is the

    man in her bedroom you?¡±

    Spencer¡¯s grip on the phone tightened instantly, his tone turned menacing, ¡°What man?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a man in Brielle¡¯s bedroom, but the door¡¯s closed. I thought it. was you. If it¡¯s not you, then

    who could it be? Aren¡¯t you two engaged? Could it be she¡¯s brought another man home?¡±

    Spencer was seething with rage, feeling utterly humiliated. ¡°That¡­ that bitch¡¯s affairs are none of my

    business! She could parade a hundred men around for all I care!¡± He hung up without hesitation, his

    chest heaving with fury.

    Lillian was lying right beside him, hearing every word clearly. She was secretly pleased, thinking

    keeping Emily around was indeed useful.

    ¡°Spencer, shouldn¡¯t you check it out? Emily¡¯s not wrong. Bri is your fianc¨¦e, after all. She¡¯s been in and

    out of the police station, now hiding men in her bedroom. If the Dorsey family gets wind of this¡­¡±

    Spencer¡¯s chest hurt unbearably, his face paled with anger. He got up to dress, a wildfire of wrath

    spreading through him.

    Chapter 95

    How could Brielle stoop so low! What made her different from a prostitute right now!

    However, the thought of breaking off the engagement was unbearable. How could he ept that?

    The taste of blood was in Spencer¡¯s mouth, his breath hot with rage. Once dressed, he clenched his

    teeth, ¡°Lillian, you don¡¯t me me for not breaking off the engagement?¡±

    Lillian stood up and wrapped her arms around his waist, ¡°Whatever decision you make, I¡¯m with you,

    Spencer. In this life, you¡¯re the only

    man for me.¡±

    Saying such things in this context was implicitly a jab at Brielle¡¯s promiscuity.

    Spencer was filled with hate and anger, and in the end, he pushed her back onto the bed. ¡°Lillian,

    you¡¯re the best. That¡­ that woman can¡¯t evenpare to one of your fingers.¡±

    Only by saying this could he feel a little better.

    It was he who rejected Brielle, feeling she was tainted, not that he was the one being abandoned. He

    wouldn¡¯t break off the engagement just to teach Brielle a lesson, to have the engagement hang over

    her, dragging her down until no other man dared marry her. This was the price for betraying him.

    After hanging up, Emily looked triumphantly at Brielle, trying to detect. even a hint of panic on her face,

    but Brielle sat there calmly, even nonchnt. Seeing that Emily was done, she simply crossed her

    arms, ¡°Shall we start with the apologies now?¡±

    Emily¡¯s face stiffened, her fingertips trembling with anger.

    How shameless could this woman be, still soposed after being caught in an affair.

    Sophia, unable to stand the atmosphere in the room, felt disgusted by

    17.11

    Chapter 95

    everything around her. Lillian had been right. Brielle was indeed unprincipled.

    She took a deep breath, eager to quickly end things here, so without hesitation, she bent down.

    ¡°Brielle, I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have hired someone toe after you. I hope you can forgive my

    foolishness.¡±

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Sophia had been holding back her emotions from the beginning, and after saying her piece, she waited

    for Brielle¡¯s response.

    Brielle looked at Emily, raising an eyebrow, ¡°And you?¡±

    Emily was so angry her face turned ashen, unable to utter a single word.

    Brielle not only wanted to dismiss her but also demanded an apology now. It was nothing short of

    wishful thinking.

    ¡°Go to hell! Brielle, I won¡¯t let you get away with this.¡±

 Chapter 96

    Chapter 96

    fist

    Emily spun on her heel and departed without another word, leaving Sophia standing there, her face

    contorted in anger. Clenching her at her side, she spat out, ¡°I¡¯ve apologized already. If Emily doesn¡¯t

    want. to make amends, that¡¯s her business. Can I go now?¡±

    She sneered to herself, thinking about calling Andrew the moment she was out the door to say she¡¯d

    done her part. After that, how she¡¯d deal with Brielle was nobody¡¯s concern. She sure as heck wasn¡¯t

    going to let Brielle off the hook for humiliating her like this.

    Brielle pushed herself to her feet, leaning heavily on the cane resting. beside her. ¡°Andrew must have

    told you both to apologize together. Since Emily¡¯s gone, today¡¯s little show doesn¡¯t count. Find another

    time, and make sure you both show up.¡±

    Sophia was incredulous, feeling like she¡¯d been yed for a fool. ¡°Brielle, the only reason I¡¯m standing

    here is out of respect for Andrew. Who do you think you are, anyway? Without him, someone of your

    status wouldn¡¯t even have the right to speak to me.¡± She was fuming, her face red with rage, yet she bit

    back her anger, remembering Andrew¡¯s instructions.

    As Brielle reached the bedroom door, she saw it ajar, with Max about to step out.

    Quick as a sh, Brielle slipped through the door and pushed him back

    inside.

    Outside, Sophia caught just a glimpse of a man¡¯s silhouette through the crack before it vanished.

    It was too quick, she hadn¡¯t seen his face, but she sensed he had an air of distinction about him.

    B

    Brielle stood inside the bedroom, leaning against the door, and found it amusing to see Max being

    pushed to sit at the foot of the bed.

    ¡°Uncle Max, if you went out there now, in less than an hour, all of Beaconsfield would be buzzing about

    you and me.¡±

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Afraid?¡±

    Brielle was conflicted, unsure what game this man was ying. He seemed oblivious to the chaos their

    exposure would bring, not just the tittering gossip but also the potential shock to Michael.

    Max could stand tall and unaffected, but what about her? The slightest flick of a wrist from those people

    could erase herpletely.

    Her eyshes fluttered down as her hand, hidden behind her, clenched tight, her nails digging into her

    palm. ¡°Not now, at least,¡± she murmured, avoiding his gaze.

    Sophia, oblivious to the undercurrents in the bedroom, was left cooling her heels and eventually left in

    a huff.

    Descending the stairs, she couldn¡¯t resist dialing Emily¡¯s number. There was no answer. Sophia was

    livid. If it weren¡¯t for Emily¡¯s sudden exit, this whole mess would be over.

    In a fit of pique, she blocked Emily¡¯s number, vowing never to see that wretch again. As for exining

    to Andrew, she¡¯d simply say Emily wasn¡¯t cooperative. And if Brielle dared to tattle to him, Sophia

    would just spill the beans to Tessa, who, with a mere flick, could make

    Brielle¡¯s life a living nightmare.

    Content with her plotting, Sophia scoffed and made her way out.

    Upstairs, Brielle approached Max and began to pat him down. Finding his phone, she looked up at him.

    ¡°Uncle Max, can I borrow your phone

    for a call?¡±

    Personal items like phones were off¨Climits to others, but given Brielle¡¯s soft tone and fluttering eyes,

    Max relented.

    She took the phone, unceremoniously grabbing his hand to unlock it with his fingerprint, then dialed

    Andrew¡¯s number. It was eight o¡¯clock in

    17.12

    the evening, and Andrew was at the Tequ Sunset, having attended the wee party.

    However, he didn¡¯t particrly enjoy the so¨Ccalled wee party, so he just made a brief appearance

    and found a corner to sit down. Seeing Max¡¯s call, Andrew raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

    Alivia, who was with him, assumed Max wasing over and smiled. ¡°Is Max heading this way?¡± she

    asked.

    Andrew shook his head and answered the call. ¡°Max, what¡¯s up?¡±

    But instead of Max¡¯s voice, a woman¡¯s voice came through the line.

    ¡°Mr. Clements.¡±

 Chapter 97

    Chapter 97

    Andrew froze for a second, his reflexes kicking in as he swiftly turned off the speakerphone. Brielle was

    actually using Max¡¯s phone to call

    him?

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Max was a man who prided himself on his privacy, always loathed anyone touching his personal

    belongings, and yet, here he was, letting her get away with this much.

    Andrew was a moment toote; Alivia had already caught a snippet of Brielle¡¯s voice. Her brows

    furrowed, doubt crept in. Had she misread the disy? It definitely shed Max¡¯s name, but the voice

    emanating from it was unmistakably feminine.

    And Andrew¡¯s hasty move to silence the speakerphone only served to fan the mes of her suspicion.

    Her face cooled, fingers pinching the stem of the wine ss, silent, eyeing Andrew.

    Andrew, trying to appear unfazed, continued, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    The corners of Brielle¡¯s lips curled, ¡°You promised me, Mr. Clements. You wouldn¡¯t go back on your

    word, would you?¡±

    Andrew frowned, puzzled by her cryptic message.

    Brielle added, ¡°Sophia and Emily showed up. They mocked me a bit and

    left.¡±

    Andrew snorted quietly. He couldn¡¯t quite figure out if Max was by her side, and he didn¡¯t want to

    tarnish the brotherhood by throwing shade

    at Brielle.

    But if heined about Max spoiling Brielle too much, especially with Alivia right there, she¡¯d

    certainly overhear.

    Andrew was seething, his facial muscles tensed, ¡°They mocked your and apologized, didn¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡°They did, but I wasn¡¯t satisfied. You know, Mr. Clements, my face nearly got disfigured this time. And I

    even broke my leg. Uncle Max has been absolutely distressed over it.¡±

    Oh, the nerve of her. Andrew felt his scalp tingle with irritation. Standing up from the couch, he walked

    towards the door, voice lowered, ¡°What do you want, exactly?¡±

    As he spoke, he moved to the exit, his tone harsher, ¡°Don¡¯t think you can ride on Max¡¯s current favor,

    Brielle. Save yourself some future trouble. What if Max gets tired of you? Do you really want to burn all

    your bridges?¡±

    Offending him would get her anything good.

    ¡°Mr. Clements, didn¡¯t you make a promise in front of Uncle Max himself? What¡¯s this, a change of

    heart?¡±

    Andrew had now left the private room, the surrounding quietness making his voice even clearer. He lit

    up a cigarette, chuckling with a hint of venom in his eyes, ¡°Is Max with you?¡±

    Brielle nced over, poking Max¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Uncle Max, say something.¡±

    Max knew she was doing this on purpose, but he had to admit, he rather liked Brielle¡¯s cunning ways.

    She was so vivacious.

    Brielle stuck out her tongue, unable to resist a lick of her lips, eyes locked on him, ¡°Uncle Max?¡±

    Max¡¯s breath hitched, his fingers gripping the back of her head, pulling her down into a kiss, grinding

    against those plump lips.

    ¡°Mmm.¡±

    Brielle tried to pull away, but the firm hand on the back of her head kept. her in ce. She rxed into

    it, humming softly.

    The call continued, and Andrew¡¯s fingertips held a cigarette. Just as he

    was about to put it in his mouth, he heard a suppressed moan from the other end.

    His hand paused, suspecting a trick of his mind, he couldn¡¯t help but nce down at the screen. It was

    definitely Max¡¯s number, definitely Brielle who had called, and definitely Brielle making those sounds.

    And the one who could make her sound like that, was definitely his buddy Max, the man known for his

    stoic distance from women.

 Chapter 98

    Chapter 98

    Andrew¡¯s world seemed to momentarily shatter as he took a deep drag of his cigarette, annoyance

    edging his voice, ¡°Max, you¡¯re just gonna let her reel you in like that?¡±

    Brielle gasped for air, freed from his grip. It wasn¡¯t her seducing Max at this point; he had been the one

    to lean in for the kiss.

    Talk about a misunderstanding.

    Max¡¯s fingers grazed her cheek as he reached for his phone. As he was about to speak, Brielle¡¯s lips

    silenced him again. If Andrew was using her of seduction, she might as well own up to it.

    When the kiss finally broke, she noticed the call was still connected and curiously asked, ¡°Mr.

    Clements, you haven¡¯t hung up yet??¡±

    Andrew was lighting his third cigarette, snorting coldly, ¡°I just wanted to see how shameless you could

    be.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s lips twitched, finding humor in the situation. Was this tarnishing Max¡¯s reputation?

    She cleared her throat, taking the phone, ¡°I had no intention of performing for anyone over the phone,

    Mr. Clements. Perhaps you should focus on how you¡¯ll follow through on your promises.¡±

    A dangerous glint shed in Andrew¡¯s eyes as he growled, ¡°Nobody dares to threaten me like this.¡±

    His words had barely faded when Max intervened, ¡°Stop scaring her all the time.¡±

    Andrew paused, unintentionally dampening his imposing aura, but quickly got irritated again, ¡°Fine, I¡¯m

    not scaring her. She seems bold enough to me.¡±

    Brielle felt her ears burn. Max¡¯s sudden interjection had left her mind

    Chap

    reeling. She couldn¡¯t help but nce at him. His garen were to d detached, as if the intimate moment

    held no sway over him.

    Her heart ached, and she averted her gaze. His prevca was bindig like the sun¡¯s rays, intense and

    overpowering. He confined be made her greedy for more. His gaze was chilly, but to her, de les fore

    igniting herpletely, yet his heart seemed as cold as ice fire mes ice, it would surely extinguish,

    taking her soul along whe

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    Andrew¡¯s voice continued in the background, but Brielle couldnt make out his words¨Cit was probably

    something about making those two apologize again.

    As the call ended, the room fell silent. The phone was still were in her grip, her inner turmoil raging like

    a storm at ses, while Ver

    nonchntly stood up, I¡¯ve got an international conference ten¡°

    His fingers, cool to the touch, plucked the phone from her heated calm Brielle felt as if he had stripped

    away her warmth as well.

    Max always seemed in control, eager one second and indifferent the next, as if he could walk away at

    any moment, without a care in the world.

    Brielle lowered her eyes and when she looked up again, a smile was stered on her face. ¡°I suppose

    Mr. Dorsey won¡¯t object to me firing Emily?

    ¡°Just submit the reasons for her dismissal to HR

    ¡°Right, I¡¯ll send it over in a bit.¡±

    She followed him into the living room where Patrick was already waiting, a crisp new suit jacket in his

    hands. Patrick quickly averted his gaze when they emerged together.

    Max took the jacket from Patrick and went to change.

    Brielle just stood there, surprisingly unsure of what to say, and it wasn¡¯t

    Chapter 98

    until the two were about to leave that she squeezed out, ¡°Mr. Dorsey, take care.¡±

    She hobbled to the door on her crutches, seeing Max fitting his earpiece, ready for his meeting. She

    should be content. Despite his busy schedule, he still took the time to indulge her.

    The thought struck her, and she froze. What was this?

    Falling for him seemed to mean waiting hopelessly, nailed in ce, full of hope and anxiety, like a

    forgotten parcel in some corner of a train

    station.

    She couldn¡¯t allow herself to be so vulnerable. If he couldn¡¯t give her those three words, she wouldn¡¯t

    ask as well.

 Chapter 99

    Chapter 99

    Once the room had finally settled into silence, she sent the email to Human Resources, officially

    terminating Emily¡¯s employment. It waste, but the HR department replied swiftly, agreeing to her

    request.

    Brielle sighed in relief. She took a couple of days off to rest at home, not returning to the office until her

    foot was no longer a hindrance to walking. As she parked her car downstairs, a vehicle revved up

    furiously from behind and rushed forward.

    Brielle frowned and quickly swerved the wheel. The other car whizzed past her, crashing into the side

    of a building nearby. This building was a standard design for Dorsey International, reportedly crafted by

    an Italian designer, with just the design fees running over a million dors. As she got out of her car,

    she spotted Emily stumbling out of the wreck, her forehead smeared with blood. Brielle couldn¡¯t help

    but chuckle. Had Emily been shaken up by Lillian again, taking a bullet for someone else not once but

    twice?

    ¡°Brielle, you actually had the nerve to fire me?¡±

    Brielle had no interest in entertaining such a foolish question. As her supervisor, what was wrong with

    firing an employee who had tried to

    harm her?

    The incident that almost ruined Brielle¡¯s appearance this time didn¡¯t directly involve Emily, but she was

    the one orchestrating it from behind the scenes. And now, she hade up with another move.

    Brielle¡¯s lips curved into a smile as she unhesitatingly dialed 911. ¡°Attempted murder. Go tell it to the

    police.¡±

    Desperate, Emily lunged forward, attempting to p Brielle across the face, but her hand was caught

    mid¨Cair as Brielle pushed her against the

    car.

    Chapter 99

    ¡°Bang!¡±

    Emily felt a sharp pain in her back, and her face contorted in response.

    Gritting her teeth, she pulled a dagger from her purse and lunged at Brielle.

    Brielle sidestepped and struck Emily¡¯s wrist hard. ¡°Have you lost your mind, Emily?¡±

    Emilyughed coldly, as if she wished she could drink Brielle¡¯s blood.

    ¡°It was Max in the bedroom that day, right? Lillian told me. You whore, how dare you¨CI¡¯m going to end

    you! I won¡¯t be at peace until you¡¯re

    dead.¡±

    The dagger ttered to the ground, and only then did Emily realize that. Brielle had some self¨Cdefense

    skills.

    Brielle found it amusing that Lillian had some talent after all, having guessed correctly that it was Max

    in her bedroom that day. She smiled. faintly and said softly to Emily, whose face was a contorted mask

    of rage, ¡°Since you know it was Max in the room, you should also know that he permitted me to fire

    you. And considering how hysterical you were that day, do you really think he¡¯d have any interest in

    you?¡±

    What a stab to the heart. Brielle knew exactly what Emily cared about. most and targeted it mercilessly.

    Thest trace of color drained from Emily¡¯s face as she stood frozen in ce. Max had allowed her

    firing? Max had been hiding in a woman¡¯s

    bedroom?

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    How¡¯s that possible? He was untouchable!

    Tears welled up in Emily¡¯s eyes. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll tell Spencer? You seduced his uncle; you¡¯re

    insane. Max would never want you¨Cyou¡¯re filthy.¡±

    Brielle raised an eyebrow and slowly released Emily¡¯s wrist. ¡°The fact is,

    17:12

    29

    he¡¯s quite satisfied with me in bed.¡±

    Her words were like knives, leaving Emily bleeding inwardly. Even as she was escorted away by the

    police, she hadn¡¯t recovered, looking as

    wilted as a dried¨Cup flower.

    As the handcuffs clicked around Emily¡¯s wrists, Brielle could hear her mumbling.

    ¡°Impossible¡­ impossible¡­ He would never want you. He would never touch you,¡±

    When the police were forcing her into the car, Emily suddenly thrashed like a madwoman. ¡°Don¡¯t you

    gloat, Brielle! I¡¯ll see your downfall. Do you think Max would love you? You¡¯re just a fling, nothing more.

    He¡¯ll discard you like trash, just like he will with me¨Cha, ha, ha, ha, ha¡­¡±

    Her hoarse cackling was eerie.

    Brielle stood still, understanding now why Emily was so easily manipted by Lillian. Her obsession

    with Max was bordering on madness; the slightest spark could set her ame.

    The momentary satisfaction was followed by difort. Emily¡¯s fate seemed to be reminding her,

    ¡°Look, this is your future. This is the consequence of liking Max.¡±

    Taking a deep breath, she warned herself never to end up like that.

    Chapter 100

 Chapter 100

    Chapter 100

    As Brielle walked into the department, all eyes swung her way¨Cword had spread like wildfire that Emily

    had been let go, but what no one knew was the drama that had just unfolded downstairs.

    She grabbed the file handed to her and scanned it, finding it detailed a new project¨Can investment

    evaluation for apany named Alpha. She thought she must have read it wrong, and flipped through

    the thick stack of papers again.

    It was indeed Alpha.

    Though Dorsey International had long branched out into diverse operations with numerous businesses,

    this was their first foray into intepanies.

    Rubbing her temples, she had a hunch that this move wasn¡¯t Max¡¯s brainchild. Probably, because of

    the scandal that had leaked about the building, the board was panicking, fearing Max¡¯s scrutiny, and

    was eager to show some results.

    In the afternoon, she was summoned to a meeting on the top floor. Stepping out of the elevator, she

    overheard some gossip.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t the media just catch Ms. Alivia? When did shee back from abroad?¡±

    ¡°Did you notice the rosary on her wrist? It¡¯s identical to the president¡¯s. They must be a set.¡±

    ¡°I heard Mr. Dorsey personally visited Ms. Alivia¡¯s research institute. Seems like he¡¯s interested in

    investing in a project she¡¯s involved with.¡±

    ¡°Never thought Mr. Dorsey was the type to splurge for ady love.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯ve got to consider who she is. Ms. Alivia is top¨Cnotch in every way, and they¡¯ve been

    childhood sweethearts.¡±

    Chapter 150

    The buzz grew louder and more animated.

    Max had never been one for tabloid fodder. His interviews in the financial papers were terse and to the

    point. Celebrities looking totch onto his sess had no inroad, and within the social circles of

    Beaconsfield, one couldn¡¯t even snag his contact information.

    Brielle, who rarely paid heed to celebrity news, couldn¡¯t help but stealthily check her phone. There was

    no mention of Max, just a side shot of Alivia brushing her hair aside, revealing that telltale string of

    beads.

    Phrases like ¡°golden couple¡± and ¡°match made in heaven¡± were thrown around with abandon. She

    pocketed her phone, struggling to maintainposure, and took her seat.

    Max was absent, and the directors¡® voices were louder than usual.

    Especially Ryan, who should have been ousted, had wormed his way back in while Max was away.

    And with Max¡¯s two other brothers on the board, the atmosphere was tense. However, Ryan,

    shameless as ever, had pushed this new project

    to the forefront.

    ¡°Alpha has been around for years. Their CEO approached me privatelyst night, inquiring about

    investment from Dorsey International. I¡¯ve reviewed the data and believe this to be a promising

    endeavor.¡±

    Ryan¡¯s audacity knew no bounds. Even as others around the table scowled, he dropped Michael¡¯s

    name to silence any dissent.

    ¡°The CEO of Alpha and I go way back. I promised Dad that if we could triple the profits this time, he¡¯d

    let me return. So I hope everyone will

    cooperate.¡±

    Ryan¡¯s smug expression made it clear he was determined to seed, gesturing everyone to view the

    presentation on the big screen. ¡°This overview shows Alpha¡¯s main business areas: socialworking,

    online gaming, digital advertising, and others. Their socialwork has

    over three hundred million users. With our investment, we could own thirty percent of Alpha. Alpha¡¯s

    battlest year is no secret. They were blindsided by a rivalpany¡¯s malware, losing many users.

    They¡¯re on the eve of their final funding round. If Dorsey International invests two billion, we¡¯ll be their

    largest shareholder.¡±

    Ryan went on to outline Alpha¡¯s potential, making it clear that this project was non¨Cnegotiable.

    Brielle sat back andughed softly. The room was silent, making herughter stand out all the more.

    The first to speak was William, pushing up his ssic sses, ¡°What are your thoughts, Brielle?¡±

    William, Michael¡¯s eldest and Max¡¯s big brother, was known for his schrly demeanor. He never

    fought for the spotlight, making his presence often overlooked. But to Brielle, William was more

    formidable. than the tantly aggressive Ryan.

    In her three years at Dorsey International, Brielle had never heard a bad word about William. He

    always yed the peacemaker, offending no one, with barely passable performance that left no room

    for criticism.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Like now, while others had shown their displeasure with Ryan, William¡¯s face was all seriousness, as if

    genuinely considering Ryan¡¯s spiel.

    Now he¡¯d passed the buck to Brielle, letting her be the one to stick her neck out.

 Chapter 101

    Chapter 100

    As Brielle walked into the department, all eyes swung her way¨Cword had spread like wildfire that Emily

    had been let go, but what no one knew was the drama that had just unfolded downstairs.

    She grabbed the file handed to her and scanned it, finding it detailed a new project¨Can investment

    evaluation for apany named Alpha. She thought she must have read it wrong, and flipped through

    the thick stack of papers again.

    It was indeed Alpha.

    Though Dorsey International had long branched out into diverse operations with numerous businesses,

    this was their first foray into intepanies.

    Rubbing her temples, she had a hunch that this move wasn¡¯t Max¡¯s brainchild. Probably, because of

    the scandal that had leaked about the building, the board was panicking, fearing Max¡¯s scrutiny, and

    was eager to show some results.

    In the afternoon, she was summoned to a meeting on the top floor. Stepping out of the elevator, she

    overheard some gossip.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t the media just catch Ms. Alivia? When did shee back from abroad?¡±

    ¡°Did you notice the rosary on her wrist? It¡¯s identical to the president¡¯s. They must be a set.¡±

    ¡°I heard Mr. Dorsey personally visited Ms. Alivia¡¯s research institute. Seems like he¡¯s interested in

    investing in a project she¡¯s involved with.¡±

    ¡°Never thought Mr. Dorsey was the type to splurge for ady love.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯ve got to consider who she is. Ms. Alivia is top¨Cnotch in every way, and they¡¯ve been

    childhood sweethearts.¡±

    Chapter 150

    The buzz grew louder and more animated.

    Max had never been one for tabloid fodder. His interviews in the financial papers were terse and to the

    point. Celebrities looking totch onto his sess had no inroad, and within the social circles of

    Beaconsfield, one couldn¡¯t even snag his contact information.

    Brielle, who rarely paid heed to celebrity news, couldn¡¯t help but stealthily check her phone. There was

    no mention of Max, just a side shot of Alivia brushing her hair aside, revealing that telltale string of

    beads.

    Phrases like ¡°golden couple¡± and ¡°match made in heaven¡± were thrown around with abandon. She

    pocketed her phone, struggling to maintainposure, and took her seat.

    Max was absent, and the directors¡® voices were louder than usual.

    Especially Ryan, who should have been ousted, had wormed his way back in while Max was away.

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    And with Max¡¯s two other brothers on the board, the atmosphere was tense. However, Ryan,

    shameless as ever, had pushed this new project

    to the forefront.

    ¡°Alpha has been around for years. Their CEO approached me privatelyst night, inquiring about

    investment from Dorsey International. I¡¯ve reviewed the data and believe this to be a promising

    endeavor.¡±

    Ryan¡¯s audacity knew no bounds. Even as others around the table scowled, he dropped Michael¡¯s

    name to silence any dissent.

    ¡°The CEO of Alpha and I go way back. I promised Dad that if we could triple the profits this time, he¡¯d

    let me return. So I hope everyone will

    cooperate.¡±

    Ryan¡¯s smug expression made it clear he was determined to seed, gesturing everyone to view the

    presentation on the big screen. ¡°This overview shows Alpha¡¯s main business areas: socialworking,

    online gaming, digital advertising, and others. Their socialwork has

    over three hundred million users. With our investment, we could own thirty percent of Alpha. Alpha¡¯s

    battlest year is no secret. They were blindsided by a rivalpany¡¯s malware, losing many users.

    They¡¯re on the eve of their final funding round. If Dorsey International invests two billion, we¡¯ll be their

    largest shareholder.¡±

    Ryan went on to outline Alpha¡¯s potential, making it clear that this project was non¨Cnegotiable.

    Brielle sat back andughed softly. The room was silent, making herughter stand out all the more.

    The first to speak was William, pushing up his ssic sses, ¡°What are your thoughts, Brielle?¡±

    William, Michael¡¯s eldest and Max¡¯s big brother, was known for his schrly demeanor. He never

    fought for the spotlight, making his presence often overlooked. But to Brielle, William was more

    formidable. than the tantly aggressive Ryan.

    In her three years at Dorsey International, Brielle had never heard a bad word about William. He

    always yed the peacemaker, offending no one, with barely passable performance that left no room

    for criticism.

    Like now, while others had shown their displeasure with Ryan, William¡¯s face was all seriousness, as if

    genuinely considering Ryan¡¯s spiel.

    Now he¡¯d passed the buck to Brielle, letting her be the one to stick her neck out.

 Chapter 102

    Chapter 102

    Even though Brielle had no desire to be entangled with William, she had to admit he was spot on¨CMax

    truly held his values in high regard.

    Alpha Enterprises¡® leadership hadunched a total of five initiativesst year, sparking a frenzy of

    competition among the teams. This not only tested their mettle but also fostered a cutthroat culture

    within the

    While it was true that business oftencked clear distinctions between ¡°good¡± and ¡°evil,¡± and

    sometimes even between ¡°right¡± and ¡°wrong,¡± it didn¡¯t mean thatpanies should have been devoid

    of a sense of social responsibility. Companies shouldn¡¯t have engaged in

    For now, Alpha was unscathed simply because a few of its leaders had connections in high ces. But

    in the ever¨Cshiftingndscapes of politics andmerce, should their protective canopy fall, a deluge

    ofwsuits would inevitably await Alpha Enterprises. Dorsey International getting involved with such a

    company would only attract trouble.

    Brielle hung her head, acutely aware of Ryan¡¯s re¨Ccold, mocking, and venomous. The shadows cast

    by what Ryan brought to her that night were vivid in her memory, and she realized she shouldn¡¯t have

    provoked him. But even if she hadn¡¯t done so today, Ryan would never have let her

    off the hook.

    Ryan narrowed his eyes and switched the content on the big screen. ¡°We invest in apany based

    solely on its potential profitability. Other considerations are irrelevant. These are the strategies for the

    future given to me by Alpha¡¯s leaders. Take a look before we make any decisions.¡±

    17:14

    Chapter 102

    Originally, Brielle had thought Alpha might go bankrupt and restructure. within the next two years. But

    after seeing the strategy, she suspected they might barelyst another year.

    Ryan was too eager to turn his fortunes around with this investment, and given his longstanding

    friendship with Alpha¡¯s president, he had overlooked crucial details.

    She frowned and slowly put down her pen. To be honest, the strategy was beautifully crafted, a

    carefully polished piece.

    Ryan went on with more talk, each sentence more professional than thest, before finally turning off

    the big screen.

    ¡°Alpha chose Dorsey International because of a personal connection. with me. We absolutely can¡¯t

    miss this opportunity.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s eyelidszily twitched as she spoke up in a soft voice, ¡°Investing two billion is a huge sum.

    Surely it would require Mr. Dorsey¡¯s approval, right?¡±

    Otherwise, what was Max, the president, but a mere figurehead? How could Ryan be so bold?

    Caught off guard by Brielle¡¯s blunt question, Ryan struggled to produce the exnation he had

    prepared. He had nned to break up the investment into smaller portions, like the previous building

    deal, to avoid requiring Max¡¯s approval. Knowing Max¡¯s reputation for integrity, Ryan guessed that just

    seeing his name, Ryan, would prompt Max to reject the project outright.

    Sensing Ryan¡¯s hesitation, Brielle couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°It is such a major project. Mr. Ryan, are you

    thinking of bypassing Mr. Dorsey and going straight in? It hasn¡¯t been long since the building scandal,

    and several here are still on Mr. Dorsey¡¯s list. If you were to proceed like this, it might be difficult to

    exin to Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    Ryan took a deep breath, wishing he could wring Brielle¡¯s neck. He clenched his teeth and turned to

    William.

    17:14

    Chapter 102

    ¡°This project is truly worth the investment, but Max will dismiss it the moment he sees my name. Maybe

    we can handle this likest time. The building incident is done, and we can¡¯t undo it, but if we triple the

    profits this time, we¡¯ll recover all the losses from that project. What do you think?¡±

    Brielle also looked at William, curious how he would respond without offending Ryan.

    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    William smiled, removing the sses perched on his nose, revealing fine lines at the corners of his

    eyes. Despite his impressive upkeep, the signs of his fifty years were inevitable.

    ¡°Brielle has a point. If we go ahead with this, it¡¯ll be tough to exin to Max. Why not have Brielle

    gauge Max¡¯s stance on the matter?¡±

    Without hesitation, he pushed Brielle, the one with no connections, into

    the line of fire.

 Chapter 103

    Chapter 103

    William¡¯s move could be described as killing two birds with one stone. In his view, Brielle, who had an

    engagement with Spencer, would sooner orter stand on Ryan¡¯s side. By nudging her into the

    spotlight, if she managed to ruffle Max¡¯s feathers, and he decided to yank the director¡¯s title from her,

    William¡¯s son, freshly back from abroad, could slip right into that coveted role.

    However, once Max learned about the building scandal ying out again, he was bound to start a

    thorough investigation. Ryan, the one who proposed this project, couldn¡¯t escape the repercussions.

    Face it, when Max decided to hold someone ountable, not even his father¡¯s prestige can shield

    them. After all, Max held the reins with more than fifty percent of Dorsey International¡¯s shares; he

    didn¡¯t need anyone¡¯s approval.

    But in all his scheming, William overlooked one small detail¨Cthe rtionship between Brielle and Max.

    Brielle was itching to wrap up the meeting, so when William suggested she reach out to Max, she

    feigned difficulty. ¡°Mr. Dorsey¡¯s tied up in meetings, and I, uh, don¡¯t have his direct line. But I could try

    shooting him an email,¡± she said, deliberately mentioning she didn¡¯t have Max¡¯s contact to prevent

    Emily from going ballistic and leaking some scoop about her and Max.

    Thest thing she needed was the Dorsey n getting suspicious. By openly admitting she had no

    private dealings with Max, she was effectively inocting herself against any future doubts from the

    Dorseys gathered there.

    Ryan was visibly irked by the turn of events, but with William¡¯s words. hanging in the air, any further

    debate would only prolong the meeting indefinitely. He shot Brielle a look, silently asking her to stay

    behind.

    And she did just that. Once the room cleared, leaving only the two of

    Chapter 109

    them, the air felt charged.

    ¡°Brielle, has Spencer been chatting you up about worktely?¡± he asked, a veiled reminder that she

    had snatched the position from Spencer and that it was only a matter of time before it would be

    returned.

    Brielle had tough. She looked him straight in the eye. ¡°You should know your son¡¯s true colors better

    than anyone.¡±

    Spencer wasn¡¯t cut out for business. The only reason he¡¯dnded the director gig in the first ce was

    thanks to Max being out of the country and Ryan¡¯s behind¨Cthe¨Cscenes maneuvering. Now that Max.

    was back and taking things seriously, Spencer¡¯s ipetence wasid bare for all to see.

    With no one else around, Ryan stepped closer and lowered his voice, issuing a thinly veiled threat.

    ¡°Brielle, as long as you¡¯re in Beaconsfield, you¡¯re in my world. I¡¯d advise you to y nice, don¡¯t cross

    me.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s grip tightened on her pen, pausing mid¨Cscribble.

    Ryan mistook her silence for fear and retreated with a self¨Csatisfied look. ¡°I know how fond you are of

    Spencer. You¡¯ve always looked out for him. Just toe the line, and I¡¯ll make sure he treats you right. He¡¯s

    young and restless, that¡¯s all.¡±

    It was as if he was saying, give Spencer time to sow his oats, and I¡¯ll make hime around to you,

    but that was contingent on Brielle adding value to the family.

    She nearly gagged at the thought but knew better than to confront him. head¨Con. If Ryan decided to

    crush her, she stood no chance.

    Taking her silence forpliance, Ryan pressed his advantage. ¡°You can get Max to sign off on the

    Alpha project, right?¡± After all, Max did seem to have a soft spot for her.

    A sharp glint passed through Brielle¡¯s eyes as she slowly lifted her

    head. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡±

    Ryan seemed pleased with her response and left the conference room.

    Once the door clicked shut, Brielle finally set the pen down. Getting Max. to invest in Alpha? Ryan was

    seriously underestimating him. The figures Ryan presented today might look good on the surface, but

    they wouldn¡¯t stand up to scrutiny.

    Alpha might appear profitable, but its free cash flow was pitifully low.

    Max¡¯s knack for precision in his acquisitions and investments came from a deep understanding of free

    cash flow and core values. The intrinsic value behind apany¡¯s stock was its ability to generate free

    cash flow. The long¨Cterm state of apany¡¯s free cash flow was the true measure of its investment

    worthiness. Clearly, Alpha was failing on this front.

    Brielle returned to her desk andposed an email to Max. After much deliberation, she couldn¡¯t resist

    sending just a period. It wasn¡¯t until the end of the workday that she received a reply- a single question

    mark.

    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Despite a day heavy with gloom, that question mark somehow lifted her spirits. She chuckled, typing

    back, [Uncle Max on a business trip for a few days?]

    No response.

    She lingered in the office until nine, working overtime and awaiting his answer. Before shutting down

    herputer, she sent over the meticulously prepared Alphapany data.

    Back in her apartment, she powered up again to find his reply. This time, two question marks.

    Anyone else might find his brevity dismissive, but Brielle sensed a hint of intimacy in those

    punctuations. For someone as serious as Max, it was probably the most casual email exchange he¡¯d

    ever had.

    She shed a wry smile.

 Chapter 104

    Chapter 104

    [Ryan wants to invest two billion in Alpha, and he thinks I can sway you. Uncle Max, does he

    overestimate me or underestimate you?]

    [No investment.]

    Max¡¯s reply came quickly, a curt two¨Cword dismissal. Just like when Brielle had sent her initial email,

    his emotionless response had been a t rejection.

    She licked her lips, unable to suppress the mischievous thought. [Seems I don¡¯t have the charm to

    cloud Uncle Max¡¯s judgment.]

    As she sent the email, her palms were damp with sweat. It was a bold flirtation, her heart a mix of sour

    trepidation and sweet anticipation.

    There was no reply from Max.

    While waiting, Brielle researched more about Alpha. Whether they invested or not, appraising the

    company¡¯s value was her department¡¯s responsibility.

    At midnight, she dragged her weary body to shower. Returning, a new email awaited her a string of

    digits, presumably, Max¡¯s private

    contact.

    Saving the number, she nced at the clock and texted him. [Uncle Max, is this business trip going to

    be a long one? Otherwise, Ryan wouldn¡¯t dare show up at the office. He was just demoted. His brazen

    return must mean he¡¯s sure Max¡¯s tied up elsewhere.

    Max nced at the stack of documents on his desk as his phone.

    chimed.

    Across from him sat several middle¨Caged men in sharp suits, negotiating with Alivia. Confidence

    graced Alivia¡¯s face as she

    Chapter 104

    multitasked, her eyes stealing nces at Max. Once the men left, Alivia stood, poured him a coffee,

    and ventured, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to invest in my professor¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦, Max. Is this for me?¡±

    Her mentor was a big name in the industry, and any investment in his students would naturally involve

    her mediation. She¡¯d mentioned a software developed on campus by the student during a past visit to

    Beaconsfield, piquing Max¡¯s interest. He¡¯d asked for the technical details and ns, but Alivia insisted

    on delivering them personally, which dyed matters.

    Now, her professor inquired, and she seized the opportunity to apany Max abroad to the research

    facility, creating a chance for

    them to be alone.

    During the meeting, Max had been quietly listening while replying to an email. Was it an internal

    company message? She couldn¡¯t help but recall the fleeting face from theirst video call.

    Alivia never worried about someone stealing Max away. Ever since they emerged as talents in their

    respective fields, their families saw them: as a pair. Her motivation was fueled by the name Max alone.

    She aspired to be the woman by his side, and she quietly thwarted any Beaconsfield socialite foolish

    enough to express interest in him.

    How could those women, obsessed with fashion and perfume, ever

    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    match Max?

    Hearing his phone, Alivia noticed Max¡¯s typing pause as he reached for

    1. it.

    Max rarely used his phone beyond making calls. To him, texting was a time¨Cwaster. But Alivia clearly

    saw him contemting in front of the screen, as if considering how to respond to the other party.

    A flicker of unease stirred within her, and she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Something from thepany? I

    thought you don¡¯t like to handle things via phone?¡±

 Chapter 105

    Chapter 105

    Max finally looked up at her. He¡¯d been sitting there for the better part of the evening, and this was the

    first time he¡¯d actually made eye contact. That was just Max being Max, so Alivia didn¡¯t think anything

    of

    1. it.

    ¡°Personal stuff.¡±

    That was all Max said, two words, before he lowered his head to reply to a message. [I¡¯ll try to get back

    home early.]

    After sending it, he set his phone down and turned back to the documents beside him.

    He had pretty much gone through all the files about the new app, and the venture capitalists had

    shared their insights. In summary, the app, currently valued at a mere billion dors, was indeed a

    worthy

    investment.

    Even Alivia thought so, considering the app¡¯s developer was one of the industry¡¯s leading tech gurus,

    with hundreds of millions of users in the States alone.

    Under normal circumstances, such a valuation wouldn¡¯t have

    demanded Max¡¯s personal attention, but what he was really interested in was the app¡¯s potential impact

    on international lifestyles. Plus, the developer¡¯s mentor was the same as Alivia¡¯s¨Ca titan of the

    industry¨Cso naturally, the project was infused with plenty of professional advice.

    Max closed the folder and noticed a new message on his phone.

    [Added you on WhatsApp. ept, please.]

    Max didn¡¯t even use WhatsApp. He¡¯d registered once, but the flood of contact requests was

    overwhelming, so he deleted the app. His life revolved around work, with no time for idle chitchat.

    He frowned, deliberating for a moment, before finally relenting and redownloading WhatsApp.

    Alivia caught this out of the corner of her eye and her expression darkened. Max, chatting with

    someone?

    She bit her lip, pushing her coffee towards him, ¡°Max, my friend wants to meet with you to discuss the

    investment in detail.¡±

    Her fingers clenched tightly on the table as she pulled out her phone, ¡°So you¡¯re finally getting

    WhatsApp? My brother and his friends have beenining for ages. What made you change your

    mind? Let me add you first. I want to be the first on your friend list.¡±

    ¡°Alivia.¡± Max logged in, his voice cool and eyes half¨Cclosed, ¡°I don¡¯t really use it, so there¡¯s no need to

    add me.¡±

    His tone was nonchnt, and as soon as he logged in, he saw Brielle¡¯s friend request. At the same

    time, there was a whole slew of

    requests¨Cfrom Andrew, from Kenzo. He ignored them, searching for Brielle¡¯s message and epted it.

    Brielle was surprised by how quickly he epted, feeling unexpectedly ttered. She wanted to

    continue the conversation, but ncing at the time, realized it waste and sent a message through

    WhatsApp instead.

    [Goodnight.]

    Max didn¡¯t reply, just looked at Brielle¡¯s profile picture. It was a hexagonal snowke.

    Alivia was sneaking nces the whole time, her hand tightening in herp.

    Who was that in the profile picture? She racked her brain, running

    through nearly every woman in their circle, but couldn¡¯te up with anything.

    Meanwh May had already flinned bis abono L

    his wristwatch clinking softly against the surface. That sound softened Alivia¡¯s heart, and she cleared

    her throat.

    ¡°Should we go see my friend now? His app has been valued at a billion dors bypanies after less

    than six months, and several venture. capitalists are looking to invest.¡±

    ¡°Alivia, I have my own ns.¡±

    Every time he said her name with that crisp, clear voice, Alivia felt like. melting. She was so into Max,

    had been since they were kids, and no one was going to stop her from marrying him. If any other

    woman dared to encroach, Alivia would ensure she regretted ever setting foot on this earth.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    ¡°Max, if you don¡¯t have other ns tonight, maybe you could tour my research institute? The team has

    a lot of projects they¡¯re working on.¡±

    ¡°No need. I¡¯m flying back home in two hours.¡±

    Alivia¡¯s expression froze. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to stay for half a month?

    Then she thought of the owner of that profile picture¨Cperhaps that had something to do with his change

    of ns.

    Whether it was a man or woman, she was seething with jealousy.

 Chapter 106

    Chapter 106

    Alivia managed to keep her emotions in check as she responded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll keep a close eye out for

    you. My friend trusts me implicitly, since I offered some solid advice during the initial development of

    the software. He¡¯s willing to wait for your offer.¡±

    Max rubbed his temples wearily, ¡°If anotherpanyes in with a decent proposal, tell him not to

    worry about Dorsey International.¡±

    Alivia thought she had misheard. Reflexively, she blurted out, ¡°What?¡± Was he implying that he wasn¡¯t

    interested in her friend¡¯s project?

    Impossible. With so many venture capital firms on Wall Street drooling over this financing opportunity,

    who wouldn¡¯t want in? Creating at billion¨Cdor value in less than six months was an extraordinary feat

    in

    any industry.

    The conference room door swung open, and Patrick stepped in. ¡°Sir, your tickets are all set.¡±

    Max nodded and rose slowly from his seat. ¡°There¡¯s something in the report I¡¯m not too thrilled about¨C

    he¡¯s relinquished control of hispany.¡±

    Following behind him, Alivia wondered if her friend¡¯s willingness to give up control wasn¡¯t a positive

    thing. With Dorsey International investing, wouldn¡¯t that give them majority control? Wouldn¡¯t the

    company¡¯s future. then be at the discretion of Dorsey International, and wasn¡¯t that something Max

    should be pleased about?

    ¡°Max.¡± She couldn¡¯t help but reach out and tug at his sleeve. ¡°This developer and I have a great

    rtionship. Even if you¡¯re not nning to invest, couldn¡¯t you at least meet him? Maybe if you heard

    his thoughts in person, you might change your mind.¡±

    She didn¡¯t want to miss this chance to forge a closer connection with Max, and what she hadn¡¯t told him

    was that she also had shares in the

    ¡°Max, consider it a favor for me.¡±

    They had grown up together, and her brother was close to him as well. Max couldn¡¯t possibly refuse.

    That was her confidence.

    Indeed, Max turned to Patrick, inquiring about his schedule for theing month.

    Patrick, ever diligent, pulled out a calendar. ¡°There¡¯s a meeting right after wend, and it¡¯s going to be

    busy till the start of next month.¡±

    Max nodded, reiming his sleeve. ¡°I¡¯lle back on the third of next. month.¡±

    A smile spread across Alivia¡¯s face. ¡°Great, I¡¯ll take you for a tour of the research institute then. And

    hey, you reinstalled WhatsApp, right? You should add me. My brother and the others will definitely want

    to add

    you too.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll do that when I¡¯m back home.¡±

    Alivia,pletely satisfied, urged him on. ¡°Then you should go, don¡¯t want to miss your flight.¡±

    She watched him go, barely containing her adoration.

    Patrick discreetly looked away, knowing that even the most. aplished people couldn¡¯t hide their

    emotions when it came to matters of the heart. He followed Max, pondering before finally speaking up.

    ¡°Ms. Alivia has been waiting for you for years, sir.¡±

    But to his surprise, Max asked, ¡°Waiting for what? Investment opportunities aren¡¯t exclusive to Dorsey

    International. She could go to Kenzo just as well.¡±

    The corner of Patrick¡¯s mouth twitched, and he cleared his throat. ¡°You

    Chapter 106

    don¡¯t suppose Ms. Alivia has feelings for you, sir?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m aware, but she has rejected the marriage proposal.¡±

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    ¡°Maybe shecks confidence.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s still a rejection.¡±

    Patrick finally understood. Had Alivia not refused that proposal, Max would have epted. He didn¡¯t

    understand the concept of liking someone, and if there had been an engagement, Max wouldn¡¯t have

    the rtionship he currently had with Ms. Brielle. Max¡¯s rtionship world was all or nothing, and he

    could never do what Spencer did, which was to have a fianc¨¦e and still be entangled with other

    women.

    With Max, as long as you got engaged to him, you won, necause he would definitely fulfill his duties as

    a fianc¨¦.

    Having been by Max¡¯s side for years, Patrick hade to grasp some of his thoughts, but as for Ms.

    Brielle, Patrick wasn¡¯t so sure.

    ¡°What about Ms. Brielle?¡±

    ¡°When all is said and done, I¡¯ll give her a sum of money.¡±

    The sum Max was talking about was surely no pittance.

    Patrick breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed Max genuinely saw Ms. Brielle as a canary he was keeping.

    Hopefully, Ms. Brielle saw it the same way because hitting a brick wall once was quite enough.

 Chapter 107

    Chapter 107

    The ne touched down, and Max shook off the jetg at the Premier Pce before his father¡¯s call

    came through.

    ¡°Did you travel abroad with that Alivia girl?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°Alivia¡¯s all grown up now. In the blink of an eye, you kids are adults. We should set a date for an

    engagement party soon. She might not say it, but I know she¡¯s been waiting for you to bring it up.¡±

    ¡°Dad, I¡¯m not nning on getting engaged any time soon.¡±

    Michael had four sons and a daughter, with Max being the youngest and quite a few years apart from

    the others.

    ¡°You¡¯re twenty¨Csix, Max. It¡¯s time to settle down. Alivia¡¯s been the only one by your side all these years.

    Don¡¯t you like her?¡±

    Max remained silent, unsure of what ¡®like¡® really meant.

    ¡°Max, it¡¯s the same with whoever you marry. Alivia is exceptional, the only one worthy of you, and

    you¡¯re not against the idea. That¡¯s enough. She¡¯d make a fine wife for you.¡±

    Max flipped through the files on the table, his pale fingers resting on the pages. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡±

    Michael¡¯s furrowed brow rxed, his voice cheerful. ¡°Good, and there¡¯s the matter with your older

    brother.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want you meddling in thepany business.¡±

    With that t statement, Max shut down anything else Michael might have wanted to say. It was clear

    that Max was indifferent not only in matters of the heart but even in familial bonds. He was a man

    seemingly born with a deficiency in certain human emotions, rarely empathizing with anyone. Such a

    man was destined to be a strategist.

    And only he dared to speak so bluntly to Michael.

    ¡°I won¡¯t interfere. Handle it as you wish. Just make sure you settle things with Alivia, and I¡¯ll be

    content.¡±

    After hanging up, Max nced at his phone, which was bombarded with a string of WhatsApp friend

    requests. Frowning, he methodically hit ¡®Decline¡® on each one. Among them were requests from

    Andrew and

    Kenzo.

    In the end, only Brielle¡¯s profile picture remained, pleasing to the eye.

    Andrew, never one to sit still, promptly called. ¡°Didn¡¯t Alivia say you reinstalled WhatsApp? Did you slip

    up?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t do small talk.¡±

    Andrew paused, propping his legs up on the coffee table, narrowing his eyes. ¡°Who¡¯s the one with the

    snowke avatar? Not a friend of yours?¡±

    ¡°How did you know?¡±

    ¡°Ha! Alivia¡¯s been asking around in the group chat. So you actually epted this person but rejected

    me?¡±

    Andrew always had a keen sense for these things, and remembering the voice he overheard on the

    phonest time, he felt short of breath. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that person is Brielle.¡±

    Max, ever candid, answered without hesitation, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s her.¡±

    Andrewughed in disbelief. ¡°After all these years as friends, Max, is this how you treat me?¡±

    Initially unfazed, Max grew ufortable under Andrew¡¯s rebuke. For the first time in his twenty¨Csix

    years, he felt an odd emotion stirring.

    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Seriously, Max? I¡¯m going to call Kenzo right now and show him your true colors. And remind him

    about overhearing you kissing Briellest

    time.¡±

    Chapter 107

    This was the first time Andrew stood up to him. Andrew was genuinely upset. He simply couldn¡¯t stand

    Brielle. What sorcery had she used to get Max to go this far?

    Was it just her sneaky game that made Max do her bidding?

    Andrew put his feet down. ¡°You¡¯ve got three minutes to add me as a

    friend.¡±

    With that, he hung up.

    Meanwhile, Alivia had been doing her own sleuthing, ending up at her brother Kenzo¡¯s door, feeling

    unsettled. After asking around and finding no one recognized the avatar, she turned to her brother for

    answers.

    Kenzo raised an eyebrow at the image, then opened his own list of contacts. He had added Brielle a

    while back, and her profile picture matched the one in question.

    [I saw Max chatting with someone with this avatar, and he refused to add me. Do you know who this

    is?]

    Kenzo smiled slightly as he responded. [No idea.]

    [Howe no one knows her?]

    A gentle glimmer touched Kenzo¡¯s eyes as he replied after a moment. [Maybe it¡¯s Max¡¯s alternate

    ount.]

 Chapter 108

    Chapter 108

    Alivia¡¯s eyes sparkled with a sudden realization, [How could I not have considered that possibility? It

    must be the case. Otherwise, why would Max ept a friend request?]

    After all, he had turned down his own brother and Andrew. It didn¡¯t make sense for him to ept a

    request from a stranger.

    Alivia¡¯s mood instantly brightened up.

    Meanwhile, Kenzo, looking at his rejected message, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle before sending another

    friend ¡®request. This time, it was epted. His eyebrows shot up in surprise..

    Max, seeing his friend list unexpectedly grow, felt an unexined difort. So, when Andrew sent a

    barrage of messages, he didn¡¯t. reply to any.

    He was about to put his phone face down on the table when at message from Brielle caught his eye. It

    was a voice message, no less, and fifteen seconds long. This was a clear vition of Max¡¯s unspoken.

    rules.

    Even in meetings, he despised long¨Cwinded speeches, let alone in private conversations. Without

    hesitation, he flipped his phone over, deciding not to listen.

    Brielle had just woken up and noticed a message from Kenzo. It was the first time he had initiated a

    conversation with her. Remembering her offer to treat him to a meal, she sent back a voice message,

    warmly rmending a few restaurants. But she identally sent the message to Max, and it was

    past the two¨Cminute mark to unsend.

    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    After freshening up, she saw Max had replied: [I never listen to voice. messages over ten/seconds.]

    Brielleughed at the message. It was so Max. [Uncle Max, I just sent it to the wrong person.]

    17.16

    Chapter 108

    She forwarded the voice message to Kenzo, then put on a face mask and waited for his reply.

    Today was Saturday, her day off. If Kenzo was free, it would be the perfect opportunity to return the

    favor.

    Kenzo sent her an address, and Brielle got ready and headed out.

    Three years ago, Kenzo had helped her with research for a paper. Even if it was just a kind gesture,

    she felt indebted to him.

    Back at Premier Pce, after finishing some paperwork, Max inadvertently nced at his phone.

    Sent to the wrong person? Who was it intended for?

    He resisted the urge for a long while before finally picking up his phone to listen to the lengthy

    message. [Hey, I didn¡¯t expect you to reach out first. Remember when I said I¡¯d take you out for a

    meal? I know a couple of great spots, but I¡¯m not sure about your tastes. If you have any favorites, feel

    free to suggest them.]

    The message was sincere and heartfelt.

    Max frowned at the documents in front of him, then turned to his assistant Patrick, ¡°Who do you think

    this message was meant for?¡±

    Patrick had been secretly listening in from the moment Brielle¡¯s voice yed. Upon hearing Max¡¯s

    question, he felt jittery with anticipation. What surprised him most was Max¡¯s sudden use of WhatsApp.

    Previously, Max had never bothered with the app, and if Patrick needed to contact him, it was either

    through work email or a private number. Beyond those, Max rarely engaged with social media.

    Patrick, ever thepetent assistant, had collected such basic information as part of his job.

    Max looked down, his rational mind telling him not to dwell on such trivial matters. Yet, ten minutes

    later, he couldn¡¯t help but respond.

    17.16 M.

    Chapter 108

    Hmm, who was it for?

    Brielle, waiting at a traffic light, sent Kenzo¡¯s name back. She was unaware that Max was new to

    WhatsApp and thought everyone else chatted with him privately just the same. The ease of their back¨C

    and¨Cforth conversation didn¡¯t strike her as unusual.

    Seeing Kenzo¡¯s name, Max¡¯s lips tightened, his fingers releasing the documents he was gripping.

    Kenzo and Brielle?

    How did these two, who were worlds apart, end up going out for a meal together?

    He couldn¡¯t understand his own feelings at the moment, and before he knew it, the message was sent.

    [Compile a report on thispany for me.]

    Brielle, arriving at the restaurant, almost thought Max was teasing her. Did he know she was out to

    treat someone to a meal?

 Chapter 109

    Chapter 109

    [Mr. Dorsey, can we do thister?] Brielle sent the message just as she stepped into the restaurant.

    Kenzo was sitting in a corner, his pale fingertips resting lightly on the ss tabletop, almost dazzling in

    their whiteness.

    Brielle had always known that Kenzo was a man of great poise. Back at Beaconsfield College, there

    was a daily queue of admirers eager to confess their feelings to him, but Kenzo always gently turned

    them down.

    He was different from Max. Max seemed unapproachable, so distant that closeness felt like a luxury.

    Kenzo, on the other hand, felt close, so close you thought you could reach out and touch him. Yet, he

    was like warm water flowing through your fingers, moving on without pause, leaving only the memory of

    heat on your skin.

    ¡°Sorry for the sudden invite, Kenzo. Did I mess up your ns?¡± she asked as she approached.

    Kenzo looked up, smiling warmly, ¡°Being invited by you is an honor.¡±

    He stood up to pull out a chair for her, then gentlemanly handed her the menu. ¡°Choose whatever you

    like.¡±

    Brielle pushed the menu back to him, ¡°Kenzo, you order. I¡¯m not picky.¡±

    Kenzo didn¡¯t insist. He ordered unagi eel zed in a rich sauce and a foie gras sushi roll.

    ¡°Kenzo, are you nning to write another script this year?¡±

    As the most talented ywright around, Kenzo¡¯s previous scripts hadunched many a star¡¯s career.

    Some were catapulted straight to A¨Clist status, thanks in no small part to Kenzo¡¯s writing. His standing

    in the

    entertainment world was no less than Max¡¯s in the business sector.

    ¡°I¡¯m still pondering. I want to craft a mystery this time, so I went abroad for inspiration.¡±

    After ordering, he leaned back, hands sped in front of him, the picture of ease. ¡°You probably don¡¯t

    have time for TV, right? You¡¯ve been busy since school days.¡±

    Brielle ordered a steak for herself, ¡°I¡¯ve seen your drama series fromst year. It was a hit.¡±

    ¡°Brielle, you haven¡¯t changed a bit.¡±

    They had crossed paths at Beaconsfield College when Brielle was graduating and Kenzo had returned

    to teach for a month.

    Brielle spent long hours in the library, often nearly getting locked in. It was during one of thosete

    nights that Kenzo appeared, umbre in hand, walking through the gentle rain.

    ¡°Mr. Kenzo,¡± she had greeted him, as Kenzo looked up, key to the library in hand.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    It was past eleven, way beyond closing time, but with the downpour, she had no choice but to wait for

    the rain to ease.

    Kenzo unlocked the library door, ¡°Come in and take shelter from the rain. I need to do some research,

    might be here all night.¡±

    That suited Brielle just fine.

    She graduated with honors, her thesis showcased on the university website. Kenzo knew her as

    diligent, earnest, and clear¨Cheaded. And she was much the same now.

    Brielle ordered a juice, ¡°I have changed, actually. It¡¯s you who¡¯s the

    same.¡±

    Kenzo chuckled, ¡°Any other ns today? Want to visit the set after we¡¯re done here?¡±

    Curiosity about the filmmaking process tempted her to ept, but then she remembered the text from

    Max. Right on cue, her phone pinged with a new message. She ignored it, feeling it impolite to check

    her phone at that moment.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to, but Mr. Dorsey unexpectedly asked me to prepare some documents. I have to go back and

    work overtime.¡±

    ¡°On a weekend? Max is really squeezing his employees, huh?¡±

    As he spoke, her phone rang again.

    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve got to take this call.¡±

    She excused herself, seeing the caller ID sh ¡°Sugar Daddy¡± ¨C a name she¡¯d whimsically assigned in

    a moment of madness. Now, with Kenzo¡¯s eyes on her, she felt a wave of embarrassment as she

    answered.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    She could feel her cheeks burning despite her best efforts to remainposed.

    Kenzo averted his gaze politely as the door to the restaurant swung open, and Sophia walked in with a

    few other socialites.

    Sophia spotted Brielle on the phone immediately, her mood soured at the sight. Her eyes then caught

    the man sitting across from Brielle, obscured by potted nts, his white suit just visible.

    She circled around discreetly until she could see his face, then froze.

    Kenzo?

    For a moment she thought she was mistaken. How could Kenzo and Brielle be dining together?

    She snapped a photo and sent it to her group chat. [Brielle and Kenzo having dinner? Can someone

    tell me what¡¯s going on?]

    Chapter 109

    After a brief silence, Lillian replied.

    [The Barnes family son, Kenzo?]

    [That¡¯s him. But what¡¯s he doing with Brielle?]

    Sophia bit her lip, recalling the man she¡¯d seen hiding in Brielle¡¯s bedroom. Could it be him?

 Chapter 110

    Chapter 110

    Sophia felt like she had just stumbled upon the juiciest piece of gossip, and she couldn¡¯t resist pulling

    out her phone to snap a few more pictures. The friends apanying her noticed her distraction and

    asked what was up. With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, Sophia shook her head.

    It turned out that the one who cuckolded Spencer was none other than Kenzo, and this was simply too

    explosive to keep to herself.

    She was dying to shout this revtion from the rooftops, but then she thought about Kenzo¡¯s status

    and felt a twinge of worry. It was toote though, and the photos she had just shared were already

    making rounds.

    After all, in the social circles of Beaconsfield, there weren¡¯t many secrets. A bit of news, especially

    involving someone as usually discreet as Kenzo, spread like wildfire through dry grass.

    Within an hour, pretty much everyone knew about Kenzo¡¯s intimate lunch with a mysterious woman.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Tessa saw the photo while she was swallowing her bitter medication, almost making her retch. She

    quickly grabbed a handful of grapes to chase away the taste, her cheeks flushing from the effort. After

    wiping her mouth and rinsing with some water, she sat by the bay window, lost in thought.

    Sophia came in, her eyes brimming with scandal, carrying a box of pastries.

    ¡°Tessa, did you see that photo? Brielle and Kenzo out for lunch, and they looked cozy as can be. I told

    you Brielle was no good. I¡¯m really worried she might make a move on Andrew.¡±

    Sophia set the pastries on the table, her face a mask of innocence while she stirred the pot. ¡°Emily

    ends up behind bars because of her,

    and if Andrew insists I apologize to Brielle again, what will I do? I can¡¯t end up in the clink with Emily.¡±

    Tessa¡¯s heart softened when she saw the pastries were her favorite vor. ¡°Why would Emily be in

    jail?¡± she asked, genuinely puzzled. After all, Emily was part of the Hatfield family, and they wouldn¡¯t

    just stand by idly.

    Sophia¡¯s eyes gleamed with the thrill of gossip as she opened the pastry box.

    ¡°I just heard about it too. Apparently, Emily went after Brielle with a knife, and Brielle called the cops.

    Emily¡¯s been charged with attempted assault and might be locked up for a while.¡±

    That kind of record would make Emily aughing stock once she got. out, which was probably part of

    Brielle¡¯s n.

    Tessa elegantly scooped a piece of the pastry with a golden spoon and savored a bite. She had never

    met Brielle, but anyone who could snag Kenzo was clearly no pushover. She wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to

    threaten her position in Andrew¡¯s heart. He needed only to cherish her, and that was enough.

    ¡°Sophia, you don¡¯t need to apologize to Brielle. I¡¯ll speak to Andrew,¡± Tessa assured Sophia, who

    exhaled in relief, a smug look crossing her face.

    ¡°Tessa, I knew you were the best.¡±

    Tessa smiled and set down the spoon. ¡°So, the whole circle knows about Kenzo and Brielle now?¡±

    Sophia nodded. The photo she had sent out had already been forwarded to several chat groups.

    ¡°Sophia, send that photo to Spencer personally, and to the Haywood family as well. Don¡¯t forget Faith.

    She adores her son Spencer. When she sees Brielle so tantly cuckolding him, she won¡¯t stand for

    it.¡±

    This was Tessa¡¯s way ¨C using others to deal with Brielle, a bloodless

    coup.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Tessa. I¡¯m on it.¡±

    Sophia was Tessa¡¯s loyal sidekick, immediately sending out the well¨Cangled photos that she had taken,

    designed to suggest a liaison.

    Before Brielle even knew what was happening, her photo with Kenzo was the talk of the town.

 Chatper 111

    Chapter 111

    ¡°So, does this mystery script also incorporate reflections on human nature?¡± In the restaurant, Brielle

    talked with Kenzo about the new script he was currently working on. It was rare for Brielle to engage so

    openly with someone of the opposite sex, and her genuine smiles and the clear light in her eyes were a

    testament to how much she was enjoying their conversation.

    ¡°Like, how should one live their life? Pursuing happiness or sticking to duties ¨C which is the right course

    of action? Is indulgence the correct path? Should we blindly follow the truths. professed by experts?

    Does an individual have the right to make their own choices? Should the majority opinion dictate the

    political narrative? Your previous scripts touched on these themes, but my favorite has to be the one

    fromst year.¡±

    She had watched that drama series the previous year, not merely to tter him, but because she had

    thoroughly researched and admired it.

    Kenzo looked up, his fingers idly tracing the rim of his mug, ¡°I liked that script too. I didn¡¯t even want to

    adapt it into a TV show at first; I felt like no actor could embody the protagonists the way I envisioned

    them. Luckily, the casting turned out to be a sess in the end.¡±

    ¡°In my eyes, you are a true artist,¡± Brielle remarked, echoing the conclusion she had reached back in

    the library.

    Kenzo, hailed as a genius scriptwriter, had many sought¨Cafter scripts under his belt, each selling for

    millions. During interviews, he had even confessed that his adapted TV scripts were not his most

    satisfying works; the ones he valued most had been destroyed by his own hands.

    He spoke these words with a nonchnt smile to the cameras, having created a world, seen its beauty,

    and then, with a touch of pride and fulfillment, razed it to the ground.

    Even if Kenzo hadn¡¯t been born into the prestigious Barnes family, his character would likely be the

    same ¨C like a romantic ouw or the grandeur of ruins.

    He wrote of his ideals; though they might be impoverished, mundane, or outdated, they were ideals

    nheless, lending him an extraordinary allure that was independent of his lineage.

    ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯ve never changed,¡± Brielle mused, stirring her coffee as her eyshes fluttered down.

    Her phone rang at that moment, her brow furrowed upon seeing Spencer¡¯s name shing across the

    screen, and without hesitation, she hit decline.

    Spencer was relentless, calling again immediately. He¡¯s like a lion in fury, if Brielle were before him

    now, he would have been hard¨Cpressed not to strangle her.

    Just a minute earlier, his drinking buddies had tagged him in a group chat, bombarding him with photos

    of Brielle dining with Kenzo.

    Enraged, Spencer¡¯s face turned crimson as he kicked over the coffee table at home. He couldn¡¯t

    fathom how this woman, whom he had dismissed, could be associated with Kenzo, who,

    1/2

    17:17

    Chapter 111

    despite his amiable demeanor, was innately aloof.

    Fuming, Spencer learned the diner¡¯s location and drove there, intent on confronting the presumptuous

    woman who, in his eyes, had be too brazen because of his previous leniency.

    Unaware of Spencer¡¯s approach, Brielle rose to settle the bill only to be informed that it had been taken

    care of.

    Kenzo waited by the door, casually draping his jacket over one arm, ¡°I¡¯ve got a membership card here,

    gets me a 20% discount. No sense in not using it.¡±

    A smile broke across Brielle¡¯s face. Mr. Kenzo couldn¡¯t possibly care about saving a few dors on a

    meal. It was just his gentlemanly instincts that wouldn¡¯t allow ady to pay.

    ¡°Then let me transfer you the money, minus the discount,¡± she offered.

    Kenzo¡¯s lips curved in a gentle smile, ¡°No need. Next time I¡¯m working on a variety show script, just

    give me some feedback, alright?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely,¡± Brielle agreed readily, ¡°I¡¯m more than happy to help out.¡±

    As they were speaking, a shy sports car pulled up nearby, causing Brielle¡¯s heart to skip a

    beat.

    Spencer emerged from the car, his face a mask of fury. Spotting the pair chatting amiably, he strode

    over.

    ¡°Brielle!¡± he bellowed, his face contorting with rage, ¡°Just how many times do you n on making a fool

    out of me? Have you no shame?¡±

    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    He turned his scornful gaze to Kenzo, his voice dripping with sarcasm, ¡°You don¡¯t really think Kenzo

    would fall for you, do you? Ever heard about Tiffanie and him? You think he gave Tiffanie a second

    nce, even after all she did for him? Let¡¯s get real, he wouldn¡¯t bother with you even if you threw

    yourself at him. Don¡¯t get too carried away.¡±

 Chatper 112

    Chapter 112

    Brielle¡¯s expression darkened, but before she could utter a word, Kenzo interjected with a counter. ¡°Mr.

    Spencer, do you always speak so harshly to your fianc¨¦e?¡±

    The word ¡°fianc¨¦e¡± struck a nerve in Spencer. The disgust and disdain on his face were as clear as

    day, as if Brielle were some piece of trash, disgusting to even nce at.

    ¡°Brielle is just trash. She deserves nothing more than my contempt. Kenzo, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve grown

    a soft spot for her? There are a million women pining for you. Can you even keep track? And

    remember how Tiffanie got turned down by you in public? Then she went on a spree, living it up. It

    didn¡¯t seem to affect you one bit. Mr. Kenzo, your heart is as hard as stone. What right do you have to

    judge me?¡±

    Spencer said this with a smug tone, not feeling the slightest bit ashamed for embarrassing his own

    cousin. In his eyes, Tiffanie was no better¨Chad she any self¨Crespect, she wouldn¡¯t have stirred up so

    many scandals. She and Brielle were cut from the same cloth, utterly lost without

    a man.

    ¡°Having dinner with Brielle, don¡¯t you ever think of Tiffanie? They¡¯re the same kind of woman, groveling

    at men¡¯s feet, desperate for attention¨Cit¡¯s sickening.¡±

    Spencer was speaking out of sheer anger, his words as harsh as could be. By the time he regained his

    composure, Brielle¡¯s p had already connected.

    ¡°Smack!¡±

    It wasn¡¯t the first time Spencer had been struck, but this p carried an unusual force. His cheek stung

    fiercely, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He felt a bitter mix of self¨Cpity and hatred asContent bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    he touched his cheek, his chest trembling with rage.

    This bitch had hit him again¨Cwhat right did she have? Wasn¡¯t it her own sordid actions that shouldn¡¯t be

    spoken of?

    Underneath the thick hate, there was an unmistakable twinge of heartache.

    Brielle withdrew her hand, ¡°Had enough, Spencer? Who I sleep with is none of your business. We¡¯ll

    annul this engagement sooner orter. Why the temper tantrum? Are you disgusted by me but also

    waiting for your turn? Too bad, you¡¯re not even on my radar. You¡¯ve been out of the game from the

    start, got it?¡±

    Out of the game¨Csuch humiliating terms.

    Brielle blew on her palm, which had reddened from the force of the p, then turned to Kenzo.

    Kenzo¡¯s eyes still held a trace of surprise, probably not expecting her to resort to violence.

    ¡°Sorry for the scene, Kenzo. For the reality show script, feel free to contact me anytime. But I¡¯ve got

    other matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll be leaving.¡±

    Kenzo chuckled, feigning a cough, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll get in touch.¡±

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    17:17

    Chapter 112

    Brielle nodded and, without a nce at an astonished Spencer, got into her mid¨Crange car and drove

    away.

    Spencer, touching his face, stared at Kenzo, and wiped the blood from his lip with a sneer, ¡°To fuss

    over a woman who¡¯s been yed, Kenzo, I thought you had higher standards.¡±

    Kenzo found the situation amusing, as Spencer desperately ndered Brielle like a petnt child. The

    more he seemed to want something, the more he pretended he didn¡¯t. Interesting indeed.

    ¡°Brielle is actually quite intriguing,¡± Kenzo remarked casually.

    ¡°Ha, then you must find Tiffanie intriguing as well. Don¡¯t think I¡¯m clueless about you two.¡±

    Kenzo had no interest in tangling with such a child, resting a hand on thepel of his jacket, ¡°I am not

    familiar with Tiffanie.¡± To me Tiffanie¡¯s downfall on him was a miscarriage of justice.

    ¡°Please.¡±

    Spencer scoffed, turning his gaze away, ¡°Anyway, Brielle is my fianc¨¦e, and even if you two tear up the

    bed sheets, it won¡¯t matter. Unless I call off the engagement, you¡¯re nothing but a homewrecker.¡±

    Kenzo had reached his car when he heard this. He paused, ¡°Mr. Spencer, you should know that as

    writers, we oftenck a moralpass. Sometimes, for the sake of inspiration, we¡¯re willing to do

    anything. I haven¡¯t tried the role of a ¡®homewrecker¡® yet, but if Brielle is offering the opportunity, I

    wouldn¡¯t rule it out.¡±

    Spencer was left speechless, fuming as he watched Kenzo¡¯s car disappear into the distance. With a

    cold expression and for reasons unknown even to himself, Spencer dialed Faith.

    ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve made up my mind. I want to marry Brielle, immediately, right away.¡±

 Chatper 113

    Chapter 113

    When Faith received the call, she thought her son had lost his mind. She nced at her phone several

    times, double¨Cchecking that it was indeed Spencer on the line before she managed to calm herself

    down.

    She had also received those pictures and was pondering ways to take out Brielle.

    The Sunflower Orphanage sprang to her mind. She had signed a five¨Cyear contract, and three years

    had already passed. If she were to break the agreement prematurely, she would have topensate

    Brielle with a hefty sum of two hundred million dors.

    That was too costly for her, but the orphanage was managed by an aging director and was home to a

    bunch of naive kids. To call them vulnerable would be an understatement. She knew that with a little

    money, she could send some thugs to make life a living hell for everyone at the orphanage.

    Brielle dared to embarrass her son, and Faith was determined she would pay the price. But now,

    Spencer was insisting they get married as soon as possible, and Faith thought she was hallucinating.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. That slut has no ce in our family. Spencer, I¡¯d rather you be with Lillian. At

    least she¡¯s obedient and treats your word as gospel. But Brielle? Her scandals are all over the social

    circles. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is for me? Everyone¡¯s been asking me how I n to

    handle this mess at our tea parties.¡±

    The influence of the Barnes family in their circles was not to be underestimated, and now the scandal

    also involved Kenzo from the Barnes family.

    Faith had been with a group of high¨Csocietydies for afternoon tea when she received the photos, and

    the embarrassment had driven her to make an early exit. She had never been so eager to distance

    herself from the gue that was Brielle.

    Spencer snapped out of his fury under his mother¡¯s scolding and quickly backtracked, ¡°Mom, I was just

    blinded by anger. I couldn¡¯t swallow my pride, so I thought maybe marrying her could be a form of

    revenge.¡±

    Faith scoffed, her eyes shing with cunning, ¡°I¡¯ve already figured out how to get back at her. Leave

    this to me. As for the engagement, I¡¯ll talk to your father. If he drops his opposition, your engagement to

    Brielle will be off in no time.¡± If it hadn¡¯t been for Ryan¡¯s interventionst time, the engagement would

    have been called off already..

    While Spencer felt a wave of relief, there was an undercurrent of regret, as if he was about to lose

    something important. He tried to focus on Lillian, to recall the moments they had shared, and finally

    nodded in agreement, ¡°Alright.¡±

    After returning to her apartment, Brielle learned about the photos from a message sent by Aubree.

    Aubree was as bold as ever.

    1/2

    17:18

    Chapter 113

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    [Damn, Bri, is that Kenzo?! Do you know how hard he is to get a hold of? Tons of people in our circles

    are after him for his TV scripts. I heard he¡¯s so obsessed with his work that he once secluded himself in

    the wilderness for a year. He doesn¡¯t even attend social gatherings. And you got to dine with him?)

    Kenzo was indeed the type to sacrifice anything for his art ¨C his time, his rtionships, even his life.

    Once, to craft a crime drama script, he even went undercover in a South African

    organization. Kenzo¡¯s understanding of life transcended the ordinary; he sought fulfillment on a spiritual

    level.

    [First Max, now Kenzo, each one a better catch than Spencer, that unlucky charm. You need to kick

    Spencer to the curb; he¡¯s been worn out by Lillian and can¡¯t satisfy you anymore.]

    Brielle blushed at Aubree¡¯s brazen words. She nced at the photos Aubree had sent ¨C the angles

    were tricky, making it look like there was something between her and Kenzo.

    Remembering Spencer¡¯sments about Kenzo and Tiffanie, Brielle quickly asked Aubree for

    the scoop.

    Aubree hadn¡¯t heard about any entanglement between the two, and Tiffanie had always been the same

    since she came of age, never known to have confessed to anyone.

    But one thing was certain: Tiffanie knew how to party hard, scaring off the young heirs in their circles.

    There was a time when a family elder suggested a marriage alliance with Tiffanie, but the prospective

    groom had theatrically threatened to take his own life to break off the engagement, which eventually

    fizzled out.

    Confused by the whole affair, Brielle decided to focus on her work instead. Just as she was about to

    boot up herputer, she saw a message from Max. As usual, it was brief.

    [Documents.]

    For some reason, Brielle felt that his mood was off.

 Chatper 114

    Chapter 114

    Brielle was familiar with thepany Book and wasn¡¯t quite sure if Max¡¯s interest was intentional or

    idental. After all, Book¡¯s operations were strikingly simr to Alpha¡¯s. Was he considering investing

    in Book? If that was the case, Alpha was definitely out of the running. Ryan¡¯s little show was over

    before it even began.

    The thought of Ryan¡¯s misfortune brought a wicked smile to Brielle¡¯s face. She spent an evening

    gathering information on Book, but her schadenfreude was cut short when she saw Alivia¡¯s name

    among the rted personnel. The rumors online seemed to be true¨CMax was ready to spend a fortune

    for hisdy love. It was probably the first time in Max¡¯s career that his heart weighed in on a business

    decision.

    Brielle felt a brief pang of jealousy, but she shook it off and put together aprehensive file.

    The next morning, after rubbing her tired eyes, she sent the file off. Even after a long nap, there was no

    response from Max.

    Not wanting to wait passively for a message, she decided to keep herself busy. After tidying up her

    apartment, she nced at the fridge. It was as empty as a ghost town, which gave her the perfect

    excuse to head out.

    Slipping into her jacket, Brielle was about to leave when she caught a local news update about

    Sunflower Children¡¯s Home. Her heart skipped a beat, and she rushed out to her car.

    The home wasn¡¯t in the heart of Beaconsfield but rather on the outskirts¨Ca two¨Chour drive

    away.

    She left at seven and arrived by nine. The familiar sight of the long, sycamore¨Clined street leading to

    the home, with its warmly lit windows, brought a sense of warmth to her heart.

    Parking outside, Brielle noticed several older kids sitting on the steps, wiping away tears. Upon seeing

    Brielle, they put up a cautious front, arms spread out as if to block the entrance.

    ¡°Who are you? What do you want?¡±

    During her first year on the job, she had visited the home. The children had been so weing, but

    now all she saw in their eyes was wariness. She had rushed over without any sweets and had to

    exin, ¡°I¡¯m looking for the director. What happened here?¡±

    One of the boys, with his rosy cheeks stained by tears, realized Brielle meant no harm and his eyes

    reddened further. ¡°Some drunk guys showed up and started shoving us around. Thank goodness the

    director shielded us, otherwise¡­¡± His voice trailed off into sobs.

    Brielle hurried inside and saw the director, Mark, in his seventies, bandaged arm and all, consoling a

    crying toddler with an apple.

    ¡°Mark!¡± She called out and quickly strode over.

    Mark stood up, and his eyes lit up when he saw her, ¡°Brielle, what brings you here?¡±

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    Chapter 114

    She felt a lump in her throat, noticing a bunch of roses by the window¨Ca tradition of the director, who

    loved to grow roses in the plot behind the home, and kept fish in a small pond. This haven of tranquility

    was her personal utopia.

    Even in the toughest of times, when meals were scarce, and despite witnessing many so¨Ccalled elites

    with ulterior motives, this ce remained a beacon of beauty. That was why Brielle never hesitated to

    donate her monthly sry, keeping just enough for living expenses. She would even sign a dubious

    contract with Faith for the sake of this kind man and his children.

    ¡°I saw the news and couldn¡¯t rest easy until I checked on you.¡±

    Mark chuckled and gestured to a chair, ¡°It was nothing serious, just a few drunks causing trouble.

    They¡¯ve been taken away and won¡¯te back. Brielle, you¡¯re even more beautiful than thest time I

    saw you.¡±

    ¡°Lillian was here just a moment ago. You girls, always worrying me. You should¡¯ve called before

    coming.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s stomach churned at the mention of Lillian¡¯s name. The director thought they were still as close

    as sisters, speaking with such affection.

    ¡°Lillian was so thoughtful, even brought her boyfriend along.¡±

    Brielle nced at the pile of gifts on the table, undoubtedly from Lillian, who always had impable

    presentation. Compared to Brielle, Lillian indeed seemed more considerate, but Brielle didn¡¯t care, nor

    did she want to discuss dirty secrets in front of the director.

    ¡°Director, it¡¯s not safe for you to be here alone. Maybe I should look into hiring some security guards.¡±

    Just as she finished speaking, the children¡¯s excited voices could be heard from the entrance.

    ¡°Lillian, you¡¯re back!¡±

    ¡°Are those guys with you bodyguards?¡±

    Their innocent voices were filled with joy and a touch of coaxing. Then came Lillian¡¯sforting words,

    ¡°Yes, after tonight¡¯s scare, I was worried about your safety. So, I arranged for some security guards to

    come. They¡¯ll protect you if anyone tries to cause trouble again.¡±

    Of course, Lillian had enlisted Spencer¡¯s help for the bodyguards.

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    Chapter 115

    ¡°Lillian, you¡¯re the best, seriously. All these treats and even got us bodyguards to watch over us,¡± the

    children¡¯s voices chimed with unrestrained joy.

    ¡°We love you the most, Lillian.¡±

    The affection from kids was always pure and simple. Showing them kindness, and they would return it

    twofold.

    Lillian stepped through the door, Spencer trailing behind her. When Spencer had heard that Lillian

    wanted to visit the orphanage, his heart had melted. She was always so kind and pure¨Chearted, never

    forgetting her roots even after finding her own slice of happiness, far from the days of the orphanage.

    As Lillian entered the hall, her gaze immediatelynded on the woman sitting across from the director.

    ¡°Bri?¡± she paused, then slowly approached, ¡°Bri, you¡¯re here too?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s lips curled into a sardonic smile upon seeing Lillian¡¯s familiar face.

    All the drama with Emily and Sophia was Lillian¡¯s doing, yet here she was, ying the role of the

    devoted friend. With the director present, Brielle wasn¡¯t keen on causing a scene.

    Mark nced between the two women, his face beaming with pride, ¡°You¡¯ve both grown up so much.

    Especially you, Lillian, even bringing a boyfriend along. Bri, you should take a break from work now and

    then, think about settling down yourself.¡±

    Spencer hadn¡¯t expected to bump into Brielle here. After a moment of difort, he puffed up with

    pride. After all, it wasn¡¯t he who had been unfaithful, and he wanted Brielle to see what it was like to

    have a man who spoiled you rotten.

    Like now, for instance, apanying Lillian to the orphanagete at night and arranging for security

    through his contacts. Meanwhile, Brielle was on her own. What did it matter if she had all those men?

    They were just toying with her, tossing her aside like yesterday¡¯s news once they were done.

    A surge of satisfaction ran through Spencer, and he casually wrapped his arms around Lillian. ¡°Mark,

    you have nothing to worry about. Lillian¡¯s a gem, and I¡¯ll take good care of her.¡±

    The director, oblivious to the underlying tension, was all the more reassured. ¡°Lillian¡¯s been sensible

    since she was a child. She¡¯d always stick close to Bri, who was mature beyond her years and so quiet.

    There were folks interested in adopting her back then, but when they wouldn¡¯t take Lillian too, Bri

    refused. She could¡¯ve left for a new family, but she stayed here for years, all for Lillian¡¯s sake, until the

    Haywoods came along.¡±

    Director Mark seemed lost in the past, a nostalgic look crossing his face.

    ¡°Bri was in tears, insisting the Haywoods take Lillian too. They were hesitant, naturally. They¡¯d finally

    found their own daughter, why take on another? But Bri stood her ground, and in the end,

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    Lillian went with her. I was worried Lillian might be mistreated with the Haywoods, but Bri took good

    care of her.¡±

    He patted Brielle¡¯s shoulder as he spoke.

    ¡°Bri, you¡¯ve done well. You neverin, no matter how tough it gets. Now that Lillian¡¯s found her

    ce, I worry about you. When you find someone, bring him by. I¡¯ll vet him for you.¡±

    Lillian squirmed with difort at the director¡¯s words. She never expected such a candid

    acknowledgment of her debt to Brielle in front of Spencer. It was unsettling, even if it was the truth. And

    Spencer, feeling the weight of his arm around Lillian as if it were suddenly scalding, slowly withdrew it.

    Brielle, indifferent to the atmosphere between them, looked at Mark with touched eyes.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, director. When I find my other half, I¡¯ll be sure to bring him to you.¡±

    The director nodded, ¡°You¡¯ve always been reliable. I know you¡¯ve taken good care of Lillian after

    bringing her to the Haywoods. But don¡¯t neglect yourself, Bri. You deserve happiness too.¡±

    Brielle fought back the tears, touched, ¡°I¡¯ve indeed looked after Lillian well. Her boyfriend here, I had a

    hand in that match.¡±

    The director looked surprised, then turned to Spencer, ¡°Ah, so Bri introduced you two? Then I¡¯m sure

    he¡¯s a fine man.¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help but smirk, sensing an unspoken irony between her and the director, ¡°Of course,

    they¡¯re perfect for each other.¡±

    A perfect match indeed ¨C a jerk and a slut.

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    Chapter 116

    Hearing this, the faces of Lillian and Spencer darkened. Lillian felt like she was being roasted over an

    open me, the heat unbearable. Her hand, hanging limply at her side, suddenly clenched, her nails

    digging into her palm.

    That bitch, she had the audacity to insinuate things about her in front of the director.

    And the director, he always favored Brielle. Lillian regretted splurging on all those gifts for nothing. Was

    he blind? Couldn¡¯t he see that Brielle hadn¡¯t brought anything? And yet he still sided with her?

    Taking a deep breath, Lillian maintained a perfect smile on her face. ¡°Mark, these are two bodyguards

    I¡¯ve hired for you, so that what happened tonight won¡¯t happen again,¡± she said.

    Mark nodded. ¡°That¡¯s very thoughtful of you, Lillian.¡±

    Sensing the conversation finally shift to herself, Lillian quickly gestured towards the items on the table.

    ¡°These are for the kids. I was in a rush this time and didn¡¯t bring much, but I¡¯ll have someone deliver

    more when I get back.¡±

    After speaking, she turned to Spencer and yfully grabbed his sleeve, ¡°Spencer, what do you say?¡±

    Spencer reflexively nced at Brielle, knowing she had long seen through his rtionship with Lillian,

    but this was the first time they were flirting so openly in front of her. At the Haywood family dinner, they

    had been restrained, but now it seemed they wereying it all out in the

    open.

    He couldn¡¯t quite understand his own feelings; on one hand, he wanted to crush Brielle, on the other,

    he toyed with the idea that if Brielle showed him any sign of weakness with her eyes, he wouldn¡¯t be

    opposed to ying along.

    Brielle wasn¡¯t looking at him. Instead, she was helping Mark unpack the items on the table. She adeptly

    tore open the packaging and started categorizing the items.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    He felt a surge of irritation, ¡°Brielle, you came to visit Mark and didn¡¯t think to bring anything? What¡¯s

    with the sudden eagerness?¡±

    Brielle paused, thinking Spencer could really be emotionally dim at times. She smiled, ¡°The Haywood

    family raised Lillian for years, and I introduced you to her. Her money is essentially mine. That bracelet

    on her wrist? My brother spent a million on it. Why, can¡¯t I help unwrap a few thousand dors¡® worth of

    gifts?¡±

    Spencer darkened as he nced at the bracelet on Lillian¡¯s wrist. Lillian awkwardly tried to hide the

    bracelet, but it only made her look more conspicuous.

    Brielle had no intention of letting them off easy, especially since Spencer had been the one to make the

    nastyment first. ¡°Besides, the vi Lillian is living in now, don¡¯t forget that was a gift from Uncle

    Max to me. I told her to move out within three days, but she didn¡¯tply. You

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    just reminded me, tonight I¡¯ll contact an agent to sell the house. Make sure the property is legally

    transferred to my name, otherwise, I¡¯ll have to go to Uncle Max for an exnation.¡±

    Spencer was just venting his frustration, but Brielle had left him speechless with her retorts. Even Lillian

    felt the awkwardness.

    Lillian hadn¡¯t realized that the vi was a gift from Max to Brielle. When Brielle asked her to move out,

    she found it ridiculous; after all, Spencer had bought it for her, what right did Brielle have to kick her

    out?

    Lillian¡¯s face turned pale. Why would Max give Brielle such an extravagant gift? That vi was worth

    over twenty million, more than most people make in a lifetime.

    Lillian¡¯s chest heaved as she red at Spencer, realizing he didn¡¯t refute Brielle¡¯s ims¨Cit must be

    true. Resentment flickered in her eyes. Why did people still help Brielle? Wasn¡¯t her promiscuity well

    known in their circle?

    Her lips trembled, and she couldn¡¯t meet Mark¡¯s gaze.

    Mark stopped unwrapping the gifts, his irritation evident as he stared at Spencer, ¡°Spencer, your words

    were too harsh. I¡¯m happy as long as Brielle is willing to visit me. And the orphanage has been

    receiving anonymous donations for years now, so we¡¯re no longer as destitute as before. The children

    are well¨Cfed and warm. Plus, it was Brielle who took Lillian away back then, and seeing her thrive now,

    she should be grateful. As her boyfriend, how could you speak to Brielle like that?¡±

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    Chapter 117

    Spencer felt like he had just shot himself in the foot. And to make matters worse, Brielle wasn¡¯t done

    yet. ¡°Spencer, if you find the house transfer too bothersome, then get a realtor yourself, But I want the

    money from the sale in my ount within a week.¡±

    After she finished, she turned towards Mark, her face earnest. ¡°Mark, do you remember thend

    dispute the orphanage had back then? The agreement¡¯s got two more years, and I worry someone

    might y dirty. We should start saving and scouting for a new location.¡±

    Mark remembered that agreement all too well. If it hadn¡¯t been for Brielle, they would have been kicked

    out on their ears three years ago. That incident made Brielle give up a lot, something that weighed

    heavily on his conscience. As the director, it was his responsibility to secure the future of the children in

    his care, but somehow, that burden had shifted onto Brielle¡¯s shoulders.

    Who else but Brielle would agree to spend over two million to secure a future for the orphanage?

    Mark was at a loss for words. Should he nobly refuse? But if he did, where would that leave the kids

    once their time here was up? He personally couldn¡¯t care less about material possessions; he could

    live under a bridge for all his life if it came to that. But these kids were growing, and they couldn¡¯t be

    expected to rough it out on the streets.

    He knew Brielle was all about loyalty and honor. She never forgot that to save her, he had sold his own

    house, and in the process, even his wife had left him.

    Mark patted her shoulder, his eyes brimming with tears, ¡°These kids can never repay you.¡± Compared

    to the millions Brielle offered, the few thousand bucks¡® worth of trinkets Lillian bought were peanuts.

    Lillian, wearing her million¨Cdor bracelet, thought she could win hearts with her petty favors? Not a

    chance.

    Lillian¡¯s face had turned an ugly shade of green, her teeth practically grinding to dust. But what could

    she say? That she wouldn¡¯t move? The vi was a gift from Max to Brielle. She had no right to stay.

    When Brielle had given her three days to move out, Lillian hadn¡¯t taken it seriously. Now that Brielle

    was using Max to push her out, neither she nor Spencer dared object.

    The more arrogant they had been before, the more pathetic they were now. Even Spencer couldn¡¯t find

    anything to say, just feeling utterly embarrassed.

    Brielle didn¡¯t have time to deal with these two clowns; she turned back to help Mark with the presents.

    Not wanting to stick around and further humiliate themselves, Lillian and Spencer made a quick excuse

    to leave.

    Mark, not one to hold a grudge against the young, saw them out personally.

    Once in the car, an eerie silence fell between Lillian and Spencer. It was only after they had driven

    some distance that Lillian, with red¨Crimmed eyes, finally spoke up. ¡°Did Max really gift

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    that vi to Brielle?¡±

    Spencer, already in a foul mood, couldn¡¯t help but respond sharply. ¡°On the first day Max took charge at

    Dorsey International, I happened to walk right into trouble, and the vi was then gifted to Brielle as a

    ceremonial present.¡±

    A ceremonial present?

    Lillian trembled with envy. She had been Spencer¡¯s secret lover for years, bending to his every whim,

    and all she got was this vi. And Max just casually gifted one to Brielle as a ceremonial present?

    VANE

    The phrase ¡°ceremonial present¡± felt like a p to her face, leaving her emotionally bruised and

    battered.

    ¡°How could Max give such an extravagant gift? What if they¡¯re¡­¡±

    Spencer was quickly losing patience. ¡°Extravagant? He was raking in foreign capital on Wall Street by

    the time he was sixteen or seventeen. Twenty million is pocket change to him. He¡¯s the president of

    Dorsey International, but nobody knows exactly how much he¡¯s earned

    abroad.¡±

    The young Dorsey crowd admired Max to no end. He was an industry benchmark, a towering figure

    they could only aspire to. When someone stands too tall, envy gives way to awe.

    Spencer¡¯s words only fueled the fire in Lillian¡¯s heart, spreading heat to her limbs, her eyes burning with

    desire. If Max were to take notice of her, even the stars in the sky wouldn¡¯t be out

    of reach.

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    Chapter 118

    She had long harbored the ambition to cling to Max¡¯s coattails, and Spencer¡¯s words only made her

    want to hasten her stride. ¡°Max has such a standing in the business world. Maybe you should set up a

    dinner to schmooze him a bit,¡± she suggested, hoping to imply her own presence at the meal.

    But Spencer¡¯s nextment was like a gavel sentencing her to a grim fate. ¡°Even if I was to arrange a

    meal, it¡¯s Brielle that should be my plus one. The rest of the Dorsey family can mess around all they

    want, just not in his line of sight. If I were to take you out for dinner with him, I might as well kiss my

    career at Dorsey International goodbye.¡±

    All color drained from Lillian¡¯s face, leaving her seething with silent rage. Was she doomed to be

    nothing more than a mistress, forever hidden in the shadows? She couldn¡¯t ept that. She wouldn¡¯t.

    Spencer, sensing the sting of his words, tried to soften the blow, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it after I call off my

    engagement with Brielle.¡±

    But this did little tofort Lillian. She had been feeling insecure about Spencer¡¯s recent aloofness,

    especially his odd behavior toward Brielle. ¡°Spencer, are you really going to break off your engagement

    with Brielle?¡± she asked, her voice quivering, tears threatening to spill

    over.

    Hearing this, a brief panic flickered through Spencer¡¯s heart. Deep down, he knew he wasn¡¯t ready to

    let Brielle go. She had always been so supportive and obdient, and now her disdain was like a p in

    the face. Had all her past affection been a lie?

    Was it possible she had never loved him? The very thought was humiliating.

    ¡°Yes. The engagement will be off in two months, tops,¡± he dered with false certainty.

    Lillian bit her lip, nodding pitifully. ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait for you,¡± she whispered.

    Spencer avoided her eyes, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white.

    Meanwhile, Brielle had just finished sorting through the gifts.

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    ¡°Mark, you can distribute these to the kids tomorrow. I¡¯ve organized everything. Here¡¯s the food, and

    there¡¯s the clothing.¡±

    Mark nced at the clock on the wall. ¡°It¡¯ste, and you¡¯re by yourself. Why not stay the night?¡±

    ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯ve got work in the morning.¡±

    Not wanting to push further, Mark retrieved a few links of homemade sausage from the fridge. ¡°I made

    these for the holidays. Take some with you.¡±

    Mark was a jack¨Cof¨Call¨Ctrades, teaching the kids to make all kinds of delicious food. Back when Brielle

    lived there, times had been tough, and each holiday was a feast to make up for the

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    scarcity.

    Back then, wealthy folks woulde to adopt, making a big show of it for the media, proiming their

    generosity. What happened to the kids afterward, though, the media didn¡¯t care to follow up on.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Brielle said, taking the bag of sausages.

    By the time she returned to her apartment, it was past midnight. She quickly washed up, checked her

    emails and direct messages, but there was still no word from Max. No feedback on the documents

    either.

    The next morning, she barely arrived at the office before being summoned to a meeting on the top

    floor.

    Max was thest to arrive, and with him there, Ryan was conspicuously absent.

    William adjusted his sses and cheerfully broached the topic of the Alpha project. ¡°Max, you¡¯ve been

    briefed by Brielle, I presume. What¡¯s your take?¡±

    Max barely lifted an eyelid. ¡°Who proposed investing in Alpha?¡±

    Everyone in the room knew he was asking knowingly, but no one dared to answer. After all, allowing

    someone who had been dismissed to enter the boardroom was a breach on their part. Under their

    pleading gazes, William softly responded, ¡°Ryan visited the boardroom earlier, iming father¡¯s

    approval. He¡¯s got a cozy rtionship with Alpha¡¯s president and suggested they might let Dorsey

    International invest first.¡±

    ¡°In the future, let security keep such individuals out. If I¡¯ve dismissed someone, I don¡¯t want them back

    here causing a stir.¡±

    His tone was indifferent, dismissing Ryan as if he were nothing.

    Brielle, seated not far away, couldn¡¯t help but smirk at Max¡¯s imperious and strategic demeanor. To

    others, it might seem detestable, but to her, it held a certain allure. It was a shame, though, that such a

    cold person could still bend his principles for Alivia.

    Would The Priest ultimately be forced to walk among mortals?

    She lowered her gaze, choosing not to engage in the conversation at hand.

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    Chapter 119

    The other executives didn¡¯t dare to make a peep in Max¡¯s presence, knowing full well the weight of the

    shares he held in his iron grip. Cross him, and you¡¯d be packing your bags faster than you could say

    ¡°Pink slip.¡± Hadn¡¯t Ryan been the perfect cautionary tale? If Max could cast aside his own flesh and

    blood without a second thought, the others stood no chance of mercy.

    William, savvy as ever, didn¡¯t bother to defend Ryan, instead smoothly changing the subject. ¡°Max. I

    hear your trip abroad is about courting thatpany. Book?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s ears perked up instantly, curious as to how Max would respond.

    Max casually flipped through the documents on the table, his expression unaltered. ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s under

    consideration.¡±

    Patrick, standing beside him, almost reflexively nced at Brielle, then with a businesslike demeanor,

    fired up the projector. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, please direct your attention here. This is all the intel on

    Book. It¡¯s a wildly popr app overseas, currently valued at a cool billion dors.¡±

    Word on the street about Book had already seeped out over thest few days, and the media, which

    didn¡¯t dare spill much ink on Max, had a field day dissecting Alivia¡¯s side of the story.

    Discovering that Alivia was a shareholder and that thepany¡¯s CEO was a senior colleague from

    her research institute had the public thinking Max was ready to throw down a fortune for hisdy love.

    Thus, the executives in the meeting room, ever opportunistic, eagerly began to brown¨Cnose.

    ¡°The CEO of Book is impressively young, and the user base they¡¯ve built in less than six months is

    remarkable. If this momentum continues, it¡¯s going to be a staple on everyone¡¯s smartphone.¡±

    ¡°If they¡¯re seeking funds, Dorsey International must be in the running.¡±

    ¡°With a market cap of a billion dors, the investment figure will likely be in that ballpark. It¡¯s a sure

    bet.¡±

    Even if it tanked, what did it matter if Max spent a few billion to woo a woman? His happiness was

    paramount, and no one could fathom the depths of his wealth.

    Besides, the rise of Book was nothing short of meteoric, almost impossible to duplicate. If Dorsey

    International could snag this project early on, the return could easily multiply tenfold, or even a

    hundredfold.

    The room buzzed with chatter, but Brielle sat quietly to the side, hershes lowered, absorbed in

    thought.

    Patrick, ignoring the hubbub, dutifully disyed Book¡¯s details on therge screen. ¡°Several venture

    capital firms are already in talks with Book. By early next month, after the CEO meets with Ms. Alivia

    again, we¡¯ll need to lock down the investment amount. I¡¯ll circte the details

    Chapter 119

    for everyone¡¯s consideration. Until then, feel free to weigh in.¡±

    Brielle nced at the information on the screen, much of which she hadpiled. The founder of Book

    was indeed formidable, backed by a mentor who was a titan in the academic world and supported by a

    lady of Alivia¡¯s standing. Its potential seemed limitless.

    Brielle¡¯s gaze dropped as she noticed the room¡¯s volume dip suddenly. Then silence fell, and she

    looked up to find Max¡¯s gaze resting on her. Unsure of what had transpired, she stood, feeling

    awkward, ¡°The founder is, indeed, remarkable.¡± With that half¨Chearted remark, she sat

    back down.

    The atmosphere grew subtly charged, and Brielle wondered if she¡¯d misspoken.

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    As the meeting dispersed, she hoped to slip out unnoticed with the crowd of executives, but then Max¡¯s

    quiet tap¨Ctap on the table halted her. ¡°Stay behind.¡± The voice was very soft, and only she, walking at

    the back, could hear it.

    She lingered to close the door, then faced him. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, I¡¯vepiled the Book information

    thoroughly. Is there something unsatisfactory?¡±

    ¡°Are you upset?¡±

    A pang hit Brielle¡¯s chest, a sour twist. It was rare for him to notice the mood swings of her, but what

    right did she have to be upset? Wasn¡¯t she just a little canary he kept?

    Max stood and as he passed her, he drew her gently into his embrace. ¡°Come to my office.¡±

    It¡¯s brief embrace, followed by a release. Like a bee sting straight to the heart.

    Brielle stood rooted, waiting until the room emptied before she collected herself. Did she like Max? She

    wasn¡¯t sure, maybe it was just a woman¡¯s instinctual response. She tried to suppress such instincts,

    knowing sometimes that wise surrender was better than blind persistence.

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    Chapter 120

    When Brielle entered Max¡¯s office, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee greeted her.

    Max didn¡¯t drink instant coffee. There was a small tea room in the office, and just around the corner

    from the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows was the lounge. At that moment, he sat in a chair, one hand adorned

    with the rosary resting on the marble tabletop, his eyes calm as the snow settled at theers.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey.¡± She called out to him, trying to shake off the sting of anxiety that had settled in her heart.

    Max slid a folder across the desk, his hands folded neatly in front of him, all business. ¡°You weren¡¯t

    telling the truth in the conference room.¡±

    Brielle felt a wave of frustration wash over her. She was struggling not to let his demeanor affect her,

    but he seemed all tooposed. ¡°How do you know I wasn¡¯t telling the truth, Mr. Dorsey? The

    executives were all in favor of investing in Book, and Ms. Alivia is one of its shareholders.¡±

    ¡°Do you think my investment has anything to do with Alivia?¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    She regretted her retort instantly, feeling as if she had lost her fundamental ability to judge the situation.

    Before she could salvage the conversation, the office door swung open, and Patrick, along with two

    other executives, made their way in, seemingly ready for an impromptu meeting. The two executives,

    sensing the mood, settled on a sofa to one side, waiting quietly for Max to finish up.

    Max didn¡¯t nce their way but instead furrowed his brow at Brielle, ¡°Why would you think there¡¯s a

    connection?¡±

    Brielle noticed the executives casting curious nces but without much surprise. They probably would

    never guess that she and Max were entangled in an affair.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Brielle pursed her lips, feeling once again that singing a solo seemed too pitifut when she was the only

    one in the act. ¡°If Mr. Dorsey¡¯s interest isn¡¯t because of Ms. Alivia, then this project is indeed up for

    debate. If you really want my opinion, I suggest we don¡¯t invest.¡±

    Her blunt honesty took the seated executives by surprise, and they almost wished they hadn¡¯t entered,

    now facing the potential wrath of the president.

    Brielle was bold, daring to speak to the president in such a manner and suggesting they shouldn¡¯t

    invest. What did her suggestion matter?

    Internally criticizing her, they maintained aposed exterior, as any high¨Cranking official at Dorsey

    International would.

    The situation was clear. Brielle had irritated the president, and if they sided with him, perhaps a hefty

    year¨Cend bonus would be secured. The executives exchanged nces and feigned a

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    17:19

    Chapter 120

    cough before speaking up.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, these matters aren¡¯t so simple,¡± the head of HR began with an air of

    righteousness. ¡°Book has only been established for less than a year and has a ster research team

    backing it. It deserves investment, and we can¡¯t let your personal feelings cloud our judgment.¡±

    Following his lead, the Finance Director chimed in, ¡°Indeed, investment is serious business, not to be

    swayed by emotions. The president has sought your counsel privately, surely valuing your expertise.

    You shouldn¡¯t be capricious.¡±

    As they finished, Max closed the file in front of him, his voice even, ¡°Did I ask for your input?¡±

    Having tried to brown¨Cnose and failed, the executives shrank back, wishing they could disappear.

    Max pushed his chair back slightly, his gaze fixed on Brielle, ¡°You suggest we don¡¯t invest. What¡¯s your

    reasoning?¡±

    Brielle thought of the information she had seen on therge screen earlier and decided to be forthright.

    ¡°The reason is the founder¡¯s willingness to give up control uses. Isn¡¯t that concerning enough? If the

    founder doesn¡¯t control thepany, who will dictate its future? Dorsey International? That would

    mean we¡¯ve essentially bought a business, not made an investment. The founder¡¯s quick surrender of

    control suggests a focus on short¨Cterm gains. Even if Dorsey International invested billions to be

    the majority shareholder, what about the other investors? With the current mindset of the founder, as

    long as the price is right, they¡¯ll be allowed in. However, if those investors are quick to sell their shares

    for a quick profit, where does that leave thepany¡¯s long¨Cterm growth?¡±

    ¡°Once investors start selling off, it will inevitably lead to instability within thepany, a neighborly risk,

    which I¡¯m sure Mr. Dorsey is aware of. It¡¯s like buying a house. You have to consider who your

    neighbors are.¡±

    Her words resonated with Max, as if they were on the same wavelength.

 Chatper 121

    Chapter 121

    Max hesitated when he saw the founder relinquish control, that was why he made those

    remarks to Alivia.

    During the meeting, his proposal to invest in thepany called Book wasn¡¯t about ying the waiting

    game; he was biding his time for the founder to reach out first. If the founder decided to keep a firm grip

    on thepany¡¯s reins, there was no need to fret about Book¡¯s future. After all, no one understood its

    trajectory better than the person who started it all.

    But clearly, the founder hadn¡¯t grasped this issue, because ording to the intel from Alivia, the

    founder was still in talks with several other venture capital firms.

    Brielle, with only three years of professional experience under her belt, had been devouring financial

    knowledge since her college days. In four years of undergrad, she¡¯d amassed more wisdom than some

    grad students do in seven.

    The office was dead silent, the few people present barely dared to breathe. And there was Max, sitting

    in the quiet glow of the room, who after a long pause, finally gave a gentle nod, ¡°Early next month,

    you¡¯ll apany me abroad.¡±

    It was the second time he¡¯d be taking Brielle on a business trip in a short span.

    Brielle froze. Thest auction event wasmon knowledge at thepany, and many were

    specting about his opinion of her. Now he was taking her on another trip, seemingly unfazed by the

    risk of sparking rumors.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, if it¡¯s about Book, you really needn¡¯t bother. As long as the founder doesn¡¯t change his

    mind, you¡¯re definitely not going to invest.¡±

    ¡°Brielle, what¡¯s got you so twisted up?¡±

    The subject changed so abruptly that Brielle was momentarily lost. She even thought she¡¯d heard him

    wrong and, mindful of the two executives sitting nearby, she quicklyposed herself, ¡°What are you

    implying, Mr. Dorsey?¡±

    ¡°Are you trying to avoid the appearance of impropriety?¡±

    The two executives sneaked a nce at Max, then shifted their eyes to Brielle, sensing something off

    in the president¡¯s demeanor towards her.

    Patrick coughed softly, signalling the two executives with a gesture that it was time to leave. Feeling

    like they were sitting on hot coals, the executives couldn¡¯t wait to scurry out.

    Before the door even closed, Max¡¯s icy voice cut through. ¡°Do you really think you can avoid this?¡±

    ¡°Bang!¡± The door shut firmly, and whatever was said next was lost to those outside.

    Cold sweat beaded on the foreheads of the two executives, their backs slick with perspiration. They

    had climbed to their current positions by knowing which secrets to keep buried. The two

    1/2

    16:35

    shared a knowing look, aware that Brielle was untouchable, at least until the president decided

    otherwise.

    Once the door was closed, Brielle let out a sigh of relief, ¡°Uncle Max, aren¡¯t you worried they¡¯ll spread

    gossip?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t the people who sit in this chair have a bit of discretion?¡±

    Alright, Brielle was thoroughly convinced.

    Max could be unapologetically headstrong. She remembered the random call from him while she was

    dining with Kenzo, a flicker of hope stirring within her.

    Was he bothered by her dinner with Kenzo? Was that why he kept texting and calling? Had he secretly

    listened to that long voicemail?

    Still, Brielle was too timid, not daring to joke about whether he was jealous, fearing she might be

    reading too much into it. So, she chose a more tactful question.

    ¡°Uncle Max, if the Dorsey family wanted you to marry Alivia, would you?¡±

    If Max cared about her even a smidgeon, he¡¯d surely say no, but his response was, ¡°I¡¯m considering it.¡±

    Those wordsshed her like a barbed whip. It stung.

    ¡°And what if Ms. Alivia asked you to invest in Book?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d refuse.¡±

    Warmth slowly returned to Brielle¡¯s body, as if the heat that had been drawn out was now coursing back

    through her veins. Could one use Max of being unfeeling and callous? But from the start, she knew

    ordinary emotions barely existed for him. To me him forck of feeling was as absurd as

    condemning a tiger for its ferocity.

    Brielle, adept at self¨Cregtion, quickly shook off the brief hurt and analyzed the founder of Book.

    ¡°The founder is missing a crucial quality ¨C a mission to serve humanity.¡±

    The difference between wildly sessful entrepreneurs and the average ones was significant. Besides

    the desire to make a fortune or look cool, the truly sessful ones often had additional motivations,

    such as a deep love for their field or product, or a sense of responsibility and mission that transcended

    money itself.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    The founder of Book was still above the average entrepreneur, yet unaware that hispany could

    change the world. Such opportunities were priceless, which was why he could so easily part with

    control. To put it bluntly, his vision was shortsighted.

    Brielle had just finished her analysis when she noticed Max standing close by, looking down at her.

    Confusion in her eyes, she hadn¡¯t time to react before he grasped her wrist and led her toward the

    break room.

    212

 Chatper 122

    Chapter 122

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey?¡±

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    The room spun as she found herself pinned on the couch in the break room. Brielle¡¯s mind was a blur.

    What on earth was Max up to?

    Her eyes widened in shock and just as she attempted to rise, she was pulled back into his embrace.

    His breath tickled her ear, sending her heartbeat into a frenzy. She couldn¡¯t help but lick her lips

    nervously.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, isn¡¯t it work hours?¡± she managed to say.

    Max chuckled, his fingers grazing her side yfully, ¡°What do you think I want to do?¡±

    The irritation bubbled inside Brielle. They were already on the couch, so what else could happen?

    Were they going to whisper sweet nothings under a cozy nket?

    Rolling her eyes inwardly, she couldn¡¯t help but savoring the private moment.

    Her heart was pounding like a drum, and afraid Max would notice, she clumsily changed the subject.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, I didn¡¯t finish what I was saying earlier. Meeting Flynn the other day was quite the

    revtion. I mean,paring the business titan like Flynn to the founder of Book might seem unfair,

    but I¡¯ve seriously studied Flynn¡¯s speeches. A founder who transcends the pursuit of money, the

    simplicity of ambition, the public opinion, and truly wants to do something big ¨C he might just be

    invincible. That¡¯s probably why Flynn managed to make a dent across North America. The founder of

    Book, even though sessful for a first¨Ctimer,cks these qualities.¡±

    Conversing with a businessman like Flynn or just watching their talks could be profoundly enlightening.

    She had spent over a decade with the Haywood family without such opportunities to rub shoulders with

    these giants, but with less than a month by Max¡¯s side, her thinking had already advanced significantly.

    Max¡¯s fingers still lingered on her waist. Brielle surprised him quite a bit. He finally understood why

    Ryan couldn¡¯t let her go. She was indeed talented. Among the Beaconsfield socialites who were versed

    in arts and culture, she stood out.

    Andrew had called her a canary, but she was never one. Canaries were for those delicate socialites.

    Brielle was an eagle, yearning to conquer the blue skies. A gilded cage was never meant for her, and

    the small world could never contain her. An engagement should not be her shackle. She was meant for

    her own dreams and horizons.

    Max rarely considered a woman¡¯s future so earnestly, yet now a faint smile yed on his lips.

    Sensing his mood, Brielle smoothly made another small request. ¡°By the way, Uncle Max, do you

    remember the vi worth over twenty million you gave me?¡± She spoke without a hint of

    embarrassment.

    Max¡¯s eyshes fluttered, followed by a lightugh, ¡°Hmm?¡±

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    Chapter 122

    Pretending to miss the tease in his tone, she continued, ¡°The one you promised as a ceremonial gift

    when you first took over thepany. I¡¯d like to sell it, but I guess Spencer hasn¡¯tpleted the

    transfer procedures. Could you maybe oversee that for me? My words don¡¯t carry much weight with

    him as a fianc¨¦e.¡±

    Theyy there on the couch, Max¡¯s eyes now closed. His eyshes were long, his skin perfect, his

    presence cool like a perfect sculpture.

    Brielle turned to face him, unable to resist reaching out to tug at his sleeve. Her fingers were caught in

    his, and he asked, ¡°Shall I make a call now?¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask what I n to do with the money?¡± After all, it was over twenty million.

    ¡°It¡¯s yours. Whatever you do with it is up to you.¡±

    Brielle thought herself shameless, only to discover Max could be quite brazen too. Despite the vi

    being a corporate expense, it was originally Spencer¡¯s gift to Lillian. Now he nonchntly imed it

    was hers.

    With a low chuckle, Brielle found she quite liked his audacity, ¡°Alright, make the call. I don¡¯t want Lillian

    spending another day in that vi.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s sleep first.¡±

    His voice was calm, and with that, he closed his eyes again.

    Brielle knew what ¡®sleep¡® implied and tentatively started undoing his top button. Max had the habit of

    fastening the buttons all the way to the top, giving off an appearance of

    meticulousness.

    Her hands were swiftly caught by his, amusement in his eyes, ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to sleep?¡±

    ¡°Brielle, is that all you think about?¡±

    Struck as if by an arrow, she reacted with a hint of annoyance. It was as if she was the one so horny.

    Retrieving her hands, she replied with mock seriousness, ¡°I just think it would be very disrespectful to

    your body, if I didn¡¯t want to have my way with you at a time like this.¡±

    Max¡¯sugh was genuine this time, free from the usual aloofness. He pulled her close, resting his

    forehead on her shoulder, his hair brushing against her chin.

    In this intimate position, the world around them seemed to fade away.

 Chatper 123

    Chapter 123

    Brielle couldn¡¯t resist. She stealthily lifted her hand and gently ran her fingers through his hair. His

    strands were slightly coarse, a bit prickly to the touch, and the coolness slithered from her fingertips like

    a serpent, unhesitatingly burrowing into her heart.

    A man¡¯s head, a woman¡¯s waist ¨C they were territories marked for intimacy.

    A softness crept into Brielle¡¯s eyes, and she greedily lingered a few more seconds than she should

    have, caressing his hair. She whispered his name in her heart, and with a subtle sigh, she drew her

    hand back.

    The afternoon sun was warm, casting a golden glow throughout the room.

    Their breathing slowed, both lulled by the tranquility. Brielle had pulled an all¨Cnighter just the evening

    before, and after a visit to the orphanage, drowsiness was iming her. Her eyelids fluttered shut,

    instinctively nuzzling closer to Max.

    Dark circles barely shadowed her eyes as Max nced at her, reaching for a throw nket nearby. If

    someone had told him that he¡¯d end up lying in the office break room with a woman, he would¡¯ve

    scoffed at the absurdity. The office was for work, the break room a ce for him to recharge in private,

    strictly off¨Climits to others. But now, a simple tilt of his head brought Brielle¡¯s face into view.

    The experience was novel. He couldn¡¯t quite pinpoint his feelings for Brielle.

    Michael used to say that Max was smart, but would never learn how to love.

    When Brielle woke, Max had already left. She stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, taking a moment to

    remember she was in Max¡¯s private room.

    She rose, listening for any signs of activity outside. If she ran into the executives in a meeting with Max,

    it would be like being caught red¨Chanded, impossible to exin away, even though their rtionship

    was already muddled as it was.

    Luckily, all was quiet. She stepped out with confidence, only to lock eyes with Tiffanie, who sat on the

    couch with a lollipop in her mouth, idly flipping through a finance magazine. Tiffanie¡¯s mouth dropped

    open, the candy hitting the floor.

    ¡°Brielle?¡± Her voice was a mix of shock and disbelief. ¡°You¡¯ve been sleeping in Maxie¡¯s break

    room?¡±

    Tiffanie rubbed her eyes, questioning the reality before her. Even though she knew Max and Brielle had

    hooked up, Max had a serious obsession with cleanliness in certain areas, especially in the office, a

    ce of gravity. Some other rich guys in the circle might enjoy ying office role¨Cying at times, but

    Max was definitely not that kind of person.

    It took Tiffanie a moment to recover, bending down to pick up the lollipop and tossing it into the trash.

    ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought Maxie would ever stash a girl in his office?¡±

    Brielle, caught off¨Cguard, asked, ¡°Tiffanie, what brings you here?¡±

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    Chapter 123

    Tiffanie sized her up, then snorted, ¡°It¡¯s my birthday. Came to get a present from Maxie.¡±

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    Brielle quickly wished her a happy birthday, feeling awkward,

    Tiffanie plopped back down, ¡°Birthdays can be such a drag. Remember that actor I fancied? Turned out

    he was too eager, no challenge at all. Just sickening how he tried to cling on. Had to dump him with an

    excuse, and now here I am, all alone. Pity, Isn¡¯t it?¡±

    She ranted with disgust about the actor.

    Brielle¡¯s mind raced to the gossip linking Tiffanie to Kenzo, butst time at Tequ Sunset, Tiffanie and

    Kenzo barely interacted. Was the rumor even true?

    Tiffanie¡¯s gaze returned to Brielle, loaded with implication. ¡°Last time I wanted to have a drink with you,

    you bolted. How about making it up to me for my birthday?¡±

    With the conversation steered to this point, Brielle couldn¡¯t refuse and nodded in agreement.

    Tiffanie¡¯s enthusiasm was palpable as she swiftly booked a private room at Tequ Sunset. ¡°Let me tell

    you, the male models there are the hottest in Beaconsfield. You¡¯ll see.¡±

    Mid¨Csentence, the door swung open, and Max stepped in with Patrick, catching the tail end of the

    conversation.

    Tiffanie quickly stashed her phone away, beaming up at Max, ¡°Maxie, where¡¯s my present?¡± She was

    bold, herst extravagant request still fresh, yet she asked without hesitation.

    Max typically wouldn¡¯t skimp, but this time he simply dropped a file on the desk and took a seat, ¡°It¡¯s

    deducted.¡±

 Chatper 124

    Chapter 124

    Tiffanie¡¯s face froze, her steps quickening as she approached. ¡°How could you do that, Maxie? 1

    haven¡¯t stirred up any troubletely. You know I even gave up on that Hollywood hunk I was after. I¡¯ve

    been good, just holed up at home ying video games, I swear.¡±

    Her voice softened, her face a picture of Innocence, ¡°You have no idea how bored I¡¯ve been. Those

    posh girls just don¡¯t like me, spreading rumors all over. And the worst is Spencer, iming it¡¯s because

    of Kenzo that I¡¯m in this mess. I¡¯m super upset, you know. I¡¯ve hardly had a real conversation with

    Kenzo.¡±

    She feigned wiping away a tear, while her eyes carefully gauged Max¡¯s reaction.

    Max furrowed his brows, hesitating for a few seconds before reluctantly pulling out another card. ¡°Stop

    blowing cash on those guys. Heck, even if you had a serious rtionship, no one would bat an eye.¡±

    Tiffanie¡¯s lips curled into a sardonic smile as she snatched the card. ¡°A serious rtionship? Please,

    any decent guy would run for the hills the moment he hears my name.¡± There was a hint of sadness in

    her eyes as she spoke.

    Brielle listened in on their conversation, piecing together that the whole Tiffanie¨CKenzo affair was just

    smoke and mirrors. Given Tiffanie¡¯s nature, she wouldn¡¯t fall for someone who¡¯d sacrifice everything for

    art, especially since she craved security above all.

    ¡°Maxie, I¡¯m gonna drag Brielle out for a drink, okay? I promise, no male models this time.¡± Tiffanie

    thought it over and figured it must have been her mention of male models that ticked Max off. Max was

    a clean freak, probably wouldn¡¯t stand his women getting tangled up with other men.

    With that, she pulled Brielle towards the elevator, only to stroke her chin thoughtfully once they were

    inside, her next words as shocking as ever. ¡°Brielle, have you ever slept with Spencer?¡±

    Considering their long¨Cstanding engagement and both being adults, it¡¯s hard to believe that nothing

    happened between them. Despite Spencer¡¯s questionable character, his good looks were undeniable

    after all.

    ¡°Would you believe me if I said no?¡± Brielle¡¯s tone was nonchnt, bracing for Tiffanie¡¯s blunt mockery.

    ¡°I¡¯d believe you.¡±

    Tiffanie looked serious, tucking Max¡¯s card into her purse, ¡°You¡¯ve never loved Spencer, and he¡¯s not

    capable enough to win you over. You¡¯d only sleep with someone like Max because, in a ce like

    Beaconsfield, being with a man like him feels like hitting the jackpot.¡±

    ¡°How do you know I¡¯ve never loved Spencer?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all in the eyes, girl. I¡¯ve seen you before. When you like someone, it shows, and you¡¯ve

    never looked at him that way. You¡¯re nice to him just because he¡¯s your fianc¨¦, nothing more.¡®

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    Chapter 124

    At times, Tiffanie seemed like a mischievous child, yet she had a knack for seeing through people.

    When they reached the underground parking. Tiffanie hopped into a shy red convertible, the epitome

    of high¨Cprofile.

    Brielle buckled up in the passenger seat and found a candy in her hand, a small gesture from Tiffanie.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± she said, suddenly remembering it was Tiffanie¡¯s birthday, and felt a pang of guilt for not

    having a gift. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t get you anything.¡±

    ¡°No need. Don¡¯t bother in the future either. My birth isn¡¯t exactly something to celebrate. My mom

    wishes I¡¯d never been born. Apart from Max, I¡¯ve never gotten a birthday gift.¡±

    Tiffanie spoke casually as she floored the elerator.

    Brielle didn¡¯t know much about Tiffanie¡¯s mother, but her mother was ady of the Dorsey family. Even

    if she wasn¡¯t fond of her daughter, it seemed impossible that she hadn¡¯t provided a single decent

    birthday gift in over twenty years. Tiffanie wasn¡¯t one to lie, which meant there was more to the story.

    Brielle didn¡¯t care to delve into family secrets and wisely kept her mouth

    shut.

    They arrived at Tequ Sunset, and the valet lit up at the sight of Tiffanie. ¡°You¡¯re here, Miss Tiffanie!¡±

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    She pulled out a wad of cash from her purse, generously tipping the valet. Hervish tips had made her

    a favorite among the staff, who quickly parked her car and exchanged a few friendly words.

    Brielle stood by her side, but her attention was caught by a familiar face nearby ¨C Sophia, nked by a

    gaggle of high¨Csocietydies.

    Brielle, standing beside the mboyant Tiffanie under the bright lights, was too conspicuous to

    miss.

    Sophia¡¯s lips pursed into a sneer upon spotting Brielle. ¡°Well, well, if it isn¡¯t Brielle. Heard the Dorsey

    family¡¯s cutting you loose. Shouldn¡¯t you be at home crying instead of out drinking?¡±

    The scandalous tale of Brielle and Kenzo had spread like wildfire, and the upper crust loved nothing

    more than juicy gossip like this.

 Chatper 125

    Chapter 125

    ¡°Is that her, munching away with Kenzo at the table?*

    ¡°Spencer¡¯s fianc¨¦e, they say she¡¯s a wild one.¡±

    ¡°Ha, hanging out with Tiffanie, what else can you expect but trouble?¡±

    The clique wasn¡¯t content with bad¨Cmouthing Brielle. They dragged Tiffanie into their gossip as well.

    Tiffanie¡¯s mood soured instantly. In a swift motion, her hand flew up and smacked Sophia right across

    the face.

    ¡°Damn! Who¡¯s this bitch spewing nonsense? Since when is sharing a meal a crime? Are you lot at

    Tequ Sunset just to sip on martinis and y saints? Gimme a break.¡±

    The sound of the p cut through the chatter like a knife.

    Sophia, gripping her cheek in shock, couldn¡¯t believe Tiffanie wouldsh out so irrationally. The hurtful

    words hade from the mouths of herpanions, yet it was her face that stung from the strike. Her

    chest heaved with indignation, and spotting a sneer in Brielle¡¯s eyes, she found her outlet.

    ¡°Brielle, what¡¯s so funny? Thrilled with being a cast¨Coff?¡±

    Tiffanie was out of Sophia¡¯s league, but putting Brielle in her ce? That was child¡¯s y.

    The smirk in Brielle¡¯s eyes grew, ¡°Cast¨Coff? Did Lillian fill your heads with that? If a woman engaged to

    be married is what you call a cast¨Coff, then what does that make her, the mistress skulking in the

    shadows? When did this society start putting the other woman on a pedestal just because she ys

    the victim so well?¡±

    The crowd bristled with anger at her words. Lillian as a mistress? Impossible!

    Sophia sneered, ¡°There¡¯s photographic evidence of you dining with Kenzo, and Spencer himself has

    admitted your indiscretions. And here you are, ndering Lillian. You¡¯ve really got no shame.¡±

    Brielle frowned. Spencer had confirmed it?

    A wave of nausea hit her, and seeing Sophia¡¯s arrogant face, she chuckled lightly, ¡°I believe you owe

    me an apology, don¡¯t you?¡±

    At this, Sophia¡¯s face turned even more sour, ¡°Dream on. Why would I apologize to you? All Tessa has

    to do is whisper in Andrew¡¯s ear, and I¡¯m off the hook. Give up on trying to step over me, Brielle.¡±

    As if on cue, Andrew¡¯s car rolled up to the scene. Sophia straightened up as if bolstered by his arrival.

    Andrew stepped out, oblivious to the drama unfolding. Aubree was at his side, arms crossed,

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    Chapter 125

    clearly agitated from an argument with him. Both paused at the sight of themotion.

    Sophia was quick to act, rushing over, ¡°Andrewl¡±

    Hearing this, Aubree¡¯s lip curled in a sneer.

    Andrew, paying no heed to her, surveyed the situation. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Impatience was

    evident in his tone, his tolerance at a low.

    Sophia didn¡¯t dare to trouble him with trivialities, clutching at his sleeve only to be shrugged off.

    Andrew¡¯s gaze was fiery as he spoke bluntly, ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, I¡¯m indulging this nonsense only for

    Tessa¡¯s sake.¡±

    Sophia nched at hisck of courtesy. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she murmured, ¡°It¡¯s all Brielle¡¯s

    doing, asking me to apologize again.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s gaze shifted to Andrew, calm yet firm, ¡°This was a matter Mr. Clements agreed to. Surely you

    haven¡¯t forgotten?¡±

    Andrew¡¯s irritation was palpable as he made to walk into the bar, eager to escape the pettiness. Sophia

    panicked, quickly following, ¡°Andrew, Tessa must have called you. She said not to pursue this matter

    any further.¡±

    She believed this would earn her some sympathy from the onlookers, perhaps even from Brielle. but

    Brielle¡¯s voice followed swiftly, ¡°So, just because she says ¡®let it go,¡® it¡¯s supposed to vanish? Did you

    hire someone to ruin her face this time? This Ms. Tessa must carry quite the influence to dismiss

    everything with a flick of her wrist.¡±

    Sophia was livid, ¡°You!¡± She couldn¡¯t outwit Brielle but looked hopefully towards Andrew for

    support.

    Andrew¡¯s expression darkened. No one spoke ill of Tessa in his presence. ¡°Brielle, that¡¯s enough,¡± he

    said firmly.

    Brielle¡¯s attention drifted to Aubree, reflecting on how brutally indifferent men could be ¨C the woman he

    had shared his bed with for years was right there, yet he seemed utterly fixated on his supposed ¡®one

    true love¡®.

    If she really was the one true love, why then did he sleep with Aubree in the first ce?

    Chapter 126

    Chapter 126Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chatper 126

    Chapter 126

    Aubree pulled out a cigarette, her fingers deftly flicking a lighter to life as she brought the me to the

    tip. A perfect smoke ring drifted from her lips, her eyes brimming with mocking curiosity to see just how

    far Andrew would go for Tessa,

    Andrew had always looked down on petty catfights, yet now, standing amidst a gaggle of women, he

    seemed utterly at ease.

    Across the crowd, Aubree caught Brielle¡¯s gaze. With an unspoken agreement, neither made a move to

    greet the other. Aubree nonchntly gestured towards the inside of the venue, signaling she would

    head in first.

    Brielle nodded in understanding, preferring not to have Aubree witness Andrew¡¯s defense of Tessa.

    With a casual stride, Aubree walked away, leaving the brewing storm behind her.

    Andrew watched her leave without a word or a hint of guilt. After all, a fling could never hold a candle to

    true love. His lips pressed together as he thought of Brielle and the looming presence of Max behind

    her. The apology he had promised was still pending.

    He took a deep breath, rarely speaking with such patience to an arm candy. ¡°Name your price for

    compensation, as long as it¡¯s not too outrageous, I¡¯ll meet it.¡±

    His words were clear to all those present, sparking surprise among the crowd who knew Andrew¡¯s

    temper to be quite the foe.

    Sophia was puzzled at first but quickly realized Andrew was backing her up. It was clear that Tessa

    was his priority. Her spine straightened with pride, a smugness dancing in her eyes.

    She couldn¡¯t believe Brielle would actually ask forpensation. The woman wasn¡¯t truly disfigured,

    and clinging to the issue would only provoke Andrew. In Beaconsfield, crossing Andrew was a one¨Cway

    ticket to ruin.

    Even Tiffanie thought Brielle was about to face a losing battle, but then, crisp and clear, Brielle spoke

    up, ¡°Thirty million, transferred to my ount immediately, and we¡¯ll forget the apology.¡±

    Her eyes twinkled with defiance, ¡°Mr. Clements, what do you say?¡±

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    A tightness gripped Andrew¡¯s chest¨Cnot over the money, but the indignity of being tantly extorted.

    He¡¯d battled through storms and strife over the years, never suffering such audacity.

    As soon as Brielle finished her demand, an eerie silence fell. Phones were sneakily recording,

    spreading the scene through the social circles of Beaconsfield.

    Everyone anticipated a gruesome end for Brielle. Even Sophia let out a scornfulugh. Yet, against all

    odds, Andrew pulled out a checkbook with a surprisingly steady hand, signed a check, and approached

    Brielle, cing it in her outstretched palm. Leaning in close, his voice was a chilling whisper,

    ¡°Remember this. You¡¯re getting this because of Max. The day he dumps you, I¡¯ll be the first toe

    after you.¡±

    To onlookers, it was just a private exchange, nothing more.

    1/2

    16:36

    Chapter 126

    After delivering his message, Andrew headed inside. Brielle folded the check and slipped it into her

    purse.

    Tiffanie, agog, finally broke into apuse. ¡°Wow! Thirty million for an apology! You¡¯ve got guts, Brielle,

    and I could swear Andrew wanted to strangle you. Feel my palm, I¡¯m sweating.¡±

    In this world, you might provoke the devil, but never Andrew. This was an unwritten rule, yet Brielle had

    openly broken it.

    The crowd¡¯s gaze shifted, wondering what advantage they could possibly seek from someone who

    didn¡¯t fear Andrew himself.

    The air was thick with silence. Even Sophia¡¯s lips tightened, her face a canvas of ugly emotions. She

    should¡¯ve simply apologized and avoided handing Brielle a windfall.

    Sophia felt yed, her heart pounding with anger and humiliation. ¡°Brielle, have youpletely lost it?

    Just like Lillian said, you¡¯re low.¡±

    Receiving the thirty million, Brielle was in a good mood. Once she sold the mansion, she would have

    fifty million in hand, enough for the location of the orphanage. She ignored Sophia¡¯s rage, turning to

    Tiffanie with a proposition, ¡°It¡¯s your birthday. How about I treat you to another show?¡±

    Tiffanie, ever the thrill¨Cseeker, was all ears. ¡°What kind of show?¡±

    Brielle climbed into Tiffanie¡¯s cherry¨Cred sports car, leaving the other women behind.

    Tiffanie, ying the perfect chauffeur, was eager for the drama. ¡°Come on, spill the beans. What¡¯s the

    n?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re going to catch someone in the act. Snap some photos, share them in your social groups. Sound

    fun?¡±

    Brielle spoke with a light¨Chearted tone, arms casually folded, ready for the next act to unfold.

 Chatper 127

    Chapter 127

    The sky was darkening, and the number of cars on the streets was increasing.

    Brielle knew Lillian all too well. After the ordeal at the orphanagest night, she must have been

    clinging onto Spencer, pouring her woes into his willing ears, and likely showing off her bedroom

    prowess. This was prime time to catch them in the act.

    Tiffanie¡¯s eyes were sparkling with determination as she patted Brielle¡¯s shoulder with sincere gratitude.

    ¡°You¡¯re a real pal, Brielle. Let¡¯s do this. Lead the way, and I¡¯ll drive us there right now.¡±

    Brielle set the navigation for the suburban vi while Tiffanie asked if they should call a locksmith.

    ¡°No need, the code¡¯s definitely Lillian¡¯s birthday.¡±

    Tiffanie, seeing Brielle¡¯s confident reply, realized she must have been there before and felt a pang of

    sympathy. The sight that Brielle had seen at the vi wouldn¡¯t be easy on her heart.

    Flooring the gas pedal, Tiffanie had them parked outside the vi within twenty minutes. Brielle nced

    at the lights glowing inside the vi and let out a coldugh before heading straight to the front door.

    She punched in Lillian¡¯s birthday, and the door swung open. Tiffanie, flushed with excitement, had her

    phone out, ready to start recording.

    Upstairs, as suspected, Lillian¡¯s voice echoed through the hallway. Pleasure and pain intermingled in

    her tone, eerily reminiscent of the first time Brielle stumbled upon their tryst. The difference now was

    Brielle¡¯s mood.

    She stopped outside thergest bedroom. The door to the master bedroom was ajar, and Spencer¡¯s

    voice was full of eagerness, ¡°Lillian, your waist is still so slender.¡±

    ¡°Spencer, you promised you¡¯d terminate your engagement to Brielle within two months, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Of course, she can¡¯t hold a candle to you.¡±

    Brielle found their conversation amusing. It was far more restrained than what she had heard the first

    time, which had been a deliberately orchestrated farce by Lillian, designed to elicit Spencer¡¯s criticisms

    of Brielle ¨C calling her a dull piece of wood, a robot.

    Thest line of what she had heard was etched in Brielle¡¯s memory and still made her sick.

    -Lillian, you¡¯re so much more slutty.

    Back then, Brielle had cherished Lillian like a sister, never suspecting her true nature.

    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Shaking off the memories, Brielle pushed the door open. Simultaneously, Tiffanie started recording the

    scandalous scene while snapping several photos.

    Lillian, sensing the intrusion, let out a near¨Cscream, grabbing the bedsheet to cover herself.

    Chapter 127

    Spencer frowned, his voice tight with difort, ¡°Brielle! What are you doing here?¡±

    Then, seeing Tiffanie with her phone, his indignation peaked, ¡°Tiffanie, did you get that on video?¡±

    Tiffanie blinked innocently and hid behind Brielle, whispering, ¡°While he¡¯s still undressed and wouldn¡¯t

    dare to chase us, let¡¯s run quickly. The two of us can¡¯t beat him alone. I¡¯ve already posted the video in

    the group, and there are also their uncensored photos.¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t expect Tiffanie to be so quick. She chuckled. Tiffanie was a waste not being a

    paparazzo.

    Watching the disheveled and embarrassed pair, Brielle said, ¡°Spencer, this vi is mine. Do 1 need to

    remind you again? Take your mistress and get out.¡±

    Spencer¡¯s scalp tingled with fury. He hadn¡¯t expected Brielle to confront him personally. But indeed, the

    vi was hers, and Max had already warned him. He dare not say more.

    His lips pressed together, a spark of thought crossed his mind. Was Brielle jealous, fighting so

    hard for the vi?

    He was from a good family, attractive, fit, and they¡¯d known each other for years. It made no sense for

    Brielle not to like him. Maybe her indifference was all an act. Perhaps she even cried

    over him.

    With this in mind, Spencer¡¯s heart softened briefly, ¡°Brielle, stop making a scene. It¡¯s normal for a man

    to have a woman on the side. The more you fuss, the more you stand to lose.¡±

    If only she would beg him, he could reconsider ending the engagement. If she became more

    approachable and likable and turned a blind eye to his affairs, he wasn¡¯t averse to marrying

    her.

    ¡°Spencer, are you deaf? Move out tonight with Lillian, and transfer the proceeds from the vi sale to

    my ount tomorrow.¡±

    Her tone was icy. The look she gave Spencer was one of undisguised disgust, mirroring how he saw

    her. It was Spencer who had always hurt her, but now that the tables were turned, he found the pain

    unbearable.

    His heart felt shed open, which was an odd sensation. Why should he care so much about Brielle¡¯s

    contempt?

 Chatper 128

    Chapter 128

    Spencer felt a sharp pang in his chest, a dull ache that made it hard to breathe. His silence was broken

    by a pitiful hand reaching out, grabbing his wrist. ¡°Spencer, it¡¯s all my fault. I had no idea she was

    coming over tonight.¡±

    The words were shameless, and even Tiffanie couldn¡¯t help but snap, ¡°What a tramp! Hooking up with

    someone else¡¯s fianc¨¦ and ying the victim? Disgusting.¡±

    She even spat on the ground, her face contorted with revulsion.

    Not just Lillian felt the sting, but Spencer¡¯s face turned thunderous. Who was Tiffanie to judge? Wasn¡¯t

    she just as wed?

    Lillian, as if frightened by Tiffanie¡¯s brashness, pressed her lips together, holding back words as tears

    pooled in her eyes.

    Until now, Tiffanie had been oblivious to Lillian¡¯s true colors. Seeing her so brazen in front of Brielle,

    Tiffanie felt her blood boil.

    ¡°Spencer, what do you even see in her? I recall her grades weren¡¯t anything to brag about, and she¡¯s

    never held down a real job. Everything she eats, uses, and wears, it¡¯s all thanks to the Haywood family

    or you. And yet you treat her like some kind of treasure? You must be blind. Brielle, let¡¯s get out of

    here.¡± She couldn¡¯t stand another minute in this toxic atmosphere.

    Lillian had noeback. Tiffanie¡¯s words were nothing but the truth. Her college degree was bought,

    and her work life was a string of part¨Ctime gigs. But did men really care about a woman¡¯s ability? Or

    was it all about charm and obedience?

    Lillian sneered. Tiffanie was such a fool. The more Tiffanie belittled her, the more Spencer felt

    embarrassed. After all, a man wouldn¡¯t admit admit they have poor judgment. And Spencer, with his

    strong sense of male chauvinism, wouldn¡¯t tolerate a woman stepping on his head.

    Sure enough, Tiffanie¡¯s words roused Spencer. He wrapped himself in a robe and strode over, his

    towering presence overwhelming. ¡°Tiffanie, you¡¯re really asking for it today.¡±

    But before he could act, Brielle stepped in front of Tiffanie. Spencer¡¯s anger faltered under her gaze,

    the hurt in his heart resurfacing. ¡°Brielle, who do you think is to me for this mess? You never loved

    me.¡±

    Admitting such a thing was beyond humiliating. His eyes reddened, but he refused to stay and be

    embarrassed. With a bitter clench of his teeth, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll wire you the money tomorrow, Brielle. You¡¯ll

    regret this someday.¡±

    Turning to Lillian, he said, ¡°Get dressed, Lillian.¡±

    Despite her resentment, Lillian had no choice. She had yed the obedient lover for so long, only to

    see the multimillion¨Cdor mansion she¡¯d been promised slip into Brielle¡¯s hands.

    Tasting the bitterness of defeat, she shakily got dressed. As she passed Brielle, she couldn¡¯t resist a

    parting shot. ¡°Without this house, Spencer will buy me another.¡±

    1/2

    16:37

    Chapter 128

    Unaware that her scandal had been leaked in the Beaconsfield socialites¡® chat groups, she thought she

    could still y the perfect victim. Those circles were already abuzz, reying the incriminating video

    forughs.

    The groups that included Lillian fell into an eerie silence. They had only known Lillian as innocent,

    oblivious to her affair with Spencer, who was publicly engaged to Brielle. The videoid bare their

    indiscretions, and the context made it clear this wasn¡¯t a recent fling.

    Lillian was the other woman.

    In the realm of high society, mistresses and illegitimate children were scorned unless you could

    captivate the man and ascend. Otherwise, you¡¯d never know how the glittering crowd would speak of

    you behind closed doors.

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    Brielle¡¯s exposed photos were just a dinner with Kenzo, but Lillian¡¯s exposed photos were her bedding

    Spencer. In contrast, the evidence of Lillian being a mistress was more than sufficient. Silence reigned

    in the chat room, and Lillian, oblivious to the turmoil, felt something was amiss when her message was

    met with silence. Any other time, her words would spark a chorus of agreement. To confirm her

    suspicions, she suggested they all meet for afternoon tea the next day.

    Chapter 129

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    Chapter 129

    In the chat group, the camaraderie was generally good on any given day. The members loved to unt

    theirtest luxury car purchases or their sprawling mansions and chew the fat over the trivial gossip

    that bubbled up within their social circle.

    Brielle was the hot topic that never ceased to intrigue everyone.

    These folks were far removed from the elite inner circle¨Cafter all, those high¨Cfliers didn¡¯t have the time

    to indulge in idle chitchat. Most of the group members were well¨Coff, leading lives offort, yet they

    suffered from a severe drought of meaningful engagement. Talking smack about Brielle was simply a

    way for them to feel a tad better about themselves.

    Just as one felt the body being lifted when treading water, simrly, in any social hierarchy, those

    lacking self¨Cconfidence tended to highlight their status by denigrating those they perceived as inferior.

    And in their eyes, Brielle was the underdog.

    After Lillian sent her message, ten long minutes dragged by before anyone bothered to reply.

    [Let¡¯s drop it. I¡¯ve got stuff to do tomorrow.]

    [Yeah, looks like none of us can make it.]

    [What¡¯s the deal with you and Spencer? Isn¡¯t he Brielle¡¯s fianc¨¦? Thought you said he was like a

    brother to you?]

    The question everyone had been skirting around was finally out in the open. After all, the video was

    crystal clear. Denial wasn¡¯t an option.

    Lillian¡¯s hand, which had been dangling by her side, clenched. Never before had her rtionship with

    Spencer been questioned. What in the world was happening tonight?

    [Yes, I always saw him as a brother,] she replied.

    Seeing her response while recalling the video and vivid photos, an ufortable wave washed over

    everyone. The chat fell silent once more, and this time, no one engaged with her.

    Sweat pooled in Lillian¡¯s palms, the evening¡¯s events still a puzzle to her. She reached out to one of the

    more friendly faces in the group, suggesting they meet for coffee the next day. The reply came back

    swift and cold-[Find someone else. I¡¯m busy.]

    Staring at her phone, Lillian wondered if her eyes were ying tricks on her. In the past, to get cozy

    with these wealthy second¨Cgeneration kids, she¡¯d simply gift them some priceless jewelry.

    These kidscked for nothing, but they always appreciated the gesture, seeing the giver as generous

    and kind¨Chearted.

    Especially those whose families kept a tight rein on them. They loved hanging with Lillian, who was

    known for herrgesse. For example, the one who had just turned her down¨Cnever before had she

    rejected Lillian.

    1/2

    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    16:37

    Chapter 129

    Undeterred, Lillian messaged others in the group. After reaching out to four more, she found one of

    them blocked her outright, and the rest didn¡¯t even bother replying.

    Lillian sensed trouble brewing, but first things first: she needed to smooth things over with Spencer,

    then try to rekindle the bonds with her fair¨Cweather friends.

    She looked up, her eyes brimming with feigned vulnerability. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Spencer, I never should¡¯ve got

    involved with you. It¡¯s made things awkward for everyone. Maybe it¡¯s best if we take a break.*

    This tactic of retreat to advance was one of her favorites.

    Spencer gritted his teeth in frustration. ¡°Sorry, Lillian, that you¡¯ve been put through this. Tell me, which

    property do you want? I¡¯ll give you another one.¡±

    That was what Lillian was banking on. What did it matter how well a man treated her if she couldn¡¯t

    hold on to something tangible? That was the real security. She grew up poor and only realized the

    importance of money when she saw how the wealthy lived. So,ter on, whether it was with Cameron

    or with Spencer, she would subtly convey a message to them. She had suffered a lot in the past and

    did not want to put herself through hardships anymore in the future.

    When male pride kicked in, they¡¯d fulfill her every demand. Her wardrobe, shoes, bags, and bracelets

    were nearly all courtesy of Cameron, while her posh residence and the shy cars she drove were gifts

    from Spencer.

    As for Brielle, well, she was just a hapless fool. After years with the Haywood family, she didn¡¯t even

    own a decent vi.

    Lillian had always prided herself on her cunning, but tonight was her first defeat. She traced the root of

    her downfall to one person¨CMax, the pinnacle of their social pyramid. As long as Max harbored even a

    sliver of pity for Brielle, Spencer was putty in his hands.

    A flicker of envy crossed Lillian¡¯s eyes. If only Max would take her side.

    Word on the street was that he asionally showed up at Tequ Sunset. It looked like it was time for

    her to try her luck there.

    Chapter 130

 Chatper 130

    Chapter 130

    ¡°Don¡¯t. Just drop me off at the next intersection. I don¡¯t want to stay at a hotel tonight; I¡¯m thinking of

    crashing with a friend.¡±

    Her voice, heavy with emotion, barely rose above a whisper as she dabbed at the tears streaking down

    her face. The vi had been her only property, and now that it was gone, her only option seemed to be

    to check into a hotel. And Spencer, being a part of the Dorsey n, couldn¡¯t possibly bring Lillian back

    to the Dorsey estate.

    Suddenly, Spencer felt utterly useless for letting her be put through such an ordeal. ¡°Lillian, I¡¯ll find you

    a new ce soon. Just bear with a hotel for tonight.¡±

    ¡°Spencer, I¡¯m just so tired.¡±

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Her words pierced straight through Spencer¡¯s heart. His grip on the steering wheel tightened, a wave of

    guilt washing over him. If Lillian were his rightful fianc¨¦e, she wouldn¡¯t have to suffer like this.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. It¡¯s just that I love you too much. I¡¯m willing to lurk in the shadows, but tonight, I

    really do want to be with a friend.¡±

    Spencer nodded, unable to muster any more words, his resentment towards Brielle growing stronger.

    After dropping Lillian off, he reached into his pocket and handed her a card.

    ¡°There¡¯s ten million in here, for your trouble.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t ept this.¡±

    ¡°Keep it. That vi was rightfully yours, and I¡¯ll make it up to youter.¡±

    Leaving the card with her, Spencer drove off with a heavy heart.

    Lillian nced down, a flicker of satisfaction crossing her eyes before she slipped the card into her

    pocket.

    The friend she was seeking out was Sophia, who was also in that chat group but had been oddly silent

    to her messages. Lillian had just seen Sophia¡¯s update at Tequ Sunset. It was time to see what was

    going on in person.

    With a knack for navigating social waters, Lillian quickly found Sophia¡¯s private booth. Sophia herself

    wasn¡¯t feeling great, still fuming over that thirty¨Cmillion¨Cdor debacle. Most of those surrounding her

    were from the same social circle, now all hunched over their phones, whispering amongst themselves.

    ¡°Can you believe it? That¡¯s Lillian in the video?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s so clear, it has to be her. Who knew she had such a thing going with Spencer?¡±

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    16:37

    Chapter 130

    ¡°That makes her the other woman, doesn¡¯t it? How much of what she tells us is actually true?¡±

    The murmurs grew louder.

    Given Sophia¡¯s closer rtionship with Lillian, coupled with the incident involving Emily, she believed

    Lillian to be a very loyal and righteous person. Now, hearing everyone discussing Lillian, she couldn¡¯t

    help but inquire. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Sophia, you gotta check the group chat. Spencer and Lillian got caught in the act. The video¡¯s gone

    viral. It¡¯s all over the socials.¡±

    Sophia thought she must have misheard. Such a scandal in their circle was social suicide. She opened

    her phone and, upon seeing the crystal¨Cclear video, her face turned ashen. The others, sensing an

    opportunity, began to tear Lillian down.

    ¡°I knew she wasn¡¯t all she pretended to be, always ying the victim.¡±

    ¡°She grew up with Brielle, didn¡¯t she? Birds of a feather.¡±

    ¡°She wanted to join me for high tea just now. I turned her down, thank goodness.¡±

    ¡°She tried to chat with me too. Looks like she¡¯s clueless about what happened. How embarrassing! I¡¯d

    be scolded by everyone if I were seen with her now.¡±

    In their world, reputation was everything. After that video, Lillian would be seen through a tainted lens,

    her social standing in tatters.

    They gleefully pped every derogatorybel they could think of on Lillian, enjoying the gossip. In the

    midst of their cackles, the door swung open, and Lillian stood at the threshold.

    The room turned frigid with difort as Lillian, followed by a waiter in pristine white gloves, sauntered

    in, feigning generosity. ¡°I heard you were all dining here. I was free, so I thought I¡¯d buy you a round.¡±

    The waiter rolled in a cartden with expensive bottles, each worth a small fortune. Lillian was

    splurging, fresh off a ten¨Cmillion¨Cdor constion and with the promise of a new vi from Spencer. A

    few million was nothing to her, especially when it usually bought praise.

    Tonight, the room was suffused with a strange silence. Everyone was unusually quiet, deliberately

    avoiding her gaze.

 Chatper 131

    Chapter 130

    ¡°Don¡¯t. Just drop me off at the next intersection. I don¡¯t want to stay at a hotel tonight; I¡¯m thinking of

    crashing with a friend.¡±

    Her voice, heavy with emotion, barely rose above a whisper as she dabbed at the tears streaking down

    her face. The vi had been her only property, and now that it was gone, her only option seemed to be

    to check into a hotel. And Spencer, being a part of the Dorsey n, couldn¡¯t possibly bring Lillian back

    to the Dorsey estate.

    Suddenly, Spencer felt utterly useless for letting her be put through such an ordeal. ¡°Lillian, I¡¯ll find you

    a new ce soon. Just bear with a hotel for tonight.¡±

    ¡°Spencer, I¡¯m just so tired.¡±

    Her words pierced straight through Spencer¡¯s heart. His grip on the steering wheel tightened, a wave of

    guilt washing over him. If Lillian were his rightful fianc¨¦e, she wouldn¡¯t have to suffer like this.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. It¡¯s just that I love you too much. I¡¯m willing to lurk in the shadows, but tonight, I

    really do want to be with a friend.¡±

    Spencer nodded, unable to muster any more words, his resentment towards Brielle growing stronger.

    After dropping Lillian off, he reached into his pocket and handed her a card.

    ¡°There¡¯s ten million in here, for your trouble.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t ept this.¡±

    ¡°Keep it. That vi was rightfully yours, and I¡¯ll make it up to youter.¡±

    Leaving the card with her, Spencer drove off with a heavy heart.

    Lillian nced down, a flicker of satisfaction crossing her eyes before she slipped the card into her

    pocket.

    The friend she was seeking out was Sophia, who was also in that chat group but had been oddly silent

    to her messages. Lillian had just seen Sophia¡¯s update at Tequ Sunset. It was time to see what was

    going on in person.

    With a knack for navigating social waters, Lillian quickly found Sophia¡¯s private booth. Sophia herself

    wasn¡¯t feeling great, still fuming over that thirty¨Cmillion¨Cdor debacle. Most of those surrounding her

    were from the same social circle, now all hunched over their phones, whispering amongst themselves.

    ¡°Can you believe it? That¡¯s Lillian in the video?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s so clear, it has to be her. Who knew she had such a thing going with Spencer?¡±

    1/2

    16:37

    Chapter 130

    ¡°That makes her the other woman, doesn¡¯t it? How much of what she tells us is actually true?¡±

    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    The murmurs grew louder.

    Given Sophia¡¯s closer rtionship with Lillian, coupled with the incident involving Emily, she believed

    Lillian to be a very loyal and righteous person. Now, hearing everyone discussing Lillian, she couldn¡¯t

    help but inquire. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Sophia, you gotta check the group chat. Spencer and Lillian got caught in the act. The video¡¯s gone

    viral. It¡¯s all over the socials.¡±

    Sophia thought she must have misheard. Such a scandal in their circle was social suicide. She opened

    her phone and, upon seeing the crystal¨Cclear video, her face turned ashen. The others, sensing an

    opportunity, began to tear Lillian down.

    ¡°I knew she wasn¡¯t all she pretended to be, always ying the victim.¡±

    ¡°She grew up with Brielle, didn¡¯t she? Birds of a feather.¡±

    ¡°She wanted to join me for high tea just now. I turned her down, thank goodness.¡±

    ¡°She tried to chat with me too. Looks like she¡¯s clueless about what happened. How embarrassing! I¡¯d

    be scolded by everyone if I were seen with her now.¡±

    In their world, reputation was everything. After that video, Lillian would be seen through a tainted lens,

    her social standing in tatters.

    They gleefully pped every derogatorybel they could think of on Lillian, enjoying the gossip. In the

    midst of their cackles, the door swung open, and Lillian stood at the threshold.

    The room turned frigid with difort as Lillian, followed by a waiter in pristine white gloves, sauntered

    in, feigning generosity. ¡°I heard you were all dining here. I was free, so I thought I¡¯d buy you a round.¡±

    The waiter rolled in a cartden with expensive bottles, each worth a small fortune. Lillian was

    splurging, fresh off a ten¨Cmillion¨Cdor constion and with the promise of a new vi from Spencer. A

    few million was nothing to her, especially when it usually bought praise.

    Tonight, the room was suffused with a strange silence. Everyone was unusually quiet, deliberately

    avoiding her gaze.

 Chatper 132

    Chapter 132

    Lillian¡¯s eyes were bloodshot with rage, a tempest brewing behind her tear¨Cstained face.

    How could this have happened? Wasn¡¯t it Brielle who was supposed to face this ordeal?

    Her vision began to blur as she struggled to focus on Aubree¡¯s features.

    Aubree stood confidently, hands on her hips, draped in a figure¨Chugging red dress that ttered her

    every curve. She couldn¡¯t help but erupt when she saw that damn video. Tonight, she was already at

    Tequ Sunset when she caught sight of Lillian¡¯s entrance.

    ¡°Who was it that plucked you from the orphanage, huh? Have you forgotten that the Haywoods. put

    food on your table and clothes on your back? And this is how you repay them? Stealing Bri¡¯s fianc¨¦ and

    encouraging him to break off their engagement? You¡¯ve really lost all shame. Calling you a tramp is a

    compliment. Look at yourself in that video, acting so cheap. So that¡¯s what Spencer is into, huh?¡±

    Those words cut deep, and the onlookers recoiled. They all knew the Clements family¡¯s adopted

    daughter, and they didn¡¯t dare to step forward to defend Lillian, since she was clearly in the wrong. If

    they spoke up and got pped, what then? Aubree was clearly out for blood tonight.

    So, the crowd did the only thing they could they watched the drama unfold.

    Lillian felt like her

    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¨C

    wanted to retort,uth was full of blood blisters, her eyes red hot and fixed on Aubree. She

    wanted to retort, to curse this woman and Andrew for their sordid affair, but her chest shook violently

    with humiliation, and not a single word could escape her lips.

    She wished she had never set foot in the VIP lounge that night, so she wouldn¡¯t have to face. such a

    public disgrace.

    Hatred consumed her, all because of Brielle.

    Her lips trembled, her teeth biting into them until they bled. She wanted to dispute the video, but it was

    too clear¨Ccut. Anyone with eyes could see it was real. Brielle had destroyed her, utterly andpletely.

    Lillian felt as if the sky was falling. She needed to get out of there, to stop the assault on her dignity.

    She fled like a clown, clutching her purse, almost running from the scene.

    The eyes that followed her seemed to strip away herst shred of self¨Crespect. It was over. Everything

    was over. She couldn¡¯t understand how it hade to this.

    Her phone rang, and she was too afraid to see who it was. Wiping her tears, she finally pulled out her

    trembling phone.

    It was Miranda. She must have seen the video too. The phone felt like it was burning her hand,

    and she was tempts to throw it away. But it rang persistently, like a death knell. The

    Haywoods had been so good to her, providing her with everything. How could she exin herself?

    Chapter 132

    Lillian was at a loss, her teeth chattering.

    Hiding was not an option. She had to face them. Her reputation was already in tatters, and she could

    no longer hold her head high in their social circles. Maybe, just maybe, the Haywoods¡± feelings for her

    would prevail, and they wouldn¡¯t turn her awaypletely.

    Lillian hailed a cab to the Haywood estate, the ride there an agonizing torment, as if she were in a

    frying pan. Standing outside the Haywood residence, she hesitated to enter. After a long inner struggle,

    she pushed through the door, tears streaming down her face in a sorry cascade. Her reputation in

    society was beyond saving. She had to make sure her benefactors were on her side. After all, she

    wasn¡¯t married to Spencer yet. Even with his generous support, a man¡¯s favor was fickle and could

    change overnight. So, before anything was set in stone with Spencer, she had to hold on tightly to the

    Haywoods.

    ¡°Miranda, I¡¯m so sorry. It was a moment of foolishness. Spencer was so heartbroken that night, and

    we¡­ we drank too much,¡± she sobbed, attempting to pin their indiscretion on the alcohol.

    Miranda and Robert remained silent, their faces unreadable. The video had spread like wildfire, and

    now everyone in the Beaconsfield social circles was aware of the scandal.

    While the societydies she once mingled with werebeling her as foolish for letting an outsider

    snatch away her future son¨Cinw, Miranda looked at Lillian¡¯s tearful face and. remembered the diary.

    There was a flicker of pity within her.

    ¡°Lillian, when exactly did this all start?¡±

 Chatper 133

    Chapter 133

    Brielle had mentioned it before, but Miranda had been so trusting of Lillian that she thought Brielle was

    just spinning tales. Now, confronted with the undeniable evidence of the video, she couldn¡¯t help but

    wonder if her daughter had been deeply wronged.

    Miranda suddenly felt some regret, while at the same time, she med Brielle in her heart. Why

    couldn¡¯t she just talk it out? Why did it have toe to this?

    Lillian, seeing the frustration in Miranda¡¯s eyes, knew she had to deliver a performance of a lifetime

    tonight, or she would never again be weed into the Haywood household with open

    arms.

    The remorse was painted all over her face. ¡°Miranda, remember that night when Bri said she was out

    looking for guys? That was the night Spencer got drunk. But that¡¯s no excuse. I betrayed Bri.¡±

    Miranda exhaled, her instinct to trust Lillian proving strong. So their affair had started that night. Bri had

    confessed to seeking malepany, which must have stung Spencer¡¯s pride. leading him to drink

    more than usual.

    Miranda¡¯s feelings at this moment were veryplex. On one hand, she med Brielle, and on the

    other hand, she med Lillian. Then, reconsidering, she thought that if Spencer couldn¡¯t resist straying,

    at least it was with Lillian, who was practically family.

    ¡°Lillian, even though you¡¯ve been with Spencer, it¡¯s Bri who¡¯s going to marry him in the end.¡±

    Lillian¡¯s hand clenched at her side, a sh of red crossing her eyes.

    She felt a burning desire to tear it all down, but she had to apologize and feign sincerity. ¡°I know, Bri is

    amazing. She deserves the best.¡±

    Her apologetic demeanor appeased Miranda, who had a soft spot for Lillian. ¡°Alright, stop kneeling. Get

    up. I was originally thinking of having you as the daughter¨Cinw of our Haywood family, but now, this

    mess between you and Spencer happened. I guess Brielle is not feeling good either. When shees

    back, I¡¯ll try to plead for you in front of her.¡±

    Lillian choked back sobs as she rose, wiping away tears. ¡°Miranda, I¡¯ll apologize to Bri personally. As

    for Spencer, I won¡¯t contact him again.¡±

    She had gauged Miranda¡¯s sentiments, so she deliberately made that statement to test the waters.

    Sure enough, Miranda¡¯s response was just what she wanted to hear.

    ¡°Spencer is young. Young folks like to have their fun. It¡¯s better for him to be with you than some other

    girl, but remember, Bri gets to be his wife. Can you ept that and notpete with Bri?¡±

    It was astonishing that there could been such a mother who actively sought mistresses for her own

    daughter¡¯s man.

    Chapter 133

    understand my ce.¡±

    Miranda nodded, content, but noticed her husband was silent. She nudged him. ¡°What do your

    think?¡±

    Robert had that look of restrained patience, the rationality of a man. ¡°Don¡¯t you think this is terribly

    unfair to Bri?¡±Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    Miranda hadn¡¯t expected her husband to react this way and blushed in embarrassment. ¡°I know it¡¯s not

    fair to Bri, but Lillian has been with us for years. What should we do?¡±

    Robert scrutinized Lillian. If Lillian had been his daughter, it would have been so much better. Her

    temperament was much better than Brielle¡¯s and she was more suitable for marriage with Spencer.

    ¡°Lillian, we¡¯ll give you a sum of money. Leave Beaconsfield and stop contacting Spencer.¡± His tone left

    no room for argument.

    Lillian paled, never expecting this. She looked to Miranda for help and saw her difort. ¡°Robert, I-¡±

    Her words were choked off. She couldn¡¯t continue.

    Robert waved her off, unwilling to discuss further.

    Lillian panicked, dropping to her knees, her forehead hitting the floor hard and repeatedly. *Robert,

    Miranda, I¡¯m truly sorry. Please don¡¯t do this to me.¡±

    Miranda felt pity and moved to help her, but Robert¡¯s decision held her back. She remained seated,

    tormented.

    Lillian was a mess of tears and snot, wishing she could bash her regret into the floor. If the Haywoods

    turned their backs on her, what would she do?

    Had Cameron seen the video? Would he find her disgusting?

 Chatper 134

    Chapter 134

    Lillian felt like she was on the brink of a breakdown, both emotionally and physically. She had fought

    tooth and nail for everything she had, only to see it crumble to pieces.

    If it wasn¡¯t for Brielle¡­ If it wasn¡¯t for that bitch!.

    Her eyes were bloodshot, her nails digging into her palms so hard they drew blood. She wished she

    could just take Brielle down with her, right then and there.

    Her breath was hot and heavy; her forehead had even left a bloody mark on the hardwood floor. But

    she couldn¡¯t stop. She was terrified of being cast aside.

    She was used to the high life, had had her fill of scraping by, and if the Haywoods cut her off. she¡¯d be

    worse off than a beggar on the streets.

    She had to hold on tight.

    In this moment, Lillian realized the stark difference between herself and Brielle, much as she hated to

    admit it. Brielle had been tossed aside by the Haywoods early on, yet she was thriving at Dorsey

    International. Without the Haywood¡¯s backing, Brielle still managed to shine, drawing a hefty sry,

    living the life of a polished corporate queen.

    Realizing this only deepened Lillian¡¯s resentment. Why did Brielle get all the breaks? While she. Lillian,

    was left to live like a worm in the dark, desperately hoping someone would spare her a nce.

    The overhead lights seemed to grow brighter, casting an unreal glow that seemed to trap her in ce.

    She awaited the Haywoods¡® verdict. Like a condemned prisoner, clinging to a sliver of hope for survival.

    If only she were queen of the hill, with everyone else under her heel. Her eyes were rimmed with red as

    she thought this.

    The tension in the room was palpable, silence heavy.

    The phone rang at this moment, and she almost anxiously looked up at Miranda and Robert. As

    expected, a hint of dissatisfaction appeared on both of their faces:

    Like a frightened animal, Lillian scrambled to silence her still¨Cringing phone. Why would the director call

    her now? Of course, he must be looking for Brielle, she thought bitterly. He always favored her. She felt

    sick to her stomach.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    ¡°Robert, I know things havee to a head and there¡¯s no easy way out. I just can¡¯t bear to lose you

    all.¡±

    She was gambling, ying herst card, but before Robert could respond, the doorbell rang.

    Who would visit the Haywoods at such a time?

    Bewilderment crossed everyone¡¯s faces until they saw Faithe in. Faith was livid, instantly

    Chapter 134

    aware of the charged atmosphere as she entered. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t this a merry gathering?¡±

    Miranda and Robert¡¯s faces fell, but given Faith¡¯s status, they had no choice but to receive her with

    strained politeness.

    Faith moved to the side as if she were in her own home. ¡°About that annulment I mentionedst time,

    what have you decided? You¡¯ve seen the video. I can¡¯t ept a daughter¨Cinw like Brielle.¡± One

    more scandal like that and her son might never recover.

    Miranda and Robert were also critical of Brielle¡¯s role in leaking the video. After all, airing dirtyundry

    was bad form, and now the scandal was the talk of Beaconsfield, leaving everyone embarrassed. But

    to call off the engagement wouldplicate business between the Haywoods and the Dorseys.

    ¡°Ms. Faith, this incident was certainly Brielle¡¯s fault, and I¡¯ll have

    does that sound?¡±

    her apologize to you. How

    Apologize? A sneer appeared on Faith¡¯s face. Could an apology restore her son¡¯s reputation?

    ¡°Her apology is worthless. My son has be theughingstock of the town, and who¡¯s to me for

    that? And Lillian, she¡¯s one of yours too.¡±

    Just moments ago, Miranda and Robert had been acting superior, but in front of Faith, they were like

    schoolchildren caught misbehaving.

    Faith didn¡¯t truly dislike Lillian, but someone had to take the fall. If Lillian had the sense to admit that

    she was the one who seduced Spencer, that it was a moment of weakness for him, then the public

    outrage might shift to her. Spencer could then wash his hands clean of this

    mess.

    But clearly, Lillian wasn¡¯t ready to make that sacrifice.

    Faith sneered, looking at the three before her, ¡°Spencer and Brielle¡¯s engagement must be broken. And

    his new fianc¨¦e will not be Lillian. I won¡¯t let a homewrecker into my family.¡±

    Hearing this, Lillian¡¯s face went ashen. Faith used to show her some favor, but these words were a

    clear sign she was being abandoned.

    Her hands trembled by her sides. If Robert turned her away and Faith insisted Spencer to cut ties,

    she¡¯d have no one to turn to.

    Could she lean on Cameron? After that video went viral, Cameron hadn¡¯t even bothered to call her.

    Chapter 135

 Chatper 135

    Chapter 135

    Any man would feel a punch in the gut seeing a video like that of the woman he¡¯s into, especially a man

    like Cameron, who always carried himself with a sense of pride and superiority.

    Lillian was truly panic¨Cstricken this time, her eyes rimmed red with the pressure. Her gaze met Faith¡¯s

    just as she was about to speak.

    ¡°Lillian, you need to take the fall for this one. Cut ties with Spencer, and after a scandal like this, there¡¯s

    no way Michael will wee you into the family.¡±

    In a way, her words echoed Robert¡¯s sentiments. Tears streamed down Lillian¡¯s face as the reality hit

    her hard. ¡°Faith, I¡ª¡®

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you can¡¯t bear to leave Spencer. Listen, if you don¡¯t do what I say, you won¡¯t see a dime

    in the future,¡± Faith said with clear impatience in her voice.

    That statement left Lillian speechless, a look of mortification dawning in her eyes.

    Robert and Miranda chimed in, trying tofort her. ¡°Lillian, don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll make sure you get a

    hefty sum.¡±

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    With Faith taking the lead, the three of them were now a united front. Lillian felt an unprecedented

    humiliation engulfing her heart; years of cunning nning, and it had alle to this.

    She couldn¡¯t stand it. The injustice was unbearable!

    Her phone rang again. It was the orphanage director. Instinct told her it must be urgent. She answered

    the call with a sense of dread, only to hear the director¡¯s anxious voice on the other end. ¡°Lillian,

    someone¡¯se looking for our orphanage. There¡¯s talk of ady who lost her daughter years ago,

    and there¡¯s a slight issue with your file. Come quickly to sort it out. If it¡¯s really you, then Lillian, you

    might just be the bona fide rich girl you never knew you were.¡±

    Lillian thought she had misheard. ¡°Director, are you sure you¡¯ve got your facts straight?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m dead serious, Lillian. They¡¯re here, and we need to do a DNA test pronto. We can¡¯t dy this.¡±

    Lillian wasn¡¯t particrly interested though. She figured it was some rich family¡¯s missing daughter. No

    matter how wealthy they were, they surely couldn¡¯t hold a candle to the Haywoods or the Dorseys.

    A wave of despondency washed over her, her heart heavy with sorrow. Yet the director¡¯s next words

    perked her up. ¡°Lillian, they¡¯ve asked me not to reveal their identity, but let me tell you, their family¡¯s

    international standing is quite high, even higher than the Haywoods¡®, andparable to the Dorseys¡®.

    They also have a son who has been searching for his sister all these years, which shows how deeply

    they care for their lost kin. If your records match, you won¡¯t have to worry for the rest of your life. You¡¯ll

    be in a position to help Bri then.¡±

    Chapter 135

    International standing? That caught Lillian¡¯s attention, her eyes lighting up with hope. ¡°Mark, you¡¯re

    telling me the truth, right?¡±

    The director couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, genuinely hoping for a good oue for these kids. ¡°Of course,

    it¡¯s the truth. If you can make it now, hurry over. They¡¯re pressing hard for this, and just between us, the

    Clements family is involved in the search. If the Clements are stepping in, you can imagine the status

    of the other party.¡±

    Lillian¡¯s heart raced with excitement. Meanwhile, the other three in the living room were ring at her,

    annoyed that she was still on the phone.

    Lillian couldn¡¯t care less. After hanging up, she turned to Miranda with an electrified look in her eyes.

    ¡°Miranda, the director says I need to go back for a DNA test. I have to return to the orphanage right

    now.¡±

    If it turned out she was the lost heiress of a noble lineage, why should she grovel at the feet of the

    Haywoods any longer?

    The Haywoods, and Brielle, soon enough, they would all be looking up to her.

 Chatper 136

    Chapter 136

    She snickered inwardly, yet couldn¡¯t help but worry that her efforts might all be in vain, resulting in a

    total washout. So, she managed not to let her concern show too obviously.

    Faith, upon hearing this, couldn¡¯t help but wear a look of scorn. ¡°A paternity retest? What¡¯s that

    supposed to mean? You can¡¯t possibly be suggesting that you¡¯re the real daughter of the Haywood

    family. Now, wouldn¡¯t that be ridiculous?¡±

    Faith¡¯s words were said without much thought, a mere dig at Lillian. Lillian had stirred up a ho¡¯s

    nest and now was trying to pass off such a ludicrous excuse; she clearly didn¡¯t take Faith seriously at

    all.

    Her words, however, sparked like a match in a powder keg. The first to react was Miranda. When they

    had found Sunflower Orphanage years ago, both Lillian and Brielle had undergone DNA testing with

    Robert.

    The results had confirmed that Brielle was the daughter, but now, Lillian was suggesting a retest.

    Could it be¡­

    ¡°Lillian, are you implying that-¡±

    With Faith¡¯s lead¨Cin, Miranda became agitated, her thoughts racing toward the oue she most

    desired, the fulfillment of a long¨Cheld wish.

    Lillian¡¯s eyes brimmed with mockery. Maybe soon the Haywoods wouldn¡¯t be fit to tie her shoces.

    Mark had already called her twice in a panic, which meant this whole affair was very likely true.

    However, she wanted to lead Miranda on. She had ved away for the Haywood family for years, only

    to be discarded like yesterday¡¯s news. She felt bitter and resent

    Miranda had always hoped that Lillian would turn out to be the Haywood¡¯s daughter, right? So, she¡¯d

    dangle that hope in front of her, giving herself an out in the process.

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    Lillian felt a surge of energy and quickly sorted out the key points. If she wasn¡¯t the so¨Ccalled blue¨C

    bloodeddy, she¡¯d continue to face the scorn and ridicule of these people, but until the results were in,

    the Haywoods would surely treat her with kid gloves and wouldn¡¯t dare pursue the matter with Spencer

    any further.

    And if she turned out to be a rich girl, then she and Spencer would be an ideal match. Faith would

    probably be over the moon, and even if the Haywoods wanted revenge, they¡¯d have to think twice. It

    was a win¨Cwin.

    In any case, until a new benefactor came along, the Haywoods were still useful, so she deliberately

    kept her statement ambiguous. ¡°Miranda, I¡¯m not too sure myself. The director has been calling me,

    urging me toe over.¡±

    Miranda quickly stepped forward, grasping her hand. ¡°I¡¯lle with you to check it out.¡±

    1/2

    17:00

    Faith was also puzzled. What was the Haywood family ying at?

    They had personally reimed Brielle as their own, and now they were the first to doubt the truth of the

    matter. If the Haywoods themselves were skeptical, it was only natural for Faith, an outsider, to begin to

    wonder as well. After all, if things were as they seemed, everything would

    make a lot more sense.

    The three women exchanged nces, sharing a rare moment of tacit understanding.

    ¡°You two go ahead and check it out. I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Faith spoke impatiently, her mind still on other

    matters. She had to deal with the one person who had dared to tarnish her son¡¯s reputation. Brielle

    would pay a hefty price.

    Meanwhile, Brielle was blissfully unaware of the brewing storm. She was still at the countryside

    mansion, scrutinizing thevish interior decorations.

    Lillian had always been a hedonist. The mansion was worth over twenty million, with another ten million

    in valuable paintings and decor.

    Brielle had never found it so easy toe by money. First, she had received thirty million from Andrew,

    and now with the mansion¡¯s twenty million plus, she could easily make another ten by selling off the

    contents. With over sixty million, she¡¯d have more than enough for the orphanage¡¯s new location.

    She smiled, patting Tiffanie on the shoulder. ¡°Do you know how we can liquidate these items?¡±

    She wanted to cash in before Lillian caught on. These were undoubtedly gifts from Spencer to Lillian,

    with no strings attached. Even if Lillian went to court, it wouldn¡¯t matter.

    Tiffanie¡¯s eyes lit up; not only had theye here tonight for a catfight, but now they were about to y

    a bit of Robin Hood. She didn¡¯t have many friends in the socialite circle, but she knew plenty of people

    who could get the job done. Without hesitation, she rmended a contact.

    Her friend arrived promptly, less than an hourter, with a van to inventory and haul away the goods. It

    took only thirty minutes to find a buyer, and the money was transferred at a speed that left Brielle in

    awe.

    Tiffanie pulled out her phone to find several chat groups abuzz with excitement, and she couldn¡¯t help

    but chuckle. ¡°Brielle,e take a look. Lillian¡¯s really made a name for herself now.¡±

    Brielle leaned in and saw that Tiffanie was part of over a dozen groups, each bombarded with the same

    set of videos and photos. Perhaps to ensure recognition, Tiffanie had even tagged Lillian¡¯s name.

    Brielle¡¯s lips twitched in amusement, suddenly realizing that of all people, Tiffanie was not one to be

    trifled with.

 Chatper 137

    Chapter 137

    The buzz in the chat groups was like wildfire, and it wasn¡¯t long before the videos made its way to

    Andrew and Kenzo.

    Andrew, a member of just a couple of groups, paused mid¨Csip as the video popped up on his screen.

    He nced at Kenzo, who had just settled beside him. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Brielle¡¯s fianc¨¦?¡±

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    The video was crystal clear; even a blind man couldn¡¯t miss it.

    Kenzo offered a gentle smile. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s him. Did Brielle take this footage?¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t seem the type to stir up drama.

    Andrew snorted, his mind darting immediately to Tiffanie. ¡°I bet it was Tiffanie. Spencer¡¯s her cousin,

    and she¡¯s really thrown him under the bus this time.¡±

    Twirling his phone with a mischievous grin, Andrew mused, ¡°So, Brielle¡¯s fianc¨¦ has been ying the

    field, no wonder she got cozy with Max. I thought she was just climbing the socialdder for a career

    boost, but looks like she¡¯s ying a much bigger game¨Csleeping with her fiance¡¯s uncle for revenge.¡±

    Andrew wasn¡¯t Brielle¡¯s biggest fan, but the video piqued his interest in her scheming ways. He set his

    phone down and looked at Kenzo. ¡°You¡¯re all over the tabloids with Brielle, and you haven¡¯t bothered to

    clear the air. Any other time there¡¯s gossip about you and some starlet. you set the record straight

    pronto.¡±

    Kenzo just smiled, his demeanor still soft, though Andrew knew the man was cunning as a fox.

    ¡°Andrew, don¡¯t you find all this intriguing? Alivia¡¯s got a thing for Max, while Max is keeping Brielle on

    the side. I¡¯m rumored to be with Brielle, and her fianc¨¦ is Max¡¯s nephew. The waters are muddied, and

    when all thises to a head, it¡¯s going to be quite the show.¡±

    Andrew pushed a ss of whiskey toward him with a scoff. ¡°You creative types and your deep games.

    Have you told Alivia about Brielle and Max?¡±

    ¡°Tell her what? My sister, proud and arrogant, has always regarded Max as her possession. If she

    really finds out there¡¯s another woman by his side, she¡¯ll probably return to the country immediately.

    Then there will be another round of turmoil at home. Being caught in the middle of her and Max is not

    pleasant.¡±

    He was implying that he didn¡¯t want to put himself through this mess.

    Andrew nodded, took a sip of his drink, and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Do you and Tiffanie have something

    going on?¡±

    Kenzo¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°Come on, you know how Max dotes on Tiffanie. Even if I did like her,

    Max would never allow it. And Tiffanie¡¯s ky mom has pushed her daughter to the brink. The guy

    who¡¯d get with Tiffanie is not going to be someone like me, ready to sacrifice. everything for art.¡±

    Chapter 137

    The man for Tiffanie would need to provide her with substantial security, to pull her from the abyss, but

    Kenzo wasn¡¯t that man. In fact, in their circle, no such man existed.

    Tiffanie craved undivided love. While everyone else was sowing wheat, she wanted to grow roses. She

    sought romance, not survival.

    Andrew stayed silent. They all knew about Tiffanie¡¯s mother, which exined her current state. This

    was also why Max indulged her so.

    Tiffanie¡¯s origins were tainted with filth, savagery, and contempt. She wasn¡¯t born from hopeful

    expectations; she began from a mistake.

    The lounge was quiet. The two men hade out for a casual drink. Aubree, who had arrived first, had

    vanished. Andrew didn¡¯t bother looking for her; he never cared what Aubree was up to. His phone

    buzzed. It was Tessa on the line.

    Tessa hardly ever called him, and when she did these days, it usually concerned Sophia.

    As he answered, he heard Tessa¡¯s coughing on the other end.

    ¡°Cough, cough.¡±

    Tessa was known as the delicate beauty, seldom venturing from the Clements¡® estate. Even at social

    gatherings, she¡¯d find a corner and sit quietly.

    ¡°Andrew, did you really give Brielle thirty million?¡± Tessa¡¯s voice was weak.

    Andrew uttered a nonchnt ¡°Yeah,¡± then advised. ¡°Take it easy when you talk, look after yourself.¡±

    ¡°Did I cause you trouble? If I¡¯d known Brielle would demand so much, I¡¯d have had Sophial apologize.

    She¡¯s impulsive. Just now, she broke into tears on the phone to me. Sorry about this. I¡¯ll transfer the

    money to youter.¡±

 Chatper 138

    Chapter 138

    Andrew rubbed his temples, his gaze softening. ¡°There¡¯s no need for formalities between us. If you

    don¡¯t want Sophia to apologize, I¡¯ll let it slide. Thirty million is nothing to fret over.¡±

    Tessa was well aware that thirty million was merely pocket change for him, but the thought of Brielle

    getting such a windfall made her uneasy. ¡°It¡¯s Sophia¡¯s mistake, but you shouldn¡¯t let others take

    advantage like that.¡±

    She was testing the waters to gauge Andrew¡¯s feelings toward Brielle. Something seemned off. and

    she wondered if it was because of a few words Sophia had said in his presence. Tessa was growing

    restless. Any other woman who dared speak to Andrew like this wouldn¡¯t live to see another day, yet

    Brielle was not only spared but also walked away with a thirty million dor check.

    ¡°Drop it with her, Tessa. You need to focus on getting better.¡±

    Andrew couldn¡¯t possibly reveal Brielle¡¯s connection to Max. If Michael found out, Brielle would have to

    vanish from Beaconsfield in a heartbeat.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll drop it.¡±

    Tessa was sharp, not the type to beat a dead horse. She probed into the Hatfield family¡¯s stance on

    Emily and pondered making them target Brielle. Much to her surprise, the Hatfields hadn¡¯t lifted a finger

    to bail out Emily, who remained behind bars.

    When Tessa learned that the Hatfields nned to send Emily abroad for studies¨Ca polite euphemism

    for exile, amon practice among the elite¨Cshe was even more unsettled. Was it all because of

    Brielle? Who exactly was backing Brielle?

    Tessa¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line, realizing it was time for some serious digging.

    Unbeknownst to Brielle, she had caught Tessa¡¯s attention. She and Tiffany were already in the car.

    Tiffany was in high spirits that evening, her smile never leaving her face. At a red light, she tapped the

    steering wheel, ¡°Brielle, I really owe you one. My birthdays are usually such downers, but today was a

    st from start to finish. If anything like thises up again, hit me up on WhatsApp, okay?¡±

    She whipped out her phone.

    After they exchanged contacts, Tiffany saw the familiar profile picture and chuckled. ¡°Alivial was all over

    the ce, asking who had the snowke avatar. I had a hunch it was you, and look.

    at that. I was right.¡±

    ¡°Alivia?¡± Brielle was puzzled. How did her avatar catch Alivia¡¯s eye?

    ¡°Yeah, she asked around in the group chat. Probably grilled the whole social circle, but no one fessed

    up.¡±

    Tiffany steered the car, her expression growing serious, ¡°Between Alivia and Tessa, those are. two

    tough cookies. Don¡¯t mess with them, or if Maxie ever drops you, they could crush you with

    17:00

    Chapter 135

    the flick of a finger.¡±

    Having arrived in Beaconsfield at the tender age of ten, Brielle was out of the loop on social intricacies,

    always an outsider. ¡°How tough are we talking?¡±

    Tiffany had taken a liking to Brielle and didn¡¯t want her to be at a disadvantage, so she couldn¡¯t help but

    break it down for her.

    ¡°Let¡¯s start with Alivia. You know how famous she is around here. She¡¯s been spoiled rotten by the

    Barnes family since she was little. Whatever she wants, she gets. Guys her age are lining. up to marry

    her, which is like getting the whole Barnes family on a silver tter. Even her brother Kenzo dotes on

    her. With just the two of them and Kenzo lost in his art most of the time, all the family¡¯s affection

    naturally falls on Alivia.¡±

    The phrase ¡®center of the universe¡® didn¡¯t do her justice. Whatsmore, Alivia excelled in her own right,

    currently at a research institute that was top¨Cnotch worldwide.

    Brielle kept quiet, then asked, ¡°And Tessa?¡±

    When Tiffany got to Tessa, her tone took on a peculiar edge. ¡°In a big family like this, a sickly. member

    like her would normally be out of the power circle. But she¡¯s got clout in the Rond family. Rumor has

    it she was once on the outs and nearly got shipped off from Beaconsfield. But ever since shetched

    onto Andrew, her stock in the Rond family has been on the rise. You know Andrew¡¯s reputation. A

    woman who can keep him on a short leash is no simpleton.¡°

 Chatper 139

    Chapter 139

    Brielle wasn¡¯t worried for herself; it was Aubree that concerned her.

    ¡°And let me tell you,¡± she said with a sigh. ¡°And I have to tell you, these two are very good friends.

    Tessa Is Andrew¡¯s girl, and Allvia almost became Max¡¯s nc¨¦e. They can pretty much do whatever

    they want in Beaconsfield.¡±

    That was true.

    A tightness formed In Brielle¡¯s chest, but Tiffanie¡¯s next words soured her mood even more.

    ¡°Maxie¡¯s doting on you now ¡®cause he hasn¡¯t a clue about marriage yet. Once granddad picks out a

    fianc¨¦e for him, you¡¯ll be history. And my granddad¡¯s favorite? Alivia.¡±

    Brielle shut her eyes, recalling Max¡¯s words about considering an engagement to Alivia.

    ¡°Beep beep beep.¡±

    Tiffanie honked the horn a few times, and her phone rang. When she saw the number, her expression

    changed Instantly. ¡°Can¡¯t do drinks tonight. Spencer¡¯s onto me about those videos and pics. Went

    comining to the Dorsey family, no doubt. Gotta go and eat humble pie. Let¡¯s raincheck this one,

    yeah? It¡¯s on me next time.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not gonna get a whipping, are you?¡±

    Brielle frowned, annoyed with herself. She should have sent the videos. It hadn¡¯t crossed her mind

    what the consequences might be.

    ¡°With Maxie around? No one¡¯sying a finger on me. But grounding¡¯s a given. Been there, done that as

    a kid. Don¡¯t you worry about me, Brielle. Better think about how to handle Sophia, that witch had some

    nasty words tonight.¡±

    Brielle chuckled as she stepped out of the car, ¡°She¡¯s probably Tessa¡¯s sidekick. And Tessa¡¯s got

    Andrew in her corner. Without his help, they¡¯re powerless.¡±

    Tiffanie hit the gas, leaving behind only a parting shot. ¡°Thing is, Andrew won¡¯t leave Tessa hanging.

    She¡¯s his world, everyone knows it.¡±

    Was Tessa truly Andrew¡¯s world? Brielle hadn¡¯t heard what really went on between them, only that they

    were long betrothed. And from Aubree, she knew Andrew had once been rejected by Tessa.

    In their dynamic, Andrew was the one at a disadvantage, always bending over backward to please

    Tessa. Letting go of Tessa? Hardly likely.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Brielle saw Aubree as a friend and naturally prioritized her concerns. She¡¯s oblivious to the storm

    brewing for her.

    Lost in thought, she walked toward her apartment, only to see another car pull up, clearly having waited

    for some time. Two burly bodyguards emerged, and Brielle instinctively stepped

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    17:00

    Chapter 139

    back. She recognized the two bodyguards showing around Faith. These were Falth¡¯s people?

    Considering tonight¡¯s debacle and Falth¡¯s protectiveness over her son, she must be livid.

    d in ck suits, the guards had a menacing air about them. Without a word, they lunged for Brielle.

    She stepped back, ready to counter, but a syringe plunged Into her arm. She hadn¡¯t expected a dirty

    y. Her strength sapped away, her vision blurred.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, Ms. Faith made it clear, you¡¯re due for a lesson.¡± Mentioning Falth, their eyes gleamed with

    malice ¨C they had their orders.

    Brielle stumped to the ground, propping herself up with trembling hands. Through the haze, Faith

    emerged from the ck vehicle, striding over with purpose.

    Without hesitation, Faith pped her twice, as if wishing to devour her whole. ¡°Brielle, did your shoot

    that video on purpose? Do you have any Idea what they¡¯re saying about Spencer now?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s cheeks swelled, her head buzzing with a thousand bees.

    Faith, chest heaving, grabbed her hair, forcing her to look up. ¡°To be betrothed to my son is a fortune

    you don¡¯t deserve. Not only did you snatch his executive position, now you¡¯re dragging his name

    through the mud. How vile! One is your fianc¨¦; the other, a sister¨Clike friend. With one move, you¡¯ve

    ruined them both.¡±

    The thought of Spencer¡¯s embarrassment from the release of the videos made Faith¡¯s grip tighten. ¡°You

    bitch! Should¡¯ve had Spencer call off your engagement long ago!¡±

 Chatper 140

    Chapter 140

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Brielle felt like her scalp was about to be ripped off, the ludicrousness of the woman¡¯s trade was

    enough to draw out augh. ¡°Ms. Falth, if you think it¡¯s no big deal for men to y the field, why on

    earth are you bending over backwards trying to win Ryan back? Shouldn¡¯t you be grateful? After all,

    Ryan¡¯s only wife has always been you. The others were just flings, mere ythings, and yet you¡¯ve

    spent years green with Jealousy. Now you¡¯re preaching generosity to me?¡±

    She flicked her tongue out, tasting the blood at the corner of her mouth, her gaze filled with disdain.

    ¡°Besides, you think Spencer is some kind of prize catch? I suggested calling off the engagement

    several times, but it was your son who couldn¡¯t bear to let go.¡±

    ¡°p!¡± As soon as she finished her sentence, another pnded on her cheek.

    Brielle¡¯s face was numb, insensitive to the pain, which showed Just how hard Faith had hit her. This

    was the first time Brielle had stood up to Faith like this. Although she had been threatened by Ryan

    before, at that time Faith had been downstairs and oblivious to the specifics of Ryan¡¯s actions.

    Faith seemed like someone had torn off her mask, revealing the madness within. ¡°Shut up! Just shut

    up!¡± What right did Brielle have to criticize her marriage or mock her son?

    Faith seemed to be hearing the world¡¯s most ridiculous joke, yet deep down, she couldn¡¯t help but feel

    a pathetic sorrow. Indeed, she had devoted her heart and soul to Ryan over the years, making a fool of

    herself, all for the sake of winning back that man.

    Brielle watched the woman¡¯s face contort and silently lowered her eyes, her thoughts drifting to Emily,

    who had been sent to the police station. They were both like moths to the me in love.

    Faith released her hair with an impatient wave of her hand. ¡°Lock her up in a room for now.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s hands were tied, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth, but she didn¡¯t plead for mercy or

    even look at Faith, instead blinking to clear her stinging eyes. She knew Faith would be unyielding

    when it came to handling the Spencer matter. Though she wouldn¡¯t lose her life tonight, she was sure

    to suffer.

    As expected, after those few ps, Faith felt slightly relieved and slowly stood up. ¡°Take her away. I

    want to have my fun with her.¡±

    The two bodyguards nodded eagerly, dragging the limp Brielle away as if she were a dead dog.

    Under the effect of the drugs, Brielle couldn¡¯t resist. She braced for physical torment, never expecting

    Faith to be even crueler than Ryan.

    The car stopped in front of a dingy little shack. With a cold sneer, Faith instructed the bodyguards to

    drag Brielle inside.

    The room was pitch dark, invisible to the naked eye, and no one knew what was inside.

    Brielle was dumped on the floor, her face swollen and bloody. Unable to see clearly, she was

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    Chapter 140

    swallowed up by the encroaching darkness.

    Having been with Ryan for so many years, Faith had mastered the art of torment. She pointed to a

    small speaker set aside, purposely having someone y eerie sounds outside the door. The shack was

    designed to punish the disobedient, and psychologically, it worked far better than physical pain. If

    someone spent too long in such an environment, their sanity would start to fray.

    Brielle sat down against the wall, her cheek burning with pain. The sounds outside continued.

    sometimes like a baby¡¯s cry, sometimes like a woman¡¯s scream. She covered her ears, trying to block

    out the noise, but the sound was piercing, as if it was right beside her.

    Leaning against the cold wall, she felt something slither through the door crack, cold and slimy to the

    touch. Brielle¡¯s face went pale, and she shuffled to the side.

    Snakes.

    The pitch¨Cdark surrounding, those eerie sounds outside, and more than one snake in the room with

    her.

    She knew Faith loathed her, but she hadn¡¯t expected such a vile tactic.

    The sound of the snakes¡® flickering tongues in the darkness was amplified, and the scraping of their

    scales on the ground was hair¨Craising. Less than two hours had passed, and Brielle felt she couldn¡¯t

    hold on much longer. She didn¡¯t know how many more snakes would be let in, and the only thing she

    could do now was to hold herself and not listen, not think about it.

    Outside, the two bodyguards who had released the snakes were smirking vilely. ¡°Ma¡¯am, we¡¯ve got

    centipedes too. Shall we continue?¡±

    Faith showed no mercy, her only wish was to torment Brielle thoroughly before anyone else found her.

    ¡°Keep going, as long as she doesn¡¯t die.¡± Faithmanded without a hint ofpassion.

    The bodyguards nodded and released several centipedes into the room.

 Chatper 141

    Chapter 141

    Outside the Sunflower Orphanage, the lights shone brightly, a rare sight for a ce that usually

    embraced the quiet of the evening.

    Mark, Mark, stood at the entrance with a look of bewilderment as two sleek limousines pulled up at the

    gates. Nearby, a doctor they had brought in was sifting through a pile of tattered records.

    These records detailed the lives of the orphanage¡¯s children: their arrival dates, the ces they were

    found, and more. Given the high turnover of kids over the years, each child¡¯s file had been meticulously

    compiled and archived.

    Mark had always been deeplymitted to the welfare of his charges, even going so far as to save a

    lock of hair from each child upon their entry into the system. After all, some were abandoned, while

    others were simply lost, their parents clinging to a sliver of hope that they might someday be found

    through a DNA match.

    The orphanage¡¯smitment was to care for the children until they reached adulthood, and once they

    did, their futures were a mystery ¨C what professions they took up or which ces they might call home.

    The preserved hair became a vital clue for potential DNAparisons.

    However, a fire in the records room had damaged some of the files, including those belonging to Lillian

    and Brielle.

    Mark had mentioned that Brielle had been reimed by the Haywood family and couldn¡¯t possibly be

    the missing girl they were searching for, but their response was to leave no stone unturned, an exercise

    in caution. So he needed to get in touch with Brielle.

    When Mark saw Lillian, his face lit up with a smile. ¡°Lillian, d you could make it.¡± His gaze then

    shifted to the two individuals who had arrived with her. They looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn¡¯t

    quite ce them. With a polite nod, he acknowledged them, a silent greeting.

    Lillian watched the doctor with a tremor of excitement, her voice hushed, ¡°Mark, what information do I

    need to provide?¡±

    The doctor, his forehead glistening with sweat from poring over files, nced up at her. Everyone in the

    room was on edge, the atmosphere taut like a bowstring drawn tight.

    The doctor¡¯s hands began to tremble as he continued his search, and Lillian¡¯s initial hope turned to

    impatience.

    To ease the tension, Mark tried to change the subject. ¡°The doctor¡¯s still busy. We need to narrow down

    the suspects. They are very thorough, and they can¡¯t afford mistakes. But your and Bri were already

    screened when the Haywood family came looking for their kin. Your files matched the best, and with Bri

    being a Haywood, you¡¯re the most likely the person they are looking for. Speaking of which, where¡¯s

    Bri?¡±

    Thest thing Lillian wanted to hear about was Brielle. If it weren¡¯t for her, Lillian wouldn¡¯t be in this

    mess. But her fortunes were about to change. It seemed like fate was finally on her side.

    1/2

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    17:00

    ¡°I don¡¯t know where she is, Mark,¡± Lillian replied, her patience waning.

    ¡°Both your files were lost in the fire, and I can¡¯t reach her. I thought she might be with you,¡±

    Mark¡¯s concern was palpable as he pulled out his phone to make another call, only to be met with

    voicemail once again.

    Brielle¡¯s phone was currently with Faith, who noticed the shing ¡°Director¡± on the screen and guessed

    it was from the orphanage. Were there developments?

    Switching off Brielle¡¯s phone, Faith used her own to call Miranda.

    Back at the orphanage, after about an hour, the doctor finally narrowed down the list. It was still just

    Lian and Brielle. The directive was clear: every girl must be tested, regardless of status. With both their

    records damaged, they had to be present for verification.

    Pushing his sses up, the doctor announced, ¡°It seems we need to redo the paternity tests for both

    Brielle and Lillian.¡± Mark¡¯s hands shook with excitement. With no other children in the running, the odds

    were now overwhelmingly in favor of Lillian.

 Chatper 142

    Chapter 142

    The kid was going to be reimed by her original family, and naturally, he was over the moon. He

    called Brielle again, but this time her phone was switched off directly.

    Meanwhile, Miranda¡¯s phone rang, and she quickly answered It.

    ¡°Ms. Faith.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯s the situation over there?¡±

    Miranda didn¡¯t dare hide anything, still clinging to hope. Plus, the doctor said they both needed a new

    DNA test, which seemed to confirm her suspicions.

    Miranda¡¯s mind raced, even more convinced that Lillian was a true Haywood, but what she didn¡¯t know

    was that Lillian couldn¡¯t care less about the Haywoods now.

    ¦§

    ¡°Bri and Lillian both need a new DNA test, but I can¡¯t reach Bri at the moment. so¡­¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s with me. I¡¯ll bring her over.

    Miranda breathed a sigh of relief. As long as

    they could find her, they should get the results

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    soon. ¡°Good, the doctor is on standby. We¡¯re Just waiting for Bri.¡±

    Faith hung up with a tight¨Clipped smirk. She had wanted to give Brielle a hard time, but luck was on the

    girl¡¯s side.

    With a snort and a dismissive gesture, she ordered, ¡°Bring her. We¡¯re going to the orphanage.¡±

    The bodyguards didn¡¯t dare object and quickly unlocked the door to the dark room.

    Brielle was on the verge of a breakdown. When she noticed the sliver of light, she looked up greedily.

    The cold snakes and terrifying centipedes had been crawling around her, some even winding around

    her ankles. She couldn¡¯t move, staying still as if she were lifeless..

    ¡°Lucky you, otherwise you¡¯d be in here for days.¡±

    ¡°Enough talk, get her out of here.¡±

    The bodyguards each took an arm and escorted Brielle out. They too were eager to leave the dark

    room, feeling the chills even from a single extra second inside.

    Brielle was too exhausted to speak and simply closed her eyes.

    The car sped along. Faith eager for the results, and soon they were at the orphanage. When the car

    stopped, Brielle was shoved out by the bodyguards.

    Her face was swollen, her lips still bleeding, and her eyes were bloodshot, looking utterly miserable.

    Seeing the long¨Cmissed lights, she squinted, the disgusting sensation of being entwined by cold¨C

    blooded creatures finally fading.

    However, upon spotting Mark in the distance, her smile faded. She didn¡¯t want him to see her in such a

    sorry state.

    17:01

    Chapter 142

    Mark had sharp eyes. Seeing her swollen face, he hurried over, ¡°Brielle, what happened? Who did this

    to you?¡±

    Awkwardly, Brielle wiped the blood from her lips, ¡°Mark, I¡¯m fine.¡±

    Mark¡¯s eyes reddened, unable to help ncing at Miranda and Robert. He didn¡¯t know them well, but

    he had met them once when they came to take Brielle from the orphanage. He hadn¡¯t recognized them

    at first, but now he put two and two together. ¡°Isn¡¯t Brielle your child? How could you let her be treated

    this way?¡±

    Miranda and Robert were ufortable. They had promised to give Brielle a good life when they took

    her away. Miranda spoke up first, ¡°Bri, you¡¯re here. Mark said you both need to do another DNA test.¡±

    Robert stood by, ncing at the bruise on Brielle¡¯s cheek, silent.

    Mark was infuriated by their attitude, almost unable to catch his breath, but what angered him even

    more was the arrival of Faith. She had always looked down on the orphanage over property disputes,

    so her greeting was less than gracious. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t she be used to it? Brielle¡¯s nothing but an ant to me.

    If I want her alive, she lives. If I want her dead, she has to die.¡±

 Chatper 143

    Chapter 143

    Mark had always been a straight shooter, the kind of guy who believed in fair y and hard work. Sc.

    when he came face to face with arrogance on such a grand scale, it left him reeling. The sight of the

    luxury car, worth over ten million, made him feel powerless. It was clear as day that this was someone

    with clout someone who could make life difficult.

    Brielle rushed to his side, her hand patting his back reassuringly, ¡°Mark, please don¡¯t get upset.¡±

    Mark¡¯s body trembled with fury, and when Spencer showed up, his anger reached its boiling paint.

    Spencer already felt like he owed Lillian so much, so the moment he got her message, he came

    running. When he arrived. Lillian¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as she called out, ¡°Spencer.¡±

    Spencer was clearly ufortable, especially with his fianc¨¦e¡¯s parents standing not too far away. He

    forced a smile and gave a curt nod, pretending not to be affected.

    Approaching Faith, he asked in a low voice. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s going on?¡±

    Faith red at him with resentment. If only he had been more careful, they wouldn¡¯t be in this

    mess.

    Spencer, aware of his own quitt, harbored even more resentment towards Brielle. It was all Brielle¡¯s

    fault.

    ¡°We¡¯ll just have to wait for the oue.¡± she said.

    Spencer nodded, his gaze shifting to Brielle, turning to disgust in an instant. ¡°Why are your always

    around, stirring up more trouble? I heard you sold off the decorations in the vi. Brielle, you¡¯re just too

    greedy. Look, we might be engaged, but we¡¯re not married yet. That¡¯s all my property until we tie the

    knot. Uncle Max promised the house to you, not the stuff inside.¡±

    Mark¡¯s eyes widened in shock at Spencer¡¯s words. What was he hearing? An engagement? Brielle and

    Spencer were engaged?

    But wasn¡¯t Spencer Lillian¡¯s boyfriend? They even came to the orphanage together.

    The blow was too much for Mark. He looked from Lillian to Spencer and then back to the Haywood

    family, struggling to process it all

    What kind of life had Brielle been leading all these years, and what had Lillian done? She stole Brielle¡¯s

    fianc¨¦!

    Mark felt a tightness in his chest, and before he knew it, the world went ck as he fainted.

    ¡°Mark!¡± Brielle was startled and quickly helped him sit down, fanning him and trying to revive him.

    She couldn¡¯t help but nce over at everyone present. Brielle was unaware of the missing

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    17:01

    CAN 143

    heiress drama and thought the Haywoods were there for another paternity test. She found it amusing; it

    seemed the Haywoods were desperate to im Lillian as their own.

    She thought she would feel heartbroken, but she didn¡¯t. In fact, she felt a weight had been lifted. Deep

    down, she had always wanted to escape this family, but blood ties had kept her bound. If it turned out

    to be a huge mix¨Cup, it would be the best surprise ever.

    To the Haywoods, it might seem like they were eager to get rid of Brielle, but she was the one.

    desperate to be free of them.

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    The ties to the Haywood family were a shackle on her freedom. Her entanglement with Spencer only

    spelled danger. If she could sever these bonds from the root, she would light fireworks in celebration.

    So, the urgency on their faces seemed ridiculously amusing to her.

    The doctor who was sorting out the files rushed over and performed first ald, stabilizing Mark. Mark

    couldn¡¯t say a word, only holding Brielle¡¯s hand in silence. Brielle didn¡¯t know what to say either. The

    truth was finally out.

    The doctor, relieved after the emergency aid, turned to Brielle and Lillian. ¡°Both of your files are

    damaged. The doctor who conducted your original tests has left. You both need to do a new one.¡± He

    took their hair samples and, without hesitation, followed his team out the door.

    Once the doctor had left, the atmosphere became even more strange. Brielle helped Mark up. ¡°Mark,

    it¡¯s chilly outside. Let me help you inside.¡±

    Mark patted her hand and, though pale as a sheet, shook his head slowly. He didn¡¯t let anyone else

    come in and shut the door behind them. ¡°Bastards,¡± he muttered under his breath.

    ¡°A bunch of bastards.¡± He gasped for air as he sat down, his hand shaking as he clutched Brielle¡¯s,

    ¡°Brielle, you¡¯ve had it rough all these years. Lillian was an ungrateful girl. You¡¯ve raised a wolf in

    sheep¡¯s clothing. Does your face hurt? They¡¯re bullying you because you don¡¯t have a strong backing.

    Your parents aren¡¯t even on your side. What kind of life have you been living?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s face was swollen and hearing his words made her feel a pang of heartache.

    A few frightened kids sat nearby, clueless about what had happened butside. One little boy bravely

    fetched an ice pack from the fridge and ced it timidly on the table.

    Brielle smiled gratefully at the gesture.

    in nain in his heart both from the betrayal and the worry for Brielle.

 Chatper 144

    Chapter 144

    Brielle feared that if Mark kept letting his emotions get the better of him, he might just work himself into

    a frenzy. ¡°Mark, I¡¯m fine, really. Spencer and I might be engaged, but it¡¯ll probably be called off soon. I

    don¡¯t like him, so it¡¯s not like I¡¯m heartbroken.¡±

    ¡°Sweetheart, do you think I don¡¯t know you? When you insisted on taking Lillian with you, it was

    because you cared too deeply. What Lillian did was like stabbing you in the heart. How could you not

    be hurt? Now, I almost wish you weren¡¯t a Haywood, so you wouldn¡¯t have to put up with their

    nonsense.¡±

    Brielle fell silent, knowing that a person¡¯s heart can only hold so much disappointment. She was like a

    sponge that had soaked up all the water it could; even if an ocean swept over it, not another drop could

    be absorbed. The process of soaking it all up had been painful, but now she was numb.

    Outside the orphanage, another person arrived. It was Cameron. The atmosphere turned even more

    awkward. With the Haywood family scandal, he couldn¡¯t keep ying possum and had toe, albeit

    reluctantly.

    Cameron¡¯s face was grim, and he deliberately avoided looking at Lillian. Heaven knows how

    devastated he felt seeing that video. He¡¯d always seen Lillian as someone to walk through life with, and

    she had never outright rejected him, but then she had a fling with Spencer.

    Cameron felt queasy, yet he couldn¡¯t suppress the flicker of affection he still felt for her, so he¡¯d been

    deliberately avoiding the issue. When he got the news, he still couldn¡¯t helping here. He was still

    worried about her. Years of affection weren¡¯t shattered by just one video.

    Lillian¡¯s heart was a mess. She deliberately avoided Spencer and gave Cameron a pitiful look. Though

    Cameron was angry, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a tug at his heartstrings.

    With just a look, Lillian managed to soothe him slightly, but deep down, she was scornful. Once the

    results came out, these people would be groveling at her feet. She looked up at the closed doors,

    sneering inside.

    Miranda, unable to stand the tension, asked Robert, ¡°If they¡¯re redoing the DNA test for you and Lillian,

    why didn¡¯t they take anything from you just now?¡± Shouldn¡¯t they have taken a strand of Robert¡¯s hair

    as well?

    It urred to Robert that perhaps the doctor hadn¡¯t needed his samples, maybe because the hospital

    already had his records from years ago. Reassured, he looked at Lillian with pride.

    However, this was something Cameron couldn¡¯t ept. ¡°Mom, do you really think Lillian is one of the

    Haywoods?¡±

    Just the thought of Lillian possibly being his sister made Cameron recoil. He remembered the sight of

    them kissing on the couch, and how awkward future meetings would be if their roles were changed.

    Cameron¡¯s scalp tingled as he avoided Lillian¡¯s gaze.

    1/2

    1701

    Chapter 144

    Not only Cameron, but even Lillian felt ufortable. Then she thought, she wasn¡¯t really a Haywood

    daughter, she was just deceiving these people for now. Otherwise, they would be pointing and shouting

    at her.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Cameron was still visibly struggling to ept this, ¡°When will the results be out?¡±

    Miranda quickly tried to calm him, ¡°Cameron, don¡¯t worry. If Lillian turns out to be one of us, it¡¯s the

    same as if she married you. We¡¯d all be family.¡±

    Miranda thought that since Lillian had been with Spencer, she was clear of any ties with her own son.

    Little did she know that Lillian was adept at ying both sides.

    Cameron¡¯s cheeks burned with humiliation, and he clenched his teeth in anger, ¡°That¡¯s not the same at

    all! I¡¯d rather Brielle be my sister!¡±

    As his words hung in the air, the sound of a car engine approached. Everyone tensed up, their gazes

    instinctively turning towards the sound. It was the doctor¡¯s car returning.

    Lillian felt her heart in a vice, her breathing quickened.

    Her cheeks flushed with excitement, her palms sweaty. It seemed that she might indeed be a rich girl.

 Chatper 145

    Chapter 145

    She was determined to take this chance to utterly crush Brielle. Turning on her heel, she strode.

    towards the orphanage¡¯s main door, her eyes brimming with resentment as she flung it open.

    ¡°Brielle, the doctor¡¯s back. Don¡¯t you want to know the results?¡±

    What Lillian really wanted to call her was something far less polite, but with the crowd around, she had

    to keep up appearances.

    Brielle, however, was well aware of Lillian¡¯s true colors, and with the recent revtion to Mark, she

    didn¡¯t mince her words. ¡°Lillian, I honestly don¡¯t care about the results, but if you really are a Haywood,

    your future encounters with Cameron are going to be quite entertaining.¡±

    A sh of pity crossed Lillian¡¯s eyes. It seemed Brielle was still in the dark about who they had.

    conducted the paternity test with.

    It wasn¡¯t the Haywoods at all. Lillian no longer cared for the Haywoods; what she craved was the status

    of a miss from an international dynasty.

    She watched Brielle with mock sympathy, as if gazing upon a pitiful creature. ¡°You know nothing, and

    that¡¯s truly sad.¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, especially at the sight of Lillian¡¯s feigned pity. ¡°What I mean is, no

    matter whose daughter I am, I¡¯m still me. Nothing¡¯s going to change.¡±

    This holier¨Cthan¨Cthou attitude was exactly what Lillian loathed the most. ¡°You¡¯re all tough talk now, but

    why don¡¯t we step outside and listen to the results together?¡±

    Lillian scoffed, but she felt uneasy under Mark¡¯s gaze and quickly looked away. Mark sighed. and, with

    Brielle¡¯s support, they both stepped outside.

    The doctor had alreadye down from his car, eager to deliver the results without dy. As he

    looked at the report in his hands, he felt at a loss for words.

    His expression only heightened the tension, and Lillian swallowed hard, ¡°Well? Am I or am I not¡­¡± She

    was too nervous to finish her sentence, her eyes pleading with the doctor,

    The doctor frowned, shaking his head one moment and nodding the next.

    Lillian was itching to snatch the report and see for herself.

    Brielle was the calmest there. Despite her disheveled appearance and swollen cheeks, her gaze was

    steady and serene as she looked off into the distance. The others wore their anxiety inly, including

    Miranda and Robert.

    Spencer and Faith were full of anticipation, and Cameron¡¯s face bore the mostplex expression.

    The doctor sighed, ¡°Miss Lillian, congrattions are in order. You now have parents.¡±

    At his words, Lillian let out a sharp scream, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

    1/2

    17:01

    Chapter 145

    She really was that mega rich family¡¯s daughter! She just wanted tough out loud.

    Lillian couldn¡¯t contain herself any longer, staring at Brielle with tant scorn, ¡°See, you really are

    nothing but trash. Even fate doesn¡¯t care for you.¡±

    Lillian was so triumphant she even raised her hand, eager to p Brielle¡¯s face, but as her wrist was

    midair, Brielle raised her own hand and pped her without hesitation.

    Lillian was stunned, stumbling backward. Everyone else was just as shocked, none expecting Brielle to

    react that way.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Brielle smiled at them, ¡°Congrattions. Consider that p a wedding gift for you and Spencer. From

    here on out, we go our separate ways.¡±

    Heaven knew how relieved she felt, her eyes reddening with joy. For years of grievances had vanished;

    she wasn¡¯t a Haywood after all.

    What right did the Haywoods have to make her suffer? No more would she indulge them!

    She couldn¡¯t help but lift her head high, her smile radiant as if she¡¯d thrown off some garbage.

    Her reaction made the Haywoods feel awkward as if they had swallowed a fly.

    Only Mark was confused, unsure of what was happening now. Wasn¡¯t Lillian supposed to have a

    paternity test with that prominent family? Why did it seem like she had one with Robert?

    He suddenly remembered that he might not have exined things properly to Brielle. ¡°Bri, I think

    there¡¯s been a misunderstanding.¡±

    But with such explosive news, who had time to listen to an old man¡¯s ramblings?

    Miranda was the first to react, wrapping Lillian in an embrace, ¡°Lillian, I knew it! I always felt you were

    my daughter.¡±

    Faith was overjoyed. This confirmed she could tell the world that Brielle had tampered with the records,

    usurping another¡¯s ce, and the me would fall on Brielle. She never imagined Lillian would indeed

    be the Haywood daughter.

    Faith could barely contain her glee, thinking of clearing her son¡¯s name, her voice eager. ¡°Lillian, I was

    too harsh at the Haywoods. Now that you¡¯re the rightful Haywood daughter, the engagement with

    Spencer should be yours. As for Brielle, I¡¯m sure Mr. Haywood has other arrangements for her, doesn¡¯t

    he?¡±

    Chapter 146

 Chatper 146

    Chapter 146

    Brielle had been freeloading off the Haywood family for so many years, and would the Haywood family

    have just let her go?

    She had to be put to good use, naturally.

    Faith tossed the conversation like a hot potato to Robert, her tone edged with a veiled threat. As a

    mother, she had noticed Spencer¡¯s odd behavior towards Brielle and decided to settle her son¡¯s

    marriage sooner rather thanter, to put her own mind at ease.

    Robert nodded; he did indeed have a sultor in mind.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t believe how shameless the two were. Using her in the past wasn¡¯t enough, and now

    they wanted her to sell out her marriage too.

    She was about to speak up when Mark, shaking, pointed towards the orphanage¡¯s front gate. ¡°You

    people! Get out! Get out of the orphanage!¡±

    was on

    Mark had finally seen the light; not one person present Brielle¡¯s side. They were all leeches. His eyes

    instantly bloodshot, and he copsed.

    ¡°Mark!¡± Brielle was startled and rushed to help him up. ¡°Doctor! Doctor, help!¡±

    There was a doctor present, holding a paternity test report, confused by the sudden turn of events.

    Howe everyone seemed to know the results before he had even spoken a word?

    Without a second thought, he helped Mark into the car. An elderly man fainting from anger was a

    dangerous sign, one wrong move and he could be bedridden for life.

    Brielle¡¯s face was pale, trying to remain calm, but her eyes betrayed her true feelings. ¡°To the hospital,

    right now.¡±

    The doctor, understanding the gravity of the situation, hurriedly asked a colleague to drive while he

    stayed behind.

    Mixed emotions filled the room; Cameron was the first to leave, feeling out of ce. Lillian was the

    happiest, clutching the doctor¡¯s sleeve excitedly. ¡°Thank you, doctor, for all your hard work. When will

    my familye to get me?¡± She was eager to know her true identity.

    The doctor looked at her, puzzled, thinking she already knew the truth.

    Neither DNA test matched, but a colleague, noticing a resemnce between Lillian and Robert, had

    done an additional test. Robert¡¯s DNA was on file at the hospital, but the employees who had

    previously worked on the Haywood¡¯s cases had left, and no one knew where they were. The doctor

    didn¡¯t stop his colleague, and it turned out Lillian was indeed a Haywood.

    Holding those test results, he couldn¡¯t believe it and internally med his colleague for meddling. Now,

    how was he supposed to exin this to the Haywood family? What if they med the hospital for the

    years of mistaken identity?

    Chapter 146

    The doctor¡¯s heart was in turmoil. Many families, including celebrities, came to their hospital for private

    tests, and his colleague loved gossip. They often did such tests, but he never expected to uncover

    such a family secret.

    Yet, before he could announce it, the Haywoods seemed to already know Lillian was their daughter.

    How strange.

    Hearing Lillian¡¯s question, the doctor was even more perplexed. ¡°Miss Lillian, isn¡¯t your family right here

    with you?¡±

    Lillian¡¯s smile froze, and her heart filled with panic as her smile faded, ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you

    mean.¡±

    The doctor gathered the remaining documents, his expression calm, ¡°I thought you knew since you

    seemed so happy. My colleague did some extra tests, and you indeed share blood with Mr. Haywood.

    As for Brielle, she is not a Haywood.¡±

    Lillian¡¯s joy vanished at the definitive answer, reced by fear, as if a hand had seized her throat.

    How could this be? After such high hopes, to be told she was a Haywood?

    She had been with the Haywoods for so many years, and the novelty had worn off long ago.

    And the thought that Brielle might be the real daughter made her eyes redden with rage, her teeth

    clenched, ¡°Brielle, she¡¯s the one from that family?¡±

    The doctor waved off the matter nonchntly, ¡°No, it seems the person they¡¯re looking for isn¡¯t at

    Sunflower Children¡¯s Home. We¡¯ll have to check other orphanages. I apologize for any trouble

    regarding the Haywood family. My colleague was being nosy.¡±

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Relieved that Brielle wasn¡¯t the international heiress, Lillian felt safer now. She had almost thought

    she¡¯d be under someone¡¯s thumb again.

    Though a twinge of disappointment lingered, when Miranda came running to hug her, Lillian finally felt

    true joy.

 Chatper 147

    Chapter 147

    ¡°Lillian! Oh, Lillian, this is fantastic! Truly fantastic!¡±

    Even Robert¡¯s stern face broke into a rare smile as he nodded in satisfaction.

    Lillian, trapped in Miranda¡¯s tight embrace, struggled forfort and looked towards Faith. Faith

    couldn¡¯t contain her excitement and clutched Spencer¡¯s arm. ¡°Spencer, we¡¯ll spin the video scandal to

    say you two were madly in love, that you knew all along Brielle wasn¡¯t a true Haywood, and you kept it

    a secret because you feared Brielle couldn¡¯t handle the truth, right? That¡¯s our story.¡±

    Faith was already plotting not only Brielle¡¯s future but had the whole aftermath sketched out in her

    mind. First, they¡¯d break off the engagement. The Dorseys would never ept an illegitimate child of

    unknown origins.

    She failed to notice the troubled look on her son¡¯s face as she made her way over to Lillian. Spencer

    stood among these jubnt people, feeling none of their joy.

    Brielle was not a Haywood? How could she not be?

    With this revtion, their engagement had no grounds to continue. A bitter, numbing pain spread

    through his heart. He should be feeling ted because Lillian was his true desire. Why the hollowness?

    The revelry around him felt alien as he caught the expression on Brielle¡¯s face when she had left with

    her escorts. There was a sigh of relief, a sense of release, and a spark of excitement in her eyes.

    This realization was excruciating. After all these years, she felt no attachment and regret. She¡¯s so

    cold¨Chearted.

    The Haywoods and Faith were busy discussing how to break the news to the public. Robert, aware of

    Faith¡¯s disdain for Brielle¨Cafter all, the video scandal had embarrassed her son¨Ceagerly proposed a

    new match to appease his future inws.

    The candidate was Tanner, a wealthy but rough¨Cedged fifty¨Csomething whosest wife had recently

    passed away, rumored to have taken her own life due to depression brought on by his infidelity.

    Faith was quite pleased, and Miranda, without hesitation, agreed, her expression filled with disgust

    whenever Brielle¡¯s name was mentioned.

    Brielle was a nobody who had cost their family a fortune. They needed to recoup their losses.

    Meanwhile, Brielle had taken Mark to the hospital, where the doctor had offered some constion

    before leaving her alone with her chaotic thoughts.

    The Haywoods, eager to distance themselves from the scandal and the circting video, hastily

    released the news that Brielle was not a Haywood, emphasizing that it was Lillian who was the long¨C

    lost Haywood daughter, usurped by Brielle¡¯s deceit.

    Chapter 147

    The tide of public opinion, once against Lillian for her Indiscretions with Spencer, shifted with this

    revtion. Lillian, as the true Haywood daughter and Spencer¡¯s fianc¨¦e, was now seen in the right.

    Brielle was vilified for stealing both Lillian¡¯s Identity and Spencer¡¯s affections.

    The social circles buzzed with this juicy gossip, but Max was never one for gossip. His WhatsApp was

    quiet, his contacts few, and group chats non¨Cexistent.

    When Andrew sent him the news, Max was in a meeting and didn¡¯t bother to check until he caught a

    glimpse of Brielle¡¯s name. Reluctantly, he opened the message. [The Haywoods were disowning

    Brielle, nning to formally reintroduce Lillian at a family dinner that might also serve to announce the

    cancetion of Brielle and Spencer¡¯s engagement. Any thoughts?]

    [No thoughts.] Max¡¯s reply was nonchnt. As he was about to put his phone away, another. message

    from Andrew popped up. [Now that she¡¯s no longer your nephew¡¯s fianc¨¦e, does the taboo thrill still

    hold any sway? She¡¯s not going to marry him anyway, might as well cut her loose now.]

    the

    For Andrew, all women but Tessa were mere objects, disposablemodities, hence the disrespect in

    his words.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    It was past two in the morning, and rain had begun to fall outside. A sudden heaviness settled in Max¡¯s

    chest, which he attributed to the rain rather than Andrew¡¯s distasteful message.

    Chapter 148

 Chatper 148

    Chapter 148

    Andrew had just been swindled out of thirty million, and harboring resentment towards Brielle was a

    oven. He¡¯d never been so thoroughly duped by a woman before. Thus, when Max didn¡¯t reob. Andrew

    anxiously started sending messages again.

    [You¡¯re not seriously considering marrying her, are you? With a woman like Brielle, if she actually falls

    for you, good luck trying to shake her off.]

    Not getting married.]

    Max replied to that query pretty swiftly. He had no feelings for Brielle, had never contemted

    marriage, and therefore, a future with her was absolutely out of the question.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    After responding, Max stopped paying attention to the conversation and instead focused on the pile of

    documents in front of him.

    It was bedtime, yet he felt not the slightest hint of sleepiness. After all the recent upheaval, he

    wondered how Brielle was feeling. Was she at her apartment?

    With these thoughts in mind, he slowly stood, picking up his suit jacket. Just as he reached the

    downstairs, he ran into Wesley, who was warming up some milk. ¡°Sir, you¡¯re upte.¡±

    Max was usually punctual in his routine, except when working overtime. Seeing him with his suit

    Wesley assumed Max was heading to the office for more work.

    ¡°Sir, shall I wake Patrick to drive you over?¡±

    ¡°No need.¡±

    Max had already reached the foyer, his demeanor as businesslike as ever.

    Watching his retreating figure, Wesley thus about how Dorsey International¡¯s sess was

    tightly linked to Max¡¯s diligence. It waste, yet here he was, off to handle morepany matters.

    Wesley decided it was time to brew some hearty soup to help Max sustain his energy. Max headed to

    the garage and chose a more subdued Mulsanne to drive to Brielle¡¯s apartment. As the car came to a

    stop, he clenched the steering wheel, a frown creasing his brow.

    What was he doing? Why was he out in the dead of night, looking for a woman?

    He and Brielle were clear on the nature of their rtionship ¨C they clicked, so they yed their roles in

    this charade. There was no need for seriousness. And certainly no need to lose sleep over her.

    While he reasoned there was no need, Max¡¯s exit from the car was swift.

    Brielle¡¯s apartment building was decently located but quite aged, its elevator stered with colorful

    eye¨Ccatching ads. The first time he woke up in this building, those ads gave him a moment of

    difort. It wasn¡¯t that he looked down on the ce; rather, he thought it odd for the daughter of the

    Haywood family to be living here.

    Chapter 148

    Exiting the elevator, Max stopped at the familiar door and rang the bell.

    With all the chaos, Brielle, however carefree she might be, was likely awake. After ringing the bell three

    times with no answer, he remembered WhatsApp and sent her a message.

    [Where are you?]

    Currently, Brielle sat in a chilly hospital corridor, the air damp and cold.

    Mark was still in surgery, and finally, the lights in the operating room went out, and the doctor came out

    pushing a gurney.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle.¡± The doctor removed his mask, his eyes red with fatigue, ¡°Does the patient have other

    children? We didn¡¯t miss the golden hour for treatment, but his constitution is weak. He¡¯ll be

    wheelchair¨Cdependent from now on.¡±

    Some elderly might be paralyzed, even turn into a vegetable from such an episode. Mark had

    been lucky this time.

    Brielle felt as though her heart had been punctured. ¡°Isn¡¯t there anything else we can try? Money is not

    an issue.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, we¡¯ve done all we can. If you hadn¡¯t brought him in immediately, the patient might have

    ended up paralyzed.¡±

    Brielle blinked back the stinging in her eyes and slowly nodded.

    Mark was moved to a room, and Brielle stood at the door, her hand on the frame, uncertain whether to

    go in.

    Her phone rang then, and she saw it was a message from Max. At this moment, she really didn¡¯t have

    the energy to deal with it. Instead, she raised her hand to rub her forehead, exchanged a few words

    with the doctor, reduced some swelling on her cheeks, and nned to return to the apartment.

    Max waited at her door, wondering if perhaps she was asleep and hadn¡¯t seen the messages. He

    tentatively rang the bell again, and suddenly a neighbor opened their door, irate. ¡°What the hell are you

    doing in the middle of the night-¡±

    Catching sight of Max¡¯s stature and demeanor, the tirade cut short, leaving just a stunned. ¡°You¨Cyou¡­¡±

    The door mmed shut.

    Secondster, it cracked open and a head peeked out, ¡°Young man, that girl might be engaged. I¡¯ve

    seen her fianc¨¦. If you¡¯re in such a hurry to get hitched, my niece is¡­¡±

    ¡°No thank you.¡±

    Never in Max¡¯s life had someone dared to y matchmaker for him like this.

    The neighbor, unfazed by the rejection, must have assumed it was a matter of taste. ¡°Well, my

    niece is overseas, quite the catch. Ivy League graduate, owns five properties, still single

    2/3

    17:02

    Chapter 148

    because she¡¯s picky. If you don¡¯t mind, perhaps-¡±

    Before Max¡¯s patience wore thin, Brielle finally showed up.

 Chatper 149

    Chapter 149

    Brielle never imagined that returning home at the witching hour of 3 A.M. would lead to an encounter

    with Max right on her doorstep. Max was even being set up by the neighbor? The world seemed to be

    spinning its own surreal tale.

    She hurriedly stepped forward, fumbling with her keys to unlock the door, while offering a strained smile

    and thanks to the neighbor. ¡°Thanks a bunch, really, he¡¯s good on his own. He¡¯s a celibate, you know.

    The neighbor was no fool and seemed eager to follow up. ¡°A celibate at your ce? Don¡¯t you have a

    fianc¨¦?¡±

    Cursed be those times Spencer had made a spectacle of himself, making their rtionship the talk of

    the town.

    Caught off guard, Brielle managed to chuckle as she shut the door, ¡°This is strictly between us,

    definitely not for my fianc¨¦¡¯s ears.¡±

    Left on the doorstep. The neighbor¡¯s face was aplex puzzle of emotions. Max¡¯s looks were hard to

    ignore, and she couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡°Handsomed, but what a shame about his choices. Even if

    you¡¯re just arm candy, at least pick someone with deep pockets. Not many around here with fat

    wallets.¡±

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Inside, Max sat silently on the sofa, his features clouded with difort.

    Brielle, though sleepy, couldn¡¯t help but find humor in the situation. She fetched a ss of water from

    the kitchen. ¡°Sorry about that, Mr. Dorsey. She loves ying matchmaker. Guess she fancied your

    looks.¡±

    Max looked up, squinting as he appraised her. Aside from the fatigue etched on her face, she revealed

    nothing else.

    No sadness, no regret, no anger.

    His heart seemed to clench inexplicably.

    ¡°Why would Mr. Dorseye here? Is it rted to Bookpany?¡±

    Brielle certainly wouldn¡¯t presume that Max came to see her. The first thing that came to her mind was

    Book. She had organized the information at that time. Could there be a problem with

    the information?

    She nced at the wall clock; it was already half¨Cpast three in the morning. To discuss work at this

    hour, Max really was hard working.

    A sharp look shed in Max¡¯s eyes, and the cold aura around his eyebrows was so icy that it could turn

    into white frost..

    Mr. Dorsey? In private, she usually preferred to call him Uncle Max. But now, considering she needed

    to break off her engagement with Spencer, she couldn¡¯t call him Uncle Max anymore?

    Or perhaps, she wanted to end this rtionship that should never have started.

    He nced down, his gaze falling on the ck rosary around his wrist. His fingers delicately yed

    with the beads, a sign his patience was wearing thin, Oddly enough, his chest felt tight,

    He couldn¡¯t help but nce at his chest, wondering it something was amiss, but his yearly medical

    exams always showed he was in top shape,

    This feeling was foreign, tinged with a trace of Irritation.

    Andrew had suggested this could be an opportunity to cut ties with Brielle, but Max felt the reality was

    the opposite. It¡¯s as It Brielle wanted to use this chance to push him away. This realization froze his

    fingers mid¨Cbead, a shadow crossing his eyes.

    ¡°Three in the morning, and I¡¯m here at the home of a woman I¡¯ve been involved with. Do your really

    think it¡¯s about work?¡± His expression showed rare signs of exasperation as he casually loosened his

    tie, tilting his head back slightly. ¡°What do you take me for?¡±

    Brielle wasn¡¯t listening closely, her mind busily sorting through her next moves.

    The Haywood n sought vengeance, Ryan wouldn¡¯t let her off easy, Mark and the kids needed. her,

    and her colleagues at Dorsey International were not pleased with her. Tessa might be keeping tabs on

    her too. From every angle, she seemed surrounded by threats.

    Maintaining her rtionship with Max could save her a lot of trouble. At least until she could

    comfortably leave Beaconsfield, then she could afford to sever ties with him.

    Having made up her mind, even in exhaustion, Brielle perched herself on hisp, softly pressing. her

    lips to his. Aubree was right. Max¡¯s lips were too inviting, easy to get lost in, especially when he

    presented himself as hers for the taking. It was the kind of temptation that could drive a woman to ruin.

    Brielle, tired as she was, took the lead momentarily before resting her forehead against his shoulder.

    It was an invitation.

 Chatper 150

    Chapter 150

    Max would never refuse. With a swift move, he scooped her up horizontally and carried her into the

    bedroom.

    The apartment was decorated with a cozy touch, and a long, lingering ship¡¯s horn echoed from outside

    the window. The diligent vendors had already begun to set up shop on the streets, and the savory

    scent of pancakes filled the city air.

    Everything was so idyllic, but they both knew that the intimacy between them was nothing more than a

    sham, a shadow y of pretense.

    Brielle closed her eyes, her rational mind advising her a thousand times over, but the pleasure seeping

    from her very bones was undeniable. Her cheeks were flushed with sweat, as if all acts of rebellion had

    blossomed into bewitching flowers of allure.

    Max had control over her, and as he watched her sleeping face, he suddenly wondered what he would

    do if she had just said she wanted to end things. In that moment, the surging bitterness was

    undeniable. It was unclear whether it was a man¡¯s pride at y or the inability to withstand being kicked

    to the curb.

    ¡°Brielle?¡± he called out.

    She was too exhausted to move even a finger and responded with a groggy ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°It ends when I say it ends.¡±

    Brielle had no idea what he was talking about. She was sound asleep.

    When morning came, Brielle felt sore all over. She turned over, squinting as the sunlight streamed in,

    stinging her eyes. It was indeed her own apartment.

    She recalled the events fromst night, and at this moment, it felt like she was still in a dream. She got

    up, still in her pajamas, and nearly copsed to her knees.

    Herplexion changed, her lips trembled, and she ended up leaning against the wall, gasping for air.

    Just how long had Max kept her upst night?

    Stepping out of the bedroom, she saw the man still sitting on the couch and wondered if it was the

    weekend. It was only Wednesday, and he, being a workaholic, should have been at the office.

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey,¡± she called out, then sat down on a single¨Cseater sofa. ¡°I¡¯m taking the day off.

    upational hazard.¡±

    The reason for the ¡®hazard¡® was something he was well aware of.

    ¡°Mhm.¡±

    He didn¡¯t look up, flipping through the documents in his hand, probably delivered by Patrick earlier that

    morning.

    17:02

    Brielle¡¯s neck was also sore, and just as she reached up to rub it, the doorbell rang. She nced

    instinctively at Max.

    Max continued to peruse his documents, engrossed, unbothered by the interruption.

    Brielle walked to the door and, upon seeing Aubree, she pressed her lips together, guiltily touching her

    neck. She went back to the bedroom to change into a turtleneck, then returned to open the door.

    Aubree looked unusually anxious, her gaze shifting past Brielle to the man on the sofa, her expression

    turningplex. Brielle also felt a tinge of guilt as she closed the door, ¡°What¡¯s happened to bring you

    over so early?¡±

    *You call this early?¡± Aubree pointed to the clock on the wall¨Cit was already noon.

    Brielle didn¡¯t know what to say, trying to brush it off, but then she saw Aubree approach Max, ¡°Well,

    look at you with a beautiful girl by your side, and you don¡¯t bother toe to the

    Brielle¡¯s face reddened with embarrassment, and she quickly tugged at Aubree¡¯s wrist.

    Aubree sat down, clearly frustrated, ¡°Did you see the message I sent? The Haywood family has

    announced they¡¯re acknowledging Lillian as their own, iming you¡¯ve been stealing Lillian¡¯s identity for

    years. What¡¯s going on? Is Lillian really their daughter? Was there a mix¨Cup before?¡± Aubree couldn¡¯t

    believe it and, remembering how smug Lillian must be feeling, she felt extremely unsettled.

    ¡°Yes, there was a mix¨Cup. We did another paternity test, and she¡¯s the real Haywood daughter.¡± Brielle

    spoke without any inflection, even contemting whether to order some takeout.

    Aubree sighed, ¡°The rumors are wild out there. They¡¯re saying you¡¯re cunning, that you knew how to

    tamper with the results at a young age, and that all the good times you¡¯ve had these years were stolen.

    They want you to apologize to Lillian.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s face was filled with disgust. ¡°The Haywood family is throwing a party for Lillian tomorrow

    night, officially announcing the news.¡±

    Brielle pursed her lips, not expecting a single scandalous video to.stir up so much trouble.

    Apologize to Lillian? In her dreams.

    The Haywoods had made the mistake themselves. She was just a ten¨Cyear¨Cold child then, so why

    should she bear the burden of their error?

    After some thought, she transferred ten million to Miranda¡¯s ount. The amount the Haywoods had

    spent on her over the years was certainly not that much, and she thoughtfully included the interest as

    well.

    As soon as she made the transfer, Miranda¡¯s call came through.

    ¡°Bri, what¡¯s this all about?¡±

 Chapter 151

    Chapter 151

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help but find it amusing, the act they were putting on sote in the game.

    ¡°The Haywoods have footed the bill for my upkeep all these years,¡± she said, a wry smile touching her

    lips. ¡°I¡¯ve tallied up the costs, with interest, and paid you back in full. Let¡¯s not have any more of these

    inconvenient calls, shall we?¡±

    This was not the scenario Miranda had expected. Shouldn¡¯t Brielle be the one unable to bear parting

    with them, begging to stay with the Haywoods? Without their intervention, Brielle might be out on some

    street corner begging for change right now.

    A surge of irritation shed through Miranda, her temper ring. ¡°Brielle, what do you mean ¡®don¡¯t

    disturb you¡®?¡± Miranda spat. ¡°The Haywood family has supported you for so many years, and you¡¯ve

    upied Lillian¡¯s identity for so long. Now, you almost ruined her reputation, and you have the audacity

    to say not to disturb you. You really are ungratful. Tomorrow night, we are organizing a banquet for

    Lillian, and you have toe and apologize in person. You owe Lillian, and you¡¯ll never be able to

    repay it in this lifetime.¡±

    Her self¨Crighteousness was grating. Brielle¡¯s smile widened, ¡°Well, I shall not repay it then.¡±

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Brielle, you-¡±

    Brielle was done with the nonsense. She had to admit, after being taken in by the Haywoods. she¡¯d had

    ess to some educational resources. But whether it was moving up from middle to high school, or

    from high school to college, it was all on her own merit. The money the Haywoods spent on her

    couldn¡¯tpare to a fraction of what they showered on Lillian.

    Ten million should more than cover it.

    ¡°Mrs. Haywood, I¡¯ve got work to do, so I¡¯ll be hanging up now.¡± Without hesitation, she ended the call,

    feeling the irony of it all.

    Aubree was fuming beside her, then burst outughing at the absurdity, ¡°Do they think you¡¯re clinging

    to the Haywoods for dear life?¡±

    ¡°Seems like it. So, my generous payout must¡¯ve wounded their pride.¡±

    Brielle sat back nonchntly, her stomach rumbling with hunger.

    Aubree was at a loss for words concerning the Haywoods, thinking about the life Brielle had endured,

    her anger palpable, ¡°And they expect you to attend the party tomorrow night?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, they want a personal apology to Lillian.¡±

    ¡°The nerve! They¡¯re shameless!¡± Aubree cursed, letting out her frustration. ¡°How much did you send

    them?¡±

    ¡°Ten million.¡±

    ¡°Bri. I know you just got thirty million, but did the Haywoods ever spend two million on you? Did

    MANN IST

    she take it?¡±

    A snideugh escaped Brielle, ¡°Oh, she snapped it up quick enough.¡±

    Aubree was at a loss for words, ¡°So, are you going tomorrow?¡±

    As Aubree asked, she nced at her phone, her frown deepening. ¡°The haters are piling on now. All

    those idle gossips in the circle are mming you one¨Csidedly, elevating Lillian to sainthood.¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t want to hear any more about the Haywoods and was content to rest on the couch, but

    Aubree¡¯s next words snapped her to attention. ¡°Bri, you¡¯ve been donating to the Sunflower Children¡¯s

    Home all this time, right? You only kept enough to live on each month, but now the charity is listing

    Lillian as the donor.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s expression darkened, her eyes sharpening. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s own anger was palpable. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but everyone¡¯s praising her now, saying she¡¯s got a

    heart of gold, always donating to the orphanage. It¡¯s all over the social circles, and the charity¡¯s

    released the donor details¨Cit¡¯s definitely Lillian.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s fingers clenched, a bitter memory shing through her mind. She had trusted Lillian too much,

    allowing her to handle the beneficiary details for her donations. Lillian had yed a cunning game,

    switching the donor name to her own.

    Before this revtion, the public opinion hadn¡¯t been entirely against Brielle, but once the charity

    released the donor details, everyone seemed to side with Lillian.

    A girl who had stayed with the Haywoods, working hard from a young age, growing up to give back to

    the home that had taken her in, leaving herself just enough to get by and donating the rest¨Csuch a

    benevolent person who had been reced as the heiress from the start and believed she was living on

    borrowed time.

    That was the persona Lillian had crafted.

    It was effective, and with the undeniable proof of the donor¡¯s name, Brielle was subject to much vitriol

    Brielle scoffed, ¡°I¡¯ll be attending the party tomorrow night.¡±

    Chapter 15

 Chapter 152

    Chapter 152

    After finishing her thought, she nced over at Max, who seemed entirely unfazed by all the petty

    scheming, as if such trivial plots were beneath him.

    Today, he was without his usual tie, his shirt undone at the top two buttons, revealing a rare glimpse of

    casualness,

    The doorbell rang again, and Brielle went to answer it, discovering Patrick on the doorstep. Patrick was

    holding arge bag, which appeared to be packed with groceries, including some exotic fruits that had

    to be flown in from overseas.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle,¡± Patrick said respectfully, gesturing for the chef to carry the bags into the kitchen,

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, many of these items have been prepped at the hotel¡¯s kitchen. I¡¯ve brought the head chef

    over to prepare lunch for you and Mr. Dorsey,¡±

    Brielle looked toward the chel, now bustling in the kitchen with his toque nche standing tall. This,

    she mused, must be the lifestyle of the wealthy.

    She chuckled to herself, thanking him and reaching for the fruit to wash it. Patrick, however, stepped

    back, looking somewhat panic¨Cstricken. ¡°Please, allow me, Ms. Brielle. You should sit.¡±

    Patrick, who had been by Max¡¯s side for years, had never seen him dash out in the middle of the night

    for a woman. Before, only his workmanded such urgency from him. However, that rule had now

    been shattered, whether he was aware of it or not. Indeed, Brielle was something special.

    Brielle stood at the dining table, feeling as if the apartment had never shone so brightly.

    Meanwhile, Aubree had already started smiling, arms folded, eyebrow raised in Max¡¯s direction. Max

    maintained his usual cool demeanor. Unable to resist, Aubree edged closer, sliding a stack of

    unreviewed documents toward him, ¡°Mr. Dorsey, did you enjoy your sleepoverst night?¡± Max lifted his

    gaze briefly, ¡°So?¡±

    ¡°So, about tomorrow night¡¯s dinner party, are you going to apany Bri?¡±

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Neither Max nor Brielle had expected Aubree to make such a request. Brielle hurried forward to

    intervene, but saw Max already looking her way. ¡°Do you want me to go?¡±

    From a rational standpoint, his presence wouldn¡¯t change much. After all, there was nothing between

    them. But if Brielle wanted it, he couldn¡¯t find a reason to refuse.

    Before Brielle could speak, Aubree jumped in, ¡°The Haywoods won¡¯t let Bri off easy, and neither will the

    Spencer. There is Sophia from the Ronds, and Emily, who¡¯s been in trouble with thew. I bet the

    Hatfields will alsoe after her.¡±

    Considering this, Brielle¡¯s situation seemed precarious.

    1/2

    Chapte

    But just as Aubree finished, Patrick emerged with the fruit, chiming in, ¡°The Hatfields won¡¯t trouble Ms.

    Brielle. Emily was flown out of the countryst night, unlikely to return. The president has spoken with

    the Hatfields. They won¡¯t bother Ms. Brielle.¡±

    Realizing he had said too much, Patrick hurriedly ced the fruit tter on the coffee table. ¡°Ms.

    Brielle, Miss Aubree, please enjoy the fruit.¡±

    The fruit, washed by Patrick, had been artfully carved by the chef, making it instantly more. appealing.

    However, both women were now more curious about Patrick¡¯s revtion.

    Brielle turned to Max, inquiring. ¡°Mr. Dorsey spoke with the Hatfields?¡±

    Max¡¯s lips tightened, a sh of annoyance crossing his face. He¡¯d always preferred action over words.

    Being so tantly exposed made him feel ufortable.

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Brielle hadn¡¯t expected that a mere word from Max could eliminate a potential enemy. Her heart

    suddenly felt warm.

    Max¡¯s aloofness could be hurtful, but his asional tenderness was touching. He was different from

    the others, and she knew she shouldn¡¯t expect anything more.

    It was then that Aubree shook her skirt, ¡°Bri, Mr. Dorsey is far more reliable than Andrew. And even if

    things don¡¯t work out in the future, I¡¯m sure Mr. Dorsey won¡¯t be stingy, right?¡±

    Thest question was aimed at Max.

    Max frowned reflexively, ¡°Don¡¯tpare me to Andrew.¡±

    A shadow passed through Aubree¡¯s eyes before she smirked sarcastically. ¡°So Mr. Dorsey

    acknowledges that Andrew is scum? Well, that scum was quite generousst night, giving Bri thirty

    million.¡±

    As soon as she finished, Max produced a card, cing it on the table and solemnly sliding it toward

    Brielle.

    Aubree blinked in confusion.

    Brielle was doubly puzzled.

    Wasn¡¯t he notparing himself to Andrew?

 Chapter 153

    Chapter 153

    Patrick couldn¡¯t help but chuckle to himself as he silently poured everyone some steaming coffee and

    took a seat on the sidelines, waiting for Max¡¯s cue.

    Max had skipped the office that morning, opting instead to hammer out three meetings at the crack of

    dawn followed by a bout of paperwork. The decision regarding the Book deal still needed a round¨Ctable

    with the senior executives.

    The room was tense, with only the sumptuous aroma of shrimp and steak wafting from the kitchen.

    Aubree was the first to snap, feeling like she was being forced to watch a public disy of affection.

    She didn¡¯t buy the idea of a future between those two, but at least for the moment. Max wasn¡¯t just

    stringing Brielle along.

    Aubree might have been a mess in her own love life, but she was surprisingly lucid about others¡®. She¡¯d

    seen through Spencer¡¯s unreliability a long time ago and had always advised. Brielle to break it off, but

    Brielle was tethered by the so¨Ccalled engagement, willingly ying the pawn for the Dorsey family.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Given such precedents, Aubree figured she should advise Brielle to y her cards right with Max. After

    all, even the crumbs from Max¡¯s table could, furnish a lifetime of splendor for an ordinary person.

    However, she could tell Brielle was genuinely invested, albeit only a fraction. Not much, yet not to be

    trampled upon.

    So instead of intervening, Aubree stood up, yawning. ¡°Looks like Mr. Dorsey will escort Bri to the party.

    With you there, I can breathe easy. Bri, you¡¯re in good hands.¡±

    She arrived swiftly and departed just as quickly.

    At the elevator, Aubree stared nkly at the changing numbers before mocking herself, ¡°Turns out,

    only Andrew is a real scumbag.¡±

    Andrew had a person he loved, yet he shamelessly indulged in the affections of a woman who adored

    him, and humiliated her when he was in a foul mood.

    Max might not understand love, but he was willing to break his rules for a woman he¡¯d been intimate

    with, even if just once. That alone was enough to make someone fall hard.

    The difference was clear.

    Back in the apartment, Brielle pushed the card back towards Max.

    Max, with downcast eyes, gazed at hisputer screen, ¡°Is it so wrong to want to give a canary a

    more splendid cage?¡± He had his own unique way of speaking romance.

    Brielle looked at the card but didn¡¯t reach for it. A splendid, sturdy cage could trap a canary forever,

    couldn¡¯t it?

    1/2

    15:37

    Chapter 153

    She was indeed drawn to Max but knew they came from different worlds. A bitter taste spread through

    her heart. ¡°A mansion worth over twenty million is enough, Mr. Dorsey. You¡¯ve been a most generous

    benefactor.¡±

    ¡°I have money,¡± he said, his tone indifferent, his brow furrowing as he puzzled over the rejected. offer. It

    was the first time his money had been declined.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help butugh at his reaction, ¡°I know you¡¯re not short on cash, Mr. Dorsey. But Andrew

    cut me that check out of respect for you. If I took your card as well, it would seem rather greedy.¡±

    She picked up a document from the table, ¡°The restaurant Kenzo rmendedst time was great.

    Are you free tonight, Mr. Dorsey? My treat.¡±

    ¡°Free after ten.¡±

    Brielle rolled her eyes internally. At ten at night, they¡¯d be lucky to get dishwater. She eyed the hand

    he¡¯d casually ced on the table and edged closer. ¡°If you¡¯re only free at ten, should I be waiting in the

    bedroom?¡±

    Max looked up, his gaze colliding with hers. ¡°That¡¯s an option, certainly more sincere than a dinner

    invitation.¡±

    Pervert.

    Brielle¡¯s face flushed, her heart racing. Conscious of Patrick¡¯s presence, she couldn¡¯t continue the

    banter and felt parched and flustered.

    Patrick, ever tactful, seemed engrossed in his own thoughts, pretending not to hear the flirtatious

    exchange..

    Brielle, having veered the conversation off track, now had to steer it back, ¡°Are we heading to a

    meeting this afternoon?¡±

    But Max, fixated on her face, didn¡¯t reply.

    Brielle¡¯s cheeks had been swollen from the ps she¡¯d received, and even after a quick fix at the

    hospital the previous night, they were still slightly puffed when she came to see Max. By morning, the

    bruises had faded significantly.

    Checking her reflection in the restroom, she had been concerned about frightening Max with her

    appearance. Thankfully, she looked much better now, and recallingst night¡¯s tangle with him, she

    realized he hadn¡¯t been put off by her swollen face.

    ¡°Who hit youst night?¡± Max wasn¡¯t indifferent; he had simply noticed her off¨Ckilter emotions the

    previous evening. Now that she seemed better, he wanted to know.

    Was it someone from the Haywood family, or the Dorsey family?

    Was she so easily bullied?

    2/2

 Chapter 154

    Chapter 154

    Brielle¡¯s nose tingled with an unspoken sorrow. Her heart bore secret scars, teeming with pride and

    self¨Cesteem in excess. To be humiliated or to askvors of others was to her a shame most profound.

    So, when Max probed her with that question, her cheeks, which shouldn¡¯t have hurt, zed anew. The

    wounds Faith and Ryan had inflicted were not just of the flesh.

    Max, seeing her silent, reached out and took her chin in his hand, locking eyes with her. His eyelids,

    thin and imposing, seemed to tighten the air around them when drawn together.

    Heat rose in waves across Brielle¡¯s face, and with Patrick standing by, her embarrassment. surged.

    Patrick, ever perceptive, rose and feigned a trip to the kitchen to lend a hand, but through the ss

    door, he watched the pair surreptitiously.

    With Patrick gone, Brielle felt a measure of relief wash over her. Her eyes reddened slightly. lending her

    a pitiable air. Max had no fondness for pity. In a dog¨Ceat¨Cdog world, weakness was an invitation to be

    trampled.

    ¡°What are you crying for?¡± His voice softened, and he let go of her chin. ¡°Who hit you? Hit them back. If

    there¡¯s trouble, I¡¯ve got you covered. What are you scared of?¡±

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    As his canary, there was no reason she should suffer at another¡¯s hand. Moreover, afterst night¡¯s

    debacle, it irked him that Brielle hadn¡¯t called.

    Just now, in his presence, she and Aubree had subtly praised Andrew for his generosity. Max began to

    wonder if he was falling short. He had never cared for a delicate creature like a woman before and

    didn¡¯t know how to handle her.

    Brielle, for her part, never sought help. Used to solitude, she tackled everything alone. This realization

    sat ufortably with Max. He even resolved to go hometer and look up how to properly care for a

    canary.

    Brielle sat silently, her mind a nk te. After a long moment, she looked up at the man still coldly

    immersed in his paperwork.

    His hair caught the light from the window, casting a cool golden sheen, his skin pale, hisshes long,

    his wristbones sharp as des. Was such a man truly behind her?

    She pursed her lips, then finally asked, ¡°What if I cause a scene at tomorrow night¡¯s party?¡±

    Before she could finish, Max interjected, ¡°If you¡¯re wronged, it reflects on me.¡±

    Brielle found it amusing, chuckled to herself for a moment, and then said. ¡°Thank you. As for the files

    on the Book Group, I canpile a more detailed report for you, or I could even go abroad myself to

    scout for potential investment opportunities. Mr. Dorsey, I have nothing to repay your kindness with, so

    I¡¯ll dedicate my all to Dorsey International.¡±

    After her speech, she reached for a nearby teacup. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, are you thirsty?¡±

    1/2

    15:37 1

    Chapter 154

    Amusement flickered in Max¡¯s eyes as he took the cup, a faint smile ying at his lips. ¡°Trying to curry

    favor?¡±

    Internally, Brielle rolled her eyes. Wasn¡¯t that obvious?

    Max found this side of Brielle rather refreshing. ttery, subservience, no pretenses. She was

    disarmingly candid, and it pleased him.

    So when Patrick came out with the tray, what he saw was the scene of Max¡¯s frosty demeanor melting

    away, with Brielle sitting by his side. They were talking about something. Her eyes were slowly showing

    hints of smile, and the pressure of her bite on her lip was deepening.

    Patrick didn¡¯t linger, signaling the chef to bring out the rest of the meal before excusing himself. For

    Brielle, it was a first to enjoy the privilege of a star¨Crated chef¡¯s personal service. After a satisfying meal

    and a call to check on Mark, she turned her attention to the charity.

    The charity had always treated her with reverence, ¡°Ms. Haywood, you¡¯ve already made this month¡¯s

    donation.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± she replied. ¡°You keep calling me ¡®Ms. Haywood.¡® Do you know my first name?¡±

    There was a pause on the line. ¡°Isn¡¯t it Miss Lillian?¡±

    Brielle scoffed coldly. It wasn¡¯t the charity¡¯s fault. With both women sharing the same surname and the

    charity only knowing her as ¡®Ms. Haywood,¡® they were unaware of her true identity.

    ¡°My name is Brielle. I was too busy with work back then, so I had Lillian handle the paperwork. You do

    have security cameras there, right?¡±

    Chapter 155

 Chapter 155

    Chapter 155

    The charity had never experienced anything quite like it. Someone actually changed the donor¡¯s name

    to their own.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, we¡¯re recording everything here. If you need it, I can get a transcript prepared for you

    now.¡±

    ¡°Sure, send it over.¡±

    After hanging up the phone, she rubbed her temples and dialed the hospital.

    The news that Mark had regained consciousness was a relief, but his spirits had plummeted upon

    learning he¡¯d be bound to a wheelchair.

    In Brielle¡¯s ount, there were still tens of millions, just enough to find a new location for the

    orphanage. Faith was probably not going to give up that piece ofnd, but Brielle had a contract to

    protect her interests.

    Before she could even speak, Max inquired, ¡°Need awyer?¡±

    Brielle nodded.

    ¡°Poke around the legal department at Dorsey International, and pick whoever you fancy.¡± His tone was

    casual as he gathered all the documents. ¡°As for the orphanage relocation, ask Patrick.¡±

    The legal department at Dorsey International was known as the Invincibles. It was said that since their

    very first case, they had never lost. With their help, even the toughest cases could be won, and they

    raked in hundreds of millions inpensation for Dorsey International each year. With them in her

    corner, Faith didn¡¯t stand a chance.

    Brielle thought it over and decided not to refuse the help. ¡°Thanks.¡±

    They walked side by side to the door. As they pulled it open, they ran into the neighbor from the night

    before.

    The neighbor, holding a bag of groceries, couldn¡¯t help but offer some advice upon seeing them leave

    together. ¡°Young man, what kind of future can you have with this girl? How much can she pay you in a

    month? My niece owns five properties, and she¡¯s willing to give you two if you¡¯re interested ¨C prime real

    estate. You wouldn¡¯t have to worry about a thing. Think it over, with your looks, you could have

    anyone?¡± Everyone loves a beautiful face, and Max was just the type her high¨Cand¨Cmighty niece would

    fall for.

    Brielle found it amusing and hurried to keep pace with Max, who had quickened his steps. The

    neighbor¡¯s nagging followed them, ¡°Why are you so stubborn?¡±

    In the elevator, Brielle stifled augh and sneaked a peek at Max¡¯s stern expression. His jaw was

    clenched, lips thin, and his eyes were sharp. The temperature seemed to drop several degrees.

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    Chapter 155

    She was about to say something to lighten the mood when the doors opened, and there stood Spencer.

    Spencer¡¯s pupils contracted sharply at the sight of them, his brain freezing, unsure of how to

    react.

    The elevator, stered with local ads, was an odd backdrop for Max, but his presence filled the space

    with an incongruous allure. Spencer¡¯s heart skipped a beat, disbelieving. ¡°Uncle Max, what are you

    doing here?¡±

    How could he be at Brielle¡¯s apartment, descending together no less?

    He knew Max was a clean freak, usually only Patrick got that close to him. Yet there Brielle stood, her

    arm nearly brushing Max¡¯s suit ¨C an intimate proximity.

    Spencer¡¯s face paled, his mind racing with thoughts he dared not fully entertain.

    Max remained impassive, stepping forward, ¡°Came to see Brielle.¡± He didn¡¯t lie, nor did he see the

    need to.

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Spencer felt a chill, his lips trembling, as he incredulously turned to Brielle.

    Brielle smiled, ¡°I took a day off. Dorsey International is considering an investment in a book project, and

    I was preparing the data. There was an issue, so Mr. Dorsey came to see me. Patrick was here too.

    Did you need something?¡± It was a rification for Max.

    A wave of unease tightened Spencer¡¯s chest as he took in the sight of her turtleneck. Normally, he

    would have epted the exnation without question. However, Max rarely frequented the family

    estate, much less the residences of other execs. So, what other reason could there be for this

    unexpected visit?

    It couldn¡¯t possibly be that his proud and reserved Uncle Max had descended to favor a mortal woman.

    Impossible. Max would never do such a thing for a woman.

    Spencer scoffed at himself for even thinking it. Brielle might be somewhat attractive, but she wasn¡¯t the

    type to dazzle¨CMax.

    ¡°Brielle, you transferred ten million to the Haywood family. That¡¯s quite a generous move. Are you that

    eager to cut ties? Remember, without the Haywood family, you¡¯ll have no backup. Anyone could step

    on you.¡±

    Brielle pushed past him, not sparing another nce, ¡°When I was with the Haywood family. I never

    used them as backup. As for being stepped on, anyone is wee to try.¡±

    Spencer felt a pang in his chest, his voice hoarse as he grasped her wrist. ¡°Brielle, did you ever care

    for me, even the slightest bit?¡±

    He didn¡¯t know why he asked; he just couldn¡¯t let it go. In his mind, Brielle had always been an outsider,

    someone easy to dismiss. Yet with the annulment of their engagement imminent, he found himself

    flustered.

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    Chapter 156

    He began to meticulously recall every moment, every nuance of his years with Brielle.

    Why had he gotten entangled with Lillian in the first ce? Perhaps it was because Brielle always

    seemed so distant, herughter devoid of warmth, as if she were trampling on his pride.

    Brielle never needed tutoring, so when he showed up at her doorstep, brimming with

    enthusiasm and homework in hand, she would simply cross her arms and coolly ask him where he was

    struggling.

    Her independence didn¡¯t quite fit the traditional mold of femininity. In contrast, Lillian clung to him daily

    with questions and would then look up at him with adoration, inting his ego to soaring heights.

    Everything he couldn¡¯t get from Brielle, he received from Lillian. What was so wrong about liking Lillian?

    Brielle¡¯s body had been sullied by others.

    Spencer felt a mix of disgust and anger. Seeing Brielle walk away without a backward nce only

    intensified the surge of resentment within him.

    He would make Brielle regret this; he would make those men who had tempted her behind his back

    pay.

    In a fit of rage, he punched the wall.

    Meanwhile, Brielle quickly slipped into Max¡¯s car, her gaze fixed irritably outside the window.

    Spencer hadn¡¯te out. He was probably still inside, fuming with rage. She had nned to take the

    day off, but with Spencer there, she was itching to go to the office just to pass the

    time.

    As the car was about to start, Spencer emerged, predictably with a scowl. He looked around, likely

    searching for Brielle. Then he approached Max¡¯s car and shouted through the window. *Uncle Max, I

    stopped by the family estatest night, and grandpa asked me to pass on a message to you.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Max¡¯s eyes were on his papers, but through the crack in the window, Spencer¡¯s voice continued.

    ¡°Grandpa¡¯s wondering when you n to meet with the Barnes family. Both sides are keen on arranging

    a dinner. He tried calling you, couldn¡¯t get through, and Patrick¡¯s line was busy. Knowing you¡¯re busy,

    he sent me to deliver the message.¡±

    The reason Spencer had been at the estate, of course, had to do with that video. Fortunately. Tiffanie,

    the one who spread the video, had been grounded. Who knew how she was faring now, probably going

    mad in confinement.

    A sneer crossed his eyes. ¡°I hope this time, Uncle Max, you won¡¯t plead for Tiffanie. Aunt Victoria is

    quite furious this time.¡±

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    Brielle¡¯s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. Tiffanie was being punished? Didn¡¯t she im no one

    daredy a hand on her?

    She anxiously looked at Max, only to hear him ask indifferently. ¡°Locked up in the attic again? Can¡¯t

    theye up with something new besides this old trick?¡±

    His tone was mocking, and Spencer didn¡¯t dare to respond.

    Max, looking straight ahead, said coldly, ¡°Drive.¡±

    Patrick nodded and promptly hit the gas.

    Brielle¡¯s palms were sweating. She couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Is the situation with Tiffanie that serious? It

    was myck of foresight. I should have released the video myself.¡±

    ¡°If you had, you¡¯d be the one in Michael¡¯s clutches right now.¡± Max closed his eyes, tapping his fingers

    lightly on the documents. ¡°The Dorsey family will always protect their own. No matter how Spencer fails

    or betrays, Michael will always see it as your fault.¡±

    That was reality.

    With Tiffanie taking the heat, Michael wouldn¡¯t notice her for the time being, but if Brielle had been the

    one to release the video, she wouldn¡¯t live to see another sunrise. Michael¡¯s methods were not

    something Ryan could ever match.

    Brielle¡¯s face darkened, and she looked up. ¡°I know, but I only wanted Tiffanie to watch the show, not

    drag her down with me.¡± She felt guilty.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine; she¡¯s probably used to being grounded by now.¡±

    It seemed Victoria had no soft spot for Tiffanie, but why? Weren¡¯t they mother and daughter?

    Brielle had heard of Victoria¡¯s husband, handsome and refined, a pianist who rarely made public

    appearances but toured the world giving concerts.

    Victoria herself came from a distinguished background. How could such parents not treat their own

    child well?

    Max lifted his hand and pulled her closer, wrapping an arm around her waist. ¡°Victoria chased Everett

    like a woman possessed. She attended every piano concert of his, but he always. rejected her.¡±

    Everett was Victoria¡¯s husband now. They ended up together, didn¡¯t they?

    Sensing her confusion, Max pinched her chin. ¡°One year, while abroad at one of his concerts, Victoria

    was cornered by thugs and tormented for three days, resulting in Tiffanie. To cover up the scandal, the

    Dorsey family forced Everett to marry Victoria, iming it was a premarital pregnancy. In my father¡¯s

    eyes, nothing and no one could tarnish the Dorsey name, and no one could let the Dorseys suffer any

    loss, even if Victoria was in the wrong. As long as she wanted sqmething, my father would make it

    happen for her.¡±

    Such bias had reached the extent of disregarding the wishes of others.

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    Chapter 157

    To Brielle, the pianist seemed like the innocent party, constantly rebuffing Victoria¡¯s advances from start

    to finish.

    Victoria, regardless of everything, attended every performance, encountered a sudden disaster herself,

    and in the end, she married the man she admired while carrying a baby.

    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.

    While Victoria¡¯s plight could stir sympathy for any woman, the most innocent of them all was Everett,

    who¡¯d been rejecting her all along. But s, the Dorsey n wielded too much power.

    No wonder Victoria had no love for Tiffanie: her birth held such a tainted tale.

    Brielle felt a pang in her heart, thinking of Tiffanie¡¯s current temperament, undoubtedly shaped by a

    sustainedck of affection.

    Max. probably tired of squinting, rested his chin on her shoulder, ¡°Everett had someone he was fond of,

    and was about to get engaged, but the Dorseys forced him to break it off. Next thing. he¡¯s hitched to

    Victoria. He resents the Dorseys, you know. And Victoria, she¡¯s so love¨Ccrazed that even a marriage

    trapping him seems satisfying to her.¡±

    ¡°He resents the Dorseys?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, Michael decreed they must share a bed once a week.¡±

    Brielle pursed her lips. It was no wonder he harbored such hatred when even the most private facets of

    his life were being dictated and his pride ruthlessly crushed.

    If Max hadn¡¯t spelled it out, Brielle would never have believed it. Themon folk seemed so

    powerless and insignificant in the face of a dynasty like the Dorseys. She didn¡¯t know what to say,

    feeling the subtle nudge from Max.

    Should Michael intervene, she¡¯d be just as helpless.

    A hand squeezed her palm, and she lifted her gaze to meet his, hearing him say, ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡±

    ¡°When will Tiffanie get out?¡±

    ¡°In a fortnight.¡±

    ¡°That long? Won¡¯t that mess with her head?¡±

    Just a few hours locked up by Faith had almost broken her, but Tiffanie had been enduring this since

    childhood. Was her spirit still intact?

    ¡°She¡¯s not as fragile as you think.¡±

    Brielle fell silent, resolved to treat Tiffanie to a proper meal once she was free.

    They soon arrived at the Dorsey International underground parking lot. Brielle went to her department

    to collect some documents.

    The atmosphere felt different today. Rumors had spread that Brielle was the daughter of the

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    Chapter 157

    Haywood family. Before anyone could digest that, another rumor imed she had stolen that identity.

    The following evening, the Haywoods were set to rify this at a banquet and demand a public apology

    from Brielle.

    The video had spread wide, but this juicier gossip had everyone¡¯s attention fixed on the uing

    Haywood soir¨¦e.

    Brielle ignored their judgements, grabbed the necessary paperwork, and headed to the top

    floor.

    In the executive office, Patrickid a report before Max. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, a few board members are liaising

    with Ryan, discussing an investment in Alpha Company. Ryan seems unwilling to give up on that

    project.¡±

    Ryan had hoped to turn his fortunes around with this venture, but Max¡¯s sudden return had thrown a

    wrench in his ns. Plus, with the scandal of his son¡¯s affair bingmon knowledge, Ryan got a

    few raps on the knuckles from Michael.

    ¡°Let them reach out. After all these years at Dorsey International, Ryan¡¯s bound to have some

    loyalists.¡±

    Drawing the snake from its hole was the best way to catch it.

    Patrick ced the document on the desk, ¡°William and Ryan have been in touch too. They metst

    night, though what about is unclear.¡±

    Max cracked a smile, flipping open the file, ¡°William¡¯s position is solid. Unless he slips up, there¡¯s not

    much I can do about him. He¡¯s not foolish enough to make a move unless he¡¯s sure it¡¯s a fatal blow.¡±

    But perhaps he might push a scapegoat forward first.

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    Chapter 158

    As for who the fall guy was, it was still too early to tell.

    The clock struck the hour for the meeting, and the executives settled into their seats one by one. The

    meeting was a smaller affair this time, taking ce in Max¡¯s office.

    The HR Director and the Finance Director, having witnessed that episode in the office earlier. were

    quick to their feet when they saw Brielle walk in, oozing ttery from every pore. ¡°Ms. Brielle, how are

    you.¡±

    They had long since picked up on the dynamic between these two and were eager to curry favor.

    Meanwhile, the other two in the office were taken aback by the deference shown to Brielle. They

    wanted to throw a snide remark or two, but with Max present, they bit their tongues.

    Brielle nodded without betraying any sign of surprise or difort and took a seat off to the side.

    The meeting was still about the investment in the Bookpany, and one eager beaver volunteered to

    personally go and win over the founder of Book.

    Brielle gave the man who stood up a few extra nces¨Chis name was Noah, a director not yet thirty.

    Max¡¯s approach to management was different from otherpanies. Take Hatfield Inc., for instance,

    where all shares were held within the family. But at Dorsey International, the Dorsey family didn¡¯t hold

    all the shares.

    One of the biggest bones of contention Max had with the Dorsey family was bringing in non¨Cfamily

    board members, which could inject fresh perspectives and ensure stable governance structures, but it

    also stepped on the toes of other family members¡® interests.

    Noah¡¯s father had been one of those brought in back in the day, and now it was Noah¡¯s turn. At twenty¨C

    eight, Noah had been with Dorsey International for five years.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, I believe I can persuade the founder of Book,¡± he said, standing in his sleek ck suit.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that when Noah rose, he had shot a nce her way.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Max remained silent, his expression frosty.

    Brielle pondered for a moment before standing up herself, ¡°Mr. Dorsey, Book is indeed a finepany,

    but I¡¯d like to request a business trip abroad. I might bump into even more promising prospects.¡±

    The room fell silent after her words.

    Noah looked at Brielle with a sneer, ¡°A better prospect than Book? Ms. Brielle, do you have any idea

    what you are talking about? A billion¨Cdor valuation in half a year ¨C do you think such

    people are just lying around on the street? Could you maybe engage your brain before

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    15:38

    Chapter 158

    speaking?¡±

    Brielle was now certain of her intuition; Noah was hostile toward her.

    ¡°Mr. Noah, the founder of Book isn¡¯t going to change his mind overnight.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, how do you know I can¡¯t change his mind? Besides, we have Ms. Alivia on our side.¡±

    Brielle frowned. Alivia wasn¡¯t a Dorsey International employee. Why would she be involved in their

    investments?

    She looked at Max, who was just sitting there impassively. Feeling somewhat frustrated but recalling

    his promise from earlier at her apartment, she made up her mind.

    Regardless, she was ready to go to the mat for Dorsey International, ¡°Mr. Dorsey, after tomorrow night,

    I can head abroad. Ms. Alivia¡¯s institute is well¨Cknown, but I¡¯ve heard that her friend is not the only one

    from her ss starting a business. I have some ideas already. Just give me a little time to do some field

    research, and I¡¯ll get back to you with a solid answer.¡±

    Noah opened his mouth to retort, but Max simply responded, ¡°Hmm.¡± That was an assent.

    Noah¡¯s face darkened, and he shot Brielle a nce before quickly looking away.

    Max looked up. ¡°If you want to try and persuade the founder, you¡¯re free to leave whenever.¡±

    A glint of satisfaction passed through Noah¡¯s eyes, and he nodded, ¡°Alright.¡±

    After the meeting, Brielle didn¡¯t linger. She returned to her office downstairs. No sooner had she sat

    down than a call from an unfamiliar number came through.

    Without thinking. Brielle knew it was Lillian, probably calling to gloat about how much the Haywood

    family was fawning over her now. Brielle blocked the number without giving her the satisfaction.

    Lillian tried several different numbers, none of which Brielle answered, infuriating her to the point of

    nearly smashing her phone.

    The Haywood family had, overnight, redone Brielle¡¯s old room to suit her and presented her with

    several luxury cars worth millions. Wardrobes and jewelry boxes were filled and sent to her.

    Though the Haywood family had always treated her well, their current efforts seemed to be aimed at

    spoiling her rotten.

    Compared to Brielle¡¯s treatment, Brielle seemed worse off than a servant.

    Lillian was in high spirits, feeling utterly triumphant. Moreover, her own reputation had been restored.

    When dealing with Brielle¡¯s paperwork years ago, she had been cunning enough to cover her bases,

    which now proved useful.

    Tomorrow night, the Haywood family would announce her engagement to Spencer, and in front of all

    their guests, they would acknowledge her identity. Just the thought of it made Lillian almost giddy with

    excitement.

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    15:38

    Chapter 159

    While the Haywood family might not be as prestigious as some mysterious international dynasty, they

    were still a household name in Beaconsfield.

    As long as Brielle wasn¡¯t thedy of that illustrious family, Lillian would have wonpletely.

 Chapter 159

    Chapter 159

    She was hell¨Cbent on bringing Brielle down a peg or two, but Brielle had other ns. She¡¯d booked a

    flight out of the country for the day after tomorrow and had started to research emerging social media

    companies.

    Book was indeed the brightest star in the constetion of startups¨Cnext to it, every other contender

    seemed to fade into obscurity.

    While replying to messages from the charity foundation, Brielle couldn¡¯t help but smile at the findings of

    her investigation. It seemed there was onepany that stood out.

    Reassured, she engaged in a rxed conversation with the charity. All the recordings and surveince

    she had handed over, along with the transaction records of her donations to the charity, were enough to

    prove that the money was indeed given by her.

    Brielle didn¡¯t want to squabble over this at the party, so she had reached out to the police department

    she¡¯d been in touch with before.

    The charity was willing to vouch for her, and with all the evidence, Lillian¡¯s guilt was as good as nailed

    down.

    Brielle deliberately set the arrest for the following evening. She had said before that the more Lillian

    cared about something, the more Brielle wanted to destroy it. And she had an ace up her sleeve,

    something she nned to reveal at the party. It all depended on how far the Haywood family would

    push her.

    The Haywoods were bent on throwing avish g, sending out a flood of invitations and making it

    known that someone from the Dorsey family was expected to attend.

    Who in Beaconsfield wouldn¡¯t want to rub shoulders with the Dorseys? All the invitations that had been

    sent out were epted, and the social circles were abuzz with spection about what might unfold at

    the party.

    ¡°Will Brielle even have the nerve to show up? I bet Spencer would think she¡¯s bad luck,¡± someone

    gossiped.

    ¡°Never mind Spencer, the Haywoods must be livid to find out they¡¯ve been raising a bastard all these

    years,¡± another added.

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    ¡°The magic drama of the year. I heard her personal life is a hot mess. She admitted to Spencer¡¯s face

    that she¡¯s been keeping a toy boy on the side.¡±

    The chat about Brielle grew more fervent, but she herself slept soundly.

    Everyone thought she wouldn¡¯t dare to show up, but on the contrary, she started getting ready. with

    Aubree from the afternoon.

    Aubree sat on the ck salon chair, amused by Brielle¡¯s rare serious effort to doll up. ¡°You¡¯re looking

    for trouble, aren¡¯t you?¡± she teased.

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    15:39

    Chapter 159

    Brielle squinted her eyes as the makeup brush swept across her face, ¡°If I don¡¯t go, they¡¯ll only say

    worse things about me.¡±

    Aubree chuckled, then her gaze dropped, ¡°Do you think Max will reallye?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Brielle hadn¡¯t gone to the office that day. She had taken the day off instead.

    Patrick had called her to ask about the orphanage location, and Brielle simplyid out her

    requirements. Patrick assured her he would handle the rest.

    ¡°Probably not,¡± she replied, closing her eyes to let the stylist finish their work.

    Aubree, admiring her freshly manicured nails, said with a sardonic tone. ¡°I think he will. Max seems to

    have a soft spot for you.¡±

    ¡°He said he¡¯d consider marrying Alivia.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s hands paused, then she swore, ¡°Men really are all the same, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    Brielle found it funny, but theughter faded when she saw the faint bruise around Aubree¡¯s neck.

    Aubree seemed to feel Brielle¡¯s gaze and pulled her cor up a bit, ¡°He got a bit roughst. night.¡±

    Was it just an ident, or had it been intentional? Brielle didn¡¯t dare to ask.

    The Haywood family mansion was aze with lights. Almost all the guests had arrived.

    From the entrance to the garden, everything was decorated festively. The banquet tables were filled

    with pastries and red wine, and there was a fragrance of perfume in the air.

    Lillian was still upstairs, surrounded by a swarm of stylists. She was wearing a dress that glittered with

    tiny diamonds, shining brilliantly with every step. Rumor had it that it was handcrafted by an Italian

    designer, and just the dress alone was worth a fortune. Her vanity was supremely satisfied, and she

    couldn¡¯t resist posting in the group from before.

    [You¡¯re alling tonight, right?)

    Thest encounter at Tequ Sunset had been unpleasant, and now Lillian had seemingly changed her

    stripes overnight. Not only had she be a truedy of the Haywood family, but she might even oust

    Brielle and be Spencer¡¯s fianc¨¦e. So the group chat was a bit awkward at the moment.

    It was Sophia who broke the ice. [Lillian, congrattions. You¡¯ve really had it hard these years. Don¡¯t

    worry, we¡¯ll definitely be there.]

    Lillian read the message and felt the irony of it. [Then I¡¯ll be waiting.]

    The rest of the group remained silent, each remembering how they had humiliated Lillianst time.

    Who knew if she was one to hold a grudge?

    Chapter 159

    In the end, only Sophia showed up. She went straight upstairs to see Lillian and upon seeing the dress,

    a surge of envy shed through her. A dress worth millions was not something just anyone could wear.

    Lillian caught the emotion in her eyes and approached her with feigned warmth, ¡°Sophia, thanks for

    your supportst time.¡±

    Sophia was taken aback, as she hadn¡¯t really stood up for Lillian. Even when Aubree threw the drink,

    Sophia hadn¡¯t stepped forward.

    ¡°By the way, Sophia, do you know Aubree and Andrew slept together?¡±

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    Chapter 160

    Sophia felt like she¡¯d been struck by lightning. Her voice trembled with disbelief. ¡°What did you say?¡±

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    Lillian¡¯s face was etched with contempt. Aubree had dared to throw wine in her face, and now she was

    going to pay the price. Tonight was not only about bringing Brielle to her knees but also about exposing

    Aubree and Andrew¡¯s secret rtionship to the public eye. However, wary of upsetting the influential

    Clements family, Lillian knew this task had to be Sophia¡¯s doing. Sophia detested Brielle and Aubree,

    and being Tessa¡¯sckey, she was more than willing to take on the charge.

    ¡°My brother told me he saw Andrew and Aubree checking into a hotel together, and I¡¯ve seen them

    myself,¡± Lillian sneered.

    Sophia¡¯s scalp tingled with rage, her fists clenched. ¡°Are you serious?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely. Why else would these so¨Ccalled siblings, who aren¡¯t blood¨Crted, share a room when

    traveling? Are the Clements on a budget or something?¡±

    Sophia¡¯s hands shook, her eyes red with fury. ¡°Lillian, thanks for sharing this. I won¡¯t let Aubree get

    away with this. Birds of a feather, she and Brielle are both trash.¡±

    Lillian watched as Sophia¡¯s emotions peaked, then she began to set the stage. ¡°Brielle and Aubree will

    be here tonight. Try not to seem too angry, okay? We can handle this privately.¡±

    But this hit a nerve with Sophia. ¡°No, I want to use this opportunity. To reveal what Aubree has done,

    and Andrew, how could he!¡±

    Anger often clouds judgment, and Sophia felt a fire raging within her. She had to ry this information

    to Tessa immediately.

    That bitch Aubree hooked up with Andrew!

    Lillian, feigning concern, took Sophia¡¯s arm. ¡°Sophia, calm down. Let¡¯s head downstairs.¡±

    Sophia, bereft of reason, shook off her hand and stormed down.

    Lillian watched her go, a slight smirk on her lips, then gracefully made her way to the staircase. The

    hall was resplendent, the guests mingling in earnest conversation. Basking in the glory of her

    expensive gown, Lillian descended the grand staircase, feeling like the belle of the ball, all eyes on her.

    Then she spotted Spencer, looking dapper yet impatient, ignoring her presence, which irked her.

    Then she thought, if she yed her cards right and caught Max¡¯s eye, she wouldn¡¯t need to cling to

    Spencer ¨C she could aim higher.

    With each elegant step, Lillian felt like a fairy¨Ctale princess, the music adding to her grandeur. But

    before she could soak up the adoration, the doors swung open, and in walked Brielle.

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    15:39

    Chapter 160

    draped in a whitece dress, her grace slow and deliberate. And the man standing by her side was

    elegant as the moon, with the rosary on his wrist particrly conspicuous.

    It was Max!

    The hall fell into a hushed reverence. Max rarely attended such events, and his presence alone was

    enough to steal the spotlight.

    Though Max and Brielle didn¡¯t exhibit overt intimacy, not even linking arms, their mere proximity

    seemed toplement each other perfectly.

    No one knew what Max¡¯s presence signified, as it was his first time attending with a femalepanion.

    No one knew if Brielle was indeed his date. At least he didn¡¯t push her away.

    The room seemed to hit mute. And there was Lillian, halfway down the stairs, now ignored by all, her

    grand entrance dissolving into awkwardness.

    She had hoped to overshadow Brielle tonight, but there stood Brielle, not at all diminished by Max¡¯s

    imposing aura. Brielle herself exuded a transcendental charisma, and her whitece dress only

    entuated her allure.

    How was she fit to stand before Max?

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    Chapter 161

    Lillian¡¯s face twisted with envy as she clutched the banister, her fingers tightening until her knuckles

    ached. Tonight, she was supposed to be the star of the show, all eyes should have been on her, but the

    couple at the entrance was simply too dazzling, their appearance making the grand hall seem all the

    brighter.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey,¡± someone called out respectfully, yet no one dared approach. Others followed suit with

    their greetings, anxious to be noticed.

    Max simply nodded in acknowledgment before lowering his gaze to speak with Brielle. A respectful

    distance formed around them, as if by unspoken agreement no one would encroach. The crowd was

    itching with curiosity, eager to see what would unfold next.

    Spencer, upon seeing them together, was instantly reminded of the previous day when he visited the

    apartment and happened to see them sharing an elevator down. He didn¡¯t want to dwell on it, not even

    now, as he gripped his wine ss, his anxiety magnifying.

    The murmurs continued around him, though hushed.

    ¡°Is that Brielle beside Mr. Dorsey?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t Mr. Dorsey known for his aversion to germs? Howe he¡¯s with that woman?¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t deny it, Brielle¡¯s got a face that turns heads.¡±

    Brielle, usually light on makeup, had applied just a touch this evening, yet she effortlessly

    overshadowed the other women in the room.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    The Haywoods looked sour. They had arranged for a graceful, soothing melody to y as Lillian

    descended the stairs, but she had barely reached the midpoint when Brielle stole the limelight. Was

    this deliberate?

    Miranda¡¯s expression soured at the sight, and she noticed Lillian stalled mid¨Cstaircase, the music still

    ying, seemingly now a backdrop for the couple at the door.

    Unable to take it anymore, Lillian clumsily made her way down and approached Max.

    ¡°Max, did you run into

    Bri on your way here? What a coincidence,¡± she said; her words carefully crafted to suggest they had

    met by chance outside, but this ruse hinged on Max ying along.

    Max didn¡¯t even nce at her, continuing instead to ask Brielle, ¡°Have you booked your flight for the

    business trip? Found thepany you were targeting?¡±

    Who would have thought they¡¯d be discussing work at such a gathering? It was both odd and yet not,

    familiar yetced with subtlety.

    Brielle, pleased that Max ignored Lillian, allowed herself a small, satisfied smile. ¡°I¡¯ve got my eye on a

    company, but I¡¯ll need to inspect their operations on¨Csite. There¡¯s a border between us, so I can¡¯t be

    sure of their situation just yet.¡±

    Chapter 161

    The two chatted as if no one else was there, the atmosphere between them harmonious, causing those

    nearby to breathe a bit more softly.

    Lillian, gripping a ss of wine and tilting her chin up, felt her poised fa?ade slipping without a

    response from Max. She was flustered, feeling the heat of embarrassed nces.

    Max had dismissed her, and it stung. Wasn¡¯t she attractive? Spencer and Cameron both fancied. her,

    and Spencer had chosen her over Brielle. Wasn¡¯t that proof enough of her allure?

    The Haywoods were equally embarrassed by Lillian¡¯s bold approach, and Miranda quickly intervened

    with diplomatic grace. ¡°Max, thank you for attending the Haywood¡¯s g tonight. And we appreciate the

    care that Bri has received at Dorsey International.¡±

    Miranda, with decades more experience than Lillian, spoke with more finesse.

    Max, with azy nce and an indifferent ¡°Hmm,¡± left Miranda to retreat with Lillian to the sidelines.

    Lillian felt like she might explode, biting her lip till it bled. This was not how she had imagined her first

    interaction with Max. Yet, this rebuff only fueled her resolve. One day, she would be the only one in his

    eyes.

    As the guests witnessed both mother and daughter falter, none dared to make the same mistake.

    Brielle, meanwhile, took a sip from a wine ss passed to her by a waiter, her fingertips lightly tracing

    the rim. She had finished getting ready with Aubree¡¯s help when she saw Max waiting outside. The

    gentle moonlight illuminated his calm, sharp features through the window.

    It was undeniable that she was moved by his presence. He actually went to attend the Haywood family

    event with her.

    Aubree had pushed her into Max¡¯s car with a flurry of advice and good wishes before leaving.

    All the way to the g, Brielle had a myriad of questions she wanted to ask, but she held back, not

    wanting to presume. With downcast eyes, she let the quiet emotion swirl within.

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    Chapter 162

    The crowd parted as Faith¡¯s gazended on Max, her expression shifting noticeably. She made a

    beeline for Spencer, tugging gently at thepel of his suit. ¡°Max is here, and if there¡¯s any drama

    tonight, let the Haywoods handle it. No need for you to y the hero,¡± she whispered, a hint of urgency

    in her voice.

    Spencer remained silent, his eyes fixated on Brielle as she walked away, a growing redness rimming

    his eyes. ¡°Mom, does the engagement really have to end?¡± he croaked, his voice hoarse with emotion,

    his head hanging low.

    Faith red at him with resentment and poked his head with her finger. ¡°Spencer, what¡¯s gotten into

    you? You¡¯re the one who didn¡¯t want Brielle, and you¡¯ve been hounding me about calling off the

    engagement. And now, when it¡¯s crunch time, you look like you¡¯re the one who can¡¯t let go?¡± Her words

    hit a nerve, and Spencer¡¯s pain surfaced. Indeed, Brielle seemed utterly unaffected. To her, both he

    and the Haywoods appeared to be easily discardable.

    ¡°Mom, I¡­¡±

    ¡°Enough, you know she¡¯s been fooling around with other men. Who knows how many times she¡¯s

    been¡­ you know. Don¡¯t you find that disgusting? Drop it already. Besides, she doesn¡¯t have the status

    now: she¡¯s not in your league. If she hadn¡¯t had a bit of talent, would Max even give her a second

    nce? Spencer, you need to start making a name for yourself. Now that your dad¡¯s been ousted, you

    can¡¯t keep dwelling on this puppy love.¡±

    Faith had only one son, her pride and joy, but she knew all too well that business acumen was not his

    forte.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Spencer didn¡¯t take her advice to heart; instead, he seized on a particr phrase. ¡°Uncle Max is only

    interested in her because of her talent?¡±

    ¡°What else could it be? Why do you think your father was reluctant to end the engagement? Brielle¡¯s

    business savvy is well known, and Max sees potential in her. Have you ever met a woman with a

    sharper business mind than hers?¡±

    Spencer shook his head, a glimmer of rity returning to his eyes. Yet, as Faith continued, that rity

    faded once more.

    ¡°Such a shame she¡¯s illegitimate. Even if you truly cared for her, your grandfather would never approve.

    The people who marry into the Dorsey family are all from distinguished backgrounds. Everett, who

    married Victoria, he¡¯s a world¨Crenowned pianist. What¡¯s Brielle inparison?¡± This reassured

    Spencer. It wasn¡¯t he who couldn¡¯t measure up to Brielle. There was nothing to regret. His gaze

    softened as he looked over at Lillian, determined to cherish her from now on. Lillian sensed his stare

    and returned it with a bashful smile. At that moment, Spencer erased any lingering sentimentality,

    discarding it like trash. Why regret throwing away something worthless?

    Chapter 162

    The buzz in the hall intensified as a small stage at the front was illuminated by a spotlight. Miranda, the

    hostess, gracefully ascended to the podium, barely able to contain her glee. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen,¡±

    she called out, instantly capturing everyone¡¯s attention.

    ¡°I¡¯m overwhelmed with gratitude that you¡¯ve alle to tonight¡¯s gathering, a celebration in honor of my

    daughter.¡±

    She beckoned with a smile toward Lillian below. ¡°Lillian,e join me.¡±

    Lillian was uneasy, her peripheral vision constantly on Max. This was the closest she had ever been to

    him. In the past, if they met, it was from a distance, but now, he was so near, she felt she could count

    his eyshes.

    Max seemed indifferent to themotion, quietly sipping his drink in a corner. Even when apuse

    broke out, he remained stoic, not offering a nce, nor even standing.

    Lillian¡¯s heart raced. Seeing Max not by Brielle¡¯s side was a relief. Maybe they had just bumped into

    each other at the door. As for her being rebuffed earlier, it must be because Max was a loner, averse to

    women¡¯spany.

    Previously, Lillian had felt miles away from Max, but now, as the Haywoods¡® daughter, she believed that

    with a slight tiptoe, he might ept her.

    She ascended the stage, feigning shyness as she lowered her head.

    Miranda was proud of her daughter, speaking fondly with teary eyes. ¡°Lillian¡¯s had her share of

    hardships. If only I had known sooner she was my child, I would have cherished her to no end. It¡¯s

    amazing how some kids can be so maniptive from such a young age. Thankfully, that¡¯s all behind us

    now. What goes aroundes around, and Lillian, she¡¯s never forgotten her roots at the orphanage.

    With the Haywood family¡¯s support and someone special in her life, things are looking up.¡±

    Without naming names, her words reminded everyone that it was Brielle who had caused trouble in the

    past.

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    Chapter 163

    Lillian¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears as she nodded in agreement with Miranda¡¯s words. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t say

    that. I never intended to hide anything. I was just worried about hurting someone¡¯s feelings.¡±

    She dabbed her eyes theatrically, feigning deep emotion.

    From her seat in the audience, Brielle couldn¡¯t help but snicker at the charade. Miranda and Lillian were

    both clearly trying to sling mud her way. And Lillian had even crafted a perfect excuse for her little fling

    with Spencer. She imed their secret rendezvous was out of fear of breaking Brielle¡¯s heart.

    How utterly shameless.

    The crowd picked up on the insinuation and their gazes turned toward Brielle, filled with scorn and

    disdain.

    ¡°She¡¯s been living someone else¡¯s life for over a decade, and she doesn¡¯t seem the least bit

    remorseful.¡±

    ¡°So, Lillian and Spencer are the real couple, and Brielle¡¯s just a homewrecker?¡±

    ¡°Can you believe she even leaked that video, trying to ruin them with public opinion? Her actions are

    unforgivable.¡±

    At this point, everyone remembered the video that had circted in their social circles. If Spencer and

    Lillian were truly an engaged couple, what they did in private was their business.

    Brielle, the interloper, had stooped so low as to use such tactics against them. People felt

    ufortable sharing the same space with her, some even shifting away from her proximity.

    Despite their looks, Brielle¡¯s face remained calm, with a faint smile. Everyone expected her to show

    signs of heartache, disappointment, or hysteria, but there was nothing. Brielle appeared so serene, as

    if the drama unfolding had nothing to do with her, as if she were just a spectator. Yet, the subject of the

    onstage discussion was undoubtedly her.

    Inexplicably, the crowd¡¯s attention subtly shifted to Max, who sat in a corner,zily fiddling with his

    rosary. There was a striking simrity in their demeanor.

    Miranda and Lillian, who had been performing on the stage for so long, felt a bit awkward seeing Brielle

    being so indifferent. The atmosphere in the venue also became subtly tense.

    Finally, Miranda cut to the chase, ¡°Bri,e up here. I have something to say to you.¡± Her tone

    softened, but her eyes held a veiled threat.

    Still smiling, Brielle replied, ¡°Just say what you have to say. I can hear you perfectly fine from here.¡± Her

    voice was cool and detached as if she were addressing a stranger.

    Miranda was infuriated and embarrassed. After raising Brielle for so many years, herck of gratitude

    was appalling.

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    Chapter 163

    In front of everyone, she felt humiliated, unsure of how to react. It was Lillian who stepped in. ¡°Mom,

    Brielle¡¯s upset. Let¡¯s not force her. This is my fault. We¡¯ve got a house full of guests tonight. Let¡¯s not

    discuss this now. We can talk privatelyter, okay?¡±

    Lillian¡¯s defense of the very person who had stolen her identity for years could only be seen as a sign

    of her kindness. The crowd was moved, and their nces at Brielle wereced with irony.

    One kind and gentle, the other malicious and selfish. There was noparison.

    Unable to contain himself any longer, Spencer stood up. ¡°Brielle, stop acting so holier¨Cthan¨Cthou. Don¡¯t

    you think you owe Lillian an apology?¡±

    No one expected Spencer to be the one to confront her. Faith was beside herself with rage. Hadn¡¯t she

    warned him? The spotlight tonight was supposed to be on the Haywood family.

    Her fists clenched in anger, but she dared not step forward rashly.

    Spencer couldn¡¯t stand the sight of Brielle acting as though she was above it all. Most troubling to him

    was how her demeanor seemed to mirror Max¡¯s, which set him on edge.

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    Even now, as he berated Brielle, as he resented her, the thought of breaking off their engagement

    made his eyes sting with pain. What was happening to him? Why was he so conflicted?

    ¡°Apologize?¡± Brielle lifted her eyelids slightly, her gaze sweeping over him. ¡°Apologize for what?¡±

    Spencer took a deep breath, his teeth clenched with anger. ¡°For willfully taking over her life. For

    usurping her parents. If it weren¡¯t for you, she wouldn¡¯t have suffered all these years. And you have the

    nerve to ask for what you should apologize?¡±

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    Chapter 164

    No sooner had the words left his mouth than the people around began to echo in agreement, finding

    Brielle shameless for maintaining suchposure at a time like this.

    There had been whispers that Brielle had been bullying Lillian in the Haywood household, putting on

    one face in public and another behind closed doors. It seemed now that those rumors were not

    unfounded.

    Brielle took a sip of her wine, her tone nonchnt. ¡°When I was brought back to the Haywood family, I

    was only ten. Do you really think a ten¨Cyear¨Cold child could y the entire Haywood n like puppets,

    even fooling hospitals and orphanages? Doesn¡¯t that sound absurd to you? She makes an usation,

    and you all believe it? If I really had such power, the Haywood shares should be mine, shouldn¡¯t they?

    But do I have them?¡±

    Brielle swirled the red wine in her ss, the liquid glistening against her pale fingertips. ¡°The Haywoods

    made their own mistakes, yet they want me to take the fall, to apologize. Why should I?¡±

    The question ¡®why should I?¡® weighed heavily in the air, striking at the hearts of all who heard it. Indeed,

    Brielle had been only ten years old. Could she truly have been so calcting as to deceive everyone?

    Robert was a cunning old fox of the business world, and couldn¡¯t see through a child¡¯s trickery? The

    notion wasughable.

    The once certain crowd began to murmur doubts among themselves. Their eyes shifted to Robert

    amidst the crowd, noticing his dark expression, his lips tightly pursed, veins throbbing on his forehead.

    Meanwhile, Miranda on the stage was clenching her palm so fiercely that herplexion turned pale,

    confronted with a Brielle whose aura had never been so formidable. In the past, even if Brielle had

    been disagreeable, she was mostly docile.

    Miranda was shaking with fury, struggling to contain her emotions, but a reassuring squeeze from

    Lillian brought her back to her senses.

    ¡°Bri, my earlier words weren¡¯t targeted at you. I¡¯ve spoken with the director of the orphanage. There

    was maniption behind the scenes, and we¡¯ve all been victims. I¡¯m pained for you, but my heart

    aches even more for Lillian. She¡¯s my flesh and blood, yet she¡¯s called me ¡®Ms. Miranda¡® for years.¡±

    Miranda¡¯s strategic retreat shifted the narrative. Her words made the crowd feel that Brielle was taking

    offense, especially since Miranda hadn¡¯t explicitly used Brielle of any backdoor schemes.

    Who would be so quick to defend themselves? Surely, someone who felt they had been hit where it

    hurt.

    Brielle¡¯s eagerness to clear her name only cast further doubt.

    1/2

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    15:2011

    Chapter 164

    Miranda had practiced this scene countless times in preparation for tonight..

    The crowd looked sympathetically at Lillian, recalling how Brielle had arrived at the soir¨¦e dressed to

    the nines. Was she trying to overshadow Lillian at this pivotal moment of acknowledgment, intending to

    cause trouble?

    The onlookers¡® gazes were like knives, stripping Brielle of her dignity. The women, already envious of

    Brielle¡¯s beauty, felt they¡¯d found their moment.

    ¡°She¡¯s been tormenting Lillian, the true youngdy of the Haywood family, all these years.¡±

    ¡°Tonight¡¯s probably thest time we¡¯ll see her. With her status, she won¡¯t be wee at such

    gatherings anymore.¡±

    ¡°Weren¡¯t there photos of her with Kenzo? Since he hasn¡¯t addressed them, he probably just wants to

    avoid getting entangled. Give a woman like her an inch, and she¡¯ll climb over you to reach the top.¡±

    Lillian listened to the whispers below, a faint smirk formed on her lips. This was her goal for the

    evening, to use the event to cast Brielle down into oblivion, never to rise again. Once the whispers had

    settled, she emerged as the peacemaker.

    ¡°Bri, don¡¯t misunderstand mom. She and I agreed that even after acknowledging me, she would still

    treat you as her own. She doesn¡¯t intend to cast you aside. Dad also mentioned he¡¯d find you a good

    match, ensuring you marry with honor.¡±

    She spoke with such sincerity in her eyes. How benevolent the Haywoods appeared. Even after

    Brielle¡¯s earlier insolence, even though she wasn¡¯t a true Haywood, they still epted her. They were

    even concerned about her prospects after her engagement to Spencer had been called off, going so far

    as to arrange a new match for her in advance.

    Who wouldn¡¯t regard the Haywoods¡® actions as magnanimous? Certainly, if it were up to any of them,

    they wouldn¡¯t be so considerate for a non¨Cblood daughter. Wasn¡¯t lineage what big families valued

    most?

    For Brielle to have been raised in such a family, it truly must have been her good fortune.

 Chapter 165

    Chapter 165

    The room was abuzz with chatter, each remark sharp enough to skewer Brielle where she stood.

    Meanwhile, Lillian, having delivered her barb, didn¡¯t miss a beat to gauge Max¡¯s reaction. Even if Max

    valued Brielle¡¯s skills, would he continue to favor her knowing this side of her? A smirk curled on

    Lillian¡¯s lips, her heart brimming with smug satisfaction.

    ¡°Bri,e up here, will you?¡±

    Everyone expected Brielle to remain reticent, but she slowly set down her ss and made her way to

    the stage.

    Even Lillian was taken aback, puzzled by what Brielle might be plotting, but in a heartbeat, her

    excitement surged. It was all the better for Brielle to show her face; it would be a spectacle for the

    entire Beaconsfield social elite to witness Brielle¡¯s true, ugly colors.

    Miranda, standing nearby, was stunned too, but as she watched Brielle approach, her eyes. reddened

    with the prospect of a sentimental mother¨Cdaughter scene.

    Brielle, however, simply took the microphone from Miranda¡¯s hand and turned to face the crowd.

    ¡°The kindness the Haywood family has shown me is something I will never forget,¡± she began. her

    voice steady.

    Her words sent a jolt through Miranda and Lillian. Was this surrender?

    When Miranda received that ten million, a fire had been burning in her heart. Now, she finally felt a

    sense of triumph. She patted Brielle on the shoulder, adopting the image of a nurturing mother. ¡°Bri, it¡¯s

    good that you¡¯re grateful. Just apologize to Lillian, and we can be a family

    again.¡±

    Lillian¡¯s inner scoff was masked by a feigned reluctance. ¡°No need to apologize, Bri hasn¡¯t done

    anything wrong. Like she said, she was only ten at the time.¡±

    Her demeanor was graceful and magnanimous, a stark contrast to Brielle¡¯s earlier defensiveness. This

    only reinforced to the onlookers the importance of one¡¯s lineage; after all one¡¯s genes dictated

    character and stature.

    Brielle¡¯sshes fluttered downward as she spoke, her tone nonchnt, ¡°I indeed haven¡¯t done anything

    wrong, so I never considered apologizing.¡±

    The room erupted in a collective gasp. No one expected Brielle to be so brazen, and their disdain

    deepened.

    ¡°Besides, I have already repaid the Haywood family¡¯s kindness. Miranda, didn¡¯t you ept the ten

    million I wired just yesterday?¡±

    As she spoke, a screenshot of the transaction appeared on therge screen behind her. The

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    15:40

    Chapter 165

    screen, initially set up for a touching moment for Lillian, showcasing her charity work at the orphanage,

    was now hijacked by Brielle.

    Damn her, when had that cunning woman set this up? Panic gripped Miranda. How could she exin

    the ten million without raising suspicions?

    Lillian chimed in, feigning shock, ¡°Mom, Bri¡¯s really gone all out for you, hasn¡¯t she? To send your ten

    million like that, it¡¯s the first time she¡¯s ever given you such a gift. Are you regretting taking me back

    now? I¡¯m not as capable as Bri, nor do I have that kind of money.¡±

    Her tone was yful and slightly reproachful, transforming the transaction into a generous gift from a

    daughter to her mother.

    Ten million was a fortune to ordinary folks, but in their circles, it was pocket change, gone with the

    purchase of a single car. Lillian¡¯s words were clever, and she emphasized that this was Brielle¡¯s first

    gift, subtly using Brielle of being ungrateful.

    Most importantly, Lillian explicitly mentioned that she didn¡¯t have money. As for why she didn¡¯t have

    money, the crowd couldn¡¯t help but connect it to her previous donations to the orphanage. It was said

    that she only kept enough for her living expenses every month.

    In contrast, Brielle, who could easily transfer ten million, hadn¡¯t donated a dime to the orphanage that

    raised her, making her seem utterly unthankful. And now, Brielle had the audacity to suggest that ten

    million was enough to settle her debt to the Haywoods. Just how shameless was she?

    The crowd had rarely seen such effrontery. Even the most easygoing among them couldn¡¯t hide their

    disdain.

    ¡°Ten million to settle a debt of gratitude? Is she treating them like beggars?¡±

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    ¡°To raise a daughter in a wealthy family, it would cost more than that just in tutors.¡±

    ¡°The Haywoods have indeed raised an ingrate.¡±

    ¡°How can she have the nerve to say that? Clearly, no matter where youe from, your true nature

    reveals itself in time.¡±

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    Chapter 166

    At this juncture, it seemed to everyone that Brielle had lost spectacrly, like a court jester in the midst

    of his final, pitiful tumble. Even from the audience, there were sympathetic nces. cast towards

    Robert, whose business associates had begun offering their constions.

    And Spencer, he felt more than ever that his choice was right. Brielle, an enigma with no clear

    background, simply wasn¡¯t worthy of him.

    The quietest person in the entire hall had to be Max. Even in the midst of this unfolding drama. he

    remained unshaken, asionally casting a slight, mysterious smile in Brielle¡¯s direction. No one could

    tell if he was mocking her or if it was something else.

    As for Miranda and Lillian, they exchanged looks that seemed to say they found Brielle utterly

    laughable. At this point, whipping out a screenshot of a money transfer would only serve as evidence of

    her humiliation.

    All her boasts of being a Director at Dorsey International now seemed rather hollow.

    While everyone was still abuzz with gossip, they noticed the big screen change to disy a

    spreadsheet. This spreadsheet detailed various expenses with corresponding invoices and prices. The

    crowd¡¯s faces registered shock. Whose expenses were these?

    The hall fell silent, eyes riveted to the spreadsheet. Involuntarily, they turned to Brielle.

    Her expression unchanged, she began to exin methodically, ¡°This is the sum of money the Haywood

    family has spent on me over the years, which amounts to less than two million. In my ten million, I have

    also included various interests and adjusted for intion. So, what exactly have they lost?¡±

    The spreadsheet was meticulous, detailing down to the number of clothes the Haywoods had bought

    for her.

    The ne Miranda purchased for her,plete with the receipt.

    The gifts Cameron brought her from abroad, with their prices listed.

    The audience¡¯s expressions were a mix of emotions as Brielle continued to add details.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Some might argue that the Haywood family has spent time and energy on me which surely counts for

    something. For this, I have prepared another spreadsheet.¡±

    With that, the screen shifted to the next image. She spoke not as someone unraveling her past, but as

    if she were in the midst of a business negotiation. Illustrating her points with examples, her logic was

    undeniable.

    ¡°This shows the time I spent at home during my middle school, high school, and college years. After

    graduating with top honors from Beaconsfield, I tutored for three months before college, earning

    enough to cover my living expenses. So, what energy exactly did the Haywood family invest in me?

    From a young age, they arranged tutors for Lillian. They even sent me to learn taekwondo for Lillian¡¯s

    personal safety. What do I owe her?¡±

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    Chapter 166

    The level of detail in the spreadsheet left little room for rebuttal.

    ¡°The Haywoods provide Lillian with luxury cars, designer clothes, jewelry worth millions. Have I ever

    said a word?¡±

    Her face was serene as she recounted these disparities, showing no sign of feeling aggrieved. yet her

    words left a lump in the listeners¡® throats. If this was true, was she ever really treated as a daughter of

    the Haywood family? Why the stark difference?

    The room fell into a brief silence, but there were always one or two who enjoyed stirring the pot. ¡°Ms.

    Brielle makes it sound so easy,¡± someone called out. ¡°How can you possibly owe nothing. to the

    Haywood family? Without them, how could you be worthy of an engagement with the Dorsey family

    heir? Over the years, you¡¯ve leveraged the Dorseys to gain quite a bit. It seems a bit flippant to dismiss

    that, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    Upon hearing these words, Miranda finally snapped back to attention. Brielle¡¯s recent maneuvering had

    left her a bit disoriented, unsure of how to proceed. Fortunately, someone handed her an opening.

    ¡°Bri, I know you¡¯re harboring some resentment,¡± she began, her eyes welling up with what seemed like

    emotion. Brielle¡¯s previous presentation had been so detailed that the audience was more curious

    about her next exnation than they were empathetic with Miranda, leaving her looking awkward and

    out of ce.

    Even Brielle paid her no mind, instead raising her gaze to address the man who had spoken. ¡°I

    exploited the Dorsey family for resources? What resources? Connections? Then tell me, who here

    would call themselves my friend?¡±

    Her self¨Cdeprecating, almost sardonic retort effectively silenced her critic.

    Who was Brielle¡¯s friend, indeed? Most people just viewed her as a joke, let alone considering any

    social connections.

 Chapter 167

    Chapter 167

    Brielle nced at the crowd, her lips curling into a sardonic smile. ¡°As for business assets

    The spreadsheet on the giant screen flipped to a new page, showcasing the mergers and acquisitions

    she had managed since joining Dorsey International.

    ¡°In the past three years, the cases I¡¯ve handled for Dorsey International have generated profits

    exceeding a billion. The Dorsey family has also supported the Haywood family in business due to this.

    The Haywood family invested less than two million in me. What have I given back to them?¡±

    The room was filled with business people, who all knew this represented a remarkably lucrative

    investment. To say that Brielle owed the Haywood family was, frankly,ughable.

    Given these facts, why were the Haywoods ying the victim? The mood in the room shifted instantly

    to confusion, bewilderment.

    An investment of under two million, with a return of ten million in cash plus business support? It

    seemed like the Haywoods had made a killing.

    No one was born yesterday. A flicker of suspicion began to ignite in their minds. This evening¡¯s drama,

    it seemed, was not going to be straightforward.

    ¡°In conclusion, I owe nothing to anyone in the Haywood family. The ten million has been transferred.

    From now on, I have no affiliation with the Haywoods. As for Ms. Miranda¡¯s proposal to be my

    godmother, I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯ll have to decline that honor.¡±

    She spoke with rity and confidence, handing the microphone back to a pale¨Cfaced Miranda, even

    managing a smile at the audience.

    Silence swept over the crowd. Brielle¡¯s statement was final, severing all ties with the Haywood family.

    There was no going back now. She hadid everything out, clear as day, without muddying the waters.

    Miranda clenched her teeth, her hands itching to strangle Brielle. ¡°How can you say such things?¡± She

    clutched her chest in feigned agony, as if about to faint. ¡°All these years, I¡¯ve raised you as my own

    daughter, and now you want to walk away as if none of it means anything. Brielle, you¡¯re cold¨Chearted.¡±

    At the right moment, Lillian began patting Miranda¡¯s back, her face a picture of soft sympathy. ¡°Mom,

    don¡¯t upset yourself. Bri probably isn¡¯t thinking straight. Realizing suddenly she¡¯s not truly a Haywood

    must be tough.¡±

    ¡°Does she look upset to you?¡± Miranda shot back, putting on a show of heartache. ¡°Enough, let¡¯s not

    make a spectacle in front of the guests. I won¡¯t say another word.¡±

    Miranda was panicking inside, unable to find a point to counter, because Brielle had yed her cards

    too well, too cleverly, and the audience was beginning to waver.

    ¡°If the Haywood family really invested less than two million, it looks like they made a profit.¡±

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    15:40

    Chapter 167

    ¡°You all believe her just like that? The Haywoods are a renowned family, and why would they be so

    stingy? I bet the spreadsheet is doctored.¡±

    ¡°If it was doctored, why didn¡¯t the Haywoods immediately refute it? Why do they just stand there,

    looking mortified?¡±

    ¡°I think both Brielle and the Haywoods are shady. It¡¯s just a dog¨Ceat¨Cdog situation.¡±

    Lillian noticed the crowd was no longer unanimously ridiculing Brielle, and she felt a twinge of panic.

    She bit her lip and looked up at Max, who had been silent since he walked in. Any attempts at

    conversation were dismissed with a nonchnt nce from him.

    He seemed unattached to the drama, unfazed amid the storm. That was Max.

    Lillian¡¯s irritation grew, wondering why he didn¡¯t intervene when Brielle was so clearly being cruel. Did

    he not see how selfish and heartless Brielle¡¯s words were?

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Her face paled, unable toprehend how the atmosphere had changed so quickly. She had to stop

    the audience from specting further; she needed to find a way to mend the situation.

    ¡°Bri, you¡¯ve already caused the orphanage dean so much stress he¡¯s in the hospital. Now, do you want

    to put Mom in there too?¡±

    Lillian brought up the orphanage again, knowing it would inevitably lead to thoughts of charity

    donations. This was one aspect Brielle couldn¡¯t just shake off.

 Chapter 168

    Chapter 168

    Brielle paused mid¨Cstride, her lips curling into a cold sneer, ¡°Oh, Lillian, you¡¯ve got some nerve bringing

    up the orphanage. Whonded the poor director in the hospital, huh? You think I don¡¯t know? The old

    man¡¯s still recovering, and here you are dragging him into your little schemes, all to bring up the

    donation issue, right? Beating around the bush is second nature to you, isn¡¯t it?¡± Lillian¡¯s face turned

    ashen, shrinking under Brielle¡¯s piercing gaze.

    Standing on the floor, Brielle should have been the one looking up to Lillian on the stage, but

    inexplicably, Lillian felt as though it was Brielle who upied the moral high ground, because Brielle¡¯s

    gaze was filled with undisguised contempt.

    ¡°Bri, I wasn¡¯t trying to bring up the donations,¡± Lillian said, ying the victim as she clutched. Miranda

    for support, her voice quivering. ¡°You¡¯re just being overly sensitive.¡±

    Now that the crowd had witnessed the forms, Lillian¡¯s act seemed too contrived. But one thing. didn¡¯t

    cancel out the other. Even if the Haywoods had been cruel to Brielle, skimping on charity was her fault

    alone. Miranda was stingy, and that was a fact, as was Brielle¡¯s ingratitude.

    Before the murmurs could even start, Brielle¡¯s voice cut through. ¡°Lillian, since you¡¯re so eloquent, why

    don¡¯t you save it for the police?¡±

    Lillian thought she was hearing things. The police? What police?

    As confusion spread through the room, timely chatter came from outside the door, and several officers

    entered, their uniforms standing out starkly amongst the sea of elegant gowns and suits.

    The officers showed their badges and made a beeline for Lillian. ¡°Miss Lillian, we need you toe

    with us, please.¡±

    Lillian¡¯s pupils dted in disbelief, her mind roaring with panic. Why would the police be here for her?

    She quicklyposed herself and forced a smile, ¡°Officer, there must be some misunderstanding.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no misunderstanding. We have all the evidence we need. The charity has filed a report in

    cooperation with Miss Brielle regarding the Sunflower Children¡¯s Home donations. You¡¯ve been making

    donations in Miss Brielle¡¯s name, and now you need toe with us.¡±

    The charity had joined forces with Brielle to report Lillian? As the words sank in, those who had

    scorned Brielle¡¯s miserliness fell silent. The evidence must have been overwhelming for the police to

    act.

    Faces in the crowd reflected shock and anger. Those who had sided with Lillian against Brielle were

    now utterly speechless. It turned out that Brielle, not Lillian, had been the benefactor all along. And

    Lillian, attempting to bask in this stolen glory, had just tried to publicly shame

    Chapter 168

    Brielle for not donating.

    Lillian felt her world spinning. She wished for the ground to swallow her up. How could this happen?

    She had deliberately brought up the donations to clear her name, and now Brielle had preempted her

    with hard evidence and perfect timing.

    That bitch! She must have nned to ruin her.

    Lillian¡¯s lips trembled, and she dared not meet anyone¡¯s eyes, feeling their stares like knives on her

    skin. She was inplete disarray, her eyes reddening with humiliation, especially with Max witnessing

    her downfall.

    Her lips clenched tight, tasting the bitterness of her blood. Her pride was in shreds. Tonight. she was

    the epitome of disgrace.

    And there stood Robert, looking as if he had swallowed a bitter pill, wishing he could magically dismiss

    all the guests.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    ¡°Miss Lillian, pleasee with us,¡± the officer said, snapping a pair of silver handcuffs around her

    wrists.

    In that moment, Lillian shuddered and turned to Robert, her voice a desperate whisper, ¡°Dad.¡± Robert

    felt the sting of ultimate embarrassment. But what could he say with everyone watching? Use the

    Haywood clout to intimidate the police? With Max standing right there, any further outburst would only

    worsen the impression they¡¯d made.

    The Haywood family had lost all pretense of dignity that evening.

    Lillian felt like she couldn¡¯t breathe, wishing she could disappear. This was supposed to be her night of

    triumph, her grand return to the Haywood fold, and now it was all ruined. From now on, whenever

    people thought of Lillian, they would remember her humiliation at this banquet.

    She heard the sneers around her, and the tears flowed freely. She hated Brielle. Brielle had destroyed

    everything!

 Chapter 169

    Chapter 169

    By the time things had reached this stage, nobody in the room was willing to speak up for Lillian. Even

    Spencer felt as though his cheeks were on fire.

    Had Lillian really broken thew? Was Brielle the one who had been making the donations all along?

    How could Lillian do such a thing? The cracks in their once beautiful rtionship were showing, but he

    didn¡¯t want to admit it.

    At that moment, it seemed that Lillian finally remembered him, calling out through her tears, ¡°Spencer!¡±

    Her innocent demeanor, that wronged tone in her voice, made it seem as though she was the one who

    had been mistreated. Spencer stood amidst the crowd, his mind thundering with confusion.

    Brielle, witnessing their deep connection, couldn¡¯t help but let out a chuckle, ¡°Spencer, I forgot. to

    mention earlier, consider our engagement off. You love Lillian so much, and now that she¡¯s in trouble,

    you should be the first to step up, as her fianc¨¦, and bail her out, right?¡±

    Lillian¡¯s eyes were bloodshot with hatred. That bitch!

    Spencer, however, was frozen in ce as if someone had struck his pressure point. He was at a loss,

    even looking up at Faith for some kind of guidance.

    What should he do in a situation like this?

    In the crowd, Faith¡¯s expression was so dark it was almostical. After tonight, Lillian would surely

    be theughingstock of their circle. Livid, Faith made a snap decision and stepped forward with a

    fa?ade of kindness. ¡°Bri, dear, the prior mess was Spencer¡¯s fault. We had no idea Lillian was such a

    person.¡±

    Faith quickly weighed the pros and cons, deciding that distancing herself from the joke that was Lillian

    was the best course of action.

    Brielle raised an eyebrow, her gaze dripping with sarcasm, curious about what Faith was going to say.

    Faith¡¯s forehead beaded with sweat as she grasped Spencer¡¯s hand, almost as if she were pushing him

    toward a decision. ¡°Bri, don¡¯t talk nonsense about calling off the engagement. Spencer does care for

    you. He¡¯s just temporarily confused, that¡¯s all. His fling with Lillian was just a moment of folly. You two

    should work things out and not let otherse between you.¡±

    Faith had endured so much for the sake of Ryan¡¯s reputation, which spoke volumes about her

    character. Now that Brielle had garnered sympathy and admiration from the onlookers, there was no

    way Faith would let her son be associated with Lillian¡¯s stain. Even if Faith disliked Brielle, she had to

    swallow her pride.

    She nced up at Max, who sat collected, a rosary draped over his wrist, seemingly indifferent to the

    proceedings as if they were but a trivial y before him.

    15-

    Chapter 169

    Faith withdrew her gaze. After all, Brielle had caught Max¡¯s eye, and the engagement, for the time

    being, could not be broken.

    Brielle had never expected Falth, who despised her the most, to be so flexible. She found it amusing.

    ¡°Ms. Faith, it¡¯s a pity, but I¡¯m the one ending the engagement.¡±

    She looked at Spencer, void of any attachment, ¡°Spencer loves Lillian. Surely he won¡¯t abandon his

    beloved in her time of need? We can¡¯t let Mr. Dorsey think that his nephew is a man without

    conviction.¡±

    Thatst statement was a severe one. To be seen ascking conviction in front of Max was tantamount

    to beingpletely cut off from returning to Dorsey International.

    Brielle¡¯s use of Max¡¯s name left Faith speechless.

    Spencer, as if struck by lightning, retorted without hesitation, ¡°I¡¯m canceling our engagement. Lillian is

    my fianc¨¦e! Brielle, I never cared for you.¡± His voice was firm yet trembled slightly, as if he was

    desperately suppressing something.

    Lillian couldn¡¯t have broken thew. It all had to be a misunderstanding. After all, she was so. kind. It

    must be Brielle¡¯s doing!

    Spencer almost hypnotized himself into believing this narrative, refusing to admit he had made. a

    mistake, and was now scrambling to vindicate Lillian. He began to despise Brielle even more.

    Faith was livid. She had just offered not to break off the engagement, and Brielle, that upstart, had tly

    refused? She felt utterly humiliated. In her anger, she raised her hand in a threatening gesture. ¡°You!¡±

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    But her p was caught mid¨Cair by someone else. Following the strong wrist, her eyes met al string of

    ck beads.

    No one had noticed Max approaching. His eyes calm and unfazed, ¡°Have we had enough. drama?¡±

    With that one cool remark, Faith¡¯s fire was extinguished, leaving her flustered, ¡°Max, Spencer is just

    young, and I was only¡­¡±

 Chapter 170

    Chapter 170

    Max withdrew his hand, pulling out a handkerchief and silently wiping his fingertips.

    Faith felt a jolt of humiliation but dared not offend him.

    ¡°He¡¯s just two years younger than me.¡±

    His casual remark felt like a barrage of ps to both Faith and Spencer.

    Indeed, how could they forget that Max was only two years older than Spencer?

    Using himself to put down Spencer was an absolute crushing defeat. They were not even on the same

    level; there was noparison.

    Spencer was unworthy of even being mentioned in the same breath as him.

    Spencer cast his eyes down, his shoulders drooping in defeat.

    Faith, her lips quivering, was now too scared to utter another word.

    With Max stepping forward, the atmosphere in the room seemed to reach a breaking point..

    A few officers stood still, watching Lillian¡¯s ashen face. Eventually, one of them couldn¡¯t hold back.

    ¡°Miss Brielle, we will keep you updated on the progress of the case, and we thank you for your trust in

    the police force.¡±

    It was a mere formality, but it served to cut through the tense air.

    Lillian was speechless, her reasoning burnt to cinders by rage upon hearing Faith¡¯s words..

    Faith wanted to give up on her, hoping Spencer would not engage with her, even wishing for Brielle to

    be her daughter¨Cinw.

    Lillian felt a lump in her chest. As she stared at Max, surrounded by admirers, determination. shined in

    her eyes.

    Everyone looked down on her,ughing at her, but just wait. Once she climbed her way to Max, she¡¯d

    serve up a harsh reality check to those who dared to ridicule her.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    They thought she couldn¡¯t live without Spencer? Ha, she¡¯d been wanting to kick that man to the curb!

    Lillian bit her lip so hard it started to bleed.

    She heard Brielle¡¯s indifferent voice, ¡°You don¡¯t need to update me on the details. Just follow the

    procedures.¡±

    It seemed as if she hadn¡¯t taken Lillian seriously at all, making the earlier scene where Lillian. went to

    great lengths during the first half of the banquet look like a clownish act.

    Brielle nced around; everyone¡¯s expressions were subtle, and the ce was in disarray.

    The banquet hade to an end at this point.

    1/3

    15:11

    Chapter 170

    Brielle chuckled softly, not forgetting to bid farewell to Miranda, ¡°Ms. Miranda, I shall take my leave.¡±

    Miranda fainted from sheer anger, while Robert busied himself with ushering the quests out, watching

    Brielle leave triumphantly, his resentful gaze as if it could pierce her spine.

    After tonight, it wasn¡¯t just Lillian; the entire Haywood n would be aughingstock.

    The guests whispered among themselves, and even as they walked out, they couldn¡¯t resist looking

    back to enjoy the Haywoods¡® dismay.

    How ridiculous, the belle of the ball taken away to the police station.

    The Haywoods had nailed themselves to the pir of shame.

    Brielle left without hesitation, her mission for the evening aplished.

    First, she cut ties with the Haywood n.

    Second, she annulled her engagement to Spencer.

    She was feeling good, slowing her pace to admire the floral walls arranged by the Haywoods.

    If the Haywoods knew her thoughts, the fainted Miranda might just wake up again.

    Brielle had just passed thest floral wall when she saw a man standing there.

    It was Max.

    He too had left the hall, and, by chance, their paths were the same.

    Brielle found it amusing and quickened her pace to join him.

    Before she could speak, Maxmented, ¡°You really stole the show tonight.¡±

    Brielle smiled, and she couldn¡¯t resist wrapping her arms around his neck, ¡°d I didn¡¯t embarrass

    you, Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    Max looked down, his fingers gently pinching her chin.

    He couldn¡¯t help but recall her verbal sparring in the hall. She was quite endearing.

    The temperature on Brielle¡¯s cheeks began to rise as she felt that even the most vibrant flowers

    couldn¡¯tpare to the faint smile in his eyes.

    She never knew a man could be so bewitching.

    She wanted to kiss him.

    Brielle tiptoed, her lips about to touch his, when footsteps sounded behind her.

    ¡°Brielle, stop right there!¡±

    It was Spencer, unexpectedlying after her.

    Brielle¡¯s heart raced, trying to pull away, b

    Chapter 170

    ut Max wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close and sheltering her behind the floral

    wall.

    ¡°He¡¯s already your ex¨Cfianc¨¦. Are you still afraid of being seen?¡±

    His tone was teasing, almost wicked.

    Brielle¡¯s heart fluttered, and before she could react, his lips captured hers, nibbling precisely at her lip,

    his hand firmly on her waist.

    Brielle¡¯s mind exploded, the floral wall before her eyes turning into dazzling fireworks.

    What on earth was Max thinking?

    Her reason told her Spencer¡¯s footsteps were near, that this was the moment to push him. away, b

    ut in reality, her hands slid across his abdomen, embracing his waist involuntarily.

    She couldn¡¯t resist Max and the intoxicating ambiguity he offered, even if such ambiguity was toxic.

    His kiss deepened, the heat of his palm nearly scorching her.

    Spencer¡¯s footsteps were just inches away. Brielle even closed her eyes, thinking maybe they¡¯d all

    gone mad tonight.

 Chapter 171

    Chapter 171 g out, gently brushing her lips with his fingers.

    Only he had seen this side of Brielle.

    Only he.

    He couldn¡¯t help but recall the words he once said to her¨Clove was but an illusion under the influence of

    dopamine.

    Yet his dopamine levels were insatiable, as if craving more.

    Was that even reasonable?

    He didn¡¯t understand, but clearly, he had no desire to stop.

    He shrugged off his suit jacket and draped it over Brielle.

    The moment the jacket obscured her vision, Spencer rounded the corner of the floral wall.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Fury was written all over Spencer¡¯s face. He still had many questions unanswered. He wanted to know

    if Brielle had deliberately set up Lillian, and he had to make it clear to Brielle that he had no regrets

    whatsoever.

    Even if Brielle won tonight, it wouldn¡¯t change the fact of her humble origins.

    She was beneath him. Forever unworthy!

    Spencer caught sight of the scene before him, and his angry mind was suddenly doused with cold

    water, bringing him back to his senses.

    He saw his Uncle Max pressing a woman against the wall, her figure mostly obscured by his jacket,

    only her slender legs visible. Her face was hidden, and Max, who was the talk of everyone, was now

    biting her lip, even emitting faint sounds of pleasure.

    Perhaps disturbed in his moment of enjoyment. Max looked up with a voice cold as ice. ¡°Scram.¡±

    Spencer felt as if he¡¯d been struck by lightning, retreating in disbelief, not daring to look again.. He

    hurried back the way he came, his footsteps in disarray.

    Uncle Max with a woman?

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    14.09

    Chapter 171

    Uncle Max kissing a woman in public?

    His mind was a whirlwind of confusion, not understanding the fear and panic welling up inside him, his

    back breaking out in sweat.

    Meanwhile, inside the floral enclosure, Brielle heard the footsteps recede and slowly opened

    her eyes.

    Their first night together, she had experienced his prowess.

    That dominance, that thrilling heat that reached her very core, was like a wildfire sweeping across a

    prairie..

    This kiss would likely be unforgettable for her entire life, melting into the taste of wine, blending with the

    enchanting glow of the lights.

    The yful smile in the corner of his eyes gripped her heart.

    Suddenly scooped up in his arms, she hid under his suit jacket as he carried her path.

    The car outside had been waiting, the privacy screen tastefully lowered.

    raway down the

    Kissed senseless by him, Brielle¡¯s thoughts were scattered, even forgetting that Patrick was in the

    front, and this was happening in a car.

    She shamelessly felt that she would willingly die in this kiss.

    The car stopped at the Premier Pce, and she remained nestled in his embrace.

    Once in the master bedroom, she was set on the bed, and soon the room¡¯s temperature soared. Her

    toes curled from the pleasure, and she couldn¡¯t help but want to cry out his name.

    In the haze, his eyelids lifted slightly, revealing the full arc of his eyes, indifferent, yet filled with a

    sensual charm.

    The contour of his jaw was sleek and elongated, and every bit of him seemed sculpted by divine hands.

    She couldn¡¯t stop caring for him, b

    ut what were they to each other?

    She seemed to be just a little pet he kept in good humor.

    Such piercing reality was unbearable.

    Yet the fall was irresistible.

    It wasn¡¯t until the early hours that it all came to an end.

    Brielley on the familiar bed, inhaling his scent, but her heart felt hollow.

    Chapter 1/1

    She reached out a finger, longing to trace his handsome, sleeping features. T

    hen his phone rang, and seeing his brows furrow, she quickly closed her eyes, pretending to be deep in

    sleep.

    She slowed her breathing, feeling him stir, his pleasing voice speaking. ¡°Alivia, what¡¯s up?¡±

    Like a bucket of ice water poured over her, Brielle buried her face in the soft duvet, feeling as if her

    heart was being pierced with pain.

 Chapter 172

    Chapter 172

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Max slipped into his pajamas and wandered over to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows. ¡°Dad¡¯s orders?

    When?¡±

    Whatever came through on the other end rendered him silent for a moment. ¡°You handle it.¡±

    After hanging up, he approached the bed and carefully tucked Brielle in, then turned and walked

    away.

    Only when the bedroom door clicked shut did Brielle slowly open her eyes.

    Footsteps echoed in the hallway, heading towards the study, it seemed.

    She turned over, the name ¡®Alivia¡® stirring unrest within her.

    A self¨Cdeprecating smile crept across Brielle¡¯s face. Was he about to meet with the Barnes girl? She

    gently patted her somewhat stifled chest, realizing she had no right to be jealous. Therefore, she had to

    manage her emotions well.

    She couldn¡¯t let him find out. She couldn¡¯t let anyone find out.

    The next morning, she was up at six.

    She had nned to say goodbye to Max in person, but Patrick informed her he had gone to the office

    overnight to deal with paperwork.

    A wave of disappointment crossed her eyes, but then she thought, maybe it was for the best.

    The fluttering of her heart fromst night lingered, and his business trip was the perfect chance

    to calm down.

    She freshened up back at her apartment, grabbed herptop and all her documents, and set off. Since

    she¡¯s rushed for time, she missed Aubree¡¯s text message.

    Not until she was in the cab did she see Aubree¡¯s message.

    [Bri, did you hear? Sophia¡¯s gone missing.]

    Brielle frowned. Sophia missing?

    [Are you sure? I thought she went to a banquet, right?]

    No wonder the Ronds didn¡¯t hassle herst night. It was because Sophia had vanished. H

    ow could Sophia just disappear?

    She hadn¡¯t heard even a whisper.

    The Ronds said she definitely went to the banquet. The cops questioned a bunch of people. Some

    saw her, but after she went to talk to Lillian, she was gone.

    Chapter 172

    Vanished after seeing Lillian? Could it be rted to hel?

    Knowing Lillian as she did. Brielle doubted she would leave such an obvious clue.

    And Lillian had no reason to do this. Something else must have happenedst night. Maybe someone

    was fishing in troubled waters.

    Aubree sent another cautious message.

    [Be safe. We don¡¯t know who¡¯s behind Sophia¡¯s disappearance or who they¡¯re really after. Keep

    yourself protected until things clear up.]

    Brielle had a simr hunch, but it was still unclear which side was involved.

    As she was about to exit the cab, her phone buzzed with a new message.

    ¨C[You¡¯re next.]

    Following the message was a photo.

    In it, Sophia looked battered and copsed on the ground, hands and feet bound, eyes covered with a

    thick ck cloth, her body marred withsh marks.

    She had vanished only for a night, yet she looked half¨Cdead.

    This was a threatening message from a kidnapper.

    Brielle frowned and didn¡¯t hesitate to contactst night¡¯s police and forwarded the number.

    The response from the police was swift.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, it¡¯s a burner phone, and the signal is intermittent, likely scrambling detection. This is

    professional work. Officers will be dispatched for your protection.¡±

    Just as Brielle was about to inform them she was en route to a business trip, another buzz from the

    phone brought another message from the same number.

    A photo, of her, standing outside the airport, less than a hundred meters away.

    Brielle¡¯splexion turned grim, and she whispered to the police. ¡°I¡¯m being watched, right outside the

    airport. It¡¯s crowded here, and they won¡¯t make a move yet. I hope your people can.

    get here fast.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re on our way.¡±

    Her heart raced as she hung up, then she positioned herself in the most visible location, standing still.

    Guns were banned in the country. No one could take her life from a hundred meters away.

    And anyone approaching her, she would vigntly watch their next move.

    Her phone rang again, another new message.

    ¨C[Leaving the country will only get you killed faster.]

 Chapter 173

    Chapter 173

    Brielle couldn¡¯t fathom the kidnapper¡¯s rationale. First, they had their sights set on Sophia, and now

    her? Aside from aplicated past, there was no connection between her and Sophia.

    Until the cops showed up, Brielle¡¯s heart was in her throat.

    The officers were polite. After all, they had just seen her the night before. ¡°Ms. Brielle, pleasee

    with us to the station to give a statement.¡±

    She nodded, handing over her phone as evidence, knowing that her nned business trip would have

    to be put on hold. Safety came first.

    Riding in the back of the squad car, she arrived at the precinct only to see Miranda and Cameron there

    to bail out Lillian.

    Their faces were storm clouds, especially when they caught sight of Brielle. It looked like they wanted

    to tear her limb from limb.

    Miranda¡¯s lips quivered with rage as she stormed over. ¡°Brielle! Isn¡¯t it enough that you¡¯ve framed Lillian

    and had her thrown in jail? You¡¯re downright evil. Are youing to the police station at a time like this

    to add insult to injury?¡±

    Her finger was almost poking Brielle¡¯s face, her cheeks flushed with anger.

    ¡°Ms. Miranda, you¡¯re barking up the wrong tree. I couldn¡¯t care less about Lillian¡¯s case.¡± Brielle replied

    coolly, heading toward the entrance of the building.

    Miranda snorted. ¡°Couldn¡¯t care less? If you hadn¡¯t meddled years ago, how would the Haywood family

    ever have acknowledged you? It seems you¡¯ve orchestrated this whole. charade, luring Lillian into a

    trap just to expose her on the day she was to be recognized by the family. You¡¯re downright sinister.¡±

    Brielle felt she had nothing to say to the Haywoods and ignored Miranda, but then Cameron chimed in.

    ¡°Brielle, have you considered how Grandpa would react to this news?¡±

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    It was the second time Cameron had used Michael as leverage against her.

    ¡°Cameron, don¡¯t you see the irony? I¡¯m not a Haywood. You¡¯re using your grandfather to threaten an

    outsider. What¡¯s your game?¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what I think, as long as it works. The fiasco atst night¡¯s banquet will soon reach

    Grandpa¡¯s ears, and you wouldn¡¯t want him to worry about Haywood affairs in his twilight years, would

    you? If you don¡¯t want to upset him, it¡¯s best you keep quiet about Lillian.¡±

    His tone softened whenever he mentioned Lillian.

    Brielle felt a chill. Knowing full well that Lillian was his sister, yet he was still so fixated.

    A man like that was destined to be manipted by Lillian.

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    14:10

    Chapter 173

    As the three faced off at the entrance, the cops brought out Lillian, who looked as though she had been

    through hell and back. Just one night in lockup had left her gaunt, her vitality seemingly drained.

    The moment Miranda saw her daughter, her heart clenched, and she quickly supported Lillian.

    ¡°Lillian, are you alright?¡±

    Lillian¡¯s lips were pale, and when her eyes met Brielle¡¯s, they were filled with venom.

    Her chest felt like it was about to burst with fury, and she looked like she wanted to w Brielle¡¯s face

    off. ¡°What are you doing here, Brielle? Here to gloat?¡±

    The previous night¡¯s events had nearly broken her, and the overnight stay in jail had eroded what little

    sanity she had left.

    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, don¡¯t get smug.¡±

    She didn¡¯t bother hiding her malice, ¡°You haven¡¯t won. Just wait and see.¡±

    Brielle wasn¡¯t intimidated by the harsh words. Instead, it was Miranda who flinched, as if she no longer

    recognized her daughter. In her mind, Lillian had always been gentle, always

    considerate of others, even when hurt.

    But then Lillian¡¯s eyes welled with tears, and she whimpered, ¡°Mom, I just want to go home and

    rest.¡±

    She then turned to Cameron with a weak plea, ¡°Cameron, can I ride back with you?¡±

    Cameron nodded, and as he helped Lillian into the car, he didn¡¯t forget to admonish Brielle.

    ¡°Let¡¯s leave it at this. Mom and Dad will surely discuss this with youter. There¡¯s no need for you to

    come all this way to the station just to rub salt in the wound. No matter what, Lillian is a daughter of the

    Haywood family, and the wealth she has, you couldn¡¯t earn in a lifetime at Dorsey International. Brielle,

    you¡¯re studying finance, and you should know better than to fight capital.¡±

    The implication was clear: the Haywood family had Lillian¡¯s back, but Brielle had no one.

    Moved by his words, Lillian leaned into Cameron. ¡°Cameron, thank you.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help butugh, ¡°A lifetime¡¯s sry at Dorsey International isn¡¯t enough? How do you

    know the Haywood family won¡¯t go bankrupt?¡±

 Chapter 174

    Chapter 174

    ¡°Brielle, you!¡±

    Cameron was livid, but Lillian¡¯s handnded gently on his arm. ¡°Let it go, Cameron. She¡¯s just all talk.¡±

    In her heart, Lillian seethed with rage, but staying put would only serve as amusement for

    onlookers.

    Cameron, too fed up to deal with Brielle any longer, mmed the car door shut.

    Meanwhile, Miranda took off in a different vehicle.

    Left standing on her own, Brielle felt a sudden peace around her ears. She followed the officer into the

    lobby.

    The cop kept talking about the Haywood family¡¯s donation.

    ¡°Not only did they bail out Lillian, but to salvage her rep, they dropped a cool ten mil in her name. to the

    Sunflower Children¡¯s Home. Ms. Brielle, please, take a seat.¡±

    The officer was no fool. He saw right through the Haywood bunch, ¡°Getting away from that kind of

    family is a good thing.¡±

    In the departing car, Lillian deliberately snuggled up to Cameron, eager to gauge just how far her

    brother would go for her.

    Afterst night¡¯s debacle, her fair¨Cweather friends had all mmed up, and even Spencer hadn¡¯t

    shown up to pick her up.

    It was Lillian¡¯s first bitter taste of defeat.

    For years she¡¯d worked to tarnish Brielle¡¯s name, and now it had all fallen apart.

    She had to fight back.

    Step one was to see what lengths the Haywood family would go to for her.

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    With reddened eyes, Lillian turned, her lips twitching in a semnce of hurt, ¡°Cameron, it was Brielle

    who pushed me to make that donation. She told me to put it in my name. I never expected her to pull a

    stunt like this. I was naive. Why would anyone be nice to you for no reason? She must¡¯ve known I was

    the real Haywood daughter and set this whole thing up.¡±

    Cameron couldn¡¯t stand to see her suffer. He had also lost some weight. They¡¯d been close, almost too

    close once, but now they were just siblings.

    Gripping the steering wheel, he didn¡¯t meet her eyes. ¡°The Haywoods will handle this mess. Next time,

    be smarter about who you befriend.¡±

    It seemed he had forgiven her and believed her story.

    Cameron¡¯s bias towards her was undeniable, and she knew how to y it.

    1/2

    14:10

    Chapter 174

    With a bitter look in her eyes, Lillian grabbed his wrist,¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Cameron. I never meant to be the

    Haywood daughter. Don¡¯t be mad at me. You¡¯ll meet a better woman one day.¡±

    Despite his efforts, Cameron¡¯s heart twinged at her words.

    ¡°Sure, I will. And you will too, Lillian.

    ¡°No, I won¡¯t. That video is out there, and withst night¡¯s mess, no one will want to marry me. Spencer

    didn¡¯t evene today. He must be so disappointed.¡±

    Her eyes dropped, and she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.

    ¡°The thing with Spencer, it happened because we drank too much. I panicked when I woke up. I don¡¯t

    really like him. The guy I like, he¡¯ll never give me a second nce.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? Who do you like?¡±

    Cameron was puzzled, but years of indulging Lillian¡¯s wishes meant he couldn¡¯t deny her anything.

    Lillian had long coveted the idea of attaching herself to Max. Now was the perfect chance to make her

    feelings known.

    Otherwise, if Cameron found out on his own, it would make for a messy situation.

    ¡°This mess made me see that Spencer doesn¡¯t really care about me. Being with him wouldn¡¯t make me

    happy. I¡¯ve seen Max a few times before. He¡¯s the kind of man worthmitting to, better than

    Spencer. If I could be with him, I¡¯d die happy. Could you help me?¡±

    Few women in Beaconsfield dared pursue Max; just one nce from him could freeze you with his icy

    demeanor.

    Lillian liked Max? That was almost beyond belief.

    With a rueful smile, Lillian added, ¡°You think I¡¯m not good enough for him, don¡¯t you? My reputation is

    ruined now.¡±

    ¡°Of course not! You deserve the best, Lillian. But Max¡­

    ¡°If Max doesn¡¯t mind Brielle, why would he reject me? Between me and Brielle, who¡¯s better?¡±

    ¡°You are, of course!¡±

    Cameron¡¯s response came without hesitation, a testament to his deep bias for Lillian.

    With a slight curve of her lips, Lillian yed her card, ¡°If Brielle can get close to Max, why can¡¯t I? As

    long as you¡¯re willing to help me, bro.¡±

    Cameron had been under Lillian¡¯s spell for over a decade, and breaking free wasn¡¯t something he

    could do overnight. After a few minutes of hesitation, he nodded gravely.

    ¡°I¡¯ll help you, but don¡¯t do anything rash.¡±

    With that, Lillian achieved her aim, the corners of her mouth hinting at a dark satisfaction..

    2/2

 Chapter 175

    Chapter 175

    Inside the police station, Brielle was diligently answering an officer¡¯s questions.

    She had handed over Sophia¡¯s photo to the authorities, hoping they could glean some clues about her

    whereabouts from the background scenery.

    The police quickly got in touch with the Rond family and forwarded them the photograph.

    Since it was Brielle¡¯s lead, she wasn¡¯t excluded from the conversation with the Rond family.

    The one who answered the phone was Tessa. Upon hearing it was Brielle¡¯s photo, her first response

    was, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you arrested Brielle?¡±

    The officer, caught off guard, nced reflexively at Brielle and replied somewhat defensively. ¡°Ms.

    Tessa, you might have misunderstood. It was Miss Brielle who provided the photo, and she is the

    kidnapper¡¯s next target.¡±

    ¡°Officer, you say Brielle is the next target, but what connection does she have with my cousin? If the

    kidnapper¡¯s motive is to abduct wealthy youngdies, then Brielle certainly wouldn¡¯t be on their list.

    Besides, everyone knows there¡¯s bad blood between Sophia and Brielle, and it was atst night¡¯s

    banquet that Sophia disappeared. Everyone is fully aware of how Brielle strutted around at the

    banquet.¡±

    Tessa¡¯s tone was full of conviction, ¡°Brielle is the most likely suspect for Sophia¡¯s abduction. If you don¡¯t

    arrest her, I¡¯ll take this to court and have a subpoena delivered to her doorstep.¡±

    The officer was at a loss for words, unprepared for such a blunt usation from the Rond family.

    Brielle took the phone from the officer, ¡°Ms. Tessa, if the subpoena reaches me, I¡¯ll surely sign my

    name neatly. I hope you keep your word.¡±

    Tessa hadn¡¯t expected Brielle to be there, let alone overhear her.

    Feeling a touch of embarrassment, Tessa¡¯s voice chilled, ¡°Do you know who you¡¯re speaking to?¡±

    In the social circles of Beaconsfield, Tessa held considerable sway, which was why Tiffanie had

    advised Brielle not to cross her.

    Tessa had a loyal hound in Andrew, ready to clear any obstacle at her whim.

    Except for a few teenage years when health issues almost relegated her to the countryside. Tessa had

    always been at the center of social circles, never before subjected to such mockery. Stunned by

    Brielle¡¯s retort, Tessa was momentarily speechless. By the time sheposed a reply, the line had

    gone dead.

    It was like punching into a cushion¨Cfrustrating and unsatisfying.

    14:10

    Chapter 175

    Coughing in irritation and clenching her teeth, Tessa red at her phone.

    Sophia was right; Brielle was indeed infuriating.

    After hanging up, Brielle looked up at the officer, ¡°Sorry about that, the call dropped. I¡¯ve finished giving

    my statement. Can I go home now? The police will be keeping watch around my apartment, right?¡±

    The officer nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, our colleagues will be on the lookout for any suspicious individuals

    near your residence.¡±Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Brielle sighed in relief, then remembered she should probably call Dorsey International to inform them.

    Instead of being on a business trip, she found herself at the police station.

    Until the kidnapping issue was resolved, her personal safety couldn¡¯t be guaranteed. For now, she had

    to set aside the matter of the business trip.

    She decided to text Max, briefly exining that an urgent matter hade up and her trip would be

    postponed.

    There was no immediate reply from Max, but Brielle didn¡¯t linger on it.

    On the ride back to her apartment in the police car, her phone pinged with a news alert about Max.

    -The Dorsey family in talks with the Barnes family over a significant matter? Spections. arise about a

    potential marriage.

    The headline was clear¨Ccut, apanied by photos of Max¡¯s car at the airport and him. chatting with

    Jose Barnes.

    As the premier family of Beaconsfield, the Dorseys were always under media scrutiny. especially when

    it came to the prospect of a merger between two wealthy dynasties.

    Beneath the article,ments were filled with blessings, sparked by Alivia¡¯s social media post unting

    her rosary and a cryptic poem hinting at affection for someone.

    Thements fromizens were all full of blessings.

    [How romantic! Is this what romance looks like between big shots?]

    [They¡¯ve known each other since childhood, true childhood sweethearts, and both graduated from top

    universities. They¡¯re a match made by fate.]

    [I¡¯m so jealous of Alivia. She can gaze upon Max up close.]

 Chapter 176

    Chapter 176

    Brielle scrolled through thements and noticed someone had posted a screenshot of Alivia¡¯stest

    post, featuring a ck rosary bracelet wrapped around her wrist, identical to the beads Max had been

    seen wearing in several paparazzi shots.

    Everyone seemed to be green with envy, but all Brielle could taste was the bitter tang disappointment.

    of

    No wonder he hadn¡¯t replied to her texts; he was at the airport, picking up the patriarch of the Barnes

    family.

    we¡¯ve

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    With a sigh, she closed her eyes just as the cop in the front seat said, ¡°Ms. Brielle, we¡® reached your

    apartment.¡±

    Quickly regaining herposure, Brielle nodded and stepped out of the car, walking towards the

    building entrance in a daze, while the officers who had apanied her lurked nearby.

    As soon as Brielle exited the elevator, her front door greeted her with a mess of cigarette butts, and

    there sat a man on her doorstep, Spencer, reeking of booze and tobo, abination that turned her

    stomach.

    His bloodshot eyes lifted to meet hers, and he staggered to his feet, slurring. ¡°I checked out the charity,

    and indeed, it was your donation. Burp.¡±

    After belching loudly, he peered at her through bleary eyes, ¡°Lillian¡¯s gone off the deep end. I was all

    set to marry her, but my mom¡¯s had second thoughts, wants me to have another go at convincing you.

    Brielle, is there any chance for us?¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t believe his nerve, flinging her door open, ¡°Maybe you should go get your head checked

    at the hospital first.¡±

    She tried to m the door, but Spencer¡¯s hand shot out, bracing against it.

    Without hesitation, Brielle pushed back¨Chard.

    ¡°Bang!¡±

    She expected him to recoil, but he didn¡¯t, wincing as his hand visibly swelled.

    A pang of regret hit her, and she pulled the door open, ¡°What the hell do you want, Spencer? Our

    engagement is off. I¡¯m not ying house with you.¡±

    Spencer¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and he couldn¡¯t help but grab her hand. He had no idea what he was

    doing, thinking it was all a dream. Even in his dreams, Brielle was so heartless.

    Blind with frustration, he barged in, pinning her against the wall..

    Brielle felt her insides jolt, and instinctively, her foot shot out into his stomach.

    Spencer doubled over, his face turning a shade paler with pain.

    Chapter 176

    The agony snapped him back to reality, and he looked around, realizing this was Brielle¡¯s room. He

    remembereding to Brielle¡¯s apartment, feeling upset, so he smoked a few extra

    cigarettes.

    ¡°Bri.¡±

    He called out, staggering to his feet and lunging forward, copsing both of them onto the couch.

    Before Brielle could react, the sound of camera shutters filled the air from the doorway.

    ¡°Click¨Cclick!¡±

    Caught in thispromising position, they were snapped in a series of shots.

    Brielle shoved Spencer away, ready to chase the paparazzi hiding in the shadows, b

    ut Spencer wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. ¡°The stuff I said at the party, all nonsense.

    I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Tears rimmed his eyes as he bit his lip. ¡°I apologize.¡±

    Shaking with fury, Brielle wondered who had sent the photographer. What was the angle? Did the

    gossip from the Haywood family¡¯s party leak, and now the media was prying into high. society secrets,

    tailing Spencer for some juicy scandal?

    Teeth clenched, her heart pounding, she pointed to the door, ¡°Get out.¡±

    Silent, Spencer felt humiliated. He had apologized, wasn¡¯t that enough?

    ¡°Brielle, 1-¡±

    ¡°I said leave. You better find that photographer and stop those photos from going viral. I refuse to be

    tabloid fodder with you.¡±

    Lips pressed into a thin line, Spencer¡¯s eyes danced with resentment.

    Sharing the news with him was that shameful?

    His cheek burned with both pain and embarrassment.

    Dizzily, he staggered out, and at the building entrance, the photographer approached, handing over the

    camera with deference.

    ¡°Mr. Spencer, are these shots to your liking? Should I ssh them across the front page?¡±

    So, it was Spencer who had nned this.

    A satisfied smile curled his lips as he reviewed the images capturing Brielle beneath him, artfully taken.

    ¡°Publish these,¡± he instructed, his voice cold, ¡°I will transfer the paymentter. Send these photos to a

    few groups, and spin it as an old me rekindling.¡±

 Chapter 177

    Chapter 177

    The reporter nodded with satisfaction, pulling out his smartphone to disy his ount.

    A hefty sum of ten thousand dors swiftlynded in his ount. He dove into a few online forums and,

    true to his word, shared the photos far and wide.

    Meanwhile, Spencer sat numbly in his car, staring nkly at the palm of his hand where he could still

    feel the lingering warmth of Brielle¡¯s touch.

    Over the years, Spencer and Brielle hadn¡¯t been close. There were no hugs, no kisses, none of the

    usual couple¡¯s intimacies had passed between them.

    When he had pinned her down earlier, he was struck by the vividness of her expression.

    But the thought of her showing that face to other men made Spencer¡¯s stomach turn.

    Brielle¡¯s performance at the banquet embarrassed him greatly, and he was determined to retaliate.

    That was why he deliberately orchestrated this scene.

    Brielle¡¯s eagerness to sever ties only made Spencer more determined to keep her entangled in his life.

    As for Lillian, a little sweet¨Ctalk would smooth things over.

    His mother was right: Lillian¡¯s reputation was tarnished, and his grandfather wouldn¡¯t allow him to be

    entangled with a woman of her standing. He just couldn¡¯t let her go.

    If he could keep Lillian, why couldn¡¯t he do the same for Brielle?

    With Brielle¡¯s history with men, what was one more to her? And after all these years without any real

    intimacy between them, he felt owed.

    He was sure Brielle woulde crawling back to him in tears.

    Back at her apartment, Brielle bolted her door with shaking hands, her head pounding with rage and

    distress.

    She hadn¡¯t eaten much at the banquetst night and had missed breakfast this morning. Spencer¡¯s

    outburst left her stomach in knots, and she rushed to the bathroom.

    All she could bring up was bile, and cold sweat broke out across her forehead. She stumbled back to

    the couch, the room spinning before her eyes.

    She felt like she was paying for some past¨Clife debt to Spencer.

    Clutching her phone, she tried to dial for an ambnce, but her vision blurred, and her hands shook

    too much to see whom she was calling. Ovee with pain, she passed out.

    The Dorsey family home was bustling with excitement. Michael and Jose had returned from their

    vacation, and it was the perfect asion for a family dinner, a gathering of generations.

    Max was pulled away from overtime at the office by a call from Michael.

    1/2

    14:11

    With Jose staying for dinner, it was only proper for the younger family members, including Max. to join.

    Other rtives rushed to the residence, even including Ryan, recently stripped of his position, who

    hoped to leave a good impression on the family elder..

    Max, finishing a work call, was about to step into the hall when his phone buzzed again.

    Inside the house, the voices of the two old gentlemen conversing could be heard, along with the

    compliments from the younger generation. He heard someone call his name and reflexively attempted

    to hang up the phone.

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    However, the screen shed Brielle¡¯s name.

    Pausing. Max stepped aside. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    There was no response, just an intermittent breathing and a muffled groan of distress.

    Without a second thought, Max headed out, the servant who had opened the door for him only catching

    a glimpse of his retreating back and calling out, ¡°Where are you off to, sir?¡±

    But by then. Max was gone.

    He

    p got into the car and had someone locate Brielle¡¯s phone. When he found out she was at her

    apartment, he sighed in relief and stepped on the gas.

    Max rarely drove himself, but this time, he pushed the speed to the maximum. After reaching. the

    building, he saw the neighboringdy again in the corridor.

    Seeing him, her eyes lit up.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you! Still caught up with Brielle, huh? Remember that kid I told you about? I¡¯ve got a picture,

    she¡¯s a real cutie.¡±

    Chapter 178

 Chapter 178

    Chapter 178

    She had wanted to approach him further, but Max¡¯s countenance was so ice¨Ccold that it made. her

    shrink back, scurrying into her own room.

    ¡°Brielle?¡±

    Max tapped on the door and rang the doorbell several times.

    Amidst a groggy haze, Brielle thought she heard her name being called.

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    A burning pain seared through her stomach as she slowly awoke, hearing the doorbell and Max¡¯s

    voice, mistaking them for auditory hallucinations.

    Shouldn¡¯t he have returned to the Dorsey family manor by now? And wouldn¡¯t the Dorsey. household

    be buzzing with activity tonight?

    Brielle frowned, feeling as though her blood was freezing over, unsure if it was due to the drop in

    temperature or the chill in her heart.

    ¡°Brielle!¡±

    The urgency in the man¡¯s voice helped her realize that it wasn¡¯t her imagination.

    Struggling to her feet, she made her way to the door and opened it.

    Max¡¯s face tightened at the sight of her paleplexion and bloodstained lips. ¡°Stomachache?¡±

    She nodded, her eyshes fluttering with drops of sweat rolling down.

    Max scooped her up in his arms and carried her straight to the elevator.

    Brielle rested against his chest, listening to his racing heartbeat, and slowly closed her eyes.

    The elevator came to a halt at the ground floor. Max carried her out, cing her gently in the passenger

    seat and leaned over to buckle her up.

    Brielle leaned her head back, hand over her stomach, hoping the position might alleviate some of the

    pain.

    After securing the seatbelt, Max moved to the driver¡¯s side. ¡°What caused the stomachache?¡±

    Of course, Brielle did not want to admit it was Spencer who had upset her, and just thinking about the

    whole affair made her feel irritable. She was also worried about those photographs. making their way

    around.

    ¡°I forgot to eat.¡±

    ¡°Is the sry I give you worth all this, Ms. Brielle?¡±

    Max¡¯s sarcasm wasn¡¯t new to her. Brielle pursed her lips, her chest tight with anger and eyes brimming

    with tears, her hand at her side clenched slowly.

    1/2

    14:11

    Max frowned. Seeing that they had already reached the hospital, he parked the car and considered

    carrying her inside.

    .b

    ut Brielle pushed him away, trudging up the nearby staircase withbored breaths.

    Max stood rooted for a few seconds before following. ¡°Are you angry?

    His voice carried a hint of confusion, as he reached out to her again.

    ¡°I can go by myself. I can¡¯t afford to waste Mr. Dorsey¡¯s precious time. I¡¯ll also take a few days off. The

    business trip will have to be postponed.¡±

    As Max watched her retreating figure, he couldn¡¯t help but find her behavior slightly amusing.

    The elevator was right there, but because it was too close to him, Brielle had chosen the stairs. her

    silhouette exuding steam in her frustration.

    Max stood in ce for a moment before slowly following her. ¡°Why take the stairs when there¡¯s an

    elevator?¡±

    A few steps up, and Brielle already regretted her decision. Each rise of her foot sent sharp jabs of pain

    through her stomach, yet turning back to the elevator now would be too humiliating.

    Her hand gripped the railing, slick with sweat, her face turning even paler.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me.¡±

    She attempted to ascend further, but Max swept her up in his arms and carried her up two flights of

    stairs.

    Brielle¡¯s heart raced uncontrobly, but eventually, she sumbed to the exhaustion and fell silent.

    While the doctor examined her, Max was standing by the window.

    Brielle didn¡¯t look at him until the IV needle pierced her hand, causing her to flinch in pain.

    The doctor wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling the pressure of Max¡¯s gaze upon him.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, she should be fine after the IV. Ms. Brielle¡¯s constitution is rather weak. She should eat

    regrly and avoid spicy food in the future.¡±

    Max looked up, his gaze settling on Brielle. ¡°Did you hear that, Brielle?¡±

    For some reason, Brielle felt a wave of mortification and looked down, as if she were a child being

    reprimanded by the headmaster.

    She gritted her teeth and muttered, ¡°I know.¡±

    ¡°You know, and yet you end up in the hospital?¡±

    Brielle fell silent, her heart squeezed tight with indignation.

 Chapter 179

    14:11

    Chapter 179

    The doctor, sensing the tension between the two, scurried out of the ward room, making sure to close

    the door behind him.

    Max approached, his own mood darkening.

    Only he knew the anxiety that came with receiving such a call, speeding through red lights all the way

    here.

    He had never lost hisposure like this before.

    The moment Brielle opened the door, his heart had jumped into his throat. Only when he heard her

    voice did his tense muscles start to unwind.

    He tried to rationalize why he was feeling this way.

    Then, he thought about dopamine.

    At rest, dopamine fires at three to five times a second, but when excited, its firing rate can Surge to

    twenty to thirty times a second.

    When the anticipated oue doesn¡¯t materialize, dopamine firing can drop to zero. It¡¯s a lousy

    feeling, one that can provoke irritation, J

    ust like he was feeling now.

    What was he expecting? For Brielle to be safe and sound, or was it something else?

    He didn¡¯t know, but right now, looking at her, he felt a deep sense of tranquility.

    Brielle, with her eyes red from anger, looked endearingly cute.

    Whether it was her clear¨Cheadedness, her sensibility, or her slight temper, it all made his heart. flutter.

    What was this feeling?

    He couldn¡¯t understand.

    There was a knock on the door, and someone walked in, bringing with them the delicious aroma of

    food.

    The person dressed in a chef¡¯s outfit ced the meal tray on the table, nodded respectfully to Max, and

    then exited the room.

    Max lifted the lid, revealing a selection of delicate, light dishes, and a bowl of soup.

    He picked up a spoon and stirred the soup, blowing on it gently.

    Brielle tensed up instantly. She remembered back at Premier Pce, Max had seemed intent. on

    taking care of her, but due to her outspokenment, it ended up being a servant who fed her.

    1/2

    14:11

    Chapter 179

    Now, with no servants around, was Max going to feed her himself?

    She held her breath, swallowed hard, her hands clenched into fists under the nket, and a sheen of

    sweat formed on her back.

    Max held the spoon to her lips, his movements stiff and inexperienced, ¡°Eat.

    His tone wasn¡¯t particrly tender, but it wasn¡¯t indifferent either.

    Brielle opened her mouth, feeling as if the soup tasted sweet.

    Max took a fork and carefully picked up some food, holding it under her lips.

    Stunned by the gesture, Brielle opened her mouth and ate it as soon as she saw his impatience

    growing.

    One spoonful of porridge, one bite of food, he arranged it all so smoothly.

    The warmth filled Brielle¡¯s aching stomach, soothing the pain.

    Neither of them spoke..

    The atmosphere seemed to grow cozy, but this coziness was swiftly interrupted, as ephemeral as a few

    fleeting seconds.

    Max¡¯s phone rang. He hit the speaker button and ced it aside, continuing to stir the soup. ¡°Dad.¡±

    He called out, spooning more soupto Brielle.

    Brielle, now sweating from nerves, didn¡¯t dare open her mouth, but also feared that Max might say

    something else, so she waved her hand, indicating she was full.

    The authoritative voice of Michael came through the phone, ¡°Max, everyone was here today. why did

    you leave?¡±

    ¡°There was an urgent matter at work. Please apologize to Jose for me.¡±

    Michael nced around at the seated family members, feeling a twinge of disappointment, ¡°What

    urgent matter? I just called Patrick, and you weren¡¯t at the office. Were you working overtime at

    Premier Pce?¡±

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    It was an usation.

 Chapter 180

    Chapter 180

    Max set down his spoon and picked up a napkin from the table, gently wiping the corner of Brielle¡¯s

    mouth.

    Brielle flinched away as if Michael was watching right beside them, her whole body tense with

    difort.

    Her evasion only made Max¡¯s gaze grow more intense. He caught her chin in his hand, his words

    directed to Michael though he wasn¡¯t there.

    ¡°Not at Premier Pce.¡±

    ¡°Then where are you?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s pupils contracted, a shiver running through her as she saw the displeasure spread across his

    face. She bit her lower lip, a mixture of excitement, tension, and panic swirling in her

    chest.

    Max took a few seconds to savor her expression, his eyes twinkling with amusement, ¡°I¡¯m at the

    hospital with¡­¡±

    Before he could finish. Brielle¡¯s lips met his, sealing them shut.

    Her action was almost reflexive, spurred by her frantic state.

    Michael¡¯s voice echoed in his ear.

    ¡°What are you doing at the hospital? Are you not feeling well?

    Max, which hospital are you at? I¡¯ll send someone to look after you.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s lips quivered against his, her eyshes fluttering with anxiety.

    Max found himself charmed, he gently bit her lip, savoring the moment.

    Heat flooded Brielle¡¯s cheeks, and she wanted to retreat but couldn¡¯t, her hands tensed to the point

    where the IV in her arm began to show traces of blood backflow.

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    Max finally let her go, then replied to Michael.

    ¡°No need, it¡¯s a minor issue. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. You¡¯re busy all year round, never taking care of yourself, nor settling down. When

    you give me a grandchild to hold, I wouldn¡¯t need to constantly remind you over the phone. Since Jose

    is here tonight, let¡¯s discuss your and Alivia¡¯s situation in detail. Anyway,e back soon, dinner¡¯s

    almost ready. Don¡¯t keep us waiting.¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Max ended the call and turned to Brielle. ¡°I¡¯ll have someonee take care of you.¡±

    The hospital room fell silent. As he stood to leave, his coat was tugged at.

    1/3

    14:11

    Chapter 180

    Brielle looked up at him, her grip loosening only after a long moment, ¡°No need, I¡¯ll go home once the

    drip is done.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re staying for two days. It¡¯s necessary.

    Max looked at his crumpled coat, his tone softening. ¡°Don¡¯t want to stay?¡±

    Brielle nodded. She indeed disliked hospitals, and the smell of disinfectant made her uneasy.

    During her years with the Haywood family, each hospital stay meant waking up alone to white walls, a

    setting that triggered anxiety.

    Moreover, Max was headed to the Dorsey family estate to discuss his marriage to Alivia with the

    Barnes family.

    How much longer could their rtionshipst?

    She felt like a condemned prisoner awaiting execution.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to stay, then go to Premier Pce. I¡¯ll have Patrick pick you up.¡±

    ¡°I want to go back to my apartment.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s eyes dropped.

    Her stomach wasn¡¯t in pain, but her heart began to ache.

    Her face grew paler, fragile in its beauty, as if it might shatter at a touch.

    ¡°Brielle, what are you really thinking about?¡±

    Max stepped closer, bending down to look at her.

    He was unbeatable in the business world but clueless about the intricacies of a woman¡¯s heart. Brielle

    felt weary, leaning back against the bedpost. She closed her eyes and said, ¡°Mr. Dorsey. should our

    rtionshipe to an end?¡±

    Max stood by the bed, a sharp sting piercing his heart.

    He frowned, a surge of inexplicable irritation welling up inside.

    He had imagined a thousand scenarios of what she might say next.

    Perhaps ¨C Will you stay with me at the hospital?

    Could you not discuss marriage ns with the Barnes family?

    If she just looked up at him with teary eyes and asked, he would surely relent, b

    ut he never expected her to say this.

    Indeed, Brielle was always so clear¨Cheaded.

    He was probably the only one not thinking clearly.

    2/3

    14:12

    Chapter 180

    S

    eeing her all pale and frail, Max couldn¡¯t bear to be angry, pretending indifference as he turned away.

    ¡°You want to end it?¡±

    It took all her strength for Brielle to nod faintly, as if hearing the sound of her heart breaking.

    A chill shed across Max¡¯s eyes. At the door, he left only one sentence. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡±

    With that, he left without hesitation.

    He walked stiffly to the elevator, kicking a trash can along the way.

    It was hard to imagine such a normally reserved man showing such a childish side.

    Max felt suffocated. Today the elevator seemed exceptionally stifling, as if he could hardly breathe.

    Was it because the weather had turned gloomy?

    3/3

 Chapter 181

    Chapter 181

    He undid the top two buttons of his shirt, maintaining a stern expression as he climbed into the

    waiting car.

    Patrick nced at him through the rearview mirror, swallowing nervously before speaking up.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, aren¡¯t we waiting for Ms. Brielle?¡±

    He had only just found out that Ms. Brielle was in the hospital, and was surprised to see Max leaving

    the Dorsey family gathering to be here in person.

    With his eyes closed, a rare trace of irritation crossed Max¡¯s features. ¡°No need. She can handle

    herself,¡± he said calmly, striving to regain hisposure.

    Patrick pressed the gas pedal and dared not ask any more questions.

    Meanwhile, at the Dorsey residence, Michael and Jose were deep in conversation, quite pleased with

    the impending marriage between their younger family members and already contemting setting a

    date.

    Jose took a sip of his coffee, his mind on Alivia at the research institute, and a look of satisfaction

    appeared on his face.

    ¡°Alivia has been yearning for Max all these years. Now, it seems her wish is finallying

    true.¡±

    Dressed smartly in a tweed jacket, Michael looked spirited. ¡°There¡¯s no better daughter¨Cinw for my

    boy than Alivia. It¡¯s a shame Max has been so work¨Cobsessed, poor girl. Is she also the one who

    facilitated the investment of Dorsey International in Book this time?¡±

    Jose chuckled, ¡°She mentioned helping out, which is great. Both kids are too independent. rarely giving

    us old men a reason to worry.¡±

    Michael nced up at the wall clock and instructed a nearby servant, ¡°Go check if Max¡¯s car

    has arrived.¡±

    The servant nodded promptly and left.

    Spencer, sitting not too far away, felt restless. He still reeked of booze and feared a reprimand from

    Michael, so he kept his distance.

    He¡¯d been pulled in at thest minute, having nned to visit the Haywood family and see Lillian.

    But now, with Max absent, Spencer¡¯s mind drifted back to the previous night when he stumbled upon

    Uncle Max in apromising position with a woman by the Haywood family¡¯s floral wall.

    Even now, Spencer wondered if it had been a hallucination because the woman Max had been kissing,

    sheltered under his coat, was definitely not Alivia.

    Alivia had been abroad these past days, meeting with Noah to discuss the Book deal.

    14:12

    So, who was this woman Max was so protective of?

    Growing more anxious, especially as he listened to the elders discuss marriage arrangements,

    Spencer feared being questioned, feeling a sweat break out on his back.

    Eventually, Michael turned his gaze to Spencer, and took a sip of his coffee. ¡°Spencer, why did Max

    attend the Haywood family¡¯s banquet?¡±

    Michael was genuinely curious; he hadn¡¯t asked Max directly, but Spencer had been on the scene and

    should know something.

    Spencer felt his spine weaken, his palms slick with cold sweat.

    Had he not witnessed that scene, Max¡¯s presence at the Haywood banquet would indeed have been

    surprising, b

    ut having seen it, Spencer believed Max must have been there to meet the woman he desired.

    Various spections ran through Spencer¡¯s mind.

    For instance, why hadn¡¯t Max arranged a private meeting with the woman?

    Could it be that her identity was sensitive? And Max so captivated by her that he couldn¡¯t resist his

    impulses even by the floral wall?

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    Spencer¡¯s thoughts were in turmoil, and an inexplicable fear gripped him.

    ¡°Grandpa, maybe Uncle Max was just there for a stroll. He barely spoke a word at the banquet.¡±

    Spencer offered tentatively.

    ¡°Max is not one for casual strolls. In his eyes, nothing is more important than work,¡± Michael replied,

    setting his coffee cup down, his expression turning frosty. ¡°You young ones are all the same, none of

    you give me peace of mind. And this matter with you and that Lillian has be the talk of the town.¡±

    Spencer¡¯s throat went dry with fear, knowing he was in for a scolding and quickly admitting his fault.

    ¡°Grandpa, that was my fault.¡±

    Michael nodded, but his words were devoid of emotion. ¡°Stay away from Lillian in the future. Spencer. I

    know you¡¯ve been bewitched by others¡® words.¡±

 Chapter 182

    Chapter 182

    Bewitched by others¡® words, all the disapproval was shifted onto Lillian,

    Men will be men, and a little indiscretion here and there is nothing unheard of. If the woman made the

    first move, Spencer would simply be a man who couldn¡¯t resist temptation.

    With the Barnes family members around, Michael didn¡¯ty it out too explicitly, b

    ut Spencer had a hunch. Michael was hinting that he should cut ties with Lillian.

    Without that fiasco at the Haywood family¡¯s soiree, Michael would have turned a blind eye to his

    actions. However, the scandal at the Haywood banquet was too much, and Lillian¡¯s reputation was now

    thoroughly tarnished. Being associated with her could significantly impact Spencer¡¯s own standing.

    Spencer¡¯s defense of Lillian at the event had already been detrimental to him, tarnishing his

    reputation to some extent.

    If he continued to be obstinate, even bing the butt of jokes within their circle¡­

    Spencer shuddered, a trace of concealed satisfaction flickering in his eyes.

    Was his grandfather suggesting he continue his rtionship with Brielle?

    Or perhaps there was a condition. Until he found someone new, messing around with Brielle was as

    good as entangling himself with Lillian once more.

    Michael¡¯s words had made his position clear.

    Spencer thought of the photos that had spread within their circle and felt that his actions were probably

    in line with his grandfather¡¯s wishes.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    ¡°Grandfather, I understand,¡± he said.

    Michael nodded, pleased. Hearing from a servant that Max had arrived, he rose with a smile.

    Max¡¯s face had already adjusted to a neutral expression by the time be entered the room. He

    exchanged pleasantries with the Dorsey family members, chatted.briefly with Jose, and then sat quietly

    to the side.

    Everyone sensed his sour mood, and apart from a few elders, no one dared to strike up at conversation

    with him.

    At the hospital, Brielle had been staring out the window since Max left. The sky was a dreary shade of

    gray, offering nothing pleasant to gaze upon.

    It was seven in the evening after her IV had finished. She chose not to stay overnight at the hospital but

    instead went to check on Mark in another ward.

    Ever since thest episode thatnded him in the hospital, Mark¡¯s health had been failing.

    necessitating a prolonged stay for recuperation.

    Chapter 182

    Before Brielle entered the room, she heard Mark¡¯s coughing and a nurse¡¯s kind inquiries.

    ¡°Sir, where¡¯s your family? With your condition, you need someone by your side. Otherwise, who will

    assist you if you need something in the middle of the night?¡±

    Mark coughed a few more times, then sighed heavily. ¡°Divorced a long time ago. I¡¯m fine like this,

    really. But I worry about the kids at the orphanage. Without me there, I doubt they know how to take

    care of themselves.¡±

    Brielle paused, then upon entering and seeing Mark¡¯s pale face, she hurriedly said, ¡°Mark. I¡¯ll go check

    on the kids at the orphanage.

    Mark tried to sit up when he saw her, but after several attempts, he resignedlyy back down. nearly

    forgetting that he would have to rely on a wheelchair in the future.

    ¡°Brielle, don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯ve saved up a bit over the years. I n to hire a caregiver for the kids.¡±

    Mark¡¯s voice was filled with guilt, and he couldn¡¯t bring himself to meet Brielle¡¯s eyes. ¡°And the

    Haywood family donated ten million to the orphanage.¡±

    He seemed to feel he was betraying Brielle. He couldn¡¯t just consider the grievances between the

    adults: there were children who needed sustaining.

    ¡°Brielle. I¡¯m truly sorry. But this money can get the kids into better schools. The Haywoods may have

    wronged you terribly, but this is for the children.¡±

    Brielle handed him a cup of water and sat beside him. ¡°Don¡¯t think like that. If the Haywood

    family¡¯s,money can improve the kids¡® futures, we should use it.¡±

    Mark coughed again, hisplexion worsening.

    That was all well and good, but he still felt he had let Brielle down.

    Brielle quickly changed the subject, not wanting him to dwell on the Haywood matter.

    ¡°I¡¯ve asked a friend to help find a new location for the orphanage. We should have options soon. I¡¯ll

    arrange for someone to discuss the design with you.¡±

    Mark moved his lips, his eyes reddening as he patted her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s the kids who owe you.¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t respond, and then she heard him ask, ¡°And the Haywoods?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve cut ties with them. I¡¯m not their daughter. Lillian is.¡±

    ¡°I know, Brielle. But¡­¡±

    He didn¡¯t know what else to say, and eventually, it seemed like he was getting a headache. He closed

    his eyes to rest.

    Brielle didn¡¯t linger to disturb him further. She left the room quietly, closing the door behind her. She

    waited by the roadside for a while before hailing a cab back to her apartment.

    Chapter 182

    However, the apartment door was wide open, the inside aplete mess; even the couch was

    overturned on the floor.

    The neighbordy and the police were at the doorstep. On seeing Brielle, thedy clutched her hand in

    fright.

    ¡°Brielle, dear, check if anything¡¯s missing. I came over and saw your door wide open, everything. in

    disarray. I was so scared I called the cops right away.¡±

 Chapter 183

    Chapter 183

    Brielle stepped into the living room, immediately struck by the chaos that greeted her. It was like trying

    to find a square inch of peace in a rock concert. Thankfully, aside from a bit of cash, everything else

    was untouched.

    The audacity of the thieves was astonishing, especially with the police right around the corner.

    After reporting the incident to the cops stationed nearby, Brielle tidied up herpany¡¯sputer and

    documents, grabbed a few clothing items, and decided to crash at a hotel for the

    night.

    Her apartment was no longer a safe haven, at least for the time being.

    No sooner had she stepped out of her building than she spotted Max¡¯s car lurking behind a tree. Her

    heart skipped a beat, pounding uncontrobly against her chest.

    The car cruised forward and came to a halt in front of her.

    The window rolled down, revealing an empty backseat without Max.

    Instead, Patrick emerged, ¡°Ms. Brielle, I was at the hospital, and the doc said you were discharged. Mr.

    Dorsey sent me to keep an eye out here. If you need anything in the middle of the night, just holler.¡±

    Holding a small suitcase, Brielle felt a pang of heartache mixed with numbness.

    Patrick, puzzled by the suitcase in the dead of night, hurried over to take it from her. ¡°Ms. Brielle, where

    are you off to at this hour?¡±

    She got into the car and replied with a raspy voice. ¡°Take me to Premier Pce.¡±

    Joy flickered across Patrick¡¯s face as he loaded the suitcase into the trunk. ¡°Great, Mr. Dorsey will be

    thrilled.¡±

    As the neon lights blurred past the window, Brielle mused, ¡°Really? He¡¯ll be happy that I¡¯m going to

    Premier Pce?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey was in a foul mood on his way to the family estate. I¡¯m pretty sure it had something to do

    with you, Ms. Brielle.¡±

    Brielle fell silent. Thinking about Max feeding her in the hospital and being the first one to notice her

    fainting, she felt a bit regretful at the moment.

    She had been nothing but a canary in a gilded cage, seduced by greed into hoping for a

    response.

    Max hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. As far as patrons went, he was more decent than most.

    The fault was hers, for harboring foolish hopes.

    It seemed an apology was in order tonight.

    14:12

    Chapter 183

    weren¡¯t frightened.¡±

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Max¡¯s typical aloofness didn¡¯t surprise her. If she could ensnare him on the first try, there would be no

    thrill of the chase.

    All she needed was to keep appearing before him. If he could see something in that wretch. Brielle,

    then he would surely fall for her own charms.

    After all, she had always been more alluring than Brielle, which was why Spencer and Cameron had

    been so easily ensnared.

 Chapter 184

    Chapter 184

    Lillian¡¯s lips curled into a smug grin as she uttered those words, only to see the window slide

    down.

    It wasn¡¯t Max¡¯s indifferent face that was revealed but Brielle¡¯s.

    Brielle had a smile on her face as her gaze fell on the slightly open neckline, carrying a meaningful

    expression. This kind of look felt like a p, leaving Lillian bruised and battered.

    Taking a step back in rm, Lillian heard Brielle¡¯s voice cut through, ¡°Is this the kind of stunt you pulled

    to snag Spencer?¡±

    Lillian thoughtst night was embarrassing enough, but this moment now was the ultimate humiliation.

    They were both women; Brielle undoubtedly knew what Lillian had just been attempting.

    Feeling a burning shame on her cheeks yet holding her ground, Lillian retorted with a sneer. ¡°If it works,

    it works. Spencer always said you were dull and boring. Brielle, now I am thedy of the Haywood

    family. Your future days won¡¯t be easy.¡±

    Brielle withdrew her nce, chuckling lightly. ¡°Even if I have it rough. I wouldn¡¯t be caught dead

    throwing myself at a man in the middle of the street.¡±

    Lillian felt the sting of humiliation, her nails digging into her palms, leaving trails of crimson, b

    ut she was dying to know why Brielle was in Max¡¯s car.

    ¡°Brielle, have you hooked up with Max?¡±

    Her tone was a mix of anger and delight.

    If she could leak this tidbit to the Dorsey family, they would never let Brielle off the hook.

    But part of her envied Brielle for being close enough to Max to ride in his car.

    Lillian¡¯s lips almost bled from biting them, her eyes brimming with resentment.

    Before Brielle could reply, Patrick approached, addressing them respectfully. ¡°I¡¯m colleagues. with Ms.

    Brielle. It was merely a coincidence that I ran into her, and I offered her a lift. Please refrain from

    making baseless remarks.¡±

    So, she hadn¡¯t snagged Max, but Max¡¯s driver instead.

    How ludicrous, Brielle had sunk so low.

    Lillian¡¯s face twisted with mockery as she sized up Patrick without restraint.

    Patrick, as Max¡¯s assistant, was a handsome man with somepetence, but he was no match for

    Max.

    Brielle was only fit to involve herself with such underlings.

    14:13

    Well, she was just a bastard after all.

    Lillian chuckled at her previous suspicions, figuring that Brielle¡¯s appearance with Max was nothing but

    a chance encounter.

    And Max¡¯s defending her was probably just out of distaste for Faith¡¯s behavior.

    After all, the Dorsey family was rife with conflict, and Max and Ryan were hardly on good terms. Lillian

    burst outughing, her derision unmasked, ¡°Colleagues? That¡¯s rich. Everyone knows about the string

    of men Brielle keeps, and it seems you¡¯re one of them.¡±

    Her gaze flitted over them, a contemptuous smirk on her lips.

    Patrick wanted to retort but knew better; arguing would only fuel Lillian¡¯s gossip. It was better to let her

    misunderstand.

    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

    Brielle seemed to share the sentiment, closing the car window coolly. ¡°Mr. Patrick, please discuss the

    compensation details with Ms. Lillian.¡±

    Patrick nodded, dialed the insurancepany, and ryed thepensation details to Lillian.

    Lillian couldn¡¯t care less about the money. As she got into her car, she couldn¡¯t resist sneering at

    Patrick, ¡°A driver¡¯s the best Brielle can do in her man¨Chunting game, huh.¡±

    Patrick pursed his lips, and once inside the car, he vented, ¡°Ms. Brielle, is she insane?¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help butugh, theplexity of emotions she had felt in the car earlier dissipated by

    Lillian¡¯s antics.

    ¡°Maybe she is,¡± she said.

    Patrick hit the gas, unable to stop his mouth from twitching. ¡°She¡¯s trying to climb up to Mr. Dorsey?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious enough?¡± Brielle propped her chin in her hand, ¡°Do you think Mr. Dorsey would go for

    someone like her?¡°¡±

 Chapter 185

    Chapter 185

    Patrick gripped the steering wheel with barely contained frustration. ¡°Ms. Brielle, please don¡¯t sell

    yourself short.¡±

    Sell herself short?

    Did Patrick really think she was better than Lillian?

    Sure, she could admit that she was more capable than Lillian when it came to work, but when it came

    to charming men, Lillian had a natural gift.

    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have Spencer wrapped around her finger, acting like he was under some kind

    of love spell, or have Cameron willing to y the fool.

    Briellecked confidence in that department, so most of the time she just consoled herself by saying

    she was walking a different path than Lillian.

    Even if she looked down on Lillian¡¯s man¨Ccatching tactics, maybe that¡¯s exactly what the guys went

    for?

    She remained silent all the way to the Premier Pce, both of them engulfed in their own thoughts.

    Meanwhile, Lillian returned to the Haywood estate with a sour expression.

    Miranda couldn¡¯t help but stand up when she saw her. ¡°Lillian, where have you been?¡±

    The Haywoods had just bailed Lillian out from the police station, and Miranda was on an emotional

    rollercoaster.

    On one hand, she couldn¡¯t believe Lillian would do something so reckless, but the evidence presented

    by the police was irrefutable.

    She could onlyfort herself with the thought that Lillian might have just taken a wrong turn, probably

    pushed to it by Brielle or set up by her.

    In any case, it had to be Brielle¡¯s fault.

    Lillian sat down in a huff, pulling her cor straight. ¡°Mom, do you know? Brielle¡¯s been messing around

    with Max¡¯s driver. No wonder she showed up with Max that night.¡±

    As she spoke, her face was smug, her lips curling with scorn.

    Miranda¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, clutching her hand. ¡°Lillian, are you sure?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m sure. I just caught them outside. Brielle and that driver were sitting in the car, all lovey¨C

    dovey without Max. It was absolutely sickening.¡±

    Miranda¡¯s feelings had beenplicated, even feeling a sense of dread that Brielle might have a

    brighter future than her own daughter.

    After all, Brielle had earned significant acim atst night¡¯s banquet,ing out on top.

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    14:13

    The only thing she seemed to lose was the engagement to Spencer, but it was clear that Brielle herself

    didn¡¯t mind.

    Miranda had been worried that Brielle might have found a more powerful ally, but now, hearing she was

    involved with Max¡¯s driver, she couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    ¡°Lillian, you are our daughter. Don¡¯t stoop to her level. Keep Spencer happy, and you can still marry

    into the Dorsey family.¡±

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    Lillian wanted to say she was over Spencer, that she had bigger fish to fry, and that Cameron had

    promised to help her.

    Eventually, she would find a way to tie the knot with Max sooner rather thanter.

    But she worried that voicing these thoughts would unsettle Miranda.

    She had long realized that the Haywoods were spineless in the presence of Max.

    Not just the Haywoods, but even Faith seemed like a junior before him.

    The more Lillian noticed this, the more she felt the need to have Maxpletely enraptured by her.

    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry, I would never let myself get tangled with a driver. Brielle has so many men after her

    already, it seems this driver is just another notch on her belt. Utterly indecent.¡±

    Miranda¡¯s face also lit up with triumph, her grip tender on Lillian. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about Brielle. She may

    have talent, but she¡¯s got no backup. We can handle her easily. I¡¯ll make sure you get the best of

    everything.¡±

    Lillian snorted coldly, feeling somewhat disappointed in the Haywoods.

    The Haywood business relied too heavily on the Dorseys, and even though they had wed their way

    into the Beaconsfield elite, they had no real standing in the eyes of their peers, other than their wealth.

    ¡°Mom, Brielle works at Dorsey International, and we¡¯re bound to run into her. Tell Dad and my brother

    to not go easy on her if they do.¡±

    She was determined to regain the dignity she lost that night, at Brielle¡¯s expense.

    Miranda nodded, her voice soothing. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already spoken to your father about it.¡±

    But Lillian stood up, ¡°I want to tell Dad myself. Where is he?¡±

    A sly smile crept into Miranda¡¯s eyes. ¡°Your dad and I have found a suitable match for Brielle. He¡¯s in

    the drawing room discussing it as we speak.¡±

 Chapter 186

    Chapter 186

    Lillian was absolutely livid. How could the Haywood family even consider finding another suitor for that

    bitch Brielle.

    Even if the Haywoods had fallen on hard times, they still had serious cash to their name. Was it really

    necessary to pair Brielle up with some up¨Canding young hotshot?

    As her face contorted with rage, Lillian overheard the next words from Miranda,

    ¡°Mr. Connor, from Apex Dynamics, is in his fifties. Divorced a few years back. His wife couldn¡¯t bear his

    constant infidelities and ended up taking her own life from depression. He hasn¡¯t remarried since then,

    though he¡¯s had his fair share of flings with young things. Not exactly the ssiest of acts. Brielle and

    him? They¡¯re a match made in heaven.¡±

    A wicked thrill darted through Lillian¡¯s eyes. A twice¨Cmarried man in his fifties with a penchant for

    ying the field?

    Miranda hit the nail on the head. This man was the perfect match for Brielle.

    She could hardly wait for Brielle to tie the knot with him, her voiceced with glee. ¡°Is Mr. Connor on

    board with this?¡±

    Mira Sheered, ¡°Mr. Connor is all about the looks, and Brielle¡¯s got the kind of face he goes

    for. He¡¯ll definitely bite. With this, the Haywood n can skim off some benefits.¡±

    It was as if they were auctioning off Brielle to secure a lucrative deal for the Haywood estate.

    Lillian felt a weight lift from her shoulders, her lips curving into a smile, ¡°Mom, you¡¯re too kind to Brielle.

    The wife of the CEO of Apex Dynamics is far better than being some chauffeur¡¯s wife. Brielle ought to

    be thanking you.¡±

    Miranda shared the sentiment. After all, they had raised Brielle for years; they couldn¡¯t let her just walk

    away without getting something in return.

    Meanwhile, in the adjacent parlor, Robert was sitting across from Mr. Connor.

    Apex Dynamics was a major client for the Haywoods.

    Mr. Connor, barely five foot seven, sported a belly that hid his shoces from view.

    Dressed in a bespoke suit, his shirt tucked neatly in, an Hermes belt around his waist stood out

    conspicuously.

    ¡°Mr. Haywood, I¡¯ve had otherpanies courting me for a partnership, offering better rates. than the

    Haywood estate. And with all the recent scandals

    including Ms. Lillian¡¯s tarnished. reputation, your stock prices have taken a nosedive. It¡¯s hardly the

    opportune time for me to make an offer.¡±

    The trouble with publicpanies was that a little bit of bad press could ripple through the stock

    market.

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    Chapter 186

    A major scandal could even cause a stock market crash.

    Connor might have been nouveau riche, but he knew how to talk the talk. After so much back and forth,

    he still hadn¡¯t budged.

    Losing Apex Dynamics to apetitor would be a massive blow to the Haywoods.

    Robert had no choice but to y his trump card.

    ¡°I hear you¡¯ve been on the lookout for a suitable marriage partner, Mr. Connor. What do you think about

    Brielle?¡±

    A gleam of excitement sparked in Connor¡¯s eyes, Brielle¡¯s stunning visage shing through his mind,

    his chubby cheeks flushing with excitement.

    He had seen Brielle once before, and her beauty had left an indelible impression.

    She might be a bit too demure for his taste, but that was no issue. Once she was in his grasp. he¡¯d

    mold her into the perfect ything.

    Still marriage was business, and business meant negotiation.

    He immediately pinpointed Brielle¡¯s ws to drive the price down.

    ¡°Brielle, yes, I¡¯ve seen the girl a few times¨Cquite the looker. But word on the street is that her personal

    life is a bit messy.¡±

    Everyone knew Connor craved excitement and couldn¡¯t care less about a woman¡¯s past indiscretions,

    as long as she was disease¨Cfree. He was not one to turn downpany.

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    His wealth enabled him tovish gifts worth millions, and those women who had been with him turned

    up their noses at his looks while simultaneously clinging to the luxurious lifestyle he provided.

    Over the years, he had discarded countless ythings.

    Robert¡¯s smile widened, ¡°Brielle is very obedient and quitepetent. She might even be a

    formidable ally for you, Mr. Connor.¡±

    ¨C

    Chapter 187

 Chapter 187

    Chapter 187

    Connor had long been smitten, and among the women he¡¯d been with, none held a candle to

    Brielle.

    ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll cut three percent from my profits as a gift for Bri,¡± he offered.

    Three percent, that was a profit well into the millions, b

    ut for Robert, this was far from sufficient. After all, Brielle was a powerhouse in her own right. certain to

    bring much more value to Apex Dynamics.

    ¡°Mr. Connor, Dorsey International¡¯s youngest director surely warrants more than what you suggest,¡± he

    countered.

    Connor cursed inwardly, calling Robert a sly old fox for selling out his own daughter.

    It was a clear¨Ccut transaction.

    Connor was so captivated by Brielle¡¯s beauty that he clenched his jaw. ¡°Five percent tops. Mr.

    Haywood. The word on the street is that Brielle isn¡¯t the Haywood¡¯s little girl anymore. Can you make

    decisions on her behalf? I don¡¯t think she¡¯s the type to just ept whateveres her

    way.

    A shadow of malice flitted through Robert¡¯s eyes. The Haywood family had nurtured her for so long,

    and a little sacrifice was due.

    ¡°I have my ways,¡± he said darkly.

    He would have her tied to Tanner¡¯s bed if necessary.

    Did Brielle really think she could sever ties with the Haywoods in public and escape everything? Her

    debt to the Haywood family was more than ten million dors.

    Robert¡¯s eyes darkened with resolve. He was determined to show Brielle that a woman without money

    or influence had no chance of making it in Beaconsfield.

    To crush her would be as simple as stepping on an ant.

    ¡°Mr. Connor, just await the good news.¡±

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    Connor¡¯s chubby face beamed with smiles. After exchanging pleasantries, Robert stood up to show his

    guest out.

    Descending to the foyer, Connor¡¯s gaze fell on Lillian.

    She was pretty in an innocent sort of way, but off¨Climits as a Haywooddy.

    A fire lit in his abdomen as his mind drifted back to Brielle¡¯s face.

    Brielle¡¯s allure trumped Lillian¡¯s, and her academic des promised an exotic encounter.

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    14:13

    Chapter 187.

    The mere thought had him burning with desire.

    Lillian, seeing Connor¡¯s portly figure, greasy hair, and sparse balding scalp, was overjoyed.

    This was Brielle¡¯s future husband, and it was perfect.

    That bitch deserved no better.

    Lillian was ecstatic, itching to broadcast to the world just how pathetic Brielle¡¯s future spouse

    was.

    Meanwhile, Brielle was unaware of the Haywoods¡® persistence as she entered Premier Pce.

    The butler, Wesley, brightened at her arrival. ¡°Ms. Brielle, have you had dinner? I¡¯ll have the kitchen

    prepare a light supper.¡±

    Having been at the hospital, Brielle hadn¡¯t eaten and shyly nodded her thanks.

    Wesley¡¯s wrinkles deepened with his grin. ¡°With Ms. Brielle here. Mr. Dorsey will surelye home

    tonight.¡±

    He hurriedly instructed the kitchen to prepare extra food, emphasizing a light meal, then gleefully went

    off to discuss the menu.

    Brielle had no bedroom of her own at the Pce; she always stayed in Max¡¯s master suite.

    So Patrick ced her luggage directly there. She wanted to protest but didn¡¯t want to seem prudish.

    After all, everyone assumed her rtionship with Max to be intimate.

    She settled into the master suite, taking it in for the first time.

    Everywhere, she sensed Max¡¯s presence,forting and steady.

    After supper and a bath, Brielle opened herptop to work.

    Elsewhere, Max hadn¡¯t been informed of Brielle¡¯s arrival at Premier Pce.

    After a meal with the Dorseys, Michael offered him a room, but Max, frowning, declined.

    He initially thought about returning to Premier Pce, but he felt stifled. In ¡®his heart, he thought, there

    was no one waiting for him at Premier Pce anyway. Whether he went back or

    not, it didn¡¯t matter.

    Parking on the street, he felt a strange pang. Before Brielle, he never minded the solitude of the

    Pce.

    Why did her absence now make it so ufortable?

    His phone rang. It was Andrew, inviting him to a bar, mentioning Dustin wanted to

    dentally¡± run into Little Canary at Dorsey International the next day.

    Annoyed, Max replied coldly. ¡°She won¡¯t be there.¡±

 Chapter 188

    14:13

    Chapter 188

    Sitting beside Andrew, Dustin¡¯s ears pricked up every time Andrew fondly mentioned ¡°Little Canary,¡±

    stirring a slight difort within him.

    Max said that Brielle wouldn¡¯t go, and he took the phone back.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    Loosening the buttons on his tailored suit, a smile danced on Dustin¡¯s lips. ¡°I¡¯m only in Beaconsfield for

    three days. Surely, Mr. Dorsey, you¡¯re not so petty as to hide your treasures?¡±

    He pulled out a box of matches, specially crafted with tiny red heads and white bodies. With a single

    strike, a pale me emerged.

    Dustin often preferred matches to lighters; they seemed to hold more character.

    Lighting one up, he touched the me to his cigarette.

    Max¡¯s expression turned frosty, his fingers ying absentmindedly with the beads on his wrist. ¡°She¡¯s

    my little canary, and if I wish to keep her hidden, she stays hidden.

    Dustin squinted his eyes. If it wasn¡¯t for Max personally saying such words, he would never believe that

    someone like Max would care about a woman like this.

    He smiled. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, if you¡¯re so intent on caging her, haven¡¯t you considered that your little canary

    might wish to fly out and explore? I happen to have a far more splendid cage at my ce, yet to find its

    mistress.¡±

    The insinuation was clear: You may see her as a canary, but I could make her a queen.

    The air tensed sharply, prompting even Andrew to frown in disapproval.

    After a moment of silence, Max hung up the call.

    Dustin handed the phone back to Andrew, quite satisfied. ¡°Seems Mr. Dorsey won¡¯t be in the mood for

    a drink tonight.¡±

    Andrew¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Are you seriously interested in her? Secondhand goods don¡¯t bother you?¡±

    Andrew dismissed Brielle with contempt. ¡°Fun for a fling, sure, but hardly Infinity Brilliance¡¯s First Lady

    material.¡±

    ¡°Quite the contrary.¡± Dustin replied, taking a sip of his drink. ¡°Women aren¡¯tmodities to bebeled

    new or used. If she pleases me, it matters not who she¡¯s been with before. The body¡¯s. pleasures are

    easy toe by, but only this little canary can satisfy the soul.¡±

    Andrew set down his ss, his mood darkening. Unsure whether Dustin was joking or serious. he

    didn¡¯t appreciate the thought of someone poaching from his friend¡¯s territory.

    Before he could speak, the room¡¯s door swung open, and in came Aubree.

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    Chapter 188

    Aubree didn¡¯t expectpany: this booth was usually Andrew¡¯s private spot.

    Dustin caught her eye and gave her a roguish wink..

    Andrew, watching from the side, gestured towards Dustin. ¡°Aubree, why don¡¯t you sit next to Mr.

    Lynch?

    Aubree remained silent for a long minute before slowly approaching Dustin.

    Dustin, a hedonist at heart, wasted no time in pulling Aubree into his embrace.

    ¡°Miss Clements, sister to Andrew?¡±

    Andrew¡¯s grip tightened around his ss, fighting an unwee twinge of difort, ¡°Yes.¡±

    Dustin wasn¡¯t one to turn down an attractivepany sent his way.

    He lifted Aubree¡¯s chin, examining her striking features. Her luminous eyes drew him in.

    Leaning in, he traced a path from her ear down her neck with his nose.

    Aubree seethed, her hands clenching at her sides.

    Unperturbed, Dustin grabbed a bottle, took a swig, then sped Aubree¡¯s chin, feeding her mouth¨Cto¨C

    mouth.

    Choking and coughing, tears welled up in Aubree¡¯s eyes.

    Dustin chuckled, pulling her closer. ¡°You look much better flushed. Mr. Clements, how about she keeps

    mepany tonight?¡±

    Andrew¡¯s expression shifted. He wanted to interject, but his phone rang¨Cit was Tessa.

    Irritated, he dismissed the matter, ¡°Whatever you wish, Mr. Lynch.¡±

    He sounded indifferent, not sparing Aubree a nce, as if she were nothing but a disposable

    item.

    Aubree¡¯s gaze fell. Her heart had long ceased to feel pain. Loving Andrew, this was a process that had

    to be experienced.

    Her eyes reddened, a struggle to break free brewing, but Dustin deliberately held her tight, his fingers

    teasing her waistline.

    She held back anger until her phone rang. It was Brielle.

    Grateful for Dustin¡¯s loosened grip, Aubree rushed out to the corridor, answering the call, ¡°Bri?¡±

    Brielle was almost falling asleep but the thought of a stranger invading her apartment made her stir.

    She hadn¡¯t had a chance to inform Aubree yet..

    ¡°Aubree. I¡­¡±

    Before she could finish, Aubree¡¯s muffled sobs came through.

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    14:13

    Chapter 188

    Standing beside thedies¡® room, Aubree slumped against the cool wall.

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Brielle sprang from her bed, knowing only Andrew could distress Aubree so.

    ¡°Where are you? Send me your location. I¡¯lle get you.¡±

 Chapter 189

    Chapter 189

    Aubree felt a tightness in her chest that threatened to suffocate her. She couldn¡¯t utter aplete

    sentence, her tears streaming down her cheeks uncontrobly like a faulty faucet that wouldn¡¯t stop

    leaking.

    Brielle hastily got out of bed to change her clothes. As she was leaving, she bumped into Patrick, who

    inquired where she was headed.

    ¡°Tequ Sunset.¡±

    Patrick assumed she was going to pick up Max and a hint of joy shed in his eyes as he handed her

    the car keys. ¡°Ms. Brielle, here are the keys.¡±

    It didn¡¯t strike Brielle as odd, given Patrick had always been kind to her.

    She took off in Max¡¯s usual ride, and no sooner had she left than Patrick was on the phone with Max.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, Ms. Brielle¡¯sing to pick you up tonight.¡±

    Meanwhile, Max had settled into a private booth at Te

    Sunset. Usually, it was Patrick who

    picked him up after a night of indulging, but now Patrick was saying what?

    Brielle wasing to get him?

    Max thought he must be hallucinating. If he remembered correctly, this would be the first time Brielle

    had ever picked someone up.

    The frustration that had been simmering all evening lifted instantly, even making Dustin, who sat

    opposite him, seem more agreeable.

    A smile yed on Max¡¯s lips as he picked up a ss from the coffee table. ¡°Mr. Lynch, your certainly

    move on quickly with yourdies.¡±

    Just as he had finished expressing his interest in Brielle, he was now cozying up to Aubree.

    Dustin didn¡¯t take it as a jibe; his reputation was well¨Cknown across North America.

    Max was certainly aware of it.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey seems to be in a much better mood. You looked pretty sour when you walked in. All

    because I have a genuine interest in your Little Canary? Mr. Dorsey, you should have the confidence to

    keep your talent close, especially since you¡¯re Max.¡±

    Even within the North American social circles, there were numerous women who desired to be with him

    intimately.

    Unexpectedly though, Max didn¡¯t respond.

    Tonight, Brielle mentioned ending things, which seemed she didn¡¯t care much for him.

    He couldn¡¯t help but ponder whether one truly didn¡¯t know what they had until it was gone.

    Maybe it was the couple of drinks he had, but a rush of frustration surged through him.

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    14:14

    Chapter 189

    Then, thinking that Brielle wasing to get him tonight, perhaps to apologize for her impulsive words

    earlier?

    His mood began to settle once more.

    As long as she took back what she said, he could pretend nothing had ever happened.

    Brielle arrived quickly, spotting Aubree in the hallway.

    Aubree was curled up in a corner, her eyes red¨Crimmed. On seeing Brielle, a mix of annoyance and

    relief crossed her face. ¡°Bri.¡±

    She managed to call out, attempting to rise but her legs were numb and she nearly stumbled forward.

    Brielle rushed to steady her, frowning with concern. ¡°What happened?¡±

    Aubree felt embarrassed, unable to disclose the truth.

    Brielle grew angry. ¡°Aubree, where¡¯s that spirit you used to encourage me with?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s face turned pale, and after a long pause, she said self¨Cdeprecatingly, ¡°If Max asked. you to

    apany other men, would you go?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s pupils narrowed sharply, her voice a mix of shock and anger. ¡°Who did Andrew want you to be

    with?¡±

    Aubree just shook her head with a bitter smile. ¡°He¡¯s quite handsome. Last name is Lynch.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s mind instantly conjured Dustin¡¯s face. Could it be that he was in Beaconsfield?

    She pursed her lips, watching Aubree light a cigarette with practiced ease, and said earnestly. ¡°Maybe

    you and Andrew should just call it quits.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not an option, Bri. You¡¯ll understand when you¡¯re in my shoes. Some people you meet are just

    there to teach you a lesson.¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t grasp the depth of her words, but seeing her pale face, she took Aubree¡¯s arm. ¡°Let me

    take you home first.¡±

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    Aubree really didn¡¯t want to return to the booth, her eyes downcast. ¡°Okay.¡±

    As Brielle escorted her out of the Tequ Sunset, Aubree¡¯s steps suddenly halted.

    Outside the bar, a luxury car pulled up, its license te disying a string of identical numbers that

    Brielle didn¡¯t recognize

    It wasn¡¯t until a delicate¨Clooking woman stepped out that she realized who it was. The woman, looking

    frail and pitiful, gave off a stark contrast to Aubree¡¯s demeanor.

    Tessa was dressed simply, her makeup light.

    As she passed by Brielle, she paused and frowned, ¡°Brielle?¡±

 Chapter 190

    Chapter 190

    Having finished her piece, Tessa seemed to only then notice Aubree by her side, pursing her lips with

    impatience. ¡°Is your brother around?¡±

    Aubree was only spineless in Andrew¡¯s presence. Facing Tessa, she was much moreposed. ¡°You

    looking for him for something?¡±

    Tessa nodded, and after a while, let out a light chuckle, ¡°Whatever¡¯s going on between us should be

    none of your business, Aubree. You¡¯re not getting any younger. Shouldn¡¯t you be thinking about settling

    down soon? I¡¯ve heard the Clements family has been nudging you for a while now?¡±

    After saying her piece, Tessa turned to Brielle, ¡°I¡¯ve heard your name tossed around before, and now

    we finally meet. Brielle, you better pray you¡¯ve got nothing to do with what happened to Sophia,

    otherwise, the and family won¡¯t let you off the hook.¡±

    Tessa was in a foul mood over Sophia¡¯s disappearance.

    And facing people she loathed, she couldn¡¯t bother with pretenses and went straight for the jugr.

    ¡°Plus, you¡¯ve made the headlines again tonight. Photos of you and Spencer are all over the ce.

    Spencer¡¯s been saying you¡¯ve been begging him to get back together.¡±

    Brielle frowned at this. ¡°What photos?¡±

    No sooner had she asked than she remembered the snaps taken by the paparazzi earlier that day, and

    her face went pale.

    Tessa¡¯s lips curled slightly at the sight of Brielle¡¯s reaction. ¡°Seems like you know exactly which photos

    I¡¯m talking about.¡±

    Brielle felt sick to her stomach, appalled that Spencer could stoop so low.

    Her chest heave emotion, but her face betrayed nothing. ¡°Whatever¡¯s going on between

    us should be none of your business,¡± she retorted, using Tessa¡¯s own words against her.

    A thin veil of anger passed over Tessa¡¯s eyes as she let out a scoff and made her way inside.

    Brielle watched her leave, then turned to Aubree, ¡°Are she and Sophia really that close?¡±

    ¡°Seems like it.¡±

    Then Brielle thought about the break¨Cin at her apartment but decided not to mention it, not wanting to

    worry anyone.

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    She helped Aubree to the car, and Aubree raised an eyebrow upon seeing it, ¡°Max¡¯s ride?¡±

    Max allowed someone else to touch his stuff?

    Aubree had given up on trying to convince Brielle earlier, but now seeing Max¡¯s apparent

    14:14

    Chapter 190

    special treatment, her resolve strengthened.

    ¡°Bri, why not try to win Max over?¡±

    To Aubree, Brielle had a unique charm¨Cbeautiful without knowing it.

    Perhaps that was exactly Max¡¯s type.

    Brielle had already hit the gas as she thought about the Barnes family meeting at the Dorsey family¡¯s

    mansion tonight, her mouth twitching slightly, ¡°The Barnes family¡¯s over at the Dorsey ce tonight to

    talk marriage. Wonder when they n to set the date.¡±

    Aubree reclined in the passenger¡¯s seat, her head tilting back at the mention, ¡°Alivia, huh? I hear she¡¯s

    tight with Tessa too.¡±

    Just as they were about to drive off, Aubree¡¯s phone rang. It was Andrew.

    She didn¡¯t want to answer, closing her eyes and even softening her breathing.

    Brielle didn¡¯t rush to drive off; after a while, she heard Aubree pick up.

    Andrew¡¯s voice came through, asking where she was.

    ¡°I¡¯m not going back to the booth. nning on heading home.¡±

    ¡°Aubree, did I say you could leave?¡±

    Andrew¡¯s tone was nasty. He was nursing a ss of booze, annoyed at the thought of Aubree sharing

    mouth¨Cto¨Cmouth drinks with someone else. ¡°Mr. Lynch is still waiting for his night of delight with you.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s face went pale at once, her grip on the phone tightening, ¡°Andrew, do you really have to do

    this?¡±

    Andrew chuckled darkly, lighting a cigarette, ¡°Maybe this is what you¡¯re looking forward to, huh? After

    being in my bed for so long, we¡¯re both tired of it. Trying someone new might be nice.¡±

    It felt like a sword through her chest.

    ¡°Aubree, or is it that you just love sleeping with me?¡±

    Andrew took a drag of his cigarette, his attitude as contemptuous as ever.

    He had stepped out of the booth and was now casually leaning against a wall. His shirt was

    unbuttoned, revealing a muscr chest, giving off a wild vibe

    Andrew sneered, his mind wandering back to thest time in the restroom of the booth, when she clung

    to him like a boneless vine.

    Over the years, Aubree had always been at his beck and call, asionally temperamental, but mostly

    docile to his demands

    He was indeed getting tired of her.

 Chapter 191

    Chapter 191

    ¡°Aubree, you know, Mr. Lynch is actually a pretty good catch,¡± said the voice at the other end of the

    line. ¡°If you¡¯re interested, the Clements family and the Lynch family could probably still make this

    marriage happen. Mr. Lynch has said he doesn¡¯t care how many guys a woman has been with, and

    well, certain things can be ¡®restored,¡® if you know what I mean.¡±

    Aubree listened quietly, her fingers gripping her cell phone turning white from the pressure. It took her a

    while to hang up. ¡°Bri, let¡¯s hit the road.¡±

    Brielle hadn¡¯t heard the conversation on speakerphone and was unaware of what had been discussed.

    She started the car and drove e off.

    When they arrived at Aubree¡¯s ce, Brielle intended to walk her up to her apartment, but Aubree was

    rubbing her temples.

    Brielle sensed her desire to be alone and didn¡¯t step out of the car. ¡°I remember you mentioned wanting

    a job, right? Maybe give it a shot? It could take your mind off Andrew for a while.¡±

    She revved the engine, her expression neutral. ¡°Besides, if Andrew really ties the knot with Tessa, or if

    they have kids, are you going to keep this thing going with him? If the Clements n finds out, what¡¯s

    your n? Tiffanie told me that in Beaconsfield, there are two women you don¡¯t mess with: Alivia and

    Tessa. If Tessa goes all out to give Andrew a child, he¡¯ll probably treasure her to no end, and you¡¯ll be

    left feeling even worse.¡±

    Everyone in Beaconsfield knew about Tessa¡¯s frail health; nobody thought she could handle childbirth.

    But Brielle had a hunch that Tessa was the type to go all¨Cin.

    Right now, she was oblivious to the crisis, but once she sensed Andrew hooked up with another

    woman, her quickest solution would be to cling to her broken body and give Andrew a child, binding

    him to her for life.

    And Aubree? She was just a catalyst in this scenario.

    After her candid talk, Brielle drove away.

    Meanwhile, Tessa had arrived in the hallway and immediately spotted the man leaning against the wall,

    smoking. ¡°Andrew.¡±

    Hearing the sound of high heels, Andrew thought it was Aubree returning. When he looked up and saw

    Tessa, he quickly stubbed out his cigarette. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    Tessa rarely attended parties, let alone visited ces like this, which made Andrew somewhat

    panicked.

    He didn¡¯t want to agitate her with the smell of smoke. ¡°Wait here. I¡¯ll just tell Max and Mr. Lynch, then I¡¯ll

    take you home.¡±

    Chapter 191

    Tessa was thin, her hand slipping onto his arm. ¡°I took some medicine beforeing out. I¡¯m fine. I just

    ran into Aubree at the entrance, with Spencer¡¯s ex¨Cfianc¨¦e. Andrew, you might want to tell your sister

    to avoid such questionablepany.¡±

    Sophia had told her about Brielle¡¯s scandalous private life.

    Plus, Brielle had once conned Andrew out of a hefty sum, a grudge Tessa held as if the money

    were her own.

    She spoke hastily and then, realizing the urgency in her voice, coughed a few times and leaned closer

    to Andrew.

    ¡°And Aubree¡¯s not getting any younger. I heard the Clements family was looking for a suitable match for

    her years ago. Why is there still no news?¡±

    Tessa had always been irked by Aubree¡¯s status, especially since she wasn¡¯t Andrew¡¯s biological sister.

    The mere thought of a spark between them was revolting.

    Andrew held her gently. ¡°This ce isn¡¯t suitable for you. We can talk more at home. And tonight, I

    introduced Aubree to a guy, Mr. Lynch from Infinity Brilliance. You know them, right?¡±

    Of course, Tessa knew about Infinity Brilliance, the leading name in diamonds. She thought she wanted

    Aubree to get married, but when she heard the groom¨Cto¨Cbe was the young CEO of such a prominent

    company, she felt incredibly uneasy. It turned out she was just jealous of Aubree¡¯s beauty and health.

    She didn¡¯t want Aubree to have it too good.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Her face paled. ¡°Really? Let me go in and meet your friends then.¡±

    It was the first time Tessa had asked to meet his friends, and Andrew couldn¡¯t refuse.

    As he escorted Tessa into the booth, Max and Dustin remained as before, silently sipping their drinks.

    The atmosphere wasn¡¯t awkward; it was just a bit eerie.

    Tessa hadn¡¯t expected Max to be there. Everyone in the social circles of Beaconsfield knew him. She

    faltered momentarily, then nodded politely.

    Her gaze moved to Dustin and she realized that his good looks were on par with Max¡¯s, though their

    auras were entirely different.

    Dustin appeared to be a yboy, with his flirtatious eyes and thin lips.

    Noticing Aubree hadn¡¯t entered, he quirked an eyebrow. ¡°Mr. Clements, did your sister bolt?¡±

 Chapter 192

    Chapter 192

    Tessa knew the conversation was about Aubree, and it seemed Andrew hadn¡¯t lied. He really had set

    Aubree up with someone.

    She let out a sigh of relief. It looked like there was nothing between Andrew and Aubree after

    all.

    But did Aubree really match up to the CEO of Infinity Brilliance?

    She snickered inwardly, took a seat next to Andrew, and spoke for him, ¡°She did leave early, went out

    with a friend.¡±

    ¡°A friend?¡±

    Dustin¡¯s interest piqued, recalling the phone call Aubree had made. Could it have been Brielle?

    Dustin¡¯s reason for prodding Max tonight was because he¡¯d learned Brielle¡¯s real name. He¡¯d been

    duped badly before, and it wasn¡¯t until he met with Andrew back home that he found out the little

    canary had given him a fake name..

    She really had no conscience. Didn¡¯t they both gossip about Max when they were abroad?

    ¡°Yeah, her name is Brielle. I don¡¯t think Mr. Lynch would know her.¡±

    ¡°How could I not know her? Brielle and I have had quite delightful conversations.¡±

    He deliberately emphasized ¡°delightful conversations,¡± then watched for Max¡¯s reaction.

    The man¡¯s face darkened, not at him, but turning to Tessa. ¡°You said Aubree left with Brielle?¡±

    His tone seemed normal at first, but his lips were tightly pursed.

    Brielle wasn¡¯t here for him? But for Aubree?

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    The air in the booth felt stifling to him.

    Tessa hadn¡¯t expected Max to speak with her, and it seemed he was asking about Brielle?

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    She leaned towards Andrew, whispering a question only they could hear, ¡°What¡¯s the deal with Brielle

    and Max?¡±

    Andrew was almost instinctively going to deny it, since no one yet knew about their rtionship. If word

    got to Michael, no one would be in for a good time.

    But before he could speak, Dustin stood up, raising his ss. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, I¡¯d like to invite Brielle over

    to Infinity Brilliance for a tour, business¨Crted, of course. You wouldn¡¯t object, would you?¡±

    A smile yed on his lips, his eyes shimmering, but Max remained unflinching, ¡°Dorsey International

    has no ns to coborate with Infinity Brilliance at this time.¡±

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    14:15

    Chapter 192

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, she¡¯s just an employee. Why the fuss?¡±

    Dustin leaned in, pouring Max a drink, his demeanor momentarily submissive. ¡°Brielle won¡¯t be at a

    loss with me. All stores under Infinity Brilliance will be free for her, as long as she apanies me on

    a trip abroad. How about that?¡±

    Max¡¯s grip tightened on his ss, tempted to ssh the contents over Dustin¡¯s grinning face.

    He began to wonder if he¡¯d been too stingy with Brielle.

    He¡¯d offered a card before, but Brielle hadn¡¯t epted it. So far, it seemed he hadn¡¯t provided. any

    tangible benefits.

    Even Dustin was offering all stores for free right off the bat, making him feel one¨Cupped.

    Apetitive edge rose within him, and he looked up at Dustin, ¡°Brielle has more important tasks at

    hand. Mr. Lynch, if you want to please someone, perhaps you should consider how to help hernd this

    deal. What do you think?¡±

    Dustin¡¯s eyes narrowed, thinking Max was quite cunning.

    Brielle was working for Dorsey International, negotiating deals for them. If he helped Brielle. wouldn¡¯t

    that indirectly benefit Dorsey International?

    He failed to wedge himself into the situation but managed to make Max a profit.

    Capitalists and their tricks¡­

    The corners of Max¡¯s mouth curved into a smile as he stood, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯ll head out. Mr. Lynch, if

    you make up your mind, feel free to visit Dorsey International anytime.¡±

    The trap was set right before Dustin¡¯s eyes ¨C whether he jumped or not was entirely up to him.

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    Chapter 193

    Dustin sat down in frustration, furrowing his brows tightly. He heard a soft, delicate voice from beside

    him, ¡°Mr. Lynch, you and Brielle¡­¡±

    Tessa couldn¡¯t help but sumb to another coughing fit, her cheeks flushing with the effort.

    Dustin raised an eyebrow and let out azy grin, stretching his legs onto the coffee table. ¡°Brielle?

    Brielle just makes me feel familiar. It¡¯s Aubree I¡¯m really into. Eve got the whole scene nned out in

    my head. Just the other day, I had a brief chat with Brielle about art. She seemed to dig my vibe.

    Wonder if Aubree would feel the same.

    His words left nothing to the imagination. Tessa frowned. So, Brielle had snagged another one on her

    overseas escapades. She hated to admit it, but Brielle was a looker. Such a shame, though, just

    another woman men yed with.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Dustin stood up, his gaze sweeping past Andrew with a smirk. ¡°Mr. Clements is one lucky guy. having

    such a pretty sister and an attractive fianc¨¦e.¡±

    Tessa felt a pang of difort. She and Aubree were nothing alike. If it hadn¡¯t been for Aubree¡¯s

    stroke of luck, being taken in by the Clements family as a foster child, she wouldn¡¯t have been in

    Andrew¡¯s league at all.

    But to Andrew, Dustin¡¯s words seemed to hint that he knew about his rtionship with Aubree. He

    chuckled. ¡°Mr. Lynch, didn¡¯t you just say you didn¡¯t mind used goods?¡±

    Dustin¡¯s brow furrowed. He always knew he yed the field, but Andrew seemed even less principled,

    tantly so.

    Instantly, he lost interest in Aubree. She would never forget Andrew, and he disliked the thought of a

    woman¡¯s heart upied by another while in his bed. Romance and love are nothingpared to the

    direct pleasure of the body. He never bothered with them.

    And Brielle, she had always felt familiar. They got along well. She wasn¡¯t like the others. He didn¡¯t want

    her to stumble over such trivial matters.

    Besides, Brielle and Max? That was going nowhere fast. Ignoring Max¡¯s obvious cluelessness in the

    matter, Michael was a huge obstacle in itself. Maybe once they split, he could swoop in and score

    some points with Brielle.

    Dustin chuckled to himself, deciding not to fall into the pit Max had dug. ¡°I really don¡¯t mind, but Mr.

    Clements, are you sure she¡¯d be willing to keep mepany?¡±

    ¡°Just send me your room number, and I¡¯ll pass it to Aubree. Whether shees or not is up to her.¡±

    Dustin averted his gaze, picking up his coat from nearby. ¡°No need. I¡¯m not one to coerce. These kinds

    of things are best when they¡¯re mutual.¡±

    He stepped out of Tequ Sunset, lighting a cigarette, and slid into his car that had been waiting.

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    14:15

    Chapter 195

    Nearby stood Max.

    Dustin couldn¡¯t help but smirk as he drove up. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, a man of your stature without a lift? Need a

    ride?¡±

    It was a deliberate taunt. ¡°Just remembered, my destination and your Premier Pce aren¡¯t on the way.

    Never mind, then. Is the designated driver Mr. Dorsey called on the way? Take your time. I¡¯ll be off.¡±

    Dustin may have been the first to mock Max to his face. As he finished, another car pulled up. its

    window rolling down to reveal Brielle¡¯s face. It was a surprise to both men.

    Hadn¡¯t she left with Aubree?

    Why had shee back?

    Brielle honked twice, poking her head out.

    Max¡¯s stoic features softened with a smile, like a flickering candle in the night. He nced at Dustin.

    ¡°No need for your trouble, Mr. Lynch. My ride¡¯s here. Until next time.¡±

    Fuming, Dustin rolled down his window, intending to exchange a few words with Brielle, but Max had

    already shut himself in the car, preventing her from seeing him.

    Clutching the steering wheel, Dustin couldn¡¯t fathom why Brielle would entangle herself with such a

    man.

    Unaware of Dustin¡¯s presence, Brielle saw Max get into the car and gently reached to fasten his

    Seatbelt.

    Max¡¯s eyes were half¨Cclosed, his Adam¡¯s apple prominent as he leaned back. As Brielle pulled The

    seatbelt across, she heard him ask, ¡°Weren¡¯t we

    supposed to call it quits?¡± His tone was Indifferent, as if the night¡¯s frustration had belonged to

    someone else.

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    Chapter 194

    Brielle knew he was angry, so she quickly fastened her seatbelt securely. ¡°It¡¯s the pain talking.

    nonsense, that¡¯s all.¡±

    Max had a bit of booze tonight, a subtle scent of whiskey lingering about him, and after Dustin got

    under his skin, he felt the rush of blood making the buzz hit harder. At her words, he just arched an

    eyebrow slightly.

    Gripping the steering wheel Brielle wanted to say something more, to sort of patch things up, but then

    Max¡¯s phone started to ring. He didn¡¯t respond, closing his eyes with a cold and indifferent expression.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, your phone¡¯s ringing.¡± Brielle reminded, breaking the icy silence.

    Max¡¯s eyshes fluttered as he took out his phone and pressed the answer button.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t make out what was said on the other end, but Max¡¯s face turned to stone, and the air

    seemed to freeze over even more. She felt like she might get frostbite, her lips involuntarily starting to

    quiver.

    She heard Max let out a sardonic chuckle. ¡°He can¡¯t sit still, can he?¡± The sarcasm was thick in

    his voice.

    Just as Brielle was about to take a turn, she saw him end the call, his voice cold as ice. ¡°Forget Premier

    Pce. Head to the hotel.¡±

    Brielle was taken aback, unclear about what had just happened, but then she heard herself ask, ¡°You

    went to the police station?¡±

    She hadn¡¯t nned to bring it up, just mentioned postponing her business trip. Now, with him asking,

    she simply nodded.

    ¡°Yeah, ran into some trouble.¡±

    ¡°What kind of trouble?¡±

    ¡°Got a threatening text, and someone broke into my ce. The cops were all around my apartment, but

    I don¡¯t dare stay there alone right now. Thankfully. Patrick¡¯s waiting for me downstairs.¡±

    followed by the break¨Cin¨Cshe couldn¡¯t for the life of her piece it all together. Aside from their past

    grievances, there didn¡¯t seem to be any entanglement between her and Sophia. So what was the game

    n of the person behind all this?

    First Sophia¡¯s disappearance, then the threatening message

    ¡°Next time something like this happens, tell me earlier.¡±

    There was warmth in Brielle¡¯s heart. ¡°Sure, which hotel?¡±

    Before she could finish, she noticed in the rearview mirror some shes of light. Her brow

    14:15

    Chapter 194

    furrowed¨Cwere they being followed?

    Max noticed too, a slight smirk ying on his lips, ¡°Someone¡¯s well¨Cprepared.¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t grasp his meaning but yed along, ¡°So, we¡¯re still heading to the hotel?¡±

    Max rubbed his forehead, ¡°I¡¯ll have to swing back to Premier Pceter. Can¡¯t let the show go

    on without me.¡±

    Brielle frowned, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°William¡¯s probably caught wind of our connection.¡±

    Brielle tensed up. She always knew William was no simple character, but how had he found out about

    this? Even Spencer was in the dark.

    Her confusion deepened, but then she heard Max, ¡°I¡¯ll have some people keep an eye on you. Stay

    vignt these days.¡±

    Was she getting entangled in the Dorsey family feud?

    ¡°What did William do?¡±

    ¡°My father¡¯s waiting at Premier Pce right now.¡±

    It clicked for Brielle. If they went to Premier Pce now, it would be walking right into a trap. But how

    would William know she¡¯d be heading back there tonight, especially thiste? And for what reason

    would Michael join him in this night¨Ctime escapade?

    This was Dorsey family drama, and Brielle didn¡¯t want to pry further. ¡°I¡¯ll just go to the hotel.

    then.¡±

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take you to a hotel under Dorsey International. I¡¯ve got a suite there, and you¡¯ll be well looked after.¡±

    It was the first time Brielle truly sensed the internal strife of Dorsey International, and she wanted no

    part in it. If William really knew about her entanglement with Max, she feared her days ahead would be

    anything but calm.

    Max personally dropped her off at the hotel, and just before he left, he suddenly turned to ask. ¡°What¡¯s

    the deal with the photos of you and Spencer?¡±

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    Chapter 195

    Photos? It must¡¯ve been the photos that got out.

    Brielle¡¯s scalp tingled with irritation, desperate to know the extent of their cirction.

    Max lingered at the door, pinching the hotel keycard between his fingers, uncertain of Brielle¡¯s stance

    towards Spencer. They were childhood sweethearts, always together, and though the engagement was

    broken off decisively, such intimate photos wouldn¡¯t have leaked unless she gave Spencer a chance to

    be caught in the act. A chill spread through his heart. ¡°If you need anything, just call the front desk.¡±

    Brielle was at a loss for words. After he left, she nced at her phone. Someone had sent her those

    photos, captured perfectly by the camera. Had she not been one of the subjects, she might have

    believed they were in a passionate embrace. She trembled with anger, and just then, Miranda¡¯s call

    came through.

    ¡°Brielle! Didn¡¯t you break off your engagement with Spencer? And here you are, ying us all for fools,

    I must say you¡¯re quite the actress.¡±

    Brielle hung up almost instantly, regretting her mishap with the answer button.

    Cameron¡¯s message followed, equally confrontational. [You ended things with Spencer publicly. and

    privately you jump into his bed. I knew you had a wild side, but I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be so keen on being

    the other woman. Brielle, have youpletely tossed aside all the etiquette and values taught by the

    Haywood family over the years?]

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    What upbringing did the Haywoods ever have?

    Brielle found itughable. She decided to block all the Haywoods¡® contacts. Out of sight, out of

    mind.

    What she didn¡¯t expect was for Spencer to have the gall to reach out, asking to meet her. Seeing him

    now just irked her. Her brows furrowed, she tossed her phone aside, ignoring

    everyone.

    But Spencer was in no hurry. With the photos out, there were bound to be rumors, and the story of their

    broken engagement became even more tangled.

    Spencer set down his phone, catching Faith¡¯s suspicious gaze with a slight smirk. Faith felt conflicted

    seeing such photos, especially after the recent video scandal involving her son and Lillian. ¡°Spencer,

    who took this pictures?¡±

    Spencer had no intention of admitting it was a setup. ¡°Who else but Brielle? She regrets. breaking off

    the engagement, always had feelings for me.¡±

    Faith was torn between relief and worry. Brielle was preferable to Lillian, but Faith didn¡¯t like her

    temperament. ¡°She has feelings for you? She released this photos on purpose?¡±

    It didn¡¯t make sense, since Brielle had been soposed during the breakup.

    10

    14:16

    Impatience shed across Spencer¡¯s face as he stood up, ¡°Women are fickle, mom. She released that

    video of me and Lillian to get my attention. Please do not meddle in my affairs.

    Faith felt a pang of difort.

    After Spencer left the Dorseys¡®, he received a call from his uncle William, a rare urrence throughout

    the years at the Dorsey family.

    ¡°Spencer, what¡¯s this fuss about you and Brielle?¡±

    Spencer frowned, why was everyone so concerned about him and Brielle? ¡°She¡¯s trying to get back

    together with me.

    William went quiet for a moment, his annoyance palpable, ¡°Really? I¡¯ve heard Brielle¡¯s got another man

    on the side.¡±

    ¡°Uncle William, those are just rumors.¡±

    William¡¯s expression darkened, and before him knelt a haggard woman, bound and gagged, unable to

    speak. Her eyes were wide with terror, looking fearfully at the man before her.

    This woman was Sophia.

    Sophia trembled all over, devoid of her former defiance, wishing she could bury her face in the ground.

    Her body boresh marks and signs of abuse. William knew how to utterly destroy a

    woman.

 Chapter 196

    Chapter 196

    Sophia shivered uncontrobly, her mind reying the scene that unfolded before her eyes at the

    Haywood family¡¯s floral wall.

    Earlier, after Lillian had spilled the beans about Aubree and Andrew¡¯s sordid affair, Sophia was fuming

    with rage, her mind and heart filled with the fiery desire to confront Aubree, and expose their filthy

    rtionship in front of everyone¨Cavenging Tessa in the process.

    But as she searched the grand Haywood family soiree, Aubree was nowhere to be found. Instead, by

    the floral wall, she stumbled upon Max pressing Brielle against the wall, their kiss deep with passion.

    Sophia felt as if lightning had struck her, freezing her in ce. Then she heard Spencer¡¯s voice. He

    was looking for Brielle. In the next moment, Max slipped off his jacket, draping it over Brielle as they

    continued their kissing.

    Sophia was engulfed in shock and fear, for she had glimpsed Max¡¯s secret. In a panicked reflex, she

    snapped a photo, her original intent to find Aubree forgotten as she stumbled along the Haywood

    estate¡¯s cobblestone path, only to collide with several men, her phone ttering to the ground.

    The photo she took was not clear, and one could only vaguely make out a couple kissing. However,

    anyone familiar with the attire of Brielle and Max would recognize them.

    Before she knew it, she was standing before William. Sophia had met William a few times. before and

    had only seen him as a very patient elder.

    As he toyed with her phone, he asked her pointed questions.

    ¡°First question, who¡¯s in this photo?¡±

    Sophia wasn¡¯t a fool. She could not speak the truth. If Max found out she had leaked his secret. would

    she have any chance of survival? She had taken the photo out of sheer reflex, never intending to share

    it with anyone..

    William was in no rush, as he let his bodyguards bring in a vagrant to vite her. Amidst the insults and

    threats, her sanity crumbled.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Now, in William¡¯s presence, Sophia had lost all will to resist, wishing instead to cower at his feet like a

    dog. She knew she had a problem, probably suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, where the victim

    develops a psychological dependence on the perpetrator and unquestioningly follows theirmands.

    She shook uncontrobly until the gag was removed from her mouth. William tapped her cheek with the

    phone. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying the people in this photo are Brielle and Max?¡±

    Sophia nodded frantically. ¡°Yes, yes. I saw it with my own eyes.¡±

    ¡°If only I could pluck those eyes out,¡± he said with a feigned regret. ¡°The photo¡¯s too blurry. Even if it

    reached the old man¡¯s hands, he wouldn¡¯t believe it.¡±

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    14:16

    Chapter 196

    Sophia¡¯s head hung low, dripping blood onto the floor.

    ¡°I¡¯ll let you go.¡± William proposed, ¡°Find a way to get close to Brielle and snap a clearer picture,

    alright?¡±

    Sophia recoiled, then nodded, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll get you a better picture.¡±

    William smirked, lifting her chin. ¡°Remember, all this is because of Brielle. You should be happy to bring

    her down, right?¡±

    A flicker of resentment shed in Sophia¡¯s eyes as she nodded, ¡°Yes, I wish she were dead.¡±

    William was satisfied, ¡°Good to know. It¡¯s not a waste to have had you ¡®trained.¡® Go on, if youplete

    your task, I promise to leave Brielle to your mercy.¡±

    Sophia¡¯s eyes lit up. She now fully believed William and redirected all her resentment toward Brielle.

    She must make Brielle suffer as she had!

    William chuckled. If this woman weren¡¯t still useful, he wouldn¡¯t keep her around. He had inadvertently

    tipped off Max, who must have sensed something was amiss.

    The photo had already reached Michael, and William hadid the groundwork, yet Michael had gone

    straight to Premier Pce instead of summoning Max to the family¡¯s mansion.

    The implications were significant. Being called to the mansion for mistakes signaled the beginning of

    lost trust, but Michael¡¯s choice to lie in wait at Premier Pce suggested his tolerance for Max was far

    greater than for others.

    William sneered. Years of patience nearly unraveled, but thankfully Max had no concrete evidence,

    perhaps only suspecting William¡¯s machinations.

    He gazed down, fingering a pair of beads, as the door behind him swung open. A young man.

    appeared, ¡°Dad, are you finished?¡±

    William nodded, motioning for Sophia to be unbound. The young man approached her. ¡°Sophia, let me

    escort you out.¡±

    Sophia shrank back, nodding in a fluster. They were not worried about Sophia speaking out. She didn¡¯t

    dare, nor did she want to.

 Chapter 197

    Chapter 197

    Inside the grand halls of Premier Pce, Max strode into the living room, his zer casually draped

    over his elbow.

    The butler took his belongings and hung them on the nearby coat rack.

    Michael sat upright on the sofa, his piercing gaze settling on Max, ¡°Why are you home sote?¡± Max

    slipped off his cufflinks, tossing them carelessly to the butler, and made his way to the couch, ¡°Had a

    few drinks with Andrew.¡±

    The scent of liquor clung to him, and on the coffee tabley several photographs¨Cthe very ones.

    William had been holding,

    Max wasn¡¯t in a rush. He picked up the photos, studied them for a moment beforementing. ¡°Not a

    bad shot.¡±

    ¡°Ridiculous!¡±

    The sharpness in that single word sent the servants scurrying out of the room, heads lowered and

    faces flushed with panic.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Is that Brielle in these pictures?¡±

    Max chuckled and took a seat, ¡°What makes you think that¡¯s Brielle?¡±

    Michael wasn¡¯t so sure now, especially seeing Max¡¯sposed demeanor, his brow furrowed with

    concern. ¡°Then who is it? If these pictures get to the Barnes family, what are you going to tell Jose,

    Max? Don¡¯t go down the same path as your brother. I don¡¯t care about his escapades, but you don¡¯t

    have that liberty.¡±

    ¡°Your future wife is Alivia, and she¡¯s set her heart on you. The Barnes family and the Dorsey family are

    practically announcing the engagement. We¡¯ve all but said it out loud. You know what I mean?¡±

    Realizing the woman in the photos wasn¡¯t Brielle, Michael¡¯s tone softened.

    ¡°Max, your mother-¡± He sighed deeply, ¡°Her health hasn¡¯t been good, and she hopes you¡¯ll settle down

    soon. Alivia calls her every month. I don¡¯t want any trouble between you two.¡±

    The Dorsey family situation wasplex. Max, the youngest son, didn¡¯t share a mother with his

    siblings. In Michael¡¯s era, thews still allowed for multiple wives, following old traditions. Max¡¯s mother

    was thestwful wife, but she never stayed in the mansion, instead, she was abroad receiving

    treatment for an illness, in a facility not far from Alivia¡¯s research institute.

    Michael had been a yboy all his life, but he had poured all his affection into thisst wife. Even Max,

    her son, was his pride and joy. Unfortunately, after Max¡¯s birth, she fell ill and her mental state was

    never the same.

    ¡°Father, I have always arranged for someone to take care of mother, and as for the woman in

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    14:16

    Chapter 197

    the photos, even if it were Brielle, so what?¡±

    Max had always been decisive, and even if he hadn¡¯t been born into the Dorsey family, he

    believed he could have climbed into the elite circles on his own merit. No one could sway his decisions.

    Michael¡¯s chest tightened at his words, only Max had the audacity to speak to him like that, and yet he

    couldn¡¯t argue.

    Even if it were Brielle, what then? What did he mean by that?

    Michael was harsh to everyone else in the Dorsey family but dared not press too hard on his youngest

    son.

    Now Max controlled fifty¨Cone percent of Dorsey International¡¯s shares and had umted a vast

    amount of foreign capital over the years. Aside from Dorsey International¡¯s assets. whether he owned

    otherpanies was unknown. Michael had used Dorsey International to pressure Everett but never

    dared use it against Max.

    He felt a metaphorical blow to the head and was silent for a long time.

    Max, however, poured him a cup of water, ¡°Father, have some water.¡±

    Michael shivered with anger, and after a while, he clenched his teeth, ¡°So, it is you in those pictures,

    with Brielle? When did you¡­¡±

    Maxughed softly, ¡°What I said was, even if it were Brielle, so what? I have the right to choose my

    wife, don¡¯t I? Until I find someone I like, it doesn¡¯t matter who I marry. But if I do find someone I like,

    then she¡¯s the only one for me.¡±

    The old man took a deep breath, annoyed, and took the tea, ¡°You truly want to be the death of

    ne.¡±

    le took a few sips to cool off and ventured. ¡°So, do you have someone you like now?¡±

    Max paused, a crease forming between his brows, ¡°I don¡¯t know what liking someone means.¡±

 Chapter 198

    Chapter 198

    Hearing that response, Michael¡¯s worries dissipated, and his gaze drifted to the coffee table. ¡°I¡¯ve no

    idea who took this picture, but looking closely, the person in it doesn¡¯t even look like

    you.¡±

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    The scene was too blurry, and there wasn¡¯t a single clear shot of a face, so it could be anyone. But that

    anonymous text had nted the seed in his mind that it was Max and Brielle, so the more he looked,

    the more he saw the resemnce.

    Now, with Max¡¯s answer, Michael was fully at ease, he chuckled and patted him on the shoulder.

    ¡°Better not to know. Just go ahead and marry Alivia. You¡¯re young. You¡¯ll understand in time.¡±

    Max stared at the crystal¨Cclear liquid in Michael¡¯s cup, his lips lightly pursed, ¡°Next time there¡¯s a photo

    like this, you don¡¯t need to worry. I don¡¯t want to end up like Victoria.¡±

    Everyone in the Dorsey n knew how tough Michael had been on Everett. So controlling that he even

    dictated how often they should have sex each month, and if Victoria ever missed her ¡®quota¡®, she¡¯d

    come running to Michael, tears in her eyes, toin.

    ¡°Ha, just make sure you don¡¯t end up embarrassing yourself like Victoria did. I can understand her

    getting caught up in love. She¡¯s a woman after all, but Dorsey men can¡¯t allow that to sway them. Look

    at your older brothers, and that young buck Spencer. Dorsey men are not known to

    be fools in love.¡±

    Even Michael himself had had his fair share of women, but in his eyes, very few were worth having

    children with. It was only when he met Max¡¯s mother that he truly settled down.

    Max absentmindedly twirled his rosary, a gesture that made Michael wave it off, ¡°Let¡¯s put an end to

    tonight¡¯s drama. Whoever set this up, we¡¯re not pursuing it further.¡±

    Max raised an eyebrow and chuckled lightly. ¡°Looks like Dad¡¯s got the picture.¡±

    After all, the old man had been through wars and storms, how could he not see through these

    tactics?

    Once he left, Max sat alone on the sofa, a frown creasing his forehead, his fingers absently tracing the

    rim of his cup.

    The butler, Wesley, peeked out from the kitchen and approached him, ¡°Sir, if you¡¯re feeling down, shall I

    invite Ms. Brielle over?¡±

    ¡°No need.¡±

    Max¡¯s tone was t, his mind obviously on the photograph.

    Wesley didn¡¯t want to intrude too much, sensing there might be a misunderstanding between the two.

    He had heard the conversation between Max and Michael. Although Max hadn¡¯t admitted it, he had

    made his stance clear: even if that woman in the photo turned out to be

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    14:16

    Chapter 198

    Brielle, he would stand by her, refusing to allow her to walk Everett¡¯s tragic path.

    In a way, it was a preemptive strike.

    From the night Max brought Brielle home, Wesley sensed she could be the future mistress of the

    house, and so he always treated her with respect.

    He cleared his throat, ¡°I heard Ms. Brielle just got out of the hospital. I¡¯ll have the kitchen prepare some

    soup to send over.¡±

    Max didn¡¯t verbally object.

    Amused, Wesley instructed the kitchen to start the soup in the wee hours.

    Max returned to his study, where Patrick presented his findings. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, it turns out William¡¯s men

    were also responsible for the incident at Ms. Brielle¡¯s apartment.¡±

    William¡¯s move was well calcted, first confining Sophia to break her will, then staging a burry at

    Brielle¡¯s ce to make her afraid to stay home. If anything happened between her and Max, she¡¯d

    naturally seek refuge with her lover.

    And if Michael saw the photo and called Max to the mansion, it would be a death sentence for Brielle¨Ca

    no¨Cwin situation for the little fish in a big pond.

    Max took the blurry photo, examined it briefly, and as he slid it into a drawer, he remarked, ¡°His son just

    got back from abroad. He wants a spot at Dorsey International, right? Block his entry. Secure that

    executive position for Brielle.¡±

    ¡°Right. Ms. Brielle¡¯s staying at a hotel tonight. Should I pick her up?¡±

    Max felt irked, why did everyone keep bringing up Brielle? Compared to the photos of Brielle with

    Spencer, this one was tame, and Brielle had even admitted to having feelings for Spencer before. He

    felt an inexplicable annoyance.

    ¡°No need.¡±

    Perhaps this rtionship would be over sooner rather thanter.

 Chapter 199

    Chapter 199

    Brielle only found out the next day that Sophia had returned home.

    The news came from a direct call from the police station. They had sent an officer to speak with Sophia

    that morning, hoping to glean some information about the kidnappers, but Sophia wasn¡¯t giving up

    anything. She insisted she was just out ying.

    However, the text message Brielle received told a different story. It warned her she was next.

    The text was real. Sophia was lying. However, she was a victim, and with the clout of the Rond

    family behind her, the police couldn¡¯t press too hard. They just advised Brielle to stay

    alert.

    ncing at the number that sent the threatening message. Brielle noticed there were no new

    texts.

    A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts, and she put away her phone to answer it. Standing there

    was Wesley. He held out a steaming pot of chicken soup. ¡°Ms. Brielle, I had the kitchen whip this up for

    you. I heard you¡¯re fresh out of the hospital. Feeling any better?¡±

    Touched by the gesture, Brielle quickly took the pot, ¡°Thanks a lot.¡±

    Wesley offered a warm smile. ¡°Mr. Dorsey asked for it to be made. He¡¯s still quite concerned about

    you.¡±

    Feeling somewhat awkward, Brielle knew Wesley had misunderstood something from the start. but she

    wasn¡¯tfortable correcting him. To Max, she was just a woman he kept around. This rtionship

    could end at any moment.

    ¡°Did he have a good night? I heard Michael was at Premier Pce?¡±

    She had dark circles under her eyes, having spent a sleepless night worrying after hearing that Michael

    was at the Premier Pce.

    She had considered countless possibilities, such as Michael showing up early in the morning and

    handing her a card, asking her to stay away from Max. But then she thought, with her current awkward

    situation, was it worth Michael¡¯s intervention? She couldn¡¯t help but feel amused.

    ¡°Mr. Michael was at Premier Pce indeed. But I¡¯m not privy to what they discussed.¡±

    ¡°Did they get into a fight?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey never argues with anyone.¡±

    Really? He seemed pretty quick to anger around her. She felt her face flush with embarrassment.

    Wesley¡¯s blunt advice followed, ¡°If there¡¯s a misunderstanding with Mr. Dorsey, Best clear it up

    soon.

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    14:16

    Chapter 199

    ¡°Right, thanks for the heads¨Cup.¡±

    After Wesley left, Brielle sipped from the pot of soup, her mind heavy with thoughts. She decided to

    make a trip to Dorsey International. She wanted to see what William¡¯s next move

    would be.

    But what she didn¡¯t expect was to find arge bouquet of red roses on her desk upon entering her

    office. Frowning, she asked her colleagues. ¡°Is this a mistake? Were these meant for someone else?¡±

    One of them replied with a hint of envy. ¡°They came first thing in the morning, addressed to

    you.¡±

    Brielle had barely sat down when her phone pinged with a text from an unknown number.

    [Do you like them?]

    [Who is this?]

    [If you like them, that¡¯s all that matters.]

    Brielle¡¯s frown deepened. Could it be Spencer? But knowing Spencer, if he¡¯d sent them, he¡¯d have

    signed his name boldly, just to make sure she knew.

    Was it Max?

    The thought made Brielle scoff at herself. Max would never send her such a thing in this lifetime. She

    asked someone to remove the roses and went about her day.

    She was notified that there was a meeting upstairs and grabbed the necessary files. As she entered

    the elevator, she bumped into William, who was also on his way to the meeting.

    Dressed in a crisp gray suit, William¡¯s smile was genteel, but it sent a shiver down Brielle¡¯s spine. She

    wanted to escape the elevator but feared showing her anxiety, so she reluctantly pressed the close

    button instead.

    ¡°Brielle, weren¡¯t you supposed to head overseas to handle some business?¡±

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Her smile strained, she replied, ¡°Ran into a bit of trouble, it¡¯s been postponed.¡±

    ¡°I heard Noah¡¯s been in talks with Alivia. How¡¯s that going?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a question for Mr. Noah.¡± She kept it professional, hoping the elevator would speed up.

    ¡°Alivia¡¯s involvement should guarantee sess. She¡¯s been waiting for Max for years,

    frequently caring for his mother. You haven¡¯t met Max¡¯s mother yet, have you?¡±

 Chapter 200

    Chapter 200

    The words struck Brielle like a needle, piercing deep into the core of her heart. Yet she didn¡¯t show a

    flicker of emotion on her face, even daring to look up and meet his gaze head¨Con.

    ¡°Spencer¡¯s treatment of me over the years is no secret, Mr. William. You of all people should be well

    aware. My connection to him was nothing more than a broken engagement. I never had the privilege of

    meeting Max¡¯s mother. As for Mr. Dorsey and Alivia, they¡¯re a match made in heaven, aren¡¯t they? A

    perfect pair if ever there was one.¡±

    She was so focused on her words that she didn¡¯t even notice the elevator doors opening. Max and

    several executives stood there, having caught every word she said.

    William raised an eyebrow, ncing behind Brielle with a smirk. ¡°So, Brielle, you¡¯re here to congratte

    Max and Alivia too? Perfect, you can tell Max yourself.¡±

    A chill seemed to creep up from behind her, cold enough to seep into her very bones. She turned

    around and, sure enough, there was Max, his face impassive as if her words hadn¡¯t touched him at all.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    It was the executive elevator. Running into them was to be expected.

    Brielle¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively avoided meeting his gaze. The other executives

    seemed oblivious to the tense atmosphere. The head of Human Resources quickly interjected to

    smooth things over, ¡°Ms. Haywood, the meeting¡¯s been moved downstairs.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s hand at her side twitched slightly. ¡°Alright,¡± she whispered.

    Standing to the side, her heart pounding, she heard William chatting with Max, but Max was always a

    man of few words, hardly ever responding with more than two.

    The meeting room had been moved to her department¡¯s floor. She had earlier ordered someone to

    remove the flowers she received, but they, thinking it wasteful to throw them away, ced a sign by

    them instead-¡°Flowers Free to a Good Home.¡±

    One of the executives

    Someone from her department was fetching flowers, replying respectfully. ¡°They were originally for Ms.

    Haywood.¡±

    All at once, the executives¡® gazes turned to Brielle. ¡°Didn¡¯t know you were so popr, Ms. Haywood,¡±

    they teased.

    Brielle forced a bitter smile.

    Max approached the flowers, his fingers deftly plucking one. His fingers were long and attractive, the

    red petals stark against his skin, and to Brielle, it felt as if he was squeezing the life out of her throat.

    She swallowed hard, only to see him silently head to the adjacent room, prepared for the

    meeting.

    14:16

    Chapter 200

    Throughout the meeting, she was on edge, until an ex¨¦cutive asked about her travel ns. Standing,

    she responded. ¡°There¡¯s been a situation. I¡¯ve taken a few days off. Once that¡¯s sorted, I¡¯ll be ready to

    travel.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, that¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong. What personal issue could possibly be more important than

    company business?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Noah is already chatting with Ms. Alivia, and here you are, still in the country. You don¡¯t seem to be

    busy with anything urgent.¡±

    Amidst the murmurs, William spoke up. ¡°Brielle, when you say ¡®a situation,¡® you don¡¯t mean mending

    fences with Spencer, do you? If it¡¯s a matter of the heart, we might understand. After all, you and Mr.

    Noah arepetitors. Whether you win or Mr. Noah does, thepany benefits. Right, Max?¡±

    Brielle mentally cursed William a thousand times, wishing he¡¯d shut up.

    Max yed with his pen, hisshes casting cold shadows. ¡°The meeting is not a ce for personal

    matters.¡±

    The room went silent, no one daring to tease any further.

    Some ttered Alivia, others stated the new investment was bound to seed, merely steps away

    from wishing Max and Alivia a lifelong happiness.

    Max remained aloof, and as the meeting ended, he left with the other executives.

    Brielle sat still, watching William rise and offer her a warm smile. She clenched her teeth in silent rage,

    standing to chase after him, only to see Spencer waiting in the corridor. A hush fell over the

    department.

    Spencer raised an eyebrow at Brielle¡¯s approach, his stride confident as he closed the distance.

    ¡°Lillian¡¯s in the hospital. You¡¯reing with me to see her.¡±

 Chapter 201

    Chapter 201

    Brielle couldn¡¯t believe her ears. It was either she had misheard or Spencer had truly lost his marbles.

    Frowning, she lifted her foot to step into the office but was blocked by Spencer¡¯s outstretched arm.

    ¡°Brielle, we both messed up with those photos, and you have toe with me to see her. Maybe it¡¯s

    the photos that¡¯s got her all worked up.¡± Spencer said, his voice loud enough for the surrounding

    colleagues to overhear.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help but nce around at the reactions of others in the department. If she wasn¡¯t

    mistaken, they had all received that incriminating photos. It wasn¡¯t just the social circles of

    Beaconsfield; it seemed like everyone she had ever interacted with had gotten a

    copy.

    Looking back at Spencer, her disgust was no longer concealed. ¡°You know damn well how those

    photos came to be, better than I do,¡± she retorted.

    A flicker of guilt passed through Spencer¡¯s eyes, but he quickly regained a defiant stance. ¡°I know you

    are not over me. Cut the crap, Brielle. We¡¯ve known each other for years. There¡¯s no need for things to

    get this bad between us.¡±

    Feeling a pain in her chest at the thought of all the one¨Csided efforts she had made for Spencer over

    the years, Brielle wondered how she could have been so blind. ¡°Spencer, I don¡¯t want to fight right now.

    I¡¯ve got bigger fish to fry.¡±

    As she spoke, William approached them. ¡°Ms. Haywood, Spencer was just telling mest night. how

    you were keen on getting back together. Didn¡¯t expect it to be true. You lovebirds need to clear up this

    misunderstanding. Ms. Haywood, you can take the afternoon off.¡±

    Brielle initiating a reconciliation?

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    The bystanders caught every word, raising their eyebrows suggestively.

    Meanwhile, Max didn¡¯t stop for the drama, heading straight for the executive elevator to the top

    floor.

    Spencer hadn¡¯t expected William to spill the beans in front of everyone, and the awkwardness was

    palpable. Worried Brielle would expose him, Spencer grabbed her wrist. ¡°Let¡¯s step outside for a

    minute.¡±

    Brielle, although stunned, knew that if she left now, she would never be able to clear her name. She

    shook off his grip with a swift motion.

    Spencer¡¯s face clouded over, and he pulled her close, his voice a low growl. ¡°Brielle, don¡¯t bite. the

    hand that feeds you. I said we don¡¯t need to be at odds. If that scene you made at the Haywood family

    banquet was to get my attention, you¡¯ve seeded. I¡¯m somewhat interested in you again, but I also

    care about Lillian. If you don¡¯t mind, we could all be together. Whichever of you has a child, I¡¯ll be the

    father.¡±

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    Chapter 201

    Brielle¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief at Spencer¡¯s words.¡±

    Misinterpreting her shock for acquiescence, a smug look crossed Spencer¡¯s face. ¡°I knew your still had

    a soft spot for me. I was wrong before, and I shouldn¡¯t have kept my thing with Lillian from you. You¡¯ve

    seen how my mom and dad are. My dad has more than one woman, and yet they¡¯ve made it work all

    these years. We could do the same, Brielle. If you want, you could event have my child.¡±

    This had been Spencer¡¯s overnight brainwave, but before he could say more, his cheek stung with the

    impact of a fierce p.

    The p echoed through the office, causing everyone to freeze, some gasping in shock at the scene.

    Spencer, touching his throbbing cheek, felt his eyes well up with tears. ¡°What the hell is that for?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s lips trembled with the urge to p him again.

    Having been coddled all his life, Spencer had never been pped in front of an audience like this,

    especially oneprising his former subordinates. He stared at Brielle, but the emotions. in her eyes

    pained him¨Canger, regret, revulsion.

    Those emotions were like daggers cutting deep into him, but what had he done wrong?

    He couldn¡¯t let go of Lillian, nor of Brielle. Was it so wrong to want a life together with both of them?

 Chapter 202

    Chapter 202

    The women of the high¨Csociety families were known for turning a blind eye to their husbands¡®

    extramarital escapades. Spencer had even promised that Lillian was his only indiscretion. So why did

    Brielle still feel humiliated?

    She withdrew her hand and let out a scornful chuckle. ¡°Spencer, you go ahead and have your little

    threesomes with whomever you like. I¡¯m really not interested in your schemes. And about those photos,

    if you think you can use them to prove there¡¯s still something between us, you¡¯re sorely mistaken.¡±

    Spencer¡¯s face turned from shades of red to pale, wishing he could just silence Brielle then and

    there.

    ¡°You broke into my ce. You know exactly what you intended to do.¡±

    As she turned to leave, Spencer reached out to grab her, but Brielle countered with a swift judo throw,

    pinning him to the ground with her knee on his back, wrenching his arm behind him. The position was a

    blow to any man¡¯s pride, and Spencer started to sweat buckets. ¡°Brielle, let me go this instant!¡±

    There was a chilling edge in her voice as she responded, ¡°You should be thankful you didn¡¯t seed

    that day, or I would¡¯ve ended you right there.¡± Her knee delivered another heavy blow, forcing Spencer

    to stay hunched on the ground, unable to get up. Filled with resentment, he wished he could find a hole

    to crawl into. Who could exin where Brielle had learned such moves?

    Releasing him, Brielle collected her scattered documents with practiced ease, while the onlookers

    stepped back, as if afraid they might be her next target. Without a word, Brielle marched into her

    department.

    The onlookers whispered among themselves.

    ¡°Did you see Brielle¡¯s moves? She¡¯s gotta have some martial arts training.¡±

    ¡°No way, I¡¯ve never heard about it.¡±

    ¡°She said Spencer forced his way in, and judging by the way she took him down, it looks like he didn¡¯t

    get the upper hand.¡±

    Their eyes drifted to Spencer, who had managed to get off the floor, his chest heaving and his cheek

    swelling. His eyes reddened with rage as he wiped the blood from his lip..

    William chuckled nearby. ¡°Spencer, you alright there, buddy?¡±

    Spencer didn¡¯t reply, just pursed his lips and stomped toward the elevator. It was a disgrace. He wished

    he¡¯d never shown up that day. Brielle had the audacity to do this to him, damn it. Back in her office,

    Brielle slumped into her chair, exhausted, dreading the rumors that would undoubtedly swirl around

    Dorsey International after today¡¯s drama. She rubbed her temples. her thoughts turning to Max and the

    misunderstandings that had piled up. With a sigh, she put

    14:17

    Chapter 202

    down her phone.

    Meanwhile, in the executive suite, Max had just loosened his tie when his phone buzzed with a call

    from Andrew, who delighted in kicking people when they were down, especially after seeing photos of

    Brielle and Spencer together. He couldn¡¯t resist the urge to call Max for his reaction.

    Max, with his usual foresight, promptly hung up, but that didn¡¯t stop Andrew from texting the

    incriminating photos.

    [Are you being cuckolded?]

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Max¡¯s expression turned icy as a second message arrived.

    [But strictly speaking, it wasn¡¯t really cuckolding, was it? After all, you are the neer. Little canary

    really doesn¡¯t know better, does she? To have you and still mess around with her ex¨Cfianc¨¦.]

    Max sneered and shot back a reply. [Aubree must be doing a better job than Brielle.]

    He put down the phone, feeling frustrated. To alleviate the difort, he unbuttoned one button and

    then another.

 Chapter 203

    Chapter 203

    Just as the office door swung open, Spencer stormed in, his face a mask of fury. ¡°Uncle Max.¡± he called

    out, his posture a picture of dishevelment.

    Max nced at the imprint of a hand on Spencer¡¯s cheek and felt the knot of irritation inside him loosen

    somewhat.

    Spencer¡¯s demeanor was respectful, and it took him a moment before he hesitantly spoke. ¡°My dad

    and mom both hope that Brielle and I can get back together. Grandpa thinks the same way. Uncle Max,

    can you arrange a position for me? I want toe back first.¡±

    In the past, Spencer would have undoubtedly left Dorsey Tower long ago, and he would never have

    condescended to think about staying. It was simply because he couldn¡¯t ept it. To him, Brielle had

    changed too much; she used to be so agreeable.

    Max¡¯s slender fingers spun a pen with effortless grace, a simple gesture that exuded a sleek,

    statuesque elegance, like a marble sculpture in a silent, cold gallery. He chuckled softly. ¡°Getting back

    together with Brielle?¡±

    For some reason, Spencer felt an overwhelming pressure emanating from him and involuntarily.

    swallowed hard, his fingertips beginning to tremble.

    tch up to

    His reverence for Max was deep in his bones, ¡°Brielle¡¯s background might not match mine, but I can¡¯t

    find a better bride in such short notice. I¡¯m not like you, Uncle Max. I never had

    woman like Ms. Alivia waiting for me since my youth.¡±

    Max¡¯s brows furrowed, and a sh of annoyance passed through his eyes, ¡°If you want toe back,

    you¡¯ll have to go through the proper channels and submit an application.¡±

    A spark of hope crossed Spencer¡¯s face, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll send it tonight.¡± With that, he walked out with a

    spring in his step.

    Back behind his desk, Max was surrounded by piles of paperwork that he couldn¡¯t bring himself

    to read.

    Downstairs, Brielle was equally restless. She hadn¡¯t even turned on her workputer all day. and, as

    soon as the clock signaled the end of the workday, she reflexively grabbed her purse to head back to

    her apartment, but then she remembered the threatening texts. Frowning, she decided to head to the

    hotel instead.

    The meal box the butler had sent over was still sitting on the coffee table. After debating with herself

    until eight in the evening, Brielle finally decided to call Patrick.

    Patrick nced at Max, surrounded by a crowd, and cautiously answered, ¡°Ms. Brielle.¡±

    ¡°Um, Patrick, is Michael still at Premier Pce tonight? Wesley sent me a meal box, and I would like to

    return it.¡±

    ??

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Speaking with smart people didn¡¯t require explicitness. Everyone knew she was looking for an

    excuse to return to Premier Pce.

    Chapter 203

    A trace of relief crossed Patrick¡¯s face, but then he frowned, ¡°Mr. Michael isn¡¯t there, but Mr. Dorsey

    isn¡¯t at Premier Pce either tonight. The Hatfield family is hosting a charity g, and he¡¯s attending.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Brielle sounded somewhat dejected.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, would you like toe? I can pick you up. The rest of the Haywood family is here.

    as well.¡±

    The Haywood family was there too? Brielle¡¯s frown deepened, immediately feeling like it was at bad

    omen. ¡°No, that¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll return the meal box some other time.¡±

    After hanging up the phone, Patrick debated before approaching Max, ¡°Sir, Ms. Brielle just called.¡±

    Max instinctively checked his phone, finding no missed calls. The chill in his gaze intensified in an

    instant, ¡°Hmm.¡± So, she didn¡¯t call him but called Patrick instead.

    Patrick wanted to add something else but noticed Lillian approaching with a drink in hand, ¡°Max, I¡¯ve

    heard so much about you.¡±

    Lillian was dazzling that evening, her neck adorned with a string of diamonds that shone under the

    bright lights. She had spent a pretty penny on her ensemble and had made an extra effort knowing Max

    would be there.

    Her gaze shifted to Patrick, a sly smile on her lips, ¡°Patrick, didn¡¯t Briellee with you? Your two

    seemed quite closest time. Howe I haven¡¯t seen her tonight?¡±

    She asked as if casually interested, but inwardly she sneered.

    Patrick was a driver, after all, and how much could he possibly contribute to a charity g? He was

    barely qualified to bring a date.

    Chapter 204

 Chapter 204

    Chapter 204

    A trace of satisfaction shed in Lillian¡¯s eyes as she looked towards Max, almost appearing a bit

    intoxicated.

    ¡°Max, you probably don¡¯t know this yet, but Patrick and Brielle, they¡¯re an item. Saw it with my own two

    eyesst time. But I gotta say, Patrick, Brielle¡¯s already got another suitor lined up. and I hear wedding

    bells are about to chime. You might wanna keep your eyes peeled if you¡¯re on the market for ady

    friend.¡±

    She swirled the red wine in her ss, trying to craft an image of elegance and sophistication.

    Patrick felt that Lillian was a woman with no brains at all,pletely unable to read people¡¯s

    expressions. He sneaked a nce at Max and, sure enough, Max¡¯s eyes were frosty.

    Lillian, oblivious as ever, edged closer, her mind preupied with the perfume she wore. She had done

    her homework on Max¡¯s preferences; he wasn¡¯t fond of overpowering scents. So tonight, she had

    chosen a fragrance with a subtle hint of tea.

    Before she got close enough, Max¡¯s voice cut through. ¡°Wasn¡¯t her engagement with Spencer

    canceled?¡±

    This was the first time Max had engaged in direct conversation with her, even if it was about that bitch

    Brielle. But Lillian was far from thinking Max had any real interest in Brielle. After all, Brielle had hooked

    up with his driver. Surely a man like Max, perched high on his pedestal wouldn¡¯t stoop to pick up

    someone else¡¯s leftovers?

    ¡°The engagement with Spencer is indeed off,¡± she asserted with a hint of triumph, ¡°but my parents have

    arranged another match, with Mr. Connor of Apex Dynamics.¡±

    Apex Dynamics?

    Max had never heard of it. Patrick, on the other hand, was quietly filling in the gaps. ¡°Connor, a

    notorious yboy pushing fifty, got some messy business with the Haywood family. Looks like they¡¯re

    shipping Ms. Brielle off to settle scores.¡±

    Max¡¯s fingers suddenly tightened around the stem of his wine ss, nearly shattering it. To Lillian,

    however, this seemed like Max was justmenting the poor choice of his driver. ¡°Max, I¡¯m just running

    my mouth a bit, that¡¯s all. Hate to see another guy get duped by Brielle. She once openly confessed in

    the Haywood household to having a man on the side.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Max¡¯s eyes narrowed, a vortex that seemed to swallow light, covered with a shimmering

    ripple.

    Lillian could practically drown in such a gaze. She felt certain that her little act of espionage tonight had

    elevated her in his estimation. She had thought it would take a serious effort to hook Max, but he

    seemed an easy catch. Her excitement was palpable, and the smugness was impossible to hide. ¡°Max,

    let me toast to you. And I wonder, do you have any ns after the dinner?¡±

    Chapter 204

    She asked the question very tactfully, her cheeks blushing.

    Meanwhile, Cameron watched Lillian sidle up to Max with a furrowed brow, worried she might upset

    him. The room was crowded with women harboring hopes of clinging to Max¡¯s coattails, yet none dared

    to approach him directly. Who wasn¡¯t aware of Max¡¯s slight obsession with cleanliness? Anger him, and

    the whole venture could backfire.

    But there stood Lillian, right by his side for quite some time, and he hadn¡¯t budged. Not just Cameron,

    but others too, were puzzled. Everyone knew Lillian¡¯s reputation was in tatters. How could she be so

    close to Max? Could it be that Max had a taste for just that kind ofpany?

    The very thought left Lillian¡¯s so¨Ccalled friends, some of whom had gathered for the evening. seething

    with envy.

    ¡°Look at her eyes, practically glued to Max.¡±

    or sleeve.¡±

    ¡°How can Max stand her? She¡¯s wearing her intentions on her

    The more indignant the onlookers, the more triumphant Lillian felt, almost convinced she had Max in

    the palm of her hand.

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    She signaled to Cameron with her eyes. After some consideration, Cameron decided to have someone

    prepare things.

    Tonight, Max and Lillian must be in the same room.

 Chapter 205

    Chapter 205

    The charity banquet hosted by the Hatfield family was different from other events. Being at powerful

    family, they didn¡¯t need media hype, so the venue was chosen in a suburban mansion. There would be

    a bonfire party at the mansion in the evening, and most of the attendees for this event were young

    people.

    Max¡¯s attendance was a surprise that buzzed through the crowd. Polite to a fault when. approached by

    networking entrepreneurs, his cool detachment was palpable. Business niceties aside, he kept

    personal connections firmly at arm¡¯s length.

    Over time, the consensus became that Max was supposed to be untouchable and unreachable. so his

    presence that evening was nothing short of astounding.

    Rumors swirled that he might even stay the night at the amodations provided by the Hatfields.

    Setting his drink down, Max caught Lillian¡¯s persistent gaze. The corners of his mouth tilted ever so

    slightly, his darkshes casting shadows over enigmatic eyes. Her heart raced at his aloof demeanor,

    her voice catching in her throat, ¡°Max, are you nning to stay at the estate tonight?¡±

    Max raised an eyebrow, lightly chuckled, and nodded, as if extending an unspoken invitation. He

    originally had no intention of staying, but now he wanted to. He was looking forward to tonight¡¯s drama,

    hoping not to be disappointed.

    Lillian¡¯s hopes soared at his nod. She leaned in, only to be interrupted by a businessman eager to

    discuss a deal. With a sigh, she retreated to her brother Cameron, clutching her drink with barely

    contained excitement. ¡°Cameron, you said you¡¯d help me, right? He¡¯s staying over, and he told me.

    Does that mean something?¡±

    Her cheeks flushed with anticipation. She had even ordered a set of custom, sensuous nightwear,

    determined to win Max over.

    Seeing her expression, Cameron felt a bitter taste in his mouth. ¡°I¡¯ve made arrangements, Lillian, but

    remember, this is Max. If you upset him¡­¡±

    ¡°Cameron, didn¡¯t you see? He was talking to me. He doesn¡¯t dislike me. If I can sessfully get

    pregnant, I¡¯m sure I can marry him.¡±

    ¡°But there¡¯s Alivia¡­¡±

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Lillian scoffed, ¡°Max never acknowledged Alivia. That¡¯s just media spection. Even if they were to

    marry, it¡¯s a long way off. I just need to catch his eye first, and I¡¯ve won.

    Cameron immediately fell silent. He had no principles when it came to Lillian.

    Lillian¡¯s triumphant smile grew. Her gaze kept flickering to Max, wishing she could stick to him like gum

    on his shoe.

    Chapter 205

    After concluding his discussion, Max sipped the drink handed to him by a waiter and immediately

    sensed something amiss. The off¨Ctaste was a telltale sign of tampering, though amateurishpared

    to what he had experienced abroad. Nheless, in a country with strict drug regtions, this was a

    bold move.

    He didn¡¯t set the drink down but casually swirled it, casting a nce towards Cameron and Lillian, who

    appeared tense. He drank a few more sips before cing the ss down.

    A staff member from the Hatfields approached to escort him upstairs for rest. He followed, leaving the

    gathering behind, heading to a separate building where all the guests¡® amodations were, with him

    alone on the top floor.

    As the elevator doors closed, the heat rose within him, reminiscent of a past experience overseas that

    ended up as a juicy tidbit for Dustin to entertain Brielle with.

    Perfect. This would only enhance the act.

    The people from the Hatfield family stood beside him. Facing his calm demeanor, they also softened

    their tone. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, do you find the surroundings to your liking? It¡¯s serene here. and with the

    Hatfield security, it¡¯s quite safe. Patrick discussed this with us before, but we didn¡¯t expect you toe

    in person today.¡±

    Max rubbed his temple, feigning weariness, ¡°The environment is decent. Discuss the rest with Patrick.¡±

    Sammuel nodded, ensuring the nearby bodyguard received his instructions. ¡°Make sure no one

    disturbs Mr. Dorsey¡¯s rest tonight. Keep an eye on the other floors as well.¡±

    The bodyguard acknowledged the order.

    As Sammuel stepped into the elevator, he couldn¡¯t help but reiterate, ¡°Especially those women. of ill

    repute, keep a close watch, and report any issues immediately.¡±

 Chapter 206

    Chapter 206

    As the elevator doors sealed shut, the bodyguard wiped the sweat from his brow, ready to tell the guys

    to keep their guard up and be vignt while posted here.

    Then a nearby door swung open, and there was Max, leaning casually against the frame. The hallway

    lighting cast an almost ethereal glow around him, as if he were enveloped in an unreal. aura. His eyes

    were dark, like mes burning within them, yet those mes seemed to smother against cold ice,

    extinguished one by one.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, do you need anything?¡± the bodyguard asked.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to guard this ce.¡±

    ¡°But Mr. Hatfield explicitly instructed¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m notfortable with it.¡±

    There was a hint of amusement in his gaze, though it seemed diluted.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    The bodyguard could only nod. After seeking approval from Samuel, he removed the security on this

    floor.

    Inside the room. Max surveyed the space that had been sterilized several times over. He approached

    the window and pushed it open.

    The location was indeed prime real estate. Previously, when Brielle was scouting locations for the

    orphanage, Patrick had shortlisted several spots, and after process of elimination, only this area

    remained. It was a bit removed from the city center, but with the Hatfield family¡¯s security. safety wasn¡¯t

    an issue.

    Nevertheless, this was Hatfield territory. Having epted their generosity, he had to ept the Hatfield

    family¡¯s invitation to attend their charity g to show his gratefulness.

    The cool evening breeze helped dissipate some of the heat as he shrugged off his suit jacket.

    Meanwhile, in the other building¡¯s hall, Lillian looked to Cameron, her nerves frayed. ¡°He definitely

    drank it, right? We¡¯re staying in the same building tonight, but there¡¯s bound to be security on the top

    floor. Can you help me handle it?¡±

    There was no turning back now.

    Cameron thought it would be tricky, but he¡¯d just heard that the top floor¡¯s security had been withdrawn

    by Max himself. What was Max up to? Could it be, as Lillian suggested, that he was signaling her?

    Uncertain but faced with Lillian¡¯s question, he nodded, emphasizing, ¡°Don¡¯t provoke him too much,

    Lillian. He¡¯s not like Spencer.¡±

    Lillian said yes out loud, but inside, she was scoffing. All men were the same to her. And given that

    Max had taken something not readily avable on the market, the slightest touch could

    14:17

    Chapter 206

    make a man¡¯s determination falter, causing him to see only the woman he craved. ¡°Let¡¯s go. now. You

    check the top floor for anyone else, and leave the rest to me.¡±

    She prepared the most seductive lingerie, ensuring that Max wouldn¡¯t be able to look away once he

    nced at it.

    Cameron nodded, noticing others heading to rest as well, and followed suit. A few youngsters. chose to

    stay and continue the night¡¯s festivities.

    Lillian, buzzing with anticipation, felt her body grow warm as if she had taken the drug, not Max. She

    went to her room, slipped into her nearly non¨Cexistent lingerie, covered it with an oversized robe tied at

    the waist, and prepared to head to the top floor.

    Clutching her phone, she awaited Cameron¡¯s signal. The moment the top floor was clear, she¡¯d make

    her move.

    Sweat pooled in her palms as she paced. Finally, her phone buzzed. Her eyes lit up as she hit the

    answer button. Could it be this easy?

    Cameron¡¯s hesitant voice came through, ¡°Lillian, are you sure about this? Really sure? Mom and Dad

    would still prefer you with Spencer, and something feels off about tonight.¡±

    Lillian¡¯s frustration red, her eyes welling up, ¡°You saw the pictures Spencer got caught in. Hel didn¡¯t

    evene to exin. Clearly, I¡¯m not in his heart. So what¡¯s wrong with chasing the mant I like?¡±

    Cameron fell silent. He rubbed his temples, his mind in disarray. After all, they were talking about Max,

    who was notoriously hard to impress. Even if Lillian was exceptional, if she didn¡¯t catch his eye, how

    would he deal with the Haywood family?

    Lillian¡¯s crying broke through his indecision. Like a hammer, it shattered his hesitation. ¡°The top floor¡¯s

    clear. Max¡¯s door is closed. Come on up.¡±

    With this special permission, Lillian quickly wrapped herself in a robe and opened the door to her room.

    Looking around as if feeling guilty, she made sure the corridor was empty before entering the elevator.

 Chapter 207

    Chapter 207

    Meanwhile, Brielle was sprawled out in the hotel room from the previous night, her eyes glued to her

    phone as she flipped it over in her hands restlessly. She hadn¡¯t reached out to Max all day, and he

    hadn¡¯t made any moves either. He was probably upset, especially after overhearing her conversation in

    the elevator and then witnessing Spencer¡¯s clingy disy.

    Biting her lip in frustration, Brielle racked her brain for a usible excuse and finally came up with

    something passable. [Mr. Dorsey, the soup Wesley brought over was delicious, thank you.]

    After sending the message, she waited for a while, eager to see how he would respond, but her phone

    remained silent.

    Brielle had never been good at this kind of thing. Seeing no reaction, she tossed the phone aside. She

    laughed at herself, wondering why she even thought Max would be upset. Was it because of Spencer?

    Was it because of what she said?

    She didn¡¯t think she had that kind of charm. If that was the case, there was no need to go out of her

    way to exin.

    On Max¡¯s end, he was holding a cup of coffee, gazing out the window. The suburban view was quite

    nice, and the coffee beans specially prepared by the Hatfield family were rich and

    aromatic.

    He had taken off his suit jacket, leaving him in his white dress shirt with the top three buttons undone,

    casually revealing his corbone.

    His tall frame leaned against the window, the shirt and pants entuating his stature, his longshes

    casting a shadow across his chiseled features.

    Brielle had called Patrick but not him. Did she think the morning¡¯s incident didn¡¯t need

    rification?

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    He was feeling irritated because of her, and now he had to repay a favor to the Hatfield family on her

    behalf? The thought just added to his frustration.

    Max felt a heat building within him, and not even the coffee could chase away the rising. temperature in

    his body.

    There was a knock on the door, persistent and quick. He put his phone down, rubbed his temples, and

    walked over to the door to open it.

    Standing outside was a woman, dressed to impress and wrapped in a flowing gown, her innocent eyes

    looking up at him.

    ¡°Max,¡± Lillian drawled, her fingers delicately undoing the belt at her waist. ¡°I¡¯ve admired you for a long

    time, and I wanted to offer myself to you. I hope you won¡¯t reject me.¡±

    As the gown fell to the floor, her other hand hidden behind her back, her cheeks flushed with a feigned

    shyness.

    14:18

    Max didn¡¯t give her a second nce, his expression as cold as ice, unimpressed by the tacky.

    seduction. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder how Brielle could have been deceived by such a woman for

    years.

    A pair of arms wrapped around his waist. ¡°Max, I know you¡¯re suffering. I can help you,¡± she whispered,

    her breath sweet.

    Lillian was determined to hook him, her eyes filled with resolve and even forcing her way into

    the room.

    Outside, someone had locked the door with a heavy padlock, making it impossible for those inside to

    open it. The heat within Max intensified as he sensed someone lunging at him, and without hesitation,

    he pushed her away. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve,¡± he said coldly.

    Lillian was shocked. He hadn¡¯t sumbed?

    She had used a hefty dose. By all ounts, he should have lost his senses by now and been all over

    her. What was happening?

    Panic set in, but she quicklyposed herself. There was no turning back now.

    ¡°Max, take me, please. I¡¯ll make you feel good,¡± she pleaded, kneeling before him, her gaze almost

    obsessive as she inched closer.

    Max¡¯s forehead was beaded with sweat, his eyes half¨Cclosed.

    Lillian mistook his silence for consent, but before she could rejoice, she felt the cold, dark barrel of a

    gun against her forehead. The coolness in his eyes was like the scythe of the Grim Reaper. Lillian¡¯s

    face turned ghostly pale, her body trembling uncontrobly. How had ite to this? How much longer

    could he hold on? She cowered on the floor, not daring to move.

    Max seemed to be holding on by a thread, his fingertips lightly grazing the trigger. At the sound of the

    trigger¡¯s crisp click, Lillian nearly burst into tears. ¡°Max, please don¡¯t be angry. I just wanted to make

    you feel good. I didn¡¯t mean anything else.¡±

    Max¡¯s fingertips caressed the trigger, and he leaned back slightly. The action made his Adam¡¯s apple

    protrude, his beautiful eyes reflecting the overhead lights like a,deste sea at night.

    Lillian swallowed hard, thinking he was on the brink of giving in, and quickly reached out to grasp his

    fingers.

 Chapter 208

    Chapter 208

    As the confrontation unfolded, the man nonchntly raised his leg, stepping on her outstretched hand.

    His voice was husky with authority, ¡°Call Brielle.¡± Even as he spoke, he casually unfastened another

    button at his throat, revealing a glimpse of skin.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Lillian stared in disbelief, her eyes wide with shock, ¡°What¡­ what did you say?¡±

    Max chuckled, idly spinning the gun in his hand, ¡°Did you not understand? I said, call Brielle.¡±

    Lillian¡¯s lips trembled, uncertain if she was grasping his true intent. Did Max need a woman right now,

    and was Brielle the one he desired? The realization ignited a raging jealousy within Lillian. How could

    all the good fortune in the world fall into Brielle¡¯sp?

    Even a man like Max wanted her? Damn it all!

    Her hand, hanging limply at her side, clenched into a fist, her mouth filled with the metallic taste. of

    blood. She felt an immense humiliation. There she was, kneeling with barely any clothes on her body,

    and yet, in Max¡¯s eyes, she didn¡¯t even qualify as a woman.

    Tears welled up in her eyes as she wished Brielle would just vanish from the earth. ¡°Max, why?

    Anything Brielle can do, I can do too. She¡¯s been with so many men. She¡¯s not even a virgin. Max, let

    me serve you.¡±

    The word ¡®serve¡® betrayed her sense of inferiority in Max¡¯s presence.

    Maxughed, his gaze never quite settling on her, ¡°I don¡¯t want to say it a third time, and your probably

    don¡¯t have a third chance to listen.¡±

    Someone needed to tell Brielle that he had been drugged and needed her now. And that¡¯s why Lillian

    was here.

    Lillian¡¯s lips quivered, realizing he was serious, and she scrambled back in panic. She reached the

    door, desperately wanting to escape, but then she remembered instructing Cameron¡¯s ment to lock it

    from the outside as soon as she entered, making it impossible to open from the inside.

    She pulled out her phone, only to find that Brielle had already blocked her, cutting off any connection. A

    glimmer of hope rose within her, her nails digging into the floor as she broke into a sweat, ¡°Max, Brielle

    blocked me. I can¡¯t call her. Let me stay. I can take care of you.¡±

    Max¡¯s wrist hung loosely at his side, his grip tight, a sign of his growing impatience. He tilted his head

    back slightly. ¡°Use my phone.¡±

    Lillian¡¯s pupils contracted sharply, knowing he wasn¡¯t joking. Tears spilled down her cheeks ast she

    took Max¡¯s phone, her hatred ring wildly. Her fingertips trembled as if she had received. countless

    ps across her face.

    She was dressed in so little, kneeling at his side, yet he seemed blind to her, asking her to call. the

    woman she loathed the most. This was more humiliating than any disgrace she had ever. suffered at

    the Haywood family¡¯s banquet.

    Chapter 208

    Lillian could barely hold onto the phone when Max¡¯s voice came through, indifferent as ever, ¡°If she¡¯s

    not here within an hour, the Haywood family will disappear from Beaconsfield.¡±

    Lillian stiffened, her eyes wide with disbelief. Was he really going to take down the Haywood family? All

    because of that bitch Brielle?

    A chill crept up from her feet, spreading throughout her body, and then she heard his light, airy tone.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got half an hour¡¯s drive to the city. How much more time do you have to waste?¡±

    It¡¯s like to him, the Haywood family was nothing more than a piece of cheap paper in his eyes. Lillian

    was consumed with a sense of injustice. She could not bear it!

    Her lips quivering, she dialed Brielle¡¯s number, only to see that there was already a note attached to it.

    A spark ignited in her gaze. Had that slut already hooked up with Max?

    How many men did she have on the side? How could Max want such a worn¨Cout woman? His taste

    was truly questionable.

    If she survived this night, she would never let Brielle off the hook. Lillian took a deep breath, her fingers

    trembling as they hovered over the call button.

    While she was infatuated with him, she had never found a man so terrifying. He was like a demon,

    reaping souls. Yet, even so, there was a deadly allure about him.

 Chapter 209

    Chapter 209

    ¡°Max, what should I say to Brielle? If she finds out it was me who called, she¡¯ll never want to show up,¡±

    she said, her voice quivering with tears. She was still hoping to catch Max¡¯s attention even at this

    perilous hour. She even pushed out her chest, trying to entice him, her voice thick and almost dripping

    with emotion.

    Max didn¡¯t even nce her way, instead frowning in disgust. ¡°If she doesn¡¯te. I¡¯ll kill you. What do

    you think you should say? Naturally, you should beg her toe save you.¡±

    The cold barrel of the gun returned to Lillian¡¯s head, and she truly believed that Max would kill her. This

    man had no heart: he waspletely merciless.

    Lillian felt like she¡¯d been pped repeatedly, tears streaming down her face uncontrobly. The idea

    of calling Brielle to save her wasughable. All this humiliation came from Brielle, all because of her.

    She dared not dy any longer, sobbing as she pressed the call button. The line was quickly picked

    up.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey.¡± It was Brielle¡¯s polite voice.

    Lillian was truly terrified now, her tears falling nonstop, her speech broken, ¡°Brielle, you need toe

    to the Hatfield family¡¯s party venue. Max, he¡­ I drugged him, he won¡¯t let me touch him. and he said¡­

    he said he¡¯ll kill me. Hurry over.¡±

    Uttering these words, she felt as if her very bones were being crushed.

    Brielle shot up from her bed, first carefully checking the caller ID on her phone to confirm it was Max¡¯s

    number. But why was Lillian on the line?

    Her voice immediately became anxious, ¡°Lillian, do you realize what you¡¯re doing? You dared to harm

    Max?¡±

    Lillian clenched her teeth, locking eyes with Max, who was smirking slightly. Her nails dug into her

    palm.

    She was being used. Max allowed her to touch his phone only to test Brielle. So he could be cautious

    too.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    A lump formed in Lillian¡¯s throat, ¡°I¡¯m begging you, Brielle. You have to get here within forty minutes.¡±

    ¡°What good does begging me do now?! If anything happens to him. I won¡¯t let you off!¡±

    Brielle felt her chest tighten as if it would explode. What on earth was going on with Max? How could

    he fall prey to someone like Lillian?

    She practically leaped out of bed, threw on her clothes, and dashed downstairs.

    This was Max¡¯s phone. She was afraid to imagine what was happening on the other end. Where

    14:18

    Chapter 209

    was Patrick? And Max¡¯s bodyguard?

    She felt like she was boiling over, Max hadn¡¯t called her. Could it be because he was no longer

    conscious?

    Lillian said Max was so angry that he wanted to kill Lillian. Brielle wondered how much Max must be

    suffering.

    Brielle floored the gas pedal, wishing she could fly there.

    Back in the room, after Lillian finished the call she watched as Max kicked his phone into the trash bin.

    It was tainted by her touch, and he wouldn¡¯t use it again. The thought humiliated her. ¡°Get dressed and

    get out before Brielle arrives.¡± hemanded.

    Tears started to fall down Lillian¡¯s cheeks again, ¡°But the door¡¯s locked from the outside, Max. Can I¡­¡±

    She was cut off by his cold voice. ¡°Isn¡¯t there a window? Jump.¡±

    Lillian stared in disbelief. They were on the fourth floor; a jump could be fatal. ¡°This is the fourth floor.¡±

    *Staying in the room, and you¡¯ll die even faster. Jumping gives you a chance to live. What¡¯s your

    choice?¡±

    Lillian felt weak all over. Seeing the dark gun, she scrambled to the window, crying and climbing. down

    the adjacent drainpipe.

    Max set the gun aside, thinking of Brielle¡¯s frantic voice, and the scowl on his face softened. The phone

    in the trash can began ringing frantically, Brielle¡¯s number shing, but he didn¡¯t pick up. Instead, he

    unbuttoned his shirt, turned off the room¡¯s lights, and waited in silence.

    Like a hunter anticipating his prey.

 Chapter 210

    Chapter 210

    ¡°Thud!¡±

    Lillian hit the ground with such force that she felt as if her insides were about to bounce out of her body.

    To make matters worse, several people between the second and third floors were asking aloud what

    that noise was.

    Panicked, she limped quickly into a nearby bush, shivering as she dialed Cameron on her phone.

    Cameron arrived with his bodyguard in tow and found her wrapped in a robe sitting at the base of the

    building. His heart skipped a beat. ¡°Lillian, are you okay?¡±

    Her eyes brimmed with tears, and her palms were stained with blood. ¡°That bitch Brielle has seduced

    Max a long time ago. Max would rather have her than me,¡± she whimpered.

    While Cameron felt a pang of sympathy, his heart also raced with concern. ¡°Did Max get angry?¡±

    Lillian pursed her lips, then suddenly reached out and grabbed Cameron¡¯s hand. ¡°Was Mr. Connor at

    the party too?¡±

    She thought she might have seen him tonight, but she wasn¡¯t sure if it really was Mr. Connor. Cameron

    nodded, feeling a bit uneasy at this moment. If Max were to investigate this matter. could the Haywood

    family¡¯s business stay afloat?

    ¡°Give Mr. Connor a hint. Just say that Brielle ising to see him and let him prepare. Isn¡¯t Mr. Connor

    about to marry Brielle soon? Let them settle things sooner rather thanter.¡±

    Cameron hesitated, but Lillian gripped his hand tightly. ¡°If Brielle really gets a hold of Max, our

    Haywood family will be done for. With Max as her support, she won¡¯t spare us. It¡¯s better to ruin her

    first. Even if Ma

    still desires her afterward, he won¡¯t want a woman who¡¯s been yed by

    Connor.¡±

    After mulling it over, Cameron finally let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Lillian, don¡¯t be reckless. I¡¯ve told you before,

    Max isn¡¯t just any guy.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    But Lillian couldn¡¯t think of anything else, her mind consumed with thoughts of revenge against Brielle.

    The greatest humiliation of her life had alle from Brielle.

    Connor had always been a yboy. In a gathering full of young girls like tonight, how could he possibly

    resist the temptation? Besides, he¡¯d had his eye on Brielle for a while, or else why would he agree to a

    deal with Robert?

    When Connor got the message, he felt a surge of heat throughout his body, staring disbelievingly at

    this bodyguard from the Haywood family. ¡°Are you serious? Brielle hase around?¡±

    The bodyguard nodded. ¡°Yes, Ms. Brielle asked me to inform you. She¡¯s waiting for you in a

    14:18

    Chapter 210

    private room on the third floor. Here¡¯s the room number.¡±

    Connor, feeling like a kid in a candy store, took the room number, his chest aze with anticipation.

    He downed his drink in one gulp. If his future bride wanted his affection sooner, who was he to deny

    her? It seemed Brielle was quite bold, seeking him out even in such a setting.

    Connor strode out, smug with satisfaction, and made his way to the third floor of the adjacent building.

    Meanwhile, Brielle had also arrived.

    The Hatfield family¡¯s soiree required an invitation, and she hadn¡¯t received one, so the doorment

    stopped her, albeit politely. ¡°Sorry, no invitation, no entry.¡±

    Brielle, desperate and sweating nervously, pleaded, ¡°But I have an urgent matter.¡±

    The Hatfield family¡¯s security was notoriously tight, and sensing something special about Brielle, who

    looked radiant even without makeup, they quickly consulted with Sammuel.

    Sammuel had already returned to his main house. Hearing that someone was trying to barge in. he

    asked warily. ¡°What¡¯s the name?¡±

    The bodyguard turned to Brielle. ¡°Miss, may I have your name?¡±

    *Brielle. My name is Brielle.¡±

    Upon hearing the name, Sammuel couldn¡¯t help but recall the incident involving Emily Hatfield¡¯s.

    departure overseas. Max had given him a piece of his mind back then, and wasn¡¯t that woman named

    Brielle?

    And just moments ago, he had received a call that Max had cleared the top floor¡¯s security. Wasn¡¯t that

    setting the stage for someone? Could that someone be Brielle?

    Sammuel was sharp, and he felt as though he was piecing together a puzzle. ¡°Let her in,¡± he

    instructed, ¡°and leave the rest be.¡±

 Chapter 211

    Chapter 211

    The bodyguard promptly let Brielle in with a respectful nod.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Brielle said as she inquired about Max¡¯s whereabouts before hurrying off in the direction

    she was given.

    She had just turned down a narrow alley when she was stopped by one of the Haywood family¡¯s

    bodyguards. ¡°Ms. Brielle, we¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡±

    Brielle recognized the bodyguard from previous encounters with the Haywood family; he seemed to be

    one of Cameron¡¯s men. A frown creased her forehead, ¡°Where¡¯s Lillian right now?¡±

    The bodyguard feigned urgency, ¡°Please follow me. They¡¯ve been waiting for you for quite some time.¡±

    Brielle was no fool. Had it been a bodyguard from the Hatfield family, she would have followed without

    question. But knowing the hatred the Haywood family harbored against her, she doubted the sincerity

    of their bodyguard¡¯s intentions.

    She took a step back, her expression wary. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll ask someone from the Hatfield family. myself.¡±

    She expected the bodyguard to get rough, but instead, he just stood there, watching her with an

    inscrutable gaze that unsettled her even more. With a frown, Brielle headed toward the security booth

    by the garden. It was manned by the Hatfield family, and she asked again for Max¡¯s location.

    What she didn¡¯t know was that Cameron had made preparations for this night and had already bought

    off this particr security guard. The guard pointed towards a building nearby. ¡°Third floor, room 3001,

    right by the corridor.¡±

    Brielle breathed a sigh of relief and quickly made her way into the adjacent elevator.

    Meanwhile, Lillian, who had been lurking in the shadows, red resentfully at Brielle¡¯s retreating figure.

    Her nails dug deep into her palms as she yearned to witness Brielle¡¯s downfall. A smirk curled on

    Lillian¡¯s lips as she followed to the third floor and checked with her people, ¡°Are all the filming tools we

    prepared ready?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Miss Lillian, there are three cameras set up in the room. Once it¡¯s all over, we can pull the

    footage,¡± one of her men assured her.

    Lillian¡¯s frustration eased, but she worried Max might grow angry if Brielle didn¡¯t show up soon. ¡°Go to

    the party and find a woman to take to Max¡¯s room.¡±

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Who should we look for?¡±

    Lillian¡¯s mind raced before she sneered and picked a flower, ¡°Sophia, she¡¯s here too, isn¡¯t she? She

    probably hates Brielle as well. Given the chance to undermine her, I doubt she¡¯d pass it up.¡±

    Chapter 211

    The bodyguard nodded and quickly departed.

    By this time, Brielle had reached the door of room 3001. As she pushed it open a crack, a peculiar

    scent wafted out to her. It wasn¡¯t the usual fragrance of perfume; it smelled more like some kind of

    drug. Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately turned to leave, but the overweight man inside,

    tormented by the drug¡¯s effects, lunged at her. ¡°Bri, I¡¯ve been waiting for you for so long. I¡¯ve missed

    you terribly.¡±

    Brielle dodged his advance and switched on the room lights. As the room brightened, she saw a man

    with a beer belly and bloodshot eyes standing not too far away, staring at her as if he wanted to devour

    her whole.

    Brielle had no interest in exchanging words. She opened the door to rush out. But Connor, who was

    used to women fawning over him, grasped her wrist, panting heavily.

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who called me over? Come on, sweetheart, I can¡¯t hold back any longer, it¡¯s

    killing me.¡±

    ¡°Get lost!¡±

    Brielle, who had trained in taekwondo, broke free and grabbed a vase from the entryway, smashing it

    over his head. Taking advantage of his stagger, she bolted out the door.

    Connor, ustomed to women who would kneel for his money, couldn¡¯t believe how this fake heiress

    was treating him. His vision blurred as he stumbled after her, cursing under his breath. ¡°Bitch! You think

    you can escape tonight?¡±

    He reached the staircasending and grabbed the person he saw, but unbeknownst to him. Brielle had

    already run up the stairs, leaving him with a panicked Lillian, who had been hiding. hoping to witness

    the drama.

    Lillian¡¯s face went pale as she shoved away Connor¡¯s reeking breath. ¡°Mr. Connor, you¡¯ve got the

    wrong person. I¡¯m Lillian. Brielle¡¯s gotten away, but I¡¯ll have someone bring her right back

    to you.

 Chapter 212

    Chapter 212

    Lillian trembled violently, her thin robe barely clinging to her body, revealing thecy lingerie beneath ¨C

    an ensemble she had chosen specifically for Max. Her vulnerability was further exposed when Connor,

    driven mad by drugs and pain, began to drag her towards the bedroom.

    ¡°Bullshit! Your old man practically gift¨Cwrapped you for me. Nowe on, I can¡¯t hold back any longer.

    With that, he yanked her into the room, her robe falling open. Connor¡¯s eyes gleamed with a rabid

    hunger at the sight of her revealing attire, and in a fit of fury, he pped her hard across the face. ¡°Slut!

    Can¡¯t believe how easy you are.¡±

    The p left Lillian disoriented, her ears ringing, unable to utter a word, as waves of coursed through

    her body..

    ¡°Help! Somebody help me!¡±

    pain

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Her pleas went unheard. Lillian, in an attempt to avoid any interruptions for Connor¡¯s twisted delight,

    had already sent everyone away. Now, she was utterly alone. Cameron and the bodyguards, never

    suspecting she woulde to this ordeal herself, were oblivious to her plight.

    Desperately clinging to the door frame, Lillian was no match for the brute force of an enraged man.

    Connor pulled her in and began tearing at her clothes, while she sobbed helplessly. cursing Brielle for

    her fate.

    Brielle had already arrived on the fourth floor, her chest pounding wildly. As she ran, she kept looking

    back to see if anyone was catching up. She got scared and hid in a dark corner for a while until there

    were no footsteps behind her. Only then did she continue walking down the

    corridor.

    Where was Max exactly? She took out her phone and dialed Max¡¯s number again. She thought she

    heard a ringtone but dismissed it as her imagination until she found the door that was locked from the

    outside.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey?¡± she called out softly, but the thick walls muffled her voice.

    Brielle, anxious, struggled with the lock for a while, and soon, the security team of the Hatfield family

    arrived. The security team was directed by Sammuel to check the fourth floor. They didn¡¯t expect

    someone to lock Max¡¯s room. Startled, they quickly forced it open.

    Brielle, relieved, was about to thank them when suddenly, a hand reached out from within the room,

    pulling her inside. The door was left slightly ajar as the guard, hearing themotion, hastily closed it

    behind him.

    Recognizing Max¡¯s familiar scent, Brielle¡¯s anxiety eased. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, are you okay? Let me get the

    lights.¡±

    But before she could, Max had her pinned beneath him, his body radiating an intense heat. She

    14:19

    Chapter 212

    could hardly speak, her vision flooded with the dazzling fireworks of desire. ¡°Mr. Dorsey. Max,

    please¡­¡±

    Her use of his first name seemed to ignite something within him, and he held her even tighter, trapping

    her in his embrace. Brielle struggled to breathe, unable to resist, and eventually sumbed to his

    passion.

    As the night deepened, she found herself crying out, too weary to keep her eyes open, while Max never

    once loosened his grip on her wrists. Herst memory was his voice murmuring. ¡°Call me by my name

    from now on,¡± before she drifted into a deep sleep.

    Max, feeling a weight lift from his chest, tenderly brushed a damp lock of hair from Brielle¡¯s face and

    watched the dawn break. He kissed her forehead and wrapped his arms around her, finally allowing

    himself to rest without pondering why Brielle affected him so differently than other

    women.

    Downstairs, Lillian bore the marks of the night¡¯s brutality. Connor, now sober and realizing his grievous

    error, dreaded the consequences of assaulting a Haywood. He tried to bribe her silence with sleazy

    words. ¡°Lillian, aboutst night., it was a misunderstanding. How was I to know you¡¯d be here? Let¡¯s

    just forget it all, huh? Even if the Haywood family makes a fuss, it won¡¯t do them any good. No need to

    let everyone know, right?¡±

    Lillian¡¯s eyes, swollen from crying, were filled with nothing but hatred. Then, a knock at the door sent

    shivers down her spine ¨C she realized the trap she had set for Brielle might have ensnared her instead.

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    Chapter 213

    Lillian was shaking all over, the sound of Connor¡¯s voice still ringing in her ears, making her feel so

    nauseated she wanted to vomit. She ran to the bathroom, but with nothing in her stomach from the

    night before, there was nothing to bring up.

    Catching her reflection in the mirror, she looked a mess, bruised all over. The lingerie she had carefully

    chosen were torn to shreds.

    The knocking at the door was growing louder, and she could even hear the two people she had nted

    stirring the pot, making her blood boil with rage.

    ¡°That¡¯s the room, I swear I saw Brielle dash in there, isn¡¯t that the room of Mr. Connor from Apex

    Dynamics?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Connor? Isn¡¯t he the one who just lost his wife?¡±

    ¡°Ugh, she¡¯d go for a guy like that? He gave me the creeps with the way he looked at mest night.

    Brielle really isn¡¯t picky, is she?¡±

    The hallway was filled with young onlookers, all eager for some juicy gossip, especially if it involved

    catching someone in a scandal. Even Spencer had been summoned.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Lillian had explicitly instructed her people to make sure Spencer showed up. Now there he was,

    standing among the crowd with a dark expression, hardly able to believe Brielle could get involved with

    Connor.

    Sure, Connor had money, but it was the kind of wealth that only fooled women with more beauty than

    brains. Brielle had once been his fianc¨¦e; had she really sunk this low? Strangely. Spencer felt a

    twisted sense of relief wash over him. It was as if the humiliation he had suffered at Brielle¡¯s hands was

    dissipating.

    As the crowd looked on, it seemed they were trying to read something in his face. Spencer pursed his

    lips. He had thought about reconciling with Brielle, but if she was truly this disgusting, why bother trying

    to win her back?

    ¡°She¡¯s no longer my fianc¨¦e. I agreed to end the engagement precisely because I knew what kind of

    person she was, and this isn¡¯t the first time she¡¯s done something like this.¡±

    Spencer¡¯s mindset was bordering on pathological now. He felt disgusted that Brielle could stoop so low

    and still deny him while maintaining a disdainful facade towards him in public¡­

    It was all Brielle¡¯s fault, he thought. A twisted sense of joy crept into Spencer¡¯s heart, and he couldn¡¯t

    help but let a smirk y on his lips, ¡°Her affairs have nothing to do with me anymore.¡±

    The crowd nodded in agreement; they had heard the two were no longer engaged.

    Someone suggested breaking down the door, and a few robust young men took the initiative. kicking at

    it repeatedly. Those who hade for the spectacle were the types who took pleasure in others¡®

    misfortune.

    14:20

    Chapter 213

    Inside, Lillian jumped at the sound of the door being battered, desperate to find a hiding ce. But the

    room was too tidy, and here was nowhere to conceal herself.

    Her eyes fell on the window, and she hurried to the bed. Without any clothes to wear, her gown and

    lingerie having been torn to pieces, she wrapped herself in a bedsheet. She moved to the window, but

    saw that the garden below was filled with people enjoying their breakfast.

    She was trapped.

    Shivering. Lillian watched as the door nearly gave way and she shot a hateful nce at Connor, ¡°Mr.

    Connor, think of something, will you?¡±

    Connor was still basking in the afterglow of the previous night. Though groggy, he remembered the

    taste of this woman. ¡°Lillian, why don¡¯t you just settle down with me? I won¡¯t short¨Cchange you or Bri.

    How about fifty thousand a month in pocket money? What do you say?¡±

    Lillian¡¯s eyes were bloodshot with rage, itching to grab the vase nearby and smash it over this man¡¯s

    head.

    Fifty thousand to sleep with her? He should take a long hard look in the mirror.

    Fury made her scalp tingle, but she could only watch helplessly as the door was about to give in. In a

    spark of desperation, she threw the bedsheet over her head, hoping it would obscure her face from the

    onlookers.

    At that moment, with a thunderous crash, the door broke open and fell. People saw the disarray in the

    room and the woman hiding under the bedsheet and burst intoughter.

    ¡°Brielle, is it only now that you realize that you are a sight for sore eyes?¡±

    ¡°Disgusting. Can¡¯t even skip hooking up at a party.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Connor, looks like you¡¯ve bedded the honor student, huh?¡±

    Connor was bewildered, but as he caught on, he understood Lillian¡¯s ploy. No wonder she hid her face¨C

    it was all a setup to frame Brielle.

    Well, this worked out just fine. It would save him from Robert¡¯s wrath.

    A smug look spread across his pudgy face, ¡°I¡¯m about to tie the knot with Bri. What¡¯s wrong. with a

    newlywed couple enjoying themselves? Besides, Brielle was the one who came onto mest night. It

    was absolutely intoxicating.¡±

 Chapter 214

    Chapter 214

    Everyone in the social circle knew Connor was shameless to the core. The scandal involving his wife

    had be the talk of the town, and his reputation had taken such a hit that he no longer feared public

    embarrassment.

    using someone like him was pointless. So, the crowd turned their jeering eyes toward the woman

    hiding her face beneath the bedsheet. And Lillian, shrouded beneath that sheet, felt surge of

    satisfaction as the mockery was directed at Brielle.

    Desperate to escape, she dashed for the door, but with her vision obscured, she stumbled out of the

    room and took a tumble in the hallway,nding right at Spencer¡¯s feet.

    The onlookers burst intoughter again.

    ¡°Look at her now, what a joke! Guess her only shining moment was acing those finals, huh?¡±

    ¡°I heard she¡¯s working at Dorsey International. Think Max knows how embarrassing his employee is?¡±

    ¡°What does Max have to do with this? He¡¯s leagues above someone like Brielle. They¡¯re inpletely

    different worlds.¡±

    Lillian winced from the fall and her pride stung even more upon hearing the mentions of Max. It

    infuriated her that everyone thought Max and Brielle shouldn¡¯t mix, yet during his vulnerable moments

    under the influence, it was Brielle he desired.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Why Brielle and not her? All she got was a night of humiliation from Connor. The more they insulted

    Brielle, the better Lillian felt.

    She picked herself up, still clutching the sheet over her head, wrapping herself up tightly. Unaware that

    Spencer was right in front of her, she attempted to bolt past him, but Spencer, never one to let things

    slide, saw a perfect opportunity to embarrass Brielle, who had made him look like a fool at Dorsey

    International.

    ¡°Bri, what¡¯s happened to you?¡± Spencer feigned concern, pulling her close, his hand reaching to peel

    away the sheet.

    Startled, Lillian wondered how Spencer could be there. ¡°No, don¡¯t!¡± She clung to the sheet. wishing she

    could vanish from the scene.

    To Spencer, something felt off; the voice sounded more like Lillian than Brielle. As he peeled back the

    sheet slightly, he could see Lillian¡¯s tear¨Cstreaked face, though the others couldn¡¯t.

    There stood Lillian, a mess, her expression a silent plea. Spencer froze, disbelief etched across his

    face.

    The crowd continued to taunt, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Does it hurt to see your ex¨Cfianc¨¦e like this, Spencer?¡±

    ¡°Why not pull off the sheet, Spencer? Let¡¯s all see the state she¡¯s in.¡±

    14:20

    Lip 2

    A flicker of something passed through Spencer¡¯s eyes amidst the internal turmoil, but he quickly

    covered Lillian again with the sheet. ¡°Let¡¯s leave her be,¡± he said to the crowd. ¡°Knowing it¡¯s Brielle is

    enough.¡±

    Hearing this, Lillian¡¯s eyes gleamed with triumph. Spencer was on her side. Blind and desperate, she

    leaned on him and whispered, audible only to them, ¡°Spencer, please, get me out of here.¡±

    Though feeling repulsed, Spencer¡¯s hatred for Brielle outweighed his disgust for Lillian. As they made

    their way out, the spectators followed, tossing barbs.

    ¡°Brielle slept with Connor, and Spencer¡¯s still so kind to her. She must be blessed.¡±

    ¡°Well, they¡¯ve known each other since they were kids. Guess Spencer¡¯s just too soft¨Chearted.¡±

    They managed to insult Brielle while elevating Spencer¡¯s own status.

    The elevator dinged open, and Spencer was about to step in with Lillian when he saw Brielle and Max

    already inside, looking pristine andposed.

    The crowd, too, was taken aback by Brielle¡¯s tidy appearance, as if they couldn¡¯t believe their eyes.

    Max himself was as cool as ever, eyes half¨Cclosed, hisshes casting a chill of satiated indolence.

    Chapter 215

 Chapter 215

    Chapter 215

    Brielle had no idea what had just transpired, but she faintly caught her name being whispered. She

    nced at the astonished crowd outside, a sly smile curling on her lips. ¡°Morning, folks. Up with the

    dawn, I see.¡±

    Their expressions changed in a heartbeat. If this clean, neatly dressed, and poised individual was

    Brielle, then who was the woman shrouded in the bedsheet?

    These trust fund kids were sharp as tacks. Their minds raced, piecing together the sordid puzzle.

    That mysterious woman deliberately remained silent. Hearing them say it was Brielle, she tacitly

    epted it. Wasn¡¯t this an attempt to make Brielle take the me?

    Had Brielle not shown up in the elevator, everyone would have believed she was the one who had a

    fling with Connorst night.

    Raising an eyebrow, Brielle turned to Spencer and then to the covered figure, her voiceced with

    mock curiosity, ¡°Is this your new girlfriend, Mr. Spencer?¡±

    Her words pped Spencer as if leaving a physical mark on his pride.

    The crowd remembered how Spencer had just identified the woman under the sheets as Brielle. If it

    wasn¡¯t her, then who was it?

    ¡°Mr. Spencer, that was out of line.¡± someone chided. ¡°You saw her face and still hinted she was

    Brielle?¡±

    ¡°The one who was fooling around with Connor wasn¡¯t her at all. So, who is this shameless person?

    Doing such disgraceful things and expecting someone else to take the me?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s see her face! Do it, now!¡±

    The crowd was getting riled up, feeling duped.

    Lillian, paralyzed with fear, couldn¡¯t utter a word until she felt someone tugging at her bedsheets. In

    panic, she stumbled backward. ¡°No, stop! Leave me alone!¡±

    Brielle, recognizing the voice, quickly put two and two together. ¡°So it¡¯s Lillian.¡±

    At the mention of Lillian, disdain filled everyone¡¯s eyes. They hadn¡¯t forgotten the spectacle at the

    Haywood family¡¯s banquet, where Brielle had exposed their true colors. They were skeptical then, but

    now the truth was undeniable.

    ¡°So it¡¯s Lillian. That¡¯s just revolting, trying to frame Brielle.¡±

    ¡°This must be a habit for her; she¡¯s always bad¨Cmouthing Brielle.¡±

    ¡°She even used Brielle of being promiscuous. Turns out it was her all along? God, if I were Brielle.

    I¡¯d be livid.¡±

    145

    Chapter 215

    At this point, hiding was futile. Her name was already out there. Fuming, Lillian yanked the sheet off her

    head, clutching it around her frame. Yet, her heart skipped a beat when she spotted Max.

    Brielle and Max were together, so they must have spent the night, right? This realization filled her with

    spite, an urge tosh out at them both.

    However, she couldn¡¯t stand up to Max. The memory of the gun pressed to her forehead left her

    speechless, unable to utter a word against him, especially not in front of this audience. Her lips

    trembled as she caught Max¡¯s threatening gaze, a warning only she could fullyprehend.

    With puffy, tearful eyes and no dignity left for the elevator ride, Lillian bolted for the stairs.

    The whispers continued as everyone¡¯s gaze shifted to Spencer. Brielle turned to him, her voice sweet

    as honey. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to chase after your girlfriend?¡±

    The term ¡®girlfriend¡® was a stab of humiliation. They all knew too well who Lillian had been with

    Spencer felt the sting of disgrace once again, his eyes seething with resentment towards

    Brielle.

 Chapter 216

    Chapter 216

    Brielle¡¯s eyebrow arch was nonchnt, untouched by the turmoil around her.

    Spencer felt as if his pride was being trampled underfoot, the gods themselves seemed to conspire

    with Brielle. Why, at this crucial moment, did she have to be in the elevator?

    His eyes narrowed as he pondered. Had Brielle been at the soireest night? And she hade down

    from the fourth floor. Wasn¡¯t Max the only one living on the fourth floor?

    This suspicion was fleeting, as the surrounding chatter became unbearable, and Spencer beat a hasty

    retreat.

    The onlookers shared his curiosity as they nced at Brielle, but she simply looked up at Max with

    ease. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, about my business trip, will you approve it?¡± she inquired.

    Max¡¯s eyshes fluttered, and he hummed an affirmative.

    Brielle smirked. Seeing that the people outside had no intention ofing in, she closed the elevator.

    As soon as it shut, she kept her distance from Max. After all, having just woken up and been dragged

    out for an passionate lovemaking, she was wary of his stamina.

    Max leaned in closer, noticing her awkward stance. ¡°Feeling ufortable?¡±

    Her cheeks flushed. When the elevator reached the ground floor, she hurried out. But after a few steps,

    she felt a painful tug in her private area and slowed down.

    Max intended to follow, but Sammuel, who had been waiting on the ground floor, approached him. ¡°Mr.

    Dorsey, how was your evening?¡± Sammuel asked, his tone suggesting he had figured out the

    connection between Max and Brielle. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have allowed her ess or had security

    assist with unlocking the door.

    Sammuel hadn¡¯t made a spectacle of the situation and had even agreed to sell the surrounding.nd,

    putting Max in his debt twice over, so Max couldn¡¯t afford to be too cold now.

    ¡°Quite well. Your party was a hit, Mr. Hatfield.¡±

    Sammuel smiled, his eyes following Brielle¡¯s departure, and remarked meaningfully, ¡°Ms. Brielle is as

    intriguing as the rumors suggest.¡±

    ¡°She always is.¡± Seeing the smile on Max¡¯s face, Sammuel knew he had made the right betst night.

    Max deliberately removed the security on the top floor, exactly for Brielle.

    ¡°It seems Ms. Brielle will soon be Mrs. Dorsey of Dorsey International. Congrattions on finding a fine

    partner.¡±

    Max¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, a sweet unfamiliar sensation blooming in his chest at the thought. Like a

    candy melting, sweetness spread from his heart.

    However, the idea of marrying Brielle had never crossed his mind.

    Chapter 216

    ¡°I haven¡¯t thought about that,¡± he said.

    Sammuel looked embarrassed, thinking he had misread the situation and quickly covered. ¡°Right, you

    and Ms. Alivia are the perfect match.¡±

    Max hadn¡¯t thought about that either, but arguing now seemed pointless.

    Hidden behind a column outside the flower wall, Brielle overheard their conversation. He had never

    considered marrying her, even assuming he and Alivia were the right match. Then why had he

    whispered those wordsst night?

    She vaguely remembered him leaning close, telling her to call him by his name. When she did, at the

    height of passion, he seemed thrilled, his embrace tightening.

    It was all false, just sweet nothings whispered in the heat of the moment.

    Brielle scoffed. If that was the case, why did she take it seriously? She couldn¡¯t very well counsel

    Aubree while falling into the same trap herself.

    She left, hopped into her car, and drove back to the hotel.

    The police had contacted her, saying there were no suspicious individuals around her apartment, and if

    she was still concerned, she could sell it and move elsewhere.

    Brielle was already considering it. She had selected a location for the orphanage and had enough

    funds to purchase a new ce. So, she started house¨Chunting that afternoon..

    Unexpectedly, Kenzo called her.

    ¡°Kenzo?,¡± she answered, surprised.

    ¡°I heard you¡¯re house¨Chunting?¡± Kenzo¡¯s voice was gentle on the other end.

    ¡°How did you know?¡±

    Kenzo chuckled, ¡°I have a ce that¡¯s been sitting empty. Would you like to see it? I can have. my

    agent get in touch with you.¡±

    Without his offer to involve an agent, Brielle would have declined, wary of owing a favor, but a business

    transaction was different.

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll check it out this afternoon.¡±

    Kenzo¡¯s property was in a prime location with excellent privacy. The doorman resident, and no stranger

    without a card could enter.

    d every

    Brielle liked the ce as soon as she saw it and quickly transferred the money.

    Kenzo, upon receiving the payment, chuckled and sent a screenshot to Max. [Yourdy is. buying a

    house. Aren¡¯t you contributing?]

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    In less than a minute, Max sent the money, with a note [and buy the neighboring properties for her,

    too.]

 Chapter 217

    Chapter 217

    Kenzo chuckled in response. (Too bad, I wouldn¡¯t mind pocketing that money myself, but I don¡¯t own

    the houses next door.]

    He sent Brielle a screenshot of Max¡¯s transfer and refunded her money. The screenshot didn¡¯t bring

    Brielle the joy she had anticipated. Instead, it reminded her of something she¡¯d overheard that morning,

    leaving a sour taste in her heart.

    He was ying the role of a sugar daddy perfectly well, clearly seeing her as nothing more than a kept

    woman.

    [Alright, Kenzo, thank you. You¡¯ve saved me some money.]

    Kenzo sensed Brielle¡¯s discontent but refrained from prying. Instead, he asked Max. [You knew about

    the house purchase, didn¡¯t you?]

    Max was caught up in legalities at the Hatfield family estate, which had dyed him. When Kenzo

    asked, a knot formed in Max¡¯s stomach. He really hadn¡¯t known. Why hadn¡¯t Brielle told him? Did she

    think it unnecessary?

    Meanwhile, Max was tuning out whatever Sammuel and Patrick were discussing, fixated on Brielle¡¯s

    contact in his phone.

    He barely broke the deadlock with some effortsst night, so why did she leave on her own this

    morning without waiting for him?

    Anxiety got the better of Max, and he rose from his seat.

    Patrick, taken aback by his sudden movement, asked, ¡°Mr. Dorsey, are we closing the deal on the

    contract now?¡±

    Max, fingers elegantly buttoning his cuff, simply nodded, ¡°Yes.¡±

    Without further ado, Patrick resumed discussing details with Sammuel, while Max excused himself,

    citing urgent matters..

    Sammuel had no reason to detain him. Once in his car, Max couldn¡¯t resist and dialed Brielle¡¯s number,

    but Brielle was busy exploring her new home and ignored her ringing phone.

    In less than a day, she had acquired a property, and Kenzo had even had the keys delivered at

    lightning speed. She had already called a movingpany, and their crew was downstairs. ready to

    help her settle in.

    Her belongings filled the spacious 300¨Csquare¨Cmeter house, yet it still felt empty. She snapped some

    photos and, in a rare move, updated her social tform.

    ¡°New life begins,¡± she captioned.

    Brielle rarely posted online, maybe once a month, but she couldn¡¯t help sharing several photos. of her

    beautiful new ce.

    14:201

    In the meantime, Max had messaged her on WhatsApp, which she deliberately ignored. After her

    update. Max was the first toment. [Why aren¡¯t you responding to my messages?] His tone carried

    a hint of hurt.

    Brielle didn¡¯t have many people on her social media tforms, but individuals like Andrew and Kenzo

    were all there. However, those like Spencer, who had conflicts with her, were mostly deleted.

    Within a minute, both Kenzo and Andrew replied to Max¡¯sment with a string of question marks.

    Andrew, never one to hold back, added after his question marks. [You actually reached out to Brielle?

    And she didn¡¯t reply? Shocking! The CEO of Dorsey International ying the simp for someoned

    Surprised by their reactions, Brielle wondered if Max wasn¡¯t one to initiate chats. She didn¡¯t want to ask

    Andrew, and she messaged Kenzo privately. [Does Max not usually start conversations?]

    Kenzo¡¯s response came swiftly¨Ca screenshot of his chat with Max. Kenzo would say ten things, and

    Max might reply to one, sometimes not at all.

    Brielle chuckled slightly, but then she felt she might be reading too much into it. After all, she was still

    an employee of Max.

    She put her phone down, deciding to treat herself to a home¨Ccooked dinner to celebrate. Unbeknownst

    to her, the Haywood family was already in upheaval. Since Lillian¡¯s return home that morning, she¡¯d

    been wreaking havoc, throwing things around in a tantrum.

    Cameron, upon hearing about Lillian¡¯s ordeal with Connor, was in disbelief, but Lillian¡¯s tears and the

    witnesses forced him to ept the truth.

    Robert and Miranda sat grim¨Cfaced on the couch, at a loss for words. Surely they couldn¡¯t just marry

    Lillian off to Connor.

    Miranda, humiliated by the taunts from the other high societydies during her afternoon tea. had

    returned home feeling disgraced, only to face her hysterical daughter.

    ¡°Lillian, how could you-¡±

    Lillian, bitterness etched in her face, slumped on the couch. ¡°Brielle has been sleeping with Max all

    along. She¡¯s the woman he keeps! I can¡¯t stand it. How could Max be blinded by her? Brielle has been

    with so many men, how could this happen¡­¡±

    Her voice trailed off into a whisper.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    A gleam of light shed in Robert¡¯s eyes. ¡°Are you sure about that?¡±

 Chapter 218

    Chapter 218

    Lillian¡¯s face twisted in anguish as she spoke, her voice choked with emotion.

    ¡°How can there be any doubt? I saw it with my own eyesst night. Max actually cares for Brielle. How

    could this be? That bitch! How did she manage to do it? Max is such a figure.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t get another word out as her voice broke down in sobs.

    Robert was just as shocked because Max was always seen as the pinnacle of business royalty. a man

    so high up the socialdder that women couldn¡¯t even dream of a casual conversation with him, let

    alone closeness. How could a man like that be entangled with Brielle, especially since she was

    Spencer¡¯s ex¨Cfianc¨¦e?

    Robert still worried that Lillian might have been mistaken. ¡°Lillian, Brielle is Spencer¡¯s ex, and Max

    wouldn¡¯t get involved with her. Are you sure you didn¡¯t just see what you wanted to see?¡±

    Lillian¡¯s face contorted even more, her chest heaving with emotion. ¡°Max himself had me use his phone

    to personally call Brielle. How could I be mistaken? That whore! I wish she would just disappear.¡±

    Besides cursing Brielle like this, she really didn¡¯t know what else she could do. The mention of Spencer

    seemed to reignite a spark in Lillian, her face brightening with a vindictive satisfaction. ¡°Dad, if Michael

    finds out about Brielle and Max, could he make her disappear from

    Beaconsfield?¡±

    A hint of hesitation appeared on Robert¡¯s face, then it seemed like he came to a realization. ¡°We

    shouldn¡¯t tell Michael about this just yet. Lillian, after all these years you¡¯ve known Brielle, she must

    have been really upset to cut ties with us. She¡¯lle back to the Haywood family eventually. As for

    her and Max, if she managed to snag him, that¡¯s her skill. You could learn a thing or two from her.¡±

    Lillian was in disbelief, staring wide¨Ceyed. She was already a mess, with swollen eyes, and now her

    twisted expression made her look almost ghostly.

    Miranda and Cameron couldn¡¯t believe what Robert was saying either. They started to argue but

    stopped when they saw Robert stand up. ¡°For years, the only woman who¡¯s ever caught Max¡¯s

    attention has been Brielle. His engagement to the Barnes girl hasn¡¯t even been set in stone. If Brielle

    can get Max to call off that engagement, she¡¯ll be the future Lady of Dorsey International. Who would

    dare cross her then?¡±

    The two were about to retort but mped their mouths shut, their fists clenched in frustration. They

    knew Robert was suggesting they cozy up to Brielle.

    Seeing no objection, Robert continued, ¡°Brielle¡¯s always had a soft heart. How could she hold no

    affection for the Haywood family? And with a grandfather who loves her, if she doesn¡¯t want to see him

    hurt, she wouldn¡¯t dare push too far.¡±

    Brielle hadn¡¯t visited the old man in the nursing home, opting instead for a caregiver, partly because

    she feared he would ask about the Haywood family. Not wanting to lie to this kind.

    1/2

    14:20

    Chapter 218

    elder, she had chosen to keep her distance ¨C a weakness that Robert was willing to exploit.

    Robert felt a surge of pleasure, initially thinking Brielle would end up with someone like Connor. It¡¯s a

    surprise that she managed to potentially bag a bigger fish.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    As soon as he left, Lillianpletely broke down, smashing everything left on the coffee table. ¡°Mom,

    can you believe what Dad¡¯s saying?¡±

    Miranda¡¯s face was etched with worry, but if Brielle really was with Max, they indeed wouldn¡¯t dare

    provoke her.

    ¡°Lillian, your father is looking out for you. You should focus on how to win Spencer back.¡±

    The mention of Spencer brought back a humiliating memory, and Lillian began to cry again.

    With a sigh. Miranda got up, catching Cameron¡¯s eye, and left the room.

    As soon as she was gone, Lillian threw herself into Cameron¡¯s arms, ¡°Cameron, don¡¯t tell me you agree

    with them? Why does Brielle deserve Max¡¯s affection?¡±

    Cameron was still rattled by the previous night¡¯s events, fearful of Max¡¯s potential retaliation against the

    Haywood family.

    ¡°You¡¯ll help me, right?¡±

    Cameron¡¯s mouth tasted bitter as he rubbed his temples, ¡°I¡¯ll help you, buty low for now. When Max

    gets tired of Brielle, you can have your revenge.¡±

    Lillian thought it made sense. The Dorsey and Barnes family union was big news, and Brielle was just a

    passing fancy for Max.

    But the thought of Robert siding with Brielle sent chills down Lillian¡¯s spine, her eyes glinting coldly. She

    decided to get Alivia involved in the fight against Brielle.

    When Alivia got the news, she was wrapping up an investment deal with Noah. Noah noticed her smile

    vanish and cautiously inquired. ¡°Alivia, what¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Alivia¡¯s hand that was casually resting by her side clenched, ¡°Ms. Haywood from Dorsey International is

    quite close to Max, isn¡¯t she?¡±

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    Chapter 219

    Noah had been harboring a crush on Alivia for years, and he agreed to this business trip mainly

    because it offered a chance to see her. But deep down, he knew that Alivia dreamed only of tying the

    knot with Max.

    ¡°Brielle¡¯s reputation is in the gutter. I can¡¯t believe Mr. Dorsey would be blind enough to fall for her.¡±

    Noah mused to himself.

    Alivia breathed a sigh of relief at the thought that the rumors must be false, ¡°Once you¡¯ve settled things

    with my friend. I¡¯lle back home with you.

    A flicker of joy passed through Noah¡¯s eyes, ¡°Great.¡±

    Alivia, however, couldn¡¯t shake her unease. It seemed she had to fast¨Ctrack her engagement with the

    Dorseys to ward off any unworthy suitors who might have their eye on Max.

    During her trip back home, she was determined to convince both families to move forward with the

    engagement.

    She yed with the bracelet around her wrist, a habit she picked up from Max. Mimicking his gestures

    somehow made her feel closer to him.

    Although she was aware of Noah¡¯s affection for her, her heart belonged to Max, and Max alone.

    ¡°Noah, I need a favor,¡± she said.

    Noah blushed at her request. Coming from a wealthy family, he had eyes only for Alivia and would do

    anything to help her. ¡°Just name it.¡±

    ¡°I want you to pursue Brielle. Someone sent me an anonymous message, and I can¡¯t shake this feeling.

    You know how long I¡¯ve waited for Max, and I can¡¯t afford anyplications. If Brielle¡¯s personal life is

    as messy as they say, maybe she¡¯s eyeing Max? With your looks and family background, it should be

    easy for you to win her over, right? And after that, you can just dump her. It wouldn¡¯t be a loss for you.¡±

    Noah didn¡¯t ponder whether Alivia¡¯s tactics were fair or foul. To him, it was an honor to be entrusted

    with such a task. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll have her wrapped around my finger within a week.¡± Alivia¡¯s lips curled

    slightly. ¡°I¡¯ll handle things with my friend. You should head back home. Give me no more than two

    weeks, and I¡¯ll have a definite answer for you.¡±

    ¡°Alright, take care, Alivia.¡±

    Unbeknownst to Brielle, she had be Alivia¡¯s target. After sorting out her move, Brielle returned a

    call to the police department..

    In less than two days, she had settled into her new ce, taking some time off work due to an overly

    passionate encounter with Max that still left her private part sore.

    In the afternoon, she finally decided to visit the hospital. As shey on the examination bed, the

    14:21

    Chapter 219

    doctor¡¯s expression grew stern. ¡°Miss, do you need us to call the police for you?¡±

    Brielle blushed with embarrassment, making up an excuse, ¡°It¡¯s just my boyfriend. He can be a bit

    overzealous.¡±

    The doctor looked unconvinced and noticed Brielle¡¯s difort, his brow furrowing slightly. ¡°Here¡¯s

    your prescription. Remember, it¡¯s important to respect yourself.¡±

    Her cheeks reddened further as she left the office, overhearing a couple of doctors gossiping.

    ¡°Last month¡¯s case was even more outrageous. These young people today really don¡¯t know their

    limits.¡±

    ¡°Right? They should find a decent boyfriend instead of hooking up with some rich kid. They get the

    cash but lose their health.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s head buzzed with irritation, mentally cursing Max as she rushed out of the hospital.

    ¡°Oof!¡±

    Turning a corner, she bumped into someone, her nose throbbing from the impact as her medicine

    scattered on the floor.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± she murmured, bending to pick up the pills. But the man was quicker, his fingers. tensing

    as he recognized the medication and spotted the gynecology sign behind her. Handing them back, he

    muttered, ¡°No harm done.¡±

    Brielle looked up to see a young man¡¯s face, one that seemed vaguely familiar.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 220

    Chapter 220

    A few secondster, her eyes widened, and she forgot about her embarrassment. ¡°You are Mason?

    What brings you back in the country?¡±

    Mason froze, then his features cooled off. ¡°Sorry, you¡¯ve got the wrong guy.

    Realizing her mistake, Brielle hurried to catch up to him. ¡°I apologize for not introducing myself earlier.

    I¡¯m Brielle from Dorsey International¡¯s M&A division. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you. I¡¯ve been collecting

    information on thepany you started abroad, and I was wondering-¡±

    She was cut off as Mason interjected, ¡°Dorsey International? The same Dorsey International that Max

    is part of?¡±

    Brielle stopped in her tracks and nodded slowly, noting the sneer that appeared on Mason¡¯s face.

    ¡°Does Max know you¡¯re here trying to talk cooperation with me?¡±

    Brielle frowned. Could there be bad blood between these two?

    Mason¡¯s expression returned to neutral as he waved a dismissive hand. ¡°I have no interest in

    acquisitions or investments from Dorsey International. Don¡¯t bother me with this.¡±

    Standing there, Brielle felt a sinking feeling. The verypany Mason had founded was her next

    business trip¡¯s target, and she had never imagined she would bump into the founder back. home.

    Why did Mason harbor such disdain for Dorsey International? She hadn¡¯t uncovered any information

    linking Mason to Dorsey International.

    Not wanting to miss her chance, Brielle took out her phone, thought for a moment, and decided to call

    Max.

    Meanwhile, at the top floor of Dorsey International, a serious meeting was underway when a ringtone

    sliced through the silence. The executives exchanged nervous nces, sweat beading on their

    foreheads. Who could be so careless as to not silence their phone during a meeting?

    The finance director was the first to speak up. ¡°Whose phone is that? Turn it off.¡±

    As the words left his mouth, Max raised his hand, grabbing the vibrating phone beside him and pressed

    the answer button. The reporting individual quickly fell silent, as did everyone else, not daring to make

    a sound.

    Max stood up and walked to a nearby floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, visibly brightening. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    He had bought Brielle a house, a plot ofnd, and never even received a thank you, let alone a

    returned message. Max felt a bit stifled, but now that she was calling him, his lips couldn¡¯t help but curl

    into a smile.

    Was this a thank you call?

    Chapter 220

    What Brielle asked next made his smile droop. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, do you happen to know someone named

    Mason?¡±

    Max remained silent, and the other executives nearby could almost feel a chill sweeping through the

    room, making them shiver.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t see his face, nor could she gauge his mood. ¡°Thepany I¡¯m nning to approach

    was founded by Mason. I just ran into him here, and it seems like a great opportunity to connect with

    him, but he seems to have a strong aversion to Dorsey International. I want to understand why. Mr.

    Dorsey, can you shed some light on this?¡±

    Max¡¯s grip on the phone tightened. Brielle was truly the fastest to change her attitude that he had ever

    seen. She had agreed so sweetly in bed that she would call him by his name, and here she was, just

    two dayster, politely calling him Mr. Dorsey again.

    ¡°I thought I told you to use my first name from now on.¡±

    His voice was audible, and everyone in the meeting room heard it, causing a collective jolt. Who was

    Mr. Dorsey speaking to so intimately?

    Whispers spread among the curious.

    ¡°It must be Alivia. It looks like the marriage between the two families really isn¡¯t far off.¡±

    ¡°And Ms. Alivia is even helping Dorsey International with overseas investments. It¡¯s only right.

    for the CEO to be nice to her.¡±

    Only the HR director and the finance director exchanged knowing looks, a silent understanding

    between them. They had stumbled upon Max and Brielle¡¯s affair before; Max was different with Brielle.

    As for Alivia? Max had never personally mentioned any alliance with the Barnes family. and everything

    was just spection.

    The person upying his thoughts now was Brielle..

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Max was oblivious to the undercurrents among his staff. After his statement, he waited for Brielle to

    respond.

    flicker of confusion crossed Brielle¡¯s heart, but she maintained her polite tone. ¡°I think it¡¯s appropriate to

    call you Mr. Dorsey. I know where to draw the line.¡± To avoid stirring up any undesired emotions within

    herself.

 Chapter 221

    Chapter 221

    Max felt a suffocating tightness in his chest, especially as he heard her continuing to inquire about

    Mason. Without a second thought, he hung up the call.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    ¡°Beep¡­ Beep¡­ Beep¡­¡±

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Brielle was somewhat incredulous at the sounding from the other end.

    After Max ended the call, he walked back to his seat, his tone as icy as a December morning.

    ¡°Continue.¡±

    Everyone shivered, feeling the room temperature drop even further.

    The Finance Director, realizing he might have misspoken, attempted to mitigate the situation.

    ¡°President, I¡¯d like to propose a raise for Ms. Haywood. She¡¯s been an exemry employee. and she¡¯s

    about to represent ourpany in negotiations. Her current sry just doesn¡¯t match her status.¡±

    The HR Director chimed in, ¡°Indeed, Ms. Haywood is exceptional.¡±

    The sudden praise for Brielle baffled the others, especially since she was at odds with Ms. Alivia.

    Ms. Alivia backed the Book, while Brielle was supposed to be negotiating with a newpany¨Ca task

    she had made no progress on. No matter how it was viewed, it seemed like negligence of duty. And

    they still wanted to give her a raise? On what grounds?

    Several people at the meeting voiced their dissatisfaction.

    ¡°Have the directors got their wires crossed? Ms. Haywood has been on leave for two days.¡±

    ¡°Yes, and if anyone deserves a raise, it should be Ms. Alivia. She¡¯s not our employee, so Mwr. Dorsey

    would need to personally select a gift for her.

    They expected this ttery to delight Max, but his expression only grew colder. His gaze turned to the

    Finance Director, ¡°Handle the raise as you see fit.¡±

    The Finance Director¡¯s face beamed, more convinced than ever of the need to curry favor with Brielle.

    Winning over Brielle was akin to winning over Mr. Dorsey, which meant good days. ahead for him.

    The others realized their sycophancy had backfired and fell silent.

    As Max stood, his face clouded with gloom, he paused at the door. The thought of Brielle¡¯s indifference,

    yet offering her a raise¨Cit would be a blow to his pride if she found out.

    A furrow formed between his brows, and he spoke coolly. ¡°But don¡¯t make it too much.

    To the Finance Director, this wasn¡¯t a sign of Max¡¯s indifference towards Brielle. Considering

    Chapter 221

    the Max¡¯s shrewdness, it must be a deliberate strategy to prolong the subordinate¡¯s promotion

    progress. After all, a hungry hound hunts best. In this process, Brielle would undoubtedly be more

    reliant on the President.

    Admiration glinted in the Finance Director¡¯s eyes, oblivious to his overactive imagination, ¡°Understood.¡±

    Max had no clue what he understood. Back in his office, he still felt sour.

    Patrick, knowing the probable cause of his mood, casually suggested, ¡°Ms. Brielle has moved. into a

    new ce. Should we send a housewarming gift?¡±

    To his surprise, Max sat down and turned on hisputer, his voice tinted with a hint of reproach.

    ¡°Even giving her a house andnd didn¡¯t elicit a word of thanks. What¡¯s the use of sending more?¡±

    Patrick struggled to keep a straight face. Even Max himself seemed unaware that he was acting like a

    regr Joe trying to win his girlfriend¡¯s favor and failing miserably.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, maybe women value other things more, likemitment?¡± Patrick was probing. curious

    about how Max truly felt about his rtionship with Ms. Brielle.

    Max narrowed his eyes, a trace of confusion crossing his face. ¡°Do you think I like her?¡± His question

    was about perception, not certainty, suggesting even he was unsure of his feelings.

    Patrick didn¡¯t dare respond directly, offering a nomittal, ¡°Perhaps.¡±

    Max¡¯s expression turned nk, as if void of color, ¡°I won¡¯t dig my own grave.¡± To him, affection. love,

    they were all graves, and he was not one to dig his own.

 Chapter 222

    Chapter 222

    And after Brielle was hung up on, she called back to find that Max had turned off his phone. With a

    frown etched on her face and worry that she might not see Mason again if she left, she decided to call

    Patrick.

    At that moment, Patrick stood by Max, expecting a call from a business associate. When his phone

    rang, he nced at the screen and saw Brielle¡¯s name shing. His gut reaction was to steal a nce

    at Max.

    Max sensed the shift in Patrick¡¯s attention, his grip on the pen tightening as if he was about to snap it in

    half. ¡°Brielle?¡± he asked, a hint of tension in his voice.

    Patrick swallowed hard, ¡°It¡¯s Ms. Brielle. Probably about thend deal.¡±

    ¡°Answer it. Put it on speaker,¡± Maxmanded.

    Patrick had never felt such pressure just from picking up a phone call. Worried that Brielle might say

    something out of line, he took the lead with a professional tone, ¡°Ms. Brielle, like I mentioned before,

    thend deal was all Mr. Dorsey¡¯s doing. If you have thanks to give, you¡® should really direct it to him in

    person.¡±

    Brielle

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    wasn¡¯t calling about thend, and she was anxious abouting off as too eager with Max. To avoid

    any misinterpretation of her intentions, she yed along with Patrick¡¯s prompt. ¡°Patrick, I should thank

    you as well. How about I treat you to dinner sometime?¡±

    Patrick¡¯s body tensed, his keen eyes catching Max¡¯s clenched jaw, the pen nearly at its breaking point.

    Wiping sweat from his brow, Patrick stuttered, ¡°That¡¯s really not necessary. I barely did anything.¡±

    ¡°Patrick, you¡¯ve worked hard. Besides, there¡¯s something else I need your help with.¡±

    Brielle was a very clear¨Cheaded person. Since she knew that Max saw her only as a fling, she didn¡¯t

    rush to plead with him. Moreover, he had just hung up on her. If Max didn¡¯t care for her, she had no

    reason to fret over him. Matters of the heart were reciprocal, and ying a solo act was utterly

    pointless. She had yed that act before with Spencer; she knew better than to stumble over the same

    stone twice.

    ¡°I need you to dig into Mason¡¯s troubles with Dorsey International,¡± Brielle requested.

    The weight on Patrick grew heavier, a wry smile on his face. ¡°That might be difficult for me to look into.

    Perhaps you should ask-¡±

    He was cut off by Brielle, ¡°If you can¡¯t find out, could Kenzo do it? He¡¯s in good standing with Mr.

    Dorsey, must have heard some rumors, right? O

    It wasn¡¯t a threat from Brielle, just a genuine question. Patrick felt like his hair was standing on end.

    Should he let Ms. Brielle turn to another man for help?

    14:2

    Chapter 222

    He quickly backtracked, ¡°Actually, I can look into it. It just might take some time.¡±

    Relief spread across Brielle¡¯s face with a smile, ¡°Alright, let me know when you have something.¡± She

    hadn¡¯t asked about Max, and she ended the call with a clean break.

    Patrick, hearing the call disconnect, didn¡¯t dare meet Max¡¯s gaze.

    Max set down the pen, hisugh cold. ¡°You two seem pretty chummy.¡±

    Patrick hastened to rify. ¡°It¡¯s mostly about thend deal. I¡¯ve told Ms. Brielle it¡¯s all thanks to

    you, sir.¡±

    ¡°Hmph, I¡¯m not bothered by that.¡± Max replied dismissively, though his expression grew darker.

    Patrick wiped away the sweat again, thinking, ¡°If you didn¡¯t care, you probably wouldn¡¯t have me put it

    on speakerphone.¡±

    So much for not digging his own grave.

    Standing there, Patrick felt an immense pressure, as if a mountain loomed overhead.

    Max, feeling a sense of irritation himself, picked up a document from the side, trying to get lost in its

    contents. To think, all his efforts for her seemed to be in vain, while a simple update from Patrick

    earned her dinner invitation.

    Ungrateful.

    Why should he care? There was no need to get angry.

 Chapter 223

    Chapter 223

    After Brielle hung up the phone, she stayed put, waiting.

    It took Mason half an hour toe down, and when he saw her still there, his brow furrowed in an

    instant, and he quickened his pace.

    ¡°Mr. Mason.¡± Brielle called out. ¡°I¡¯ve done my homework on yourpany, and I believe it has the

    potential to be the investment world¡¯s unicorn.¡±

    In the financial world, there was a saying that the most crucial aspect of investing was to back a

    ¡°unicorn¡°-missing out on such apany posed a far greater risk than making a mistake with a

    hundred others.

    The term unicorn was thus a massive affirmation for anypany, but evidently, Mason didn¡¯t need

    such affirmation. He even bypassed her and walked straight out of the hospital.

    Brielle had never encountered someone so impervious. Dorsey International had taken the initiative to

    offer an investment, and it was one thing to refuse, but to show such aversion was another.

    Mason got into a taxi, and Brielle had no choice but to follow. ¡°Mr. Mason.¡±

    Mason raised his hand to his temple, clearly not expecting her to follow. ¡°I¡¯m off to a ss reunion. Are

    you sure you want toe along?¡±

    Brielle pursed her lips, wary of losing this opportunity, not knowing when she¡¯d get another chance to

    speak with him. ¡°After the reunion, could you spare me a few minutes, Mr. Mason?¡±

    Mason gave her a serious look, ¡°Ms. Brielle, can you speak for Dorsey International?¡±

    ¡°Yes, anything I agree to in our conversation will definitely be in the contract.¡±

    Mason nced at her face, then seemed to give up resisting. ¡°Then attend the reunion as my date, and

    I¡¯ll give you ten minutes afterward.¡± It wasn¡¯t that Mason particrly disliked Brielle: in fact, he admired

    her persistence.

    Brielle nodded in agreement, relieved to have secured some time. Mason, however, stared at the

    ointment she was clutching, his ears reddening in an instant. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to put that thing in your

    bag?¡±

    Brielle had been so focused on discussing a partnership that she hadpletely forgotten she had just

    come from the gynecologist. Following his gaze to her hand, the shape of the medical. product was too

    suggestive, and she felt embarrassed having held it during their entire conversation.

    She quickly stowed it away in her bag, as if trying to release heat from every pore in her body.

    Mason also felt awkward and opened the taxi window. ¡°The reunion I¡¯m attending is with high. school

    ssmates. If you¡¯ve been around Beaconsfield, you might know some people there.¡±

    Chapter 223.

    Brielle thought he was just trying to ease the tension, but as they arrived, and she saw the Dorsey

    Hotel a bad feeling washed over her.

    Mason opened the door to the hotel and greeted everyone with a smile, ¡°Sorry I¡¯mte.¡±

    The chatter among the people in the private room paused for a moment when they saw him and then

    continued.

    Brielle could tell in just a nce that Mason wasn¡¯t popr among this crowd. As they got closer and

    she saw the woman basking in everyone¡¯s attention, Brielle¡¯s expression soured. It was Tessa

    Rond.

    Everyone knew Tessa¡¯s status. From the moment she stepped into the room, they couldn¡¯t wait to put

    her on a pedestal. And Tessa was ustomed to such ttery, not showing the slightest

    embarrassment.

    That was until she saw Brielle, and her smile slowly drooped. ¡°Brielle?¡± Her tone carried a hint of

    disdain before she looked away.

    Behind her stood Sophia, acting like a handmaiden, pouring water for Tessa and looking at Brielle as if

    her gaze was poisoned.

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Brielle hadn¡¯t expected to encounter them here; if she had known, she would have waited outside.

    Sophia¡¯s look also made her very uneasy, as if the Sophia she was facing now was very different from

    the one she had known.

    The others, sensing some history between Tessa and Mason¡¯s guest, began to inquire.

    ¡°Mason, who is this? Your girlfriend?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard about Mason getting close to anyone.¡±

    Mason pulled out a chair for Brielle, ¡°A friend.¡±

    As soon as he finished speaking, Tessa let out a lightugh, ¡°A friend or something more intimate? Ms.

    Brielle¡¯s reputation is quite the mess, isn¡¯t it?¡±

 Chapter 224

    Chapter 224

    The disdain in the room was almost palpable as eyes rolled and whispers grew louder. Brielle, unfazed,

    gracefully took her seat on the chair Mason had pulled out for her. ¡°Ms. Tessa¡¯s reputation isn¡¯t any

    better than mine. Last I saw her, she was leaving a hotel with not one, but two gentlemen. Seems

    you¡¯re quite the free spirit yourself.

    She spoke with a straight face, picked up her cup of water from the table for a sip, and casually offered

    Mason a cup as well.

    A hint of a smirk tugged at Mason¡¯s lips. He¡¯d seen Brielle¡¯s live streams before; it was only by chance,

    but the fact that she could hold her own with Mr. Hartley was no small feat. When Brielle first struck up

    a conversation with him, he didn¡¯t respond, even contemting feigning ignorance of her, but her

    persistence piqued his interest.

    Mason and Tessa were ssmates back in high school. Tessa was often absent due to her frail health.

    Yet, wherever she was, she seemed to be the center of attention. Everyone tiptoed around her, lest

    they be med if her health took a turn for the worse.

    Mason didn¡¯t care for Tessa. Even though she hadn¡¯t said a word and merely basked in the adoration

    and caution of those around her, the vibe she gave off was unsettling. Those who rallied behind her

    flourished; those who went against her met their doom. So even years after graduation, when they all

    gathered again, people still instinctively sought Tessa¡¯s favor.

    But Brielle was different. At least, she was the first person bold enough to be so unrestrained in front of

    Tessa.

    Tessa¡¯s¡¯eyes bulged in disbelief. Her face turned pale with rage, her chest heaving, ¡°What did you

    say?¡±

    Sophia, standing behind her, patted her back soothingly, ¡°Tessa, don¡¯t get worked up. Please yake your

    medication first.¡± She tenderly offered the medication, but Tessa pped it away. No one had ever

    seen Tessa this furious. Her paleplexion was now flushed as she red at Brielle.

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Sophia, pushed aside, took a step back, and in a spot hidden from the others, her lips curled into a

    subtle grin. She would love nothing more than for Brielle to push Tessa over the edge. today. The

    Rond family would never forgive Brielle, and neither would Andrew. Even if Andrew did have a fling

    with that wretch Aubree, he truly doted on Tessa. Brielle messing with Tessa was akin to courting

    death.

    Brielle raised an eyebrow, noting Tessa¡¯s teeteringposure, and chuckled softly. ¡°I¡¯m merely giving

    back what¡¯s been dished out to me, Ms. Tessa. You spread rumors about my private life in public, so

    why shouldn¡¯t I return the favor? Surely, what¡¯s good for the goose is good for the gander.¡±

    The others, unustomed to such a tantck of deference to Tessa, saw an opportunity to curry

    favor with her.

    14:22

    Chapter 224

    ¡°How dare you, woman? Do you know who she is? She¡¯s ady of the Rond family.¡±

    ¡°Mason, next time you bring a friend, at least bring someone who fits in, alright? We can do without the

    embarrassment from the likes of her.¡±

    Mason pretended to be engrossed in his tea, ¡°My apologies, I¡¯m not really that close with Ms. Brielle.¡±

    He distanced himself cleanly. Brielle nced at him, not realizing until then the extent of Mason¡¯s

    cunning.

    Hearing his words, the others couldn¡¯t very well continue to berate Mason, so they redirected their fire

    at Brielle.

    ¡°Apologize to Tessa! If she suffers because of you, can you bear the responsibility?¡±

    Tessa did look terribly unwell, as if she might faint at any moment. Normally, at such moments. those

    who had upset her would be thrown into a panic. Her illness sometimes served as her

    shield.

    Brielle just sat there, casually lifting her gaze to Tessa. ¡°If I had a condition like Ms. Tessa¡¯s, I¡¯d stay

    home and take care of my body, rather than going to great lengths to show up at a gathering. Wouldn¡¯t

    want to risk an incident, right, Ms. Tessa?¡±

    Tessa struggled to breathe, her nails digging into her palms, ¡°You¡­ you bitch.¡±

    As soon as she spat out the words, she slumped back into her chair, clutching her chest in

    agony.

    Sophia, who could have quickly taken out the medication, instead just stood by Tessa, holding her

    shoulder, ¡°Tessa, don¡¯t be upset, I¡¯ll get you to the hospital.¡± Triumph shone in her eyes. knowing Brielle

    had stirred up trouble.

    Brielle frowned, seeing right through Sophia¡¯s ploy. ¡°Give her the medicine. What good does holding

    her do?¡±

    Sophia¡¯s face froze, and with a pitiful look, she scanned the room. ¡°The medicine is gone. That was the

    last of it.¡±

 Chapter 225

    Chapter 225

    Brielle rolled her eyes internally. Just moments ago, Sophia had taken out several bottles of

    medication, and now she was tantly lying through her teeth.

    The others were petrified, Someone was frantically dialing for an ambnce while cursing Brielle under

    their breath, Chaos reigned for a moment, and Tessa¡¯s gaze was fixed on Brielle with disbelief. She

    refused to ept that Brielle wasn¡¯t scared.

    She absolutely loathed it when someone made a mockery of her health. That was her red line. Today,

    Tessa was determined to make Brielle pay.

    Tessa wasn¡¯t anywhere close to fainting, but to strike fear into Brielle, she feigned losing

    consciousness. Sophia and the other ssmates hurried to help Tessa out the door, casting malevolent

    nces at Brielle on their way out. ¡°I¡¯d like to see you wriggle your way out of this one,¡± Sophia

    sneered.

    Brielle remained silent. In less than twenty minutes, the private room was left with just her and Mason¨C

    an oue she hadn¡¯t anticipated.

    Mason, ever so collected, served her a bowl of soup and teased, ¡°Congrats, Ms. Brielle, on a

    victorious first battle.¡±

    Brielle furrowed her brows. ¡°Why do I get the feeling she was faking it?¡±

    ¡°Probably was. It¡¯s not the first time she¡¯s pulled a stunt like this.¡±

    Brielle was taken aback. After all, Tessa was born with a silver spoon in her mouth and protected every

    step of the way by Andrew. Was all this really necessary?

    Mason twirled the ss in his hand, his voice nonchnt. ¡°In high school, there was this girl who did

    well academically, our ss rep. She once pressed Tessa for homework. That girl was a bookworm,

    not the type to butter up Tessa like the others did, and Tessa had it out for her from the start. Plus, that

    girl was quite the looker¨Chad a bunch of guys in our ss crushing on her¨Cwhich made her a thorn in

    Tessa¡¯s side.¡±

    As he rotated the ss, Mason continued, ¡°When she pressed for homework, Tessa copsed. The

    whole ss turned on the girl, and the Rond family intervened, forcing her to withdraw from school.

    Within a week, she jumped off the tallest building on campus. Her mother fainted from grief when she

    came to identify the body.¡±

    Brielle had not expected Tessa to have such a dark history and felt a tightness in her chest. ¡°Didn¡¯t the

    Rond family pay anypensation?¡±

    Mason chuckled dryly, setting down his ss, ¡°Not a dime. Instead, they took the girl¡¯s mother to court

    and had her fined fifty thousand for emotional damages.¡±

    What kind of world was this? Brielle felt sick just hearing about it.

    Mason casually continued eating, seemingly ustomed to such stories.

    14:22

    Chapter 225

    ¡°That girl¡¯s family had always struggled. Her father was paralyzed from a fall, and they were all pinning

    their hopes on her getting into a good university. Fifty thousand means nothing to the Rond family,

    but it was everything to hers.¡±

    Brielle wanted to ask how they were doing now but feared the answer would only add to her

    worries.

    Mason pushed a te closer to her, ¡°Ms. Brielle, do you know why I despise Dorsey International?¡±

    Brielle shook her head. She was indeed curious, but Mason wasn¡¯t obligated to exin. She¡¯d never

    asked outright.

    Mason appraised her for a long moment before speaking in a hoarse voice, ¡°My dad, his name was

    Everett.¡±

    The cup in Brielle¡¯s hand fell to the ground, and she was shocked as if struck by a bolt of lightning.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Seeing her reaction, Mason guessed she might have heard about Everett¡¯s ordeal. ¡°My father was a

    brilliant pianist, internationally acimed, and he had a lovely, loving girlfriend. But then Victoria from

    the Dorsey family set her sights on him. She tried everything to harm his girlfriend, who miraculously

    survived every attempt. When Victoria ended up vited by someone else, the Dorsey family med

    my father, forcing him into a marriage with Victoria. Tell me, how are the Dorseys any different from the

    Ronds?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, are you still interested in discussing a partnership on behalf of Dorsey International?¡±

 Chapter 226

    Chapter 226

    Brielle was at a loss for words, finally understanding why Mason had started by talking about the ss

    representative ¨C it was all to make her step into those shoes and experience that sense of

    powerlessness. So, when it came to dealing with the Dorsey family, she could see things without any

    rose¨Ccolored sses.

    This coboration was going nowhere. Even if she could use her professional skills to persuade

    Mason, her conscience would suffer for it.

    Brielle forced a smile, ¡°Let¡¯s drop it, but Mr. Mason, are you really Everett¡¯s flesh and blood?¡±

    Mason nodded, ¡°When my mom was forced to leave, she was already pregnant with me. She begged

    Michael on her knees to stay by my dad¡¯s side, but Michael was ruthless. He sent her abroad and had

    her watched, so my dad couldn¡¯t find her. I don¡¯t even know if he ever looked, considering the Dorsey

    family¡¯s vast empire who wouldn¡¯t be dazzled by such splendor? I haven¡¯t contacted him in all these

    years. He might not even know he has a son.¡±

    ¨C

    A self¨Cmocking smirk crossed Mason¡¯s face as he poured Brielle a drink. ¡°If you ever meet him, Ms.

    Brielle, could you ask him for me how he¡¯s been?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s nose tingled, and she felt an unexpected urge to cry. A family that should have been happy,

    torn apart for years because of the Dorsey family. No wonder Mason was so repulsed when he found

    out she represented Dorsey International. But then, his willingness to talk to her showed he was a man

    of exceptional upbringing. Mason himself was the picture of youthful charm, looking every bit the

    energetic college student.

    ¡°Sure, if¡¯I ever have the chance to meet Everett, I¡¯ll pass on your message.¡±

    Mason looked down at his ss, lost in thought, ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Brielle stood up, intending to leave, when he said, ¡°Picking a fight with Tessa, that¡¯s bold. The Rond

    family will be knocking on your door soon.¡±

    Mason then stood up and went to settle the bill, ¡°I¡¯ll drive you home. Where to?¡±

    ¡°Pearl Estate.¡±

    Mason gave her a surprised nce, ¡°You make that much at Dorsey International?¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t very well say it was Max who bought it, so she brushed it off. As they reached the hotel

    lobby, she heard someone calling her name.

    ¡°Brielle!¡±

    She stiffened, turning around in disbelief, only to see Tiffanie, arms covered in tattoos, swinging a

    purse and sucking on a lollipop, waving at her from nearby.

    Brielle hadn¡¯t expected to run into Tiffanie here. Seemed like her grounding had ended. Then,

    remembering Mason was by her side, she figured this was about to turn into a battlefield.

    Chapter 226

    One, the son of Everett with another woman; the other, the daughter Victoria was forced to have ¨C a

    generational feud indeed.

    Tiffanie strode up, her eyes lighting up at the sight of Mason. ¡°Brielle, look at you, keeping a pretty boy

    behind my back and Maxie¡¯s.¡±

    Tiffanie¡¯s bluntment was scandalously shocking. Brielle hurried to exin, but Tiffanie had already

    grabbed Mason¡¯s chin. ¡°Got to admit, the pretty boy is quite a looker, Brielle. You¡¯ve got good taste,

    though not as good as Maxie. Where did you pick him up? Tequ Sunset? I want to snag one too.¡±

    Mason frowned, trying to push Tiffanie¡¯s hand away, but she skillfully slid her palm down, giving his

    waist a squeeze. His face darkened instantly. ¡°Please, show some respect.¡±

    Having spent years abroad and at odds with the Dorsey family, Mason hadn¡¯t kept up with their affairs

    and had no idea Victoria had a daughter. And Tiffanie had no clue Everett had a son out there. The

    only one in the know was Brielle.

    Feeling incredibly awkward, Brielle tried to remove Tiffanie¡¯s hand, but Tiffanie seemed quite taken with

    Mason¡¯s looks, persistently asking where Brielle had found him. Plus, the fact they were seen at a

    Dorsey International hotel made things look all the more suspect.

    Mason looked even more outraged, especially after seeing Tiffanie¡¯s provocative outfit and her expert

    flirtation skills, and finally snapped, ¡°Let go.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Tiffanie¡¯s hand stung, and she quickly blew on it in disbelief, staring at Mason.

    Taking a deep breath, Mason turned to Brielle, ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you home.¡±

    Brielle wished she could vanish on the spot, especially as Tiffanie blurted out even more brazenly.

    ¡°Have you two done the deed yet?¡±

    Chapter 227

 Chapter 227

    Chapter 227

    Brielle was utterly baffled, and Mason even more so. She desperately wanted to spill the beans right

    there, to let each of them know who the other was, but Tiffanie grabbed Mason¡¯s hand with a firm grip,

    pulled a card from her purse, and slid it over.

    ¡°I meant it when I said I liked your look. Why the long face, big guy? Brielle, she¡¯s Maxie¡¯s girl, hands

    off. Stick with me, and you¡¯ll live the sweet life.

    Brielle opened her mouth to speak but ultimately said nothing.

    Instead, Mason seemed galvanized by the card, looking at Brielle, ¡°Ms. Brielle, you should head

    out.¡±

    Brielle wanted to interject, but Tiffanie¡¯s stare was unyielding, clearly signaling that if Brielle didn¡¯t

    leave, they were no longer friends. With a heavy heart and frequent backward nces, Brielle made

    her exit.

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Technically speaking, there was no blood rtion between the two, but their respective identities were

    enough to make each other¡¯s skin crawl.

    Once in her car, Brielle felt the need to inform Tiffanie about the situation and texted her, but Tiffanie

    didn¡¯t respond, and Brielle was left wondering what had be of them.

    Stepping out at the entrance of her neighborhood, Brielle noticed several luxury cars parked, turning

    heads. She took a closer look and was about to enter when a group of bodyguards emerged from a car

    and approached her.

    Before she could react, they forcefully grabbed her shoulders. ¡°Ms. Brielle, we¡¯re with the Rond

    family¡¯s security. We need an exnation for the malicious harm you¡¯ve caused our young miss.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s brow furrowed, feeling as though her shoulders were about to be crushed. She had anticipated

    the Rond family might retaliate, but not this swiftly. And the lead car¡¯s doors remained closed,

    leaving her to wonder who was inside.

    Brielle bit her lip, struggling briefly. ¡°By what right are you detaining me? Do you have any evidence

    that I¡¯ve harmed Tessa?¡±

    The bodyguards ignored her protest, pushing her towards the car, ¡°The Rond family has decreed

    that should anything befall the young miss, Ms. Brielle, you will pay the price.¡±

    Brielle ceased her struggle, surrounded by five fancy rides, each seating four, with a total of twenty

    bodyguards¨Cnot counting the one in the lead car. The Rond family¡¯s show of force was like

    mobilizing to capture a traitor.

    Once in the car, Brielle¡¯s wrists were shackled with cold cuffs. She chuckled. ¡°Since when does the

    Rond family perform police duties?¡±

    The bodyguards felt she was incredibly naive. In their world, powerful families could do as they

    pleased, untouchable by the likes ofmon folk. No one answered her.

    Chapter 227

    Meanwhile, in the front car, Andrew twiddled with his phone. He had stayed put, curious about the

    Rond family¡¯s intentions for Brielle.

    Now that they had taken her, he debated whether to inform Max. Max¡¯s true feelings for Brielle were a

    mystery. If he wasn¡¯t serious, she might not make it out alive from the Rond family¡¯s clutches.

    After some thought, Andrew texted Max, asking for his location.

    Max was in a foul mood that evening, joining Kenzo for a drink at his spacious vi, where Kenzo, an

    artist with a wide social circle, had stashed away an impressive collection of fine liquors.

    Members of other influential families, including Zaiden from the Rond family and Sammuel from the

    Hatfield family, were present.

    In this upper¨Ccrust gathering, Kenzo¡¯s poprity was evident as everyone vied for a hint about his next

    project, knowing his scripts could rake in millions.

    As Kenzo entertained his guests, Max sat in solitude in a corner, nursing a drink, lost in thought until

    Andrew strode in and took a seat across from him.

    They drank silently for a moment before Andrew ventured, ¡°I heard you bought somend from the

    Hatfield family. What¡¯s your n with that lot?¡±

    The property was out in the suburbs, and any construction would typically require a bidding process.

    Max had signed a contract with no bid in sight, as if he had bought it just for kicks.

    ¡°Brielle needs it, and I can provide,¡± was all Max replied.

    Chapter 228

 Chapter 228

    Chapter 228

    Andrew felt a pang in his chest. Aubree was also a woman he kept. Although he was known for his

    generosity, the idea of buying real estate was still a bridge too far.

    ¡°So, I heard from Kenzo that you bought that house?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Max¡¯s reply was nonchnt, but his next words nearly sent Andrew through the

    roof. ¡°Money is just a series of numbers to me. If she likes it, then it¡¯s hers.¡±

    Andrew tightly gripped the wine ss, even considering raising his hand to test Max¡¯s forehead to see

    if he had a fever. Was this guy for real? Did he not realize how absurd he sounded? Was this the same

    Max he knew?

    Andrew felt a tightness in his chest, but the thought of Brielle deliberately provoking Tessa made it hard

    for him to swallow his pride. Even if Max wanted to protect someone, he thought. Brielle should first get

    a taste of hardship with the Ronds. He could always y dumb about itter. So, he took a sip of

    his drink and decided not to tell Max that Brielle had been taken to the Ronds.

    Instead, he sent a message their way: [Mess with her if you must, but leave her breathing.]

    But just because he didn¡¯t spill the beans didn¡¯t mean no one else would.

    Across town in the lobby of the Dorsey Hotel, Mason watched with an icy gaze as Tiffanie approached

    him again and again. ¡°Brielle just made Tessa pass out in anger. The Ronds are going toe after

    her, and since you¡¯re her friend, you should probably do something about it, right?¡±

    Tiffanie¡¯s smile froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. ¡°Tessa?! Oh no.¡±

    She had warned Brielle before: of all thedies in Beaconsfield, Alivia and Tessa were the ones

    to steer clear of.

    Seeing Tiffanie¡¯s reaction, Mason knew she was aware of who Tessa was and the consequences of

    crossing her. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right. Tessa, out cold thanks to Brielle.¡±

    Tiffanie, sweating bullets, seized the opportunity to grab Mason¡¯s wrist, while frantically dialing. Max on

    her phone. Everybody knew Tessa was the Ronds¡® darling. If something truly went wrong, Brielle

    wouldn¡¯t have enough lives to pay the debt. With the Ronds¡® reputation, would they let her off the

    hook?

    Every second waiting for the call to connect was torture for Tiffanie. When there was no answer, she

    quickly called Brielle to make sure she was safe, but Brielle¡¯s phone went straight to voicemail.

    A bad feeling creeping in, Tiffanie dialed Max again, desperation in her taps.

    Max, meanwhile, was still at the Kenzo residence, noticing it was gettingte and thinking about

    heading home. But Kenzo stopped him, suggesting they talk on the terrace.

    Chapter 228

    Max had already ditched his suit jacket, leaving it with his phone on the sofa, and followed Kenzo

    outside.

    Kenzo, sleeve rolled up to reveal a pale, delicate wrist, handed Max a cigarette. They rarely smoked,

    but neither would decline the asional drag.

    Max lit up, his expression indifferent. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡±

    Kenzo, with a wry smile, knew that to Max, his engagement with Alivia was only a business. merger.

    But to Alivia, it was her heart¡¯s desire. She considered Max her possession, and anyone who tried to

    get in the way would pay a price.

    Kenzo¡¯s gaze drifted through the ss doors to where Andrew was tampering with Max¡¯s. phone. He

    considered warning Max but held his tongue.

    Unaware of the unfolding drama, Max took a drag. ¡°If I decide on who I want, I¡¯ll make it clear to

    Alivia.¡±

    ¡°And how will you decide?¡± Kenzo asked. How could a man who didn¡¯t know love understand about this

    intangible concept?

    A flicker of frustration crossed Max¡¯s face. He could negotiate business deals, trade currencies with

    ease, but understanding his feelings for a woman was uncharted territory.

    Inside, Andrew had already answered the phone, Tiffanie¡¯s voiceing through urgently.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    ¡°Maxie, you need to call Brielle. I can¡¯t get through to her, and I heard she¡¯s made Tessa pass out. If it¡¯s

    true, the Ronds won¡¯t let it slide, and that jerk Andrew won¡¯t either. You have to do something¨Cfast.¡±

    Andrew, that jerk? Was that what Tiffanie called him behind his back?

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    Chapter 229

    Andrew¡¯s face darkened in an instant, and he spoke with a chilling tone. ¡°What did you say?¡±

    It was then that Tiffanie realized she wasn¡¯t speaking to Max, but to Andrew. She swiftly thought to

    hang up, but considering Brielle¡¯s situation, she knew she couldn¡¯t afford any dys.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you? If you weren¡¯t backing Tessa, would she be so bold? I¡¯m telling you, if anything happens to

    Brielle, Maxie won¡¯t let you off the hook.¡±

    Andrew felt like his chest was about to explode, his teeth clenched tightly, ¡°Tiffanie, who do you think

    you¡¯re talking to?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of you like everyone else. Pass the phone to Maxie. I need to discuss Brielle¡¯s matter

    with him.¡±

    But Andrew hung up abruptly, leaving her with a headache from the frustration. Tiffanie tried to call

    again only to find she had been blocked. A sharp glint passed through her eyes. This Andrew, he had

    crossed the line.

    She then called Patrick, sinctly conveying the possibility that Brielle was having troubles. with the

    Ronds. Patrick didn¡¯t dare dy and immediately contacted Max. By this time, Max had already

    come back from the balcony, his phone gripped tightly in his hand. And right on cue, Patrick¡¯s call came

    through.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey. Tiffanie reports that Ms. Brielle upset Tessa and Tessa passed out, and now Ms. Brielle¡¯s

    phone is unreachable. I¡¯ve already had someone trace Ms. Brielle¡¯s cell, but the signal is being

    jammed.¡±

    Max¡¯s brow furrowed deeply, and he instantly turned toward Andrew.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Andrew was casually leaning back, legs crossed. Noticing Max¡¯s gaze, he looked up with a smirk.

    ¡°Andrew, is Brielle with the Ronds?¡±

    Andrew raised an eyebrow, leaning back further, ¡°Yes, she must have gone through a round of

    punishment by now.¡±

    The moment his words fell, Max grasped the cor of his shirt. Their distance closed abruptly. and it

    was the first time Andrew had been treated this way by Max, the air between them growing thin.

    The other heirs in the vicinity had never seen the two in such a tense stand¨Coff. Everyone knew how

    close they were, so what was happening now?

    Kenzo quickly stepped forward, cing a hand on Max¡¯s wrist. ¡°Max, let¡¯s talk this out.¡±

    Max¡¯s gaze was

    icy as he released Andrew¡¯s cor and strode out the door. Andrew adjusted his cor and followed.

    Chapter 229

    Kenzo, seeing things escte, quickly tried to ease the tension with a smile to the others. ¡°Everyone,

    please, let¡¯s stay calm. I¡¯ll go up and check on them.¡±

    In the presence of these three big shots, the others didn¡¯t dare to speak up.

    Kenzo saw Max getting into his car, with Andrew following suit in his own vehicle. After a moment¡¯s

    thought, Kenzo tapped on Max¡¯s window, but Max floored the elerator, leaving Kenzo in a cloud of

    exhaust.

    Standing still, Kenzo then turned to knock on Andrew¡¯s window. The window rolled down, revealing

    Andrew¡¯s frosty face, ¡°What?¡± His tone was unfriendly; he was clearly irate.

    Kenzo couldn¡¯t help but chuckle as he opened the door and slid into the passenger seat. ¡°Your guys

    are grown men, still acting like kids throwing tantrums?¡±

    Andrew gripped the steering wheel, unable to hold back hisints. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it him who threw a fit

    first? He himself said he doesn¡¯t like Brielle, so what¡¯s wrong with teaching her a lesson for deliberately

    knocking out Tessa today? Plus, it was out of consideration for him that I asked the Ronds to go

    easy on her; otherwise, knowing their nature, Brielle would already be dead.¡±

    Andrew hit the gas, heading towards the Rond estate. ¡°Kenzo, you know Tessa is my life. Today she

    was rushed to the ER, and I couldn¡¯t even ask the doctors how she¡¯s doing. I¡¯m just so afraid that

    something would happen to him. Her health has always been fragile over the years; sometimes I have

    nightmares that she¡¯s suddenly gone. Brielle knew her condition and still pulled this stunt. What does

    she take the Ronds for, and what does she take me for? Without Max backing her, she wouldn¡¯t

    dare be so reckless.¡±

    The more Andrew talked, the angrier he got, his eyes shing sharply. ¡°She wants to use Max to break

    into our circle, but in the end, she¡¯s just a clown.¡±

    Chapter 230

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    Kenzo sat idly by, watching as a frosty expression took hold of Andrew¡¯s face, a fleeting glimmer of

    something indefinable darting through his eyes.

    Nobody could ever read Kenzo; of all his friends, he was the most even¨Ctempered but also the most

    inscrutable. Max was as cold as ice, Andrew as fiery as a zing hearth, and Kenzo? He was the

    deep, unfathomable ocean.

    The shallows were gentle, with hints of sun¨Ckissed beaches and carefree days, while the depths were

    dark and imprable, secrets lurking in the abyss.

    Their other friend, he was the de¨Csharp and sheathed, ready to cut deep at a moment¡¯s notice. s,

    he was still enlisted, his return eagerly awaited.

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Kenzo tilted his head down, slowly straightening the cuffs of his sleeves with deliberate nonchnce.

    ¡°You really don¡¯t like Brielle?¡± Kenzo inquired, the words slipping out smooth as

    silk.

    Andrew scoffed at the question. ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t. Women like her, with her background, they only

    latch onto a guy like Max with one thing in mind. Ever heard of ¡®targeted hunting¡°? They make an effort

    to mimic what he likes, deceive him, win his heart, and once they¡¯ve got what they want, poof¨Cthey

    vanish without a trace. Today¡¯s women are too clever by half.¡±

    In Andrew¡¯s eyes, Brielle was worthless.

    The distance from the Rond estate was a good hour¡¯s drive, and with the present congestion, he

    didn¡¯t believe Max could make it in under two hours. In fact, he quite relished the thought that the

    Rond n might have already done away with Brielle. He regretted the orders he had given them

    because that meant Brielle was likely still breathing.

    The Rond family had no intention of sparing Brielle¡¯s life. Once Tessa woke up, they would have her

    come and dole out the punishment herself, y with her prey until she was satiated. As for Brielle, she

    was nothing more than a fake heiress, utterly insignificant.

    Sophia, who knew the dynamics between Brielle and Max all too well wasn¡¯t going to be the one to

    expose this charade. After all, if she did, the Ronds would have to tread carefully around Max, not

    daring toy a finger on Brielle. This time Sophia yed it smart, realizing that using others as pawns

    was the most advantageous strategy¨Ca lesson learned from William, whose directives were gospel to

    her.

    Sophia watched as Brielle was tied to a chair, surrounded by several bodyguards, all awaiting Tessa¡¯s

    awakening. Through the throng, Sophia¡¯s gaze met Brielle¡¯s, if only for a moment.

    Brielle thought Sophia would dismiss the guards and then torment her personally. But no such luck.

    Sophia just shed her a strange, unsettling smile before walking away.

    There¡¯s a saying: it¡¯s the silent dogs that bite the hardest.

    After leaving the scene, Sophia headed to a hospital a few hundred meters from the Rond

    14:23 m

    Chapter 230

    estate. Tessa had been admitted that very night, and for the sake of a convincing performance. she

    instructed the doctors to y along once she was in the emergency room. Her health wasn¡¯t actually in

    jeopardy: she couldn¡¯t have the doctors actually use their tools on her. So, under her menacing orders,

    the doctors idled away in the emergency room, doing nothing. After an hour, Tessa was finally wheeled

    out, looking pale and weak, as if she¡¯d been through an ordeal.

    The doctors looked miserable. It was their first time being coerced into such a farce, all while real

    patients waited for treatment. Their faces bore resentment, but out of fear of Tessa¡¯s threats, they

    remained silent.

    Once in the hospital room, Tessa slowly opened her eyes and coughed weakly. ¡°You do know what to

    say if anyone asks, right?¡± Her frailty wasn¡¯t entirely feigned, every smile and frown seemed to drain

    her.

    ¡°Yes, Ms. Tessa,¡± they replied.

    Thirsty, Tessa turned towards the water dispenser. ¡°Would you mind getting me a ss of water?¡±

    Normally, the attending physician wouldn¡¯t cater to such requests¨Cthat was the nurses¡® job. But Tessa¡¯s

    commanding attitude was so natural, even demanding that the attending doctor wait here until the

    Rond family arrived.

    ¡°Ms. Tessa, I have other patients needing surgery,¡± the doctor protested.

    Tessa frowned. ¡°Are they more important than me? When the Ronds arrive, you¡¯ll need to exin

    my condition, won¡¯t you?¡±

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    Chapter 231

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    The doctor said nothing, feelingpelled to stay put.

    Guards always kept vigil in the hallway, and the Rond family arrived swiftly, with Tessa¡¯s dad,

    Austin, being the first to show.

    Austin had secured his standing in the Rond family thanks to his daughter, Tessa. Hearing of her

    plight, he had rushed over from out of town. ¡°How are you feeling now, darling?¡± Austin inquired as he

    approached Tessa¡¯s bedside.

    Tessa coughed a few times, gesturing for the doctor to update her father. Reluctantly, the doctor

    complied. ¡°Tessa¡¯s condition is quite serious. Had we not acted quickly, I¡¯m afraid¡­ Moving forward,

    she should avoid crowded ces.¡±

    Austin¡¯s fists clenched in anger. ¡°I heard it was Spencer¡¯s ex¨Cfianc¨¦e who caused this mess?¡±

    Tessa had always yed it smart around her family, never stirring trouble unless someone else

    foolishly provoked her.

    Austin had barely finished speaking when Sophia burst into the room. ¡°It was indeed Brielle. I was

    scared to death, Tessa.¡±

    Austin rose to his feet, his eyes glinting coldly. ¡°Where is that Brielle now?¡±

    Sophia took Tessa¡¯s hand, her concern evident. ¡°The Ronds have taken her in custody. They¡¯re

    waiting for you to recover so you can confront her personally.¡±

    Another coughing fit seized Tessa, her cheeks turning a bright red. ¡°Let the bodyguards handle. her for

    now.

    A wry

    smile crossed Sophia¡¯s face as she sighed. ¡°Tessa, even now, Brielle is smearing your name, iming

    she¡¯s seen you checking into hotels with men more than once. If that kind of talk reaches Andrew, what

    will he think?¡±

    Panic gripped Tessa, her fury at Brielle reaching new heights. Austin, too, was livid. Everyone knew

    Tessa had lived a sheltered life for years. Where would she find the time for such escapades? Brielle

    was tantly lying.

    Worried about his daughter¡¯s well¨Cbeing. Austin quickly reassured her. ¡°Darling, I¡¯ll get you out of here

    to recuperate at home. As for Brielle, leave her to me. She won¡¯t leave the Rondpound alive.¡±

    Tessa shared the sentiment. Brielle had crossed a line and would pay the price. ¡°Dad, please make the

    arrangements. I can¡¯t stand the smell of disinfectant here.¡±

    Austin hastened to consult the doctor about a possible discharge. The doctor internally rolled his eyes.

    Tessa was fine to leave.

    Eventually, Tessa was taken back to her room within the Rond family estate. The staff was on edge,

    scrutinizing every drop of water she drank, fearing another incident.

    1/2

    142

    Chapter 231

    Resting in her bed, Tessa inquired about Brielle¡¯s situation, Sophia handed her a warm cup of water.

    ¡°She¡¯s still tied up downstairs. What do you n to do with her? Brielle is quite attractive, and we have

    plenty of bodyguards. Maybe we could offer them a little ¡®bonus and let them have their way with her.¡±

    na

    Since Sophia¡¯s ordeal at William¡¯s ce, she¡¯d wanted Brielle to experience the same hell. Knowing

    Tessa¡¯s true nature, Sophia suggested this with confidence.

    Tessa hesitated, worried about Andrew¡¯s opinion of her, but Sophia deftly manipted Tessa¡¯s

    emotions. ¡°You know, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been hesitant to mention. I was at the Haywood family¡¯s

    party, where I stirred up some trouble because I learned something ¨C Andrew slept with Aubree. Lillian

    told me herself. That night, I wanted to stand up for you¡­¡±

    Tessa had heard this before but didn¡¯t believe it. Andrew had always treated her well, and at the Tequ

    Sunset party, he had sent Aubree off with Mr. Lynch himself. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Lillian must be lying. If

    Andrew cared for Aubree, he wouldn¡¯t have let her entertain other men. Don¡¯t talk like this again.¡±

    Tessa¡¯s tone was firm, but inside, a seed of doubt had been sown. The saying goes, ¡°There¡¯s no

    smoke without fire.¡±

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    Chapter 232

    The words stung like a p to the face. Was everyone in on it? Was she the only one left in the dark>

    ¡°Tessa, I just said they slept together, not that Andrew cares about Aubree. It was just a fling.¡±

    Tessa¡¯s chest heaved violently, and then she heard Sophia continue to stir the pot. ¡°Brielle and Aubree

    are thick as thieves, and let¡¯s just say Brielle¡¯s personal life is a bit of a train wreck. Aubree¡¯s not far

    behind, which is probably why she made a move on Andrew. It¡¯s the early bird that catches the worm.¡±

    ¡°Enough!¡± Tessa¡¯s voice cracked as she threw a pillow across the room, her face flushed with rage.

    ¡°Send those bodyguards after Brielle! I want her ruined! And then let Aubree know, bait her intoing

    to the rescue. If she does, the bodyguards get a bonus. I¡¯ll personally let Andrew know. I want to see

    whose side he takes those women, or mine.¡±

    Sophia barely contained her glee, nodding submissively. Once she left Tessa¡¯s room, she made her

    way to where Brielle was being held.

    Brielle¡¯s wrists were chafed red from the iron cuffs suspending her hands above her head. Seeing

    Sophia enter, Brielle smirked, ¡°What, couldn¡¯t resisting to lecture me yourself?¡±

    Sophia¡¯s lips curled into a sneer. ¡°It¡¯s not me you need to worry about. Tessa wants to take you down.

    See those bodyguards outside? She¡¯s promised them a feast for dealing with you ¨C wants them to y

    you to death. I¡¯m just here to give you a heads up. If you manage toe out from under them alive,

    make sure you know who to me.¡±

    A shiver ran down Brielle¡¯s spine, but she faced Sophia calmly, ¡°I¡¯m curious about what happened to

    you after your kidnapping ordeal.¡±

    Sophia¡¯s face contorted with rage and she pped Brielle across the face. The sound echoed in the

    room as Brielle¡¯s head snapped to the side, a metallic taste filling her mouth.

    Licking the blood from her lips, she chuckled, ¡°Must have been simr to what I¡¯m about to face. Let me

    guess, the Dorsey¡¯s dirty work, William?¡±

    Sophia¡¯s eyes flickered with fear.

    Despite her hands being bound, Brielle¡¯s words were sharp des. ¡°William¡¯s people had their ways

    with you, and you¡¯re too cowardly to retaliate, so you pin it all on me. Pathetic.¡±

    ¡°Shut up! Shut up!¡± Sophia grabbed a fistful of Brielle¡¯s hair, pausing only when Brielle¡¯s next words

    froze her in ce. ¡°Why would William abduct you?¡±

    Brielle had bluffed about William to provoke a reaction, but Sophia¡¯s outburst confirmed her suspicions.

    At that time, William must have known about her and Max, so the subsequent events made sense. It

    was only now that Brielle pieced it together.

    Why would William abduct Sophia unless she had something he wanted? And what did William desire

    most? It¡¯s leverage over Max.

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    Chapter 232

    Max had been untouchable within the pyramid of power, with their rtionship being his only

    weakness.

    Did Sophia possess evidence of her affair with Max? In other words, Sophia knew about her and Max.

    Brielle¡¯s smile was blindingly sarcastic, and Sophia couldn¡¯t stand it any longer. She wanted to rip out

    Brielle¡¯s hair in her fury. ¡°You bitch! Didn¡¯t I tell you to shut up?¡±

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Pain seemed irrelevant to Brielle. Her physical difort was nothingpared to the torment her

    words inflicted on Sophia, who was shaking as if her bones were being crushed.

    Brielle stared defiantly into Sophia¡¯s eyes. ¡°You know about Max and me. If I survive this, you¡¯ll be my

    first target. So, Sophia, you better think carefully about how you can save me from this mess.¡±

    Brielle spoke coolly, her lips a tight line. ¡°If I don¡¯t suffer here, you won¡¯t sufferter. Or would you rather

    trade your life for my disgrace? Sophia, you¡¯ve lived in Tessa¡¯s shadow all your life. Are you really

    content being herpdog? William destroyed you and turned you into his puppet. Don¡¯t you want to

    fight back? I can help you.¡±

 Chatper 233

    Chapter 233

    The words were like a siren¡¯s song, her face an icy mask.

    Sophia let go of Brielle¡¯s hand, her fingertips trembling uncontrobly. ¡°How could William ever be

    wrong? His treatment of me is justified. All he needs is for me to take you down. As long as | take you

    down¡­¡±

    ¡°And after you¡¯ve dealt with me, what then? What¡¯s your prize, Sophia? For heaven¡¯s sake, you¡¯re a

    Rond, aren¡¯t you? Has your resolve really crumbled that easily? After just a couple of days of his

    mind games, have you caught a case of Stockholm Syndrome? Wake up, girl. You¡¯re just refusing to

    face the truth.¡±

    Those words struck Sophia like a sledgehammer, mercilessly crushing her. Sophia¡¯s pupils dted

    slowly, her body felt drained of strength, and she wanted nothing more than to copse

    on the floor.

    Brielle¡¯s words were as sharp as a knife, cutting deep without mercy. ¡°I¡¯ve heard a story before.¡± Brielle

    continued, her voice cold. ¡°About a woman who was abused as a little girl. She lied to herself, iming

    she liked it, and ended up selling her body. But at twenty¨Cfive, she killed herself. She couldn¡¯t keep up

    the lie anymore.¡±

    Sophia clung to a nearby chair, her body trembling as she slid down to the floor. Dammit, Brielle, why

    did she have to be so cruel with her words?

    But Sophia had to admit, Brielle was right. She was lying to herself. She couldn¡¯t confront William, so

    she hypnotized herself into believing that all her troubles were because of Brielle. If she could just get

    revenge on Brielle, everything would be okay.

    Brielle had ripped open the darkest secret of her soul, exposing it to the light. Sophia wanted tough,

    and she did, augh tinged with madness.

    Brielle watched her without a word, slowly closing her eyes. Truth be told, she had no idea if Sophia

    would actually help her. She was just buying time.

    Wasn¡¯t Mason in touch with Tiffanie? Knowing she had offended the Ronds, he would surely find a

    way to help, wouldn¡¯t he? Although Mason seemed quite cunning at the party, Brielle had a feeling he

    wouldn¡¯t abandon her.

    And then there was Andrew. He must know what the Ronds were up to, given his ties to them. If

    Andrew knew, it was only a matter of time before Max would find out.

    ¡°Sophia, have you made up your mind?¡± Brielle asked, her voice steady.

    A look of manic hatred shed in Sophia¡¯s eyes, but it quickly settled into a cold calm. ¡°Brielle. what do

    you think you are to Max? Did he ever exin his dealings with the Barnes family to you? Are you so

    sure that after being humiliated by the bodyguards, Max will still take your back? That he¡¯ll stand up for

    you, a woman scorned, against his brother¡¯s girl and offend the Ronds? You really think too highly

    of yourself.¡±

    Chapter 233

    Sophia was no longer the same person she used to be. Regardless of whom she decided to retaliate

    against, the experiences she had gone through were real. In her eyes, they all deserved death¨CWilliam

    and Brielle alike. They should all go straight to hell.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    The chance to push Brielle into the abyss was right in front of her, and she wasn¡¯t about to

    miss it.

    A sinister smile curled her lips. ¡°Think you can talk me into helping you with your clever words? Dream

    on. You¡¯ll get a taste of what those men are like.¡±

    With those words, Sophia walked out the door, leaving Brielle to the hungry gazes of the several

    bodyguards stationed outside. It was as if their eyes were hands, stripping her bare.

    Brielle furrowed her brows, sweat slowly tracing its way down her forehead. It wasn¡¯t fear that gripped

    her. If she truly faced what was toe, she wouldn¡¯t give up on herself like Sophia had. She would

    make the Ronds pay.

    For now, she was relieved. The bodyguards hadn¡¯te barging in yet.

 Chatper 234

    Chapter 234

    She nced at the handcuffs that bound her wrists and struggled fiercely for a moment. The skin

    beneath the culls was no longer merely reddened; now it was streaked with blood, yet she seemed

    impervious to the pain.

    Outside the door, the murmurs of the bodyguards continued, while Brielle¡¯s sweat fell in heavy droplets

    to the floor. Suspended like this, her body was in extreme difort, her mind taut. with tension. If she

    screamed and shouted now, it would only y into their hands.

    She bit her lip, keeping silent, while internally she counted the minutes.

    Ten minutester, someone pushed the door open¨Cit was Sophia. A stark contrast to her earlier

    hysteria, Sophia had regained herposure, like a pot of boiling water pushed to its brink.

    Brielle looked up, met her gaze, and cracked a smile. ¡°I knew you¡¯de back.¡±

    Sophia crossed her arms over her chest, the resentment in her eyes as evident as ever, but she knew

    her emotions couldn¡¯t touch Brielle in the slightest.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Brielle was a formidable woman. That was Sophia¡¯s current conclusion.

    ¡°Brielle, what did you think about what I said earlier?¡±

    Brielle blinked away the sting in her eyes, ignoring the other aches in her body. ¡°I didn¡¯t think much of it,

    but I know that if you could bite your tongue with Tessa for so long, you¡¯re not a pushover. You value

    your life, so now that you know I¡¯ll go after you once I¡¯m out, you wouldn¡¯t just sit by and watch. Either

    you leave me here forever, or you help me, right?¡±

    Sophia realized she had underestimated Brielle. With such a sharp mind, no wonder she topped the

    exams and excelled at Beaconsfield College.

    Sophia was a pragmatic person. Just as she realized she couldn¡¯tpete with Tessa, she became

    Tessa¡¯s little henchman, running errands for her. Now that she found herself unable to contend with

    Brielle, she naturally wouldn¡¯t go looking for trouble.

    ¡°Sophia, I know you¡¯d love to see me dead, but William wille after you because you¡¯re weak. Tessa

    bosses you around for the same reason. Your weakness led to your tragedy, not my existence. Unlike

    you, if those guards left me with just a breath left in me, I¡¯d use thatst breath to get back at those who

    wronged me, not hypnotize myself into shifting the me.¡±

    Sophia sneered, ¡°You¡¯re nothing without Max.¡±

    Brielle lowered her head and after a long pause, her smile slowly returned. ¡°You asked me what I think

    I am to Max. I know I¡¯m nothing, but given his nature, he wouldn¡¯t let me be humiliated

    by the Rond family. He¡¯lle for me; it¡¯s just a matter of sooner orter.¡±

    H

    Sophia frowned, then nodded in understanding. ¡°You said you¡¯d help me. How?¡±

    ¡°The Rond family will never value a side branch like you. Even if Tessa falls, they won¡¯t care.

    Chapter 234

    about you. Your best bet is to strike out on your own. I¡¯vee across apany with great potential

    and I¡¯d like to invite you to be a partner. Interested?¡±

    Money was never an issue for Beaconsfield¡¯s rich kids. It was everything else that was at luxury. Brielle

    was smart. She quickly realized that if she couldn¡¯t invest in Mason¡¯spany under the name of

    Dorsey International, why not join as a partner?

    Book could write a business legend in a short time; Mason¡¯spany could be the next unicorn she¡¯d

    personally endorsed.

    Sophia stood still, as if a revtion had struck her. But she had her doubts. ¡°What if Max abandons you

    one day? What then?¡±

    Sophia was different from the other women; she had never fallen for anyone. She looked down on

    those Beaconsfield heirs. She was full of ambition and adept at masquerades.

    Brielle chose her, not for anything else but because Sophia had survived the cunning William. Even if

    she yed the part of a naive heiress, she knew the score.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care if he abandons me. Max protects me now, andter, I¡¯ll protect myself. I¡¯ve never imagined

    a future with him.¡±

    Her lucidity dispelled thest of Sophia¡¯s hesitations. She didn¡¯t stop loathing Brielle. She hated. her

    still, but she realized that since she couldn¡¯t change the sordid past, she might as well fight for a

    hopeful future.

    ¡°I just told the guards at the door that Tessa has new instructions and to wait. But I can¡¯t be sure Tessa

    won¡¯te to torment you herself. You better pray Max gets here before that happens.¡±

 Chapter 235

    Chapter235

    Sophiafishedoutakeyfromherpocket,intendingtoreleaseBrielle,butBriellerefused.¡°WhenTessesoverhere,it¡¯snotgoingto

    lookgoodifsheseesmesittingherealfy.¡±

    Sophiadidn¡¯treply,hersilencethickassheunlockedthehandcuffs,Brielleraisedaneyebrowbutdidn¡¯tobject.AsBriellewasgentlylet down,thenumbnessandpanicofsuspensionslowlysubsided,andshesataside,gaspingforair.Thebloodfromherwristsdrippeddownherfingertipsontothefloor,andonlythendidthepainregister.

    Aknockcamefromthedoor,followedbythebodyguard¡¯svoice.¡°MissSophia,couldyoustepout?MissTessa¡¯sgettingimpatient.¡±It seemedTessawasitchingforthebodyguardstotakeaction,unabletowaitanothersecond.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Sophia¡¯sbrowfurrowed,ncingatBriellebeforesteppingtothedoorandcracking itopen.

    Onceoutside,sheclosedthedoorbehindher.¡°WhatdoesTessawantyoutodo?¡±

    Thebodyguards¡®facesimmediatelytookonalecherouslook,withprofessionalvideocamerasinhand.SophiainstantlyknewTessa intendedtocapturethescenepersonally,toshowtoallofBeaconsfield.Tessaneversparedthosewhocrossedher.

    ¡°MissSophia,thenextpartmightbeabitmuch.Maybeyoushouldleaveanebackafterwe¡¯vefinishedourtask?¡±Everyoneknew SophiawasongoodtermswithTessa,sotheydarednotoffendher.

    Sophiabitherlip,knowingshecouldstallformaybeanotherhalfhour.IfMaxdidn¡¯tshowup,Briellehadnochanceofescapingthenight¡¯s fate.Sheturnedback,tellingthebodyguards,¡°Justwait.I¡¯vegotafewwordsforBrielle.¡±

    Thebodyguardsnodded,obedienttohemand.

    Sophiare¨CenteredtheroomtofindBriellewithhereyesclosed,restinginthechair,andshecouldn¡¯thelpbutsnort. ¡°You¡¯reprettycalm.Icanonlydyfor solong.Ifnoonesforyou,youknowwhat¡¯ing.¡±

    Despitethefreshhandprintsonhercheeks,Brielle¡¯sdemeanorremainedunspoiled.Shedidn¡¯tevenopenhereyes,regtingher breathing.

    Shewasn¡¯trushed,butSophiawas.¡°Iswhatyousaidearlierjustaploy?Areyouusingmetobuytime?Ifhedoesn¡¯etonight,it¡¯snotjustyouwho¡¯sintrouble.Tessawillhavemyheadtoo.You¡¯veseenwhatshecando,right?¡±

    Brielle¡¯seyesslowlyopened,hertonenonchnt.¡°He¡¯le.¡±

    SeeingBriellesposed,Sophiacalmeddowntoo.

    Timetickedaway,andthebodyguardsknockedagain.Thesecond timetherewasaknock,SophiaheardTessa¡¯svoice.

    Brielleraisedaneyebrow,¡°She¡¯eherself?¡±

    Sophiasneered,¡°She wasn¡¯tactuallyunconscious.Whycouldn¡¯tsheinperson?Imightbedoomedbecauseofyouthistime.¡±

    Justasshefinishedspeaking,Briellecopsedontothefloor.¡°Justsayyouroughedmeup.Aslongasit¡¯shurtingme.

    Tessawillbepleased.

    Thedoorburstopenfromtheoutside.

    Tessaentered,herfacepale,spottingBrielleonthegroundandSophiaringfuriously.She chuckled,¡°Oh,Sophia,whysoimpatient?¡±

    Sophiahadtoyalong,staringdaggersatBrielle.¡°Tessa,youknowhowmuchIdespiseher.¡±Tessasoothinglygraspedherhand, givingitapat.¡°There,there,let¡¯snotdy.Everyone¡¯seageroutside.Thelittlefleshwoundyou¡¯vegivenherwillonlyhurtforafewdays, butwhat¡¯ingnextwilstalifetime.¡±

 Chapter 236

    Chapter 236

    Ever since theirst indirect confrontation, Brielle had pegged Tessa as the epitome of selfishness. Now, her suspicions had solidified into certainty: Tessa was downright malicious at heart. Yet, for some unfathomable reason, Tessa had a flock of admirers singing her praises. Brielle wanted to buy some time, and she knew just how to needle Tessa into taking matters into her own hands. Tilting her head back with a challenging re, Brielle taunted. ¡°Ms. Tessa, do you reckon Andrew would still treat you like a delicate, harmless bunny if he knew about your little schemes?¡±

    Her words were venomous, each sentence striking Tessa¡¯s sore spots with precision. As expected, Tessa¡¯splexion shifted to a shade of fury, her foot crashing down on Brielle¡¯s palm with a grinding pressure.

    Sweat trickled down Brielle¡¯s forehead inrge drops, but she didn¡¯t utter a sound, continuing to provoke. ¡°I heard you bullied the ss rep back in high school to the point of no return. Does Andrew know about that little episode?¡±

    Tessa felt a vein throb on her forehead, her heart pounding with anger. Drawing in deep breaths, she noted that even half¨Csyed on the ground, disheveled as she was, Brielle¡¯s demeanor didn¡¯t waver. Her pride, even if burnt to ashes, would leave embers still glowing.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Impressive. Tessa thought bitterly. She pped her hands, signaling the guards looming outside to step in. ¡°Brielle, I¡¯m actually curious to see how long you can keep up this toughact.¡±

    Silence was Brielle¡¯s response. She had bought as much time as she could. If Max didn¡¯t arrive soon, then perhaps this was a twist of fate she couldn¡¯t avoid.

    ¡°Let¡¯s put some muscle into it, finish her off, and make sure you get it all on video.¡± Tessa instructed coldly, rubbing her aching chest before turning to Sophia.

    ¡°Sophia, let¡¯s go. There¡¯s no need to witness this.¡±

    Sophia cast a pitying nce at Brielle but remained silent.

    Just as the gua were about to l their hands on Brielle¡¯s neck; there was a knock at the door. It was Austin. ¡°Tessa, a member of the Rond family has arrived. You should step out. for a moment.¡±

    Tessa was taken aback. Who could possibly show up at such a critical moment? Could it be Andrew? Was heing to Brielle¡¯s aid?

    The mere thought made her legs wobble, nearly causing her to faint then and there. Thankfully, Sophia was there to catch her.

    At the door, Austin was growing anxious. He could see a group of people approaching and knocked again, more urgently this time. ¡°Tessa, Max has unexpectedly shown up at the

    Rond estate, iming he¡¯s here for Brielle. You should go lie down. Let<strong>me</strong>handle this.¡±

    Max?

    At the mention of his name, Brielle exhaled a sigh of relief, her eyes welling with tears. It was a close call.

    Tessa, on the other hand, froze, thinking she was hallucinating. Even if the Dorsey family was to send someone, it should have been Brielle¡¯s former fianc¨¦. Why would it be Max?

    Austin, with a face flushed from urgency, opened the door. ¡°Tessa, you should rest. We¡¯llhandle this.¡±

    Knowing Max was not someone to trifle with, Tessa allowed Sophia to help her back to her room via a side path.

    As soon as Tessa left, Max arrived.

    Austin wiped the sweat from his brow. ¡°Max, Brielle¡¯s inside. As you know, she¡¯s stirred up quite a mess, and Tessa¡¯s still bedridden from the shock.¡±

    Max¡¯s expression was stern, with Kenzo at his side, while Andrew sat with the Rond family in the main hall.

    Without a word from Max, Kenzo, trying to lighten the mood, offered a smile. ¡°Mr. Austin, why don¡¯t you join Andrew? We¡¯ll take Brielle with us. She¡¯s a friend of mine. I can¡¯t just stand by.¡±

    The implication was clear: it was Kenzo who had asked for Max¡¯s intervention. The events of the night would reflect poorly on both Max and Brielle if word got out. Rushing to the Rond estate in the dead of night was not something that could easily be concealed. The more uproar it caused, the sooner Brielle would catch the unwanted attention of Michael and the other women who had their eyes on Max. Even if Max wanted to protect her, there was always the chance of an oversight.

    Austin blinked, realization dawning on him. It wasn¡¯t Max who hade for Brielle, but Kenzo. He breathed a sigh of relief; Kenzo was more approachable than Max.

 Chatper 237

    Chapter 237

    Max ignored their mor and barged through the door.

    The bodyguards, knowing a member of the Rond family was present, stood frozen, not daring to

    make a move. Max was no fool. One look at the scene before him, and he knew the Ronds were up

    to something.

    ¡°Scram.¡±

    The bodyguards stumbled and tumbled their way out, nearly tripping over themselves in haste.

    Brielle leaned against a chair, sitting on the floor, her wrist wound ringly exposed amidst the

    scattered droplets of blood.

    Max felt a jolt tighten in his chest, his breath caught as if he¡¯d hit a mental reef. He rushed to her,

    cradling her face with trembling hands. Her cheeks were smeared with the prints of ps, swollen, but

    her eyes shone like marbles dipped in water.

    A sharp hiss of pain escaped Brielle as her brows furrowed together. Max quickly eased his grip,

    scanning her for other injuries.

    Words failed him, his throat as if clogged with an invisible force. This panic was more terrifying than

    anything he had faced in over two decades.

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Seeing the gravity on his face, Brielle felt an inexplicable sense of relief. She was d he hade.

    Her arms wrapped around his neck as she whispered, ¡°I¡¯m so tired. Let me rest a bit.¡±

    Max¡¯s nose tingled with the onset of emotion as he scooped her into his arms and strode out.

    Outside, Austin was still in a verbal tussle with Kenzo. He was shocked to see Max emerge. cradling a

    woman in his arms, treating her with such delicate care. Everyone in Beaconsfield knew Max steered

    clear of romantic entanglements, but here he was, holding a woman with

    such gentleness.

    Kenzo, seeing Max¡¯s protective stance, quickly intervened. ¡°Brielle¡¯s just worn out, Max. Take her away,

    I¡¯ll follow shortly.¡±

    His words dis some of Austin¡¯s doubts, but Austin was well aware that Brielle held

    significant sway with both Kenzo and Max.

    As Max carried Brielle away, Kenzo turned to Austin with a smile. ¡°Mr. Austin, let¡¯s keep tonight¡¯s

    events under wraps to avoid any unnecessary drama, shall we?¡±

    Austin, eager for discretion, nodded in agreement.

    Max had arrived swiftly and left just as quickly, leaving Kenzo and Andrew to deal with the aftermath.

    Andrew¡¯s mood was sour as he checked on Tessa in her room, finding her still unconscious. His

    resentment towards Brielle grew, especially knowing his friend sided with her, even at the

    cost of their rtionship

    Frustration bubbled within Andrew as he vented to Kenzo. ¡°He¡¯s thrown all his principles out the

    window for Sheller

    Kenzo rubbed his temples. ¡°Can¡¯t you two sit down and talk this out? The chat¡¯s buzzing with rumors

    about your fallout.¡±

    ¡°For Tessard do anything. She¡¯s my future wife. But what is Brielle to Max? He¡¯s supposed to mary

    Alivia, is be really turning his back on me for a fleeting fling?¡±

    Andrea, always dramatic, felt his chest might burst. He scoffed. ¡°He only cares now because be can¡¯t

    figure out his own feelings. Haven¡¯t you heard? essibility is key to addiction. There are more people

    hooked on cigarettes and alcohol than drugs because they¡¯re easier to get. Brielle is like those¨Ctoo

    easily obtained, and men never value whates without effort.¡±

    It was a w in men¡¯s nature.

    ¡°Brielle will leam her lesson soon enough.¡±

    Kenzo felt a headacheing on. ¡°This is not the time for that. How do you n to exin this to the

    Rond family?¡±

    The Ronds were still strategizing outside. How could a pawn like Brielle entangle both Kenco and

    Max? The Rond family was baffled, and so was Tessa.

    Fuming, she was about to trash her room but held back, knowing Andrew was still around. Tessa

    turned to Sophia. ¡°Did you get the scoop? Who¡¯s close to Brielle, Max or Kenzo?¡±

    Sochia had no regrets about teaming up with Brielle and naturally sought to cover for her. ¡°I think it¡¯s

    Kenzo. Remember, I caught them dining together.¡±

    Tessa frowned. Whether Kenzo or Max they should side with Andrew, and by extension, with her. Yet

    here they were, whisking Brielle away, a clear slight to both of them.

    ¡°hia, I need to make another trip to the hospital tonight. Get my father here to arrange things. I¡¯ll

    fight for another hour. I refuse to be bullied without Andrew stepping in.

    Sophia¡¯s eyes shed with scorn, but she knew this was Tessa¡¯s way. ¡°Alright, Tessa, I¡¯ll take

    care of it.¡±

 Chatper 238

    Chapter 238

    Brielle was cradled in Max¡¯s arms as they exited the Rond estate, her head buried in his chest,

    drawing in a bit of warmth. The night breeze carried a chill, but the sanctuary of his embrace was like a

    shelter from the storm.

    Love could lead one astray, and she feared the fall. Just this once, she¡¯d indulge herself.

    Silently, she resolved to rely on him, if only for a moment.

    Max gently ced her in the passenger seat and leaned over to buckle her seatbelt. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the

    hospital.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Aside from a few ps to the face, I¡¯m fine.¡±

    There was a tense shadow in Max¡¯s eyes, but his fingers tenderly grazed her cheek. ¡°Who did this?¡±

    It was Sophia who had struck her, but Brielle was a woman of her word. Since Sophia had chosen her

    as a partner, she couldn¡¯t very well turn around and retaliate without mercy. Partnerships were built on

    trust.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just say I pped myself.¡±

    Exhausted, she closed her eyes, feeling the sting on her wrist.

    She expected Max to start the car immediately, but in her daze, she heard him call out earnestly,

    ¡°Brielle.¡±

    Blearily opening her eyes, she realized they were already at the hospital. Two doctors tended to her

    wrist, and she was on the verge of passing out from a raging fever.

    Lips parched, a cup of lukewarm water was brought to her. She licked her dry lips, intending to drink,

    but the fever had sapped all her strength. Something soft touched her lips, and then the water trickled

    into her mouth.

    The man¡¯s face was close, and Brielle felt her cheeks grow even hotter, closing her eyes again to

    escape from this intimacy.

    After Max helped her drink, he watched the doctors finish bandaging her up and insert an IV into the

    back of her hand. Once done, he stepped back, orderly and calm.

    Max sat by the bedside, wiping her sweat away with a tissue. Brielle¡¯s skin was so delicate, she looked

    like a porcin doll broken and discarded. Max still couldn¡¯t understand the palpitations he felt upon

    seeing her, a sensation alien to him, leaving him adrift in confusion.

    Dawn brought the first light, and he had not slept all night when his phone rang. Rubbing his aching

    temples, he saw the call was from overseas, from Alivia. His brow furrowed.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    After answering, he ced the phone aside, moistening Brielle¡¯s lips with a cotton swab as he inquired

    about the situation on the other end.

    Chapter 238

    ¡°Max, your mother¡¯s condition has worsened. She copsedst night and has been calling out for you.

    I wanted to wait until after the emergency treatment to call, but the doctors suggested I inform the

    family sooner. Do you want toe over?¡±

    Max felt a jolt in his heart and stood up abruptly, but leaving Brielle alone was not an option, so he

    called Andrew.

    Andrew had spent the night at the Rond estate and was surprised to receive Max¡¯s call. As soon as

    he picked up, Max asked, ¡°What¡¯s Aubree¡¯s number?¡±

    Annoyed, Andrew hung up. Within three seconds, he begrudgingly sent the number.

    Max called Aubree, asking her to take care of Brielle for a while. After arranging everything, he brushed

    back Brielle¡¯s hair and kissed her forehead before asking Patrick to book a flight.

    overseas.

    No sooner had Max left than Brielle slowly opened her eyes, gazing nkly at the white ceiling. She

    had overheard the call from Alivia.

    The ties between Alivia and Max were too deep to sever with a single cut. And perhaps Max had never

    intended to cut them at all.

    Brielle sighed, and fatigue soon pulled her back into a deep sleep.

    Meanwhile, Alivia, learning that Max would soon leave the country, called Noah. ¡°Noah, remember

    what you promised me? Take down Brielle within a week

    Noah¡¯s voice crackled with eagerness as he nodded, ¡°I¡¯m on it. I¡¯ve got the news already. Brielle¡¯s, in

    the hospital as we speak, vulnerable.¡±

    Alivia smiled, ¡°Good. I¡¯m looking forward to seeing what you can do.¡±

 Chatper 239

    Chapter 239

    Noah was hell¨Cbent on winning Alivia¡¯s favor, ready to pull out all the stops toplete his mission.

    Alivia was the epitome of perfection in his eyes¨Cif only she could reciprocate his

    feelings.

    He hung up the phone, leaped out of bed, and donned a brand¨Cnew suit. Clutching a bouquet of roses,

    he made a beeline for the hospital.

    Rumors had been swirling sincest night that Brielle had been hospitalized. People imed to have

    spotted her in the ward, apanied by a man.

    Noah scoffed at the gossip, thinking that Brielle just couldn¡¯t seem to stay away from men.

    Arriving at the hospital reception, he stated Brielle¡¯s name with confidence. The receptionist gave him a

    once¨Cover, remembering Max¡¯s explicit instructions not to disclose any information about patient

    Brielle. She offered a polite smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, but there¡¯s no patient by that name here at the

    hospital.¡±

    Noah frowned, contemting the uracy of his intel. ¡°Could you check again, please?¡±

    The nurse made a show of searching once more, returning with the same result.

    Noah¡¯s expression darkened as he stormed out of the lobby, roses in hand, and dialed his crew. ¡°Find

    out where Brielle is. I need her location.¡±

    Meanwhile, upstairs, Brielle had already awoken, staring nkly out the window. Aubree. carrying a

    breakfast tray, entered the room and upon seeing the bandages around Brielle¡¯s wrist, quickly shut the

    door behind her. ¡°I heard you knocked Tessa out with your words, and you¡¯re still alive to tell the tale.

    Pretty badass.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s words wereced with sarcasm, yet her eyes carefully scanned Brielle¡¯s body, relieved to see

    her condition wasn¡¯t too bad. ¡°Bri, there¡¯s news from the Rond estate this morning. Tessa¡¯s been

    hospitalized again, and it sounds more serious thanst night.¡±

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    A wry smile tugged at Brielle¡¯s lips.

    Aubree sat down, spooning soup into her mouth. ¡°I bet the Ronds won¡¯t let this slide. Max. could¡¯ve

    left the country anytime, but he chose now, of all times, to leave.¡±

    Brielle coughed weakly. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. I can¡¯t expect his protection forever.¡±

    Aubree paused, stirring the porridge before speaking, ¡°You don¡¯t like Max?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that. It¡¯s that I¡¯m afraid to.¡±

    Facing a man like Max, anyone would be moved. That Brielle hadn¡¯t fallen for him was probably a feat

    only she could achieve.

    Aubree chuckled bitterly. ¡°Bri, you really are different from me. I used to say you¡¯d understand why I

    endured so much to stay by Andrew¡¯s side once you were in my shoes. Seems like you¡¯ll

    1/2

    14:25

    Chapter 239

    never get there. Come on, eat your soup. Let¡¯s forget about men.

    Brielle nodded, but before she could finish her meal, the door was kicked open by an enraged Andrew,

    with a resigned Kenzo trailing behind.

    Andrew¡¯s gaze was fiery as itnded on Brielle. He strode forward and seized her wrist.

    Brielle¡¯s wrist was still tender, and his grip caused the wound to burst open, blood seeping through the

    bandage.

    ¡°Brielle! You¡¯reing with me. You owe Tessa an apology at her hospital room door.¡± Andrew was

    never gentle with women, especially one he despised like Brielle.

    Kenzo grabbed Andrew¡¯s wrist, frowning in disapproval, ¡°Andrew, calm down.¡±

    ¡°How can I be calm when Tessa is fighting for her life in the ICU?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s face paled with pain as she was nearly pulled off the bed.

    ¡°Bang!¡±

    Aubree had seen enough. She dumped the remaining soup over Andrew¡¯s head. Silence fell. Andrew

    instinctively let go of Brielle, feeling the warmth drip down his scalp.

    He turned to Aubree, his voice dark and menacing after a moment. ¡°Are you looking for

    trouble?

    Aubree inhaled deeply, shoving him out. ¡°You¡¯d better go check on your fianc¨¦e. I¡¯m afraid she might

    not make it through this one.¡±

    With that, Andrew yanked Aubree out of the room.

    Brielle attempted to follow but Kenzo held her down. ¡°Let them be. They¡¯re both willing yers in this

    mess. You don¡¯t need to get involved.¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯m worried-¡±

    ¡°Brielle, you look worse.¡± Kenzo spoke softly, noticing the bleeding bandage on her wrist. He pressed

    the call button, signaling for a doctor.

    Down the corridor, Andrew pushed Aubree into the restroom, locked the door, and plunged his head

    under cold water.

    Once the soup was washed away, he grabbed Aubree by the wrist, pinning her against the sink.

 Chatper 240

    Chapter 240

    ¡°Aubree, have I been too soft on you?! Are you freaking teaming up with others to mess with me now?

    Aubree¡¯s back was nearly breaking, but she managed a smirk with a chill, ¡°Your fianc¨¦e is lying in bed

    and you¡¯re still here fussing with me?¡±

    That line hit a nerve, and Andrew lost his interest instantly, shoving her away and straightening his

    clothes.

    Aubree thought he was about to explode, but instead, he grabbed her chin. ¡°Aubree, know your ce.¡±

    Aubree looked down, wondering what ce she could possibly have. Wasn¡¯t she always just dirt

    beneath his shoes?

    Andrew released her and strode back into Brielle¡¯s hospital room.

    Brielle¡¯s frown deepened at his return. Andrew pulled up a chair and sat down, looking like he was

    ready for a serious talk.

    Kenzo, sitting nearby, sighed, ¡°Andrew, if you¡¯ve got something to say, say it. No need for violence.¡±

    Andrew chuckled, his gaze fiery as he turned to Brielle. ¡°Brielle, if it weren¡¯t for Max, you wouldn¡¯t have

    made it out of the Rond family alive. Ifst night¡¯s mess goes public, do you think Max¡¯s reputation

    will survive? Max has lived for over twenty years, and you are his only

    stain.¡±

    The words were like a million knives shing at Brielle. Her hands clenched the bedsheets tight, but

    her face remained serene. She coughed hard a few times and then leaned back.

    exhausted.

    Kenzo passed her a pillow with a warning nce at Andrew.

    Andrew huffed and stood up. ¡°Max might be protecting you for now, so I won¡¯t touch you, but I can¡¯t

    swallow my pride. You better pray he shields you forever because once you step out from under his

    wing, I¡¯ll make you wish you were dead.¡±

    Brielle coughed again, her cheeks flushing from the effort. She smiled faintly, then locked eyes. with

    Andrew¨Cone seething, the other calm.

    ¡°Andrew, did youe all this way just to throw your weight around? Aubree¡¯s right. You might want to

    spend your time outside the ICU keeping vigil for Tessa.¡±

    Andrew¡¯s eyes zed with fury, his hand raised in anger, but it was caught mid¨Cair. Kenzo¡¯s forehead

    creased, ¡°Max is still abroad. Things between you two are tense enough. Don¡¯t make it worse for

    everyone involved.¡±

    Andrew¡¯s chest heaved with rage, and he stormed out, mming the door behind him.

    Chapter 240

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    With Andrew gone, Kenzo exhaled, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t provoke him like that. Andrew never thinks. about

    the consequences. If I hadn¡¯t been here, he might have left you crippled. He doesn¡¯t have ¡®don¡¯t hit

    women¡® in his vocabry.¡±

    Brielle just felt drained, her chest tight. Just then, there was a knock at the door. It was Patrick.

    Seeing Kenzo, Patrick was a bit surprised but didn¡¯t ask questions. ¡°Ms. Brielle, I¡¯m here to take you to

    Premier Pce to recuperate.¡±

    Brielle was eager to leave, so she turned to Kenzo, ¡°Thanks, Kenzo,¡± Kenzo nodded and headed. up to

    where Tessa was being treated.

    Brielle followed Patrick to the car, her wrists both bandaged. Patrick, ever considerate, opened the door

    for her and advised, ¡°Mr. Dorsey won¡¯t be back for a while, Ms. Brielle. Take some time off work, and let

    your wrists heal. You don¡¯t want to risk long¨Cterm damage.¡±

    Brielle murmured an acknowledgment.

    Patrick nced at her through the rearview mirror, still worried. He couldn¡¯t help but add, ¡°If you¡¯re

    feeling better, you could give Mr. Dorsey a call.¡±

    Brielle¡¯sshes fluttered, noticing her phone on the seat next to her. She hadn¡¯t expected Max to be so

    thoughtful as to bring her phone from the Rond family. She felt a warmth in her

    heart.

    As they arrived at Premier Pce, something felt off. The security was tighter, patrols everywhere. The

    entrance even had extra guards.

    ¡°Patrick, what¡¯s going on outside?¡±

    Patrick knew he couldn¡¯t hide it, so he came clean, ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Dorsey¡¯s orders. He¡¯s worried that one day

    Michael mighte knocking.¡±

 Chatper 241

    Chapter 241

    Brielle¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she entered the ptial Premier Pce living room. Was it possible

    Michael knew aboutst night¡¯s debacle? She wanted to probe further, but her words. jammed in her

    throat.

    Upon her arrival, Wesley greeted her with a smile that spread across his face in an instant. ¡°Ms. Brielle,

    I¡¯ve heard all about it. You¡¯ve been through the wringer, haven¡¯t you? Come, sit down. I¡¯ll have the

    kitchen whip up some chicken soup for you.¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly. Wesley¡¯s solution to everything seemed to be soup. Nevertheless,

    appreciating the kind gesture, she nodded, ¡°Thank you, that would be lovely.¡±

    Wesley hurried to instruct the kitchen staff, who were already well¨Cversed in Brielle¡¯s preferences, and

    had prepared severalfort dishes especially for her.

    During her three¨Cday recovery at Premier Pce, only Aubree called to say that Tessa had been taken

    back by the Rond family.

    Brielle, who was busy organizingpany documents, had no interest in news about Tessa. After a

    brief chat with Aubree and hanging up the phone, Brielle went to her department.

    The atmosphere was cordial enough, but her desk was buried under a cascade of roses that trailed all

    the way to the door. Recalling thest time she received flowers from an anonymous suitor, Brielle

    frowned.

    Her colleagues seemed nonplussed, each voicing their envy.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, you¡¯re one luckydy. These are all from Mr. Noah. He¡¯s been kindly buying the team

    milkshakes every day.¡±

    Mr. Noah? Brielle¡¯s frown deepened. What was Noah up to with this stunt?

    She had the janitor clear away the flowers. No sooner had she sat down than Noah strode in.

    unabashedly cing two tickets to a musical on her desk. ¡°Brielle, I heard you were under the weather.

    Feeling any better? Fancy joining me for a musical tonight?¡±

    When Noah asked this question, he couldn¡¯t help but have some doubts in his mind. Despite hearing

    about her hospital stay, his contacts had unearthed no information on her whereabouts.

    Brielle stepped back, wondering what on earth had happened to Noah.

    Noah shed a self¨Cperceived charming smile and leaned towards her. ¡°Brielle, I must confess I¡¯ve

    always admired you.¡±

    Expecting her to blush like any other woman, he was taken aback when she looked up and asked,

    ¡°Admire me for what?¡±

    Caught off guard by her question, Noah faltered. He had never truly respected her, so how could he

    admire her?

    14:25

    Chapter 241

    Amused by his difort, Brielle gestured towards the office door. ¡°We¡¯re on the clock, Mr. Noah. Why

    don¡¯t you head back upstairs? We can discuss personal matters after work.¡±

    Noah¡¯s face stiffened, struggling for breath, but keen on preserving his image, he nodded. genteelly,

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll catch up with you after work.¡±

    Brielle furrowed her brow again, but she really didn¡¯t want to waste energy on irrelevant people. She

    focused intently on the documents in front of her instead.

    With only ten minutes left until the end of the workday, Noah approached once again. The department

    buzzed with spection about their rtionship.

    Brielle¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°Mr. Noah, let¡¯s cut to the chase.¡±

    Unfazed, Noah presented the musical tickets again, ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree? Join me tonight; I¡¯ve arranged a

    surprise.¡±

    He then addressed the others, ¡°I¡¯ll treat those working overtime to ate¨Cnight feast around eight

    o¡¯clock. Seafood¡¯s on the way.¡±

    It was clear he was trying to impress Brielle, though she hadn¡¯t given her consent. The colleagues

    chimed in with their thoughts.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Mr. Noah, I didn¡¯t expect you had such a romantic side.¡±

    ¡°I always thought Mr. Noah was all business. Who knew you had it in you to chase someone?¡±

    ¡°Just get together already.¡±

    Soon, the chant echoed through the office.

    Noah stared at Brielle expectantly and bent forward to take her hand.

    Brielle stepped back, aware that many were snickering at her expense. Everyone knew she was

    Spencer¡¯s ex¨Cfianc¨¦e, and she had only recently broken off the engagement. Now, in their eyes, she

    had quicklytched onto Noah, branding her fickle.

    Undeterred by the gossip. Noah confessed, ¡°Brielle, your past doesn¡¯t bother me. Would you consider

    me? If you¡¯re with me, everything I have is yours. Whatever you want, I can provide.¡±

    Noah¡¯s wealth was no secret within thepany. His readiness to share everything with. Brielle spoke

    volumes of his affection for her.

 Chatper 242

    Chapter 242

    The women around were a cocktail of envy, jealousy, and bitterness. How on earth did Brielle, after

    being dumped by Spencer, manage to snag Noah? It seemed so unfair.

    Everyone expected Brielle to break down in a sappy mess, sobbing while professing she¡¯d need time to

    think it over, but Brielle was the picture ofposure, the coolest head in the room. ¡°Mr. Noah, we¡¯re in

    the middle of the office,¡± she said, her voice ice.

    Noah had assumed Brielle would leap at his offer, but his pride took a hit when she turned him down,

    not once but twice.

    He wasn¡¯t used to chasing women; they always came after him. A woman of Brielle¡¯s stature should

    have been over the moon that he took an interest in her, shouldn¡¯t she?

    The buzz of the onlookers quieted down as they sensed Brielle¡¯s reluctance. The atmosphere turned

    awkward in an instant.

    Nonchntly, Brielle stepped past Noah and entered the elevator. To her surprise, Spencer was

    already inside. Upon seeing Brielle, Spencer instinctively lowered his head. The scene from a few days

    ago was just too embarrassing. Now the mere thought of it made him feel a flush of heat throughout his

    body.

    Brielle¡¯s gaze swept over Spencer with a mocking glint. Sharing an elevator with Spencer felt more

    oppressive than dealing with Noah, so she stepped back out.

    Spencer rode down alone, looking utterly defeated. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he had made a

    mistake that day? Brielle was

    known for having a wild side, so what was wrong with her bearing the consequences of such a

    reputation?

    Brielle¡¯s disdainful look had pierced him like a dagger to the heart, causing an aching pain that spread

    throughout his body. His phone rang, jolting him from his thoughts. It was Robert on the line. ¡°Spencer,

    Lillian¡¯s been a messtely. Can youe over and talk to her? She always ys tough, but with

    everything that¡¯s happened, I¡¯m worried about her.¡±

    Hearing that Lillian might be in a bad state, Spencer¡¯s heartache was reced by concern, and he

    hurriedly drove to the Haywood family estate.

    Meanwhile, Brielle had stepped out of the elevator and now stood before Noah.

    Noah watched her slim figure, thinking her earlier departure was just ying hard to get, his expression

    souring. He figured it would take maybe just three days to have Brielle eating out of his hand. ¡°Brielle,

    have you decided to join me for the theater tonight?¡± he asked with a hint of disdain.

    Brielle furrowed her brow, ignoring him. When the elevator arrived, she stepped in and promptly hit the

    close button. Once the doors shut and the noise faded, she finally felt at ease.

    Just as she reached the lobby of Dorsey International, she saw a car window roll down. revealing

    Ryan¡¯s face. ¡°Brielle, care to talk?¡± Ryan offered with a grimace.

    102

    14:26

    Chapter 2422

    Her fingers twitched, but she maintained herposure, ¡°I don¡¯t see what there is to talk about with

    you.¡±

    Ryan gestured towards a nearby caf¨¦, his face darkening, ¡°If you¡¯re scared, we can talk next door at

    the coffee shop.¡±

    Hesitant, Brielle agreed. The caf¨¦ was bustling with office workers from around the area. Unless Ryan

    was out of his mind, he wouldn¡¯t darey a hand on her here.

    She sat down, maintaining a steadyposure.

    Ryan appraised her and chuckled lightly. ¡°I heard Max and Andrew got into a fight over you? I never

    realized you had such allure when you were with Spencer.¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t about me,¡± she retorted.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter. Max has a soft spot for you. If he hadn¡¯t been covering for you, do you think you¡¯d

    still be sitting pretty as a director?¡±

    Although the Rond family wanted to cover up the events of that night, the intricate rtionships

    within therge family made it impossible to keep everyone silent.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Brielle remained silent, curious about Ryan¡¯s true agenda.

    Without beating around the bush, Ryan took out a bottle. ¡°Find a way to make Max swallow this,¡± he

    said tly.

    Brielle¡¯s pupils constricted sharply, half¨Cexpecting she¡¯d misheard. Was Ryan really so brazen as to

    ask her to poison Max?

 Chatper 243

    Chapter 243

    ¡°Are you out of your mind? You¡¯re not afraid I¡¯ll spill the beans to Max?¡±

    Ryan chuckled, a look of sheer confidence stered across his face, ¡°If you don¡¯t care about what

    happens to Mark, then by all means, go tell Max.

    Brielle stood up, her gaze burning with fury. ¡°What have you done with Mark?¡±

    ¡°Just invited him over for a little visit, that¡¯s all. Do as I say, and the man walks free. You know what I¡¯m

    capable of.¡±

    Brielle took a deep breath and eased back into her seat. No wonder Ryan had the guts to confront her

    today; he¡¯d already taken control of Mark.

    She had been negligent. She had long been entangled in theplexities of the Dorsey family. In

    addition, Max had gone to the Rond family that night. Those seeking to retaliate against him, even if

    holding onto a slim hope, would target her.

    Ryan sneered, ¡°If you procrastinate, I¡¯ll have someone snip off the old guy¡¯s fingers right now.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± she agreed.

    ¡°Good. Here¡¯s a month¡¯s supply. It¡¯ll end Max with a silent coronary. One pill a day, don¡¯t forget.¡±

    Brielle took a deep breath, her fingers on one side clenched tightly, nails digging deep into the palm. To

    deal with Max, he had gone to great lengths to prepare this kind of pill.

    Ryan¡¯s eyes gleamed with satisfaction, as if everything was within his grasp. ¡°Once Max is back in the

    country, we start.¡±

    Brielle sat motionless until he left, then she stared at the white bottle in her hand.

    Meanwhile, the photo of her meeting with Ryan at the caf¨¦ had already made its way to Max. Clearly,

    it¡¯s a pro¡¯s work.

    Max had been running ragged thesest few days, juggling overseas business and caring for his

    mother. He finally caught a break, only to see those photos.

    They were taken by his own people. In them, Brielle epted the bottle¨Chad she agreed to Ryan¡¯s

    deal? Max¡¯s brow furrowed, his instinct to dismiss the troubling thoughts.

    He would never tolerate such a threat before, but the object of the threat was Brielle, and he found

    himself patient, curious about her next move.

    Someone burst in, the room immediately filled with the rich aroma of coffee. Alivia set the coffee on the

    desk, and seeing him still working in the convalescent home, she couldn¡¯t help but sigh.

    ¡°Max, shouldn¡¯t you take a break? You haven¡¯t slept in days. Your mother¡¯s finally settled down. Why

    not rest a bit while you can?¡±

    10

    Chapter 243

    Max¡¯s eyes were bloodshot. He rubbed his temples, clearly exhausted. He finished the coffee, and a

    doctor came in.

    ¡°Max, Martha¡¯s condition is worsening. Used to be six months between episodes, then three. Now it¡¯s

    monthly. The experts are constantly revising the treatment, but Martha¡¯s reluctant to cooperate.

    Probably needs family around.¡±

    Max¡¯s frown deepened. He drained his coffee, feeling a bit more alert. He wouldn¡¯t bring his mother

    back to Beaconsfield unless it was absolutely necessary, because her spirits would plummet as soon

    as sheid eyes on the other Dorsey children.

    ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll try toe more often.¡±

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    The doctor nodded, nced at Alivia and said with a smile. ¡°Ms. Alivia¡¯s workce is close by. She

    often visits Martha, a great help.¡± With that said, the doctor went out as if he had finished his duty.

    Max, however, handed Alivia a card, ¡°This is for your troubles. Thanks.¡±

    Alivia paled instantly. She was never after money, and caring for his mother wasn¡¯t about that. Max

    surely knew this but still offered the card.

    Alivia felt humiliated, her eyes reddening for a moment before she rasped, ¡°Max, you know I¡¯m not here

    for the money.¡±

    Max¡¯s expression tightened. He never quite understood the emotional nuances between people. so

    empathizing with Alivia¡¯s feelings was difficult. He approached it from a businessman¡¯s perspective¨Cshe

    gave her time, so he should givepensation. It seemed like a fair exchange.

    ¡°I know, but I owe you this. Whether you take it is up to you.¡± He passed her the card, his face

    impassive.

    Alivia¡¯splexion turned even paler. After a long moment, she looked up. ¡°Then I don¡¯t want it. Once

    your mom¡¯s condition stabilizes, I¡¯ll return home. Max, you will marry me, won¡¯t you?¡±

 Chatper 244

    Chapter 244

    Max had pondered the question before, back when his response would¡¯ve been a no¨Cbrainer, al

    surefire ¡°Yes.¡± But now, as he wrestled with the inquiry, a different face flickered through his mind. He

    frowned in confusion. It had been a while since he¡¯d been out here, and Brielle hadn¡¯t even made a

    phone call or sent a message. And him? He¡¯d been so tangled up in a web of endless tasks that he

    realized it¡¯d been days since theyst connected.

    ¡°Alivia, I¡¯ve been clear from the start. It I fall for someone, I won¡¯t marry you. I told you not to

    wait for me.¡±

    He¡¯d turned her down before, but if everyone thought Alivia had been waiting for him all these years, it

    would pressure the Dorsey family. It would paint him as a promise¨Cbreaker, when he¡¯d never made any

    promises.

    Relief washed over Alivia. She always knew Max didn¡¯t quite grasp the concept of liking. someone. If

    he was saying this, he clearly wasn¡¯t interested in anyone at the moment. ¡°I get it. Max. Don¡¯t worry. I

    won¡¯t push you.¡±

    Max raised a hand to his temple, rubbing wearily. Even after downing a coffee, exhaustion clung to him.

    He shuffled toward the break room, expecting Alivia to take her leave. But she didn¡¯t. Instead, she

    settled into a seat inside.

    Max only shed his zer before sumbing to sleep quickly. When he sensed someone nearing, his

    eyes snapped open, his body on high alert.

    Alivia stood just a step away, her n to snap a sneaky selfie with him while he slept now thwarted.

    She pointed awkwardly at the nket. ¡°I didn¡¯t want you catching a cold.¡±

    Max¡¯s expression was icy. ¡°Get out.¡±

    Alivia¡¯s lips pressed together in silent frustration as she exited the room.

    Max hated being disturbed while resting. Once the door closed, he instinctively reached out beside him,

    only to embrace emptiness. He paused, staring at the hollow space in his arms.

    After a long hesitation, he fought off the urge to sleep and pulled out his phone; sending Brielle a

    message. [?]

    When Brielle received the message, it was alreadyte at night, and her phone was on mute, so she

    naturally didn¡¯t reply.

    Max went from sending one question mark to two. [??]

    And finally, three. [???]

    Half an hour spaced each message, and none received a response.

    Frustration now fully eclipsed his drowsiness, proving more effective than the strongest espresso. He

    rose, returning to his desk to tackle the paperwork, his irritation mounting.

    14:26

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Chapter 244

    Unbeknownst to Brielle, her phone had been buzzing silently in the dead of night. When she finally

    checked it upon waking. Max¡¯s messages were hours old. She frowned. What did the question marks

    mean?

    After freshening up, she contemted a reply but was interrupted by a call from the office, ¡°Ms.

    Haywood, we have a meeting with some senior executives this noon regarding the bidding matter. The

    time is at eleven o¡¯clock.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m on my way.¡±

    Work always had a way of narrowing Brielle¡¯s focus, so she left the message unanswered.

    After arriving at thepany and making the necessary preparations, she called two people from the

    mergers and acquisitions department and went together to the building where the bidding was about to

    take ce.

    The bidding was for a new automotive project by Heavy Motors, seeking a contractor. Dorsey

    International was the first on their invite list, but given thepany¡¯s vast empire, Heavy. Motors feared

    their project might not get the attention it deserved. So, they invited others to elevate the project¡¯s

    profile.

    As Brielle and her team arrived at the building, she immediately spotted Robert and Connor. Connor¡¯s

    eyes lit up, seemingly unconcerned by the lurking reporters as he approached, belly leading the way.

    ¡°Bri, your dad and I were just talking about you. I didn¡¯t expect Dorsey International to send you for the

    bidding. Seems like you¡¯re making waves over there,¡± he said, his disgusting gaze fixating on Brielle as

    if he wished he could whisk her away right then and there.

 Chatper 245

    Chapter 245

    Standing by his side. Robert seemed to be struck with a bout of amnesia, as if he hadpletely

    forgotten how Brielle had cut ties with the Haywood family on her own ord. He approached her

    slowly, trying to bridge the gap between them, he even pointed to a spot nearby and said. ¡°Bri, there¡¯s

    an open seat over there. Fancy joining us?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s expression remained unchanged as she politely addressed him, ¡°Mr. Robert.

    Robert¡¯s face stiffened for a moment, and he took a deep breath. ¡°I do admit that I neglected. certain

    matters in the past. Maybe we could have a proper chat about it sometime, if you¡¯re free.¡±

    Brielle just smiled and without giving any regard to their expressions, she walked straight to the most

    central seat and sat down. Her position at Dorsey International certainly warranted such

    a spot.

    Connor, who had been tantly ignored by Brielle from the get¨Cgo, felt his pride wounded and turned

    towards Robert. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say she was supposed to marry me?¡±

    Robert had long lost interest in a nouveau riche like Connor, but given that Connor was indeed wealthy,

    he had to bear with him. If Brielle couldn¡¯t keep Max on the hook, she would

    undoubtedly end up marrying Connor. So he endured and said, ¡°Mr. Connor, what¡¯s the rush? You can¡¯t

    rush perfection.¡±

    Robert needed to see if Brielle could truly captivate Max. At the moment, it seemed she had the

    capability to do so. Between Max and Connor, he would naturally choose Max.

    The bidding conference dragged on for four hours, and it had been ten hours since Brielle hadn¡¯t

    replied to Max¡¯s messages. By the end, Brielle bid a staggering four billion, far surpassing the others,

    and secured the project.

    As she got up to leave. Connor rushed over, eager and flustered. ¡°Bri, we¡¯re bound to get married

    sooner orter, why sre you so distant? The bidding¡¯s over. How about we go grab a bite? I¡¯ve got

    reservations at the Starlight Restaurant. It¡¯s got a great view of the Beaconsfield skyline.¡±

    ¡°Marriage?¡± Brielle found it amusing and couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°It¡¯s still daylight, Mr. Connor. Are you

    still dreaming?¡±

    Those around them overheard and joined in theughter, murmuring among themselves. Connor,

    feeling even more embarrassed and now angry, brought up the night of the Hatfield family banquet.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t youe on to me that night? Do I need to remind you of what happened? How can you deny it

    now? Brielle, everyone saw you that night. I doubt any other man would have you.¡±

    Brielle nced over at Robert who was about to leave and couldn¡¯t help but call out. ¡°Was this

    marriage promise made by you, Mr. Robert? I recall publicly announcing my break from the Haywood

    family. The Haywood family has no say in my marriage. And about that night, there

    14:26

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Chapter 245

    were so many witnesses. It was Lillian who got cozy with you, Mr. Connor, not me. Surely we aren¡¯t

    going to tell tant lies and make me take the fall for the Haywood family heiress.¡±

    Robert, who had been about to leave, stopped in his tracks. He didn¡¯t want to get involved, but now,

    with all eyes on him, he had no choice but to respond. ¡°Bri, about that¡­¡±

    Brielle cut him off with a chuckle. ¡°If you¡¯re so keen on bing inws with Mr. Connor, why not

    marry off Lillian instead? She¡¯s your daughter. I¡¯ll just sit here and wish the happy couple all the best.¡±

    Laughter erupted around them, leaving Connor and Robert with pale faces.

    Brielle, unfazed, headed to the parking lot. She handed her documents to her colleagues and decided

    to head back to her new ce. When she got home, it was quitting time. Shey on the couch until

    seven o¡¯clock, dreaming about Max, realizing she did miss him after all.

    Just as her dream reached a crucial moment, her phone rang. Picking it up, she saw it was Max,

    stirring a mix of dream and reality.

    ¡°Brielle, open the door.¡±

    Startled, Brielle walked to the door with a mix of disbelief. As she opened it, Max strode in. casually

    hanging his suit jacket on the coat rack.

    Brielle was a bit stunned. ¡°How did you-¡±

    Before she could finish, she was swept up in his arms and pressed onto the couch. As he kissed her

    breathless, she turned her head slightly and murmured, ¡°Max?¡±

    She couldn¡¯t help but cup his face, noticing the redness in his eyes. He must have rushed back

    overnight.

    ¡°Finished with your business abroad?¡±

    Max nodded and started to lift her skirt. Brielle¡¯s cheeks flushed, it was the first time she had seen him

    so eager. She averted her eyes, nervously licking her lips.

    Max watched her, then suddenly bit her lip. That heartless girl.

    Brielle¡¯s heart fluttered, and her eyshes trembled uncontrobly.

    Max was about to continue when his phone rang. He frowned, tossed the phone aside, and went back

    to kissing Brielle.

    The ringing was giving Brielle a headache, and she gently pushed him, ¡°It might be work, you should

    take it.¡±

    But Max just held her closer and headed to the bedroom. His towering height of nearly six feet three

    made her seem all the more delicate, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, her face buried in

    the crook of his neck, flushed with a deep red.

 Chatper 246

    Chapter 246

    x paused, a melting sensation at the core of his heart. He looked down at the person in his arms,

    bewildered, but without further thought, he gentlyid her down on the bed of the bedroom.

    To the outside world, he was an eternally unyielding mountain of snow, but in this moment, Brielle felt

    as though a crimson blossom had bloomed at its peak. That ssh of vivid red was enough to thaw the

    chill of the snow.

    All through the night, she felt as though her world was a swaying painting, all its colors converging

    upon him. She was like a kite dancing in the wind, a boat floating serenely on a current. Her world was

    entirely controlled and guided by him.

    When she awoke, the un was already high in the sky. She heard voices outside and, struggling a bit,

    got out of bed. After freshening up, she stepped into the living room to find Max opening hisptop for a

    meeting.

    Not wanting to interrupt, she decided to head to the kitchen to whip up something.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    The white pill bottle was within reach on the counter. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she dropped a pill

    into the water. It dissolved quickly, and she stirred it in.

    Ryan was a suspicious man, always asking if she had made her move. Knowing Max was back. he¡¯d

    likely be bombarding her with calls to hurry her along. If she didn¡¯t answer, it was Mark who would

    suffer.

    There were thirty pills in total, and Ryan would have her count them on video each day. If none

    were missing, it was still Mark who would be tortured. With such a weakness in Puan¡¯s grasp.

    Brielle had no choice but toply.

    However, she had cleverly switched the pills with vitamins, indistinguishable to the eye. She could only

    keep Ryan at bay for about a month. Within that time, she had to rescue Mark.

    Brielle was deep in thought and didn¡¯t notice that as she tossed the pill into the water, there was

    someone standing at the kitchen doorway.

    Max was just there, initially wanting to ask what she was cooking, but the sight of the familiar white pill

    bottle froze him in ce. He quietly retreated back to the couch and sat down. His expression

    unchanged, his emotions unreadable.

    Half an hourter, Brielle came out with a steaming bowl of soup, just one serving, which she ced in

    front of Max. ¡°I made this for you. I¡¯m not great at cooking, so I just made some soup.¡±

    Max set aside his paperwork and looked up at her with a nce.

    Brielle¡¯s lips were tightly pressed, her face shadowed by a frown.

    Max took the bowl, inhaled the aroma. It was indeed inviting.

    1/2

    14:26

    Chapter 245

    ¡°Brielle, do you want me to have this? His voice was calm, betraying no emotion

    Brielle¡¯s heartbeat skipped, her hand nervously resting behind her. ¡°Yes, I¡¯d like you to try it.¡± After all, it

    was just vitamins, and he wouldn¡¯t know.

    Unexpectedly, Max¡¯s lips twitched into an indulgent smile. If you want me to have it then I will* Her

    heart raced uncontrobly as Max leisurely sipped half the bowl When half was left he nced at her,

    ¡°You made only one serving. Aren¡¯t you hungry?¡±

    Brielle really wasn¡¯t hungry, so she shook her head.

    But then Max brought a spoonful to her lips. ¡°Here.¡±

    Without thinking, she opened her mouth, but then he withdrew the spoon. ¡°Never mind. If you¡¯re hungry

    later, I¡¯ll have Patrick bring the chef over.¡± With that, he finished the rest of the porridge.

    A lump formed in Brielle¡¯s throat; she was lost for words. If she had intended to use that kind of drug,

    would Max have even known? He waspletely unguarded against her.

    An irritation welled up inside her. What if someone else tried to poison him? Would he be as unguarded

    then? In his position, there were plenty who would wish him harm. Shouldn¡¯t he be vignt about

    everything presented to him?

    Seeing her frown, Max thought she might be hungry and called Patrick instructing him to send over the

    chef who had cooked for themst time.

    Patrick arrived promptly, not only with the chef but also with a brand¨Cnew suit. Max went to change and

    returned to find Brielle still looking distressed, silent on the couch. He couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°What¡¯s

    the matter?¡±

    Brielle shook her head, her tone serious, ¡°Mr. Dorsey, you really should be more cautious with those

    around you. After all, you can¡¯t see into a person¡¯s heart.¡±

 Chatper 247

    Chapter 247

    Patrick couldn¡¯t contain himself as he interjected from the sidelines.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, Ms. Brielle. Mr. Dorsey has always been cautious. Over the years, plenty have tried to

    take a crack at him, but none have seeded. Even his car is like something out of a presidential

    motorcade, bulletproof and all. Plus, at the Premier Pce, there¡¯s a whole contingent of bodyguards ¨C

    most of them are ex¨Cmilitary. And let¡¯s not forget, Mr. Dorsey himself, he¡¯s also¡­

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    He was cut off by a nce from Max. Patrick realized he¡¯d spoken out of turn and promptly shut his

    mouth, signaling the chef to whip up something in the kitchen.

    Max, fiddling with the cufflinks at his wrist, said, ¡°I¡¯m heading to the office. You stay home and rest.¡± His

    tone was that of a husband giving a gentle order to his wife before leaving the house. Brielle, worn out

    from the previous night¡¯s ordeal, had little energy to spare. With Max¡¯smand issued, she settled

    back onto the couch.

    Patrick hastily briefed the chef before following Max out, resuming his role as chauffeur.

    Once they had left, Brielle slowly opened her eyes. She knew that sitting idly by wasn¡¯t going to cut it if

    she wanted to stand up to Ryan. And she didn¡¯t want to rely on Max for everything ¨C it was time she

    tried figuring out a n on her own.

    Her thoughts turned to Spencer. While reaching out to Spencer was akin to inviting bad luck, she

    reasoned that the Dorsey family had used her for years, so why couldn¡¯t she use Spencer just this

    once?

    She removed Spencer¡¯s number from the cklist. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she dialed his number.

    Spencer didn¡¯t pick up; he was at the Haywood estate. After debating for a long time, he decided to

    come over to see Lillian, but the thought of Lillian entangled with someone like Connor made it

    impossible for Spencer to look at her now. The once cute and obedient face now seemed utterly

    disagreeable to him.

    What was harder for Spencer to swallow was the fact that he had belittled Brielle for a woman like

    Lillian.

    When Brielle¡¯s call came through, it took him by surprise. On the other side, Lillian¡¯s face was streaked

    with tears, her hands tentatively clutching at his sleeve, her eyes filled with a pitiable plea. ¡°Spencer,

    that night, it was all Brielle¡¯s doing. How else could I have ended up with someone like Connor? You¡¯ve

    always been on my side. You¡¯ll understand me this time, right?¡±

    Lillian¡¯s eyes brimmed with venom. With no progress from Max, she had no choice but to fall back on

    Spencer.

    But faced with her helplessness, Spencer took a few steps back, his gaze avoiding hers, ¡°I¡¯ll go

    Chapter

    get you a ss of water.¡±

    Her face darkened in an instant but she maintained a facade. ¡°Sure, I could use a drink.¡±

    Once Spencer turned away, she stealthily followed him. Around the corner, Spencer answered the call,

    his voice unconsciously softening. ¡°Brielle, what¡¯s up? You want to meet, just us?¡± His tone was a mix

    of surprise and disbelief.

    ¡°Alright, what time? Send me the address, and I¡¯lle to you.¡±

    Lillian¡¯s heart felt crushed at the mention of Brielle. It wasn¡¯t enough that Brielle had ensnared Max,

    now she was trying to hook Spencer too. She took a deep breath, smirking at the thought of how

    Spencer would react once he knew Brielle was eating humble pie. With a coldugh, she returned to

    her room.

    Spencer, carrying the water, feigned tenderness, ¡°Lillian, if you¡¯re not feeling well, you should rest up at

    home.¡±

    Lillian¡¯s face was ashen, itching to call him out, but she needed him to stir up trouble with Max. She

    held back, testing the waters, ¡°Spencer, can¡¯t you stay with me? I feel like you don¡¯t love me as much

    as you used to.¡±

    ¡°Of course I do.¡±

    Spencer sat down, attempting to kiss her cheek but the image of Connor made his stomach churn, and

    he recoiled. ¡°I¡¯ve got something to attend to tonight, but I¡¯ll make time to see yourter. I should get

    going now.¡±

 Chatper 248

    Chapter 248

    The moment he set foot out the door, Lillian, decked out in her best spy gear, trailed behind him like a

    shadow.

    Meanwhile, Brielle hadn¡¯t yet told Spencer where to meet, opting instead to call and gauge his level of

    suspicion. Finding that Spencer wasn¡¯t on guard against her, she pondered for a moment before setting

    the rendezvous at the upscale Dorsey International Hotel for that evening. She had stayed there

    before; the security was tight, and she knew it was safe.

    Brielle rested until the afternoon and, before heading to the hotel, she made a quick stop at the

    pharmacy to pick up some sleeping pills.

    Having been engaged to Spencer for so many years, Brielle was well acquainted with his family. She

    knew how his father, Ryan, yed the field, but when it came to his son, he was utterly devoted¨Cafter

    all, Spencer was his only child. Otherwise, with his ways, he would have dismissed Faith a long time

    ago.

    After all, he was counting on his sole heir to secure arger share of the family fortune from the old

    man. The importance of Spencer in the grand scheme of things was crystal clear.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    With the sleeping pills in her purse, Brielle set out for the hotel.

    What Brielle didn¡¯t know was that Lillian had managed to contact Tessa and obtained Max¡¯s phone

    number from her.

    Lillian had only intended to try her luck and was surprised when Tessa provided the number without

    hesitation. A sly smile curled the corners of Lillian¡¯s mouth as she sent an anonymous text to Max:

    [Tonight, Brielle and Spencer will meet at the hotel under the Dorsey International banner.]

    Max was still at the office workingte when he received the message. He didn¡¯t respond but didn¡¯t

    block the number either, knowing the sender would probably continue to send more

    information.

    After having a bowl of soup at Brielle¡¯s ce during the day, he hadn¡¯t called a doctor to check on him,

    but he could feel that something was off. Normally, working overtime wouldn¡¯t faze him, but today, his

    vision had started to blur since the afternoon.

    Max shook his head, trying to clear it, and powered through thest of the paperwork. Patrick entered

    his office and, noting his paleplexion, couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Sir, are you feeling alright?¡±

    Max, rubbing his temples, replied with a hoarse voice. ¡°Not so good.¡±

    Patrick was about to call a private doctor, but Max waved him off. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious, no need for a

    doctor.¡±

    ¡°But yourplexion¡­¡±

    ¡°I said it¡¯s fine.

    14:29

    Chapter 248

    Seeing his president¡¯s determination, Patrick didn¡¯t pr¨¨ss further and handed him a ss of water

    instead.

    Max took a sip of the water and pushed the signed documents forward.

    Patrick took them and briefed him on the evening¡¯s schedule, ¡°Mr. Kenzo has arranged a meeting at

    Tequ Sunset. It seems to be about smoothing things over with Mr. Clements.¡±

    Those two had be too estranged due to the Rond family¡¯s affairs, so Kenzo organized tonight¡¯s

    gathering in the hope that the two could reconcile their differences.

    Max got up, tiredly rubbing his forehead. ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡±

    Upon arriving at Tequ Sunset, the valet skillfully took the keys from Patrick.

    As Max stepped into the lobby, his phone buzzed again with a new message¨Ca photo of Brielle and

    Spencer.

    Brielle and Spencer had managed to meet up, ate¨Cnight hotel rendezvous. Was Max not going to

    catch them in the act? Lillian sent the message with a thrill of excitement. Surely Max couldn¡¯t be so

    forgiving as to tolerate Brielle¡¯s infidelity?

    She sneered. Brielle was truly blind to have a man as outstanding as Max and still seek thrills

    elsewhere. If Max were hers, she¡¯d keep him under lock and key, never sparing another man a second

    nce.

    Her gaze shifted to the two figures now meeting in the distance, her eyes shing with venomous spite.

    Brielle Had brought her to ruin, and tonight, Lillian was determined to repay the favor, bit by bitter bit.

 Chatper 249

    Chapter 249

    Lillian pulled up her cor, covering more than half of her face. Coupled with wearing a hat, even if

    someone came close to look, they wouldn¡¯t be able to see her features clearly. She strode purposefully

    into the hotel, inquiring briefly about the room numbers for Brielle and Spencer before hastily

    requesting the one next door.

    Meanwhile, Brielle and Spencer had stepped into the elevator.

    Spencer felt as if he were floating in a dream, still somewhat in disbelief that Brielle had

    arranged to meet him at a hotel. What was she nning? Could it be that she¡¯d finally

    around?

    A wave of excitement flushed Spencer¡¯s cheeks. He remembered a recent conversation where he¡¯d

    promised to care for the child, whether it was Brielle¡¯s or Lillian¡¯s, and to live together as a family of

    three.

    But now that Brielle hade to her senses, he wouldn¡¯t make her suffer any longer. After what

    happened with Lillian and Connor, he couldn¡¯t continue to spoil Lillian as he did before. Now, he only

    wanted to repair his rtionship with Brielle.

    Clearing his throat softly, Spencer ventured tentatively, ¡°Brielle, are we about to¡­¡±

    He was cut off before he could finish. ¡°Isn¡¯t this what you¡¯ve always wanted? I¡¯ve thought it through,¡±

    Brielle interjected.

    Hope sparked in Spencer¡¯s eyes, but the memory of Brielle¡¯s peculiar and formidable prowess gave

    him pause. He dared not act rashly.

    Upon reaching the room, Brielle led the way inside.

    It never crossed Spencer¡¯s mind that this could be a trap; after all, for over a decade, Brielle had been

    nothing but devoted to him, never harboring ulterior motives. So when Brielle offered him a ss of

    water, insisting he drink first, he downed it without hesitation.

    Brielle raised an eyebrow ¨C Spencer was being surprisingly cooperative.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    After the water, Spencer still felt parched, and for some reason, Brielle seemed even more beautiful

    and enchanting tonight. His cheeks warmed, and he broke eye contact. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± Sweat

    dampened his palms as his nervousness spiked.

    ¡°No rush, let¡¯s just sleep for a bit.¡±

    ¡°Sleep?¡± Spencer¡¯s face turned a deeper shade of red, misunderstanding her implication to mean

    sharing a bed. ¡°Okay, Brielle, you¡¯ve finally seen the light. I¡¯ve been doing some thinking too, and I

    admit there were things I mishandled.¡±

    He chuckled, feeling the room sway slightly before lying back. He didn¡¯t suspect Brielle of foul y,

    attributing his dizziness to the recent stress.

    Chapter 249

    ¡°There are things I owe you an apology for, but sometimes, you¡¯ve been quite excessive.¡± Mumbling to

    himself, hey down and drifted off.

    ¡°Spencer?¡± Brielle called out, then retrieved a rope she had prepared earlier and proceeded to

    tie him up.

    Elsewhere, Max had received a photo of Brielle and Spencer entering the room together.

    A crack finally appeared on his usually stoic visage. He frowned, pondering for a long time before

    dialing Brielle¡¯s number.

    Brielle was busy securing Spencer to a chair. Seeing Max¡¯s call, she felt a twinge of guilt; after all,

    Spencer was his nephew. ¡°Mr. Dorsey,¡± she greeted, sensing his silence and adding, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°Where are you?¡±

    Brielle swallowed, ¡°At home.¡±

    Max¡¯s expression darkened instantly, a dangerous glint crossing his eyes, ¡°Which home?¡±

    ¡°The new ce I bought. I need some rest; I¡¯ve been feeling tiredtely.¡±

    Max¡¯s grip on his phone tightened. If he hadn¡¯t known her location, he might have believed her lie.

    He was speechless, haunted by Brielle¡¯s previous admission that she wasn¡¯t devoid of feelings for

    Spencer. Those words enshrouded his thoughts like a curse, squeezing his heart with a fine. pervasive

    ache.

 Chatper 250

    Chapter 250

    On the other end of the line, Brielle was unaware of his turmoil. Worried that Spencer, who had fallen

    asleep, might wake up, she inquired, ¡°Anything else, Mr. Dorsey?¡± she asked, implying that if there was

    nothing more, they could end the call.

    Max cradled the ss of whiskey in his hands, feeling waves of darkness threaten his vision. He had

    never experienced such a physical response before, and his emotions ebbed and flowed with the tide.

    He was worried that if he said a few more words, he wouldn¡¯t be able to resist asking about other

    things. Upon hearing her question, he fought against the dizzying sensation and abruptly hung up.

    Brielle, hearing the disconnect tone, was slightly puzzled, but she had more pressing matters to attend

    to, like making sure Spencer remained securely tied up. She wound the rope around him a few more

    times, ensuring that even in a lucid state, he¡¯d be unable to break free.

    After securing Spencer, she marched into the bathroom and filled a basin with water, sshing it over

    his head in a sudden deluge.

    Spencer came to, groggy and disoriented, and realizing he was bound, panic set in. ¡°Brielle. what on

    earth are you doing?¡±

    A sly smile crept across her face. ¡°Come on. You can¡¯t possibly think that I came to the hotel because I

    really wanted to sleep with you.¡±

    Spencer¡¯s face darkened, his pride hurt as he tested his bonds, finally exploding in anger. ¡°What are

    you trying to pull? If you¡¯re trying to win me back, this isn¡¯t the way. Just behave, and I can still take you

    back.¡±

    ¡°p!¡±

    Brielle pped him right across the face. ¡°Shut your mouth!¡±

    Spencer turned his head in shock, unable to believe what had just happened. It was only when the

    dyed pain registered that he looked back at Brielle, his eyes filled with disbelief. Brielle had wanted

    to give him that p ever since the Hatfield family banquet, and now she finally had her chance. ¡°Keep

    quiet, and you might avoid a few more ps,¡± she warned.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Spencer¡¯s eyes welled up with a sense of hurt, as almost all the humiliations he had experienced from

    childhood to adulthood came from Brielle.

    Brielle snatched up his phone, found Ryan¡¯s number, and shot a video of Spencer in his trussed¨Cup

    state, sending it directly to Ryan. After sending the video, she stuffed a cloth into Spencer¡¯s mouth and

    turned off his phone.

    She knew that patience was key when dealing with hot soup¨Cyou can¡¯t rush it, and the same went for

    dealing with Ryan.

    Meanwhile, Max, after ending the call, rubbed his throbbing temples. Kenzo noticed his friend¡¯s distress

    and pushed a drink towards him. ¡°Waiting for Andrew has got you on edge, huh?¡±

    Chapter 250

    Max didn¡¯t respond, his pallor giving away his difort.

    ¡°Max, are you feeling alright?¡±

    The world around Max continued to sway, and even Kenzo¡¯s face began to blur. Kenzo had no choice

    but to contact Patrick, and together they helped Max to the car, intending to head for the hospital

    Patrick drove, flooring the gas pedal, while Max leaned back, his face growing paler by the second.

    After a long silence, he murmured. ¡°What does it mean to love someone?¡±

    Kenzo, who had just gotten off the phone with Andrew, informing him they were taking Max to the

    hospital was taken aback by the question.

    What was loving someone? In their circle, it was a question seldom asked, a question both superficial

    and profound. Some might never find out in their lifetime.

    ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s like Andrew with Tessa, with no principles involved?¡±

    Max rubbed his forehead, fighting the pain. ¡°Is that so? Then I guess what I feel isn¡¯t love.¡±

    At least he had his principles with Brielle. Knowing she was meeting Spencer, possibly rekindling old

    mes, he forced himself not to dwell on it. If she cared for someone else, why should he interfere? In

    the beginning, hadn¡¯t she clung to him out of revenge against Spencer?

    Unbeknownst to Max, Brielle had switched out the contents of the medicine bottle. From his

    perspective, she had poisoned him. And now, his body was indeed rebelling.

    Even with the knowledge of her harming him, when he saw her about to sip the porridge, he couldn¡¯t¡®

    bring himself to stop her. So this wasn¡¯t love after all.

 Chatper 251

    Chapter 251

    What was that then?

    Max had never really mulled over romantic feelings, and his parents¡® union was even less about grand

    promises and soulful connections. He leaned back in the rear seat, silent, feeling his head heavy and

    fuzzy.

    As they were about to get out of the car, Kenzo called out his name. ¡°Max?¡±

    But there was no response from Max, prompting Kenzo to open the door and call Patrick over.

    Max was rushed straight into the ER, with Patrick pacing anxiously outside until the Dorsey n

    arrived. The first to show up were William and Ryan, thetter with a smile stered on his face. He

    had just been in a tizzy over a kidnapping video of Spencer, but as soon as he heard Max was in the

    hospital, all his gloom vanished, a sly smile tugging at his lips, feigning concern. ¡°Patrick, is Max

    alright? What could have caused him to faint so suddenly?¡±

    The drug Ryan had procured was listed as a banned substance by the World Medical Association.

    Once it kicked in, it would do nothing but exhaust a person, making them want to sleep incessantly.

    And if death were to ur, it would be chalked up to overwhelming stress or sheer exhaustion. It

    seemed Brielle was ying along, taking action already.

    William cast a meaningful nce at Ryan but quickly looked away, his gaze fixed on the ER with

    feigned concern.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Patrick, well aware of their ulterior motives, still had to maintain a facade of harmony. ¡°Mr. Dorsey must

    be exhausted. He didn¡¯t rest at all during those days abroad.¡±

    Exhausted? This was exactly the same as the effects of the pills.

    Ryan could hardly contain his glee, but he offered hollowfort, ¡°Once he wakes up, we really should

    talk to him about taking care of himself.¡±

    As his words faded, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, and at the center of the

    commotion was Michael.

    Michael strode in rapidly, his brow furrowing at the sight of people gathered by the ER. ¡°Patrick, what

    exactly happened to Max?¡±

    Patrick straightened, responding with reverence, ¡°Mr. Dorsey has been overworked from his trip

    abroad. He might just be extremely fatigued.¡±

    Relief washed over Michael, who knew all too well the pressures abroad, and he sighed.

    By his side was an elegantly made¨Cup woman, Victoria, who helped the old man sit down, her face

    unreadable as she called out to Ryan and William, ¡°William, Ryan.¡±

    William nodded and took a seat, offeringforting words to Michael. ¡°Dad, I spoke to the doctor. He

    said there won¡¯t be anyplications.¡±

    Chapter 251

    Michael nodded, his grip tight on his cane. If something were to happen to Max, not just the Dorsey

    family, but all of Beaconsfield would be changed. So, as he was hospitalized,

    everyone¡¯s agendas began to stir.

    The ER doors opened, and the doctor wheeled Max out. Max was still unconscious, his face still pale.

    Removing his mask, the doctor stated, ¡°Max has been under a lot of pressure. He¡¯s just overly tired.

    Some rest and he¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    Michael finally rxed and followed into the ward room. The room was crowded, and Kenzo, seeing

    the turnout, thought to slip away but was stopped by Michael. ¡°Kenzo, stay. I have a few words for you.

    The rest of you, please step outside.¡±

    The others exchanged looks and filed out.

    Kenzo had an inkling of what Michael might ask and had already prepared his story. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to

    have a word with Max.¡±

    Michael¡¯s stern face and imposing gaze fixed on Kenzo. ¡°What exactly happened at the Ronds¡® that

    night?¡±

    Before leaving the Ronds¡®, Kenzo had made it clear to Austin that this matter was not to be shared

    with outsiders. Thus, even if rumors had swirled, attention wouldn¡¯t focus solely on Max and Brielle,

    because Kenzo was there that night too, and so was Andrew. Only those present. knew the real story.

    With respectful demeanor, Kenzo ryed a simplified version of the feud between Brielle and Tessa. ¡®

    Michael¡¯s brows knitted together, his expression turning grave. ¡°Why did Max go there?¡±

    ¡°Max was there because of me. I wanted to discuss something with him about Alivia. We received a

    call from the Ronds while in the car. I have some ties with Brielle and couldn¡¯t stand by and watch

    her in trouble.¡±

    In the eyes of all the elders, Kenzo was seen as a gentleman and a sensible man. So Michael didn¡¯t

    suspect him and continued probing, ¡°Brielle has broken up with Spencer. She¡¯s a decisive girl, and

    whoever she ends up with is her business.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, rest assured, after all these years between Max and Alivia, there won¡¯t be any unexpected

    surprises.¡±

    Hearing this, Michael finally let go of his worries.

 Chatper 252

    Chapter 252

    Kenzo stepped out of the ward room, catching sight of William and Ryan standing not too far off, deeply

    engrossed in a conversation. When they noticed him, smiles stretched across their faces.

    ¡°Kenzo, what did the old man talk to you about?¡±

    Kenzo offered a small grin. ¡°Just some trivial matters, nothing to fret over. Guys, I¡¯ve got to run, so I¡¯ll

    be off.¡± With a polite nod, he turned and made his way toward the staircase.

    William and Ryan exchanged a nce, unsure of what Michael was really thinking.

    Meanwhile, Victoria was seated to the side, brow furrowed as she texted furiously on her phone.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Ryan knew exactly who she was in touch with and couldn¡¯t help but scoff. ¡°After all these years,

    Everett¡¯s still treating you like that. Your brother¡¯s passed out and he can¡¯t even be bothered to show

    up.¡±

    Victoria¡¯s expression turned somewhat unpleasant. Everett had always been a sore point for her, and

    no one was allowed to bring him up.

    ¡°Ryan,¡± she retorted sharply, ¡°Everett¡¯s swamped at work. As for Spencer, doesn¡¯t he work at Dorsey

    International? Why isn¡¯t he here checking on his own family?¡±

    Mentioning Spencer brought to Ryan¡¯s mind the kidnapping video. He had people track Spencer¡¯s

    phone to Beaconsfield, but the exact location remained elusive. The kidnappers had only sent a video

    and hadn¡¯t yet made their demands.

    Spencer was Ryan¡¯s only son; he couldn¡¯t afford any harm toe to him. Yet, he also couldn¡¯t let

    himself be too vulnerable. Other than sending people out to search, he was left to wait for the

    kidnappers¡® next move.

    Just then, his phone buzzed with a new message: photos. One showed a red handprint on Spencer¡¯s

    cheek, another a dagger gleaming ominously. The threat was implicit.

    Ryan¡¯s expression turned to ice as he strode briskly out the door, only to be stopped by Michael

    emerging from the room. ¡°Max¡¯s awake. Patrick, he wants a word with you. William, Ryan, your two

    come in as well.¡±

    The men addressed entered the room, leaving Victoria awkwardly standing in the hallway.

    Michael cast a nce her way, knowing she was waiting for someone, and let out a curt huff. Victoria

    tried to mask her unease, and quickly offered an excuse. ¡°Dad, Everett¡¯s got a concert tonight, that¡¯s

    why-¡±

    ¡°Enough,¡± Michael cut her off. ¡°The Dorsey family knows all about you two. If it weren¡¯t for your

    constant protection, he wouldn¡¯t havested this long. Victoria, you should learn from Max. It¡¯s only

    when you let go of your emotions that you can stand firm.¡±

    Chapter 252

    Victoria¡¯s hand, hanging by her side, clenched tightly, and she fell silent.

    Inside the room, Max had already propped himself up, though hisplexion was still pale.

    Patrick fluffed up a pillow behind him and then stood back quietly.

    William and Ryan feigned concern with a few perfunctory words: they wouldn¡¯t mind if Max was out of

    the picture.

    Michael, seeing through the facade, pressed on. ¡°Max, have you had your blood checked? Are you

    certain it¡¯s just exhaustion?¡±

    Given Max¡¯s importance, any mishap raised suspicions of foul y. The Dorsey n was rife with

    infighting, and at the heart of it, the main family was a nest of vipers, constantly scheming against one

    another.

    Michael had always let the minor squabbles slide, but should it escte to a matter of life and death,

    that was another story.

    Max closed his eyes, his voice icy even toward his father. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m fine. I just need a few days¡± rest.

    You can let my brothers go back.¡±

    Michael narrowed his eyes, his words a clear warning to all present. ¡°If I find out that someone is

    behind this, I will definitely not spare them.¡±

    William and Ryan stiffened but kept theirposure.

    After they left, Michael stood up as well. ¡°If it¡¯s those two, I¡¯ll make sure they¡¯re sent out of the

    country.¡±

    ¡°Father, I¡¯ll handle it myself.¡± Max insisted.

    Knowing his son¡¯s temperament. Michael nodded. ¡°Just be careful, Max. If anything happens to you,

    the Dorsey family will be in chaos.¡±

    After a few more words of caution, Michael left with Victoria¡¯s support.

    Once alone, Max turned his gaze out the window.

    Patrick, sensing his thoughts, offered, ¡°Shall I call Ms. Brielle? She probably doesn¡¯t know you¡¯re in the

    hospital.¡±

    Feeling the weight of exhaustion, Max closed his eyes. ¡°No need.¡±

 Chatper 253

    Chapter 253

    Unaware of Max¡¯s hospitalization, Brielle went about her business with a calcted calm. Spencer,

    who had recoiled at the sight of Brielle¡¯s glinting switchde, was now quivering. unable to utter a

    single word as he stared at her with trembling lips.

    Brielle had little patience for his cowardice and didn¡¯t bother to rush into contacting Ryan, choosing

    instead to wait for news from the outside. She knew that Ryan, failing to find Spencer, would inevitably

    reach out to the authorities.

    By the afternoon, Brielle had made all her preparations. Spencer had hailed his own cab to the hotel a

    Dorsey International establishment that no one would suspect as a hiding ce. Indeed, the most

    dangerous ces can often be the safest.

    Brielle had prepared a back¨Cup phone with an anti¨Csurveince system, which she knew was

    untraceable. It offered only a vague location within Beaconsfield to Ryan¨Ca needle in a haystack for

    him to find.

    Brielle shoved Spencer into the bathroom, his mouth gagged, leaving him helplessly watching

    as she closed the door.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Outside the hotel room, Lillian had been lurking until a patrolling staff member spotted her suspicious

    behavior and demanded to see her room card. Lillian, prepared, took out a card from the adjacent room

    and slipped in after the staff walked away, standing vignt throughout the night.

    She sent Max a message, sowing seeds of doubt: [Brielle and Spencer are holed up in that room all

    night. What do you think they¡¯re up to?]

    Max, restless and sleepless, stared at the message for minutes before blocking the number. Lillian,

    desperate for a response, tried calling, only to be met with the dispassionate tone of an automated

    message; she had been blocked.

    Anger red in Lillian¡¯s eyes¨Chow could Max favor Brielle so? She clenched her phone so tightly her

    teeth nearly shattered. Plotting Brielle¡¯s downfall, a wicked scheme began to take shape in her mind,

    and she smirked as she gazed towards the neighboring room, beginning toy her trap.

    Meanwhile, Brielle ordered a hearty breakfast, and after eating, she dealt with severalpany emails

    online. It was only when internal messages revealed Max¡¯s hospitalization and subsequent high¨Clevel

    meetings that Brielle sprang into action. She called Max, then Patrick, to no avail.

    Packing up a breakfast that Max favored during his stays at the hotel, Brielle finally obtained the

    hospital address from Kenzo and rushed to see him.

    Upon reaching the hospital door, she was about to knock when she overheard Max¡¯s conversation with

    Patrick.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, Ms. Brielle called. Are you sure we shouldn¡¯t tell her?¡± asked Patrick, concern

    Max, looking trail with an IV needle in his hand, remained indifferent. ¡°No need.¡±

    ¡°But she¡¯ll worry if she finds outter,¡± Patrick pressed.

    A flicker of coldness passed through Max¡¯s eyes. Worry? She was probably cozying up to Spencer,

    realizing her past mistakes, and hoping to rekindle what they had. Blind, indeed.

    Max let out a self¨Cdeprecating chuckle, suppressing the tumultuous emotions within him. ¡°Our

    rtionship is about to end anyway.¡±

    Better to end things on his own terms than wait for her to do it. It was a rtionship teetering on the

    edge, after all.

    Exhausted from days of sleepless nights abroad, Max had tasted longing for the first time, only to be

    met with a crushing blow from Brielle. Thankfully, such feelings were retractable. He just needed a few

    days to recover.

    His gaze fell back to the documents in his hand, but his heart couldn¡¯t help but feel slighted. He had

    treated her well, certainly better than Spencer had. Why then would she turn to Spencer?

    Brielle, standing just outside the door, fingers curled around the doorknob, felt a painful twist in her

    heart as she listened to Max¡¯s words. Her fingertips involuntarily curled tighter.

    Chapter 254

 Chatper 254

    Chapter 254

    She gazed at the takeout she had carefully packed, a hint of self¨Cmockery tinging her thoughts.. Taking

    a deep breath topose herself, she opened the door. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, I heard you were in the hospital.

    Feeling better?¡±

    Neither of the two in the room expected her visit. Max¡¯s grip on his paperwork tightened, the slight

    sense of grievance he had vanishing instantly. He looked up at Brielle.

    With a warm smile, Brielle ced the takeout on the bedside table.

    Patrick, sensing the moment, discreetly exited, closing the door behind him, leaving them to their

    privacy.

    Max didn¡¯t speak, and Brielle began unpacking the food. ¡°Have you had lunch? I brought some. things

    from the hotel. Care for a bite?¡±

    The dishes were all light and nd, perfect for someone recovering from illness.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Max stayed silent, eyes fixed on the documents, though he wasn¡¯t really reading them.

    Brielle scooped up a spoonful of soup, bringing it to his lips, only to hear him ask, ¡°Weren¡¯t you

    supposed to be at home? Why the hotel?¡±

    Brielle realized she had misspoken. The food was obviously from that particr hotel¡¯s menu. and Max,

    with his own suite there, would surely know where she got it. Lies were bound to unravel.

    ¡°I-¡± Brielle struggled to find an excuse. Should she divulge the whole kidnapping Spencer affair? But

    Max was a Dorsey, after all. He wouldn¡¯t tak her side.

    ¡°I had some business at the hotel.¡±

    Max remained silent, his gaze unsettling her, turning her normally confident demeanor into a disy of

    difort.

    He closed his eyes, and after a while, he chuckled softly. ¡°Brielle, let¡¯s end this charade.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s grip on the spoon tightened, her throat constricting as if choked, unable to speak.

    To mask the hurt, she pretended to stir the soup, her eyes reddening, striving to keep her voice steady.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    No plea, no pain, just a calm affirmation.

    Max felt a surge of frustration. Her seemingly indifference hurt him in ways he couldn¡¯t describe. He

    held back before finally saying, ¡°You can go now.¡±

    Brielle slowly set down the bowl and stood up with difficulty.

    A myriad of needles seemed to prick at her heart. She admitted to a fondness for Max but was far from

    love. It was a mistake from the start, and perhaps it was for the best that it ended.

    Chapter 254

    She turned swiftly, and as she reached the door, her throat tightened. Upon opening it, she saw Patrick

    sitting outside in the hallway.

    Patrick, taken aback by her tear¨Crimmed eyes, stuttered, ¡°Ms. Brielle, are you-¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t answer, just shook her head and hurried to the elevator.

    Patrick stood frozen. Was it an illusion? He thought he saw Ms. Brielle crying. Did they have a fight?

    But he didn¡¯t hear any arguing.

    In the room, Patrick saw Max toss the documents aside in irritation. This was the first time. Patrick had

    seen Max acting so petnt. ¡°Sir, it seems like Ms. Brielle has cried.¡±

    Max¡¯s hand froze, difort evident.

    Brielle crying? Was it possible? She seemed soposed.

    Noticing the still¨Cwarm meal Brielle had brought, Patrick assumed it wasn¡¯t to Max¡¯s liking. ¡°Shall I have

    the chef bring something else? What would you like?¡±

    Max looked down, his voice husky. ¡°No need.¡±

    He picked up the bowl and ate a spoonful. It was indeed from the hotel. So, she hadn¡¯t gone homest

    night and spent it with Spencer at the hotel?

    As he took a second bite, he pondered whether his earlier words had been too harsh.

    By the third, he was feeling regret. ¡°You said Brielle was crying?¡±

 Chatper 255

    Chapter 255

    Patrick thought he was hearing things. Just a minute ago, Max had been as nonchnt as ever. ¡°I saw

    Ms. Brielle with red¨Crimmed eyes running out. She must have been crying.¡±

    Max¡¯s fingers froze around the spoon, his heart feeling like it had been pricked with a needle. He stared

    at the bowl of soup in front of him, wondering if Brielle had slipped something into it.

    Had Ryan instructed her to do so, and sheplied, all for Spencer¡¯s sake? Would she do anything for

    Spencer? The realization made him distinctly ufortable, and his stomach clenched in response..

    Catching the shift in Max¡¯s expression, Patrick quietly excused himself and stepped out. After a

    moment¡¯s hesitation, he dialed Brielle¡¯s number.

    Brielle hadn¡¯t even gotten into her car yet; she was sitting on a bench just outside the hospital entrance.

    The ring of the phone elicited no immediate reaction from her. She just gazed nkly ahead.

    She should¡¯ve left immediately, but her mind was in turmoil, and she needed a moment to calm her

    thoughts.

    The phone kept ringing, as if it wouldn¡¯t stop until she answered. Her body moved slowly, like a piece of

    rusted machinery, as she pulled out her phone and saw Patrick¡¯s name on the screen.

    Was he calling to tell her to hand in her resignation at Dorsey International?

    Brielle bit her lip and, with resignation, hung up the call. If Max wanted her out of Dorsey International,

    what would she do?

    She had anticipated that their ambiguous rtionship would end eventually, but not this soon. A bitter

    taste filled her mouth as she leaned back on the bench, her eyes half¨Cclosed. She couldn¡¯t afford toCopyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    stop now; stopping would mean dwelling on theplexities of her rtionship with Max. She needed

    to do something to upy herself.

    Brielle took out her other phone, the one she always carried, and sent a message to Ryan. [Spencer¡¯s

    life for the life of Mark. Fair trade, right?]

    Ryan had already reported Spencer missing and had his own people searching alongside the police.

    The message furrowed his brow, and he sent a quick reply. [Brielle?] Who else would care about that

    old man¡¯s well¨Cbeing enough to kidnap Spencer?

    Brielle knew it was only a matter of time before she was exposed, but as long as she didn¡¯t confess,

    Ryan had no proof it was her doing.

    A venomous look crossed Ryan¡¯s eyes. Brielle used Spencer to threaten him. He took a deep breath

    and ordered his bodyguard, ¡°Bring her in, and check her recent whereabouts. We need to find Spencer

    quickly.¡±

    The bodyguard nodded and hurriedly got into the car..

    Chapter 255

    Meanwhile, the news of Spencer¡¯s disappearance had spread throughout the Dorsey family.

    ¡°Sir, many from the Dorsey family are out looking for Spencer. He¡¯s been reported missing.¡±

    Max frowned, his confusion apparent as he asked, ¡°What?¡±

    Unable to contain himself, Patrick repeated, ¡°Spencer¡¯s missing. He¡¯s been kidnapped.¡±

    Max¡¯s mind sparked like a short¨Ccircuit, and he immediately called the hotel manager. Thest time

    Brielle had stayed at that hotel, Max had made it clear to the staff that if Brielle was there. they were to

    delete all surveince involving her. It was a form of protection for her, and he didn¡¯t need to be

    consulted about it.

    Now, considering Spencer¡¯s disappearance, he couldn¡¯t help but suspect Brielle¡¯s involvement.

    The hotel manager had been waiting for his call and answered promptly. ¡°Sir, Ms. Brielle checked in

    last night with a man, but this morning she only ordered breakfast for one. The hallway cameras show

    they haven¡¯t left, and there¡¯s been another woman keeping watch next door. I¡¯ve deleted all footage of

    Ms. Brielle¡¯s stay, as per your instructions to protect her.¡±

    Max rubbed his temple and gave his instructions, ¡°Has Brielle returned?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Brielle went out this morning and hasn¡¯te back yet.¡±

    ¡°Check the room and report back to me with any updates.¡±

 Chatper 256

    Chapter 256

    The lobby manager nodded curtly, swiftly grabbed a set of keys from the front desk, and, nked by

    two burly bodyguards, made his way to the room Brielle had requested the previous night.

    This was Max¡¯s private suite, a ce only essible to cleaning and sanitization staff. No one else

    ever set foot in there.

    The manager unlocked the door and was greeted by the sight of a pristine living room. The security

    feed showed that the man Brielle had brought with her had never left, yet the room was now eerily

    empty.

    *ng ng!*

    A noise echoed from the bathroom.

    The manager thought his ears were ying tricks on him, but he cautiously approached the bathroom

    door and pushed it open.

    Before him, tied to a chair, was Spencer. The sight threw the manager¡¯s world into disarray. Wasn¡¯t this

    the young master of the Dorsey family?

    Hope flickered in Spencer¡¯s eyes as he saw someone other than Brielle, and he began to struggle

    frantically.

    The manager broke into a cold sweat and shot a look at his bodyguards. Without hesitation, one of the

    bodyguards crept up behind Spencer and knocked him out.

    The manager almost dropped the phone he was holding. ¡°Do you have any idea who he is? Who gave

    you the order to hit him? I meant for you to untie him!¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    The bodyguards were bbergasted.

    As the manager gazed at the unconscious Spencer, he felt the air being squeezed out of his lungs.

    This was a disaster. He clutched his phone with trembling hands and called Max.

    ¡°Uh, Mr. Dorsey, it seems Ms. Brielle has¡­ uh, tied up Mr. Spencer in the hotel, and, well, there¡¯s

    something stuffed in his mouth.¡±

    Max¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You¡¯re saying Brielle kidnapped Spencer?¡±

    The manager nodded frantically. ¡°Yes, what should I do now?¡±

    Max tapped his fingers lightly on the bedspread, pondering. Brielle had lured Spencer to the hotel to

    kidnap him? But why?

    ¡°Is the surveince footage destroyed?¡±

    ¡°From the moment Ms. Brielle arrived at the hotel, all footage rted to her and Mr. Spencer has been

    destroyed.¡±

    Chapter 256

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll have someonee to move Spencer.¡±

    ¡°But Mr. Spencer saw our faces¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±

    With Max¡¯s assurance, the manager wiped the sweat from his forehead, relieved that he wouldn¡¯t be

    held responsible for Spencer¡¯s predicament.

    Max¡¯s voice came through the phone again, ¡°Who was watching them?¡±

    The manager, prepared for this question, didn¡¯t hesitate to reveal the name. ¡°Ady named Lillian. She

    seemed to have spent the entire night outside Ms. Brielle¡¯s door and was the one who followed Ms.

    Brielle in, taking the room next door.¡±

    A chill passed over Max¡¯s eyes. It was her again. ¡°I understand.¡±

    The manager let out a sigh of relief and couldn¡¯t help but ponder. Ms. Brielle had kidnapped Mr.

    Spencer of the Dorsey family, and yet Max, the CEO, seemed to be covering up for her.

    It appeared Ms. Brielle held a significant ce in the CEO¡¯s heart. He turned to the bodyguards and

    cautioned them. ¡°From now on, keep a closer eye on Ms. Brielle¡¯s affairs.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    After hanging up. Max had Patrick arrange for a team to move Spencer. They acted swiftly. transporting

    the still unconscious Spencer to a secure location.

    No sooner had they left than Ryan¡¯s men arrived, but after scouring the surveince, they found no

    trace of Spencer at the hotel nor any sign of Brielle¡¯s check¨Cin.

    How was this possible?

    The street cameras had clearly shown Spencer heading to the hotel and Brielle had been seen arriving

    too. Why were there no records of their stay? The footage suggested nothing out of the ordinary, with

    no sign of either individual

    Ryan¡¯s expression darkened. He had thought that finding Spencer would allow his men to deal with

    Brielle safely, but now, with Spencer missing, there was a risk.

    Despite his reluctance, Ryan had to order his people to withdraw and focus on searching for Spencer.

    Meanwhile, Brielle was on her way back to the hotel. She parked her car by the curb, intending to head

    inside. Just as she came to a stop, a van nearby hurtled towards her, seemingly out of control.

    Brielle didn¡¯t have time to think. She flung open her car door and leaped out. The car smashed past

    her, grazing her thigh and drawing blood. Her own car was sent careening into a nearby building, its

    frame grotesquely twisted. Had she not jumped in time, she would likely be dead.

    Brielle stood to the side, her heart racing as blood trickled down her leg.

    Chapter 254

    Themotion drew the attention of others in the hotel, and the lobby manager was the first to

    emerge. Seeing Brielle¡¯s bloody leg, he was taken aback and immediately called Max Sr. MS. Brielle¡¯s

    been in an ident.¡±

    Before he could finish, the call was abruptly ended.

 Chatper 257

    Chapter 257

    Max yanked the IV from his hand and grabbed his jacket, striding toward the ward room door.

    Patrick moved to support him but was met with a curt, ¡°Check on Brielle¡¯s car crash.¡±

    Taken aback, Patrick nodded and hurried to make the arrangements.

    As they stepped into the elevator, Max¡¯s icy presence was so overpowering it left Patrick. struggling for

    breath. Noticing the blood still seeping from Max¡¯s hand, Patrick wanted to say something¨Canything¨Cto

    break the tension, but the words wouldn¡¯te.

    Max was already on his phone to Brielle as they exited the elevator. Her phone, engulfed in mes

    inside her car, went unanswered.

    Frustrated, Max redialed his manager¡¯s number. By now, the manager, having the good sense to

    support Brielle, had ushered her into the hotel lobby to rest.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, Mr. Dorsey is really worried about you. He¡¯ll be here soon,¡± the manager reassured her.

    Brielle frowned in disbelief. Max? ¡°You mean Max?¡± she asked, incredulous.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    The manager nodded, going pale at the sight of her bleeding. ¡°We should get you to the hospital before

    this gets any worse.¡±

    Brielle, who had a lump in her throat at the thought of Max¡¯s concern, felt her grip tighten on her pants.

    ¡°He¡¯s worried about me?¡± After the cold way they¡¯d ended things, could he really be worried?

    The manager nodded vigorously. ¡°To Mr. Dorsey, you¡¯re more important than family.¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help butugh at the rumor, though it eased the bitterness she felt.

    Sensing her skepticism, the manager was about to mention Spencer when the hotel doors swung

    open, and Max strode in. His jacket dangled from his elbow, his expression as frosty as ever. The sight

    of the blood on Brielle¡¯s foot made him grimace.

    She was shocked. How did he get here so fast?

    Max crouched to inspect her injury, with onlookers beginning to take notice. Brielle was worried that

    someone might recognize Max. If that scene ended up online, it would undoubtedly attract. gossip and

    rumors. Andrew¡¯s words from earlier had be a thorn in her side. She was Max¡¯s only stain.

    This untouchable man was meant to be suspended high above all else.

    Her nose stung with the effort to hold back tears as he examined her wound. The thought of Spencer

    still locked upstairs made her anxious, and the memory of Max¡¯s words to end things

    filled her with hurt.

    Without a word, Max wrapped an arm around her. ¡°If this gets infected, you could lose the leg. If

    1/2

    Chapter 257

    you don¡¯t want to go to the hospital, I¡¯ll take you to Premier Pce. You can heal there, and you¡¯ll have

    care. If you don¡¯t want to see me, I¡¯ll stay at a hotel.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s frown deepened. Why would she not want to see him?

    Meanwhile, the manager¡¯s eyes bulged. Ms. Brielle was already staying at Premier Pce? Had Mr.

    Dorsey really given up his home just to appease her?

    This was no different than a husband kicked out of his own house after a tiff with his wife.

    The manager looked at Brielle with newfound reverence, realizing that anything concerning her had to

    be a top priority.

    If Max hadn¡¯t shown up, Brielle would have considered the injury trivial, just a bit more blood than

    usual. She¡¯d been through worse. But with him there, the pain seemed to intensify to ant unbearable

    level.

    Biting her lip, tears started to flow. Whether it was the pain from her wounds or the emotional ache from

    his deration of ending things, she couldn¡¯t tell. All she knew was that she couldn¡¯t hold back the

    tears any longer, and like a faulty faucet, they wouldn¡¯t stop falling.

    Max, thinking her pain was too much, held her close in a tight embrace.

 Chatper 258

    Chapter 258

    The manager scrambled to clean up the scene, making sure no one would snap pictures before leading

    the way out.

    After settling everyone into the car, Max gently wiped away Brielle¡¯s tears. With her lips tightly pursed,

    Brielle seemed to lose her voice to silence.

    Max felt as if his own pain was amplified tenfold. He pulled out a tissue and dabbed at her cheeks, over

    and over.

    As the car started to move, Max leaned in and captured her quivering lip with his own. A flicker of

    surprise crossed Brielle¡¯s eyes, and her tears stopped as if frozen, her gaze reflecting his silhouette.

    She tensed, not daring to move.

    The car came to a halt inside the grandeur of Premier Pce, where the doctor was already waiting.

    Spotting the injured Brielle, he quickly grabbed his medical kit.

    When the doctor¡¯s hands touched her leg, Brielle btedly felt a piercing pain. Only then did she

    realize her leg was broken and in need of a cast.

    Max sat beside her, frowning in silence.

    Embarrassed by her earlier behavior, Brielle finally came to her senses. Max didn¡¯t look at her. and was

    busy inquiring about the next steps from the doctor.

    Wesley, was sweating bullets, quickly instructing the kitchen to simmer extra batches of soup.

    Brielle sat in ce, observing the hustle and bustle at Premier Pce due to her arrival, and a warm

    feeling filled her heart.

    When Max announced it was time to end things, she truly felt miserable. Before she was ten. she lived

    in an orphanage where having enough to eat was a constant struggle. But after ten. as she was

    brought back to the Haywood family, she never felt the warmth of a true home.

    Her heart carried hidden ailments, burdened with too much pride and self¨Cesteem. For many years,

    weathering all storms alone, she had grown into a towering and solitary giant tree.

    Such a tree was, as Spencer would say, dull andcking feminine charm. It¡¯s not like a flower, trembling

    on a branch, stirring emotions, nor like a vine, weaving its way into hearts. So, she never fancied the

    idea that a man like Max could be moved by her.

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    In the midst of their silence, Patrick entered with a grim face. ¡°Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    He approached Max with respect. ¡°We¡¯ve got control over the driver. Breathalyzer shows he was under

    the influence. But this morning, his ount received a hefty sum, a million dors. The deposit¡­¡±

    Patrick paused, mindful of Brielle¡¯s presence. ¡°came from someone in the Haywood family.¡±

    At that, Brielle looked up, ¡°Lillian?¡±

    14:32

    Chapter 258

    Patrick nodded, seeing that she took the news without distress, he continued, ¡°This ount has been

    funding various online trolls for years, spreading rumors about you, Ms. Brielle. Created long ago,

    Lillian probably didn¡¯t realize the need for discretion, so it¡¯s under her real

    name.¡±

    Foolish.

    A cold glint passed through Brielle¡¯s eyes, ready to settle scores with the Haywood family once she

    recovered. But then she heard Max speak up. ¡°Get me a breakdown of the Haywood family¡¯s business

    empire.¡±

    Prepared, Patrick produced a file, sensing Max was about to make a move against the Haywoods.

    ¡°Here are the profiles of the Haywood family¡¯s key clients. The Haywoods have been riding the coattails

    of the Dorsey family¡¯s power due to Ms. Brielle¡¯s engagement with Mr. Spencer. They¡¯ve been climbing,

    but since the wedding keeps getting dyed, the clients, who were only in it for the Dorseys, are

    getting restless. The Haywoods are starting to have cash flow problems. We just need to give them a

    little nudge.¡±

    ¡°Do it.¡± Max instructed.

    The topic was about Brielle, yet she felt like an outsider in her own matter. As Patrick turned to leave,

    she blurted out. ¡°Wait-

    Max looked up, his gaze coolly sweeping over her, ¡°What, feeling sorry for them?¡±

    Surprised, Brielle retorted, ¡°No way. When I got engaged to Spencer, they didn¡¯t bother asking. me. To

    them, I¡¯m just a cheapmodity to be used up and thrown away.¡±

    Spencer¡¯s name made Max sit up a little straighter.

 Chatper 259

    Chapter 259

    He hoped Brielle would say something more, like why on earth she had taken Spencer to the hotel and

    kidnapped him in the first ce. Did she even have any feelings for Spencer?

    But after Brielle¡¯sstment, she just frowned and fell silent, her thoughts drifting to Spencer, who

    she had left bound in the bathroom. Her arm now encased in a cast, so she was unable to move him

    herself, and if Spencer were to be discovered by someone else, all her efforts would be for naught.

    Should she reach out to Aubree? But her phone had gone to smithereens along with her car. which

    meant that if she wanted to contact Aubree, she would have to rely on Max.

    ncing at Max, she found his gaze already on her. Their eyes met, and she quickly looked away,

    feeling a flush of nervous heat wash over her.

    Max stood up and asked, ¡°Does your leg hurt?¡±

    Brielle meant to deny it, but instead she murmured, ¡°Mhm.¡±

    Max asked Wesley to bring over a wheelchair and gently helped her into it.

    Brielle noticed his carefulness, and it made her nose tingle with emotion. Even after dering

    their end, Max was still the kindest to her.

    *Stay here and heal up,¡± he said.

    He was about to leave after saying that, but then he heard Brielle ask, ¡°And what about you?¡±

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Her words hooked him, holding him in ce. He wanted to say he¡¯d stay at a hotel or one of his other

    properties, but it felt like Brielle was subtly asking him to stay. So, instead, he offered. ¡°How about I

    wheel you around the garden for a bit?¡±

    Brielle wasn¡¯t sure what to say, so she nodded instinctively. Both seemed to be looking for excuses to

    stay together.

    As Max pushed her through the garden, trying to think of a new topic of conversation, his phone started

    to ring. He frowned, instinctively not wanting to answer, but the ringing persisted.

    Even Brielle looked up at him, ¡°Go ahead, it might be something important at the office.¡±

    He took out his phone, and when he saw it was Andrew calling, his expression darkened, and he hung

    up without hesitation.

    Andrew called a few times, but there was no answer. On thest hang¨Cup, Andrew frowned and turned

    to Kenzo, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say he was in the hospital?¡±

    Kenzo, holding a ss of wine, nodded slightly, ¡°He was, but I heard Brielle had a car ident. He

    probably rushed over there.¡±

    At the mention of Brielle, a surge of distaste welled up inside Andrew, his lips tightening. Always

    because of Brielle.!

    Chapter 259

    ¡°He must be in love with Brielle!¡± he concluded. The thought made Andrew restless, but what could he

    do?

    ¡°Kenzo, we can¡¯t just watch Max fall like this.¡±

    Kenzo sipped his wine, smiling lightly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you tangled up with Tessa either. Why don¡¯t

    you break it off with her?¡±

    At that, Andrew froze. ¡°My situation with Tessa is different. Tessa is innocent, but Brielle.¡±

    Kenzo pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperated, ¡°Let¡¯s just stay out of Max¡¯s business, okay?¡±

    ¡°Kenzo, you don¡¯t seem to have any issues with Brielle?¡±

    Raising an eyebrow, Kenzo chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m just curious to see how far those two will go.¡±

    Andrew¡¯s lips thinned, a cold glint shing in his eyes, ¡°They¡¯ll never end up together.¡±

    After hanging up several times, Max handed his phone to a servant nearby. He continued to wheel

    Brielle around the garden, but she was obviously distracted, trying to figure out how to ask him for his

    phone. She had to get someone to move Spencer, and she couldn¡¯t let Max find

    out.

    Max was waiting for her to bring up Spencer, but after aplete round of the garden, Brielle was still

    silent, her brow furrowed with worry. It seemed she had no intention of speaking. In her heart, he was

    not a person she could trust.

    Realizing this, Max didn¡¯t linger any longer and left Premier Pce.

 Chatper 260

    Chapter 260

    Brielle lounged on the sofa, her mind in a daze. She couldn¡¯t sit idly by any longer, so she turned to the

    busy¨Cbodied Wesley and asked, ¡°Hey Wesley, can I borrow your phone for a sec?¡±

    Wesley paused, Mr. Dorsey had made it clear: if Ms. Brielle ever asked to borrow a phone, he had to

    be informed. Still, he handed over his phone with a smile, nodding, ¡°Sure thing, Ms. Brielle.¡±

    Relieved, Brielle grabbed the phone and strolled into the garden, ensuring no one was around before

    dialing Aubree¡¯s number. Aubree picked up swiftly, and Brielle spilled the beans on what she¡¯d done.

    On the other end, Aubree took a deep breath, her voice a whisper of disbelief. ¡°You¡¯ve really lost it,

    kidnapping Spencer? And hiding out in a Dorsey International hotel? If any of the Dorsey n. finds

    out, you¡­¡±

    But before Aubree could finish, Brielle cut her off, ¡°Aubree, think of something. Move him, even if it

    means sneaking him out in a trash bin. Don¡¯t raise any red gs. Ryan¡¯s searching high and. low, and I

    can¡¯t have him finding Spencer.¡±

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Aubree had never imagined Brielle capable of such a wild scheme. After hanging up, she rushed to the

    hotel, only to be turned away from Brielle¡¯s room. It belonged to Max, and even Brielle had forgotten

    that crucial detail.

    She¡¯d chosen Max¡¯s private suite because it was the safest bet, and no one would dare enter without

    cause. Now, that very safety became her trap.

    With the room key destroyed along with the phone, getting a new one meant a personal trip to the front

    desk. But there she was, at Premier Pce, under Max¡¯s watchful eye. A hasty departure would only

    deepen his suspicions.

    Brielle¡¯s head pounded with the stress of it all. After mulling it over, she decided to risk the trip to the

    hotel. She ryed the n to Wesley, who frowned, ¡°Do you have to go back right now. Ms. Brielle?¡±

    She nodded, ¡°Keep this under wraps from Mr. Dorsey. I¡¯ll try to be back by morning.¡±

    Max hadn¡¯t shown his face at Premier Pce for days, their strained rtionship keeping him at bay.

    Wesley sighed, reluctantly giving his consent.

    Back at Pearl Estate, Brielle bought herself a new phone and immediately reached out to Aubree.

    Aubree arrived in no time, fretting all the way, ¡°Ryan¡¯s making a scene. Everyone knows Spencer¡¯s

    gone. Getting him out of that hotel, just us two? It¡¯s unrealistic. I suggest we bring in a third party.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡±

    14:32

    Chapter 260

    ¡°Tiffanie.¡±

    Tiffanie knew everyone, inside the circle and out. With her help, the move might just work. Desperate,

    Brielle called Tiffanie without dy.

    An hourter. Tiffanie¡¯s car waited downstairs. Brielle and Aubree hopped in to find Mason sulking in

    the passenger seat. He barely nodded at Brielle before crossing his arms and shutting down.

    Brielle swallowed hard, uncertain if Tiffanie had seen the message she¡¯d sent. If she had, even with

    Tiffanie¡¯s carefree nerve, she wouldn¡¯t be caught dead with Mason again. But Tiffanie smiled and

    hummed along to a tune, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel.

    ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it, Brielle. I¡¯ve got this.¡± Tiffanie assured her. ¡°Already called a buddy of mine. You get that

    key card, and tonight, we¡¯ll move him.¡±

    Brielle exhaled with relief, ¡°Tiffanie, let¡¯s keep this among us for now.¡±

    Tiffanie winked. ¡°My lips are sealed.

    Trusting Tiffanie¡¯s reliability in such matters, Brielle didn¡¯t push further.

    When the car pulled up to the hotel, Brielle, leaning on her crutch, made her way inside, but as she

    approached the front desk, she ran into someone unexpected¨CLillian.

    Lillian had been waiting on that driver¡¯s news forever and was getting antsy, especially after hearing

    about Spencer¡¯s disappearance. Spencer was supposed to be with Brielle, right? Why was everyone

    saying he was missing?

    Curiosity piqued, she¡¯d returned to the hotel only to bump into Brielle herself.

    Lillian staggered back, spooked as if she¡¯d seen a ghost. ¡°How are you still¡­¡±

    Brielle raised an eyebrow, a cold smile ying on her lips as she nced at her leg. ¡°You mean, how

    am I still alive?¡±

    Lillian checked their surroundings, making sure no one was eavesdropping before tearing into Brielle.

    ¡°Yeah, how are you still breathing, you wretch? You should¡¯ve been dead long ago. I heard Spencer¡¯s

    missing. Wasn¡¯t he with youst night? I saw you both enter the same room. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve

    locked him away?¡±

 Chatper 261

    Chapter 261

    Brielle¡¯s eyes narrowed, a flicker of panic passing through them. How on earth did Lillian find out about

    this? Was she followed by Lillianst night? This was trouble, big trouble.

    Noticing Brielle¡¯s momentary daze, Lillian let out a derisive snort. ¡°So, what¡¯s this? Did I hit the nail on

    the head? Did you really stash Spencer away somewhere? Just imagine if I spill the beans to the

    Dorseys. What do you think they¡¯ll do to you?¡±

    ¡°Do you have any proof?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I do.¡± Lillian boasted. ¡°I¡¯ve got photos of you two from the moment you met until you went

    into that room. Spencer¡¯s disappearance is all tied to you, sweetheart. Just you wait, I¡¯m sending these

    pictures to Faith right now.¡±

    Lillian whipped out her smartphone, the malice in her eyes almost spilling over. Lady Luck was on her

    side; Brielle was somehow embroiled in Spencer¡¯s abduction.

    Already tapping away, Lillian was about to send the message when a sudden force hit and her phone

    flew out of her hands.

    Looking up in disbelief, she met the gaze of a determined Brielle. ¡°Brielle, you!¡± Her words were cut

    short as Brielle kicked the phone into the lobby¡¯s ornamental fountain. With a little plop, the phone

    disappeared beneath the water¡¯s surface.

    ¡°Brielle!¡± Lillian¡¯s eyes zed with fury as she stormed forward, her hand raised to strike. But the

    lobby¡¯s security, already on alert thanks to the manager¡¯s signal, stepped in and held her back.

    Lillian trembled with rage, ¡°How dare you destroy my phone! Have you lost your mind?!¡±

    Brielle seemed unfazed by the outburst and instead offered a smirk, ¡°I suppose the driver who hit me

    was bribed by you, huh? I¡¯ve got solid proof, so you might want to save some energy for your chat with

    the cops.¡±

    Lillian scoffed, ¡°The driver was drunk. What¡¯s that got to do with me?¡±

    ¡°You transferred that million bucks from an ount in your own name. Now tell me, how foolish can

    you be?¡±

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Lillian froze, herplexion turning as pale as a ghost. That ount had never been a problem over

    the years, to the point where she hadpletely forgotten that it was registered under her real name.

    Damn it! How could she have overlooked that?

    The lobby manager approached Brielle with a respectful demeanor, ¡°Ms. Brielle, what seems to be the

    issue here?¡±

    Brielle pointed at Lillian, ¡°She¡¯s implicated in a murder¨Cfor¨Chire plot. Could you please call the police

    and have her taken away?¡±

    Nodding, the manager signaled the security to escort Lillian to the police station.

    10

    Chapter 261

    Lillian began to struggle violently. ¡°Brielle, just you wait. I¡¯ll tell the Dorseys everything. Ryan and

    Michael won¡¯t let you off the hook. And Max, even if he¡¯s on your side now, if he finds out you

    kidnapped his nephew, guess who¡¯ll be the first to turn against you?¡±

    Brielle frowned, tired of Lillian¡¯s babbling.

    Lillian was seething, her mind racing with hatred. It then dawned on her that this was a hotel under the

    Dorsey International umbre. Spencer was a face well¨Cknown to the staff here. Moreover, the news of

    Spencer¡¯s abduction was the talk of the town.

    A gleam of triumph flickered in her eyes as she turned to the manager with a sly grin, ¡°You can contact

    Dorsey International¡¯s head office, can¡¯t you? Brielle is involved in Spencer¡¯s kidnapping. I have

    evidence on my phone. Retrieve it, and I can testify that Brielle was with Spencerst night.¡±

    The manager, who had recognized Lillian as the woman who had stayed in the room next to Brielle¡¯s

    the previous night, gave her a look of pity. The CEO was already aware of Brielle¡¯s involvement and

    had even helped cover it up. This woman thinking of reporting to the head office was living in a

    fantasy..

    Lillian¡¯s triumphant smile faltered as the manager interrupted her and instructed. ¡°Take her away. To the

    police station.¡±

    Disbelief washed over Lillian¡¯s face; she couldn¡¯t understand why her words weren¡¯t having the

    intended effect.

    How could they not react? The news of Spencer¡¯s kidnapping was public, and she had evidence. As

    employees of Dorsey International, how could they be so indifferent?

    Desperation gripped Lillian as she began to struggle, her eyes burning with a fierce hatred, fixated on

    Brielle. She vowed to herself that the moment she got in touch with the Dorseys. Brielle would be

    ruined.

 Chatper 262

    Chapter 262

    Lillian was manhandled into the police station, and by the time she was seated on the icy metal. chair,

    every inch of her was shivering with cold, her teeth chattering uncontrobly. Yet, inside. a me of

    resentment threatened to engulf her whole being.

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Upon hearing the cops call the Haywood family, she leapt from her chair, snatching the mobile phone

    from an officer¡¯s grasp. Surprise flickered across the officer¡¯s face, clearly taken aback by her audacity.

    As soon as Lillian saw the number on the screen, she knew exactly who was on the line. Scrambling to

    marshal her thoughts, she was desperate to convey everything she knew. ¡°Mom, the whole town¡¯s

    buzzing about Spencer¡¯s disappearance, right? Well, I know where he is. Brielle¡¯s got him, she¡¯s

    kidnapped him. You gotta tell Faith, pronto!¡±

    Miranda, on the other end of the line, couldn¡¯t believe her ears. Brielle, kidnapping Spencer? Why on

    earth would Brielle kidnap Spencer?

    ¡°Mom, it¡¯s the truth, I swear. Last night, Spencer and Brielle checked into a hotel together, stayed the

    whole night. He hasn¡¯te out since. How could he possibly be missing unless Brielle¡¯s hiding him

    somewhere? I even sent pictures to Max, and you know what? Max blocked me. I think he¡¯s blind as a

    bat, he must not realize his own nephew¡¯s been nabbed. You gotta- Her voice choked off as if

    something had suddenly blocked her throat. That was right, she had sent so many photos to Max, and

    initially, he hadn¡¯t blocked her, which meant he received the pictures. With Spencer¡¯s disappearance

    causing such a stir, the Dorsey family had already filed a police report. Max must be in the loop. He

    knew this was connected to Brielle, clearer than anyone else. Yet he remained silent, even went so far

    as to block her.

    Back at the hotel, the manager hadn¡¯t misunderstood her; he knew the truth but feigned ignorance, all

    of them covering for Brielle. All because between Spencer and Brielle, Max chose Brielle.

    Lillian felt a dull ache in her chest, a rage so intense she wanted to carve Brielle into pieces.

    How could Brielle be worthy of Max¡¯s attention? Could it be that Max had fallen for Brielle?

    The thought ignited a destructive fury within her.

    What she couldn¡¯t have, she would destroy. Never would she allow that wench Brielle to get her hands

    on it.

    ¡°Also, Mom, tell Faith that Brielle is Max¡¯s mistress, and they¡¯re an item. Max is deliberately overlooking

    the whole Spencer kidnapping situation.¡±

    Miranda¡¯s head was reeling, convinced Lillian had lost her mind. ¡°Lillian, didn¡¯t your dad say we

    shouldn¡¯t tell the Dorsey family just yet? Otherwise-¡±

    ¡°Mom!¡±

    Chapter 262

    Lillian roared with a mix of despair and anger. ¡°Do you really think Brielle¡¯s gonna help us? If she

    secures Max¡¯s heart, she¡¯ll turn on us in a heartbeat. We can¡¯t let her get any closer to Max.¡±

    Miranda felt utterly panicked, unable to decide. After all, it was Robert who always called the shots in

    the family. ¡°Lillian, calm down. I¡¯ll get you out of there first, then we can talk, okay?¡±

    Lillian¡¯s seething subsided a notch. Of course, she couldn¡¯t stay cooped up in the station forever. Even

    if she were charged with attempted murder, the Haywood family¡¯s wealth would bail her out. She

    sneered. Did Brielle think she could topple her that easily? Dream on.

    An officer had already wrestled the phone from Lillian and cuffed her hands, cautioning her against

    further outbursts.

    Lillian sneered again. With the Haywood¡¯s influence, she¡¯d be out in no time. Just wait and see.

    Meanwhile, Brielle had finished dealing with the room card, somewhat surprised that the hotel manager

    had shown no reaction to Lillian¡¯s outburst.

    Frowning, she turned to the always¨Ccourteous manager. ¡°About what Lillian just said-¡±

    She probed, only to see the manager give a reassuring smile. ¡°Ms. Brielle, don¡¯t worry about that. Mr.

    Dorsey will take care of everything.¡±

    The manager was implying that Max would keep Spencer well hidden, ensuring the outside world

    remained oblivious to Brielle¡¯s scheme, effectively protecting her.

    However, as the principal involved, Brielle had no clue what Max was doing, so she assumed Max

    would handle Spencer¡¯s disappearance. After all, Spencer was his nephew, and there was still that

    familial bond.

    Her heart sank even further, convinced now more than ever that she could not let Max find out. ¡°I

    understand, thank you.¡±

    Chapter 263

 Chatper 263

    Chapter 263

    Weighed down by a heavy heart, she strode out of the grand hall and made her way back to the car,

    handing the room key over to Tiffanie.

    Catching the key. Tiffanie thumped her chest confidently and proimed, ¡°Leave it to me.

    Then, turning her gaze to Mason with a sudden softness in her voice, she cooed, ¡°Mason, how about

    you spend the night with me, huh?¡±

    Mason furrowed his brows and shoved her face away. ¡°Just focus on driving, will you?¡±

    Tiffanie let out a chuckle, blew him a kiss, and swiveled the steering wheel.

    Brielle settled into the back seat and, witnessing this exchange, felt a vein in her forehead might just

    pop. She wondered how far their rtionship had evolved and whether she should spill the beans

    about them.

    When the car pulled up to Pearl Estate, Brielle bit her lip in hesitation. Mason caught the look on her

    face and raised an eyebrow, ¡°Got something on your mind?¡±

    Tiffanie¡¯s gaze followed Mason¡¯s, and Brielle managed a strained smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ll treat you to

    dinner for handling this, okay?¡±

    Tiffanie nodded and nced at Aubree in the rearview mirror. ¡°Aubree, you need a lift?¡±

    Being from the same circles. Tiffanie was well¨Cacquainted with Aubree, who had heard plenty about

    her as well. Aubree nced at Brielle¡¯s leg, considering staying to keep herpany. but Brielle shook

    her head, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m fine on my own.¡±

    So Aubree stayed put..

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    ¦°

    As the evening approached, the streetlights along the sidewalk flickered on. Max lounged on the couch,

    gazing out the window at the cityscape bathed in gentle, flickering light, like a trembling mirror.

    The phone rang, and as he recognized the name shing on the screen, he sighed, not having

    expected the call so soon. With a respectful tone, he answered, ¡°Father.

    There was silence on the other end, just the sound of breathing that seemed to press against the

    screen, creating a tense atmosphere. After a long pause, Michael finally let out a sigh. ¡°Max, give me a

    reason.¡±

    Michael had been a force in the underworld for many years. He had suspected the puppet master

    behind it all when he heard Spencer had vanished,st seen near a hotel owned by the Dorsey family.

    To have someone disappear without a trace from the surveince of a Dorsey International hotel meant

    only one person could be behind it¨CMax, his most favored son.

    Max was the one hiding Spencer, and he needed a reason.

    Max tapped his fingers lightly on the couch, his voice steady. ¡°Father, you once taught me that

    Chapter 263

    the head of the Dorsey family doesn¡¯t need a reason to take down someone.¡±

    Michael had risen to power through ruthless actions and a cold heart. He had always seen potential in

    Max, who seemed tock the emotionsmon to most people.

    That was simr to his younger self¨Csuch a person could lead the Dorsey family to new heights.

    Hence, he had left Max with those words.

    He needed a sessor who was calm, cold¨Cblooded, and detached. Max had done well, very

    well up to this point..

    Michael¡¯s mood shifted from morose to almost jovial in an instant, even letting out a heartyugh. Max,

    still nonchnt, just fiddled with the phone, unaffected by the shift in emotion.

    After a few seconds, Michael exhaled in contentment. ¡°But the kid is your nephew, after all. If he¡¯s

    stepped out of line, a lesson or two would be enough.¡±

    ¡°Father, I am aware. I won¡¯t harm him.¡±

    ¡°Good. I¡¯ll leave this matter to you, Max. I trust you. Don¡¯t disappoint me.¡±

    Thest sentence was a warning.

    Though Michael had stepped back from the seat of power years ago, his influence remained strong.

    Max pressed his lips together in silence, ended the call, and rubbed his brow.

    He could never let his father discover that it was for Brielle that he detained Spencer. In Michael¡¯s eyes,

    Max could confront someone over power or even money, but never over a

    woman.

 Chatper 264

    Chapter 264

    Max fiddled with his phone, a ripple of emotion flickering in his eyes. With a few swipes, he found

    Brielle¡¯s number and called her.

    Brielle, leaning on her cane, had just reached the bottom of the stairs when her phone rang. Though

    she had switched phones, her number remained unchanged, and she pressed the answer button.

    ¡°Where are you?¡± Max¡¯s voice was deep, a hint of gravity behind it. Brielle paused, almost instinctively

    lying. ¡°Just resting at home.¡±

    He sat on the couch, his eyshes drooping slightly, a tight sensation crossing his heart. ¡°Which

    home?¡±

    ¡°Pearl Estate. I¡¯ve been here resting since I got back from Premier Pce.¡±

    ¡°You haven¡¯t gone out?¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t grasp why he was prying so much, so she simply went along. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    With her cane, she entered the elevator and stopped at her apartment door. Taking out her keys, she

    unlocked the door.

    A man sat on the spacious couch, the breeze from the window causing the curtains to flutter.

    entuating his aloof demeanor. The coolness from his presence seemed to permeate the entire

    space.

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Brielle¡¯s steps faltered, and she instinctively took a few steps back. Once she saw who it was. warmth

    surged through her.

    Max. How did he have the keys to this ce?

    She pursed her lips and silently switched on the lights.

    Max twirled the phone in his hand, spinning it lightly on his fingertips.

    Brielle felt a tingle in her scalp and stopped on the other side of the room, swallowing hard. ¡°Mr.

    Dorsey.¡±

    Max didn¡¯t respond, his fingertips still casually twirling the phone.

    Brielle¡¯s heart pounded, sensing her lie had been exposed. She quickly attempted to cover it up. ¡°I just

    went out to grab some groceries, got held up at the store.¡±

    Her hands were clearly empty.

    ¡°How long were you gone?¡±

    ¡°Half an hour.¡±

    She answered without hesitation and heard Max let out a soft chuckle. Just minutes ago, he lied to his

    father for her, and now she was lying to him.

    24

    Brielle couldn¡¯t meet his gaze, feeling as it the air in the room was thinning, almost unable to

    breathe.

    ¡°Brielle,st question for you, think carefully before you answer. Where were you this afternoon?¡±

    It she didn¡¯t tell the truth, what was the point of all this? He needed her honesty.

    Sweat pooled in Brielle¡¯s palms around the handle of her cane, her lips pressed tight, her heart. racing.

    She had a feeling that if she lied to Max now, they might never see each other again.

    But should she mention Spencer?

    She already knew from the hotel manager that Max would handle Spencer¡¯s disappearance. If he

    found out Spencer¡¯s location, he would surely bring Spencer back. At that point, what leverage would

    she have to negotiate with Ryan? Without her bargaining chip, Mark¡¯s life would be in danger.

    She couldn¡¯t afford to gamble.

    Brielle¡¯s eyshes trembled, the excuses she had rehearsed a thousand times in her mind now. felt

    utterly powerless. She wished she could answer his questions openly, but the gap between

    them was as vast as a chasm.

    The orphan girl who was lucky enough to read a few more books, only glimpsed the fleeting. dreams of

    affluence in Beaconsfield. Yet that was far from enough to sit at an equal level with him. Life was a

    ry race, but she had naively treated it like a sprint.

    Max was always someone she had to stand on tiptoes and stretch her neck to reach. How could she

    naively believe he would abandon his family for her?

    In the face of reality, her affection was too insignificant. The real barrier wasn¡¯t external but her own

    insecurity when she felt affection for someone.

    However, at this moment. Brielle didn¡¯t understand why it was only in front of Max that her pride

    seemed meaningless.

    She clenched her cane, feeling a dryness in her mouth like a fish gasping on a cutting board. Avoiding

    his gaze, she lowered hershes. ¡°This afternoon, I went out to lunch with Aubree. I lied because I

    didn¡¯t want you to worry about my leg injury. I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Although she had been to a Dorsey International hotel, the manager had no need to report such a

    minor matter, unless Max actively sought out her whereabouts, but with Spencer¡¯s situation at hand, he

    would not be distracted by tracking her movements. So Brielle was sure Max didn¡¯t know she had been

    to the hotel.

    She had thought that after her exnation, Max¡¯s demeanor would soften, but it didn¡¯t. The

    temperature in the room dropped even more, and the air seemed even thinner. Her neck felt as if it was

    being squeezed by an invisible hand, her face turning red.

    Max had risen to his feet, stepped in front of her, and tilted her chin up. Brielle was forced to

    Chapter 264

    look at him.

    ¡°Brielle, I must be crazy, to-

    He paused, perhaps unsure of what he was about to say. Lie after lie, she managed to keep at straight

    face. What did she take him for?

 Chatper 265

    Chapter 265

    Max¡¯s gaze was piercing, holding her chin with an intensity that was both unsettling and. mesmerizing.

    Slowly, he released his grip.

    Brielle rubbed her jaw where his fingers had left an imprint. It didn¡¯t hurt, but the sudden assertiveness

    in his touch had startled her.

    Max straightened up, his expression turning cold, as if the momentary loss of control was an illusion. ¡°If

    you don¡¯t fancy staying at Premier Pce, then nurse your wounds at home.¡±

    He took out a card and ced it on the sp of her chest. The gesture was somewhat frivolous, as if

    intentionally insulting her.

    ¡°I said it was overst time, but I forgot to give you this¨Clet¡¯s call it severance.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s face drained of color, her hand tightening at her side. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Max, however, no longer wished to say much. Instead, he walked calmly to the entrance hall.

    Sometimes, one¡¯s shadow can do more damage than words ever could.

    Brielle surged to her feet, intent on following, but her injured leg buckled after a few steps. sending her

    stumbling to the floor. ¡°Max!¡±

    The doorway was empty.

    Gritting her teeth, Brielle hoisted herself up, grabbed a cane that had ttered to the floor, and hobbled

    to the door. There was no one in the hallway: he must have gone downstairs.

    In desperation, she rode the elevator down, frantically pressing the button for the ground floor. By the

    time she limped out of the building, only the streetlights cast long shadows on the pavement. She

    approached the night guard, inquiring if a ck car had left in thest two minutes.

    The guard shook his head. ¡°No cars have left recently.¡±

    A flicker of disappointment crossed Brielle¡¯s eyes. Max¡¯s car was probably in the underground garage.

    Was it toote to catch up? And even if she did, what would she say?

    They were divided by a barrier that seemed insurmountable. Perhaps even without it, he¡¯d never truly

    cross over.

    Their rtionship had been tainted from the start. His parting gift of a card was a fitting end to their illicit

    affair.

    Brielle held the card tightly in her hand, walking aimlessly into the room with a dazed expression. Once

    in her room, she sat down, feeling a headacheing on, and a vague ache around her heart. The

    couch still held the warmth of Max¡¯s presence.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    She regretted the lie she had told. Yet given another chance, she still wouldn¡¯t confess to to kidnapping

    Spencer. Her feelings for Max weren¡¯t strong enough to warrant trust.

    Chapter 265

    In that moment, Brielle envied children who grew up in loving homes, who knew what a healthy

    rtionship looked like and had a keen sense for love. They could easily find their way to the right

    path.

    Brielle¡¯s upbringing had left her without apass, uncertain of what was good, unsure who to trust. It

    took years of hitting walls before she could recognize the right path. Spencer was one such wall; her

    acquaintance with Max too brief to judge its direction.

    Her phone began to ring. She nced at the caller ID, hesitating. The phone stopped, only to start

    ringing again shortly after.

    Annoyed, Brielle was about to turn off the device when she noticed the call was from Tiffanie. ¡°Hello,

    what¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°Brielle, are you sure Spencer was in that room? My friend checked, but it¡¯s empty. We searched

    everywhere possible, and there¡¯s no sign of Spencer.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s pupils dted sharply. She had left Spencer in the bathroom¨Chow could he not be there?

    Could it be Lillian? No, Lillian was probably still detained at the police station, unable to interfere.

    Who then?

    ¡°Tiffanie, have you checked the hotel surveince?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but footage from that period is missing. And Brielle, there¡¯s more. All surveince rted to you

    has been wiped. You were here for a night, but there¡¯s no trace of you. Besides the hotel. staff, no one

    else can tamper with the footage, so it must be an inside job. Whoever did it must have been following

    orders. You should ask Maxie about it.¡±

 Chatper 266

    Chapter 266

    Brielle¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She didn¡¯t have the courage to admit that Max had just tossed a card at

    her and she felt too embarrassed to approach him. ¡°It probably has nothing to do v with him. This hotel

    is small frypared to Dorsey International¡¯s assets. He wouldn¡¯t get involved in the affairs of one of

    his hotels. It could have been someone else.¡±

    Tiffanie smirked slightly, leaning back in her chair with a casual air. ¡°I checked with the hotel. Ryan has

    already swept through with his team once. You know how shrewd that old fox Ryan is. If he had found

    any evidence of you and Spencer staying at the hotel, he wouldn¡¯t be this calm. So, I¡¯m guessing Ryan

    didn¡¯t find anything. Except for Maxie, I can¡¯t think of who else would do this. Why don¡¯t you just ask

    him if he helped you move Spencer?¡±

    Her words were like a pebble thrown into the already ripplingke of Brielle¡¯s heart, causing waves to

    crash. Brielle¡¯s breathing became shaky, unable to pinpoint what was wrong with her body, feeling a

    heat wave all over.

    She really couldn¡¯t think of anyone else. Who else from the Dorsey family would protect her? It certainly

    couldn¡¯t be Michael.

    Brielle clenched her phone, listening to Tiffanie¡¯s voice on the other end. ¡°Maxie may seem aloof, but

    he¡¯s actually pretty thoughtful. And if he really did help you move Spencer, what does that mean? It

    means he cares about you. Look, some guys are all talk and no action, but not Maxie. He just quietly

    gets things done. If I were you, I¡¯d take care of Alivia and tie him down tight.¡±

    Though Brielle knew Tiffanie was unreliable and this was all mere spection, for some reason, a hint

    of sweetness inexplicably emerged in Brielle¡¯s heart, and the bitterness from him tossing the card to

    her slowly dissipated.

    Tiffanie was relentless on the other end. ¡°Just go straight to Maxie. If it was him, then dive into a

    passionate romance. Being with a guy like that, you¡¯re hitting the jackpot, Brielle. Even if

    you broke up in the end, he¡¯d never leave you high and dry.¡±

    Brielle grimaced. Even without romance, the money he had given her over time was more than what an

    ordinary person could earn in several lifetimes. Max was really good to her, and perhaps it was

    because of this that his sudden decision to withdraw left her feeling so forlorn.

    After hanging up the phone, Brielle sat on the couch, lost in thought. Remembering all the things Max

    had done for her made her heart race.

    Maybe it was time to be brave?

    She swallowed hard, scraping together every ounce of courage before dialing Max¡¯s number.

    Max had returned to Premier Pce and saw the iing call on his phone but didn¡¯t pick up.

    Wesley noticed the caller ID and reminded him, ¡°Sir, Ms. Brielle is calling.¡±

    Expecting Max to pick up after his prompt, Wesley was surprised to see no reaction on Max¡¯s

    Chapter 266

    face, as if nothing could stir his emotions.

    Wesley, knowing better, hung up the phone and muted it to avoid disturbing the man at work.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Brielle called ten times in a row to no avail. She grew anxious, getting up with the help of her crutches,

    and called Patrick.

    Patrick was still dealing with the Haywood family affairs. Seeing her call, he instinctively tensed but

    rxed, remembering Max wasn¡¯t around. ¡°Ms. Brielle.¡±

    ¡°Patrick, I want to ask about Spencer.¡±

    Patrick was taken aback. Every directive from Max typically went through him, so he was well aware

    that Max had arranged for Spencer¡¯s transfer. ¡°Ms. Brielle, I don¡¯t follow.¡± Wasn¡¯t she aware of

    Spencer¡¯s situation?

    Brielle took a deep breath, her palms sweaty with nervousness. ¡°I heard Spencer was kidnapped?¡±

    Patrick was puzzled. He thought for a moment, then asked uncertainly, ¡°Ms. Brielle, did the car

    ident cause you to lose your memory? But I heard you only injured your leg, not your head. Don¡¯t

    worry, I¡¯ll inform Mr. Dorsey and we¡¯ll get you the best medical care.¡±

 Chatper 267

    Chapter 267

    Brielle, unusually silenced by the retort, it seemed like they indeed knew that she was somehow

    connected to Spencer¡¯s kidnapping.

    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    And what about the relocation?

    She decided toy her cards on the table. ¡°I stashed Spencer in the bathroom, nning to have a

    friend help move him, but he has disappeared.¡±

    Patrick exhaled in relief, d that Ms. Brielle hadn¡¯t lost her memory.

    ¡°It was someone arranged by Mr. Dorsey, because Ryan was closing in on the hotel quickly. Mr. Dorsey

    had Spencer moved, and all your surveince traces were wiped clean, Ms. Brielle. Don¡¯t worry, Ryan

    won¡¯t be able to trace it back to you.¡±

    Receiving a concrete answer from him, Brielle didn¡¯t quite know how to react. So Max knew everything

    from the start, including how many lies had she spun?

    Even just now, he definitely knew she went to the hotel to move Spencer. Looking back, that

    conversation seemed like a joke. Her defenses must have looked like clownish antics to him.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, the Haywood family¡¯s major clients have been nearly poached clean. I expect the

    Haywoods will be reaching out to you soon. Brace yourself for that.¡±

    Right now, Brielle couldn¡¯t care less about the Haywood family. Her mind was preupied with Max.

    What to do? He must be angry. How could she earn his forgiveness?

    Between her and Spencer, Max chose her without hesitation, only to be repaid with her deceit. Brielle¡¯s

    mind was like a roller coaster plummeting downhill, leaving nothing but a nk te and the echoes of

    her soul¡¯s cries.

    She didn¡¯t even want to think about where Max might have moved Spencer. He must have taken him to

    a covert, secure ce.

    Ryan would certainly not find him; he didn¡¯t even know who had taken his son. After all, the Dorsey

    family had called the police and despite therge turnout, they fourtd nothing. In Ryan¡¯s eyes, this

    wasn¡¯t something a small fry like Brielle could pull off.

    This cleared Brielle of suspicion while also ensuring Ryan wouldn¡¯t act rashly.

    Brielle tasted bitterness, knowing all this was because Max had helped her. She just wanted to find

    Max.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Max going tonight?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s probably at Premier Pce.¡±

    Patrick wasn¡¯t too sure since he hadn¡¯t returned yet. And with Brielleing to him for an answer, who

    knew what trouble had brewed between them. As an outsider, he didn¡¯t dare

    Chapter 267

    meddle too much in their affairs.

    Brielle hung up, grabbed her cane that rested beside her, and headed out the door. Unable to drive with

    her injured leg, she hailed a cab to Premier Pce.

    Forty minutester, she was at the entrance of Premier Pce. As she entered the lobby, she found

    Wesley polishing antiques in the hallway. His eyes flickered with surprise upon seeing her.

    Brielle scanned the room but didn¡¯t spot Max.

    ¡°Wesley, where¡¯s Max?¡± She didn¡¯t call him Mr. Dorsey this time, but Max, signifying a closeness that

    surpassed the need for formal titles.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey left a few minutes ago. Must¡¯ve had an appointment.¡±

    *Any idea where he went?¡±

    Wesley shook his head.

    Left with no other choice, Brielle continued on her way out, leaning on her cane. Wesley, seeing her

    struggle, advised, ¡°Ms. Brielle, you should rest that leg. An infection would only make things worse.¡±

    Brielle would¡¯ve loved to rest, but making amends with Max was her priority.

    Wesley caught up to her, ¡°I can have the driver take you, Ms. Brielle. Just tell him where you want to

    go.¡±

    epting the offer since cabs were inconvenient, she got in the car but hesitated before calling

    Kenzo.

    Kenzo raised an eyebrow as he saw the caller ID and nced at Andrew.

    Andrew, sensing something, scoffed, ¡°Brielle?¡±

    Kenzo nodded, listening as Andrew teased, ¡°She must have a good impression of you. Hooking up with

    Max wasn¡¯t enough, and now she¡¯s after you?¡±

    Kenzo couldn¡¯t help butugh, answering the call, ¡°Brielle, what¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°Kenzo, do you know where Max is?¡±

    Kenzo frowned and leisurely poured himself a drink. ¡°No clue. He hasn¡¯t reached out tonight. What, did

    you two have a fight?¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t quite define it as a fight, feeling awkward, ¡°If you find out, could you give me a call?¡±

    ¡°Sure, will do.¡±

    A shadow of disappointment crossed Brielle¡¯s eyes. Even Kenzo was clueless, and Max himself wasn¡¯t

    picking up her calls. Where could he be?

    Chapter 267

    After aimlessly driving around for over an hour, she didn¡¯t want to inconvenience the driver. further, and

    directed him back to Pearl Estate.

    After thanking the driver, she limped back to her room. Turning on the light, her mind drifted to just a

    few hours ago, when Max sat on the couch.

    He must have been so disappointed.

 Chatper 268

    Chapter 268

    Brielle¡¯s eyes were rimmed with redness as she slumped into a seat, eventually leaning back on the

    sofa and drifting off to sleep.

    When she awoke, it was already the next day, and her head throbbed with pain. Limping, she managed

    to make herself some food and tried contacting Max again, only to be greeted by the mechanical voice

    on the other end.

    She had been blocked.

    Brielle felt like a needle had been jabbed into her heart. She forced a self¨Cmocking smile. Was this

    what they called reaping what you sow? It seemed Max really wanted to end things.

    Deted, Brielle put down her phone and stared nkly at the ceiling.

    She spent the next three days at home in a daze, unable to muster the courage to reach out to him

    again.

    On the morning of the third day, Aubree called, insisting that Brielle shouldn¡¯t wallow at home. After

    freshening up, Brielle hailed a cab to the diner.

    Aubree, upon seeing her, furrowed her brows with concern. ¡°You¡¯ve lost a ton of weight. Haven¡¯t you

    been eating these past few days?¡±

    Brielle managed a weak grin as she took a seat. ¡°I did eat, but I didn¡¯t really have an appetite.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯lle stay with you for a while, to take care of you.¡±

    ¡°No need, I can manage on my own.¡±

    Brielle feared that if the conversation with Aubree went on any longer, she wouldn¡¯t be able to keep

    herself from spilling everything about Max.

    He had decided to go back to his high and mighty world, and she had no right to drag him down from

    his pedestal. He was meant to be untouchable, perched high above the rest.

    Brielle never dared to expect more. After all, Max had never shown his feelings.clearly. Perhaps he had

    felt a flicker of affection, but it was too faint, easily discarded.

    Constantly tiptoeing to reach another person was exhausting for anyone. Being left behind like this,

    oddly enough, felt like a relief. Better to have never owned than to always be in fear of losing.

    She had always been such a pessimist when it came to love.

    The meals had just arrived when Brielle heard her name being called. Looking up, she was surprised to

    see Miranda. It felt like an eternity since they hadst met. These three days had felt like a long year.

    Seeing Miranda¡¯s face, Brielle was momentarily stunned, as if suddenly dragged back into the real

    world.

    Chapter 268

    Miranda had been too preupied with the Haywood family affairs to join thedies for their afternoon

    teas, as they were busy dealing with Lillian¡¯s mess, with the police refusing to budge.

    Miranda couldn¡¯t avoid today¡¯s luncheon and was surprised to find Brielle there. Her chest felt like it

    was burning with fury as she approached. ¡°Brielle, is that really you? How dare you show your face

    around here!¡±

    Brielle frowned, feeling as if fate was ying a cruel joke on her.

    The other well¨Cto¨Cdodies following Miranda had also heard of Brielle and began to gossip.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this the daughter you raised? Why doesn¡¯t she even greet you when she sees you?¡±

    ¡°So heartless. You might as well have raised a pet.¡±

    These were the wives of CEOs who had dealings with the Haywood family, banding together to

    ostracize Brielle, the unwanted upstart. In their eyes, Brielle was a pitiful woman, abandoned by

    her former fianc¨¦.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t believe she couldn¡¯t even have a peaceful meal with Aubree without being disturbed.

    She frowned and said, ¡°Miranda, is there something you need?¡±

    Miranda¡¯s chest heaved with rage. How dare Brielle ask her if she needed something?

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    ¡°Did you have something to do with Lillian¡¯s situation? usations of hiring a hitman, really? You¡¯re

    quite the storyteller, Brielle. Anyway, you seem fine to me, so let¡¯s settle this privately. I¡¯ll give you some

    money, and you can drop the charges.¡±

    Brielle found itughable, so much so that she actuallyughed out loud. ¡°Miranda, if you really are that

    free, maybe you should spend more time teaching your own daughter how to be at decent human

    being.¡±

    Thatment seemed to strike a nerve for Miranda, her eyes shing with malice. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault! If

    you hadn¡¯t interfered back then, why would we have taken you in? And how would Lillian have ended

    up suffering out there? She missed out on a good education because of you! You have a big

    responsibility for the way Lillian turned out!¡±

    As Miranda finished speaking, the other high¨Csocietydies chimed in with. their constions.

    ¡°Miranda, let it be. Why lower yourself to argue with a country bumpkin? Gics is important. you

    know.¡±

    ¡°Exactly, like mother, like daughter. If the parents are bad seeds, the child will be too. reasoning with

    her.¡±

    There¡¯s no

    They all began to tear Brielle down, from her hair to her toes, as if they couldn¡¯t disparage her enough.

 Chatper 269

    Chapter 269

    The most vociferous of the lot was Catherine from Kingston Enterprises. On a normal day, she was

    thick as thieves with Miranda and seemed ready to jump into the fray herself to defend her friend¡¯s

    honor.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help but find the whole situation amusing. Under the tablecloth, her hand firmly gripped

    Aubree¡¯s, signaling her not to do anything rash. Knowing Aubree, she would have snapped back at the

    first biting word from the gaggle of women.

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    Miranda, bolstered by the support of the high societydies, felt even more confident. She had been

    preupied with Lillian¡¯s legal troubles for the past couple of days, so seeing Brielle with nothing more

    than a cast on her leg while Lillian faced possible jail time infuriated her even

    more.

    Brielle was clearly taking it!

    Miranda was so focused on saving her daughter that she even disregarded the rtionship Brielle had

    with Max. ¡°Brielle, if you don¡¯t drop this, forget about ever having a peaceful life again.¡± Miranda

    threatened.

    Brielle took a sip of her coffee, a picture of serene indifference. ¡°Are you done barking? If so, please

    leave. I¡¯m trying to dine here.¡±

    Miranda¡¯s pupils shrank with rage, and, snatching up her coffee, she hurled it towards Brielle¡¯s face.

    Catherine, not to be outdone, aimed a kick at Brielle¡¯s stered leg.

    Brielle could have dodged the flying coffee, but the sharp agony from the kick to her leg turned her face

    pale, leaving her unable to focus on anything else. The scalding coffee sshed onto her cor, and

    she tumbled from the chair, the sharp pain drawing a muffled groan from her lips.

    Aubree, standing opposite to her, instantly stood up, eximing in panic, ¡°Bri!¡± She didn¡¯t have time to

    re at the other women: she dashed to Brielle¡¯s side, noticing the shattered cast. The pain must be

    excruciating.

    ¡°I¡¯m taking you to the hospital!¡±

    Brielle¡¯s eyshes fluttered, a premonition telling her the bone that had just healed was likely broken

    again. Her lips trembled weakly, unable to even nce at Miranda and the others.

    Aubree wasted no time, prioritizing the hospital over a confrontation. She helped Brielle to her feet,

    slinging her arm around her neck and shot Miranda a furious look. ¡°You just wait.¡±

    Miranda arched an eyebrow, dismissive. What could a Clements family¡¯s foster daughter do to her

    anyway?

    A person¡¯s social circle spoke volumes about their ss, and to Miranda, Brielle would always be

    relegated to friendships with other foster daughters, never entering the inner circle of the elite.

    Chapter 269

    Theughter of the wealthy matrons reinforced Miranda¡¯s confidence. She had no reason to fear

    Brielle.

    Brielle, dizzy from pain and unable to put weight on her foot, finally spoke hoarsely after a moment.

    ¡°Aubree, I¨Ccough, cough, cough.¡± Each breath was a struggle, and the coughing fit took over.

    Aubree clenched her teeth in anger. ¡°Those harpies. Once I get you to the hospital, I¡¯lle back to

    settle the score.¡±

    Brielle leaned on her, the counterattack she had nned after Miranda¡¯s coffee assault interrupted by

    the unexpected kick.

    Catherine of Kingston Enterprises, she noted that name.

    Sweat beaded on Brielle¡¯s forehead, the scent of coffee lingering in her nostrils. Aubree supported

    Brielle into the car and drove straight to the hospital.

    Back at the restaurant, the matrons continued to gossip about Brielle. The conversation shifted.

    towards Spencer and Max. At the mention of Max, a glint appeared in their eyes. Every mother with a

    daughter of marrying age dreamt of linking their child with Max, but he had always been aloof, only

    showing interest in Alivia. Therefore, everyone in Beaconsfield considered Max and Alivia the inevitable

    pair.

    ¡°I heard Max went abroad again to see Alivia. A friend of mine spotted him at the airport.¡±

    ¡°Those two families are probably going to join forces by the end of the year. It¡¯ll be the talk of

    Beaconsfield.¡±

    ¡°The Barnes girl sure is lucky, having caught Max¡¯s eye since she was young.¡±

    Miranda had been feeling a pang of regret, considering Brielle¡¯s current connection with Max. If Brielle

    whispered in his ear, the Haywood family would surely face consequences. But as she heard them talk

    about Max¡¯s trip abroad, a smug look crossed her face. It seemed Brielle couldn¡¯t hold onto him.

    Max had left an injured Brielle behind to see Alivia overseas. The priorities were clear; the scales had

    tipped.

 Chatper 270

    Chapter 270

    A shadow of darkness flitted across her eyes. If that was the case, why couldn¡¯t they get Lillian out?

    As Miranda mulled over this, her cell phone rang. It was Robert calling. Robert sounded irritated,

    ¡°Where are you? We¡¯ve got the full picture on Lillian¡¯s situation. The police are adamant¨Cas long as

    Brielle doesn¡¯t crack, Lillian isn¡¯t going anywhere.¡±

    A chill ran through Miranda¡¯s gaze; it seemed she had been too lenient with Brielle earlier, and now she

    was still refusing to settle things privately.

    Robert¡¯s next words deted herpletely. ¡°Stay away from Brielle for now. The Haywood family¡¯s

    clients have all been poached by rival firms, and they¡¯re crucial to us. None of them. are taking my

    calls. I suspect Max is behind this. If it¡¯s really him, then the Haywood family is in jeopardy. He¡¯s taking

    it out for Brielle because of what Lillian did. Don¡¯t stir up more trouble. Miranda¡¯s vision went dark, her

    heart pounding at the thought of her recent actions. ¡°Honey, are you sure? I heard Max left the country.

    Why would he care about Brielle? Could there be some

    mistake?¡±

    Robert took a deep breath, not wanting to exin too much. All these women ever thought. about were

    their petty squabbles. ¡°Just steer clear of her. If Max really swiped the Haywood family¡¯s clients, he¡¯s

    likely got more up his sleeve.¡±

    Before he could finish, Cameron walked in, an aura of gloom about him. ¡°Father, we¡¯ve lost. another

    bunch of clients. They¡¯ve all signed with ourpetitors. A dozen partners served us. termination

    notices all at once. I just got a call from the shareholders¨Cthey¡¯re calling an emergency meeting. Things

    are looking grim.¡±

    Cameron slumped down, rubbing his hair in frustration. ¡°I reached out to some close partners. They

    were evasive, hinting we¡¯d crossed someone. Even Mr. Connor from Apex Dynamics won¡¯t take my

    calls.¡±

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Anxiety creased Cameron¡¯s face. His phone rang, and he picked up urgently. The news from the other

    end was so shocking, his phone ttered to the floor.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Robert eximed, startled.

    Cameron turned, his eyes devoid of life. ¡°Mr. Connor got in touch. It¡¯s Max. He didn¡¯t say much. just

    that, then hung up. Dad, we¡¯re done for.¡±

    Miranda, still on the line, heard every word. The mere mention of Max sent their minds. crashing,

    unable to think.

    When this business prodigy made a move, others stood little chance, especially with ant apparent

    vendetta against the Haywood family.

    Miranda stood up, panic¨Cstricken, her palms slick with sweat. Max was targeting the Haywood

    Chapter 270

    family because of Brielle? But she had just spilled coffee on Brielle. What now?

    Catherine, seeing Miranda¡¯s distress after the call, hurriedly asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Before Miranda could answer, Catherine¡¯s own phone rang. It was her husband. With a smile, she

    excused herself from the otherdies and answered.

    Her husband¡¯s voice was urgent, bing serious and grave by the end of the call. ¡°Max has made a

    move against the Haywood family. Keep it under wraps for now, and avoid the Haywoods. Max means

    business this time.¡±

    Confusion crossed Catherine¡¯s face. Why would Max target the Haywood family? Weren¡¯t Lillian and

    Spencer childhood sweethearts?

    ¡°What¡¯s he got against the Haywood family?¡± Catherine asked, ncing at a frantic Miranda; this had to

    be serious. After all, when Max made a move, what chance did the others have? The Haywood family

    must be down on their luck.

    ¡°I just had dinner with Mr. Connor from Apex Dynamics. It took some coaxing, but he admitted it¡¯s

    because of Brielle. Max has taken a shine to her, and now she¡¯s in his heart. Lillian paid at driver to hit

    Brielle, sending her to the hospital with a broken leg. Max is furious, defending hisdy¡¯s honor. That

    Brielle must be something else.¡±

    Catherine felt a shiver down her spine, swallowing hard. Was it the Brielle she knew? ¡°Which Brielle,

    honey? Are you sure you¡¯re not joking? Isn¡¯t Brielle Spencer¡¯s ex¨Cfianc¨¦e?!¡±

 Chatper 271

    Chapter 271

    ¡°That¡¯s the one. Yeah, so I¡¯m as puzzled as you are about why he¡¯d go after someone else¡¯s cast¨Coff

    wife. The truth is still up in the air, but the Haywood¡¯s bad luck seems to be a done deal. You better

    steer clear of those tea parties with them.¡±

    In this circle, there truly were no real friends; it was all about what you could gain from each. other.

    Knowing full well the Haywoods are on the brink of disaster, who would want to muddy the waters with

    them?

    Catherine breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the reason wasn¡¯t confirmed, there was hope. If it turned

    out to be because of Brielle, her recent outburst could spell doom for Kingston

    Enterprises.

    Sheforted herself inwardly. Connor from Apex Dynamics was always a wild card, flirting all over

    town, creating chaos wherever he went. If it weren¡¯t for his hefty bank ount and solid backing, no

    one would give him the time of day. What truth coulde from the mouth of such a man?

    Catherine felt a hundred percent assured. After putting down her phone and seeing Miranda

    approaching for a chat, she quickly got to her feet. ¡°I¡¯ve got a family emergency, I must go.¡±

    But Miranda had already started speaking. ¡°Catherine, darling, my husband has been trying to get hold

    of someone at Kingston Enterprises, but no one¡¯s answering. Do you think you could¡­¡±

    She was cut off mid¨Csentence. ¡°Miranda, I really can¡¯t help you with this. My husband just called,

    asking me to stay away from trouble. If we weren¡¯t such good friends, I wouldn¡¯t have breathed a word

    of this. Maybe you should look into why Max has suddenly turned against

    you.¡±

    Miranda¡¯splexion turned ashen. Could it all be because of Brielle?

    She couldn¡¯t sit still any longer and stood up quickly, needing to get to the bottom of this by asking at

    home.

    Back home, Robert was nted on the couch, his face ghostly pale. He had made countless calls,

    either going unanswered or being told they couldn¡¯t help. It was clear to see that there was an

    impending storm over the Haywood family.

    A flicker of rage crossed Robert¡¯s eyes. ¡°Cameron, go talk to Brielle personally. Ask her if she still cares

    about Julian¡¯s well¨Cbeing at all. If she lets Max continue like this, we¡¯ll spill the beans to your

    grandfather. Even in his care home, he won¡¯t rest easy. If something happens to him, Brielle will live

    with the guilt for the rest of her life.¡±

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    They had to act now or the Haywood family would be finished.

    Cameron was already on his feet, ready to head out. Robert¡¯s voice followed him, ¡°Andy off Brielle,

    will you? Have a word with your mom too. I¡¯m worried she¡¯ll stir up trouble over Lillian¡¯s issue.¡±

    Chapter 271

    Cameron nodded. What neither of them knew was that Miranda had already provoked Brielle just half

    an hour earlier.

    The news that the Haywood family¡¯s clients were terminating their contracts hadn¡¯t spread outside their

    circle yet. If it leaked, their stock would plummet overnight. And if it hit rock. bottom, bankruptcy for the

    Haywood family was a real possibility.

    Max didn¡¯t seem like he intended to stop until he had driven them into the ground. Since it was all for

    Brielle that Max was targeting the Haywoods, only Brielle could untie this knot for them. They had to

    find her.

    Meanwhile, Brielle had already been rushed to the hospital, sweating from the pain.

    Aubree made sure she was settled, shocked by the sight of her newly cracked cast. ¡°How much force

    did that woman use?¡±

    The doctor crouched by Brielle¡¯s leg, removing the cast to examine the injury.

    ¡°A secondary fracture, more dangerous than the first. Ms. Brielle, for the sake of your leg, you should

    really stay in the hospital for a while.¡±

    Brielle just grimaced, unable to utter a word.

    After securing the leg again and ordering the administration of anti¨Cinmmatory shots, the doctor left

    the room.

    The intense pain had subsided, leaving Brielle feeling nothing but exhaustion. Aubree, standing by her

    side, was livid. ¡°Bri, I¡¯m going to give Miranda a piece of my mind.¡±

    Brielle lifted her weary eyelids and slowly shook her head, her gaze resolute. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it myself.¡±

    Aubree paused, her frown deepening. ¡°You should rest. I¡¯m going to grab something for you.¡±

    Once downstairs in the hospital, Aubree thought for a moment and dug out a number she had saved

    before. It was Max¡¯s number; he had called her once because of Brielle.

    Without hesitation, she dialed it.

 Chatper 272

    Chapter 272

    ¡°Hello?¡± Max¡¯s voice, raspy with exhaustion, filtered through the phone as he rubbed the bridge. of his

    nose, sitting in his car. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡±

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    It seemed he hadn¡¯t saved Aubree¡¯s number after theirst call. Aubree¡¯s nose twitched with irritation.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, it¡¯s Aubree.¡±

    Max¡¯s eyshes fluttered slightly. He¡¯d just picked up a group of executives from overseas at the

    airport and had meetings lined up every day. His schedule was packed, and he hadn¡¯t nned on

    getting involved with Brielle again.

    But now. Brielle¡¯s friend was on the line.

    His fingers tugged at the tie around his neck, as if loosening it would make breathing easier, would

    soothe the restlessness within him. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± He managed to keep his tone controlled, not too

    eager.

    Aubree snorted sarcastically as she sat down on a nearby chair. ¡°I thought you were different from

    Andrew, Mr. Dorsey. Guess I was wrong.¡±

    ¡°Aubree, cut to the chase. Don¡¯t beat around the bush.¡±

    ¡°Bri¡¯s in the hospital.¡±

    Max straightened up instantly. Brielle had just left the hospital. How could she be¡­.

    But then he remembered the lies she had told and the bubbling emotions in his eyes cooled. ¡°So?¡±

    The casualness in his voice made Aubree pause, then sheughed bitterly. She wondered why she

    was even calling Max. If he could be friends with someone like Andrew, what kind of man could Max

    be? Brielle had been blinded by illusions before.

    Men are all the same.

    ¡°Never mind, I won¡¯t bother you, Mr. Dorsey. I¡¯ll take care of Bri.¡±

    Max stared at the disconnected call, hisshes drooping after a long while before asking Patrick in the

    front seat. ¡°Find out what happened to Brielle.¡±

    As soon as the car pulled up to Premier Pce, Patrick had the information. ¡°Sir, Ms. Brielle suffered a

    secondary fracture in her leg due to external force. The doctor has ordered her to be hospitalized.¡±

    ¡°What kind of external force?¡±

    ¡°Miranda from the Haywood family and Catherine from Kingston Enterprises had a

    confrontation with Ms. Brielle. She was kicked in the leg and had coffee spilled on her head before

    being taken to the hospital by Aubree.¡±

    Patrick¡¯s response was calm, but the temperature in the living room seemed to plummet, the air

    Chapter 27:

    turning into icy shards.

    Max yed with the ck beads on his wrist, his eyes frosting over.

    After Patrick finished his report, he tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible, waiting

    for further instructions.

    Max looked up and chuckled coldly. ¡°Kingston Enterprises is in the bidding list, aren¡¯t they? Kick

    them out.¡±

    Kingston Enterprises had made it to the final list after a toughpetition, only to be easily. usurped by

    the runner¨Cup due to this incident.

    Max¡¯s eyes were full of coldness. The Haywood family was troubling Brielle again, ¡°Speed things up

    with the Haywood family. And as for the one in jail, don¡¯t let her out.¡±

    The one in jail was Lillian. Without Max¡¯s intervention, the Haywood family would have settled Lillian¡¯s

    matter with money long ago.

    ¡°Understood, I¡¯m on it.¡±

    After Patrick responded, he paused, then added. ¡°Sir, there¡¯s another force targeting the Haywood

    family. They¡¯ve been entrenched in Beaconsfield for years, with quite deep roots. This new yer is

    causing them to fall faster, but we can¡¯t find out who it is yet.¡±

    Another force?

    Max¡¯s brow furrowed. The Haywood family had been sessful for years, even connected to the

    Dorsey family. Who would target them in the shadows, especially at this crucial moment?

    Max nced at his rosary, flicking it with his finger. ¡°Find out who it is.¡±

    Patrick nodded, respectfully asking. ¡°Should we take action?¡±

    ¡°No need. A fox always shows its tail.¡±

    After Patrick left, Max¡¯s finger lingered on the rosary, the chill seeping through his skin, unable to

    extinguish the spark rising within him.

    He found himself eager to contact Brielle and find out how she was doing. He picked up his phone,

    hesitated for a few minutes, then slowly put it down again. He had never been so torn.

    Her leg should be okay, right? A secondary fracture must hurt, but she¡¯d be fine with proper hospital

    care.

    If he¡¯d decided to end things, he shouldn¡¯t leave any loose ends. He was a businessman, through and

    through. He should know this was an unprofitable investment.

    Max closed his eyes again, yet despite his thoughts, he still arranged for the hospital to watch over

    Brielle, to ensure no more idents.

    Actions betray the heart, and he didn¡¯t understand this was something called affection.

    Chapter 273

 Chatper 273

    Chapter 273

    In the depths of a subterranean pool in Beaconsfield, a man emerged from the water, droplets

    cascading from his chin, tracing the muscled contours of his chest, before reaching the enigmatic zone

    at his waist.

    His broad shoulders tapered to a narrow waist, the sculpted lines of his abdomen alluring in

    their definition.

    A butler, immacte in white gloves, hurried over, bowing respectfully, extending a plush towel to the

    man. Taking the towel, the man began to dry his hair with a swift motion.

    Someone had been waiting for him, and upon his emergence, quickly stood up, ¡°King, things. with the

    Haywood family are wrapping up fast. Max¡¯s crew isn¡¯t pulling punches, and with our involvement, they

    won¡¯tst much longer.¡±

    The man called King chuckled but remained silent.

    The report continued, ¡°But Miss Brielle¡¯s been hospitalized. The Haywood family are really bold, stirring

    trouble at a time like this. Should we keep our hands in the game?¡±

    Wrapping the towel around his waist, King strode forward, ¡°How bad is she hurt? Who¡¯s behind it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s serious, and it¡¯s tied to the Haywood family and Kingston Enterprises.¡±

    King eased into a seat, epting a ss of red wine from the butler, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.

    ¡°Max will act. Whether it¡¯s the Haywood family or Kingston Enterprises, he won¡¯t stand idly by.¡±

    ¡°But Miss Brielle might¡­¡±

    King took a sip of wine, his gaze drifting to the brightly lit distance, his eyes shimmering with a hidden

    dance of light and shadow. ¡°Falling for him?¡±

    Believing in someone was an ordeal, let alone sharing one¡¯s happiness and grief with another. This

    was even more challenging when that person was Max. Max was undoubtedly moreposed and

    ruthless than the average person. Even if he could love, it wouldn¡¯te so quickly.

    ¡°She¡¯s not one to fall easily, and as for Max, he¡¯s even less likely. So we wait.¡± He swirled the wine in

    his ss, a sly smile creeping across his lips, ¡°When the timees, we¡¯ll just have to make things a

    tad more challenging for Max.¡±

    Thest flowers he sent weren¡¯t to her liking. It¡¯s time to try something different.

    His fingers twirled the stem of the ss, a sharp glint flitting across his eyes, then vanishing as quickly

    as it came, reced by an expanding grin, ¡°I think I know just what she¡¯ll fancy.¡±

    Those nearby, witnessing his smile, felt a shiver run down their spine.

    Chapter 2/3

    King imed he fancied Brielle, yet he wasn¡¯t rushing to cast his. Instead, he watched with a

    detached air as storms brewed within Beaconsfield.

    What was he waiting for? No one knew.

    Rising from his chair, King set his wine ss aside, donned an impable suit, and epted a mask

    from the butler before heading to the underground casino. This was his realm, a hub for the affluent

    youth who came and went in droves.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Upon seeing his masked visage, the crowd parted, greeting him with reverence. His thinly veiled smile

    was warm, but his eyes were cold as ice.

    The young elites¡® favorite gambling den was a ce of heaven or hell with just a thought, all at the

    whim of the noble young man surrounded by the crowd.

    King approached the grandest gambling table and sat down, beckoning with a few casual flicks of his

    fingers.

    The butler nodded, whispering something into his ear, and King raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into

    a mischievous smirk. ¡°Perfect, let him lose his chips. Consider it a little favor for Bri.¡±

    Perhaps even Brielle herself was unaware of such a character lurking within Beaconsfield.

    Between Max and King, the Haywood family was like fish on a chopping block, ready for the taking.

    However, when cornered, people often resorted to extremes, and the Haywood n was already of

    questionable character.

    Brielle awoke suddenly in the middle of the night to thunder and lightning. She sighed in relief, about to

    wipe the sweat from her brow when she sensed a presence close by. Straining her eyes, she saw

    nothing but the shadows of the man at her bedside, cast by themplight. filtering through the window.

    Her pupils dted, and tears flooded her eyes

    The room was thick with a familiar scent, seeping into her pores, soothing her unease. It was Max,

    visiting her in the dead of night. She quickly shut her eyes, pretending to still be asleep.

    Max sat at the bedside, upied with pouring water, not noticing the brief moment when she opened

    her eyes midway. He couldn¡¯t resisting to see her, intending only a brief nce.

    Noticing her parched lips, he dipped a cotton swab in water and gently moistened her lips. She must be

    feverish, with so much sweat on her brow.

    Max took a wet wipe and dabbed at her forehead, then carefully wiped down her neck. He rarely cared

    for others, and his movements were unpracticed.

    Brielle sniffed, holding back tears. Her heart felt as if it had been punched, contracting violently. aching

    intensely.

    2/2

 Chatper 274

    Chapter 274

    Brielle couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she was trapped in a dream. Her mind wandered back to her

    college days.

    That year, she had the fortune to apany her professor on a trip to the desert, where she met the

    nomadic tribes that roamed the sands. At night, they would tether their camels, ande morning,

    they¡¯d release them. Yet, the camels never strayed too far, forever remembering the night spent tied

    beneath the tree. It was much like the pain Brielle had endured, firmly anchoring her to the present.

    The little girl who begged for survival, the girl who hid in a corner crying after being struck by a

    stranger, the girl who yearned for a home, and the girl who discovered the affair between Spencer and

    Lillian¡­

    She thought she hade out of it all, but when facing Max, she realized she had never really

    escaped.

    No matter how confident she presented herself, deep down she was acutely aware that she and Max, a

    man favored by fortune, were worlds apart.

    In moments free of worry, her past poverty merely meant the difference between having a simple bread

    roll and a steak for dinner, never detracting from her happiness. But once her heart fluttered for

    someone, she deeply felt the inferiority that poverty wrought. That inferiority

    was exclusive to her time with him.

    And Max? He could never trulyprehend it.

    Max finished wiping her neck, then grabbed her hand, drying each fingertip meticulously. After

    attending to her left hand, he moved on to the right. While wiping, his fingers lingered on her lips, gently

    pressing down.

    A sudden urge to confess washed over him.

    He had kept a close watch on Spencer, making sure the man stayed alive. Whatever Brielle intended to

    negotiate with Spencer for Ryan¡¯s sake, he had decided not to interfere, always waiting for her to

    approach him. But Brielle seemed to have no such ns. Her heart was as hard as stone.

    His hands clenched slightly in irritation, but then he worried he might actually hurt her and eased the

    pressure.

    Now, at three in the morning, he finished his task and stepped out of the hospital room. The ces he

    had touched felt cool; Brielle slowly opened her eyes. She sat up, caressing her cheek, then turned her

    head in stunned silence towards the door.

    Perhaps too shocked to fully wake, words escaped her.

    Once he left, reality hit her. She hastily threw off the covers to get out of bed. There were so many

    things she wanted to say, even if just a word or two. But with a re¨Cinjured leg, the pain

    Chapter 274

    was too much, not to mention a slight infection had caused a fever overnight, sapping her strength.

    She grabbed a nearby crutch, managed a single step, and stumbled to the floor. With sheer

    determination, she tossed the crutch aside and dragged her leg behind her, enduring the pain as she

    followed.

    As she neared the corner, she caught sight of Max by the elevator, her eyes lighting up with hope. Just

    as she was about to speak, Max¡¯s phone rang. He seemed exhausted, rubbing his temples before

    answering. ¡°Alivia, you¡¯reing back to the country? When?¡±

    The name ¡®Alivia¡® hit Brielle like a heavy nail, pinning her in ce. It was like a cup of poison. silencing

    her throat. She couldn¡¯t speak, couldn¡¯t move forward.

    Attraction is strange. You can¡¯t help but draw closer, mustering the courage to explore, yet when they

    show the slightest frown, you retreat to where you started.

    Brielle did just that, her newfound courage shattered.

    Alivia was returning home, and to everyone in the Dorsey family, and even to those in Beaconsfield,

    Alivia and Max were a match made in heaven.

    And what was she inparison?

    Max¡¯s kindness stemmed from good manners. Had it not been for their past encounter, he would have

    protected any woman just the same.

    The bitterness spreading from her chest nearly drowned her. Brielle stopped listening, painfully made

    her way back to the hospital room, leaning against the wall for support.

    She had almost fooled herself into thinking he cared, but how could she forget about Alivia? He had

    even said he¡¯d never considered marrying her.

    Even if she managed to stop him now, he was bound to leave eventually. Rather than live in constant

    fear of loss, it was better not to start anything at all.

    In that respect, she and Max were alike. Two overly rational people, aspiring to be together. destined to

    face trials and tribtions.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chatper 275

    Chapter 275

    Back in her hospital room, Brielle slipped back into a restless slumber, oblivious to the chaos that was

    unravelling within the Haywood household.

    Since the afternoon, their remaining partners had followed suit in terminating contracts, and the news

    was getting harder to contain by the minute. The Haywood residence was aze with lights: sleep was

    thest thing on anyone¡¯s mind.

    Robert ran his fingers through his hair in sheer panic. Decorum was the least of his worries now. As

    dawn broke, the media would be like sharks to blood, and the Haywood stock would plummet.

    Those in the know were aware of who was targeting them, and no one dared to invest at such a crucial

    time. The Haywoods were on the brink of ruin, and everyone could feel it. Not even a gasp for air

    seemed possible.

    With his chest trembling in anxiety, Robert turned to Cameron. ¡°Have you gotten in touch with Brielle?

    We¡¯re running out of time. Send more people to find her. She must beg Max for mercy.¡± Miranda, sitting

    between the two men, wore an even grimmer expression. Recalling the day¡¯s events, her lips

    tightened. ¡°Brielle should be in the hospital.¡±

    Robert looked at her, surprised. ¡°How do you know?¡±

    Twisting her hands nervously, Miranda recounted the day¡¯s events. As she finished, Robert¡¯s anger

    erupted, and he struck her across the face.

    Miranda¡¯s head jerked to the side. She touched her cheek in disbelief, the twisted anger on Robert¡¯s

    face silencing her.

    ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, don¡¯t provoke her in the short term! She has Max backing her now, and you still

    went to start trouble. You¡¯d better find a way to calm Brielle down. Cameron, go with your mother, and

    while you¡¯re at it, visit your grandfather. This matter must be resolved before noon tomorrow.¡±

    Cameron looked equally disturbed. Lillian was still in custody, and now this disaster had befallen the

    Haywoods. ¡°Dad, Lillian, she¡­¡±

    Disgust flickered in Robert¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Without that good¨Cfor¨Cnothing, would the Haywoods havee to this? If only she never appeared.

    Brielle would still be our daughter, connected to Max, and we¡¯d have everything. Instead, we weed

    back a ck sheep, what a curse!¡±

    ¡°Dad, how can you say that? Lillian has Haywood blood, and Brielle, no matter how capable, is just

    some bastard that popped out of nowhere.¡±

    ¡°Bastard? That ¡®bastard¡® has Max on her side, who dares call her that now? Lillian was so eager to go

    against her, but she never measures her own capabilities. This mess is her doing. Max.

    Chapter 275

    clearly doesn¡¯t want to let her go. What can we do? Her imprisonment is already a certainty.¡±

    Robert rubbed his temples, feeling an unbearable irritation.

    Thest time Lillian drugged Max, he didn¡¯t pursue it, but she was foolish enough to provoke him again

    and again.

    What a moron!Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Miranda, struck by Robert¡¯s words, sat sobbing, her face in her hands. ¡°How can we let Lillian go to

    jail? She¡¯s my flesh and blood. If she goes to jail, wouldn¡¯t her life be ruined? Brielle already owes

    Lillian. Would she really ruin her life? That wicked woman!¡±

    In Miranda¡¯s eyes, everything was Brielle¡¯s fault. Even though it was Lillian who attempted murder,

    Brielle was unharmed, wasn¡¯t she? So why hold on to it?

    Robert, feeling a vein pulse angrily on his forehead, couldn¡¯t contain his wrath and pped her again.

    ¡°With that brain of yours, no wonder Lillian turned out this way! You even threw coffee at Brielle. Do you

    want to speed up our downfall?¡±

    Miranda was stupefied, unable to utter a word, just sitting and crying.

    Cameron watched the scene unfold with bitter irony. ¡°Dad, I¡¯ll find Brielle as soon as I can. For

    Grandpa¡¯s sake, she won¡¯t press charges. This is Lillian¡¯s fault, but she turned out this way because of

    the hardships she faced. Don¡¯t say these things in front of her. I¡¯ll get her out.¡±

    Robert exhaled deeply and fell silent.

    Meanwhile, in the police station, Lillian curled up against the wall, as if to disappear into it. She spent

    every moment cursing Brielle. If she got out, she¡¯d find another chance to kill her.

    Right, she¡¯d also spread the word about Brielle and Max, so the rest of the Dorsey family would. turn

    against Brielle.

    Ever since herst call with Miranda, the police

    had cut off any contact with her family. She felt like she was marooned on an ind,pletely

    isted from the world.

    It was all because of that bitch Brielle.

    Max had pushed her to this edge for Brielle.

    Damn it all.

 Chatper 276

    Chapter 276

    Lillian felt like her chest was on fire, itching to bolt out the door right then and there. She caught the

    faintest sound outside her room and perked up her ears, then slowly rose to her feet.

    The hallway was dimly lit, casting a gloomy pallor as someone entered. Because of the backlight, she

    couldn¡¯t see the face clearly, but she felt a murderous aura emanating from the person in front. She

    recoiled in fear, her voice rising for a scream. However, her mouth was swiftly covered, and in the dead

    of night, a dagger glinted coldly as it swiftly severed three of her fingers.

    Lillian, sweating in agony, forgot to scream, and simply passed out from the pain. The man collected

    her fingers carefully, cing them in a box he had prepared.

    As Lillian lost consciousness, her mind was a whirl of terror and rage. Who could it be? Who would

    commit such violence in a police station.

    Was it Max? Was it Brielle, sending Max¡¯s man to assassinate her? Those snakes! She¡¯d make them

    pay once she got out!

    The next morning, as Brielle awoke, she found herself still in the hospital.

    Aubree had prepared a nourishing soup for her, cing it in her hands as she came to. ¡°Eat up. I got

    up at the crack of dawn to make this.¡±

    Brielle managed a pale smile, looking even more wan. Seeing Brielle like this, Aubree felt a twinge of

    pity, especially recalling that phone call she made to Max, and began tofort her.

    ¡°Bri, you were dreaming.¡±

    Brielle blinked in confusion, hoping she hadn¡¯t said anything strange, but Aubree¡¯s expression made

    her uncertain.

    Aubree¡¯s lips were pressed tight, and after a long sigh, she said, ¡°Seems like you know what you

    dreamed about.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s grip on the bedsheets tightened. Of course, she knew. She dreamed of Max, holding Alivia as

    they walked into a grand hall. She dreamed Max looked at her with scorn, telling her not to tter

    herself with delusions.

    She cried throughout the dream, even asking that question. ¡°Did you ever care for me at all?¡±

    ¡°Never.¡±

    What he said was more devastating than any bombshell, shredding her dream¨Cself to pieces.

    She¡¯s awake now,and all that remained was embarrassment. How could she have such a dream, and

    Aubree had caught her red¨Chanded.

    She opened her mouth to defend herself, only to hear Aubree say, ¡°You were crying and calling out

    Max¡¯s name.¡±

    1/3

    Chapter 276

    Aubree didn¡¯t allow her any room to retreat, forcefully exposing her hidden thoughts. Brielle felt every

    pore on her body sweating, her palms mmy. ¡°Aubree, it was just a nightmare.¡± She offered a feeble

    defense.

    Aubree snorted, particrly irritated thinking of Max¡¯s dismissive attitude on the phone. ¡°A nightmare?

    What, did you dream Max ran off with another woman?¡±

    The usation hit home. Brielle¡¯s grip on the nket tightened, her teeth biting into her lip.

    Aubree exhaled a sigh, not wanting to be harsh. Max hadn¡¯t even shown his hand yet, and Brielle was

    already losing her heart. She couldn¡¯t outy Max, who, at sixteen, was already a Wall Street shark

    capable of maneuvering her like a pawn.

    Max was far more formidable than Andrew.

    Aubree¡¯s face was stern. ¡°Bri, I only now realize half your pain is from your leg, the other half is Max.

    But there¡¯s no future there. Once you¡¯re better, just focus on work. Keep busy, like you told me, and

    you¡¯ll forget him.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s hand stiffened, her lips pressed. Tthere was no point in hiding any longer. ¡°Max gave me a

    card. If it was about the money, maybe I wouldn¡¯t have to work for the rest of my life.¡±

    Aubree heard the bitterness in her voice, cing her hands on Brielle¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Then go travel. It¡¯s

    just a man, and you¡¯ll forget about him soon enough.¡±

    Her wordscked conviction; after all, with the way Andrew treated her, she was still head over heels

    for him.

    Brielle¡¯s,shes dropped, her eyes warming, ¡°Aubree, what really is ¡°love¡°?¡±

    The question echoed one Max had asked Kenzo. What was love?

    She¡¯d been engaged once, and now she was asking this, it seemed she¡¯d never understood what it

    meant to love.

    Aubree paused, reflecting. ¡°Didn¡¯t you love Spencer once?¡±

    I

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I just felt that since he was my fianc¨¦, the one I was supposed to spend my life with, I

    should be good to him.¡±

    They had known each other for years. But did she really love Spencer?

    The emotions she felt back then were nothingpared to what she feltst night. Just seeing Max,

    just smelling his scent, made her eyes burn and her nose tingle.

    Maybe because she¡¯d never really cared for someone before, she needed to know if what she felt for

    Max was real.

    Aubree sat by the hospital bed, silently setting out some snacks, and after a while, in a hoarse voice

    said, ¡°Love is superficial, so much so that a drink can drown it, a good sleep can end it. Not

    understanding it is no big deal

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    Chapter 276

    Brielle asked only that, then began to sip her soup in silence.

 Chatper 277

    Chapter 277

    The knock on the hospital room door made her furrow her brow, and both she and Aubree turned

    toward the entrant. Their expressions soured instantly upon recognizing the neers. lit was

    Cameron and Miranda. What kind of drama were these two brewing now?

    Miranda, catching sight of Brielle¡¯s pale and weakened state, could barely suppress the urge to hex her

    with every vile curse she knew. Why hadn¡¯t that damn driver finished the job? Brielle alive was nothing

    but a cmity.

    Brielle¡¯s face turned icy. ¡°What brings you here?¡±

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Cameron closed the door behind him, his face etched with fatigue. Tracking down Brielle had been no

    small feat. ¡°Brielle, do you have any idea what Max is up to? He¡¯s targeting the Haywoods. Every single

    client has been poached, and partners are cutting ties left and right. In a matter of days, the Haywoods

    will be bankrupt.¡±

    ¡°And what¡¯s that to me?¡± Brielle¡¯s tone was indifferent as she aimed to continue with her oatmeal, the

    very picture of unconcern.

    Fuming. Miranda advanced, ready to send Brielle¡¯s bowl flying.

    A sharp look crossed Brielle¡¯s eyes as she met Miranda¡¯s gaze, ¡°Try it, I dare you.¡±

    Miranda recoiled, fear flickering in her eyes, but remembering their mission, she clenched her teeth. ¡°If

    you hadn¡¯t shamelessly thrown yourself at Max, why would he have targeted us? He¡¯s after us because

    of you. You need to fix this mess.¡±

    ¡°Need to?¡± Brielle couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the entitlement in Miranda¡¯s voice, leisurely continuing

    her meal.

    ¡°Unless I¡¯m mistaken, you¡¯re here to beg, right? Is that how you ask for favors?¡±

    Miranda shook with anger, her face a kaleidoscope of fury. Before she could act on her impulse to spill

    the bowl, Brielle preempted her, flipping the soup right onto Miranda¡¯s head.

    Dumbstruck, Miranda felt the thick soup slide down her cheeks.

    ¡°That¡¯s for the coffee you threw, Miranda,¡± Brielle said, epting a napkin from Aubree and

    meticulously wiping her fingers.

    With her face smeared in soup, Miranda¡¯s lips turned an ugly shade of blue.

    Cameron, who had been silent, stopped any further outburst and stared coldly at Brielle. He knew well

    beforeing that Brielle would not be inclined to help the Haywoods. It was time for his trump card.

    ¡°Brielle, what about Grandpa if the family goes under? His health is already failing. He needs constant

    care at the sanatorium. If he hears about the bankruptcy, how long do you think he¡¯llst? The

    Haywood n might have turned their backs on you, but Grandpa has always been there for you with

    an open heart. Do you want to be responsible for his demise, and live with that guilt forever?¡±

    1/2

    14:35

    Chapter 277

    Brielle¡¯sshes quivered, her grip on the nket tightening unconsciously. Grandpa Julian had indeed

    always been her champion, the only one opposing the idea of bringing Lillian from the orphanage into

    the Haywood home, iming it wasn¡¯t fair to Brielle. But at the time, Brielle, considering the bond with

    Lillian, had convinced Julian, and thus Lillian came to stay.

    Since then. Julian had always been by her side, spoiling her with little gifts until he had that fall, which

    led to years of slumber and subsequently, a life confined to the sanatorium, his health deteriorating day

    by day. Scarcely any of the Haywoods visited him, leaving him in his solitude. Brielle hadn¡¯t set foot in

    the sanatorium since learning about Lillian¡¯s affair with Spencer ¨C Julian adored Spencer, believing he

    would bring her happiness. And she was particrly bad at lying to such a loving elder, so avoidance

    had been her tactic.

    Now, however, the Haywoods were using Grandpa Julian to strong¨Carm her once again.

    Cameron, seeing a shift in her, pressed on. ¡°Grandpa doesn¡¯t have many years left. He¡¯s been

    comfortable in the sanatorium. Do you really want to disrupt his peace, burden him with the family¡¯s

    troubles?¡±

    A wave of nausea hit Brielle, revolted by their attitude. Julian was their kin as well, yet it seemed she

    was the only one who cared for him now.

    Brielle knew that if she stayed silent, the Haywoods, true to form, would waste no time involving Julian.

    Her grip on the nket grew fierce, the veins on her hands standing out as a testament to her rising

    anger.

 Chatper 278

    Chapter 278

    Cameron thought he had the upper hand, his face rxing into a smug grin. ¡°Brielle, Lillian¡¯s still holed

    up at the police station because of you. Julian would never stand to see a Haywood in trouble, least of

    all his own granddaughter. You need to make a call, drop the charges over her buying off that driver,

    and then we can all be merry.¡±

    Brielle leaned back, trying to keep her expression steady. The more you panic now, the more they¡¯ll

    walk all over you. ¡°Only you Haywoods are merry, not me,¡± she said coolly. ¡°Julian is your kin, and you

    are now using him to threaten me? You really have no shame.

    Cameron narrowed his eyes, his voiceced with mockery. ¡°And you have some? The former fianc¨¦e

    of Spencer, now cozying up with his uncle, Max. If the Dorseys got wind of this, what do you think

    they¡¯d do to you, Brielle? Let¡¯spromise. You get Max to back off and drop thewsuit against

    Lillian, we keep quiet, and everyone¡¯s at peace. Sounds good, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    A shadow crossed Brielle¡¯s eyes. She had faced the Haywoods¡® shamelessness before, but this was

    revolting.

    She had brokered several major deals for the Haywoods, deals she could now leverage to hasten their

    demise. But that would only make them more desperate, putting Julian in greater danger.

    She needed to establish her ownpany, fast. She couldn¡¯t let them exploit her weaknesses again¡­

    As the standoff continued, a knock on the hospital room door announced the arrival of the doctor. The

    doctor handed Brielle a neatly wrapped box, his voice tinged with envy. ¡°Ms. Brielle, someone just

    dropped this off for you. I think you¡¯ll be very pleased with it.¡±

    A gift? Brielle paused, thinking of Max. Was it from him?

    She couldn¡¯t care less about the Haywoods now, her fingers trembling as she opened the box. Her

    pupils dted in shock, and reflexively, she tried to close it. But the box slipped, its lid flung open, and

    several fingers tumbled out.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Treated to look like macabre art, the fingers were bloodless, yet they still sent chills down the spine.

    Brielle¡¯s face remained stoic, but Aubree, standing nearby, gagged and retched into a waste bin. A

    small note fluttered out of the box, which Cameron, pale as a ghost, picked up. It read¨CLillian¡¯s fingers,

    Bri, do you like them?

    Cameron¡¯s face twisted in horror, his hand trembling.

    Miranda snatched the note, fainted away after reading it.

    Cameron, staring at theposed Brielle, thought of her earlier attempt to hide the box. Grinding his

    teeth, he wished he could tear her in two. ¡°Brielle! What is this?! You wicked

    Chapter 270

    woman, Lillian¡¯s already in trouble because of you, and now you have her fingers chopped off! You

    witch!¡±

    Cameron¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, his mind devoid of reason as he lunged forward, grabbing Brielle¡¯s

    cor.

    ¡°Do you think just because you have Max on your side, I wouldn¡¯t touch you?¡±

    Brielle felt nauseous but kept her face cold. ¡°Lillian has crossed many people; how am I supposed to

    know who did this?¡±

    Cameron, fueled by rage, clenched his fist, ready to tear her cor.

    ¡°You bi-

    ¡°p!¡±

    Before finishing the scolding, Brielle had already pped him across the face. The crisp sound echoed

    in the hospital room.

    Cameron froze, his grip loosening.

    Brielle nced at the fingers on the floor, her brows furrowed. ¡°Get out. The Haywoods aren¡¯t wee

    here.¡±

    Pushed back, Cameron stumbled, his eyes zing with hatred as heprehended the situation.

 Chatper 279

    Chapter 279

    The hatred was likeva, scalding Brielle¡¯s heart until it trembled. She feared Cameron might take

    another drastic measure, but he merely gazed at her with profound intensity, barely clinging to his

    sanity.

    ¡°Lillian¡¯s lost three fingers, Brielle. If you want Grandpa to live out his days in peace, you¡¯ll tell Max to

    back off. Lillian should be out of the station by now. Three fingers should suffice to quench your grudge,

    right? If I don¡¯t get your call by six tonight, I¡¯ll pay Grandpa a visit.

    With that, he followed the doctor who had entered, helping Miranda as they left.

    The moment the hospital door shut, Aubree retched again, her face deathly pale. ¡°Were those really

    Lillian¡¯s fingers?¡±

    Brielle leaned back against her pillow, her voice calm. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    This was Aubree¡¯s first brush with such a scene, her stomach churning with acid, feeling as if her very

    teeth were souring. ¡°Bri, Max couldn¡¯t have done this, could he?¡±

    ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t him.¡±

    Maybe Max had another side to him, but he¡¯d never present such a gruesome gift.

    Then who? Who harbored such deep resentment towards Lillian? Her head throbbed with the effort of

    thinking, but no clear leads emerged.

    Aubree packed away the food she¡¯d brought, tossing it into the trash can. ¡°Could it be someone. else

    from the Dorsey family trying to scare you?¡±

    Brielle considered William and Ryan, but such an act served them no benefit. Besides, Ryan was still

    searching for Spencer and couldn¡¯t afford to be distracted by other matters.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s head ached, the shock of those severed fingers still lingering in her mind. And now. with

    Cameron¡¯s threat, should she really contact Max and ask him to stop?

    As Cameron had said, Julian was a Haywood through and through. The downfall of the Haywood

    family would surely affect him. Julian didn¡¯t have many days left.

    Brielle was torn, feeling as though something was drilling into her head.

    Sensing Brielle¡¯s exhaustion, Aubree stood up. ¡°Bri, don¡¯t take this the wrong way, but while Julian¡¯s

    been good to you, you¡¯ve been just as good to him as well. He¡¯s the Haywood¡¯s responsibility, not

    yours. They have no right to use him to manipte you. Think about all the hurt they¡¯ve inflicted on

    you. Can you really let it go just like that? If Max really took action for you, and you tell him to stop,

    what does that make him? Weigh it out. I¡¯lle and check on youter.¡±

    To survive in the cutthroat circles of Beaconsfield, you had to let go of some things¨Clike.

    Chapter 279

    emotions, like humanity. The more you discarded, the higher you rose. Those who couldn¡¯t let go

    ended up achieving nothing.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    If she continued to be shackled by the Haywoods¡® demands, she would indeed aplish nothing.

    However, Brielle¡¯s mind conjured Julian¡¯s face, kind and benevolent, one of the most significant figures

    in her life, along with Mark.

    But now, both had be leverage against her.

    She nced down at her legs and smiled faintly.

    Downstairs, Miranda had woken up after being pinched at the vital point. The image of those three

    fingers haunted her vision, making her bolt upright. ¡°Lillian, my poor girl. I must go to your grandfather!¡±

    Cameron looked pale, his heart aching unbearably.

    The pain Lillian must be feeling without her fingers¡­ Were there other injuries besides her fingers?

    Who would have the audacity to bypass the police and take matters into their own hands?

    Miranda clutched Cameron¡¯s arm with a desperate tone. ¡°If we don¡¯t act now, we might lose Lillian. We

    can¡¯t wait any longer. Go to the station, and check on Lillian. I¡¯ll go see your grandfather and have him

    plead with Brielle in person. I refuse to believe that Julian kneeling before Brielle won¡¯t move her to

    meet our demands.¡±

    A dark look crossed Cameron¡¯s eyes. Though it felt somewhat unfair to Grandpa, that old man had

    been secluded in a care facility for years, his ties with the family fading. Like Brielle, he was bing

    a peripheral figure of the Haywoods.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go to the station.¡±

    He was truly worried about Lillian and needed to see her right away.

    Miranda¡¯s eyes shed with malice as she hurriedly left the hospital. Those three fingers, like al curse,

    were etched deeply into her mind.

    Mother and daughter shared a bond; she could almost feel Lillian¡¯s agony.

 Chatper 280

    Chapter 280

    The mere thought of it sent a surge of anger boiling up inside Miranda, threatening to scorch away her

    sanity.

    She parked her car outside the nursing home, but the sight of the deserted entrance knotted her brow

    in confusion.

    What in the world had happened? The Haywood family had ced Julian in this care facility years ago,

    yet now it looked as if the ce had been abandoned.

    Weeds had imed the front walk, and the building bore the unmistakable signs of neglect. Panic

    fluttered in Miranda¡¯s chest. She hastily dialed a few numbers, seeking answers.

    It took ten minutes to discover that the nursing home had relocated three years prior.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Three years¨CMiranda hadn¡¯t been back since. She was out of the loop.

    Hastily, she got back in her car and drove to the new address. Upon arrival, she saw a nurse wheeling

    an elderly gentleman out into the sun.

    Julian, with his snowy hair and wrinkled, kindly face, was a picture of amiable old age. The nurse was

    chatting with him, and Julian chuckled, pointing at a robust tree in the courtyard. ¡°Ah, that one was

    nted by Bri. She¡¯s such a devoted girl,¡± he said.

    His voice had barely faded when he heard footsteps approaching, sparking a glimmer of hope. Turning,

    he saw a stranger¨Cnot Bri.

    Julian!?

    Miranda¡¯s voice cut through the air as she rushed over and grabbed his arm. ¡°There¡¯s trouble with

    Lillian. We need you toe back.¡±

    Julian¡¯s thoughts were muddled. It took him a while to recognize his daughter¨Cinw. Hadn¡¯t it been

    three years since hest saw her?

    The nurse, observing Miranda¡¯s forceful grip, quickly intervened. ¡°Ma¡¯am, the gentleman is frail and his

    bones are brittle. Please be gentle with him.¡±

    But Miranda was beyond listening. Her eyes seethed with resentment. ¡°Julian, it¡¯s me. Miranda. Brielle

    is ruining the Haywood family. That curse, you must talk to her yourself.¡±

    A sparkle of rity crossed Julian¡¯s eyes. It had been two months since Bri had visited. Was something

    amiss? Were she and Spencer still okay?

    His memory was failing him. He couldn¡¯t remember phone numbers, and his cell phone was lost. All he

    could do was wait for Bri toe by. Perhaps she was too caught up in work.

    He felt a pang of loneliness, his gaze returning to the trees in the courtyard. The one right at the edge

    was the one he and Bri had nted together. It had grown lush and verdant.

    ¡°What¡¯s happened to Bri?¡± he asked slowly, catching his breath between words, his eyes full of

    14:36:

    Chapter 280

    hope as he looked at Miranda.

    Miranda was seething, unable to fathom why this old fool cherished Brielle so much. ¡°It¡¯s a long story,

    but for now,e with me. You wanted to see Brielle, didn¡¯t you? I¡¯ll take you to her.¡±

    Julian nodded, signaling the nurse to help him back inside. But Miranda pushed the nurse aside. ¡°Why

    go back to the room? We¡¯re leaving now!¡±

    ¡°Miranda, I¡¯ve knitted Bri a scarf and a pair of gloves. Winter ising, and she¡¯ll need them to keep

    warm.¡±

    Miranda clenched her teeth in frustration. ¡°She doesn¡¯t care for your knitted gifts anymore. She¡¯s

    climbed the socialdder, doesn¡¯t even acknowledge us. She¡¯s even threatened to bankrupt the

    Haywood family. Lillian is stuck at the police station because of her, your son is worried sick, and it¡¯s all

    Brielle¡¯s fault.¡±

    Julian was dragged forward, struggling for breath. ¡°Miranda, slow down, there¡¯s no rush.¡±

    The nurse followed, trying to intervene. ¡°Please, ma¡¯am, don¡¯t treat him like this.¡±

    Miranda snapped back, ¡°Our family is in crisis, and he needs toe with me. This is private family

    business, and it¡¯s no ce for an outsider.¡±

    Though the nurse disagreed, she was powerless to stop it.

    Julian was hustled into the car, gasping for air. ¡°Miranda, please¡­ slow down.¡±

 Chatper 281

    Chapter 281

    Miranda was on the verge of throwing a fit, but remembering she still needed the old coot, she

    swallowed her anger.

    Such a pain, that old cool!

    During the drive, Julian couldn¡¯t help but ask about Brielle and Spencer¡¯s rtionship.

    ¡°Are Bri and Spencer getting hitched soon? Spencer¡¯s a solid guy, sure to treat hisdy right. Bri¡¯s

    tough, but she can be taken advantage of. That kid¡¯s had it rough before.¡±

    Sarcasm flickered in Miranda¡¯s eyes as she continued to tarnish Brielle¡¯s reputation. ¡°Getting married?

    Please, Brielle¡¯s got a string of men on the side, and it¡¯s the talk of Beaconsfield. Plus, she¡¯s now

    cozying up to Spencer¡¯s uncle Max. That Max, you¡¯ve heard of him, right? With Max backing her, she¡¯s

    out there causing trouble, a real tramp, hopping from one man to the next.

    ¡°That shameless slut even admitted to us that she¡¯s kept men on the side. Poor Spencer. It¡¯s a just

    shame for our Lillian; she¡¯s genuinely fond of Spencer but can¡¯t be with him.¡±

    As she finished, heavy breathing could be heard from the side. Julian¡¯s face was turning red with the

    effort to breathe, his hands spasming and curling up.

    That kid Bri, she was a good girl; she wouldn¡¯t do these things. He was desperate to object, but felt

    powerless. ¡°Miranda, stop, stop the car, I need to go back for my medicine, I need my pills.¡±

    Miranda, already irritable, grew more impatient. ¡°Brielle¡¯s at the hospital. You can hold on for another

    half hour, and I can drop you off there. We can check you in at their medical center. Julian, the

    Haywood family needs you right now, and Brielle only listens to you. Hang in there. If we turn back now,

    we¡¯ll lose another half hour.¡±

    Julian¡¯s lips parted, his cheeks flushed. ¡°No¡­I forget the meds¡­ Gotta go

    back¡­¡±

    ¡°You always make things soplicated. I told you we¡¯re on the way to the hospital, and they have

    doctors there too. Just bear with it. Lillian¡¯s lost three fingers, and she¡¯s in a far more critical condition

    than you. Every minute we dy is another minute of danger for her.¡±

    Miranda didn¡¯t give Julian another nce but pressed down on the elerator.

    Julian¡¯s fingers twitched for a while before his entire body began to convulse, and his eyes. started to

    roll back.

    ¡°Miranda, I need to see Bri.¡±

    ¡°I need to see Bri¡­¡±

    He muttered deliriously, his consciousness fading, his voice slowly diminishing. He remembered the

    little stash he¡¯d set aside for Bri in a box at the nursing home. It wasn¡¯t much, but just shy of two

    hundred thousand, meant as a gift for her. When she and Spencer tied the knot, he could give it to her

    to buy some jewelry.

    Chapter 281

    Julian had handed over the Haywood family assets to Robert a long time ago, keeping nothing for

    himself. His mind was sometimes clear, sometimes foggy. ¡°Miranda, please, let¡¯s go back.¡±

    Miranda couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond and just floored it. An old man, running out of steam, was

    never going to be as important as her daughter.

    The struggle beside her gradually subsided until it stilledpletely.

    Miranda¡¯s eyes were fixed straight ahead; every time she thought of Brielle, her eyes filled with

    resentment. She had lived with Brielle for years and knew her well. Brielle would never abandon Julian.

    As long as Julian was around, the Haywood family could weather this storm.

    More than an hourter, the car pulled up at the hospital where Brielle was. Miranda unbuckled her

    seatbelt and nced at the quiet old man beside her, snickering, ¡°Well, you made it. Here we are. Get

    out. Brielle is upstairs.¡±

    But Julian didn¡¯t react.

    Out of patience, Miranda shoved him, ¡°We¡¯re here. Go talk to Brielle about the Haywood family¡¯s

    issues, then I¡¯ll get you a doctor.¡±

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    However, Julian, nudged by her push, slowly slid down.

    Surprise flickered in Miranda¡¯s eyes, followed by panic. She raised her hand and ced her fingertips

    under Julian¡¯s nose. His breath was faint. If Julian died, the Haywood family would have no chance of

    recovery.

    Startled, Miranda hurriedly called for a doctor.

    The doctors rushed out with a stretcher, performing CPR on Julian as they wheeled him into the

    emergency room.

    Miranda¡¯s heart was racing as if the CPR was being performed on her. She had to do something. A

    light flickered in her eyes, and she promptly asked a nurse to notify Brielle.

    She had to make Brielle feel guilty, remorseful, anguished. Yes! Brielle had to know that this was all her

    fault.

    The nurse was quick to inform, and Brielle hurriedly arrived just in time to see the emergency room

    doors nearly shut. She paused for a few seconds, then hobbled after them. ¡°Doctor, what happened?¡±

    But the doctors were too preupied to exin, simply blocking her from entering. ¡°Family members,

    please wait outside.¡± With that, they closed the doors behind them.

 Chatper 282

    Chapter 282

    Brielle stood frozen before the closed hospital door, baffled as to why she had run into Julian here of all

    ces. The nurses hadn¡¯t borated, but at the mention of Julian¡¯s name, Brielle had bolted from the

    room without a second thought.

    It wasn¡¯t until she turned that she noticed Miranda huddled in a corner, looking guilty as sin.

    Miranda shrank back for a moment but quickly stiffened her spine and retorted with righteous.

    indignation. ¡°What are you staring at me for? It¡¯s his own health that¡¯s failing. Who else is there to

    me?¡±

    Brielle felt a surge of anger welling within her chest, making her head spin.

    Miranda crossed her arms and rolled her eyes dismissively. ¡°Well, you saw it yourself. Julian passed

    out because of your doings. It¡¯s all on you, Brielle. You better call Max right away.¡±

    With a bitterugh, Brielle leaned against the wall, her leg pain turning her lips pale, ¡°Because of me?¡±

    ¡°Who else? I told him what you did, and he fainted right at the hospital entrance. If he dies, it¡¯s on your

    head.¡±

    Brielle closed her eyes for a moment, her hand hanging by her side slowly clenched into a fist. her nails

    digging into her palm. ¡°Then you¡¯d better pray he makes it.¡±

    Her gaze was dark and unrelenting as she stared at Miranda, who felt a chill run down her spine from

    the intensity of that stare. How had she forgotten? Brielle was not one to be trifled with, not just for her

    own capabilities but also because of Max standing behind her.

    But the thought of Lillian¡¯s three severed fingers fueled her hatred for Brielle, wishing this woman would

    just drop dead.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Faced with the current situation, Miranda could not provoke Brielle further with harsh words.

    The fate of the Haywood family was tied to Brielle, and Miranda couldn¡¯t risk it, so she mped her

    mouth shut.

    The resuscitation room light finally came on, casting a somber glow down the hallway. Brielle sat in

    silence, treating Miranda as if she was invisible. A chill ran through her eyes, her lips pressed together

    in a cold, hard line.

    The air in the hallway was frigid, the atmosphere heavy with sorrow. Brielle remained seated, waiting

    for news about Julian.

    The light stayed on in the resuscitation room, and it wasn¡¯t until half an hourter that a doctor

    emerged, his mask still on, forehead beaded with sweat, cheeks marked with exhaustion.

    The doctor slowly removed his mask, and the expressions of the medical team behind him were grim.

    Seeing their faces, Miranda¡¯s heart skipped a beat, her palms slick with sweat.

    Chapter 282

    As feared, the doctor shook his head gravely. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, we missed the critical window. We did

    everything we could. I believe he has somest words. The family shoulde in to say their

    goodbyes.¡±

    It was like a bolt from the blue for Brielle, her knees nearly buckling, her vision blurring with darkness.

    How could this be happening?

    Meanwhile, Miranda had already stormed up to the doctor, grabbing him by the scrubs, her voice filled

    with desperate fury.

    ¡°What kind of sick joke is this?! He was fine when he arrived, wasn¡¯t he? How could he suddenly be on

    his deathbed? Quacks, all of you! I¡¯ll sue you! You¡¯re all murderers! Just wait for the court

    summons.¡±

    She then turned her twisted face to Brielle. ¡°Are you happy now?! If you hadn¡¯t made Max move

    against the Haywood family, grandpa wouldn¡¯t have copsed. It¡¯s all your fault, Brielle. How can you

    live with yourself? Even as a ghost, he won¡¯t let you be. He should¡¯ve never been so kind to you. No

    good deed goes unpunished.¡±

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    Chapter 283

    Brielle felt as if her legs had turned to jelly, and her walking cane ttered to the floor with a sound that

    seemed to echo through the sterile silence of the hospital corridor. She could hardly make out what

    Miranda was babbling about; to her, everyone¡¯s lips seemed to be moving in slow motion, like fish

    gasping for air on drynd.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Her eyes locked onto Julian as he was wheeled out, his gaunt face was ashen and lifeless. It was as if

    the scene jolted her back to reality, and she suddenly found the strength to walk over to the bedside.

    ¡°Grandpa, can you hear me? It¡¯s me, Bri.¡±

    Julian clung to life by a thread, his eyes murky, reflecting the dim light like polluted water. At the sound

    of her voice, a faint spark of recognition flickered in him. ¡°Bri¡­¡±

    Tears streamed down Brielle¡¯s cheeks as she took his hand, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me.¡±

    Julian struggled to sit up, but he was too exhausted. His lips parted with great effort, and after what

    seemed like an eternity, he whispered, ¡°Money.¡±

    But Brielle couldn¡¯t understand. Tears blurred her vision as she leaned closer to catch his words.

    ¡°Money in the chest, for Bri.¡±

    Hearing the word ¡®dowry,¡® Brielle squeezed his hand tighter, ¡°I understand, the money.¡±

    A look of relief passed over Julian¡¯s face, as if this was thest unfinished business he had. His eyelids

    were heavy, fighting to stay open, but he managed a tender smile.

    ¡°Live well, Bri.¡±

    This was the second time Julian had told her to live well. The first time was years ago when Julian had

    been rushed to the hospital after a fall. He had said it with such gravity then.

    Live well.

    In the blink of an eye, so many years had passed. Julian had survived that trip to the emergency room,

    and how Brielle wished this time would be the same. But after those words. Julian gave her a kind

    smile, and then his eyes slowly closed.

    ¡°Grandpa!¡± Brielle cried out, her eyes wide with shock, gripping his wrist in desperation. Julian¡¯s warmth

    gradually faded, his eyes shut, his hand growing cold in hers.

    Brielle blinked rapidly, unable to ept what was happening. She held Julian¡¯s hand to her lips.

    breathing on it in a futile attempt to warm it, but the hand just got colder, more rigid, slipping. slowly

    from her grasp.

    Brielle tried again, rubbing her thumbs over the weathered back of his hand. The little warmth she

    could muster was like breath on a block of ice, utterly useless.

    Julian was gone.

    Chapter 283

    Brielle copsed to the floor, numb to the pain in her legs. She must be dreaming, a nightmare. she

    longed to awaken from.

    The doctors came to her aid, draping a white sheet over Julian¡¯s face.

    Brielle stared, lips clenched, unable to cry.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, he¡¯s at peace now. Please, take a moment to grieve, but we¡¯ll need to make arrangements

    for the funeral.¡±

    The doctor tried tofort her and then turned to Miranda, who had copsed on the floor, not out of

    grief, but out of fear.

    It was over. Julian was actually dead. What would be of the Haywood family now?

    To the doctor, Miranda¡¯s panic seemed like sorrow, and he sighed, ¡°If only we¡¯d gotten him here half an

    hour earlier, perhaps¡­¡±

    Miranda¡¯s eyes were wide with panic, too scared to break the news to Robert. Her elt

    weak, her breathing difficult. She saw Brielle being helped by the doctor, intending to enter the room,

    and forced herself to stand.

    away

    ¡°Brielle, Julian passed because of the stress from the Haywood family affairs. Do you want to keep

    antagonizing them? Do you want him to be restless even in death? How can you

    be so cruel¡­¡±

 Chatper 284

    Chapter 284

    Brielle¡¯s mind was a tornado of thoughts, her eyes blinking through the sting of fatigue. She couldn¡¯t

    muster the strength to respond to any messages. She didn¡¯t even recall how she got. back to her

    hospital room, just that the world seemed to tremble before her eyes.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle? Ms. Brielle!¡± The doctor¡¯s voice seemed to echo from afar. She tried to snap out of it, but

    rity eluded her.

    Outside the room, Miranda didn¡¯t dare linger. She knew exactly how Julian had died, and her face had

    drained of color. She needed to get ahead of the story, to pin everything on Brielle. Otherwise, Robert

    wouldn¡¯t let her off the hook either.

    Clutching her fists tightly. Miranda red at Brielle with a mix of urgency and fear.

    With Julian gone, what could possibly stop Max now?

    She hurried downstairs, desperate to consult with Robert.

    Meanwhile, Cameron had already found Lillian. Her hand, now bandaged, was scrutinized by her cold

    gaze, her missing fingers a silent testament to her ordeal.

    Cameron had braced himself for a hysterical Lillian, but the woman before him was eerily calm. a

    brewing storm in her eyes. ¡°Lillian, who did this?¡± He gently took her wrist, cradling it with a pained

    tenderness.

    A bitter smirk crossed Lillian¡¯s face. ¡°Who else but Brielle? Cameron, haven¡¯t you figured out a way to

    get me out yet?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Max has the police in his pocket. The Haywood family is in trouble, and he¡¯s not letting go.¡±

    The fury in Lillian¡¯s eyes was apocalyptic. They say each finger is connected to the heart. No one knew

    the pain and fear she had felt the night before. Her grip tightened on her fingers. fresh blood seeping

    through the bandages.

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    ¡°I know how to diffuse the crisis at hand.¡± Her eyes glinted with malice, her lips pursed coldly. ¡°If Max

    won¡¯t let us be, then why not just make sure he can¡¯t breathe?¡±

    Those three fingers had snapped her into a sobering rity. She wanted revenge on Brielle and on

    Max.

    Cameron startled, even ncing around to make sure they were alone before responding in a hushed

    tone. ¡°Lillian, stop dreaming. Do you have any idea how many have wanted Max dead over the years?

    Look at him, still thriving. Mom¡¯s gone to fetch Grandpa. As long as Grandpa is around, Brielle won¡¯t let

    Max keep targeting the Haywoods. I¡¯m more worried about you right

    now.

    Lillian¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, like a wild animal cornered in desperation. ¡°I know how I can get out. Just

    lend me a few men.¡±

    Chapter 284

    Cameron was wary of letting Lillian stir the pot further: Provoking Max might render Brielle¡¯s efforts

    useless. ¡°Lillian, I-¡± Before he could finish, Lillian leaned in, pressing her lips to his.

    Cameron¡¯s pupils constricted, his body freezing as if struck by paralysis.

    Lillian didn¡¯t care about the Haywood family at the moment; she wanted Brielle to pay the price. If she

    couldn¡¯t have Max, neither would Brielle!

    As for her own fate, she was indifferent. She wanted Brielle to live in hell forever.

    After a brief kiss, she pulled back. ¡°You¡¯ll help me, won¡¯t you? This is thest time I¡¯ll ask.

    Cameron¡¯s mind was in disarray. Unable to refuse Lillian¡¯s plea, especially after that unexpected kiss,

    he felt his thoughts entangle into chaos. After what seemed like an eternity. he nodded slowly. ¡°Okay,

    but don¡¯t do anything rash.¡±

    A sly smile flickered across Lillian¡¯s eyes. After all these years, Cameron was still the same.

    She was determined to seize this opportunity!

    ¡°Lillian, pretend to faint. I¡¯ll have the cops escort you to the hospital, and on the way, my guys. will

    intercept them. I¡¯ll give you one day. By tomorrow afternoon, you have to be back.¡±

    Lillian nodded in agreement. It was a solid n. She¡¯d copse in the police station, and the cops

    would rush her to the hospital.

    After a brief exchange of ns, Lillian let herself ¡®faint¡®.

 Chatper 285

    Chapter 285

    Everything went smoothly after that, with two cops escorting Lillian to the hospital. The handcuffs still

    clung to Lillian¡¯s wrists, while Cameron followed closely in the squad car.

    This was a first for Cameron too, but there was no room for second thoughts now. He had already bent

    too many rules for Lillian; one more wouldn¡¯t matter.

    The police cruiser glided through the quiet streets, the apanying officers on high alert. scanning

    the area to ensure there were no surprises, but what they didn¡¯t anticipate was that the moment

    Cameron had stepped out of the precinct, he had already arranged for his people to be waiting right

    here. This was the perfect opportunity to whisk Lillian away.

    As they rounded a corner, Cameron¡¯s crew came barreling towards them in their vehicle. The two cops

    in the car were just about to react when Cameron sprang into action.

    In a blur, the officers were subdued, and Cameron seized his chance, taking control of the wheel.

    The cruiser eased to a stop by the roadside, and the car Cameron had arranged pulled up alongside.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Cameron leaned over the subdued officers to fish out the keys and unlock the cuffs from Lillian¡¯s wrists,

    his voice filled with caution. ¡°Lillian, I need to stay and handle these two. Remember what I told you,

    don¡¯t do anything rash.¡±

    A twisted smile yed at the corner of Lillian¡¯s mouth, her eyes brimming with barely contained

    madness. Her fingers were gone, and the Haywood family was on the brink. How could she notsh

    out?

    She was determined to drag her cursed life out long enough to make Brielle regret ever crossing her.

    While she harbored these thoughts, her lips formed a different message. ¡°I got it.¡±

    Her voice was soft, belying the vicious ns for dismantling Brielle piece by piece that churned in her

    mind.

    Once she was seated in the car Cameron had arranged, Lillian intended to head straight for the

    hospital where Brielle was. However, the others in the car, following Cameron¡¯s stern

    instructions, were not to let Lillian anywhere near Brielle¡¯s hospital. So, the car initially drove in the

    opposite direction of the hospital.

    As soon as they were out of Cameron¡¯s sight. Lillian¡¯s face cracked into a maniacal grin. ¡°You guys

    know where Brielle is, right?¡±

    The two nced at each other, neither daring to speak.

    Lillian suddenly yanked the steering wheel, her expression contorted, ¡°If you don¡¯t take me to Brielle¡¯s

    hospital, I¡¯ll just crash into the next car I see, and we can all die together.¡±

    Chapter 285

    She was extreme, like a vengeful spirit escaped from the depths of hell. The two men had wanted to

    ignore her, but her strength was immense, and she was now tampering with the

    elerator.

    The car surged towards a tanker truck. If it hit, both vehicles would explode, and indeed they¡¯d

    all die right there.

    These two men didn¡¯t want to die. ¡°Miss Lillian, please, don¡¯t do anything hasty! I know where Brielle is!

    I know!¡± one of them blurted out.

    Hearing this, the ferocity in Lillian¡¯s eyes intensified, ¡°Good, take me there.¡±

    No one dared to defy her. She was like a madwoman.

    Brielle had no idea that danger was drawing near, nor did she know the depths to which Lillian had

    been pushed. A woman who had lost three fingers could disregard everything.

    Evening was setting in, and the hospital corridors grew quiet. A woman dressed in a long coat. wearing

    a brown hat, entered the hallway. She moved slowly toward the room where Brielley. There were two

    doctors on duty outside the room, aware of a message that this patient was of particr importance

    and that her safety was to be ensured at all costs. So when they saw the unfamiliar woman

    approaching, they stopped her, ¡°May I ask who you are?¡±

    Her voice was hoarse, and her hand, hanging at her side, was wrapped in a bandage stained with

    spots of blood. ¡°I¡¯m Brielle¡¯s sister. I¡¯vee to see her.¡±

    When she confidently mentioned Brielle¡¯s name, the doctors didn¡¯t question further. They knew. that

    come nightfall, the man from the previous evening would arrive in person, discreetly checking in. His

    status was even more prestigious, and they had been instructed to station. extra medical staff by the

    room¡¯s entrance to prevent any mishaps.

    Since the visitor imed to be a rtive, they assumed there was no danger. Thus, the doctors allowed

    her to pass, with a warning not to stay too long.

 Chatper 286

    Chapter 286

    Lillian sneered inwardly, her heart as cold as ice. She shut the door behind her with a soft click and

    turned to face her nemesis, Brielle, lying on the hospital bed.

    Brielle¡¯s face was flushed with fever, an IV needle piercing the back of her hand, pumping life¨Csaving

    fluids into her bloodstream.

    Fate, it seemed, was on Lillian¡¯s side today.

    A wicked grin flickered across Lillian¡¯s face as she grabbed a pillow from the bedside and pressed it

    down hard over Brielle¡¯s face. ¡°You bitch! Go to hell!¡± Her knuckles whitened with the force she applied,

    every muscle in her arm straining.

    Brielle didn¡¯t even have time to utter a word; her breathing became morebored by the second. Her

    nightmare was turning into a horror show, the dark sky above seemed to drop an unreal shroud devoid

    of oxygen, and she was suffocating.

    ¡°Help,¡± she gasped in her mind.

    But Lillian was relentless, her grin twisted as she kept the pressure on.

    At this critical moment, someone was knocking at the door, seemingly about to enter at any second.

    Grinding her teeth in annoyance, Lillian quickly removed the pillow and tossed it aside. Brielle¡¯s

    cellphoney on the bedsheet, unguarded. Lillian snatched it up and, using Brielle¡¯s fingerprint,

    unlocked the device.

    Just then, the nurse entered, carrying a tray filled with various medications. She gave Lillian a

    suspicious nce. ¡°Are you here to see Ms. Brielle? May I ask who you are?¡±

    Max had entrusted the nurse to be vignt with his patient, and not for a moment could she let her

    guard down. No sooner had she stepped out than someone new had appeared in the room.

    Lillian pulled her hat down lower, ¡°I¡¯m her family, just wanted to check in on her. Is she okay?¡±

    Suspicion lurked in the depths of the nurse¡¯s eyes, but Lillian¡¯s demeanor didn¡¯t give away anything out

    of the ordinary, so she just shook her head. ¡°Just a bad tase of anxiety, some rest and she¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    The nurse prepared the injection, as Lillian spoke up, ¡°Max asked me toe by and check on her,

    d to hear she¡¯s doing well.¡±

    Lillian¡¯s words were a probe, with the increase in staff at the door, she couldn¡¯t help but suspect they

    were Max¡¯s people. After all, who else would care about Brielle?

    At the mention of Max, a flicker of surprise crossed the nurse¡¯s face, and her defenses dropped, her

    lips curving into a smile. ¡°You¡¯re here on Max¡¯s behalf? He¡¯s not only handsome and wealthy, but he¡¯s

    also so attentive to his girlfriend. Ms. Brielle is really lucky. They must¡¯ve had a row. Max couldn¡¯te

    by day, so he sneaks in at night to visit Ms. Brielle. She¡¯s truly

    blessed.¡±

    The nurse turned her back to administer the medication, unaware of the malignant hatred contorting

    Lillian¡¯s face.

    Lillian gripped the phone so tightly she wished she could crush it. Her mind reyed the nurse¡¯s words

    on a loop.

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    Sneaking in at night to see her after a fight¡­

    Was this careful and gentle man really the same Max who had driven her to jump off the building? She

    remembered how cold and indifferent he was that night, as if her life meant nothing, and she were a

    bug to be stepped on.

    That bitch! Why did she get everything. Why was it Brielle who had it all, while she, Lillian, had nothing

    but shame and loss?

    ¡°Fuck all of you!.¡±

    The nurse kept murmuring, full of envy, clueless that behind her, someone was poised with a vase,

    ready to im her life. The vase was lifted high, about to be brought down with fatal force, when

    Lillian¡¯s ears caught the sound of conversation. It was the night staff at the door. chatting idly.

 Chatper 287

    Chapter 287

    The nurse in front of her slowly turned, her eyes just about tond on the vase Lillian was holding.

    Lillian snapped back to reality. There were still people at the door. Even if she could silence this nurse,

    the people outside would hear themotion. Reluctantly, she set the vase down without a sound.

    Just then, the hospital room door was knocked on, and another nurse walked in. ¡°Has Ms. Brielle been

    given her medication? Everyone out now. Let her rest properly.¡±

    The new nurse, noticing the other people in the room, frowned deeply. ¡°Ms. Brielle is not epting

    visitors at this time.¡±

    She was more cautious than the rest, her eyes scrutinizing Lillian. A woman with her face hidden¨Cwho

    could tell what she was up to, sneaking in for a visit in the dead of night?

    Lillian abandoned the thought of suffocating Brielle right there and then. A new idea had taken root in

    her mind. If she seeded, Brielle would live, but in far greater agony.

    Under the nurse¡¯s watchful eye, Lillian left the room.

    The nurse stayed behind, her brow furrowed as she made sure Brielle was alright before she finally

    exhaled in relief.

    Out in the corridor, Lillian¡¯s eyes were aze with fury, but she forced herself to cool down. She had to

    focus on the next phase of her n. She walked down the hall, and after gaining some distance, she

    looked back at Brielle¡¯s hospital room door.

    Two people stood guard outside, and inside, a nurse

    kept vignt. Max really cherished that woman down to his bones. The more Lillian realized this, the

    deeper her hatred grew. She was the daughter of the Haywood family¨Cthis should have been her life.

    Pulling out her phone, Lillian scrolled to Max¡¯s number. She had memorized it, once dreaming. of a day

    when they might talk things over calmly. She had naively thought there might be a

    chance for her, but he had been blind to her, choosing Brielle instead.

    Lillian looked down, thinking back to the nurse¡¯s words. Apparently, the two were in a cold war. Perfect.

    It was as if the fate was conspiring to give her this opportunity.

    She smirked, typing out a message. [I¡¯m at my old apartment waiting for you. Can we talk?] ¡°Since you

    you care about Brielle, you¡¯lle, won¡¯t you?¡± She thought to herself.

    After sending the message, she descended to the ground floor and continued to intimidate the two men

    who had brought her there. Relieved to see her safe, the men couldn¡¯t help but urge. ¡°Miss Lillian, you

    should head back. Mr. Cameron told you not to stir trouble. You-¡±

    Before they could finish. Lillian got into the car, her face frosty. ¡°How much fuel is in the tank?¡±

    Chapter 287

    The men didn¡¯t understand why she would ask such a thing, but recalling her earlier frenzy, fear

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    Con into their hearts. ¡°We just filled it up, and there¡¯s spare gasoline in the trunk.¡±

    Lillian¡¯s mouth twisted into a sinister smile. ¡°Good, take me somewhere.¡±

    Neither dared to disobey her, silently praying that she would return safely, just like this time.

    Lillian was convinced Max would show up in response to her message. All she needed to do was

    prepare the trap and wait for him to step into it.

    Meanwhile, Max was still in a meeting, trying to wrap up his day¡¯s work so he could sneak in a couple

    of hours of sleep before visiting Brielle in the dead of night.

    The executives were reporting earnestly, but Max was bing distracted. He pondered whether his

    actions were justified.

    Brielle didn¡¯t seem to care for him and had never expressed a desire to be with him. What was he

    expecting, chasing after her like this?

    Was a love unreciprocated worth the leap into an abyss?

 Chatper 288

    Chapter 288

    No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than the buzz of his cellphone broke the silence. After a

    surreptitious visit to the hospitalst night, he had removed Brielle¡¯s number from the cklist. He¡¯d

    spent the entire day with an eye on his phone.

    A tiny glimmer of hope flickered in the recesses of his heart. However, when the phone actually rang,

    he froze, as if struck by a sudden spell.

    The executives seemed ustomed to it by now as their gazes instinctively shifted towards him.

    Max pulled out his phone, trying to convince himself it wouldn¡¯t be Brielle. She probably wouldn¡¯t be the

    first to reach out anymore. Despite his thoughts, he couldn¡¯t help but look at the screen.

    And there it was, a text from her.

    His eyshes fluttered once as he turned the screen face down on the table. He looked up at the

    executive delivering the report and said, ¡°Continue.¡±

    Whether it was the executive¡¯s imagination or not, they felt as if the chill that usually surrounded their

    boss had thawed a bit. The mood in the conference room subtly shifted from the frost of early spring to

    the thaw of a stream just beginning to flow.

    The executive¡¯s report went on for an hour, and once it concluded, Max was the first to leave the room,

    heading straight for the elevator.

    Patrick followed and had guessed who the message might¡¯ve been from. Was the boss finally going to

    see Ms. Brielle?

    Patrick didn¡¯t know about the midnight visit and felt relieved at the prospect. He thought a spark of life

    had ignited in Max ever since he had met Brielle. Max no longer seemed so untouchable.

    Max was undeniably noble, but also undeniably alone.

    Unable to contain his urgency, Max quickened his pace, got into the car, and said to Patrick. ¡°I¡¯ll drive

    tonight. You can head back.¡±

    Patrick, initially moving to take the wheel, nodded at Max¡¯s words and turned to fetch another car from

    the garage.

    Max settled into the driver¡¯s seat and hesitated as he passed a bakery, contemting.

    After a moment, he decided against buying anything and drove directly to the apartment where Brielle

    used to live. It was where everything had begun for them, a ce filled with significance, so it was not

    surprising when she chose to meet there.

    Perhaps she had something important to say. Maybe she wanted to mend what was between them.

    Chapter 288

    The apartment¡¯s elevator was stered with numerous small ads, a coge of offers and services that

    made the space feel even more cramped. As Max exited the elevator, he ran into Brielle¡¯s former

    neighbor, Mrs. Thompson. Her eyes lit up at the sight of him.

    ¡°My, my, Brielle¡¯s moved out, didn¡¯t she tell you? I always said she was unreliable. She¡¯s got a fiance,

    you know. Maybe you should give my niece a thought.¡±

    Max¡¯s lips twitched into a small smile. He was not cold as he usually was, but his presence was so

    imposing that Mrs. Thompson dared not say more, sighed, and gave up the match¨Cmaking attempt.

    Max was about to ring the doorbell when he noticed the door ajar. Surprise flickered in his eyes as he

    pushed it open and called out, ¡°Brielle?¡±

    The living room was empty, and its setup was unchanged from before. He stepped inside. closing the

    door behind him. ¡°Brielle?¡±

    After calling out once more, he heard a noise from the bedroom and breathed a sigh of relief as he

    approached.

    The bedroom door was shut, and a faint scent hung in the air. Max stepped back, and his brow

    furrowed at the smell of gasoline.

    What was Brielle nning?

    He took out his phone and dialed her number. The ringtone echoed from within the room, but

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    the door was locked.

    ¡°Brielle!

    Panic began to seep into his heart as he kicked the door open.

    The smell of gasoline intensified, and a small lump was visible on the bed. Someone was curled

    beneath the covers, and the ringing phone was on the nightstand.

    Max strode in quickly, pulling back the nket. Underneath the nkets was a pillow. Then, a loud

    ¡°bang¡± resounded from the living room.

 Chatper 289

    Chapter 289

    Max snatched Brielle¡¯s phone and returned to the living room, only to find the door locked from the

    outside. mes licked their way through the cracks, signaling danger. Within two minutes, the living

    room was a choking haze of thick, ck smoke.

    Max was coughing and stumbled backward. He fumbled with the phone, dialing 911 as he searched for

    another way out.

    The apartment was in an old part of town, perched on a high floor. The balcony wasn¡¯t an option for

    escape; the only way out was through another exit. He soaked a cloth in water and pressed it over his

    nose and mouth.

    The room was a blur. The smoke was so dense he could barely open his eyes, let alone determine

    which way was which. His nose was assaulted by the acrid stench of smoke and his lungs were

    screaming for air.

    The fire in the hallway was now a monstrous sheet of me. The entire floor was ame. The situation

    was dire.

    Blind to his surroundings, Max groped his way to the opposite side of the bedroom. He could see a

    glimmer of light through the window, and the outline of the neighboring building¡¯s. rooftop. He grabbed

    a chair and hurled it at the window.

    The ss, weakened by the intense heat, shattered instantly. He took a step back and leaped out

    without hesitation. The inferno chased him, its crimson tongues reaching out like they were trying to

    consume him whole.

    Outside the window was a slightly lower rooftop. It was the only chance he had, and any other window

    would have meant certain death.

    Maxnded on the rooftop, and above him, there was the sound of an explosion. The sound of gas

    canisters detonated one after another. These canisters were as deadly as bombs.

    Debris flew through the air, and Max instinctively ducked for cover. None of the falling pieces hit him,

    but he felt dizzy from the smoke inhtion and struggled to keep his footing.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    As he clutched Brielle¡¯s phone tightly, he realized someone had used her to set him up. He¡¯d fallen for

    it. In the past, he would never have walked into such a cheap trap.

    As he thought of moving further away, a whoosh sounded behind him. Years of honing his danger

    instincts made him duck, just as a baseball bat whizzed past his nose.

    He looked up to see a woman in a brown hat, who, having missed her swing, stumbled and fell to the

    ground. As she scrambled to her feet to take a second swing, Max caught the bat in his hand. His

    sharp eyes tried to pierce through the disguise to see the true identity beneath.

    Lillian¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and her whole body was trembling. She had scoped out the area earlier,

    knowing that if Max managed to escape from the fire, this was his only exit. If he perished, even better¨C

    Brielle would grieve forever.

    Chapter 289

    Chapter 289

    Max snatched Brielle¡¯s phone and returned to the living room, only to find the door locked from the

    outside, mes licked their way through the cracks, signaling danger. Within two minutes. the living

    room was a choking haze of thick, ck smoke,

    Max was coughing and stumbled backward. He fumbled with the phone, dialing 911 as he searched for

    another way out.

    The apartment was in an old part of town, perched on a high floor. The balcony wasn¡¯t an option for

    escape: the only way out was through another exit. He soaked a cloth in water and pressed it over his

    nose and mouth.

    The room was a blur. The smoke was so dense he could barely open his eyes, let alone determine

    which way was which. His nose was assaulted by the acrid stench of smoke and his lungs were

    screaming for air.

    The fire in the hallway was now a monstrous sheet of me. The entire floor was ame. The situation

    was dire.

    Blind to his surroundings, Max groped his way to the opposite side of the bedroom. He could see a

    glimmer of light through the window, and the outline of the neighboring building¡¯s rooftop. He grabbed a

    chair and hurled it at the window.

    The ss, weakened by the intense heat, shattered instantly. He took a step back and leaped out

    without hesitation. The inferno chased him, its crimson tongues reaching out like they were trying to

    consume him whole.

    Outside the window was a slightly lower rooftop. It was the only chance he had, and any other window

    would have meant certain death.

    Maxnded on the rooftop, and above him, there was the sound of an explosion. The sound of gas

    canisters detonated one after another. These canisters were as deadly as bombs.

    Debris flew through the air, and Max instinctively ducked for cover. None of the falling pieces hit him,

    but he felt dizzy from the smoke inhtion and struggled to keep his footing,

    As he clutched Brielle¡¯s phone tightly, he realized someone had used her to set him up. He¡¯d fallen for

    it. In the past, he would never have walked into such a cheap trap.

    As he thought of moving further away, a whoosh sounded behind him. Years of honing his danger

    instincts made him duck, just as a baseball bat whizzed past his nose.

    He looked up to see a woman in a brown hat, who, having missed her swing, stumbled and fell to the

    ground. As she scrambled to her feet to take a second swing. Max caught the bat in his hand. His

    sharp eyes tried to pierce through the disguise to see the true identity beneath.

    Lillian¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and her whole body was trembling. She had scoped out the area earlier,

    knowing that if Max managed to escape from the fire, this was his only exit. If he perished, even better¨C

    Brielle would grieve forever.

    Chapter 289

    So she waited, hoping he wouldn¡¯t appear, yet also hoping he would, so she could be the one to end

    him.

    Max¡¯s gaze was icy as he stared through her hat, directly at her. Lillian knew all too well that this was

    Max, the untouchable man of Beaconsfield, one whom everyone feared. She had hoped to be

    cherished by him, and if that were out of reach, she¡¯d ensure Brielle never had his affection.

    They could go to hell together.

    Lillian didn¡¯t care about her life anymore, not after losing three fingers. What man would look at her

    now? Everyone would despise her and look down on her. Rather than endure that, she would drag Max

    to hell with her!

    The thought grew wildly in her mind like unchecked weeds. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she

    stared at him like a hungry wolf.

    Realizing the bat was useless, she let go and lunged at Max. Just one step back, and Max would be

    over the

    edge, plummeting to his death.

    This golden boy would soon fall from grace.

 Chatper 290

    Chapter 290

    Max¡¯s gaze was cool and detached as Lillian charged at him. The rity of his thoughts was almost

    unnerving, even as he chastised himself for being outwitted by a woman. It was apse in judgment, a

    moment of weakness when he had not considered the possibility that Brielle¡¯s phone could¡¯ve fallen

    into the wrong hands. He was emotionallypromised, a phrase he never thought would find its way

    into his world.

    Lillian had thrown herself at him with abandon; her only desire was to drag them both down to their

    demise. She had lost the will to live and was determined to take Max with her. In the afterlife, she

    fancied them to be united as lovers, eternal and inseparable.

    But she hadn¡¯t anticipated the explosion that suddenly rocked the rooftop, nor the cacophony of sirens

    and screams that followed. She got distracted, stumbled, and fell onto the jagged debris. Her face

    looked like a canvas of blood..

    Max stood motionless. His gaze was icy and disdainful as he watched her struggle on the ground. To

    him, she was no more significant than an ant beneath his boot.

    Instinctively. Lillian felt reduced to nothing more than a writhing maggot in his eyes. She was like a

    creature that had never known the light, and was destined to be scorched by the brilliance that radiated

    from him.

    Meanwhile, Max was indifferent to her internal turmoil. His attention was far removed from the night¡¯s

    events. As a businessman, he was defined by his acuity, not by the emotions that seemed to desert

    him.

    He dialed Patrick, calmly requesting a pickup. Upon hearing the news, Patrick mmed the pedal to

    the metal and raced to the scene.

    Max leaned against the rooftop wall. The night sky was now illuminated by the raging fire that had

    spread two stories high. As the heir to the Dorsey family and the CEO of Dorsey

    International, he was painfully aware of his transgression. The realization that Brielle could be his

    Achilles¡® heel was a new and unwee sensation.

    Others might have been grateful to escape a fire unscathed, but not Max. He could¡¯ve met his end in

    the mes without a flicker of emotion crossing his features.

    The cufflinks on his wrist, once free of imperfections, now bore the grime of the night¡¯s chaos. It was a

    reminder that sumbing to addiction was a sign of a weak will, and he was

    determined not to sumb.

    He reasoned that feelings should be as fleeting and inconsequential as the joy of munching on a bag of

    potato chips during a moment of happiness. His unannounced visits to the hospital to see Brielle and

    his care for her was just impulsive and temporary.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    His next step was clear ¨C to create distance between them. Dependence was a sign of frailty. and he

    refused to be weakened.

    A woman¡¯s panicked voice echoed from the corner, ¡°My face! My beauty is ruined!¡±

    Chapter 290

    ¡°Brielle, you bitch, it¡¯s all your fault! Go to hell!¡±

    Lillian¡¯s ramblings sounded like those of a madwoman.

    ¡°Spencer, you heartbreaker, you bastard, I won¡¯t let you off the hook!¡±

    ¡°Brielle, ha! You lost to me long ago. Everyone connected to you will pay! I will make you regret. this for

    a lifetime.¡±

    ¡°Max is mine and mine alone! I am the daughter of the Haywood family.¡±

    Max listened quietly, finally putting a name to the voice¨CLillian. He smirked, approaching the cowering

    figure.

    Lillian tensed as she sensed his approach. Her eyes lifted to meet his. In the flickering firelight, his

    features were sharp and mesmerizing. She was captivated even as her tears continued flowing freely.

    If only a man like Max could love her, then she would sacrifice everything for just one nce from him.

    Her sobs filled the air. She couldn¡¯t ept her defeat.

    ¡°How am I inferior to Brielle? I¡¯m smarter and more charming. Spencer chose me over her after all her

    years of devotion. I won¡¯t lose.¡±

    She refused to believe she could ever be beaten.

 Chatper 291

    Chapter 291

    Max¡¯s smile was like a chill wind that swept through the room, leaving a frost in its wake.

    Lillian¡¯s chatter came to a shuddering halt as a cold dread seeped into every pore of her being. Her

    body felt like it had turned to ice, and she stared with wide, terrified eyes at the man before her. The

    untouchable air that once surrounded him had vanished. It was reced by an aura of darkness that

    sent shivers down the spine.

    Lillian copsed to the floor, instinctively recoiling from the fear that gripped her. He was truly terrifying.

    Tears streamed down her cheeks as she crawled backward. Her body involuntarily arched until

    suddenly, she felt the void behind her and began to plummet.

    The sensation was eerily familiar¨Cit was the same weightlessness she had felt before when she¡¯d

    leaped from the building.

    With tear¨Crimmed eyes, she fixed her gaze on Max, who remained stoic above her. Why couldn¡¯t he

    spare a sliver of kindness for her?

    But Max just looked down, his eyes as still as a calm sea. The noise around them was overwhelming, a

    cacophony of sounds that merged into one. He couldn¡¯t let tonight¡¯s events be known; he couldn¡¯t

    afford to have anyone be his weakness.

    Even if¡­ Even if that person was Brielle.

    Max blinked as his attention was drawn to the voicesing from the rooftop.

    ¡°Max!¡±

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey!¡±

    The first voice was Andrew, and the second was Patrick.

    Max¡¯s brow furrowed. Andrew was thest person he wanted to encounter now. Unlike the cool¨C

    headed Kenzo, Andrew was impulsive and reckless. If he knew that Brielle had nearly brought harm to

    Max, he¡¯d eliminate her without a second thought.

    Besides Michael, Andrew was a person who would never allow any weaknesses on himself.

    The door to the rooftop was kicked open, and many people rushed over, led by Andrew and Patrick.

    Patrick looked anxious, his pupils contracting sharply. Andrew, on the other hand, looked stern, his

    eyes full of sharpness and coldness. He was not a fool, Max appearing near the apartment where

    Brielle used to live was definitely not a coincidence. Perhaps someone was using Brielle to lure him

    into this trap.

    To Andrew, Max was an adversary, a benchmark. In his eyes, Max was perfection personified, a statue

    of impability. But now, it was as if the statue had begun to crack. The proud Priest suddenly seemed

    to be yearning for the mortal world¨Ca terrifying prospect.

    Chapter 291

    Andrew¡¯s heart was boiling with murderous intent, and he was resolved to find an opportunity to do

    away with Brielle..

    Patrick, on the other hand, rushed over anxiously. ¡°Boss, are you alright?¡±

    Max shook his head, his demeanor still regal. He walked past Andrew, pausing to deliver warning.

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch her.¡± They both knew who ¡®she¡® was.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Andrew was already seething, and Max¡¯s words were like a bomb about to detonate inside him.

    However, he managed to suppress the rage and even forced a twisted smile. ¡°Max, who are you talking

    about?¡±

    It was unlike Andrew to be so unnervingly calm. Max¡¯s lips tightened, and his expression was cold.

    ¡°Brielle.¡±

    Whether he wanted to kept the distance bewteen them, Brielle must not be hurt because of him.

    Andrew¡¯s eyes twitched violently. Even now, Brielle was all that Max could think about. ¡°Did someone

    use her to get to you tonight?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Max was candid; there was no need for pretense among friends.

    Andrew sneered, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t touch her.¡±

    Patrick, standing to the side, was equally nervous, fearing a sh between the two. Fortunately.

    Andrew still clung to his wits. Max said nothing more and led the way out.

    Patrick hurried after him, ncing back at Andrew, who stood under the fiery glow of the night sky. His

    eyes were dark and resolute, as if he had made a decision. Danger seemed to emanate from him.

    Patrick averted his gaze. He was always astonished by Mr. Clements¡® restraint around the

    boss.

    Andrew was fire, but he always managed to contain himself in Max¡¯s presence. As Max. became

    entangled with Brielle, Andrew had started out amused. When he sensed Max¡¯s seriousness, his

    amusement turned to mockery, and now, to dread and loathing.

    A loathing for Brielle.

 Chatper 292

    Chapter 292

    Beneath the towering structure, fire trucks were lined up in a long procession, their bright lights piercing

    the night. Rumors swirled that many hadn¡¯t made it out; the cries and wails of despair continued

    unabated as the building became a veritable inferno. It was all because of one woman¡¯s jealousy.

    The area was swarming with reporters, adding to the chaos.

    Max got into the car, his breath visible in the cool night air. Patrick wanted to press for details about the

    night¡¯s events, but he turned at the sound of Max¡¯s voice.

    ¡°How¡¯s Brielle doing?¡± Max asked as his brows knitted with concern. ¡°I want to see the Haywood family

    bankrupt in tomorrow¡¯s headlines,¡± he said, as if resolving a difficult decision. This would pave the way

    for her, and then they would be square.

    He looked down, his eyshes casting a shadow on his cheeks. ¡°Don¡¯t tell her,¡± he added quietly.

    Patrick¡¯s grip on the steering wheel tightened as he hastily dialed the hospital to check in. After getting

    the update, he nced in the rearview mirror. ¡°Ms. Brielle took her medication and is resting. All¡¯s quiet

    on that front.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Max responded. His tone sounded detached as the city lights flickered across his face. What

    he was thinking remained a mystery, but his silence was palpable.

    Patrick was worried but didn¡¯t dare probe further.

    Meanwhile, in the hospital ward, Brielle was writhing in the grip of a high fever, sapped of all strength.

    When she awoke with a start the next day, she overheard nurses changing dressings. and gossiping

    about the fire from the night before.

    ¡°Three people perished in the ze. Looks like arson. Some folks have just got evil in their hearts.¡±

    ¡°Did they catch who did it?¡±

    ¡°No, but the cameras caught a woman. Her motives are unclear; the fire wasn¡¯t at her ce but

    seemed aimed at the owner of that apartment.¡±

    The nurses were engrossed in their conversation.

    Brielle felt a sour sting in her eyes; she was disinterested in the fire. When one¡¯s spirit was so low,

    dreams of all sorts came visiting.

    In recent days, she had dreamt of Max. Last night, she had dreamt of Julian waking with swollen eyes

    from crying. Gasping for air, she felt drowsy and disoriented.

    The nurses brought her a meal, which she didn¡¯t touch.

    Mustering her strength, she asked about Julian¡¯s remains.

    Chapter 292

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, Julian¡¯s body was imed early this morning, probably by his kin,¡± one nurse informed her.

    Brielle¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and her lips pressed tightly together. Julian was gone, and while it was

    protocol to have his body rest in the morgue before cremation arrangements by the family, why would

    the Haywood family take his body? What were they nning?

    She slumped back onto the bed, eyes welling up again.

    Reflecting on the Haywoods¡® attitude towards Julian, her disdain was unstoppable. Were they

    expecting her to reach out? She was curious to see what game they were ying.

    As she reached for her phone to contact Robert, she realized it wasn¡¯t in its usual spot. After searching

    around the pillow, she found it still missing. She addressed the nurses. ¡°Have you seen my phone? I

    left it right here before I slept.¡±

    ¡°No, haven¡¯t seen it. There was someone here on constant watchst night. Maybe think about

    whether you ced it somewhere else.¡±

    But Brielle was certain of where she¡¯d left her phone. If someone had been on watch, how could it

    vanish into thin air? Definitely, someone had been in her room.

    She nced at the corridor¡¯s surveince camera. ¡°Could you checkst night¡¯s footage?! need to

    know if anyone came to see me.¡±

    Could it have been Max? But why would Max take her phone? A nagging unease settled in her heart, a

    feeling of having barely escaped the reaper¡¯s grasp.

    The on¨Ccall doctor entered, recalling a woman who had appeared somewhat surreptitious in the ward.

    ¡°Someone dide byst night. It was odd; she gave off a sneaky vibe. I asked the attending

    physician, and they said she was your sister, but she didn¡¯t speak, just stood there. and then left.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s heart pounded faster, the unease growing. ¡°Okay, can you help me ess the footage? I want

    to see who she was.¡±

    The nurse quickly contacted the security staff.

    As Brielle waited in her room, the footage was swiftly brought to her. The sight of a woman, wrapped

    tightly in disguise, entering Brielle¡¯s room, made her furrow her brow in anger. There was something

    familiar about this woman¡¯s figure.

    The footage was from the corridor¡¯s cameras; there were no cameras in Brielle¡¯s room, so she could

    only see the woman entering and leaving her room.

    The sight of the woman¡¯s bandaged hand caught her eye. Brielle¡¯s pupils shrank in recognition¨CLillian.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Wasn¡¯t Lillian supposed to be at the police station? How did she end up in Brielle¡¯s room?

    Brielle touched her neck, feeling a surge of relief at having survived. Had it not been for the nurses, the

    delirious and feverish Brielle might not have been so fortunate.

    Chapter 292

    Her phone must have been taken by Lillian. But why? What would Lillian want with her phone?

 Chatper 293

    Chapter 293

    Taking someone¡¯s belongings without permission that was called theft.

    ¨C

    Brielle was about to borrow the nurse¡¯s phone to call the cops when the hospital inte crackled to

    life, broadcasting a news update that caught her attention.

    -At ten this morning, the Haywood family dered bankruptcy. They¡¯re buried under a debt of nearly

    ten billion.

    A crowd had gathered outside the Haywood Corporation¡¯s headquarters, with assembly line. workers

    en masse filing forbor disputes.

    The reporter¡¯s voice, cold and detached, narrated Robert¡¯s downfall on the screen. ¡°Unable to repay

    debts and being sued by business partners, he¡¯s currently at the police station awaiting mediation. All

    his assets were frozen.¡±

    A top¨Cranking business in Beaconsfield, had been brought so low in mere days ¨C it was a sobering

    spectacle.

    Brielle watched the news quietly, half¨Cbelieving she was hallucinating. She knew the Haywood family

    was in hot water, but she hadn¡¯t expected things to unravel so quickly.

    With her phone stolen, at least she wouldn¡¯t be bothered by any more nuisance calls from the Haywood

    family. A faint smile ghosted her lips, but then her thoughts turned to Lillian¡¯s actions the previous night,

    and her brow furrowed in concern.

    What was Lillian up to? Or what had she done using Brielle¡¯s phone?

    A sense of unease gnawed at Brielle, and she immediately suspected a scheme at y. Brielle feared

    that the target was likely someone who cared deeply for her.

    She borrowed the nurse¡¯s phone and immediately dialed Aubree. But when Aubree picked up.

    everything seemed normal, so Brielle asked her to sort out a new SIM card and bring over a

    recement phone. ¡°Aubree, I owe you one.¡±

    ¡°Bri, stop it with the formalities. I¡¯ll be right over.¡±

    Aubree had just woken up, exhausted from a tumultuous night with Andrew, who had kept her up until

    the early hours, leaving her utterly drained. Her voice was hoarse, and her body was a map of bruises

    as she mustered the strength to get out of bed.

    Beside her, Andrew was still asleep and his arms were wrapped around her waist like iron bands.

    ncing at his face, Aubree paused for a moment. Andrew was undeniably handsome. and despite

    the disappointments, whenever they ended up entangled again, her heart would helplessly flutter with

    attraction as she felt the sweat roll off his face and onto her.

    She moved slightly and replied to Brielle. ¡°What does that witch Lillian want with your phone? Did you

    call the cops? Alright, I¡¯ll be over soon to talk more.¡±

    Her movements woke Andrew, who frowned and let her go.

    1/2

    Chapter 293

    As Aubree began to dress, her legs nearly gave out the moment they touched the floor. She looked up

    at Andrew through gritted teeth and, unable to hold back, hurled a pillow at him.

    Andrew caught the pillow with reflexive agility, looking up at her. ¡°What¡¯s got you riled up soC¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    early?¡±

    Aubree pointed to the marks on her neck, her face stern. ¡°How am I supposed to go out looking like

    this?¡±

    Andrew was unrepentantly willful in her presence, frowning. ¡°Then don¡¯t go. I¡¯m not finished with you

    yet.¡±

    Aubree stiffened, ignoring him and continuing to dress.

    ¡°Who are yo

    you meeting?¡± Andrew sat up in bed with the sheets modestly covering his lower half. He was bathed in

    sunlight that entuated his sculpted physique.

    ¡°Bri. Her phone got snatched. I¡¯m going to sort her out with a new SIM and bring her a new phone.¡±

    A sharp glint quickly passed through Andrew¡¯s eyes, and his lips curled with a cold smirk. So Brielle¡¯s

    phone had been stolen, huh? Did that meanst night¡¯s fire was orchestrated by someone who used

    Brielle¡¯s phone to send a message to Max?

    What a cmity.

    ¡°Is that so? I have a spare phone here that nobody¡¯s using.¡± His tone sounded casual as he pulled a

    phone from the nightstand drawer and tossed it to Aubree.

    Aubree stood there, eyeing him with confusion. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to like Bri much, so what¡¯s with the

    sudden generosity?¡±

 Chatper 294

    Chapter 294

    Andrew arched an eyebrow and pulled her back in a swift motion. ¡°Let¡¯s skip the part where you buy a

    phone, and we do this again.I¡¯ll finish quickly, okay?¡±

    Even with Aubree¡¯s thick skin, she couldn¡¯t help but feel her cheeks flush and her heart race.

    Unbeknownst to her, a shadow of darkness flickered through Andrew¡¯s eyes as she wrapped her arms

    around his neck.

    Andrew had stamina like no other. When he said he¡¯d be quick, Aubree really believed he was trying

    his best. Normally, he wouldn¡¯t stop until a solid two hours went by, but this time it was all over in forty

    minutes.

    Justst night, he had gone from midnight to dawn, and now, here they were, done so soon.

    Aubree checked the phone. It was brand new, which didn¡¯t raise any suspicions. As she was about to

    leave, she heard Andrew say, ¡°Don¡¯t tell her it¡¯s from me. I don¡¯t want her getting too cocky.¡±

    Aubree chuckled at the thought. ¡°Sure thing. Your Highness,¡± she said, finding his petty jealousy

    somewhat amusing.

    If only Aubree had looked back, she would¡¯ve seen the smirk on Andrew¡¯s face, full of mockery. as if he

    was anticipating some juicy drama to unfold.

    After activating Brielle¡¯s new SIM card, Aubree hurried off to the hospital to see Brielle. As she neared

    the hospital, she nced at her phone and only then learned aboutst night¡¯s fire. It had happened

    right where Brielle¡¯s apartment was located.

    Aubree¡¯s brows furrowed. Was the fire intended to hurt Bri?

    Once in the hospital room, she asked the question that had been nagging at her. ¡°Bri, why would Lillian

    steal your phone? What¡¯s she up to?¡±

    She handed over the new phone with a sneer. ¡°The Haywoods may have taken a hit, but surely Lillian

    isn¡¯t so broke that she can¡¯t afford a new phone.¡±

    Brielle took the new phone, shaking her head. She had no clue what Lillian¡¯s endgame was.

    Aubree thought for a moment and then asked, ¡°I heard about the firest night at your apartment.

    Seems like a strange coincidence. Do you think Lillian might have arranged a meeting with someone

    there? If the person that went there died, it would hurt you a lot. Doesn¡¯t it sound like something Lillian

    would do?¡±

    Brielle looked up sharply. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t answered your phone, I might have thought it was you.¡±

    A hint of amusement shed in Aubree¡¯s eyes. ¡°Turns out it wasn¡¯t me. But if not me, could it possibly

    have been Max?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s face paled at the mention of his name. Could it actually be Max?

    Chapter 294

    Aubree noticed her concern and sighed. ¡°I¡¯m just messing with you. Don¡¯t take it so seriously.¡±

    What Aubree didn¡¯t expect was for Brielle to call Max without a moment¡¯s hesitation. Aubree¡¯s eyes

    narrowed, but she didn¡¯t speak up to stop Brielle.

    Brielle¡¯s eyes lit up hearing the phone ring. She thought she was still on his blocked list. Memories of

    Max quietly moving Spencer for Brielle¡¯s sake, visiting her in the hospital in the middle of the night

    despite their breakup, and dealing with the Haywood family made Brielle¡¯s eyes well up with tears.

    If something had really happened to him¡­.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Her fingers trembled, and she felt as though an invisible hand was choking her, making it hard to

    breathe.

    The phone rang a few times, but nobody picked up. Anxiety grew within her. Why wouldn¡¯t Max

    answer? Could he be in trouble?

    She recalled Patrick¡¯s words¨Cover the years, countless people had wanted to take Max down. He was

    always on guard; how could he just fall into trouble so easily?

    Brielle looked down, but then remembered how she¡¯d slipped vitamins into the porridge she made for

    him. He didn¡¯t seem to be on guard then. Her heart ached with longing for the call to be answered.

    One minute passed, then two, and finally, a mechanical female voice came on the line. The call went

    unanswered.

    With a fever already burning within her, Brielle¡¯s vision started to fade in and out, and the world. around

    her seemed to shake violently.

 Chatper 295

    Chapter 295

    Inside the Premier Pce, the sound of Patrick¡¯s phone ringing cut through the quiet intensity of the

    room. He nced at the screen, saw the name shing, and promptly notified Max. ¡°Sir, you have a

    call from Ms. Brielle.¡±

    Patrick was expecting Max to pick up immediately, but he was met with a surprise. Max continued to

    sift through the corporate documents as if deaf to the world.

    The phone continued its persistent melody.

    Patrick was perplexed. What was going on with the boss? Justst night, Max had someone stationed

    at the hospital to protect Ms. Brielle from the desperate Haywood n, who might threaten her.

    All signs pointed to Max caring for Ms. Brielle. Yet now, his reaction was non¨Cexistent.

    Though Max didn¡¯t say. Patrick surmised that the scheme that unfoldedst night must have involved

    Brielle. They had since locked down all information from reaching the outside world. No one would

    know Max had been there.

    As for Lillian, the instigator, her fate was uncertain after falling from the high wall. Perhaps she had

    already been consumed by the mes.

    Patrick had personally overseen the information ckout, confident he knew Max¡¯s mind inside

    out.

    Patrick assumed that Max¡¯s actions were to shield Brielle. Even so, he was not a deity; oversights

    urred. If something happened to Brielle, what then?

    Andrew¡¯s face shed in Patrick¡¯s mind, and he frowned. He couldn¡¯t help but feel that Mr. Clements

    wasn¡¯t too fond of Ms. Brielle. He hoped Mr. Clements wouldn¡¯t take any drastic

    steps.

    With a sigh, Patrick noticed Max¡¯s phone finally quieting down, while Max himself remained in a state of

    cool detachment.

    Soon after, Patrick¡¯s phone rang. He nced at the caller ID and promptly informed Max. ¡°Sir, Ms.

    Brielle is calling me now.¡±

    Max finally reacted, lifting his gaze slightly. ¡°Mmm, tell her to focus on her recovery. Dorsey

    International needs her.¡±

    It that needed her, not Max. Brielle was a smart woman; she would

    as Dorso Int

    understand.

    Patrick grew more puzzled. Had they fought again? But judging by Max¡¯s demeanor, this seemed

    particrly serious.

    He answered the call. ¡°Ms. Brielle.¡±

    14:40

    Chapter 295

    ¡°Patrick, where¡¯s Max?¡±

    ¡°The boss isn¡¯t feeling well and can¡¯te to the phone right now. Perhaps you could try again

    tomorrow, Ms. Brielle.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s voice wasced with urgency, but remembering Aubree was nearby, she restrained herself.

    ¡°Has he seen a doctor?¡±

    Patrick paused briefly before delivering the premeditated response.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey has been running on empty since his trip overseas. The doctor has seen him and

    prescribed rest. So he¡¯ll be stepping back frompany matters for a few days.¡±

    He emphasized pany,¡® unwilling to be too explicit. But Brielle misunderstood. Max was a

    workaholic, who wouldn¡¯t leave the office as long as he could hold a mouse. He wouldn¡¯t drop work

    unless it was serious.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    He didn¡¯t even take her call. Was he unconscious?

    Brielle was worried sick and felt the phone call wasn¡¯t enough to express her concern. She considered

    visiting Premier Pce. ¡°I understand. Tell him to rest well.¡±

    Patrick, unaware of Brielle¡¯s turmoil, felt a twinge of frustration hearing her not press further. Max had

    exposed himself to danger for Ms. Brielle¡¯s sake. He almost got hurt in the process. and she was none

    the wiser ¨C such an unbnced affair.

    Yet, that was just Max¡¯s way. He never boasted about his actions. Maybe he did not understand why he

    feltpelled to be there for Ms. Brielle.

    even

    Max didn¡¯t understand affection, but he knew the craving that spread from deep within his throat¨Ca

    desire to treat Ms. Brielle well. This was more controlled, more profound than mere liking.

    A fleeting romantic gesture was merely a momentary dazzle, but enduring affection was true

    tenderness.

    Still, what Max was doing now was beyond Patrick¡¯s grasp.

 Chatper 296

    Chapter 296

    After hanging up the phone, Brielle stared nkly at her mobile device. Max hadn¡¯t answered her call.

    Could it be that Lillian had used her phone to set up a meeting with Max?

    Brielle was beside herself with worry, itching to leap out of bed.

    Aubree steadied her, a puzzled frown creasing her brow. ¡°If Maxcked even the most basic vignce,

    he¡¯d have been taken out a long time ago. A mere Lillian couldn¡¯t possibly outmaneuver him. You

    should be more concerned about yourself right now.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s lips trembled as she slowlyy back down. ¡°But he really didn¡¯t answer, and Patrick mentioned

    he was feeling unwell.¡±

    Aubree would never believe that Lillian could get one over on Max. In her mind, Lillian was nothing but

    a venomous little daisy, whose dark tactics couldn¡¯t hold a candle to Max¡¯s capabilities.

    ¡°Aubree, could you please check with Andrew for me? Ask him where Max is?¡±

    Brielle had thought about calling Kenzo again, but after several attempts already, she was worried

    about annoying him. Besides, Kenzo was Alivia¡¯s brother.

    Aubree sighed as her hand massaged her temples. ¡°Bri, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you. Falling for Max is a

    thousand times more embarrassing than my thing for Andrew.¡±

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    Brielle hung her head, fully aware of the truth in those words. When she first got to know Max, she

    thought she was clear¨Cheaded enough not to cross certain lines. She was in it for the thrill convinced

    that their rtionship was purely transactional.

    But once feelings got involved, it was a one¨Csided affair. Max wouldn¡¯t join her on her stage. and if her

    affections were ever to be discovered, he might even recoil in disgust.

    Brielle felt a headacheing on. Why had she never felt this conflicted with Spencer? When Spencer

    had wronged her, all she wanted was to bite back with venomous fangs. But if Max ever trampled on

    her heart, she doubted she would even have the courage to retaliate.

    Seeing Brielle¡¯s pallor, Aubree finally caved and pulled out her phone. ¡°I¡¯ll call Andrew right

    now.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± After Brielle murmured her thanks, she rested quietly against the headboard.

    Aubree quickly dialed and hit the call button. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±

    Andrew had already settled into the living room, with his legs crossed atop the coffee table, and a

    subtle smugness in his gaze. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°Do you know where Max is?¡± Aubree was straightforward and didn¡¯t beat around the bush.

    Andrew knew Aubree had visited Brielle, so this question was likely asked on Brielle¡¯s behalf.

    Thinking of Max¡¯s demeanor the previous night. Andrew¡¯s eyes chilled over, and his lips curved

    1/2

    Chapter 296

    into a cold smirk. ¡°Max, huh? Word is Alivia¡¯sing back. He¡¯s probably buried in work, trying to clear

    his schedule to spend time with her. Even when I called him out for drinks, he was too busy. He must

    be working himself sick. Aubree, when did you start worrying about Max¡¯s whereabouts?¡±

    Aubree had put Andrew on speaker, so every word was crystal clear to Brielle.

    Worried about Brielle¡¯s feelings, Aubree quickly ended the call. ¡°Bri, do you want something to

    eat?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s face was expressionless, but inside, she felt as if she¡¯d been pierced with a thousand thorns.

    She mustered her strength, not letting any sorrow show, and shook her head gently. ¡°Not hungry.¡±

    If it wasn¡¯t Max, what was Lillian¡¯s game nst night? Lillian was cornered and wouldn¡¯t waste time

    on meaningless acts.

    ¡°I¡¯ve always said men are no good, and Max has obviously chosen Alivia over you.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s words were hard to bear, but sometimes, the harsh truth was the best medicine. Without this

    honesty, Brielle would¡¯ve only sunk deeper.

    ¡°Bri, you¡¯ve seen the bracelet on Max¡¯s wrist, right? It matches the one Alivia wears. He¡¯s never taken it

    off all these years, which tells you everything about her ce in his heart.¡±

 Chatper 297

    Chapter 297

    Brielle¡¯s head throbbed with a relentless pain, but she prided herself on being a game yer. someone

    who could take a loss as easily as a win.

    Knowing she harbored a little crush on Max, Brielle wasn¡¯t about to hide her feelings in front of her

    friends. Her affection was her own, independent of how Max felt. Max was genuinely kind to her, but

    who he liked was his business.

    Brielle breathed a sigh of relief and rasped, ¡°d he¡¯s okay.¡±

    Aubree, seeing Brielle like this, felt a mix of frustration and sympathy. But then she thought about her

    own situation and realized she wasn¡¯t one to give advice, so she just sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll go grab you

    something from the hospital cafeteria.¡±

    Brielle wasn¡¯t hungry, but her mind was a jumbled mess, and she worried that under Aubree¡¯s watchful

    eye, her true emotions would spill. So, she nodded in agreement.

    Once Aubree left, Brielle nced at her leg, wondering when it would heal. Max wasn¡¯t answering her

    calls, and she needed to figure out what he was up to. But incessantly reaching out would only give

    away her feelings; it was better to interact at work. Her leg needed to heal quickly.

    After some thought, when Aubree returned, she convinced Aubree to go home. Once Aubree was

    gone, Brielle discharged herself and nned to recuperate at her ce.

    The doctor saw Brielle was alone and tried to persuade her to stay. ¡°Ms. Brielle, your leg can¡¯t afford

    another injury. It would be best if you stayed in the hospital for a week.¡±

    ¡°No need. I¡¯ll take good care of it at home.¡±

    With no other choice, the doctor processed her discharge.

    Brielle took a cab back to Pearl Estate, and upon settling on the sofa, she couldn¡¯t resist dialing

    Patrick¡¯s number. She wanted to confront Max about whether he was serious about Alivia.

    Patrick picked up, but his excuses were the same, iming Max was unwell.

    ¡°Patrick, can he take a call right now? I just want to hear his voice,¡± she pleaded, hoping it would ease

    her mind.

    Patrick nced at the man engrossed in his emails. His lips were pressed tight. ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry, Ms.

    Brielle, he is unavable right now.¡±

    Disappointment flooded Brielle¡¯s heart. Was he really busy, or did he just not want to talk to her? Had

    he decided to end things, and was that why he was being so cold?

    ¡°Patrick, I need to know where Spencer is being held. Ryan has taken Mark as a hostage, and I need

    to exchange him for Spencer; otherwise, I fear for Mark¡¯s safety.¡±

    In truth, as long as she had Spencer, Ryan wouldn¡¯t dare make a move, but at the moment, this

    14:40

    Chapter 297

    was the only excuse she had.

    Patrick¡¯s eyes flickered withplexity. He needed Max¡¯s input, so he replied, ¡°Ms. Brielle, I¡¯ll try

    discussing it with Mr. Dorsey and get back to you once he has made a decision.¡±

    With no other option, Brielle hung up.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Patrick pocketed his phone and looked at Max. ¡°Sir, Ms. Brielle called, Should we hand Spencer over to

    her?¡±

    Max looked up from the sea of paperwork, his tone detached. ¡°If she wants him, let her have him.¡±

    Patrick couldn¡¯t help but remind him of the stakes. ¡°Ryan¡¯s got a lot of pull, and Ms. Brielle can¡¯t handle

    him alone. Once Spencer is with her, Ryan is bound to catch on. He might go after her. not to mention

    he¡¯s taken Mark hostage. If this isn¡¯t handled right, Mark might¡­¡± He was cut off before he could finish.

    ¡°It¡¯s her job to save Mark. If someone gets hurt, it¡¯s her ownck of ability to me.¡±

    That was the stance to take, and from now on, they would be nothing more than a boss and at

    subordinate. That suited him just fine.

    Patrick mped his lips shut, noting the stark change in Max¡¯s demeanor. Patrick called to reach out to

    Brielle, while silently counting down.

    Three.

    Two.

    One.

    As expected, Max spoke up, lifting his gaze slightly. ¡°Go. Ensure her safety.¡±

 Chatper 298

    Chapter 298

    Patrick¡¯s mouth twitched, and a hint of mirth danced in his eyes.

    What was

    was this? Thedy doth protest too much, methinks?

    Max furrowed his brow, clearly with more on his mind. After a long pause, Max managed to get the

    words out. ¡°Don¡¯t tell her I was at the apartment.¡±

    Patrick nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Seeing Max had nothing more. to add,

    Patrick went ahead and reconnected with Brielle.

    Her phone lit up with his number, and a subtle spark of joy flickered in her eyes. ¡°Patrick.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, I¡¯ll take you to see Spencer, but have you figured out how you¡¯re going to make the swap

    with Ryan?¡±

    Brielle hadn¡¯t expected Max to let go so easily. She thought he¡¯d have more questions. ¡°I¡¯ve got it

    sorted. I¡¯ll reach out to Ryan anonymously and set up the exchange.¡±

    ¡°But Ryan won¡¯t let this go easily. He¡¯s poured a lot into finding Spencer, and even Michael¡¯s in the loop

    now. He¡¯s going to dig until he finds who¡¯s behind this.¡±

    Brielle understood Patrick¡¯s hint. She might not be able to handle this alone; perhaps she should seek

    Max¡¯s help. But since Max had managed to hide Spencer for days without Ryan finding a shred of

    evidence, any suspicion towards Brielle had already dissolved. In Ryan¡¯s eyes, Briellecked the

    means to hide someone for so long.

    ¡°I¡¯m aware. I¡¯ll be careful.¡±

    She didn¡¯t voice her intention to seek Max¡¯s aid, leaving Patrick at a loss for words. In some ways, their

    temperaments were simr. Max had gone off the rails, and Brielle wasn¡¯t one to make the first move.

    The two of them at odds put Patrick, their go¨Cbetween, in a tough spot.

    Patrick was about to say more when Wesley¡¯s voice came from behind. ¡°Sir, would you care for a

    coffee?¡± Patrick stiffened instinctively and almost immediately ended the call.

    Brielle, staring at the disconnected call, had heard Wesley¡¯s voice, Wesley was asking Max. meaning

    Max was avable to talk. Why wouldn¡¯t he talk to her?

    Brielle¡¯s gaze dropped, and her lips were pressed tightly together. She tried his number again.

    tentatively. ¡°Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavable.¡±

    Hearing the familiar automated voice, she chuckled ruefully and sighed. It was right to keep her

    feelings hidden. As long as Max was safe, that was enough.

    As for the rest, as Andrew had said, Alivia was returning. If Max wanted to cut ties with Brie

    completely, what could she do? They were never from the same world to begin with.

    For now, she needed to focus on the hostage exchange with Ryan.

    With her call to Patrick cut short, she had no choice but to wait for him to reach out. True to

    1/2

    14:

    Chapter 298

    form, Patrick called in the evening. ¡°Ms. Brielle, I¡¯m outside Pearl Estate.¡±

    Brielle grabbed her cane and hobbled downstairs, making her way out. Her heart thumped

    unreasonably as she approached the familiar car. Pushing down her emotions, she drew closer.

    The car door swung open, revealing only Patrick inside. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to where Spencer is being held. I¡¯ll

    help with the exchange.¡±

    Brielle sat in the backseat, pondering before she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Did Max send you to help me?¡±

    Patrick paused, then honesty prevailed, ¡°No, the boss hasn¡¯t thought that far ahead.¡±

    The atmosphere in the car turned quiet. Brielle said nothing more, and Patrick kept his mouth shut.

    Patrick suspected this might hurt Brielle, but even he couldn¡¯t fathom the boss¡® current stance. The

    truth was the best he could offer. ¡°Ms. Brielle, once you¡¯re on your feet, maybe you should ask the boss

    directly if you¡¯ve got questions.¡±

    That was as far as Patrick dared to go.

    Brielle just nodded faintly, her gaze returning to the window. She seemed indifferent, yet her fingertips

    trembled slightly on her knee. She wasn¡¯t foolish; she could read between Patrick¡¯s

    lines.

    Max was keeping his distance deliberately, and Patrick didn¡¯t want to spell it out and embarrass her.

    Her lips twitched into a faint smile. Same as always, she could take a hint.

    If Max was initiating the end, it meant he didn¡¯t care for her. And those who didn¡¯t care for her didn¡¯t get

    her care in return.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    While her feelings were still budding, it was best to let them fade slowly.

    The two of them traveled in silence.

 Chatper 299

    Chapter 299

    Spencer was held captive in a suburban vi. His movements were restricted, but otherwise, he was

    well¨Cfed and well¨Crested these past few days.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    The room had only one pitiful window, high up on the wall, practically useless except for letting in some

    sunlight and a bit of fresh air.

    Spencer sighed and looked up just as he heard the sound of a car engine from outside. Someone was

    coming.

    Sure enough, footsteps soon approached his door. A man entered, efficiently binding Spencer from

    head to toe and blindfolding him with a thick ck cloth.

    Spencer had kicked up a fuss on the first day, cursing Brielle. He was convinced that she was behind

    this whole mess. But the men watching over him were not your average bodyguards and were built like

    tanks, with the keen edge of retired soldiers.

    Knowing Brielle for years, Spencer was aware of her limitations. She couldn¡¯t possibly have the

    connections to hire these kinds of people.

    So, it was Brielle who had initially nabbed him, but had someone bribed the hotel manager to buy him

    off her handster on?

    Anger and a sense of betrayal churned within Spencer. He had wanted to tarnish Brielle¡¯s reputation,

    not take her life. And yet, she had treated him with such cold¨Chearted betrayal.

    Spencer had lived a charmed life and was raised in luxury. Every minor disgrace he suffered recently

    was tied to Brielle¡¯s machinations. Now, he felt unbearably wronged and vowed to settle the score with

    Brielle if he made it out alive.

    Blindfolded, he could see nothing, relying on his captors to guide him forward.

    Brielle and Patrick arrived at the vi just as Spencer was being led out. He couldn¡¯t see his

    surroundings, but he sensed someone¡¯s gaze and instinctively turned. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±

    Brielle remained silent, her eyes signaling Patrick, curious about his next move. Patrick leaned in,

    whispering so only the two of them could hear. ¡°I¡¯ve informed Ryan. The exchange will happen nearby.

    He should be on his way. Once Mark is secured, Ms. Brielle, take your men and leave. Better get Mark

    out of Beaconsfield; otherwise, Ryan will keep using him as leverage against you.¡±

    Brielle nodded, sharing the same thoughts. She dreaded Mark suffering the same fate as her

    grandfather. Remembering Julian, Brielle felt her eyes well up with tears, which she fought back

    fiercely.

    Before she could dwell on it further, Spencer¡¯s voice broke through. ¡°Let me go! Who the hell are you

    guys?¡±

    14:41

    Chapter 299

    Seeing Spencer¡¯s face, unscathed by his ordeal, Briell¨¦ thought he seemed to have been living

    comfortably. She lowered hershes, refusing to look at him any longer.

    Meanwhile, Ryan had indeed received the message. After deploying so many resources and not

    finding Spencer, his temper was explosive and aggravated further by Faith¡¯s constant weeping at

    home.

    Who were these kidnappers, and why would they exchange Spencer for an old man? Was there more

    to Mark than met the eye? Despite racking his brain, Ryan couldn¡¯t figure it out. Now that they had

    initiated contact, he was eager to seize the opportunity to retrieve his son. He had Mark brought over,

    and they set off immediately.

    Faith had wanted to apany them, but one look at Ryan¡¯s disdainful expression was enough to

    make her shrink back. She stayed behind in the vi.

    Ryan was seething with venomous thoughts, contemting using this chance to eliminate the threat

    once and for all. However, any unexpected incidents could put Spencer¡¯s life at risk. With lips pressed

    tight, he restrained from harshly interrogating Mark, fearing Spencer might suffer in return. So, Mark

    was treated the same as Spencer ¨C confined but otherwise unharmed.

    Upon reaching the agreed location, Ryan was furious to find the hideout so close to the city. center. It

    was under his very nose the whole time.

    Swallowing his pride, Ryan ordered Mark to be taken down. Who was pulling the strings behind this

    group of kidnappers? Despite his reluctance, Ryan had no choice but to proceed with the exchange.

 Chatper 300

    Chapter 300

    Brielle and Patrick stood on the second floor, overseeing themotion as Spencer was escorted out

    by a group of burly men.

    The atmosphere was tense, with neither side showing any courtesy or restraint.

    Ryan scrutinized the men carefully, noting their disposition. It was clear they were more than just

    ordinary bodyguards, but beyond that, he couldn¡¯t tell. Frowning at the uncertainty of his adversaries,

    Ryan wasn¡¯t about to make any rash moves.

    As Spencer was led closer to Ryan, a look of relief washed over his face, and he couldn¡¯t help but ask,

    ¡°Spencer, are you alright?¡±

    Hearing his father¡¯s voice, Spencer became frantic, struggling against his captors. ¡°Dad! Dad! Save

    me!¡±

    Seeing a gun pressed against Spencer¡¯s head, Ryan¡¯s own heart raced, and he was even more

    cautious. ¡°Spencer, calm down. Just hang on. I¡¯ll get you out of here soon.¡±

    After speaking, Ryan signaled to his crew to bring Mark over, and pushed him forward. The other side

    reciprocated by releasing Spencer.

    Both parties had exchanged their hostages without a hitch, but just as tension peaked, gunfire erupted.

    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±

    ¡°Bang! Bang!¡±

    It was unclear who had fired the shots, but Ryan¡¯s group was thrown into disarray. their guns zing in

    all directions.

    Brielle¡¯s face turned dark as she watched from the second floor. This wasn¡¯t the work of Ryan or Max¡¯s

    people; a third party had joined the fray!

    ¡°Patrick, call everyone to retreat. There¡¯s a third party involved, and we don¡¯t know what they¡¯re after,¡±

    she ordered.

    Patrick nodded and ryed the retreat order through the walkie¨Ctalkie, and everyone in the vi began

    to pull back.

    With her cane in hand, Brielle descended the stairs and sighed in relief once she saw that Mark was

    only unconscious. Outside, the gunfire persisted, and Ryan¡¯s men were now engaged in a fierce battle

    with this third party.

    Patrick¡¯s expression turned grim. The meeting location had been chosen at thest minute, and there

    was no way their side leaked information. With Ryan fighting for his son¡¯s life, he wouldn¡¯t have staged

    this, especially as he was still inbat. So, who was behind this third¨Cparty intervention?

    Chapter 300

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, there¡¯s a tunnel on the innermost side. This vi is just a shell; let¡¯s get out of here.¡± Patrick

    informed her.

    Brielle nodded and followed them out. Their retreat was swift, and thanks to the tunnel, there were no

    casualties. They had sessfully rescued Mark.

    However, Ryan¡¯s situation was dire. The third party shot indiscriminately, and many of Ryan¡¯s

    bodyguardsy dead. Ryan pulled Spencer back to the car, tore the blindfold from his eyes, and cut the

    ropes binding his hands and feet with a knife.

    Spencer heard the chaotic gunfire around them, his heart skipped a beat, and his face was drained of

    color. Frustrated, Ryan pped the dashboard. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here! Move!¡±

    Ryan had brought a considerable number of people, thinking it would prevent any tricks the kidnappers

    might y. Now, they were his lifeline.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    His car sped away, half¨Cexpecting to meet resistance on the road. However, the third party didn¡¯t give

    chase; they continued their assault on the vi. Their target wasn¡¯t Ryan or his group; it was the

    kidnappers..

    Ryan¡¯s eyes were filled with a ruthless glint, but he didn¡¯t dare to look back at the ongoing battle.

    As for Spencer, realizing the motives of the third party unsettled him. He had been kidnapped by

    Brielle, and although he hadn¡¯t seen the people watching over him, he knew they were somehow

    connected to her. If there was even a one percent chance Brielle was still in the vi, she would be in

    grave danger now.

    The thought pricked his heart, and he heard Ryan¡¯s question.

    ¡°Do you know who kidnapped you? At first, I thought it was Brielle since she was the one who arranged

    to meet you the day you disappeared. We couldn¡¯t find any trace of you or her at the hotel. Was it really

    her?¡±

    Instinctively. Spencer was about to confirm it was Brielle, but catching the venom in Ryan¡¯s eyes, he

    realized that if his father knew the truth, Brielle wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. mOddly enough, Spencer

    didn¡¯t want her to die¨Cnot now, not ever, even if her actions had brought him. shame.

    ¡°Dad, how could it be Brielle? What kind of power does she have? Who could she possibly rely on?

    The Haywood family?¡±

 Chapter 301

    Chapter 301

    Ryan snorted dismissively, decisively abandoning any lingering suspicions he had about Brielle. ¡°In the

    days since you vanished, the Haywood n became toast. Max made his move against them. At the

    last Hatfield charity ball, Lillian had the audacity to slip something into Max¡¯s drink. I can¡¯t fathom where

    she got the guts.¡±

    Max taking action against the Haywood family was publicly justified by Lillian¡¯s bold move against him.

    Everyone knew the consequences of riling up Max, especially by employing such sordid tactics.

    As Ryan ryed the events, Spencer¡¯s pupils dted sharply, sensing he was missing a critical piece of

    the puzzle.

    The charity ball hosted by the Hatfield family, Lillian¡¯s tryst with Connor, and that morning. Spencer had

    witnessed Max with Brielle in the elevator. Brielle, who had no business being there, was inexplicably

    present. Even if they had a professional rtionship, upon reflection, it seemed peculiar.

    ¡°Spencer, d you¡¯re okay. I¡¯ll keep digging into this. You need to watch your back and not give anyone

    another opportunity to hurt you.¡±

    it like it w

    But Spencer wasn¡¯t really listening. His mind short¨Ccircuiting, unable to keep up. A ridiculous thought

    surfaced, which he desperately tried to dismiss.

    Impossible. How could it be?

    Meanwhile, Brielle and her entourage had driven a few hundred meters away from the vi. A distant

    explosion sent them all turning to look back.

    The vi¡¯s location was shrouded in dust and debris; someone had blown it up. Brielle¡¯s eyes narrowed

    sharply, her lips clenched tightly. The attack wasn¡¯t targeted at Ryan but at them. Had they left just

    secondster, they would have been reduced to rubble alongside the vi. Thankfully, Ryan¡¯s

    intervention had bought them precious time.

    Brielle was shaken and couldn¡¯t help but nce at Patrick. Patrick¡¯s usuallyposed face showed a

    fleeting trace of surprise before settling into a frown. ¡°Ms. Brielle, I¡¯ll look into this. Please secure a safe

    ce for Mark. I¡¯ll have a new benefactor take over the orphanage. The deeper your ties with those

    kids, the more they be your Achilles heel. You might save one. but you can¡¯t save them all. It¡¯s

    best to cut these ties.¡±

    Patrick¡¯s gaze lingered on the rising smoke. His thoughts drifted to Max¡¯s current condition. and he felt

    a headacheing on. ¡°Ms. Brielle, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you. The moment your decided to get

    involved with Mr. Dorsey, you stepped into the Beaconsfield ring. Your rtionship wille out sooner

    orter, and it¡¯ll be fraught with danger. You might not even be able to protect yourself.¡±

    Brielle lowered hershes, acknowledging the harsh truth in his words. Julian should have been living

    out his twilight years in a hospice, but because of her, he died with his eyes wide open.

    Chapter 301

    To this day, she hadn¡¯t even seen his body.

    Brielle was unable to reach anyone from the Haywood family, and as an outsider with no legal rights,

    she couldn¡¯t even arrange Julian¡¯s affairs. It was all her fault.

    Brielle closed her eyes in anguish, gathered herposure, and reopened them with an icy resolve. ¡°I

    understand. Thank you, Patrick.¡±

    Patrick nodded but chose not to burden her with Max¡¯s current plight.

    The car stopped in a secluded area, and without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Brielle hurriedly arranged all

    necessary documents for Mark. When Mark awoke, he was already en route to another city. Beside

    himy a letter from Brielle, promising to take care of the children, and a card with a password on its

    back.

    Ten million the nest egg Brielle had left for his retirement.

    Mark sighed as he looked at the card, and Brielle stood rooted to the spot, her heart heavy with he

    decision she¡¯d made.

    Mark had lived his whole life in Beaconsfield, and even if it wasn¡¯t the main city, he was

    rielle was pressed for time and couldn¡¯t think of a better solution than to leave him money and letter.

    She couldn¡¯t even face him when he was awake, so while he was still unconscious, she ad him sent

    away.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    s Brielle turned to leave, her phone pinged. [Bri, I¡¯m old, and it doesn¡¯t matter where I live. Take Dod

    care of

    and live well.]

    ears fell as she read thest two words, remembering Julian¡¯sst words to live well.

    he was gone forever, and another was sent far away. She was now the quintessential sinner. silent

    executioner.

 Chapter 302

    Chapter 302

    Feeling like a ton of bricks had settled in her chest, Brielle leaned on her cane and climbed back

    into her car.

    After parking in the downtown core, she hobbled into a nearby diner. Her mind was still a foggy mess.

    She had skipped meals all day, and now her stomach was punishing her, gnawing painfully from the

    inside. If she didn¡¯t eat soon, she¡¯d likely pass out from low blood sugar before even making it home.

    She propped her cane beside her and ordered somefort food ¨C a cheeseburger with a side of fries.

    This little joint was a stone¡¯s throw away from Dorsey International, drawing a crowd of white¨Ccor

    workers from the surrounding offices. In the world of finance, the hot topic was always thetest news.

    So, it was only a few minutes after sitting down that she caught wind of the Haywood family¡¯s troubles.

    The news had been buzzing about it for days, but for these folks, the angle was different. With the

    Haywood family in disarray, who would swoop in to im their slice of the market? How would the

    stock market react? Spections on which stocks would soar and which would plummet fueled the

    lively debates.

    Amidst this chatter, Brielle felt like an outsider. It had been half a month since she¡¯d set foot in Dorsey

    International, having been on rest since her leg injury. But right now, thest thing on her mind was

    work instead, she pondered how the Haywood family would handle the funeral arrangements.

    After finishing her meal, she grabbed her cane and began the walk back to her car. Just then, a luxury

    car ¨C one that screamed millions pulled up beside her. Out stepped Catherine, the woman she had met

    the other day.

    ¨C

    Catherine¡¯s eyes held a flicker of disdain as theynded on Brielle and shifted to the cane. ¡°How¡¯s the

    leg? Still not healed? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to be a cripple,¡± she sneered.

    Brielle paused, turning to see Catherine clutching her designer purse worth a small fortune.

    Catherine had felt a sting of guilt after intercepting a call meant for her husband days ago. Indeed, she

    had seen the Haywood family¡¯s misfortune unfold stock prices were tumbling. contracts were being

    canceled, and debts soared into the billions.

    Meanwhile, Kingston Enterprises had received a termination letter from Dorsey International in the

    same timeframe, leaving Catherine restless and worried. The rumor mill suggested it was all because

    Catherine had crossed Brielle. Could Kingston Enterprises face the same fate as the Haywood family?

    But then,st night, news came in from Dorsey International ¨C the partnership would continue.

    With a weight lifted off her shoulders, Catherine felt ridiculous for ever being scared of Brielle, a

    divorcee. The memory of kicking Brielle¡¯s cast that day and now seeing her with a cane all

    15:04

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Chapter 302

    helped dissipate the gloom a bit..

    ¡°Brielle, with your leg like that and the Dorsey family ditching you, you¡¯ll struggle to find a man if you

    end up a cripple,¡± Catherine taunted.

    Brielle tightened her grip on her cane, noticing Catherine approaching with the same malice as before.

    Catherine¡¯s kick had resulted in a second fracture for Briellest time.

    Seeing Catherineing for her again, a sharp glint passed through Brielle¡¯s eyes. As Catherine drew

    closer, Brielle offered a thin smile. ¡°Even if I were to lose a leg. I don¡¯t think I¡¯d be at a disadvantage.¡±

    Catherine didn¡¯t grasp the meaning behind those words. She strutted forward, and her foot was poised

    to strike, but Brielle¡¯s cane was quicker, jabbing Catherine in the stomach.

    Catherine stumbled backward from the poke,nding squarely on her rear. The bustling street was full

    of onlookers, and they all turned to see themotion.

    Red¨Cfaced with anger, Catherine noticed another figure stepping out of her car ¨C her husband, Bradley,

    the CEO of Kingston Enterprises.

    Bradley looked grim and adjusted his tie. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this? We¡¯re here to sign a renewed

    contract with Dorsey International. There¡¯s no need to provoke others,¡± he said sternly.

    Clenching her fist, Catherine red at Brielle, the woman who had embarrassed her. ¡°Honey. this is

    Brielle, Spencer¡¯s ex¨Cfianc¨¦e.¡±

    Before she could finish, Brielle interjected, ¡°You could have done without the prefix. I¡¯m the Director at

    Dorsey International, and that title isn¡¯t something to be ashamed of.¡±

    Catherine¡¯s nostrils red, and she raised her hand to p Brielle.

    Brielle, tired of Catherine¡¯sck of lessons learned, extended her cane again, this time aiming for

    Catherine¡¯s leg.

    Bradley narrowed his eyes and sneered, ¡°Make another move, and consider the consequences.¡±

    Dorsey International¡¯s decision to resume its partnership with Kingston Enterprises suggested that the

    gossip Connor had heard was false. Max hadn¡¯t canceled the deal with Kingston Enterprises because

    of Brielle. It might have been a weighing of pros and cons, and now that misunderstandings were

    cleared, bothpanies were set to coborate happily.

    As for Brielle? She wasn¡¯t worth a second nce.

 Chapter 303

    Chapter 303

    Brielle, unfazed by the expectation of her pausing at the words thrown at her, intensified her swing at

    Catherine¡¯s leg. Catherine wobbled, nearly tumbling to the ground.

    Bradley, having never been so publicly disrespected, especially by someone younger, felt his

    temperature drop. Catherine¡¯s whimpering call prompted him to step forward and helped her to

    her feet.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, as the Director of Dorsey International, you should be aware that we are one of your

    clients. Do you have any idea of the repercussions of offending a client? If we bring this matter to Mr.

    Dorsey, I wonder whether your position as Director will remain secure.¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help but smirk. ¡°Be my guest. I doubt you¡¯d be foolish enough to back out of the deal

    voluntarily. After all, wing your way to this opportunity must¡¯ve taken considerable effort. Mr. Bradley,

    instead of lecturing me, perhaps you should keep a tighter leash on your better hall. Otherwise, the

    next time she stirs up trouble, you might just lose this hard¨Cearned opportunity.¡±

    Catherine, incensed by Brielle¡¯s belittlement, was about to retaliate when she was stopped by Bradley¡¯s

    stern admonition. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Why flex your muscles here?¡±

    Catherine, not wanting to back down but noticing the bruise forming on her leg, felt aggrieved. ¡°Brielle,

    just you wait. When I go in to discuss the partnership, I¡¯ll make sure to report you to the senior

    management of Dorsey International.¡±

    Brielle raised an eyebrow, and her response was the same. ¡°As you wish.¡±

    Shaking with anger but aware of the many eyes on them, Catherine clenched her teeth, not wanting to

    cause a scene. ¡°Fine, but don¡¯te crying to meter!¡±

    Bradley cast Brielle a lingering nce before heading towards the Dorsey Tower. From another vehicle,

    several top brass from Kingston Enterprises eyed Brielle before departing.

    Brielle stood alone and sighed. Had she just made enemies with Kingston Enterprises?

    Inside Dorsey Tower, Bradley was escorted directly to the contract signing floor by apany

    representative, leaving Catherine to wait outside.

    Before entering the meeting room, Bradley didn¡¯t forget to caution her. ¡°Don¡¯t stir up any more. trouble.

    With the Haywood family¡¯s fall, everyone¡¯s walking on eggshells. Nobody knows what Max is really

    thinking. Settle your score with that girlter; let¡¯s secure the contract first.¡±

    Though Catherine was seething, she knew she had to y along for now. During Bradley¡¯s absence,

    Catherine ran into Patrick.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Patrick, recognizing her, addressed her politely, ¡°Ms. Catherine.¡±

    Catherine¡¯s demeanor instantly turned respectful, and she greeted him, ¡°Patrick, I really owe you one

    for this contract.¡±

    Chapter 303

    Patrick was caught off guard. Hadn¡¯t the president already rejected the partnership with Kingston

    Enterprises? Why was Catherine still talking about a contract?

    Patrick frowned, trying to conceal his confusion with a smile.

    ¡°What exactly is the nature of the contract between Kingston Enterprises and Dorsey

    International?¡±

    Trying to appear gracious, Catherine exined, ¡°We were blindsided by Dorsey International¡¯s

    termination notice. I didn¡¯t sleep a wink that night, only to receive a messagest evening urging us to

    come today with the contract in hand.¡±

    Patrick silently parsed the key points of this conversation. If the contract was being renegotiated, it

    certainly wasn¡¯t Max¡¯s doing. Once Max decided to cancel, he wouldn¡¯t backtrack. Even if he truly

    intended to let go of Ms. Brielle, he wouldn¡¯t allow someone who had bullied her to be so brazen. It

    seemed someone else was pulling the strings for the contract with Kingston Enterprises. Patrick

    couldn¡¯t be sure who it was.

    ¡°I see. Then, here¡¯s to a sessful signing for Bradley.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely. It¡¯s a win¨Cwin for bothpanies after all.¡±

    Catherine, considering Patrick¡¯s position, pondered for a moment. ¡°By the way, do you know Brielle?¡±

    Patrick was taken aback. He had specifically looked into the truth behind Brielle¡¯s second injury and

    was aware of the tension between her and Catherine. Now, faced with her question, he replied, ¡°I do

    know her. We¡¯re colleagues, after all. Ms. Haywood asionallyes up for meetings. I¡¯ve seen her

    a few times, but we¡¯re not close.¡±

    A spark of hope glinted in Catherine¡¯s eyes. If even Max¡¯s assistant imed not to be close to Brielle,

    how could Max himself have any significant involvement with her? She couldn¡¯t fathom where Connor

    had heard such an unreliable rumor.

    Frustrated by her own fears, Catherine grew more irritated. ¡°When I arrived earlier, Ms. Haywood¡¯s

    attitude was¡­ well, let¡¯s not dwell on it. Fortunately, we¡¯re still able to coborate. After all, Ms.

    Haywood is an employee of Dorsey International, and I Shouldn¡¯t say more.¡±

    A ssic case of feigning retreat to advance. Patrick, a seasoned yer in the game, knew exactly

    what she was implying but chose to ignore it.

    Chapter 304

 Chapter 304

    Chapter 304

    ¡°There¡¯s a coffee station down the hall. I¡¯ll have someone brew a fresh pot and bring it over. Please,

    have a seat.¡±

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Catherine had thought that after the words she¡¯d exchanged with Patrick, at the very least, he¡¯d owe

    her some sort of exnation out of sheer professional courtesy on ount of Kingston Enterprises.

    But Patrick had artfully dodged the issue, and he did so by bringing up such a mundane matter. If she

    were to press on, she¡¯d seem uncouth.

    ¡°No trouble, Patrick. I can grab a cup myself,¡± she replied, her tone veiling her irritation.

    She turned to head towards the coffee station but stopped in her tracks when she saw the elevator

    doors slide open, and Brielle step out, leaning heavily on her crutch.

    Didn¡¯t Brielle just leave to catch a cab? Why the sudden return? The sight knotted Catherine¡¯s brow

    further. Encountering Brielle again felt like a bad omen.

    By chance, the room where the contract was to be signed, and Brielle¡¯s office was on the same floor.

    Brielle hadn¡¯t expected to see Catherine there, and seeing her now twisted Brielle¡¯s features in

    displeasure.

    Brielle had only returned because a colleague had called her about some crucial documents in her

    office. She had the keys and needed to pass them documents on to someone in her department.

    Pretending not to notice Catherine, Brielle aimed for her office door. Catherine, however, was not about

    to let her slip away unnoticed. ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t Ms. Haywood,¡± she called out

    mockingly.

    Brielle, irked but masking it with a smile, responded, ¡°Surely you haven¡¯t forgotten our run¨Cin just

    moments ago?¡±

    Catherine¡¯s face stiffened, and her earlier resolve to heed Bradley¡¯s advice was forgotten. She wanted

    to close the distance between her and Brielle but hesitated. She remembered the crutch in Brielle¡¯s

    hand and did not want to be humiliated like before. So she held back.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, we¡¯re here to sign a contract with Dorsey International. By all ounts, we¡¯re guests of

    yourpany. Shouldn¡¯t you, as a representative of Dorsey International, fetch me a coffee?¡±

    Catherine stated, looking expectantly at Patrick. ¡°Don¡¯t you agree, Patrick?¡±

    Patrick grimaced. He wouldn¡¯t dare ask Brielle to pour coffee. Rushing to smooth things over. he

    offered, ¡°Ms. Haywood isn¡¯t in the position to do so, but if you need it, I¡¯ll get it for you.¡±

    Catherine felt out of her depth. Although Patrick seemed merely an assistant, his longstanding rapport

    with Max suggested otherwise. Many of Max¡¯s decisions passed through Patrick influence not unlike

    that of a royal confidant. Who would dare cross him?

    As Catherine stewed in her indignation, a cold, detached voice cut through the tension. ¡°The executive

    meeting is about tomence.¡±

    an

    Chapter 304

    Patrick froze, turning to see Max standing in the exclusive elevator, hand on the open button. and his

    gaze icy as it swept the scene.

    Patrick instinctively looked to Brielle, who stood rooted to the spot, eyes locked on Max.

    Max¡¯s gaze brushed over Brielle without a pause, as if nothing could stir the depths of his eyes, cold

    and fathomless.

    Brielle recalled a time when she and Spencer had crossed paths with Max. She recognized that same

    impassive scrutiny.

    With the elevator doors about to close, Brielle hurriedly handed the keys to Patrick. ¡°Please, pass these

    on for me.¡±

    Before Patrick could respond, Brielle made her way to the exclusive elevator. It was a struggle with her

    crutch, but she attempted to step inside. The doors were nearly shut when she reached out, and her

    fingers fell short.

    Then, from within, a long, slender hand reached out, halting the closing doors.

    Max stood there, his presence chilling the air around them.

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    Chapter 305

    Brielle nearly got frostbite from the icy draft that Max unleashed. Yet, there were things she felt

    compelled to probe on her own. She needed solid answers, instead of tossing and turning in the dead

    of night, parsing the meaning behind each of his words

    Max seemed to wear a mask. Impable on the surface, but the ripples in his eyes began to spread

    with Brielle¡¯s approach.

    Brielle was already striking, and with her injury, there was a shimmering vulnerability in her eyes that

    made her look pitiable. A stifling sensation crossed Max¡¯s heart. He frowned slightly. but his words

    were devoid of emotion. ¡°Why are you here at the office if your leg isn¡¯t healed?¡±

    It sounded like nothing more than a superior¡¯s concern for a subordinate.

    Brielle mustered her strength to hide her emotions, even managing to pull off a smile. ¡°Mr. Dorsey,

    you¡¯ve been a big help, and I haven¡¯t had the chance to thank you yet.

    Her heart twinged as if someone was kneading its softest part.

    She had reverted to calling him Mr. Dorsey. It was a measure of her sense of propriety.

    ¡°It was nothing.¡±

    Max felt a sting in his heart upon seeing her equally cold demeanor. This was the oue he wanted.

    Brielle had already entered and kept a considerable distance between them. The elevator doors

    closed.

    Catherine stood outside, and her heartbeat nearly stopped as she saw Brielle chase after Max. She

    worried there might be something between them. But seeing Max¡¯s coldness towards Brielle, she felt a

    surge of relief. It appeared that Brielle was just being presumptuous.

    Sheughed at her prior anxiety. Clearly, Max only saw Brielle as an ordinary employee, not offering

    her the slightest warmth. Where on earth did Connor get his information? She¡¯d have to have a word

    with him next time.

    The elevator began its descent, indicating that Max had no intention of attending the meeting.

    Brielle leaned against the elevator wall, catching Max¡¯s indifference in the reflection. She lowered her

    gaze.

    The silence was sharper than a knife. Since it was so, she didn¡¯t need to rush to be the butt of

    someone else¡¯s joke. She watched the numbers on the elevator panel, not uttering a word.

    Max, though appearing detached, was surreptitiously observing her from the corner of his eye. He said

    it was a minor effort, but did she really n on showing no gratitude? After all, he had hid Spencer for

    days and had dealt with the Haywood family.

    She was truly heartless. Even a stray dog knew to wag its tail when you threw it a bone. But

    15:05

    Chapter 305

    with Brielle, she wouldn¡¯t even offer him a nce. Fine, he definitely wouldn¡¯t be the one to break the

    silence.

    A few secondster.

    ¡°Does your leg still hurt?¡±

    Brielle paused, realizing he was addressing her. Just as she was about to respond, the elevator jolted

    violently. Already unstable on her crutches, she lurched towards him.

    The lights inside flickered before going out entirely, and the elevator ground to a halt. The doors

    remained shut.

    Brielle realized she was in Max¡¯s arms. The force of the jolt had thrown her against him. She wasn¡¯t

    heavy, but she still worried if Max¡¯s hands were hurt. ¡°Are your hands alright?¡±

    Max¡¯s hands were momentarily numb, and his brow furrowed, but the darkness concealed their

    expressions from each other.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Brielle sighed in relief and slowly disengaged from his embrace. Her crutch had fallen, and she bent

    down to search for it.

    Her hand touched the cold fabric of Max¡¯s trouser leg. She quickly withdrew, stumbling over her words.

    ¡°Sorry.¡± She turned in a different direction and continued feeling around for her crutch.

    An emergency light in the elevator flicked on as Max pulled out his phone, noticing her crouched on the

    floor. The injured leg was awkwardly bent.

    He felt a surge of irritation. Couldn¡¯t she use her mouth to ask for help? Couldn¡¯t she just ask him for

    assistance?

    Chapter 306

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    The light flickered on,

 Chapter 306

    Chapter 306

    and Brielle spotted her cane lying just within reach, propped against the elevator¡¯s handrail. She leaned

    in to grab it.

    Max couldn¡¯t help but let out a chuckle mixed with a hint of exasperation. ¡°Ms. Haywood, you¡¯re quite

    the trooper,¡± he said, his voice tinged with sarcasm.

    Brielle tensed, fully aware he was mocking her, and her temper red. ¡°Nothingpared to you, Mr.

    Dorsey. You¡¯re busy as a bee, as always,¡± she retorted. It was a clear jab at him for his habit of not

    answering calls.

    Anyone else would think twice before speaking to Max in such a manner, but Max didn¡¯t get angry.

    Instead, he felt an odd sense of helplessness, even a bit of bewilderment, about how to respond to her.

    Amidst his silence, Brielle finally got hold of her cane and stood there in the corner, stiff as a board.

    After a long while, she feignedposure and asked, ¡°I know it might be redundant to ask, but are you

    nning to call it quits, Mr. Dorsey?¡±

    For Brielle, mustering the courage to ask such a question was monumental. Max¡¯s actions had made

    his intentions clear; he wanted to set boundaries between them. She had always found herself too timid

    and too reserved in the face of attraction. Her past was far from morous, riddled with rejections and

    romantic tumbles, not to mention a family life in shambles. Yet she had never shied away from any of it;

    she embraced it all, including the faint stirrings of her heart for Max.

    It was her one source of pride.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Max didn¡¯t answer right away. The closed elevator was quiet. The seconds were ticking by, and their

    heartbeats were almost audible in the silence. Just as Brielle thought he wouldn¡¯t respond, she heard a

    decisive, ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Although she had anticipated this answer, she had clung to a gambler¡¯s hope for a different oue

    until the very end. That nascent flicker of attraction was snuffed out with Max¡¯s single word.

    Max said nothing more, avoided looking at her as if he was holding back something, and forced his

    gaze elsewhere.

    Brielle exhaled augh. ¡°Well then, I wish you all the best in getting what you want, Mr. Dorsey.¡± Max¡¯s

    Adam¡¯s apple bobbed; his hand discreetly brushed over his chest.

    It hurt a bit, but it was bearable. When breaking an addiction, one had to be resolute from the start. Any

    hesitation was harmful to both parties.

    Brielle closed her eyes, awaiting rescue, and no longer willing to invest her emotions in a lost cause.

    She should have remembered that Max had made it clear from the beginning¨Che didn¡¯t

    Chapter 306

    believe in love. It was all a dopamine¨Cinduced delusion.

    She gripped her cane tightly, realizing that even if Max harbored a small affection for her, his formidable

    brain would immediately take action to correct any emotional derailment, much like smokers

    contemting quitting or drinkers pondering sobriety.

    After all, dopamine wasn¡¯t exclusive to one kind of pleasure. And the only thing that couldbat

    dopamine was dopamine itself.

    Brielle chuckled to herself for a few seconds, havinge to terms with it all.

    Voices from outside indicated that someone had noticed the elevator malfunction. She breathed a sigh

    of relief, eager to leave this confined space.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, Ms. Brielle, are you in there?¡± called out Patrick¡¯s voice, along with the sound of

    technicians and executives.

    Brielle quickly responded, ¡°I¡¯m here. How long until the elevator is fixed?¡±

    ¡°Ten minutes, we¡¯re making it a priority,¡± came the reply.

    Brielle rxed, choosing not to engage further.

    Outside the elevator, Noah was standing with the executives. He had rushed over upon hearing that

    Brielle was at thepany today. He had promised Alivia to win Brielle over within a week. and yet,

    ironically, time had passed, and he had only met her once.

    He had called Alivia the night before to probe for more time, and she had given him a month. Noah felt

    embarrassed and was eager to impress, now that he knew Brielle was trapped.

    To him, Brielle and Max being stuck together was purely coincidental¨Che couldn¡¯t fathom any deeper

    connection between them.

    Noah took a step forward; his tone was gentle. ¡°Brielle, don¡¯t be afraid. The technicians are

    working as fast as they can.¡±

    Hearing this pretentious tone, Brielle couldn¡¯t help but cringe. Noah, with his unwarranted flower

    delivery and now this charade, what was he ying at?

    ¡°Mr. Noah, rest assured, I¡¯m not scared,¡± she replied, almost defiantly.

    Inexplicably, she nced at Max.

    Chapter 307

 Chapter 307

    Chapter 307

    The chill in the man¡¯s aura seemed to grow colder, like the frost on a winter¡¯s morning.

    Outside the elevator, Noah was blissfully unaware of the icy tension building inside. Hearing. Brielle¡¯s

    response, he mistakenly thought his concern had not gone unnoticed, and he doubled. down on his

    effort. ¡°Hey, I heard you hurt your leg. I know this top¨Cnotch doc. Want me to take you over after work?¡±

    Others from thepany¡¯s upper echelon were also outside the elevator, but Noah didn¡¯t bother to

    hide his intentions. His pursuit of Brielle was public knowledge, and so would be the eventual breakup.

    After all, the only one who would face embarrassment was Brielle.

    Noah nned to make the breakup a spectacle, hoping to gain some points with Alivia. With that

    thought, he felt quite pleased with himself.

    Brielle, on the other hand, found Noah irksomely verbose. She couldn¡¯t remember finding him this

    annoying before. She frowned, aware that many eyes were upon them.

    Surely, with Max trapped as well, the executives had alle to show their concern. Was Noah putting

    on a show for the whole crowd?

    Using the light from her phone, she noticed a slight furrow in Max¡¯s brow, suggesting he was also

    growing tired of Noah¡¯s persistence.

    ¡°Brielle, that doctor is really good.¡± Noah was now feeling relentless and noticed the murmuring of the e

    executives around him. All except for the HR Director and the Finance Director, who seemed at a loss

    for words.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Both were aware of Brielle¡¯s rtionship with the CEO. Was Noah brazenly hitting on the boss¡®

    mistress? They looked at Noah with a mix of pity and disbelief, but he was preupied with winning

    Brielle over and took no notice.

    ¡°There¡¯s this great steakhouse not far from the clinic, with a view overlooking all of Beaconsfield from

    the window seats. Interested, Brielle?¡±

    Brielle felt a headacheing on but kept her cool. ¡°Thanks for the offer, Mr. Noah, but it¡¯s not

    necessary.¡±

    As she finished speaking, the elevator doors opened. Seeing Max, Noah reluctantly greeted him with

    respect, ¡°Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    Max¡¯s expression was frosty: his gaze was like a sheet of ice. For a moment, Noah felt as though that

    look could shatter him.

    Brielle ignored the tension between the two men. She felt a wave of dizziness from the sudden descent

    and took a moment to regain herposure before speaking politely. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, I¡¯ll be back at work

    as soon as my leg heals. I should head out now.¡±

    Max¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line, managing only a curt, ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Chapter 307

    Watching Brielle leave, Noah hastily followed, ¡°Brielle, you¡¯re injured. Let me drive you home. It¡¯d be

    bad if the wound got infected.¡± He shadowed Brielle closely, reaching out to support her. Nearby. Max

    looked on, his countenance darkening. Patrick instinctively stepped back to avoid. the chill in the air.

    Max found the creature orbiting Brielle intolerably irksome, but what reason could he have to

    intervene?

    His fingers twitched at his side, and he eventually instructed Patrick. ¡°Take Ms. Haywood

    home.¡±

    He used the formal ¡°Ms. Haywood,¡± which seemed perfectly reasonable to the other executives ¨C just a

    boss caring for his employee.

    Patrick was tasked by Max, nodded, and approached Brielle.

    Brielle, noticing Noah¡¯s persistence, finally stopped. ¡°Mr. Noah, I thought I made myself clearst time.¡±

    She had been blunt when Noah bizarrely delivered flowers to her department. Why was he intensifying

    his efforts now?

    Noah smiled, a calcting look in his eyes that didn¡¯t sit well with Brielle. She trusted her instincts:

    Noah didn¡¯t like her. In fact, he loathed her. So why pursue her? Was someone pulling his strings?

    ¡°Brielle, I¡¯m serious about you. If you don¡¯t like flowers, I can give you something else.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s stomach churned at the thought of those three fingers. ¡°No, thank you.¡±

    Noah was certainly not the sender of that anonymous package.

    Leaning on her crutch, she moved to leave, eager to escape Max¡¯s piercing gaze. She needed time to

    clear her head and to sort through her thoughts.

    She had imagined a million ways things with Max might end, but never in such a dismal fashion.

    What was this? It was as if the universe was reminding her not to get too greedy.

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    Chapter 308

    However, as luck would have it, when you¡¯re down on your luck, even sipping water can choke you.

    She had only taken a few steps when her cane got stuck in a pothole that had appeared on the

    sidewalk. She yanked on it, but her strength was insufficient, and the tip of the cane was firmly lodged.

    This little mishap was the straw that broke the camel¡¯s back. Her eyes instantly welled up, her heart felt

    suffocated, and she hastily pulled out her cell phone, intending to call Aubree. She needed someone to

    pick her up and save her from further embarrassment.

    Before she could dial, footsteps sounded from behind her. She stiffened. Was it Noah or¡­

    Then Patrick¡¯s voice chimed in, ¡°Ms. Brielle, let me drive you home.¡±

    Brielle felt a faint sense of expectation rise within her, which she found rather silly. ¡°No, I¡¯ll call Aubree,¡±

    she replied.

    But before she could finish, Noah stepped up to her. ¡°Brielle, don¡¯t be polite to me. You look a bit pale.

    Just get in my car,¡± he insisted.

    Turning to Patrick, Noah continued, ¡°Patrick, it¡¯s no trouble at all. I¡¯ll take Brielle home. And by the way,

    she¡¯s likely to be my future girlfriend.¡±

    Women loved it when a man publicly imed them. It fed their modest vanity. Brielle was just an

    ordinary woman and surely couldn¡¯t resist his persistent advances.

    Hearing Noah¡¯s words, Brielle¡¯s lips twitched slightly. ¡°Mr. Noah, have you lost your mind?¡± After holding

    back time and again, why couldn¡¯t Noah read the room?

    ¡°Anyone might be your girlfriend, but it won¡¯t be me.¡± Her tone was indifferent; she was too weary to

    engage further with Noah. Instead, she tried to pull the cane free again.

    Realizing she couldn¡¯t do it alone, she turned to ask Patrick for help. To any onlooker, she simply

    seemed to have stopped in her tracks; no one had noticed her cane trapped in the hole.

    ¡°Patr-¡± Before she could finish, a hand reached out from beside her and effortlessly liberated the cane.

    The scent of natural cedarwood emanated from him, fresh and clear as ever.

    Without even looking, Brielle knew it was Max. Only he had noticed her predicament. This realization

    brought tears to her eyes again, but she pushed her emotions down. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    Nobody expected Max to step up to Brielle¡¯s side, let alone perform such a gentlemanly act.

    Noah, noticing Max¡¯s behavior, felt a pang of annoyance as if he had been bested. He hadn¡¯t noticed

    Brielle¡¯s cane was stuck. He had lost Alivia, and now was he about to lose Brielle as well?

    Chapter 308

    The thought made him exceedingly ufortable. He almost reached for Brielle, intending to usher

    her into his car, but before his hand got halfway. Max spoke up. ¡°The executive meeting starts in ten

    minutes. What are you all doing standing around?¡±

    Max didn¡¯t need to be present for the executive meeting, which was why he had left early.

    Reminded by his words, everyone snapped back to reality. The other executives quickly fawned.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, d you¡¯re alright. We¡¯ll head up then.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, sorry you had to go through that.¡±

    Max ignored them, and his gaze was fixed on Noah, as if to say, what are you still doing here?

    Noah, for all his bravado, couldn¡¯t defy Max and skip the meeting. He turned to Brielle. ¡°Brielle, Patrick

    will take you home. Once your leg¡¯s better, I¡¯ll take you out for dinner.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s lips tightened in what passed for a response.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Once everyone had left, Brielle didn¡¯t linger either. She turned to leave, but Max graspe

    wrist.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, what is this about?¡±

    her

    Patrick, ever perceptive, discreetly retreated. Thus, in the vast expanse of the underground parking lot,

    only the two of them remained.

    Max didn¡¯t speak. Instead, he took her cane and scooped her up in his arms. He seemed intent on

    personally escorting her home.

    Brielle felt stifled. The break¨Cup had been his idea. The harsh words had been his, so why did he seem

    utterly unaffected?

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    Chapter 309

    But let¡¯s face it, a woman¡¯s strength just doesn¡¯t stack up against a man¡¯s. She struggled for a bit, then

    gave in, allowing herself to be gently ced in the passenger seat.

    Max even did the chivalrous thing and buckled her in, just like in the old days. The gesture brought

    them so close they could hear each other¡¯s breathing.

    Brielle was the first to look away, fixing her gaze on the road ahead. ¡°I need to get back to Pearl

    Estate.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Max settled into the driver¡¯s seat and was about to hit the gas when his phone dinged with a new

    message. It was from Andrew. [I¡¯m at Premier Pce, why aren¡¯t you here?]

    Max frowned and ignored it, gliding the car smoothly out of the underground parking.

    The air was thick with silence between them. Brielle, unable to stand the suffocating quiet and unsure

    of Max¡¯s intentions, rolled down her window.

    The rush of fresh air seemed to lighten the mood.

    As they were approaching Pearl Estate, Max finally spoke up. ¡°Noah¡¯s go

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    So, his pursuit of Brielle definitely wasn¡¯t genuine.

    a crush.¡±

    Brielle was sharp; she caught the hint. But she was surprised he¡¯d even care about Noah¡¯s affairs. She

    frowned, ¡°On who? Alivia?¡±

    She thought the name would stir something in Max. After all, if Noah really fancied Alivia, wouldn¡¯t that

    make him and Max rivals in love?

    However, Max didn¡¯t even bat an eysh, as if the name meant nothing more than any other.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    He wanted to add that Noah must¡¯ve been up to something and was ying games. Max knew Brielle

    wouldn¡¯t fall for it, yet he couldn¡¯t help feeling uneasy.

    What if she fell in love with him?

    Her words reached his ears, light and breezy. ¡°So Mr. Noah¡¯s got a thing for Alivia, and is this all to get

    back at her by messing with me?¡±

    Knowing where Max¡¯s hearty, she reverted to the old Brielle. There was no need to y small in front

    of him, as they were never meant to be. She ripped away the pretense, exposing her true feelings.

    Out of the corner of her eye, she watched for his reaction. As expected, his brow furrowed at her

    words. ¡°Alivia and I go way back, same with her brother ¨C a lifelong friend. She wouldn¡¯t stoop to using

    such tactics.¡±

    Chapter 309

    Brielle chuckled softly, turning to gaze out the window. Right, when someone disappointed you, they

    wouldn¡¯t do it just once?

    They were childhood sweethearts, inseparable since they were kids. And her? She was nothing. Not

    even a passerby in his life, at best a fleeting breeze at Mr. Dorsey¡¯s fingertips, gone with a wave of his

    hand.

    After that, Brielle fell silent and stayed silent all the

    Until the car stopped at Pearl Estate.

    Max intended to get out and open the door for her, but Brielle, leaning on her cane, got out herself. She

    walked past him, a few steps away, before tossing over her shoulder, ¡°Thanks, Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    Max¡¯s mouth tasted like he¡¯d bitten into a sour lemon. He meant to follow her but then heard. Brielle

    continue. ¡°No need to walk me in.¡± She was clearly shooing him off.

    Watching her retreating figure, Max felt a twinge of frustration. He swore he¡¯d never felt this choked up

    in his life, except with Brielle.

    Max had never really pondered what it meant to like someone, to feel love.

    To Max, love was being happy around someone due to your brain flooding with dopamine. But as time

    passed, the dopamine would fade, and if someone new came along, it would spike again.

    That was why so many in Beaconsfield were always hopping from one romance to the next, never

    settling down.

    At eighteen, Max understood that people just couldn¡¯t resist the pull of dopamine, especially for

    something as evolutionarily critical as sex. So, in his mind, this thing called love didn¡¯t really exist.

    He might as well head back to Premier Pce. Brielle didn¡¯t seem to care much about him anyway. As

    he was thinking this, his steps, however, veered towards the estate¡¯s gate.

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    Chapter 310

    If Patrick were here, he¡¯d probably secretly mutter that Max wore that mock disgust so well, even when

    he was secretly pleased.

    Brielle, leaning on a cane, moved at a leisurely pace, which gave her ample time to notice the

    neer striding through the gates.

    What was he doing tagging along?

    Pearl Estate boasted a refined neighborhood ambiance that even the lobby¡¯s polished floors could

    reflect. Their shadows grew closer on the gleaming surface.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey?¡± she called out politely, catching sight of Max now standing before her.

    ¡°There¡¯s a matter concerning Bradley that I need to discuss with you.¡± He was all business as if his

    hurried approach had nothing to do with personal interest.

    Brielle was momentarily baffled by this tactic, and when she gathered her wits, she found the whole

    thing ludicrous. ¡°Mr. Dorsey. I¡¯m on the injured list.¡±

    ¡°Your brain isn¡¯t what¡¯s hurt.¡±

    Brielle was no stranger to Max¡¯s biting wit, and his remark now sent a wave of heat coursing through

    her. It seemed to stoke the fever she¡¯d been battling all night.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    ¡°Then go ahead, Mr. Dorsey. Dock my pay.¡±

    She barely finished speaking when the elevator arrived. Without a second nce, she stepped inside

    and crisply pressed the close button.

    Max caught just a snippet of her words. ¡°After all, that card you gave me should be enough to keep me

    cozy for the rest of my days, Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    Left standing there, Max hadn¡¯t quite processed Brielle¡¯s parting shot. By the time he snapped back to

    reality, the elevator had already departed. She had left him behind.

    The realization didn¡¯t embarrass him; after all, there was nothing Brielle could do that he couldn¡¯t

    rationalize.

    He didn¡¯t follow her up but instead walked back to his car. Once seated inside, he pulled out his phone

    and saw a new message from Andrew, pressing for an update.

    Ignoring it, he tapped on Brielle¡¯s contact instead. What could he say?

    Rubbing his temple, he chuckled at his own sequence of reactions. What was he doing? Perhaps it

    was time to cool off and get a grip on his emotions.

    After sitting in the car for ten minutes, he finally drove back to Premier Pce.

    Andrew was lounging on the couch at Premier Pce, idly flipping his phone in his hand. Spotting

    Wesley still bustling about, he drawled, ¡°When¡¯s thest time Brielle popped in?¡±

    Chapter 310

    Wesley, unsure why Mr. Clements was inquiring about Ms. Brielle, responded conservatively. ¡°Ms.

    Brielle seldom visits.¡±

    Andrew scoffed. Seldom? Now that he knew Max had taken an interest in her, he figured Max would

    want her glued to his side around the clock.

    Women were such a hassle.

    Half an hourter, Max¡¯s car pulled up outside Premier Pce. He strolled into the lobby to find a

    mboyant¨Clooking man sitting there.

    Andrew paused his phone tossing at the sight of Max. ¡°Where are youing from?¡±

    Max didn¡¯t bother to answer; instead, he gave Andrew a once¨Cover and settled on another

    couch.

    ¡°Did you know Brielle¡¯s calls are getting rerouted to Kenzo? She also asked Aubree to ring me up;

    everyone¡¯s been looking for you.¡± A smirk yed across Andrew¡¯s face, a hint of schadenfreude in his

    voice. ¡°Max, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re finally tired and thinking of ditching her.¡±

    Wesley approached with two cups of coffee, ready to interject, but a look from Max told him to hold his

    tongue.

    Max wrapped his fingers around the cup; his brows lifted slightly, ¡°What if I am?¡±

    Andrew nearly choked on his coffee, taken aback by what he thought must¡¯ve been a hallucination.

    Was Max actually suggesting he was tired of Brielle?

    Andrew¡¯s eyes widened before he let out a light chuckle. ¡°Figures, the Dorsey family doesn¡¯t produce

    lovesick fools. That¡¯s more like it. You had me worried for a bit there. I can¡¯t for the life of me see what¡¯s

    so appealing about Brielle. She¡¯s so utterly average, save for a decent face.¡±

    Thement struck a nerve with Max, causing him difort. ¡°Still better than Tessa.¡±

    Andrew felt a jolt at the mention of Tessa, realizing Max was still defending Brielle. He softened his

    tone. ¡°Yeah, yeah. So what¡¯s this about being sick of her?¡±

    Even in front of Max, Andrew reined in his temper. ¡°As you can see, the Dorsey family doesn¡¯t entertain

    weaknesses.¡±

    A dark glint passed through Andrew¡¯s eyes. Was this not about eradicating a potential vulnerability

    once and for all?

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    ¡°Max, how about we hit the town tonight to celebrate, eh? Alivia¡¯sing back soon, and since you¡¯ve

    had your fill of Brielle, maybe it¡¯s time to put a ring on Alivia? She¡¯s been waiting for you for years.¡±

    Engagement? The thought had never seriously crossed Max¡¯s mind.

    ¡°If she¡¯s getting engaged, it sure as heck won¡¯t be to me.¡±

    Andrew had been mid¨Csip of his water when Max dropped this bombshell. Andrew nearly choked on it.

    Everyone in Beaconsfield knew Alivia was holding out for Max, but now the man himself was saying

    she shouldn¡¯t wait for him.

    ¡°Max, you¡¯re not pulling my leg, are you? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re oblivious to Alivia¡¯s crush on you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve made it clear before, I¡¯m not into her.¡±

    His tone was so firm it sent a chill through Andrew¡¯s spine. If Alivia wasn¡¯t in Max¡¯s sights, who was?

    The women who had circled Max in recent years, those under thirty at least, were pretty much Brielle

    and Alivia. Any other guy in Beaconsfield would be a fool to pass up Alivia for Brielle.

    Unless they were blind.

    Andrew cracked a wry smile, his thoughts drifting back to the image of Max beneath the ze of a

    high¨Crise inferno. His gaze was dark and inscrutable. ¡°The Dorsey family and the Barnes n are all

    looking forward to this merger of a marriage. If you turn it down, you could be messing with family

    rtions big time.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t believe Max hadn¡¯t considered this.

    With a nonchnt lift of his eyebrows, Max replied. ¡°I¡¯ve made my stance crystal clear to Alivia herself.

    She¡¯s no fool.¡±

    But how clear¨Cheaded could a woman in love truly be? Max had never really fallen for Alivia, so he

    couldn¡¯t fathom the depth of her infatuation.

    As an outsider to their romance, Andrew kept his opinions to himself, yet he couldn¡¯t help but think he

    could smooth their path somewhat. At leastpared to Brielle, Andrew considered Alivia a friend.

    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    He whipped out his phone and shot Alivia a text. [Max says he won¡¯t propose.]

    Andrew had always been blunt with others, especially when it came to anything involving Max.

    As expected, Alivia¡¯s reply came swiftly. Her devotion to the subject was clear. [Wait till I¡¯m back in

    town. He¡¯ll change his mind.]

    Alivia wanted to probe further into the situation with Brielle, like whether there was anything truly going

    on between her and Max. But Alivia had already put herself out there enough.

    Digging for more through Max¡¯s friends would just seem desperate.

    It was best to ask her brother. If her brother said there was nothing to it, then it had to be true.

    Max was destined to marry Alivia.

    Andrew shared these details to Alivia, just to keep Max from getting stuck with Brielle, but he also knew

    his boundaries. It wasn¡¯t his ce to spill Max¡¯s secrets to Alivia. Besides, she would be back soon

    enough, and then others could fill her in.

    Meanwhile, Alivia was in thepany of Emily..

    Emily¡¯s resentment had been simmering ever since the Hatfield family had cut her loose and sent her

    abroad with a ten¨Cyear ban from Beaconsfield. It was because of Brielle, and the bitterness was

    palpable.

    So when Alivia asked Emily about Max, she didn¡¯t hold back, embellishing the tale. ¡°Ms. Alivia, you

    don¡¯t head back soon, I bet Brielle will have Mr. Dorsey wrapped around her little finger. You haven¡¯t

    dealt with her directly, so you have no idea how crafty she can be.¡±

    ¡°She managed to get me kicked out of Beaconsfield. Max lets her have her way. I think he¡¯spletely

    under her spell. Never thought I¡¯d see the day when Max fell head over heels.¡±

    Exiled and heartbroken, Emily¡¯s infatuation with Max had turned to loathing now that she was in a

    foreignnd. But this also meant that no one was around to censor the words she said to Alivia.

    Emily wanted to fan the mes of hatred toward Brielle. She might¡¯ve lost to Brielle, but Alivia would

    never lose to that nobody, that¡­ bastard!

    Alivia would be Emily¡¯s instrument of revenge.

    Yet Alivia found these talesughable. Max, bewitched by someone? Impossible. He was a born

    businessman, destined to dominate any industry he took to, like his early days on Wall Street.

    He was immune to the charms of women, especially someone like Brielle, who didn¡¯t even have a

    family name to im.

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    Chapter 312

    Emily continued to stir the pot.

    ¡°Ms. Alivia, you¡¯re busting your hump overseas for Max¡¯s career, while Max is back home and ying

    house with some trophy girlfriend. Are you really okay with that? Did Max ever promise to put a ring on

    it? With no promises, you¡¯re still holding on after all these years. I can¡¯t tell whether that¡¯s devotion or

    just in foolishness.¡±

    But if mere words could sway Alivia, she wouldn¡¯t have gotten to where she was today. She had

    climbed her way up the academicdder to the research institute, unlike the shallow Emily. So, even

    though anger simmered inside her, Alivia still believed in doing what was expected of her.

    She cracked a smile. ¡°Emily, I¡¯ve known Max for years, and I know exactly what kind of man he is. You

    don¡¯t need to say these things to get under my skin. Don¡¯t you understand why you¡¯ve ended up in this

    mess?¡±

    She leaned in close to Emily, her gaze dripping with disdain. ¡°It¡¯s because you see Max as just another

    guy. That¡¯s what¡¯s fueling your jealousy.¡±

    Emily¡¯s face turned a shade of sour grapes, not expecting Alivia to be so unmoved.

    Emily stood up in a huff, no longer bothering to keep up appearances. ¡°Alivia, don¡¯t get it twisted and

    think Max is all yours. Just wait and see. When you get back, you¡¯ll see how much the tables have

    turned.¡±

    Alivia remained unshaken, confident in the knowledge that she had sent Noah to deal with Brielle. If

    Noah seeded, what chance did Brielle stand with Max?

    A woman of Brielle¡¯s lowly stature could never catch Max¡¯s eye. Alivia didn¡¯t even have to lift a finger;

    by using others, she could ensure Brielle wouldn¡¯t get far. She wasn¡¯t about to make an embarrassing

    exit like Emily.

    After Emily left, Alivia sent a text to her brother. [Hey Kenzo, what¡¯s Max up to these days?]

    Kenzo, lounging on the couch, saw the phone vibrate but ignored it. Ten minutester, he picked it up

    and replied with a single word. [Working.]

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    That wasn¡¯t the answer Alivia was

    looking for. [Kenzo, you know that¡¯s not what I meant.]

    Kenzo chuckled, his fingers tapping out a response. [Max isn¡¯t nning on settling down with anyone.]

    Alivia breathed a sigh of relief. That was Max for you. And she didn¡¯t need his love, just his loyalty.

    After sending the message, Kenzo stared at his phone, lost in thought. Tthere was no reply¨Cit seemed

    he had reassured his sister.

    Kenzo¡¯s ce was a haven of tranquility, with hardly a servant in sight. In the spacious living room, he

    sat with perfect posture on the sofa, thumbing through a book.

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    Chapter 312

    He recalled Andrew¡¯s nosyments during a phone call about Max growing tired of Brielle. Was it

    true? Perhaps only Andrew belleved what Max had said.

    Kenzo smirked, his mindset unchanged from the past. He enjoyed watching these clever souls hurt and

    chase after each other, only to eventually drift apart.

    However, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was off at Dorsey Internationaltely. Max

    probably sensed it, too.

    Meanwhile, Max sat on an oaken chair, opposite a man with snow¨Cwhite hair practicing his calligraphy.

    This was Michael.

    Neither spoke, but Max was far from nervous.

    Michael finished a piece of calligraphy and set down his pen methodically. ¡°Bradley¡¯s business.

    got snatched up by Williamst night. He came to me, and since the bid didn¡¯t seem like a bi

    deal I let him go for it. I didn¡¯t realize it was a project you¡¯d already vetoed.¡±

    He was exining to Max, and that was precisely why Max hade tonight. Only in the afternoon,

    when Max saw Bradley¡¯s people around, did he realize Bradley had signed a new deal without his

    consent. They¡¯d gone over his head, straight to the patriarch¨Cwhat was this about?

    ¡°Father, I¡¯d prefer you not to intervene in thepany¡¯s affairs.¡±

    Michael rubbed his temples, aware that Max could be quite stubborn. A man with absolute control over

    Dorsey International would not tolerate his authority being trampled on. It was a rule of survival in the

    business world.

    ¡°Max, I didn¡¯t expect William would want a project you¡¯d already dropped. There was nothing. wrong

    with it, and Bradley chose thispany after careful consideration. Why kick them to the curb right

    before signing the contract? What will others say about Dorsey International¨Cthat we¡¯re not true to our

    word?¡±

    Max, of course, wouldn¡¯t admit that he¡¯d done it because the wife of Bradley¡¯s CEO had wronged

    Brielle. Brielle¡¯s leg had suffered a second fracture, all because of Catherine¡¯s doing.

    ¡°What does it matter if the world thinks we¡¯re not true to our word? It doesn¡¯t affect Dorsey

    International¡¯s standing.¡±

    In the face of absolute strength, rumors were nothing but passing clouds.

    Michael stared at Max, having never doubted his son¡¯spetence, or perhaps his coldness. but it

    was only now that he realized how much he¡¯d aged.

    He waved the matter aside. ¡°Alright, then tell me why you canceled the partnership.

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    Chapter 313

    Max¡¯s fingertips faintly stirred as he lifted his gaze. ¡°Bradley¡¯s gonna screw up sooner orter.¡± Michael

    arched an eyebrow, his tone casual. ¡°I recall Bradley¡¯s doing quite well for himself. He wouldn¡¯t have

    outyed all those rivals if he wasn¡¯t.

    ¡°It¡¯s just a matter of time.¡± Whenever Max wished for trouble, it would brew.

    Michael choked on those words, feeling an even greater headacheing on. Sometimes, talking to

    his youngest son was infuriating enough to drive a man to his grave.

    William and Ryan were all respectful and deferential, but with Max, it was always Michael who ended

    up eating humble pie.

    ¡°Since William is so keen on this project, let him have at it. It¡¯s just a medium¨Csized venture, after all.

    He¡¯s done his fair share for Dorsey International over the years; can¡¯t deny him this small request.¡±

    Michael thought back tost night when William suddenly showed up at the family mansion. dutifully

    sharing supper with him. It was only afterward that William brought up Bradley, carefully omitting the

    fact that the project was one that Max had discarded.

    What was William up to?

    Max stood, understanding that Michael was ying the peacemaker, hinting that denying this favor

    would be a slight against his elders. ¡°This won¡¯t set a precedent.¡±

    Michael lifted a hand, pressing at his brow once more. ¡°Yeah, let your brother have his way with

    it.¡±

    After leaving the family mansion and getting into his car, Max¡¯s expression darkened. William was

    aware of his ties with Brielle, but justcking any solid evidence for now.

    William saw Max abandon the partnership with Bradley, and it probably spurred him to do some

    digging, which led him to Brielle.

    But it was all spection.

    Such spection, if brought before Michael, would embarrass himself. So, William shifted tactics,

    reiming the project. This way, he could put Max in his ce.

    Not just that, but it could also sow discord between Max and Michael, and furthermore, strain Max¡¯s

    rtionship with Brielle, stirring up trouble.

    Killing two birds with one stone.

    Max pieced together the intricate puzzle, closing his eyes. William was meticulous, clever enough this

    time not to b to Michael, but retreating as a way to advance.

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    By bringing this matter to Michael directly, Max would inevitably raise Michael¡¯s suspicions..

    15:06

    Chapter 313

    Sooner orter, it would lead back to Brielle.

    Patrick, driving up front, noticed Max looking exhausted and couldn¡¯t help asking. ¡°Sir, are you worried

    about Ms. Brielle¡¯s safety?¡±

    If she caught Michael¡¯s eye, no one could guess what Michael¡¯s would do, Given Michael¡¯s ruthless

    tactics against Everett, Brielle wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.

    It wasn¡¯t just concern; Brielle had already caught William¡¯s attention. It seemed necessary to take other

    measures. At the very least, Max couldn¡¯t allow her to get dragged into this.

    Facing Max¡¯s silence, Patrick knew he must¡¯ve been pondering some issue. Patrick kept quiet.

    As the sky darkened, a tense undercurrent flowed through Beaconsfield. Those with a keen sense

    sensed the change, but outsiders remained oblivious.

    Brielle, only half in the loop, knew getting close to Max meant trouble. But having reached out to him,

    she¡¯d braced herself for whatever mighte.

    Julian had passed away, and she¡¯d sent the orphanage director packing. Brielle had no family in

    Beaconsfield, just a few scattered friends. Yet she hadn¡¯t expected Max to push her away.

    She stayed in her apartment for two days, refusing to wallow in a heartache that had begun even

    before love could take root. On the third day, she decided to get out. Her leg had nearly healed. She

    could walk without a cane, but for caution¡¯s sake, she brought it along.

    Near Pearl Estate was a charming forest park, a perfect ce for some soul¨Csearching. As she

    stepped out of herplex, she spotted a luxury car pulling up. Out stepped a woman¨CCatherine.

    Catherine¡¯s eyes turned scornful at the sight of Brielle. ¡°Well, look who it is. Ms. Haywood.¡± Her tone

    dripped with sarcasm, grating on the nerves.

    Brielle stood at the curb, hailing a taxi, with no mind to engage her. Brielle leaned her cane against a

    tree trunk, and waited.

    Catherine, noticing Brielle¡¯s indifference, twisted her nose in annoyance. Then her gazended on two

    kids passing by, likely beggars aiming to scrounge up some cash from the well¨Cto¨Cdo residents.

    Catherine whipped out several bills, gesturing toward Brielle. ¡°Snatch her cane, and this

    money¡¯s yours.¡±

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    Chapter 314

    Two ragamuffin kids, dressed in clothes that had seen better days, were torn by the offer made to

    them. The lure of money was overwhelming, and one of them snatched the cash with lightning speed,

    darted over to Brielle, and bowed down to swipe her cane before running off without a trace.

    Brielle was caught off guard and could only watch as the two kids disappeared around the corner. She

    turned to Catherine, who wore a smug grin and raised her eyebrows in triumph.

    Instead of anger, Brielle felt only a sense of embarrassment for Catherine, who was tarnishing the

    reputation of Kingston Enterprises.

    In the luxury car, sitting next to Catherine, was her husband, Bradley. Bradley sighed at his wife¡¯s

    pettiness. ¡°Why bother with a woman who has nothing to her name?¡±

    Catherine continued to revel in Brielle¡¯s awkward plight. ¡°Honey, you don¡¯t understand. Brielle even set

    her sights on Max. She was ogling him at the office, and I bet Max was annoyed. Who knows if she¡¯ll

    be able to keep her supervisor position.¡±

    Bradley was not one to overlook an insult, and his frown deepened at the thought of Brielle¡¯s

    impertinence. ¡°She¡¯s clearly from the wrong side of the tracks, and doesn¡¯t even know who her parents

    are. Arguing with her is beneath you,¡± he chided.

    Catherine snorted, ¡°I don¡¯t care about that. The little minx was anything but polite to me. It¡¯s only fair

    she gets taken down a peg.¡±

    Bradley knew Catherine well. After years together, he was aware of her spiteful nature and anticipated

    that Brielle was in for more trouble. Not that he particrly cared¨CBrielle was as insignificant to them as

    an ant on the sidewalk.

    Casting onest look at the helpless Brielle, Catherine felt a rush of satisfaction. ¡°Let¡¯s leave this

    nonsense behind and go inside,¡± she said dismissively.

    Bradley nodded and stepped out of the car, not giving Brielle another nce.

    Brielle watched them go, recollecting her encounter with the couple the previous day at Dorsey

    International, which hinted at a brewing partnership between Kingston Enterprises and Dorsey

    International.

    She pulled out her phone to check in with a colleague. ¡°Is the Kingston Enterprises contract in its final

    stages?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, that contract isn¡¯t our department¡¯s responsibility. I heard it¡¯s with Mr. Noah for approval

    now. There should be no issues.¡±

    Noah? Brielle frowned, feeling a sense of aversion. ¡°Can you send a copy of the original contract to my

    email?¡±

    Her colleague didn¡¯t object.

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    15:06

    Chapter 314

    As Brielle ended the call and was about to head home, another car pulled up beside her¨Cit was

    Spencer. And he didn¡¯t look pleased to see her.

    It seemed she really should have checked the horoscope before stepping out today.

    She backed away cautiously, only to see Spencer get out of the car. Sensing bad luck, she quickened

    her pace.

    Spencer, noting her limping leg, raised an eyebrow and stopped a step away. ¡°Let me guess. my

    kidnapping had something to do with you, right? Brielle, when I was released. I heard the sound of a

    cane on the floor. I didn¡¯t make the connection then, but seeing your leg now, it all

    makes sense.¡±

    His gaze sharpened as he looked at her. ¡°I disappear for just a few days, and suddenly the Haywood

    family is in ruins. Lillian¡¯s fate is unknown, and her parents are under police investigation, with

    Cameron looking like a lost soul. Brielle, you¡¯ve outdone yourself.¡±

    Spencer leaned in, his stare unsettlingly calm. ¡°I¡¯d love to know how you managed all this. I heard Max

    was behind the Haywood downfall. On the surface, it looks like just business rivalry. but something tells

    me it¡¯s not that simple.¡±

    His tone was chilling. ¡°How did you hurt your leg?¡±

    Brielle hadn¡¯t anticipated that Spencer would turn so astute from a single kidnapping experience. He

    was able to point suspicions at her based solely on sound.

    However, they could only remain suspicions, as without her confession, Spencer had no case.

    ¡°A car hit me. Is there a problem?¡± Her voice was indifferent, but she saw Spencer stand up, his face

    darkening. ¡°If the information I gathered is right, it was Lillian who bribed the driver to hit you, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s frown deepened, unsure of his implication.

    Suddenly, Spencer grasped her chin firmly. ¡°The moment Lillian caused your injury, Max targeted the

    Haywood family. You managed to hide me away, and my father, with all his power, was unable to find

    me. Is Max the one backing you up?¡±

    Spencer was not as naive as he seemed, connecting the dots with keen insight.

    Brielle smirked, ¡°If I had the charm to influence Mr. Dorsey, I would have had you taken care of.¡±

    ¡°Brielle!¡±

    The pressure on her chin intensified, and Brielle winced in pain.

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    Chapter 315

    Spencer¡¯s chest heaved with the force of his fury. His eyes seared into Brielle as if they could shoot

    mes.

    ¡°I¡¯m not kidding around, and don¡¯t you think you can keep fooling me. Sure, my rtionship with Lillian

    was a mistake, but what about your flings with other guys? How was that any better? We¡¯re both in the

    mud here. You better not have anything going on with Max, or I swear, even as a ghost, I won¡¯t let you

    off the hook. We¡¯ll see about that.¡±

    Spencer released his grip, and his eyes were filled with venom. ¡°When you were ying around. with

    other guys, I might have let that slide, but if you¡¯re secretly seeing Max while putting me down, I can

    never forgive you.

    Brielle found him utterly ridiculous. How did he manage to ce himself in the victim¡¯s seat so quickly?

    She stood there, calm and unmoved, and with a nk expression, she let out a cold retort. ¡°Are you

    done? If so, you can leave.¡±

    Spencer¡¯s face turned a deep shade of red, but as he had said, everything was just spection. He

    needed evidence. If he did find proof, he would be willing to lose everything just to get back at Brielle.

    How could he allow anyone to trample on his dignity like that?

    Once his car had driven off, Brielle let out a sigh. Spencer was insufferable. Spencer had stewed for

    days before confronting her because he was probably busy hunting for evidence. but aftering up

    empty¨Chanded, he had erupted in frustrated anger.

    Dealing with Spencer was bing a headache for Brielle, but it wasn¡¯t the first time he had behaved

    so irrationally. He was like a petnt child who believed that crying and throwing a fit would get him

    what he wanted. In reality, such behavior only ruined whatever good was left in the beginning. It was

    almostughable.

    Back at home, Brielle decided to temporarily forget about Spencer¡¯s antics and focus on researching

    Kingston Enterprises. She couldn¡¯t let it go. It was meant to be a distraction, but she had stumbled

    upon some intriguing leads.

    Her lips curled into a slight smile. She had nned to visit Dorsey International the next day. but any

    dy might mean Kingston¡¯s deal would go through. So, after a brief rest, she headed out with the

    documents in hand.

    The elevator took her straight to the top floor, and as the conference room doors swung open, there

    was Max, emerging amidst a cluster of executives.

    Brielle saw him, and her body tensed involuntarily.

    The HR Director and the Finance Director exchanged a nce, sensing an opportunity to curry favor

    with Max, and they hurried to speak up. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, Ms. Haywood is over there.¡±

    The HR Director had thought that sharing this information would lead Max to stop and chat

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Chapter 315

    with Brielle, but Max merely gave Brielle a cursory nce, nodded slightly, and headed for his office.

    What was going on? Max¡¯s demeanor toward Ms. Haywood was usually warmer. Had their rtionship

    changed?

    Their minds raced, and in an instant, they surmised that Max must have ended things. Men, after all,

    grew tired of the same vor, and there were already rumors that Ms. Alivia was Max¡¯s true love. Now

    that Ms. Alivia was set to return, it made sense for the President to refocus his attention.

    They had thought Ms. Haywood would be different, yet in Max¡¯s world, she was just another passerby.

    With this ¡®fact¡® in mind, they scrapped the idea of using Brielle to get close to Max. It seemed wiser to

    align themselves with the future Mrs. Dorsey.

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    Chapter 316

    Brielle caught Max¡¯s reaction out of the corner of her eye, but she didn¡¯t let it faze her. After all, the cat

    was out of the bag. She had bigger fish to fry at the moment.

    Her gaze shifted to Noah, and she strode over with determination. ¡°Mr. Noah, I need to speak with you.

    Is now a good time?¡± she inquired, her tone casual yet firm.

    At that moment, Max had just reached the door of his office. Hearing Brielle¡¯s request, his hand paused

    mid¨Cmotion. He was supposed to head in and shut the door, shutting out everything else, but a wrinkle

    formed between his brows. Hadn¡¯t he told Brielle the other day that Noah was already taken? And now,

    here she was, on her day off, seeking a private conversation with Noah. Was she really angling for a

    lunch date with the guy? The thought alone darkened his mood considerably.

    The others in the office, eavesdropping on the exchange, were equally surprised. During the elevator

    mishap a few days prior, most of the senior staff were present when Noah was notably attentive to

    Brielle and even invited her to dinner. Now, even as Brielle was still recovering, she was making a point

    to look for Noah at the office. Were the two of them an item now?

    Curious and confused nces were exchanged around the room.

    Undeterred by the surrounding stares, Brielle kept her focus on Noah. A gleam of triumph flickered in

    Noah¡¯s eyes, tinged with a touch of irony. He had wondered how long Brielle would hold out. It seemed

    just a few caring words from him had been enough to make her cave.

    ¡°Easy prey,¡± he mused. It looked like he¡¯d be reporting back to Alivia sooner than expected.

    His lips curled into a semnce of a sincere smile. ¡°Sure, the restaurant I mentioned the other day still

    has a table free tonight. I¡¯ll make a reservation right now.¡±

    Brielle frowned, sensing his misunderstanding, but didn¡¯t bother to correct him. ¡°No need for a

    restaurant. Your office will do,¡± she stated inly.

    His office? Was she announcing in front of everyone that she wanted to go to his office? It seemed

    Brielle was ready to go public.

    Noah couldn¡¯t hide his tion; the faster this was dealt with, the better. ¡°Alright, this way. please. After

    our talk, we can still hit the restaurant for dinner. What kind of food do you like.

    Brielle?¡±

    As the two walked away, the rest of the upper management remained rooted to the spot.

    Max, should have been inside his office by now, but there he was, frozen at the doorway as if struck by

    a spell. He noticed a few nces in his direction but didn¡¯t react; his gaze followed Brielle and Noah

    toward thetter¡¯s office.

    What on earth did Brielle want to talk about? Max¡¯s brow furrowed in thought. One might mistake it for

    concern over the meeting¡¯s proceedings.

    1607

    Only Patrick, his right¨Chand man, knew the real reason for his boss¡® preupation. Max was probably

    green with jealousy. Patrick subtly nudged him. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, perhaps we should head inside.

    Max pushed open the door to his office without a word; his face was a mask of indifference. Patrick

    followed him in.

    Once seated, Max pretended to busy himself with some documents on his desk. Patrick, standing

    before him, noticed the papers were upside down but chose to remain silent.

    Max¡¯s concentration was elsewhere. His thoughts were on Brielle. After a while, he looked up at

    Patrick. ¡°What¡¯s the name of the restaurant Noah mentioned?¡±

    Max had no clue about the ce; he rarely dined out and usually stuck to meals at the Dorsey family

    estate.

    Patrick, ever the proficient assistant, quickly found the restaurant¡¯s name. ¡°It¡¯s a couples¡± restaurant,

    sir,¡± he informed.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Max, who was holding a pen, nearly snapped it at the news. He managed to maintain hisposure,

    though a chill seemed to emanate from him.

    Patrick grimaced slightly before he added, ¡°Their most popr package is a couples¡® special. I hear it

    has great reviews and a lovely view of the night skyline.¡±

    With each word, the atmosphere in the office grew colder. Sensing the mood, Patrick wisely mped

    his mouth shut.

    Meanwhile, in Noah¡¯s office, the door had barely clicked shut before Noah¡¯s hands began to wander

    toward Brielle¡¯s shoulder. He was eager to close the deal and report back to Alivia.

    For Alivia¡¯s sake, he was ready to go all in.

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    ¡°Mr. Noah, I assure you, I won¡¯t start anything if you don¡¯t. I¡¯ve trained in taekwondo, and though my leg

    isn¡¯t fully recovered, I won¡¯t get messed up in the office.¡± Brielle¡¯s tone was nonchnt as she made

    her way to the couch and took a seat.

    Noah¡¯s face tensed up,pletely baffled about what she was getting at. Hadn¡¯t she already agreed to

    go along with his ns? Was she ying hard to get?

    He took a moment to collect himself before sinking into his office chair. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll behave. We have all

    the time in the world to discuss things. So, what¡¯s on your mind?¡±

    Was it the future? Dreams? Or something else?

    Truth be told, Brielle was quite the looker. If it weren¡¯t for his feelings for Alivia, Noah would¡¯ve

    considered keeping her close just for her beauty alone. But with Alivia¡¯s brilliance setting the standard,

    Brielle just seemed nd inparison.

    ¡°I heard Kingston Enterprises contract made its way to you, Mr. Noah?¡±

    Thest thing Noah expected was for Brielle to bring up business. His expression darkened a bit, but

    remembering that their interactions were improving, he nodded.

    ¡°Yes, that project has been handed off to Mr. Ryan. Mr. Dorsey had a sudden change of heart about

    working with Kingston Enterprises, and then the contract was pulled back. It¡¯s under review here before

    it goes to Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    William held a firm position at Dorsey International, stable as ever over the years. Compared to Ryan,

    who was ousted a while ago, William was now second inmand only to Max. Some of the staff even

    whispered about the changes within Dorsey International, with William opposing Max.

    However, only the higher¨Cups knew that no one could shake Max¡¯s position. Just like how easily he

    had Ryan pack his bags and leave. Now, Ryan was desperate to return, but it all seemed futile.

    Brielle had only intended to discuss the contract but found herself tangled in information she hadn¡¯t

    known. Had Max pulled the contract with Kingston Enterprises? When did that happen? She

    remembered the bidding war ending not too long ago, so the contract withdrawal had to be recent. Was

    it before or after Catherine¡¯s kick?

    Despite her better judgment, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a peculiar sweetness swirling in her thoughts.

    Even if Max had decided to distance himself now, during their time together, Max indeed lived up to his

    promise to look out for her. When someone treated you well, you had to acknowledge it. So even if

    their rtionship ended abruptly, she harbored no resentment towards Max. It was just a matter of

    status, nothing more.

    ¡°Mr. Noah, what¡¯s your take on the project?¡±

    Noah hadn¡¯t scrutinized the contract too closely since it was William¡¯s responsibility. It was

    1/2

    15:07

    just a formality in his office, awaiting his signature before it would be passed to William.

    ¡°It should be fine. After all, Kingston Enterprises fought its way through toughpetition, naturally

    outperforming others in many areas.¡±

    Brielle pulled out the file she had been holding.

    ¡°Kingston Enterprises has strong overall capabilities, but I¡¯ve uncovered something troubling. The CEO,

    Bradley, has a son who¡¯s been overly indulged by his parents. Two years ago, the boy was involved in

    a fatal ident, which never hit the news. However, there are murmurs about it resurfacing. Moreover,

    he¡¯s deep into vices like drinking and gambling¨Creportedly blowing through a billion in a month and

    umting sizable debts. His subsidiary is even behind on paying its workers. If this gets out, it¡¯ll

    undoubtedly affect Kingston Enterprises, and by extension, Dorsey International won¡¯t escape

    unscathed. Switching partners mid¨Cproject is no small feat.¡±

    Brielle¡¯spetence was unquestionable, and the vulnerabilities of Kingston Enterprises she outlined

    were real concerns. But the project wasn¡¯t Noah¡¯s to manage, ¡°I¡¯ll mention your concerns to Mr. Ryan,

    but whether he¡¯ll take them on board is another matter.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    Brielle lowered her gaze. Beforeing here, she was unaware that Max had rejected the contract, so

    she didn¡¯t see anything amiss with William¡¯s proposal to partner with Kingston Enterprises. Now,

    pondering deeper, she sensed there was more at y.

    If Max had acted for her sake, then William¡¯s move might¡¯ve been a ploy to force Max¡¯s hand. against

    Kingston Enterprises. What William didn¡¯t anticipate was that Max and Brielle¡¯s rtionship had already

    ended.

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    Chapter 318

    Brielle¡¯s lips quirked into a half¨Csmile as she leaned back in her chair. The pros and cons of the

    situation she faced were clearlyid out in her mind. As for Williamn¡¯s choice, well, that was his

    After all, the project wasn¡¯t exactly small potatoes. If William couldn¡¯t handle this little venture without

    screwing up, it was his own reputation at Dorsey International that would take the hit.

    Rising to her feet with a measured nod, Brielle made her position clear. ¡°That¡¯s all I¡¯ve got toy on the

    table, Mr. Noah. You go ahead and weigh that as you see fit.¡±

    Noah was fumino, feeling like Brielle was lording it over him, but keeping his ultimate goal in sight, he

    tried to smooth his tone. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve got the nuts and bolts out of the way, let¡¯s chew the tat about

    something else. Brielle, what¡¯s your take on me as a person?¡±

    Noah wasn¡¯t one for beating around the bush. He was supposed to get Brielle, bed her, and snap a few

    incriminating snapshots for Alivia. Then, his status in Alivia¡¯s heart would definitely improve.

    Watching him nearly tripping over his own eagerness, Brielle couldn¡¯t help but find it amusing. Noah

    wasn¡¯t without talent, having Inherited his position from his father. He rarely engaged in underhanded

    tactics, which made Brielle wonder whether to call him na?ve or just in dumb.

    ¡°Mr. Noah, let¡¯s not rush things. I¡¯ve had a bit of a rough patch recently. Do you mind lending me an ear

    and maybe some advice?¡± she asked, softening her voice.

    Noah nodded. ¡°What¡¯s the issue?¡±

    ¡°Well, Spencer and I were engaged, right? But he¡¯s been fooling around with Lillian, which is a p in

    the face to me. There¡¯s this gorgeous friend of mine in Beaconsfield, and I was thinking of having her

    seduce Spencer, catch him red¨Chanded, and make sure the whole town gets a load of it. What do you

    think?¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be like throwing your friend to the wolves? If Spencer¡¯s a yboy, he won¡¯t treat your

    friend any better. How can you call yourself a friend if you drag her into your mess? Why involve a third

    party in your beef?¡±

    Brielle arched an eyebrow, smiling slightly. ¡°Isn¡¯t what Alivia¡¯s asking you to do, essentially throwing you

    to the wolves? If I were as bad as you all think, how would you feel about approaching me? I¡¯m not

    sure what Alivia¡¯s angle is, but if you¡¯re her pal, she shouldn¡¯t be pushing you around like this, right?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s savvyy in framing the conversation around her own experience, effectively resonating with

    Noah. Unbeknownst to him, what Alivia had asked him to do was no different. from Brielle¡¯s own

    scenario.

    Noah¡¯s face darkened, only then realizing that Brielle was hinting at his own situation. He was quick to

    disassociate. ¡°Chasing after you is my own decision; it¡¯s got nothing to do with Alivia. Don¡¯t paint her in

    a bad light.¡±

    Chapter 318

    ¡°So, you agree that this kind of behavior is pretty low. Whether or not she put you up to this, Mr. Noah,

    you know the truth. I¡¯ve said my piece. Good day.¡±

    Brielle stood, not lingering for another word.

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    Meanwhile, Noah sat clenching the arms of his office chair. His expression was as dark as the bottom

    of a burnt pan.

    He had rose¨Ctinted sses on when it came to Alivia and a strong distaste for Brielle, so he couldn¡¯t

    see it the way Brielle did¨Cthat Alivia was throwing him under the bus. He took it as a sign of Alivia¡¯s

    trust because they were friends. Besides, it was because of that trust that Alivial had entrusted him with

    this task.

    And though he knew deep down that he and Alivia were a non¨Cstarter, he wouldn¡¯t let anyone else

    stand in the way of her happiness. To an outsider, Noah¡¯s behavior might¡¯ve been described with a

    popr inte lingo ¨C he was a total simp.

    Stung by Brielle¡¯s frank words, he felt a twinge of difort but thought the potential closeness with

    Alivia made it bearable. Brielle was crafty, deliberately stirring up trouble between him and Alivia.

    As Brielle stepped out of the office, she caught sight of Patrick waiting at a distance. She didn¡¯t assume

    he was there for her and headed for the private elevator.

    But then Patrick spoke up. ¡°Ms. Brielle, Mr. Dorsey wants a word with you.¡±

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    Chapter 319

    Brielle¡¯s steps halted and she was utterly confused by what Patrick was trying to say. Her brows knitted

    together in a frown.

    Patrick made a weing gesture with his hand. Having received so much help from Patrick. Brielle

    felt she couldn¡¯t put him in a tight spot and reluctantly nodded.

    Entering Max¡¯s office, she saw him seated behind his desk, leaning back in his chair with his eyes

    closed as if asleep. His scent was always subtle, yet Brielle couldn¡¯t help but recall the steamy nights

    they¡¯d spent tangled in the sheets. Only then did his gaze burn hot, as if searing. into her soul.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey.¡± She called out, noting Max slowly open his eyes.

    A flicker of puzzlement, then a spark of recognition crossed his face at the sight of her.

    ¡°What did you need to see me about, Mr. Dorsey?¡±

    Max hadn¡¯t summoned her, but he guessed Patrick might¡¯ve been overstepping.

    As they exchanged nces, Brielle pieced it together, feeling a wash of embarrassment. ¡°If there¡¯s

    nothing else, then I¡¯ll just-¡±

    Before she could finish. Max cut in, ¡°I have a business trip tomorrow. I¡¯m heading to Oakwood Town.¡±

    Brielle froze, unsure why her boss would need to inform her of his travel ns. After a brief silence, she

    managed to say, ¡°Oh, well, safe travels, Mr. Dorsey?¡±

    Realizing her response, she added, ¡°But, a trip like that surely doesn¡¯t require you to personally grace

    the ce, does it? Even if it¡¯s to scout for materials or to oversee a new construction, that¡¯s usually a

    task for the business department to liaise with the local government.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ve heard the Radiant Light Church there is quite famous.¡±

    So, he was going to visit a church? For what?

    It probably had nothing to do with her anyway.

    Her eyes dropped, and she was about to excuse herself when he suddenly asked. ¡°Would your like to

    join me?¡± After beating around the bush, he finallyid out the invitation.

    The office fell silent as Brielle pondered whether this trip was a ruse or a genuine offer. potentially her

    last chance to spend time with Max.

    She smiled as she looked up withposed grace. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll go home and start packing.¡±

    Max grunted in approval; his satisfaction was apparent as he probably deduced that she would no

    longer be dining with Noah at some couples¡® restaurant.

    Once outside Max¡¯s office, Brielle felt like she was floating on air. What was Max¡¯s angle?

    Chapter 319

    Stepping into the elevator, she couldn¡¯t resist touching her cheek, feeling its warmth. This was the first

    time he¡¯d proposed they go on a trip together, a rare opportunity. She might as well treat it as a fitting

    end to their rtionship rather than a farcical conclusion.

    She caught a glimpse of her hopeful reflection in the elevator mirror, and felt a pang of self¨Creproach.

    Was the fledgling hope she¡¯d just snuffed out beginning to stir again?

    Back at her apartment, she eagerly began to pack, but paused when she spotted the vial. Thest

    time, Ryan had threatened her into poisoning Max, using Mark as leverage. Now that Mark was safe,

    Ryan¡¯s ns had stalled.

    But if Ryan could threaten her once, he could do it again.

    She frowned, feeling it was best out of sight, and tucked it into the back of a drawer.

    After finishing packing, she received a call from Aubree. Aubree sounded thrilled, ¡°Bri, it¡¯s your birthday

    tomorrow! Got any wishes? I just scored big from Andrew, and how about I buy you a vi? Forget

    working at Dorsey International. We don¡¯t need that grief. Trust me, once I hit it big, you¡¯ll have half of

    everything I own¨Cexcept men, of course. But if you want a man, that¡¯s negotiable; I just worry you might

    turn your nose up at Andrew.¡±

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Brielle smiled, knowing Aubree must have indeed struck gold. With the Clements family¡¯s vast empire

    and their status as the country¡¯s leading diamond merchants, money was no object.

    Only then did Brielle remember that tomorrow was her birthday. Was she gonna spending her birthday

    with Max at a church?

    Her smile grew as her tone softened. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m going to the Radiant Light Church with Max

    tomorrow.¡±

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    Chapter 320

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Aubree thought she¡¯d misheard, and was frozen for a few seconds before slowly saying, ¡°Are you

    sure?¡±

    Brielle, oblivious to her friend¡¯s tone, nodded affirmatively. ¡°Yeah, just heard it at the office, and now I¡¯ve

    packed up at home. Sorry, Aubree, it looks like I can¡¯t celebrate my birthday with you, after all.¡±

    Aubree, holding a ss of wine, pondered for a moment and gently set it down. ¡°No biggie. Tell me,

    what do you want for your birthday? If not a mansion, how about an emerald? Andrew mentioned that

    Infinity Brilliance discovered this incredibly rare emerald, roughly valued at seven million. Infinity

    Brilliance is looking for a buyer, and I bet Andrew is thinking of getting it for Tessa. How about I get it for

    you with Andrew¡¯s money?¡±

    Seven million? Aubree had always been generous, but she¡¯d never splurged quite like this.

    ¡°Aubree, you don¡¯t have to. It¡¯s way too much.¡±

    There was silence on the other end before Aubree muttered, ¡°If you¡¯re going to the Radiant Light

    Church, could you could you pray for me or something? Just, you know, to keep me and Andrew

    together forever, and to never part. Even just to annoy him would be fine.¡±

    Brielle could only guess at the pain behind Aubree¡¯s words, but she agreed, nheless.

    By six in the evening, Brielle¡¯s doorbell rang. It was the doorman. ¡°Ms. Brielle, this was left for you.¡±

    Brielle was taken aback. Her mind shed back to thest unsettling delivery of three severed fingers,

    her brow furrowed.

    First, she received flowers, then fingers, what could it be this time?

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, you must ept it. The person who sent it said it¡¯s something you need.¡±

    Brielle knew this mysterious sender meant her no harm, despite the macabre gesture of fingers.

    ¡°Alright, thank you.¡±

    Once the doorman left, she opened the box. Inside was a ck ceramic urn and a note.

    The note read:

    -The Haywood family discarded Julian¡¯s remains. These are his ashes, Brielle. You must need them,

    right?

    Were these Julian¡¯s ashes?

    The Haywoods had taken Julian¡¯s body, and she, not being a direct rtive, had no legal im over it.

    She had hoped for a shred of decency from them, for a proper send¨Coff, but it seemed the Haywoods

    could always stoop lower than she expected.

    Tears welled up in Brielle¡¯s eyes. Besides the urn and the note, there was nothing else in the

    box. The Haywoods had cold¨Cheartedly disposed of Julian, just to strike at her. She had thought they

    took the body to leave her in anguish, not realizing they were capable of such. heartlessness.

    Brielle lowered her gaze, holding the urn close, and feeling truly grateful to the mysterious

    person.

    Tomorrow, she¡¯d take it to the Radiant Light Church, to cleanse away the Haywood¡¯s bad vibes, hoping

    Julian would be reborn into a loving family.

    She ced the urn in a prominent spot in the living room. Her lips curved into a faint smile, anticipating

    the next day.

    As the clock struck twelve, she awoke briefly. Whispering ¡®Happy Birthday¡® to herself, she drifted back

    to sleep.

    At six in the morning, she was up again, carefully packed the urn in bubble wrap, and ced it in a

    suitcase.

    Brielle packed light, with just two outfits and some spare change for the church¡¯s donation box. She felt

    an unusual restlessness, and was checking the time every few minutes, eager to know when Patrick

    woulde to pick her up.

    Around nine, her phone rang. It was Patrick. ¡°Ms. Brielle, I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Dorsey had an emergency and

    can¡¯t make it.¡±

    Brielle paused, wondering why Max hadn¡¯t told her himself. ¡°Why the sudden change of ns?¡± Patrick

    hesitated before replying, ¡°Some urgent business came up.¡±

    Brielle had a hunch it was something he couldn¡¯t discuss with her. ¡°Alright, I understand.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, I cane to pick you up if you¡¯d like to go. I¡¯d be happy to drive you there.¡±

    ¡°No need, I¡¯ve decided not to go. My leg¡¯s still healing, and I prefer to rest at home.¡±

    Actually, her leg was fine, but she chose to go alone.

    After hanging up, she didn¡¯t hesitate to grab her suitcase and drive off, beginning her journey to the

    town, which she wouldn¡¯t reach until tomorrow. She filled the trunk with water and snacks, and hit the

    road, deliberately keeping her mind clear of Max.

    By six in the evening, she stopped by a riverside, bathed in sunset hues, to rest and saw a news alert

    on her phone.

    Dorsey International¡¯s CEO spotted at the airport, possibly to greet his fianc¨¦e? Wedding bells were

    imminent for the two powerhouses.

 Chapter 321

    Chapter 321

    Brielle tapped into the news feed. Her eyesnded on a photograph of Max and Alivia. There was

    Alivia, all smiles, beaming up at Max. Since he was shot from behind, his expression remained a

    mystery to the onlookers.

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    But the vibe of the picture? It screamed ¡®head over heels ¨C a tale as old as time.

    A bitter taste seeped into Brielle¡¯s smile as she exhaled a heavy sigh, and switched her phone into

    airne mode. She settled back, letting the evening sky captivate her attention. The heavens were

    painted with strokes of crimson, reflecting off the river in a dazzling dance of

    color.

    After taking a few sips of water and nibbling on some snacks, she pulled out her phone to capture the

    sunset¡¯s beauty in a few snapshots, before continuing on her journey.

    Meanwhile, outside the gates of Pearl Estate, Aubree was nursing a cigarette between her fingers.

    She¡¯d been buzzing the inte for minutes, but Brielle hadn¡¯t answered.

    The news had reached herst night ¨C a slip of the tongue from Andrew, a deliberate leak. Alivia

    couldn¡¯t stand Brielle, so she asked Max to take her out on Brielle¡¯s birthday as a twisted form of

    revenge.

    Aubree had pondered over the perfect birthday gift for Brielle days in advance, and even conspired with

    Andrew to secure a fine diamond from Infinity Brilliance.

    Hearing Andrew¡¯s wordsst night had sent Aubree into a fury. What was Max ying at? The dislike

    was one thing, but toying with someone¡¯s emotions was cruel.

    Brielle, ever somitted in matters of the heart, was ready to face any storm for love. Still, her

    sincerity seemed to be the punchline of a joke to others.

    When Aubree called Briellest night, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to break the harsh truth. She hinted,

    but Brielle, lost in hopeful anticipation for her day with Max, missed the undertones.

    Aubree had harbored a sliver of hope herself ¨C hope that Max wasn¡¯t like Andrew, a cad who¡¯d warm

    Tessa¡¯s bed while courting her. But the news of Max picking up Alivia was out- scoundrels indeed

    flocked together.

    Aubree imagined Brielle nursing a broken heart somewhere, enduring a lonely birthday. The thought

    twisted her insides with difort.

    She dialed Andrew. His voice came through, drowsy and indifferent. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re just like Max, a jerk.¡±

    Andrew was silent for a beat before his leg dropped off the coffee table. ¡°Look, Aubree, what¡¯s gotten

    into you? If you¡¯re mad at Max, fine, but whysh out at me?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a bunch of scumbags.¡±

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you quite happy under one of those ¡®scumbags¡®st night?¡±

    He chuckled, squinting mischievously. ¡°Are you done with your rant? Think about what your want for

    dinner.¡±

    ¡°Check where Bri is for me. Her phone¡¯s unreachable, and I¡¯m worried.¡±

    ¡°A grown woman gone missing? Please. And it¡¯s not like this is some kind of a breakup. She knew what

    she was getting into with Max.¡±

    Andrew was used to Aubree¡¯s verbalshings, and shrugged it off. At most, he¡¯d ¡®punish¡® herter in

    bed.

    ¡°Aubree. Mom called today; she wants us over for dinner. Are youing?¡±

    Aubree was surprised, and hershes fluttered. ¡°I¡¯ll see. She doesn¡¯t really want to see me. She¡¯s just

    checking if I¡¯ve got a boyfriend so I won¡¯t be a bother to you.¡±

    The Clements had their suspicions. Their mother was more astute, and sensed something amiss

    between Aubree and Andrew. She probed now and then. Frustrated, Aubree had moved out.

    Her tone softened. ¡°Just find out where Bri is.¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    That damn man!

    Aubree¡¯s scalp tingled with anger. ¡°If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll go to Tessa and tell her we¡¯ve been sleeping

    together for years.¡±

    The line went dead.

    After a minute, her phone buzzed with a message. [Brielle was spotted on her way to the Radiant Light

    Church.]

 Chapter 322

    Chapter 322

    Aubree let out a sigh of relief; it seemed Brielle had ventured out on her own. A walk to clear her head

    was probably for the best, instead of staying put and being bombarded with constant updates about

    Max and Alivia¡¯s escapades.

    Meanwhile, Brielle was still in the car; her phone was on airne mode, which meant no more

    iing messages. She decided to spend the night in a hotel in the city she had reached.

    After booking a room, she parked her car and headed inside.

    This was a neighboring city to Beaconsfield, and the hotel, nestled in a small county town, wasn¡¯t

    exactly top¨Cnotch. In the dead of night, a sudden pounding at the door jolted her awake. *Bang! Bang!

    Bang!¡±

    ¡°Boom!¡±

    A cacophony of sounds twisted her brows in an instant as she sat up in bed.

    The noises continued outside, peppered with the cursing of men in a local dialect Brielle couldn¡¯t

    understand. She pushed a table against the door for added security.

    The hotelcked any means to contact the front desk, and even if she called the cops, by the time they

    arrived, it might be toote for whoever was in trouble. One table wasn¡¯t enough, so she barricaded the

    door further with chairs.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    The poundingsted until after eleven, and she nced at her phone. Her birthday was nearly

    over.

    No cake, no well¨Cwishes.

    Her lips twisted into a wry smile, consoled by the thought that at least she had witnessed a

    beautiful sunset.

    Once the noise ceased, she curled up in bed and drifted back to sleep. At the crack of dawn, she rose,

    eager to reach Radiant Light Church in time to possibly catch the sunrise.

    After a two¨Chour drive around the scenic mountain roads, she parked her car beneath the Radiant

    Light Church. The sun was just peeking out from the sea of clouds, a fiery orb. Her gloom lifted entirely,

    and she couldn¡¯t resist stepping closer to breathe in the fresh air of nature. The sun, like a giant golden

    coin, began to radiate beams of light.

    Watching the sunrise, Brielle felt the insignificance of humanity in the vast scheme of the universe. Her

    brief chapter with Max, in the grand timeline, was minuscule, so there was nothing to fret over.

    She dropped some coins into the donation box and prayed. Then she took out Julian¡¯s urn and

    entrusted it to the church¡¯s reverend, hoping for spiritual guidance.

    Afterpleting these rituals, she remembered Aubree¡¯s instructions and pulled out a few

    Chapter 322

    wooden ques. After pondering, she wrote down Aubree¡¯s wish:

    May Aubree and Andrew be lied together for life.

    Upon hanging the que on a tree, she considered her next move and wrote¨CWishing for Mark¡¯s

    health and longevity.

    With the third que in her hands, she was at a loss; she had no wishes of her own. After much

    thought and ensuring no one was watching, she wrote down¨CHoping Max might give liking me a try.

    The idea of Max with Alivia made her feel like a lowly interloper. She quickly erased it and rewrote¨C

    Wishing myself a happy birthday.

    Feeling relieved, she hung the que up.

    The scenery at the Radiant Light Church was stunning. It was surrounded by mountains, yet no one

    was there to share it with her.

    Just as she thought this, a voice called out from behind. ¡°Brielle?¡±

    She stiffened, thinking she¡¯d misheard, and spun around. ¡°Kenzo?¡±

    Kenzo was dressed casually, looking somewhat surprised. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t admit the real reason for her visit, so she bit her lip awkwardly. ¡°Just felt like paying

    respects, I¡¯ve been through a lottely, and I feel like my luck¡¯s been down.¡±

    Kenzo chuckled, eyeing the tree with the hanging ques. ¡°What did you wish for?¡±

    Brielle was d she had changed thest que because when Kenzo saw the first one she¡¯d written,

    heughed softly. ¡°Did Aubree ask you to write that?¡±

    Brielle blushed slightly, nodding. ¡°She made sure to tell me before I came.¡±

    The ques were right there, hard to ignore.

    Brielle had never felt so wise. If Kenzo had seen her original third wish, the embarrassment would have

    been unbearable. Just the thought made her cringe. It was such a cheesy line, and it came from her

    hand.

    Indeed, being in love could make one do silly things.

    ¡°Is today your birthday?¡±

    Kenzo¡¯s voice was always gentle, his gaze warm.

    Brielle felt a touch embarrassed, ¡°Um.¡±

 Chapter 323

    Chapter 323

    *I didn¡¯t know, so I didn¡¯t prepare a gift or anything in advance, but here, this is for you.¡± He handed her

    a tiny jewelry box, probably containing a ne or something simr.

    Brielle tried to decline quickly. ¡°No need, really, thank you.¡±

    Kenzo chuckled and ced it in her hands anyway. ¡°I was nning to give it to my sister, but got held

    up and couldn¡¯t go back. Running into you must be fate, so take it.¡±

    To push further would be impolite, so Brielle epted it with gratitude. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Hanging out with Kenzo wasn¡¯t awkward, but Brielle was still curious. What was Kenzo doing here? It

    seemed too much of a coincidence.

    Perhaps her confusion was too apparent, as Kenzo offered a light¨Chearted smile. ¡°A family member

    has been feeling under the weather, and a buddy mentioned this ce is quite miraculous. Since I

    happened to be out of town, it was convenient toe by.¡±

    That exined it.

    ¡°You¡¯re so thoughtful. I¡¯m sure your family will bounce back in no time.¡±

    As they chatted, they continued walking inside, just as a priest came out to invite them for a meal.

    Brielle had just taken a seat at the table when Kenzo¡¯s phone rang. Without stepping away, he

    answered the call. ¡°Alivia?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s hand paused mid¨Cmotion, and then she quickly pretended to be engrossed in her food.

    Kenzoughed softly. ¡°Dining with Max? How is it? I can¡¯t make it back now; I¡¯ll probably return

    tomorrow. Ran into an old friend and decided to stay another night, yeah.¡±

    Brielle was worried Kenzo might¡¯ve mentioned her by name. It wasn¡¯t guilt she felt but rather a desire

    not to draw further attention from Alivia. Noah¡¯s reaction the other day had made it clear he was acting

    under Alivia¡¯s influence. That meant Brielle had already caught Alivia¡¯s eye. And since her involvement

    with Max had ended, there was no reason for Brielle to remain a target of Alivia¡¯s spite.

    Fortunately, Kenzo didn¡¯t bring her up during the call. Brielle let out a sigh of relief and quietly continued

    with her meal, but she couldn¡¯t help but notice that the rice seemed to have taken on a bitter taste.

    From the snippets of Kenzo¡¯s conversation, Brielle deduced that Alivia was with the Dorsey family and

    that they were likely dining together, which was why Max hadn¡¯t been able to join her at the Radiant

    Light Church.

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the engagement when I get back. It all depends on how you and Max feel,

    Chapter 323

    Alivia. What¡¯s meant to be will always find a way.¡±

    Kenzo spoke with calm assurance. Even just hearing him talk, made Brielle feel envious of Alivia for

    having such a brother.

    With his distinguished family background, impressive education, and good looks¨Cjust as Tiffanie

    Harkins had said¨CAlivia truly was a golden girl.

    After hanging up. Kenzo noticed Brielle had only nibbled at her food and slid a te of greens her way.

    ¡°If you fancy a burger or steak, there¡¯s a ce on the next hill over. The blossoms therest longer than

    anywhere else. Maybe we¡¯ll see a whole hillside of wildflowers. I n to snap a few shots. Care to

    join?¡±

    A photography trip?

    Kenzo, being a screenwriter, was always hunting for inspiration. Brielle¡¯s eyes lit up with envy. and all

    traces of her earlier despondency were gone. ¡°Is it really that beautiful?¡±

    Kenzo feigned contemtion before breaking into a grin. ¡°Well, I find it beautiful. I¡¯ve been there

    before. It¡¯s not a tourist spot, untouched by developers. The hotel there is owned by a friend. It¡¯s

    exclusive and doesn¡¯t open to the public.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d love to go. Thanks.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s spirits lifted, and her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

    Kenzo¡¯s gaze flickered, then shifted away. ¡°Finish up, and we¡¯ll head out.¡±

    Brielle nodded, forced a few more bites, and dered she was full.

    They took Kenzo¡¯s car, and Brielle had brought the ceramic urn. She volunteered an exnation, ¡°This

    contains my grandfather¡¯s ashes. I thought, since the ce is so beautiful, it¡¯d be nice for him to see it

    too.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re thoughtful. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    She got into his car, and they set off toward the other hill.

    After a three¨Chour drive, they arrived just as the evening was setting in, with the moon shining

    unusually bright over the hills.

    The hotel Kenzo mentioned was more like a boutique lodge, beautifully secluded. Yet the owner was

    nowhere to be found, and the ce felt like a hidden paradise, only known to those led

    there by someone in the know.

    ¡°Kenzo, where¡¯s your friend?¡±

    Kenzo nced around and chuckled ruefully. ¡°Looks like we picked the wrong time. He must be out. No

    worries, they never lock up here. There¡¯s no one around for miles.¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t shake a shiver of fear. What kind of person runs a hotel in such a remote mountain?

    ????

 Chapter 324

    Chapter 324

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    She swallowed hard, grateful that the power supply here was ample, and cast a lovely glow from the

    well¨Carranged lights.

    Brielle took a step forward and opened the refrigerator. As expected, it was stocked with various kinds

    of fresh meats. However, her culinary skills were limited at best. Just as she was about to search for

    some rice to make a simple porridge, she saw Kenzo pulling out a piece of meat. ¡°How about a stew?

    Or maybe you¡¯d prefer a different vor?¡±

    Brielle was taken aback. Kenzo, with his otherworldly demeanor, knew how to cook. ¡°Stew sounds

    great. Thank you.¡±

    Kenzo nodded towards the couch not too far away. ¡°Take a seat. It¡¯ll be ready in an hour.¡±

    Brielle, shamefully salivating, managed an ¡°Okay.¡± However, she didn¡¯t sit down. Instead, she

    wandered out to the adjacent balcony, lost in the tranquility of the secluded valley.

    The night was far from pitch ck in the mountains; it was lively instead. The moon here shone brighter

    than in Beaconsfield, and the distant sounds of insects filled the air. She closed her eyes, letting the

    mountain breeze caress her face and the scent of flowers wafting from below.

    This was indeed a beautiful ce.

    Pulling out her phone, she snapped a picture of the moonlit scene, intending to send it to Aubree as a

    sign of her safety, but even after disabling airne mode, there was no signal.

    Puzzled, she walked back inside.

    ¡°Kenzo, do you have a signal on your phone?¡±

    Kenzo, having donned gloves, was meticulously arranging the washed meat and vegetables. Upon

    hearing her, he pointed to his phone on the coffee table. ¡°See for yourself.¡±

    Brielle picked up his phone¨Cno signal there either. How were they supposed to contact the outside

    world?

    She paced around the lobby, noting the absence of any entertainment facilities. Surely, there was Wi¨C

    Fi. If not, she¡¯d be off the grid for the duration of their stay.

    ¡°Kenzo, is there no Wi¨CFi here? When you came here before, were you also unable to connect with the

    outside world?¡±

    Kenzo paused his preparation, and his brow furrowed in confusion. ¡°No inte?¡±

    He pondered, ¡°Could someone have installed a signal jammer around here?¡±

    He chuckled ruefully. ¡°If you¡¯re scared, we can head back after dinner.¡±

    Brielle felt a bit embarrassed; it wasn¡¯t fear, just the modern dread of being without awork. Besides,

    Kenzo was here to take photographs, and with the pitch¨Cck night, he¡¯d have to wait for the sun to

    rise. If they left now, his trip would have been for nothing.

    CHAN 304

    ¡°No worries, it¡¯s just inconvenient without the inte.¡±

    She sat down, unaware that the atmosphere back at the Dorsey family estate was incredibly

    tense.

    Everyone had gathered at home, quietly waiting for the doctor to finish examining Michael. Just the

    other day, in the early hours, Michael had suffered a stroke and copsed.

    Max, who was supposed to leave with Brielle, heard about the incident an hour before their departure

    and rushed back overnight. Thankfully, Michael was rescued in time and was out of danger, but his

    condition was precarious, and he was preupied with Max¡¯s future.

    In the grand hall, the doctor sat respectfully, wiping the sweat from his brow. ¡°Michael is out of danger

    now, but he must avoid stress going forward. It seems to be aplication from his youth. He needs

    plenty of rest.¡±

    Max sat in the most conspicuous spot, his expression grim.

    Meanwhile, Michael, with Victoria¡¯s assistance, was making his way downstairs. Clearing his throat, he

    looked down at his family gathered below. Except for the third son, who never cared for Beaconsfield,

    everyone was there.

    ¡°Ahem, Max, Alivia came back yesterday, and you had lunch with her today. How do you feel?¡±

    It was Michael who had instructed Max to pick up Alivia. At that time, Michael had made this demand

    right after being resuscitated.

    The doctor advised indulging Michael¡¯s whims, so Max had no choice but to head for the airport. His

    gaze fell as he remembered the meal with the Barnes family earlier that day: his patience was

    obviously wearing thin.

    ¡°No particr feelings.¡±

 Chapter 325

    Chapter 325

    The atmosphere in the room turned rather eerie as he spoke.

    In the Dorsey household, Michael¡¯s authority was unchallenged, towering above everyone. else¡¯s. So

    when trouble knocked on his door, the whole family gathered, fearing the worst.

    The only person who might have had a fighting chance at keeping Max in check was Michael

    himself.

    Without Michael, the rest of the Dorseys were like dolls in Max¡¯s presence. Even William felt a twinge of

    worry with the sudden turn of events.

    Now that Michael was just beginning to recover, Max¡¯s words were startlingly blunt.

    Victoria, who was helping Michael to the sofa in the living room, shot Max a re. ¡°Max, Dad¡¯s just

    getting better. Tone it down a bit, will you?¡±

    As Michael settled on the couch, he waved off their concern with the ease of long habit. ¡°This old body

    of mine has seen better days. What worries me most, Max, is not being around to see you settled.¡± He

    might as well havee right out and told Max to marry Alivia.

    ¡°Father, I¡¯ve made it perfectly clear to Alivia years ago. Our families have been friends for generations,

    but that¡¯s all she and I can be,¡± Max stated.

    Michael gave him a quiet look, followed by a cough. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that if you didn¡¯t find. someone you

    liked, you¡¯d marry Alivia? So, have you found that someone now?¡±

    The question hung in the air like a soft¨Cspoken challenge. If Max said yes, Brielle would find herself in

    the crosshairs of the Dorsey family¡¯s considerable influence, no matter where she hid. No one knew for

    sure what cards Michael still held.

    ¡°No, but I¡¯m not looking to marry just yet.¡±

    A flicker of satisfaction graced Michael¡¯s eyes as he smiled faintly. Just as he was about to speak

    again, the living room door swung open, and in came Spencer, looking haggard and

    worn.

    Michael¡¯s brow furrowed at the sight of him; what had the boy been up totely? He appeared

    significantly thinner than thest time he was brought home after that kidnapping fiasco..

    Caught off guard by the crowd, Spencer paused before greeting his grandfather. Then, with heavy dark

    circles under his eyes, he took a seat opposite Max. His eyes, bloodshot and weary. were unable to

    stop darting back to Max.

    Spencer had been tirelessly searching for any evidence of a liaison between Brielle and his uncle, Max.

    But every lead and every piece of surveince footage he pursued had vanished without a trace. The

    more elusive the evidence, the deeper his suspicions grew.

    Justst night, he¡¯d approached the Hatfield family, hoping they would release the footage from the

    night of the party, but they had politely refused, citing the privacy of their guests.

    1/2

    15-08

    Chapter 325

    Frustration gnawed at Spencer as he clenched his fists until they seemed to draw blood.

    He had intended to look for clues at Brielle¡¯s old apartment, but after the fire, all the tenants had moved

    out. Several had died in the ze, and the building had be a ghost town.

    Unwilling to give up, Spencer had been doggedly questioning former residents, even showing them a

    picture of Max to see if anyone recognized him, but to no avail.

    He couldn¡¯t quite pin down why he was so determined to press on. Perhaps he was driven by a

    terrifying intuition¨Can intuition that made him want to tear everything apart.

    If Brielle and Max were involved, where had Brielle been on those nights when Max had just returned to

    the country? Was she with some gigolo, as she imed, or with Max?

    Spencer could not contemte the thought, for just the spection alone threatened to unravel him.

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    Something tumultuous churned within him. With a tight¨Clipped sneer, he lifted his gaze to meet

    Michael¡¯s and spoke with feigned sincerity. ¡°Grandfather, there¡¯s something I need to talk to you about.

    Given your ill health, why don¡¯t we have a celebration to lift the spirits? Uncle Max may not be eager to

    marry just yet, but I am, and I¡¯ve got someone in mind. I was foolish before, but I¡¯ve seen clearly

    through my recent trials. I must marry her and no other.¡±

    Chapter 326||||

    Chapter 326

 Chapter 326

    Chapter 326

    Michael arched an eyebrow with a hint of interest. ¡°Oh? You¡¯ve finally taken the initiative, Spencer.

    Who¡¯s the girl?¡±

    Spencer nced at Max, but Max was unfazed, casually sipping the coffee a servant had handed him.

    Spencer felt a tightness in his chest, as if he was being dismissed. ¡°You know her. it¡¯s Brielle. I wronged

    her in the past, but I¡¯ve turned over a new leaf, and I¡¯m ready to make things work with her.¡±

    The mention of Brielle made Michael¡¯s expression darken. He had heard that name more than once,

    and the thought of both his son and grandson entangled with such a woman made thest shred of

    fondness he had for her vanish into thin air.

    Women like her were trouble, and trouble, as far as he was concerned, didn¡¯t deserve to thrive.

    ¡°Spencer, you were once engaged to her, and that engagement was broken off. Now you¡¯re talking

    about getting back together with her. If word gets out, people willugh at how lightly you treat

    marriage. Besides, Brielle has caused quite a stir in Beaconsfield; her reputation is in tatters. How can

    you expect a woman like her to step through the Dorsey family threshold?¡±

    Back in the day, Victoria managed to secure Everett by her side with her theatrics and threats, and that

    was an exception Michael had reluctantly made¨Cafter all, Everett was a world¨Crenowned pianist.

    But Brielle? What was she? She wasn¡¯t world¨Crenowned, and her modest fame stemmed from nothing

    more than scandals involving the Haywood family.

    Michael had little respect for Everett back then, and even less for Brielle now. ¡°Let¡¯s drop this

    matter.¡±

    ¡°Grandfather, but I-¡±

    Seeing Michael¡¯s face turn sour, Faith, who sat among the others, quickly spoke up. ¡°Spencer, your

    grandfather¡¯s right. Brielle doesn¡¯t even know who her parents are. She¡¯s definitely not Dorsey material.

    If you¡¯re so eager to marry, I can find you a suitable youngdy from one of the other distinguished

    families in Beaconsfield.¡±

    As soon as she finished, Max took a leisurely sip of his coffee. ¡°Spencer¡¯s intentionsmendable. In

    that case, I¡¯ll leave this task to you, Faith.¡±

    are

    This move effectively blocked any chance of Spencer and Brielle reuniting.

    Was a man like Spencer, known for his frivolous pursuits, worthy of Brielle? Max¡¯s face was impassive,

    and his fingers tightened imperceptibly. It was better to nip this in the bud.

    Spencer¡¯s face soured as he realized why Max had been soposed earlier; he had foreseen

    Michael¡¯s disapproval. If Michael had seen something in Brielle, he would never have allowed the

    engagement to be broken off in the first ce. No prestigious family in Beaconsfield had ever re¨C

    engaged after calling off an engagement¨Cit would indeed be the talk of the town.

    Spencer felt his blood boil. To him, Max was an insurmountable peak, and his frost was untouched

    even by the zing sun.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Spencer¡¯s eyshes drooped, but even then, he would not allow Max to be with Brielle. This dusty

    gem was his discovery: why should he lose his right to possess it?

    Resentment shed in his eyes, but he said nothing more. His mind was already hatching. ns.

    Michael sighed, ncing at the darkening sky. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. You¡¯ve all been here a while: go on

    home.¡±

    The guests slowly rose to leave. Max was thest to go. Just as he turned the corner, he heard

    footsteps and Spencer¡¯s voice. ¡°Uncle Max.¡±

    Max¡¯s face showed a flicker of impatience, but Spencer was still family, so heposed himself. What

    is it?¡±

    Td like to return to work at Dorsey International, in my old department. With Brielle as the director and

    the manager position still vacant, I could learn a lot from her.

    Max locked down. ¡°Submit a job application to the department head. I won¡¯t be handling the manager

    position. You should be familiar with the new hiring policies from the recent department restructuring.¡±

    And, of course, the department head was none other than Brielle.

 Chapter 327

    Chapter 327

    Spencer felt thest vestige of color drain from his face. He was a Dorsey, through and through, and

    yet here he was, having to get Brielle¡¯s permission to even step foot into Dorsey Enterprises. Why the

    hell should he?

    But the manying down thew was Max. Even with a heart full of reluctance, Spencer didn¡¯t dare act

    out in front of Max.

    Spencer¡¯s fists tightened slowly, and his knuckles were whitening, before he finally let go. ¡°I get it. I¡¯ll

    y by the rules,¡± he muttered.

    Max gave Spencer a cursory nod, his indifference as cutting as a de, before he turned on his heel

    and left.

    As soon as he was gone, Faith emerged from behind a nearby column. Her voice wasden with

    concern as she clutched Spencer¡¯s sleeve. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you? You used to be all about Lillian,

    and now you¡¯re chasing after that bastard girl? Did that kidnapping knock something loose in your

    head?¡±

    Spencer¡¯s control snapped, and his fist mmed into the column with such force that it came away

    bloody.

    Faith yelped, instantly pulling out a handkerchief with a maternal instinct. ¡°What are your doing?¡±

    Spencer¡¯s lips parted as if to speak, but before a word could escape, a sharp p cut the air. His cheek

    red with pain, and his mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood.

    Spencer turned to face the assant, meeting Ryan¡¯s burning gaze.

    Ryan and Faith had been there the whole time, waiting for Max to leave before they dared to show

    themselves. Ryan was no fool. He saw right through his son¡¯s intentions. It wasn¡¯t just about vying for

    the family fortune; it was about winning over a woman.

    Was it a case of the early bird getting the worm? But could Brielle even be considered a prize?

    Faith¡¯s pupils shrank in fear, yet she didn¡¯t dare go against Ryan. Her voice sounded timid as she

    intervened. ¡°Let¡¯s just talk this through. Spencer¡¯s probably still rattled from the kidnapping. He never

    gave Brielle the time of day before.¡±

    But Spencer, clutching his stricken face, was already staring off in the direction Max had gone. ¡°Mom,

    Dad, that was then,¡± he said, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth before striding away with a

    resolute step.

    Faith and Ryan were left behind, and their expressions were turning stormy. A dark resolve flickered in

    Ryan¡¯s eyes. He had thought to use Brielle to get at Max, but now it seemed unnecessary. Max was

    heartless. No woman held a special ce with him. And now his own son had fallen under Brielle¡¯s

    spell, and nearly incited the wrath of the patriarch, Michael.

    Brielle was a disaster that couldn¡¯t be allowed to linger.

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    15-09

    Chapter 327

    Max reached the family estate¡¯s driveway and got into his car, unbuttoning the top button of his

    shirt.

    Since Michael had been rushed to the ER, nobody had rested. The day before had been spent

    executing the patriarch¡¯s orders and dealing with the Barnes family. By his count, Max hadn¡¯t slept in

    two days.

    Patrick sat in the driver¡¯s seat, catching the red in Max¡¯s eyes through the rearview mirror. ¡°Sir, shall we

    head back to Premier Pce for some rest?¡±

    Max¡¯s eyshes quivered, and his hand massaged his temple as his voice came out husky with

    fatigue. ¡°Take me to Radiant Light Church.¡±

    Patrick looked surprised. ¡°Now?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Max¡¯s voice was soft, and his exhaustion was evident as he leaned back in his seat, his aristocratic

    bearing undiminished. With a few buttons undone, his Adam¡¯s apple stood out starkly against his skin.

    Patrick knew better than to argue. The weather service had already issued travel warnings. The

    temperature was expected to plummet, and there might even be snow in higher elevations. It wasn¡¯t

    safe to travel, but he knew Max was aware of the risks.

    Max was probably feeling guilty about standing up Brielle, and even though he was two dayste, he

    feltpelled to go.

    Patrick had often thought that in some ways, the two were alike. The day he informed Max that Ms.

    Brielle nned to rest at home, Max had predicted she would go to the church alone. But at that time,

    with Michael still in the emergency room, Max, as the Dorsey family¡¯s pir, couldn¡¯t leave.

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    Turned out, Ms. Brielle had indeed gone alone.

    ¡°Sir, why don¡¯t you rest a while? I¡¯ll drive slower.¡±

    Max didn¡¯t respond and just closed his eyes and rested against the seat, surrendering to his weariness.

 Chapter 328

    Chapter 328

    shake

    Max couldn¡¯t he thought of reaching out to Brielle, but what on earth could he say? He

    had stood her up, in and simple, No excuses could erase that fact. ¡°Some things are better said in

    person,¡± he reasoned.

    By now, Brielle had finished her meal, surprised to find that Kenzo, who looked like he¡¯d never lifted a

    finger in the kitchen, had whipped up something delicious.

    She took her time savoring every bite of her pasta bowl, then couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Kenzo, if there¡¯s a

    signal jammer around here, where¡¯s the switch?¡±

    Kenzo rubbed his temples with a sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t know. He must¡¯ve run into some trouble recently:

    otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have set up a jammer around this ce. Thest time I was here was

    two years ago.¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help butugh at the irony of their situation. It seemed they were destined to be out of

    touch with the world for the night.

    After washing up the dishes, she heard a clinking sound on the floor and turned to see that a fortune

    cookie had fallen from Kenzo¡¯s pocket. Brielle paused, a little puzzled.

    She bent down to pick it up, but Kenzo was quicker, slipping the little slip of paper back into his pocket.

    Brielle found it amusing. So, even a guy like Kenzo believed in these things? ¡°Did you ask the fortune

    cookie for love advice, Kenzo?¡±

    His eyes crinkled with a smile. ¡°Something like that. It was a good fortune, and I didn¡¯t want to throw it

    away.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll find what you¡¯re looking for, I¡¯m sure of it.¡±

    Kenzo didn¡¯t reply but took a seat on the couch. ¡°Hopefully.¡± His tone was nonchnt, as if he wasn¡¯t

    particrly enamored with the idea of his destined other half. But Brielle didn¡¯t pry. That was his

    personal business, after all.

    Kenzo pointed upstairs. ¡°Go up the stairs, and to the right, there¡¯s a guest room. I¡¯ll take the one

    downstairs. Goodnight.¡±

    With one upstairs, and one downstairs, they were being considerate of each other¡¯s space.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Brielle appreciated the thoughtfulness and nodded. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll head off to bed. Get some rest

    yourself, Kenzo.¡±

    After settling into the guest room and taking a shower, Brielle still couldn¡¯t resist checking her phone

    one more time. No signal. She sighed andy down, drifting off into a peaceful sleep.

    The next morning, the sound of the wind woke her. Opening her eyes, she saw the forest had burst into

    bloom. She flung open the window; the air was fragrant with the scent of fresh. flowers.

    After freshening up, she went downstairs to find bread and milk on the table. With her stomach. full,

    she stepped outside. Kenzo was there with his camera, capturing the forest in its glory.

    Brielle quickly retrieved her grandfather¡¯s ceramic urn.

    Kenzo paused, pointing to a bare tree in the distance. ¡°How about burying your granddad¡¯s ashes

    under that tree? It¡¯s a peach tree. It¡¯ll bloom after winter.¡±

    Brielle had had the same thought, but this was Kenzo¡¯s friend¡¯s property. It seemed presumptuous to

    bury a stranger¡¯s urn without asking. Reading her hesitation, Kenzo smiled. ¡°He never believed in these

    things. He won¡¯t mind.¡±

    Brielle nodded, found a shovel, and carefully dug a small hole at the base of the tree. She ced the

    urn inside and tenderly covered it with soil. Kenzo didn¡¯t watch, focusing instead on the scenery

    through his lens.

    When it was all done, they headed back to the car, ready to leave.

    Meanwhile, at Radiant Light Church, Max had arrived. Hearing from the clergy that Brielle had indeed

    been there but had left the previous evening with a man, his heart sank.

    A man?

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    Chapter 329

    Tucked away in the remote countryside, the Radiant Light Church stood in a ce where

    security cameras were considered disrespectful to the deities worshipped within its hallowed walls. The

    backroads that Max and Patrick had traversed were even less likely to be monitored. Who was Brielle

    with when she left?

    Max whipped out his cellphone and dialed Brielle¡¯s number without hesitation.

    No answer.

    His expression darkened instantly. ¡°Patrick, get someone on it. Now.¡±

    Patrick nodded, his movements quickening as he began to make arrangements.

    Max pondered for a moment before he decided to call Aubree. If Brielle had made ns with someone

    else toe to the retreat, Aubree would certainly be in the know. But Aubree didn¡¯t pick up her phone

    either.

    A sense of unease gripped Max, stronger than even the night he had found himself amidst the mes

    of a fire. It was as if a sealed valley had suddenly flung open to let a relentless wind tear through,

    chilling to the bone.

    While waiting for any news, his phone rang urgently. It was Alivia calling. Max didn¡¯t want to answer

    and contemted hanging up, but then a text from Alivia came through. Max¡¯s mother had just been

    rushed into the ER at an overseas hospital.

    Max¡¯s pupils contracted sharply, and he called Alivia back immediately.

    Alivia was currently at the Barnes family¡¯s estate, and couldn¡¯t help but feel a twisted sense of

    relief upon receiving the news. Max¡¯s mother¡¯s deteriorating health meant it the time

    Alivia was needed most. She had been Max¡¯s mother¡¯s most trusted confidante over the years. even

    more than her own son.

    ¡°Max, the attending doctor just called me. Your mother¡¯s mental state isn¡¯t good. If she pulls through

    this time, they¡¯ll have to increase her medication dosage. But you know the side effects of those drugs.¡±

    Max rubbed his temples wearily. ¡°I¡¯ming back right away.¡±

    A car would be far too slow. Within an hour, a helicopter dispatched from the nearest base arrived. Max

    climbed aboard, but not before giving Patrick onest order.

    ¡°Stay here and make sure Brielle is safe. I¡¯ve got to go abroad.¡±

    Patrick, recalling that Max hadn¡¯t rested for two nights straight, worried that he might have another spell

    of difort like thest time. ¡°Sir, you must rest when you get there.¡± Patrick implored.

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Chapter 329

    Max buckled himself in, paused, and then added, ¡°Call me once you¡¯ve confirmed her safety.¡± Sleep

    would elude him every time his mother had a crisis.

    As Max¡¯s helicopter lifted off, he looked down to see a car speeding through the mountain. roads, but

    he didn¡¯t dwell on it, retracting his gaze..

    At that same moment, Brielle nced up and caught the fleeting shadow of the helicopter as it flew

    overhead. She raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk on her lips. ¡°Who¡¯s flying a chopper out here? Could it

    be someone scouting for movie locations?¡±

    Kenzo, who was driving, chuckled. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s some rich kid ying around.¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t respond, her gaze fixed on the receding silhouette.

    Suddenly, she longed to return to B The retreat offered stunning sunsets and

    sunrises, but one couldn¡¯t run away forever. She exhaled deeply, and just then, her phone rang. Did

    she have a signal now?

    Surprised, she exchanged a puzzled nce with Kenzo, who, after a few seconds, suggested, ¡°Must

    be out of the signal¨Cblocking area.¡±

    Brielle quickly checked the caller ID. It was Aubree. ¡°Aubree, what¡¯s up?¡±

    Aubree was frantic, but hearing Brielle¡¯s calm voice helped her rx.

    ¡°You have no idea how worried I was. I couldn¡¯t reach you at all. Max called me half an hour ago, but I

    didn¡¯t pick up.¡±

    She had purposely ignored the call, suspecting Max was inquiring about Brielle. After all, if decisions

    had been made, there was no need for further dragging of feet.

    Brielle fell silent for a moment before letting out a sigh. ¡°Yeah, I know. I¡¯m on my way back

    now.¡±

    Before she could finish, Kenzo pointed out. ¡°Look at that cliffside.¡±

    Instinctively, Brielle turned to see a pair of cliffs standing in opposition, their towering forms. etched

    against the sky¨Ca testament to nature¡¯s awe¨Cinspiring craftsmanship.

    Aubree perked up at the sound of a male voice in the background. ¡°Who¡¯s with you?¡±

    Brielle hesitated, wary of saying Kenzo¡¯s name. Kenzo and Max moved in the same circles, and with

    Aubree¡¯s penchant for gossip, there was a chance Andrew would find out, leading to yet another

    complicated exnation.

    ¡°Just a friend,¡± she said cautiously.

    Aubree wasn¡¯t buying it. ¡°Sounds like someone I know. And you won¡¯t say his name because you¡¯re

    afraid I¡¯ll tell Andrew, right? Is it that man from your college?¡±

    Brielle felt a headacheing on.

    ¡°Bri, you¡¯re something else. Alivia snagged the guy you had your eye on; and you just go after

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    15:09

    Chapter 329

    her brother. Now you outrank her, and I can just imagine her squirming in front of you¡­ must. feel

    pretty good, huh?¡±

    Brielle could only manage a wry smile when suddenly the car lurched forward¨Ctheir vehicle

    had been hit.

    After the first impact, a second blow came. It was deliberate!

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    Chapter 330

    Brielle¡¯s brows furrowed sharply as she quickly bid farewell to Aubree and turned her attention. to

    Kenzo. ¡°Kenzo, are we being followed?¡±

    Kenzo nodded, hastily securing all the windows. ¡°Brielle, buckle up.¡±

    She felt the nerves kick in. Were they after them, or¡­

    Before she could finish her thought, the sound of gunfire pierced the air, shattering the rearview mirror,

    Kenzo jerked the steering wheel fiercely: his expression was as dark as a storm cloud.

    With only one mirror left, Kenzo nced through it to see four or five cars that had seeminglye out

    of nowhere now tailing them. ¡°Brielle, do you know how to handle a gun? There¡¯s one under your seat.

    Load it and pull the trigger.¡±

    Brielle had aced her college shooting ss, but it had been years since she¡¯d touched a firearm.

    Without hesitation, she retrieved the gun from beneath her seat. As the car was about to make a sharp

    turn, she held her breath.

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    Kenzo was about to advise her on when to shoot but instead saw her poke her head out during the

    turn, aiming directly at the driver of the pursuing car. The vehicle behind them veered out of control and

    plummeted off the cliff¡¯s edge.

    Before Brielle could even celebrate, a massive truck loomed ahead.

    Pincer attack. The people behind them had no intention of letting them live!

    ¡°Hold on!¡± Kenzo spun the wheel almost reflexively, hastily making the most advantageous choice.

    The car plunged down an embankment, crashing through several trees. Kenzo¡¯s head struck the

    windshield, and blood instantly clouded his vision.

    ¡°Kenzo!¡± Brielle was unharmed but dizzy. She quickly opened the car door, intending to unbuckle him.

    But Kenzo shook his head, his tone eerily calm, ¡°Have you had any identstely?¡±

    Brielle recalled the attack she¡¯d experienced with Patrick and nodded.

    Kenzo pursed his lips. ¡°They¡¯re after you, and they want you dead. Go on ahead.¡±

    How could Brielle leave at such a moment? If she left, would Kenzo even survive? Out here in the

    wilderness, with his leg injured, infection could lead to fever and unconsciousness.

    ¡°Brielle, there¡¯s a vige close by. Find someone there toe for me. If you stay, we¡¯re both as good

    as dead.¡±

    After a moment of panic, Brielle spotted searchers already nearby. ¡°Kenzo, at least let me get you out.¡±

    Chapter 330

    Kenzo chuckled softly, sighing. ¡°My leg¡¯s injured.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll help you hide somewhere else, then go for help.¡±

    Kenzo nodded, gritting his teeth as he pulled the debris from his leg. Brielle¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She

    tore a piece of cloth from her clothing and hastily bandaged his wound.

    The voices of their pursuers grew nearer. She hid Kenzo behind arge tree, camouging him with

    branches and leaves.

    Both of them moving together was out of the question. Kenzo¡¯s leg was severely injured, and she

    couldn¡¯t carry him far. The likely oue would be both of them dying here.

    ¡°Kenzo, wait for me here.¡±

    Kenzo slowly nodded, sweat beading on his brow from the pain.

    Brielle took a deep breath and started running towards the vige Kenzo mentioned. She also tried to

    use her phone to contact the outside world, but after their fall, there was no signal. She stumbled down

    a small slope, tumbling to a creek¡¯s edge.

    Kenzo was right; they were after her. As long as she remained alive, they would keep pursuing her and

    ignore Kenzo. Only if she left would Kenzo be safe.

    She pushed herself up and ran another thousand meters before copsing from exhaustion. Her hands

    and knees were scraped and bleeding.

    Gunshots echoed in the distance. She looked around at the isted terrain and felt a wave of despair

    wash over her.

    ¡°Bang!¡±

    ¡°Bang! Bang!¡±

    She looked down, curling her fingers, then staggered to her feet and forced herself to keep running, but

    after only a few steps, she fell again.

    The area was strewn with jagged rocks, and the only thing in sight was the flowing creek, offering no

    ce to hide. Once out of the car crash¡¯s woond cover, there was nothing but the stream. If she

    slowed down even for a moment, she¡¯d be a target for their guns.

    With no patch of unscathed skin left on her hands, she heard shouts and more gunfire in the distance.

    She closed her eyes, epting her fate.

    Strangely, regret filled her thoughts.

    Herst wish at the Radiant Light Church should have been about Max, if she had known she was

    going to die the next day. Even if Kenzo had teased her about the wish, it wouldn¡¯t have mattered,.

    Only regrets¡­ that¡¯s all that remained.

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    Chapter 331

    Suddenly, the sky was pierced by the roar of a helicopter. Reinforcements. They actually had

    reinforcements.

    At this moment, the only person Brielle felt sorry for was Kenzo, who waspletely an innocent victim

    in this mess. No, she couldn¡¯t give up. Even if it meant dying here, she had to save Kenzo.

    Brielle gritted her teeth, and the taste of iron filled her mouth. She could no longer stand, so she

    crawled on the ground, inching forward. The roar of the chopper grew louder as if it were right above

    her.

    Through her blurred vision, she could make out a figure in a sleek suit approaching swiftly. Without

    seeing his face, she knew he was in a panic.

    Max?

    It was probably just a dying hallucination..

    Brielle felt a profound sense of injustice. On the brink of death, she still didn¡¯t know who was targeting

    her. They hade after her with such force.

    Blood stained the cobblestones as Max¡¯s heart shattered. The world around him faded, leaving only the

    expanding image of Brielle, seared into his retinas in shades of red.

    ¡°Brielle!¡± He hastened to her side and lifted her. His cool presence threatened to shatter the very air

    around them.

    This wasn¡¯t an illusion. Had Max reallye? Brielle squinted, hearing distant gunfire, and quickly

    grabbed his arm. ¡°Max?¡±

    His heart trembled at the sight of her blood¨Cstained fingers. Her leg wounds, barely healed, were

    injured once more.

    Max pulled her into his embrace. ¡°What happened?¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t have time to ponder why Max was there; her eyes reddened in an instant. ¡°I¡­¡±

    She choked up but then remembered Kenzo, forcing herself to be calm. ¡°Kenzo is still over there. We

    need to go back quickly.¡±

    Max didn¡¯t move but instead took out a tissue to wipe her palms. His long fingers tremble

    slightly, his gaze unsettled. ¡°Kenzo? You went to the Radiant Light Church with him?¡±

    ¡°He wanted to take some photos.¡±

    Kenzo indeed loved seeking inspiration in various ces. It seemed his encounter with Brielle was a

    mere chance.

    Max held her close. ¡°I¡¯ll have someone look for him. Youe with me.¡±

    Chapter 331

    Injured as she was, Brielle was of no use here. But with Kenzo¡¯s fate uncertain, how could she

    leave without worry?

    ¡°I want to find Kenzo.¡±

    Now that reinforcements had arrived, they should go back for Kenzo.

    Max remained silent, a sharp taste crossing his heart as if he had bitten into a lemon. ¡°My people will

    find Kenzo and ensure his safety.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s mind cleared. It seemed that fate had been kind to let her see the person she most wanted to

    in her dying moments. It was enough.

    Sensing her reluctance to leave and the blood dripping from her fingertips to the ground, Max felt a

    sudden pain in his chest. ¡°Let me first stop your bleeding.¡±

    Only then did Brielle nce at the wounds on her leg and palm; though minor, the blood made them

    look frightful. She sat on a nearby rock, feeling a chill throughout her body.

    Max¡¯s backup was swift; several more helicopters flew in, scouring the woods. The gunfire had

    stopped; the assants had likely retreated upon seeing the reinforcements. If so, then Kenzo should

    be safe.

    Brielle¡¯s heart settled, and her gaze fell upon Max. He took a bandage from a subordinate and knelt to

    tend to her leg wound. His dark eyes were cast down, and his brows rxed.

    Feeling out of ce, Brielle instinctively drew her leg back, fearing even the slightest stain on her shoe

    might tarnish his pristine fingers.

    Max had promised to join her here but had bailed, and now he had descended like a deity. If making

    someone fall was a talent, then Max truly had a gift.

    He caught her leg firmly, a serious look in his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡±

    Her face flushed, and she quickly looked away.

    Once he finished, she stood, fearing another moment mightpel her to ask the questions bubbling

    inside her.

    Why did hee? Why was he so gentle?

    me Way th

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    ¡°I¡¯m going back for Kenzo.¡± Her head bowed, she walked hade.

    Max couldn¡¯t dissuade her and followed, but his phone rang again. As she walked, she heard him

    answer. ¡°I¡¯ve discussed it with the doctor, use the new medication and a sedative to stabilize her

    mood.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve had a situation here, I¡¯ll be on my way shortly.¡±

    Brielle wasn¡¯t attentive, so she had a misstep, expecting to fall onto the rough stones, but was caught

    by the waist and pulled into a cool embrace.

    ¡°Be careful.¡± The words were for her. Max ensured she was alright, before he continued with his

    Chapter 331

    instructions on the phone. I¡¯lle in person to sign off for the use of the new medication.¡±

    After hanging up, he stepped in front of Brielle and crouched down. She stepped back, rmed. What

    was he doing?

    ¡°Get on.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    Before she could finish, her hand was pulled firmly, and she found herself hoisted onto his back.

 Chapter 332

    Chapter 332

    The chill of his presence was an oddlyforting shroud as Brielle leaned against his back. Exhausted

    to her core, the sting of tears threatened to betray her when Max hoisted her up effortlessly.

    Taking a few steps forward, Max¡¯s broad shoulders offered a smooth ride, while his bodyguard, trailing

    behind, dared not linger his gaze and hastened Into the forest to look for Kenzo.

    Brielle¡¯s fingers clutched at the fabric of Max¡¯s suit, and after a moment¡¯s hesitation, she rested her chin

    on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Ten minutes ago, she thought she was a goner.

    ¡°Brielle, you¡¯re not crying, are you?¡± Max¡¯s voice was even, his stride unshaken.

    Brielle, who had felt a twinge at the tip of her nose, stifled it, ¡°How could I be?¡±

    A soft chuckle escaped Max as he nced into the distance.

    Brielle, fighting back her emotions, quickly changed the subject. ¡°Patrick took me to that old warehouse

    where we nned to trap Spencer. We were ambushed then, too. It¡¯s got to be the same group¨Cthey¡¯re

    well¨Ctrained.¡± Her voice was calm and analytical.

    ¡°Right.¡±

    As Max carried on, a loud boom echoed from afar, and a fiery ze erupted in the woods. A car had

    exploded, igniting a wildfire. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t summer; otherwise, the ze would have been hell to

    control.

    A shiver ran down Brielle¡¯s spine as she clutched tighter at the fabric on Max¡¯s arm. Her palms were

    sweating with anxiety.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be scared.¡±

    Max¡¯s soothing voiceforted her as he attempted to call Patrick, only to find no signal on his phone.

    The reception in the woods was hit or miss, and sometimes it was non¨Cexistent.

    ¡°We¡¯re better off by the clearing.¡± Max noted.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey. I hid Kenzo in a different spot. The fire shouldn¡¯t reach there, but I¡¯m not sure if those guys

    found him.¡±

    ¡°Just direct me, and I¡¯ll take you there.¡±

    Brielle felt a surge of relief and nodded, wrapping her arms around his neck. The cool forest breeze

    brushed the faces of the unlikely pair.

    Max followed the path upward, noticing sporadic drops of blood¨CBrielle¡¯s¨Cand felt a pang of distress.

    Brielle¡¯s voice sounded weary with fatigue as she whispered near his ear, ¡°About 500 meters

    more.¡±

    Chapter 332

    Max nodded and was ready to press on, then he heard her delirious murmur. ¡°I thought I¡¯d never see

    you again.¡± Was she delirious?

    Max pursed his lips, recalling the car he¡¯d noticed earlier but hadn¡¯t identified as Brielle¡¯s until Patrick¡¯s

    call. He was going abroad, and it would be days before he returned. He felt the need to speak with her,

    face to face. But on his way, he saw the smoke rising from the woods.

    Brielle¡¯s car had crashed. The realization sent shivers down his spine.

    When he found her sprawled by the river, his heart skipped a beat. At that moment, nothing else

    mattered¨Cjust that Brielle was alive. ¡°Just stay alive,¡± he silently pleaded.

    Max¡¯s grip tightened as he softly called, ¡°Brielle?¡±

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    She felt like slipping into sleep, eyelids warring against each other. At the sound of his voice, her head

    stirred, and her lips brushed against the skin of his neck. Max tensed, his voice a shade huskier. ¡°Don¡¯t

    move around. Just guide me.¡±

    Brielle lifted her head. ¡°Turn right, straight ahead. I covered our tracks with some branches.¡±

    Ovee by exhaustion, she nestled onto his back and drifted off.

    ¡°Brielle?¡± Max called again, receiving no response. He gently settled her onto a protruding rock. He

    tapped her face lightly.

    Brielle¡¯s eyes fluttered open to see the surroundings shrouded in fog; the visibility had reduced to mere

    meters. ¡°Is that fog?¡±

    Max nodded, checking her forehead. She wasn¡¯t feverish, just drained.

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s thick. The fire¡¯s died down. Our guys should have found Kenzo by now.¡±

    But without cell service, they were cut off.

    Winter fog wasmon in these well¨Cpreserved woods, and the mist was thick and persistent. It felt

    like when it rained, it poured.

    Max tucked a stray hair behind her ear, his tone gentle. ¡°Once we¡¯re out of here, there¡¯s something I

    need to tell you.¡±

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    Chapter 333

    Brielle couldn¡¯t guess what he was about to say, but that single sentence had injected a jolt of energy

    into her weary bones.

    The thrumming of the helicopter des was audible, yet with the mountains shrouded in a thick mist, it

    was impossible to pinpoint someone¡¯s location once they strayed.

    Max crouched down again, gesturing for her to climb on. ¡°I¡¯ll take you back. Kenzo¡¯s already been

    picked up.¡±

    It seemed Kenzo¡¯s injuries were serious; otherwise, the chopper wouldn¡¯t have hovered directly

    overhead. They must have sent a winch down from high above to haul him up. Thankfully, they weren¡¯t

    dealing with a dense fog; otherwise, evacuating Kenzo would have been a nightmare.

    ¡°Are you sure Kenzo has been rescued?¡± Brielle wrapped her arms around his neck again, whispering

    close enough that her breath tickled his skin.

    Max looked down, his eyshes casting shadows on his cheeks as he murmured a subdued ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Brielle felt an overwhelming sense of relief. The fog grew thicker, to the point where even the ground

    beneath her feet was nearly obscured, wrapping the world in an ethereal haze.

    Later on, when Brielle would recount this episode to Aubree, she would mention she always felt as if

    they had been surrounded by chaos, unsure where heaven or earthy. Perched on his back, she

    watched him navigate the fog¨Censhrouded terrain, a vast expanse where it seemed

    the only two souls left.

    they!

    She wished this path would stretch on indefinitely, without end, but she knew all too well that this brief,

    blissful moment was no more than a beautiful yet fragile castle in the air, so precarious that pulling out

    a single brick could bring it down like an avnche.

    As the fog began to dissipate, the stream ahead gradually came into view. Brielle¡¯s eyes drooped with a

    touch of sadness.

    Max walked with a steady gait, noticing that a group had gathered in a clearing up ahead, waiting. It

    seemed that the fog had been too dense, and after finding Kenzo, everyone had retreated.

    A man approached Max. ¡°Sir, Mr. Kenzo¡¯s been taken to the local clinic for stitches. Once he¡¯s patched

    up, he¡¯ll be able to return to Beaconsfield.¡±

    Curious eyes swept over Brielle, but she quickly looked away.

    Brielle¡¯s injuries were superficial. She tugged discreetly at Max¡¯s suit jacket. ¡°Put me down, I can walk.¡±

    Max set her down but, worried she might trip over the stones, so he kept an arm around her waist and

    announced to the others, ¡°Let¡¯s head back.¡±

    15:12

    Their curiosity was palpable, but nobody asked any questions.

    Max helped Brielle onto the helicopter and sat beside her as it took off, rising higher and higher from

    the ground.

    Brielle gazed out the window, feeling a sense of loss. Was this return journey a sign that everything

    was over? Was this a happy ending?

    Ovee by exhaustion, she couldn¡¯t resist leaning against the side and falling asleep.

    Max nced at her and gently shifted her head onto his shoulder. With that done, his thoughts began

    to drift.

    Both of Brielle¡¯s brushes with danger had been because of him. Without his involvement. someone with

    her background wouldn¡¯t have faced such threats in Beaconsfield.

    Who could it be? They were well¨Ctrained, tactful, and attacked without leaving a single trace.

    His lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes cutting sharply through the air.

    The helicopter soonnded at the Premier Pce. Brielle was asleep, and barely aware that she was

    being carried into a warm embrace; she mumbled groggily. ¡°When can Kenzo return to Beaconsfield?¡±

    She was too drowsy to open her eyes, yet still worried about Kenzo.

    ¡°Patrick¡¯s taking care of him; don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Relieved, Brielle snuggled into his chest and drifted off again.

    Max carried her up to the second¨Cfloor bedroom. The bathtub was already filled with hot water. and he

    gently lowered Brielle into it.

    Wrapped in the warmth, Brielle finally stirred awake. Realizing she was naked, her cheeks. flushed a

    deep crimson as she lowered her gaze, pretending to be still asleep.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    What was happening? How did she end up in Premier Pce, and what was Max doing? Her cheeks

    burned with embarrassment.

    Max, meanwhile, grabbed a loofah, poured some fragrant body wash on it, and began to scrub her

    body gently.

    Brielle¡¯s blush deepened, spreading from her cheeks to the tips of her fingers.

 Chapter 334

    Chapter 334

    Max was cautious around her wounds, not daring to let her soak in the bath for too long. He washed

    her swiftly, then carefully lifted her and ced her on the bed.

    After ensuring she was settled, he turned and headed to the bathroom for a quick shower himself. He

    emerged shortly after, pulling on a pair of pajama bottoms and tying the drawstring at his waist. His

    physique was striking¨Cbroad shoulders, narrow waist¨Cand as water dripped from his damp hair, he

    exuded an undeniable allure.

    A knock came at the door. It was Wesley. ¡°Sir, Ms. Alivia has called. She seems quite anxious and

    hopes you can join her abroad as soon as possible.¡±

    Max paused in the act of drying his hair and opened the door to issue amand, ¡°Fetch some

    antiseptic cream.¡±

    Wesley nodded, and within a minute, he handed the cream to Max.

    Max turned back, taking hold of Brielle¡¯s foot, and gently applied the ointment to the fine cuts that had

    not be inmed after soaking. After smoothing the cream over her wounds and additional spots

    on her legs, he went to wash his hands. Upon his return, his phone rang. He answered, massaging his

    temple, which throbbed with tension.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll be there in two hours.¡±

    He hung up and looked down at Brielle, whose dark hair fanned across the pillow, contrasting with her

    skin like a fallen fairy in the night.

    Max swallowed hard and called out

    ¡°Brielle?¡±

    She slowly opened her eyes, her gaze quietly meeting his. No words were exchanged, just a silent

    space hanging between them.

    Brielle was so tired it felt like a dream, as if she had been transported back to the beginning. Her eyes

    misted over as she looked at Max. The tips of hershes were slightly drunk with sleepiness, as though

    she¡¯d had too much wine.

    Max ended the call and moved closer, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. He intended to leave

    after that simple gesture, but Brielle bit down on his fingertip. There was a tiny imprint where her teeth

    had been, and then, tilting her head, she licked it like a kitten.

    Max¡¯s breath hitched, and he inhaled deeply, attempting to pull away. But she wrapped her arms

    around his waist, and her lips found the tense muscles of his torso through the open cor of his shirt.

    The frost in his gaze began to melt, revealing a fervor as red as blooming blossoms. He leaned in,

    pulling her close and setting her down by the window ledge.

    The cool breeze from the open window brought her back to her senses; the fog in her eyes cleared.

    ¡°Mmm,¡± she managed, unable to form words. Max insisted on her awakening, on her realizing exactly

    what was happening.

    Chapter 334

    Afraid of falling backward, Brielle clung to his neck.

    ¡°Scared?¡± His voice was a deep, raspy whisper, grazing her nose.

    Brielle¡¯s mind hade rushing back, and she was fully aware of what she had just done. Her

    embarrassment caused her fingers to curl into her palm.

    The temperature seemed to rise, their lips meeting with the Intensity of lightning striking dry timber.

    Eventually, Brielle opened her mouth and bit down on his corbone, leaving a glistening mark.

    Max paused, pushing her hair aside and taking her wrist in his hand, tracing upward until their fingers

    intertwined, sending a shiver through them both.

    Fireworks seemed to burst in her eyes. Even the upward curl of hershes looked like a dangerously

    intoxicating bloom, sharp and feverish.

    ¡°Brielle, wait for me toe back,¡± he murmured hazily into her ear.

    Confused, she looked up at him; her longshes were reminiscent of a bird¡¯s feathers. Max dropped his

    gaze and was hooked once again as their lips met anew.

    He had promised to leave in two hours, but it turned into four as he reluctantly pulled away from her

    lips, savoring the taste he was reluctant to leave behind.

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    Brielle¡¯s cheeks were flushed, and she felt as if she was still caught in the tempest, her body not her

    own. After Max left, she slowly opened her eyes to the familiar ceiling and couldn¡¯t help but pull the

    pillow close, burying her head into it.

    He had said to wait for him to return: perhaps he had something to say.

    She could barely remember, and was so overwhelmed by the intensity of their lovemaking, as if they

    were trying to engrave each other into their very bones. It seemed he did care about her, after all.

    was of

    He had stood her up for their trip to Radiant Light Church to pick up Alivia, and now he with Alivia

    again. Surely, there was something she didn¡¯t know. She decided to take a chance this time, to wait for

    him toe back, to wait for him to say it in person.

    A heavy rain had started to fall in Beaconsfield, the sound of it pitter¨Cpattering against the windows.

    Brielle slept through to the next day, waking up exhausted. The night had taken its toll, leaving her

    feelingpletely drained.

    Wesley¡¯s respectful knock came from outside the door. ¡°Ms. Brielle, are you awake?¡±

    It was then she remembered she was at the Premier Pce. Quickly, she went to freshen up, but upon

    seeing her reflection in the mirror, her face flushed red. Her neck was marked with many traces of love

    bites, and she remembered¨Chadn¡¯t she also left a bite on Max¡¯s corbone?

 Chapter 335

    Chapter 335

    ¡°That was a bit reckless,¡± she mused aloud.

    After freshening up, she deliberately pulled her cor higher and opened the door, finding Wesley still

    waiting outside.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, why don¡¯t you head down for some hot soup to chase away the chill? Mr. Dorsey

    instructed me, before he left, not to let you step out of Premier Pce. Mr. Kenzo is still recuperating in

    town, and if the Barnes n traces hisst known whereabouts to you, I reckon they might drag you

    into this mess.¡±

    A bitter taste spread in Brielle¡¯s mouth; Kenzo had met with disaster because of her. She nced at

    her frail form and wondered if she could withstand the wrath of the Barnes family should they decide to

    come after her for this incident.

    As she sipped her soup, her mind was racing. Twice now, she¡¯d been targeted, yet the assant left no

    clues. Who could it be? With her status, how could she have attracted such a vendetta?

    She almost immediately concluded that it was her connection with Max that had brought this peril upon

    her.

    Beaconsfield seemed like a gaping maw, ready to swallow her whole, an insignificant yer in its grand

    scheme. She didn¡¯t want to sit around like a sitting duck, always waiting for Max to return. Besides,

    Max had never made any promises about choosing her.

    If she truly cared for Max, she was willing to sprint towards his world, to bridge the gap between them

    at all costs, but the one thing she couldn¡¯t do was muster the strength to make

    a move if he didn¡¯t care for her in return.

    So long as he harbored some affection for her¡­

    She needed a game n.

    After finishing her soup, she called up Tiffanie. Tiffanie was out in the boondocks, a ce an unbridled

    heiress like her had never experienced before.

    Tiffanie¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw Brielle¡¯s call, and she hit the answer button with enthusiasm.

    ¡°Brielle, what¡¯s up? Got another thrilling task for me?¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help but smile at her friend¡¯s excitement but quickly regainedposure. ¡°Is Mason

    gone?¡±

    ¡°Mason, huh.¡± Tiffanie nced at the man mingling with a group of kids nearby, her heart softening just

    a touch. ¡°Nope, we¡¯re down in a rural part of Beaconsfield. Let me tell you, this ce is dirt¨Cpoor. Cars

    can¡¯t even get through. Mason wanted to hike it, but I just called in a chopper. And would you believe it,

    he didn¡¯t even thank me.¡±

    Tiffanie sounded a bit aggrieved. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault I¡¯m rich. Honestly, I get him here faster, and he

    distances himself from me.¡±

    Chapter 335

    After her little rant, she regained herposure. ¡°So, what do you need Mason for?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m thinking of investing in hispany, In my own name.¡±

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    A sharp glint passed through Tiffanie¡¯s eyes. ¡°Got it. We¡¯ll head back tonight. Want to meet up?¡± ¡°Sure,

    I¡¯ll wait for you guys at Pearl Estate.¡±

    Tiffanie nodded, hung up the call, and looked over at Mason, who was still chatting with the modestly

    dressed children. Her extravagant appearance,plete with tattoos and bling, probably intimidated

    the local kids, as none dared to approach her.

    She walked over to Mason and tapped his shoulder. ¡°Brielle says she wants to invest in you. Your

    startup is just getting off the ground, right?¡±

    Mason brushed off her hand. ¡°Brielle?¡±

    He stood up, his impression of Brielle bringing a sparkle to his eyes. ¡°Investing in her personal capacity,

    huh.¡±

    Tiffanie¡¯s mood soured at once. ¡°I offered to invest before, and you t¨Cout refused. Now Brielle wants

    in, and you¡¯re all starry¨Ceyed.¡±

    Mason patted one of the kids on the head and handed over the clothes, toys, and furniture he¡¯d bought

    to the vige chief. ¡°You and her¡­ you¡¯re different.¡±

    Tiffanie crossed her arms. ¡°What¡¯s the difference? We¡¯re both women, with two nostrils and a

    mouth.¡±

    Mason gave her a look and strode back to his temporary quarters.

 Chapter 336

    Chapter 336

    They had been holed up in this rural escape for three days already, and everyone had figured Tiffanie,

    with her high¨Cmaintenance ways, wouldn¡¯tst an hour, let alone nt her roots. Yet, here she was,

    having chased Mason all the way from Beaconsfield, and now seemingly refusing

    to leave.

    It was back in Mason¡¯s senior year of high school when he followed a band of college students to teach

    in the countryside that he stumbled upon this ce. The stark poverty had struck them all dumb; kids

    were studying on desks made of piled stones, trudging miles through the mountains to school in the

    dead of winter while their hair was dusted with frost.

    Once they returned home, they all continued to donate to this ce over the years. Those who earned

    a bit more gave a bit more, and those with less gave what they could.

    Now, there was a school and a road in the area.

    Mason stayed in a wooden cabin prepared by the locals, with Tiffanie¡¯s room right next door.

    Tiffanie was the boldest woman he¡¯d evere across. Justst night, she had tried to sneak into his

    room, of all things. If he hadn¡¯t been too anxious to fall asleep, tossing and turning until the wee hours,

    she might have actually seeded. It was ridiculous; a grown man like him was feeling like he was the

    belle of the ball that the town bully had taken a shine to.

    As soon as he walked in, Tiffanie followed suit, smoothly shutting the door behind her and wrapping her

    arms around his waist from behind.

    ¡°Look here,¡± she said, ¡°what¡¯s not to like about me? Check out this face, this figure, this family

    background. Tell me, which guy wouldn¡¯t be dazzled by me?¡±

    Mason¡¯s lips twitched as he pried her hands away, feeling his body heat up to an almost unbearable

    degree. Part of him was embarrassed, the other part mortified. ¡°Can¡¯t you act a bit more like ady?!¡±

    Instead of taking offense, Tiffanie sprawled onto the bed with a carefree chuckle. ¡°Hah? If I were shy in

    the pursuit of a man, he¡¯d definitely never be mine. Don¡¯t you get it? I¡¯m all about taking the initiative.¡±

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    Mason, seeing her so casually lying on his bed, felt his ears burn hot with embarrassment. He¡¯d met

    plenty of bold women, and many who¡¯d wanted a fling with him, but he¡¯d never felt so awkward and

    helpless.

    Frowning, he sat down by the window and grabbed a cup of water, only to be interrupted by Tiffanie¡¯s

    rebellious suggestion. ¡°Mason, how about we get hitched?¡±

    The water went flying out of Mason¡¯s mouth as he coughed and spluttered. His cheeks zed red,

    feeling like his insides were about to roast him alive.

    Tiffanie raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. ¡°What, you¡¯re so thrilled you¡¯re speechless?*

    ¡°Cough, cough.¡± Mason kept his head down, coughing, refusing to look at her.

    1/2

    15:12

    But Tiffanie was on a roll, leaning in close. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me, you¡¯re still a virgin.¡±

    ¡°Tiffanie!!¡± He jumped as if he had been stepped on, exploding in protest.

    Her lips curved up in a satisfied smile.

    Mason headed for the door, his whole body radiating heat. ¡°Weren¡¯t we supposed to be heading back

    to Beaconsfield? Let¡¯s go, Brielle is waiting for us.¡±

    Tiffanie looked regretful, ncing at the bed. ¡°Are you leaving already, Mason? Are you not up for it?

    I¡¯ve chased you all the way here, and you do nothing and want to take me back? If others heard about

    this, I¡¯d be so embarrassed, Mason!¡±

    She followed him out only to see Mason stop abruptly, nearly colliding with his back.

    Mason turned around, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on her. After a minute, he suddenly cupped her face

    in his hands and solemnly nted a kiss on her forehead. ¡°Happy now?¡± He released her quickly,

    striding even faster toward the helicopter.

    Tiffanie stood frozen, slowly lifting a hand to touch her forehead. Then, seeing Mason¡¯s awkward walk,

    she burst intoughter. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m happy. I¡¯ve been marked by you, and now I belong to you.¡±

    Mason was stepping onto the aircraft. When he heard her words, he slipped and almost fell.

 Chapter 337

    Chapter 337

    Tiffanie strode over, a wide grin spreading across her face as she snatched the safety helmet. and

    plopped herself into the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Hey, buckle up! We¡¯re off to see Brielle.¡±

    Mason¡¯s cheeks were still flushed, but the cool breeze wafting through the valley quickly dissipated the

    heat. He nced down at the ground, now far below, and the corner of his mouth lifted ever so slightly.

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    It was a faint smile, but Tiffanie caught it. She chuckled along, making a mental note to tell Brielleter.

    After all, Tiffanie was about to snag herself a bona fide gentleman.

    After hanging up with Tiffanie, Brielle told Wesley she needed to head back. Wesley wore a look. of

    consternation. ¡°Ms. Brielle, Mr. Dorsey said to walt for him here.¡±

    But Brielle shook her head. ¡°Wesley, I¡¯ll exin it to himter, but right now, I really want to go back.¡±

    Seeing that he couldn¡¯t stop her, Wesley reluctantly arranged for someone to drive her back to Pearl

    Estate.

    On the way, Brielle gazed nkly out the window, lost in thought. Once home, she took al moment to

    rx on the sofa.

    After whipping up a simple snack for herself, she powered on herptop, forcing herself to get some

    work done.

    All told, her various cards currently held a total of around two hundred million dors.

    Mason¡¯spany was still in its infancy and not yet profitable, but this amount of funding was more

    than enough to get started.

    She rubbed her tired eyes, knowing that thepany¡¯s future growth was what mattered most. She

    needed to draft a detailed n.

    At ten in the evening, her living room doorbell rang. When she opened the door, there stood Tiffanie

    and Mason.

    Mason was holding a modest gift from the supermarket, while Tiffanie¡¯s hands were empty. Her smile

    was wide and carefree.

    ¡°Good evening, my friend! I¡¯ve been up in the mountains, spreading some love by feeding the wildlife,¡±

    Tiffanie dered with her usual whimsy.

    As Brielle ushered them in and turned to pour some drinks, she caught Tiffanie slyly touching. the tips

    of Mason¡¯s fingers. Her lips twitched in amusement. Mason discreetly scooted away. creating some

    distance. Ever since the helicopter ride and that forehead kiss, Tiffanie had been strutting around with

    pride, as if she had a tail wagging to the sky.

    Pretending not to notice the exchange, Brielle brought over the drinks, only to hear Tiffanie dive into

    gossip. ¡°So, I heard Kenzo¡¯s in trouble. Is that true?¡±

    15:13

    Chapter 137

    Brielle¡¯s grip twitched at the news. Who could have leaked that information?

    Max was supposed to keep things hush¨Chush and prevent the news from spreading.

    Settling down with a feigned calm, Brielle hid her bruises beneath her clothes. After resting earlier in

    the day, her energy had returned, along with her coolposure.

    Tiffanie sighed dramatically. ¡°Kenzo was one of my favorites¨Cso gentle and talented. Such a shame. If

    the rumors in the circult are true, the Barnes family is going to flip, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s heart pounded as if it were about to leap from her throat.

    Sharp as ever, Tiffanie noticed her reaction. ¡°Hey, Brielle, you don¡¯t have anything to do with Kenzo¡¯s

    disappearance, do you?¡±

    Brielle hadn¡¯t intended to hide anything, so she recounted the pursuit incident from start to finish. When

    it came to serious matters, Tiffanie¡¯s face lost its usual mirth. ¡°Who knew you

    were with Kenzo at the time?¡±

    Brielle shook her head. Their encounter had been by chance, and Kenzo had even kept her name a

    secret from Alivia, so he surely wouldn¡¯t tell a soul.

    She trusted Kenzo not to do so.

    But on her end¡­

    Suddenly, it hit her¨Cthe phone call from Aubree. She realized with a jolt. Aubree knew she had

    been with Kenzo.

 Chapter 338

    Chapter 338

    Brielle lowered her eyshes, a gesture that Aubree, her confidant of many years, knew all too well.

    Aubree wasn¡¯t the type to spread rumors carelessly; Brielle¡¯s secret was safe with her.

    ¡°I¡¯ve only told Aubree, but I trust herpletely.¡±

    Tiffanie, deep in thought, stroked her chin. ¡°You and Aubree have known each other for ages, and she¡¯s

    mostly above suspicion. But if that snake Andrew is slithering around her, all bets. are off. That guy has

    always had it out for you.¡±

    Brielle dropped her gaze. It wasn¡¯t an impossibility, but she was confident that Aubree would have

    taken her concerns into ount and made sure no one was around when she answered

    the phone.

    The mystery was tooplex, and the solution eluded her. Perhaps it was time to switch topics and

    ask about the Mason Corporation.

    Brielle turned to Mason. Shecked the courage to confront them about their true identities; it was too

    melodramatic, too sensational, and she was just an outsider.

    Mason still had that fresh¨Cfaced college student vibe, both in appearance and demeanor. When Brielle

    first met him, she could¡¯ve sworn he¡¯d just left the campus gates. In any college setting. Mason would

    be the guy everyone fawned over.

    Perhaps feeling Brielle¡¯s unabashed gaze, Tiffanie opened her arms wide, protective as a mother hen

    shielding her chick.

    ¨C

    ¡°Brielle, Mason¡¯s off the market he¡¯s mine. Stop looking at him like that. Besides, you¡¯ve got Maxie.

    Time to rein it in.¡±

    The corner of Brielle¡¯s mouth twitched, and she caught Mason¡¯s flustered protest. ¡°Cut it out!¡±

    Tiffanie raised an eyebrow. ¡°Right, I¡¯m just talking nonsense. So that seal of approval kiss wasn¡¯t for

    me?¡±

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Brielle pretended not to hear, sensing Mason was about to blush into mes. She remembered their

    first meeting; he¡¯d been soposed and so unruffled, even at a bustling reunion. She never imagined

    Tiffanie, the wildcat, would push him to the brink like this.

    Brielle cleared her throat. ¡°Mason, I bet you¡¯ve had tons of offers to invest in yourpany, or even

    buy you outpletely. Why didn¡¯t you sell back then?¡±

    Mason regained hisposure, and after a brief pause, he spoke. ¡°I¡¯m passionate about thepany

    I built and adore my team. When we, a group of young dreamers, hit wall after wall and returned to

    square one, we believed we could change the world. It wasn¡¯t just me who didn¡¯t want to sell; none of

    us did.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never told anyone, but three months after we started, a Wall Street financier wanted to buy us out.

    The offer was half a billion dors. I tossed and turned for a month, and to this day, I¡¯m not sure if

    keeping thepany was the right decision.¡±

    15:13

    Chapter 338

    That was half a billion dors after only three months in business.

    ¨C

    Brielle smiled slightly. ¡°If there¡¯s a reason not to sell, it¡¯s probably because only onepany ever

    turned down a half¨Cbillion¨Cdor offer in its infancy the Hartley Group.¡± Today, the Hartley Group was a

    retail titan both online and off, a true global giant.

    A glint of ambition shone in Mason¡¯s eyes as he chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re right. And in the world of the inte,

    I aim to be the next Hartley Group.¡±

    Tiffanie leaned back, resting her chin on her hand, listening to the pair dissect potential deals. She

    yawned, oblivious to the fact that this evening at Pearl Estate, two enthusiastic young people might¡¯ve

    just beenying the groundwork for an inte empire. Sadly, one couldn¡¯t foresee the future, and so

    the thrill of witnessing history unfold remained elusive.

    After their discussion, Brielle noticed Tiffanie, curled up in a tiny bundle and dozing off in the corner.

    The room was chilly; they¡¯d forgotten to turn on the heat, and were too engrossed in their conversation

    to notice. But Tiffanie seemed too cold to move, not bothering to ask for a nket, possibly not wanting

    to interrupt Brielle¡¯s train of thought.

    Feeling sleepy herself, Brielle was about to suggest that Mason and Tiffanie stay over when she saw

    Mason gently lift Tiffanie in his arms and nod at her, ready to leave.

    ¡°Mason,¡± Brielle called out, her heart feeling a sudden weight.

    Mason was a decent person, and so was Tiffanie. Two pure souls brought together, caught in the

    tangle of their parents¡® past grievances, couldn¡¯t stay untainted forever.

 Chapter 339

    Chapter 339

    Mason paused mid¨Cstride, a hint of confusion shadowing his features as he turned back. ¡°What¡¯s up?

    Did we miss something important Just now?¡±

    The two had just settled on the early size of their startup. Mason and his crew of techies hadn¡¯t quite

    cracked the code on mizing their venture, but Brielle, with her finance degree, was the one who

    had a handle on that aspect. She had already outlined thepany¡¯s trajectory for the uing year,

    and Mason had been on board with the n.

    Now, he looked perplexed.

    Brielle opened her mouth, then slowly shut it again. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ll transfer the funds to thepany

    ount soon.¡±

    Mason chuckled, his tone light and teasing. ¡°Alright then, once we go public, I might just make you

    President.¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t respond. Instead, she escorted them out. She hesitated multiple times, wanting to speak,

    but Mason, walking ahead, didn¡¯t see.

    Stepping into the elevator, Mason nced back at Brielle. ¡°Ever since I saw you handle that meeting

    with the Hartley Group¡¯s CEO, I knew you were meant for big things. It¡¯s been a pleasure working

    together.¡±

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    Brielle¡¯s lips curved into a small smile as she pressed the elevator button for him. ¡°A pleasure indeed.¡±

    As the elevator doors slid shut, Brielle was left staring at the empty hallway. Her hand massaged her

    temples. A headache wasing on.

    Brielle still hadn¡¯t managed to voice theplexity of her rtionship with Mason.

    In this world, there were two types of people who were simply drawn to each other. Mason had tried to

    resist and reject Tiffanie, but if her influence was inevitable, then his feelings for her would eventually

    be either love or hate. Brielle knew this all too well, and it tormented her.

    Back in her room, she felt utterly drained. She stared nkly at the ceiling, rubbing at her temples

    again. She was exhausted.

    Grabbing the remote, she turned on the heater. As the warmth spread, her chilled limbs slowly came

    back to life.

    It was two in the morning, and with a weary effort, she applied ointment to the cuts on her hands before

    falling asleep on the couch.

    At six a.m., her phone rang. It was Patrick. ¡°Ms. Brielle, Mr. Kenzo has woken up. He¡¯s hurt his leg, but

    it¡¯s nothing serious. The cold has slowed down the infection, and the local doctors have managed it

    well. We¡¯ll be heading back soon, so don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Brielle let out a relieved sigh, hearing Kenzo¡¯s voice on the other end. ¡°Patrick, is that Brielle?¡±

    Chapter 339

    Patrick confirmed, ¡°Yes, Ms. Brielle is quite concerned.¡±

    ¡°Tell her I¡¯m fine, and not to worry. This wasn¡¯t her fault.¡±

    Patrick nodded, then addressed Brielle, ¡°Ms. Brielle, we¡¯ll be back shortly. Make sure you take care of

    that injury.¡±

    Rubbing her eyes, Brielle mustered her energy. ¡°Which hospital will you be taking him to?¡±

    There was a pause before Patrick, ever the rational one, advised, ¡°Regardless of the hospital, it¡¯s best

    you don¡¯t visit. The Barnes family is already suspicious about Mr. Kenzo¡¯s injury. Rumors are flying that

    it¡¯s because of you. If you show up, it¡¯ll only confirm their suspicions, and they won¡¯t let you off easily.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s lips pressed together, knowing Patrick spoke the truth.

    Kenzo¡¯s voice came through once more, taking over the call. His tone was still gentle. ¡°Patrick¡¯s right,

    Brielle. I¡¯ll be fine. I heard you¡¯re hurt, too. Take care of yourself, and once this gossip blows over, let¡¯s

    grab a meal together.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Kenzo.¡±

    His voice sharpened. ¡°You have nothing to apologize for. It¡¯s not your fault.¡±

    Even though he said that, Brielle knew she had inadvertently put him in harm¡¯s way. Thankfully, he was

    alright, or she would have lived under a curse of guilt.

    After the call, Brielle felt a weight lift from her chest. She even managed to make herself some

    Soup.

    By early evening, Patrick called again to say they were back in Beaconsfield. Brielle finally felt at ease.

    As she pondered how to spend Christmas Eve, her doorbell rang. It was Aubree.

    Wrapped in a scarf, Aubree marched in, unraveling it to reveal a neck covered in love bites. ¡°Andrew

    made sure to mark his territory before I came over to see you.¡±

    Brielle frowned but didn¡¯tment, she just watched as Aubree presented her with a box. ¡°Here, a

    bted birthday present.¡±

    Worried it was some extravagant expense, Brielle opened the box to find a beautiful diamond and

    breathed a sigh of relief.

    Aubree looked around the room and settled herself on the sofa. ¡°Bri, you hung up so quickly yesterday.

    I only found out about Kenzo¡¯s injury today. What in the world happened?¡±

    Brielle recounted the harrowing tale of their near brush with death.

    Aubree¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°But you decided to go to the Radiant Light Church on the spur of the

    moment, right? I didn¡¯t tell a soul. Who could it be?¡±

 Chapter 340

    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.¡±

    C¨°ntens 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¨Cwishes.

    ¡°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

 Chapter 341

    Chapter 341

    Aubree was nursing a headache. ¡°Love,¡± she mused, ¡°is undoubtedly the most confounding enigma in

    the world.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s drop that topic, Bri. Come on, tell me, did you make a wish for me?¡±

    The conversation took a lighter turn. Aubree¡¯s eyes gleamed with expectation as she intently watched

    Brielle¡¯s face.

    Brielle was in high spirits, and her smile was shining brighter than usual ¡°Of course I did. The very first

    wish was for you.¡±

    Aubree cheered, ¡°That seals it. Andrew can¡¯t shake me off now.¡±

    They would be tied together for life.

    ¡°By the way, this time Andrew got me this stunning ne, said he designed it himself, with my name

    and all.¡±

    Aubree cocked an eyebrow in pride, nudging Brielle¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll bring it over for you to see

    sometime.¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t want to dampen Aubree¡¯s spirits, so she yed along. ¡°Sure thing.¡±

    They sat in the living room, gossiping about thetest scandals in Beaconsfield before dozing off,

    leaning against each other.

    Meanwhile, the online world continued its relentless churn. Alivia¡¯s post wasden with insinuations,

    just short of a public deration that she and Max were an item. Anyone would take it for a public

    disy of affection.

    But at that moment, Max was slumped on a couch in a hospital ward. His neck was treated with

    ointment for several scratch marks. He hadn¡¯t slept for days, and now that the patient. was finally

    stable, he sumbed to sleep on the sofa.

    The patient had always been dependent on Alivia, so Alivia was allowed to stay in the room.

    On the other side was arge bed with a woman lying on it, weak and sedated, now fast asleep. Just

    two hours earlier, her hysteria had peaked, and her sharp nails had shed across Max¡¯s neck as he

    fed her soup.

    Her tirade in the ward had been manic, until the doctor swiftly administered a sedative and discussed

    further treatment ns with Max before treating his neck wounds.

    The woman¡¯s nails had been unforgiving; the three bloody scratches were visible, extending from his

    shirt cor up to his jaw, even with the top button done up.

    ¡°Max, you¡¯ve had your medicine. Try to get some rest,¡± the doctor had urged.

    The sedative in Max¡¯s medication,bined with hisck of sleep both at home and abroad, and now

    with the sleep¨Cinducing drugs he had taken, allowed him to drift off on the couch.

    Chapter 341

    Alivia watched him, her eyes filled with obsession and resentment. When the doctor treated. Max,

    Alivia had seen the bite mark. It was like a thorn piercing her heart, bleeding her dry.

    Another woman had left it, and to be in such a ce, It had to be someone close. Who could it

    be?

    She trembled with rage, exerting great effort to keep fromshing out. She had so many questions, yet

    she bottled them up.

    Seeing him asleep, she longed to draw near. Alivia knew he was sensitive and dared not get too close.

    Even in this state, the moment she approached, Max would instantly wake up. So she stayed a meter

    away, finding an angle to take a photo that made their hands appear together.

    In reality, there was about half a meter between their hands, but the angle made it seem ast though

    they were intimately ced side by side.

    Pleased with the photo, Alivia promptly uploaded it to her social media ount. After knowing him for

    so many years, she could only afford such minor gestures behind his back.

    That woman back home brazenly left such marks on his neck for all to see. What a harlot. unting it in

    such a conspicuous ce. Was the woman showing off?

    Alivia was livid, her face ashen, yet she suppressed her emotions. She still had a chance.

    Every time Martha had an episode, Max would rush back, and these were the rare moments they spent

    together. All her efforts over the years to cultivate a rtionship with Martha were not in vain.

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    Martha was Max¡¯s birth mother, and among the Dorsey siblings, only Victoria and Max shared the

    same mother. But Max and Victoria were distant. Max always preferred to read quietly for days on end,

    secluded in his room.

    Max felt that ufortable gaze, and his brow furrowed, and he slowly opened his eyes.

    Alivia hastily tucked her phone away at the sight. ¡°Max, you¡¯re awake. Do you want to sleep some

    more?¡±

    Max had only slept for two hours and still looked weary. He nced at his mum lying on the bed, slowly

    got up, and drew open the curtains.

    The facility was a three¨Cstory sanatorium, dedicated entirely to Martha¡¯s care. So, Max never worried

    about Martha¡¯s basic needs. But Martha¡¯s condition was deteriorating with each episode. What could

    be the cause?

    Chapter 342

 Chapter 342

    Chapter 342

    Alivia watched his retreating figure, a hint of infatuation flickering in her eyes.

    She had met plenty of men, each like a firework at her fingertips, bright for a moment before fading into

    dull ash. But Max was different, a constant presence in her life, like the North Star, illuminating her

    entire existence. No matter who the other woman was, Alivia was determined to eliminate her

    competition.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    A sharp glint crossed her gaze.

    Raised as an elitedy of high society, she had been groomed for greatness from a young age. Upon

    reaching an age of awareness, she began to scout for a suitable future husband.

    It was at one of those high¨Csociety parties that she firstid eyes on Max. Even then, he possessed an

    aura of unapproachability, standing stoically beside Michael.

    Pride emanated from Michael as he proimed to everyone that this boy was the chosen heir to the

    Dorsey family legacy. Immediately, the atmosphere thickened with significant nces. Alivia even

    thought she saw a few res, sharp enough to cut.

    Max, the youngest son of Michael and Martha, had nearly cost his mother her life at birth. And indeed,

    he had shown extraordinary abilities from an early age. Yet, he was only ten when Michael announced

    him as the next heir. Facing siblings nearly two decades his senior, how did he survive the conspiracies

    that surely followed?

    Nobody knew how many assassination attempts Max had endured. To the adults, a ten¨Cyear¨Cold child

    was like a fish on a chopping board.

    Alivia etched that face in her memory.

    It was only after eavesdropping on the grown¨Cups at home that she understood Michael¡¯s intentions.

    The heir of the Dorsey family had to pass through trials by fire. Leaking the news early was a test for

    Max.

    If he lived to adulthood, the title would be his. If he died, he would simply be a stepping stone for

    someone else¡¯s sess. This was Michael¡¯s philosophy of leadership.

    A sessful person was often built upon a mound of defeated adversaries.

    Alivia quelled the surge of emotion in her chest, softening her tone. ¡°Max, you¡¯ve barely rested two

    hours. Aunt Martha¡¯s condition needs further observation. Why don¡¯t you rest a bit more?¡±

    ¡°Alivia, thank you.¡±

    A ring of red marks marred Alivia¡¯s neck, remnants of Martha¡¯s ruthless attack. Had it not been for

    timely intervention, Alivia might have been seriously hurt. But she shrugged off the incident. If

    sacrificing her life was the price for a chance with Max, she would pay it without hesitation.

    No one knew the depth of her obsession with Max, even if it meant bing a demon herself.

    hapter

    ¡°I¡¯m okay. But are we sure about using this new medication? It¡¯s only been in research for two years.

    Though it can suppress Aunt Martha¡¯s condition, there are potential side effects.¡±

    If Martha¡¯s condition were merely madness, It would be manageable. But in her frenzied states, she

    wouldsh out at anyone nearby, and in their absence, she would turn on herself. This was the extreme

    manifestation of bipr and depressive disorders. Martha had even bitten her own arteries in an

    attempt to sever them.

    Martha was a danger to others and herself. Without a better option, Max would never consider such

    medication. But if they did nothing, Martha would never regain her sanity and remain at beast capable

    of attack.

    He had made his decision and nodded in agreement.

    Alivia sighed, her eyes filled withpassion. ¡°Remember how Aunt Martha used to make us

    croquettes and those sweet buns? She was so precise and tried to teach me, but I never got the hang

    of it.¡±

    Martha¡¯s decline had elerated after the announcement of Max as the heir. Before that, she had

    always been a devoted mother, albeit one who cried too often, which drove Max toward finding sce

    inplex literature.

    ¡°Max, sometimes I wonder if Aunt Martha¡¯s worsening condition is because she misses her family

    abroad. Maybe we should consider transferring her to a sanatorium back home?¡±

    The deeper Alivia¡¯s bond with Martha, the stronger her connection with Max would be. Martha

    trusted Alivia implicitly and couldn¡¯t bear to be apart.

    Alivia had noticed that Max¡¯s only moments of vulnerability were in the presence of his mother. By

    securing Martha, she would secure Max.

 Chapter 343

    Chapter 343

    Max had never considered the possibility, primarily because Martha¡¯s troubles had begun back home,

    within the borders of their own country.

    The closer he got to the Dorsey family, the closer he inched toward trouble. It was a certainty that

    someone would try to leverage Martha¡¯s situation to manipte him. He would not stand

    for it.

    ¡°Max, Aunt Martha surely wants to see you all the time, and it¡¯s more convenient back home,¡± Alivia

    suggested, her shrewd intentions hidden beneathyers of concern as she pressed on.

    Max turned, casting a nce at his mother lying quietly on the bed before letting out a soft sigh. ¡°We¡¯ll

    see.¡±

    If it were indeed being isted in a foreignnd, without familiar faces to care for her, that had

    exacerbated the situation, he would consider bringing Martha back.

    A flicker of excitement passed through Alivia¡¯s eyes, and her lips curved into a subtle smile. She had

    tried to influence Max indirectly over the years, but he had never wavered. Perhaps the severity of the

    current situation was finally making him reconsider.

    Max bowed his head, absent¨Cmindedly touching the bracelet on his wrist. Noticing his action, Alivia felt

    a surge of warmth, and her attention sharpened as he asked her, ¡°Alivia, are you not nning to stay at

    the overseas research institute anymore?¡±

    Alivia was a clever woman. She had joined the institute partly because it was close to Martha¡¯s nursing

    home and partly for the prestige.

    Admission to the institute was a badge of honor; among her peers in Beaconsfield, she was the only

    one to have received an invitation. This distinction made her the object of widespread envy. Naturally,

    being in such a prestigious ce also meant expanding herwork significantly.

    By now, her connections were vast enough. It was time to return and get engaged to Max and,

    incidentally, deal with the woman lurking in the shadows.

    ¡°Mm, I¡¯ve applied to study back home, and my mentor has agreed. We¡¯ll be establishing a branch

    there, and I¡¯ll be the head,¡± she said with a note of pride. Her mentor was a titan in the field, revered by

    many.

    Max¡¯s expression softened slightly. ¡°That¡¯s good. Your mom probably wants you back, too.¡± His tone

    was indifferent, showing no particr reaction to Alivia¡¯s decision to stay back home.

    Alivia felt a twinge of disappointment but knew this was just Max being Max.

    Max¡¯s gaze drifted out to the scenery, settling on a cluster of blue flowers. They were irises; their petals

    were shaped like the tail feathers of a bird. He chuckled softly, a rare warmth touching his usually cold

    demeanor.

    Alivia had never seen Max like this. He was always the distant enigma, but today, he seemed

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    15:14

    Chapter 3443

    almost earthly.

    Was it the view that captivated him? Nature did have a way of soothing the soul.

    Unaware of Alivia¡¯s observation. Max was still looking at the irises.

    Time for him was a straight line, ang he was too focused to be concerned with anything outside of it.

    Yet the sight of those flowers seemed to slow everything down. Blue irises were a symbol of hope and

    a passion that was fragile and fleeting.

    ¡°Cough, cough.¡±

    A cough from the bed snapped him back to reality. Martha¡¯s eyes fluttered open. Recognizing the

    familiar ceiling, she knew she had suffered another episode. ¡°Max,¡± she called out weakly. trying to sit

    up but finding no strength.

    Max approached, his face softening, though his aura remained chilly. ¡°Mother.¡±

    Martha¡¯s eyes trembled, and tears fell instantly.

    Max frowned and sat beside her. ¡°You wanted to say something?¡± His wordscked warmth. yet they

    carried a different tone from how he addressed others.

    ¡°Max, I don¡¯t think I have much time left. The only thing I¡¯m worried about is you¡­

    ¡°They¡¯re all out to get you, Max. You have to protect yourself. You must marry someone who can

    support you in your ambitions. Alivia is perfect; her family is a match for ours, and she¡¯s kind¨Chearted.¡±

    Martha struggled to breathe after every few words. ¡°You must survive; you have to live.¡±

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Max¡¯s frown deepened, and after a long pause, he finally asked, ¡°Do you want to go back home?¡±

    Martha¡¯s eyes flickered, and then she quickly drew her legs in. Her face was clouded with fear. ¡°No, I

    won¡¯t go back, there are ghosts¡­ The Dorsey family is haunted, Max. You must survive and take

    control of the Dorsey family.¡±

 Chapter 344

    Chapter 344

    Martha¡¯s emotions surged again, and she threw back the covers, poised to leap out of bed. Max. held

    her firmly in ce and pressed the call bell beside the bed.

    The doctor hurried in with a sedative and administered a shot.

    Max looked at his gaunt mother, his face betraying little emotion. Only after the sedative had taken

    effect did he turn to the doctor. ¡°When do we start with the new medication?¡±

    ¡°In three days at thetest. For now, we have to rely on sedatives to keep her under control. When she

    gets agitated, she bes aggressive and hostile to everything around her. This isn¡¯t just a simple

    case of mental illness. Maybe we should try to find the root cause.¡±

    What was the root cause? Max racked his brain. Martha¡¯s moods had always been vtile, but what

    could be the trigger? The Dorsey family had skeletons in their closet, but which one wasing back

    to haunt them now?

    He frowned, and his hand automatically moved to massage his temple.

    The doctor gestured upstairs. ¡°Max, you should get some rest, too. Dinner will be prepared downstairs

    later, and I¡¯lle up to get you.¡±

    He nodded and then nced at Alivia.

    Of course, Alivia wanted to stay, but before she could voice her desire, Max asked, ¡°Are there other

    rooms.on the ground floor?¡± He didn¡¯t even want her on the same floor as him.

    A shadow crossed Alivia¡¯s eyes. Her resentment grew for whoever had managed to leave such an

    intimate mark on Max. Her chest trembled with suppressed emotion, and her hand clenched slowly, yet

    her voice remained steady. ¡°Yes, there is one next to Auntie Martha¡¯s. I¡¯ll go and rest then, Max.¡±

    Alivia retreated to her room, taking deep breaths topose herself. She perched by the window, her

    brows furrowed in thought.

    Max had always been distant with her, but she never minded. She wanted Max, If Max returned her

    affections, all would be well. But if his hearty elsewhere, it didn¡¯t matter. As long as she tied him to

    her, there would be ample time to erase the marks left by other women.

    This was the worst¨Ccase scenario. A scenario Alivia had never even considered. In her mind, Max was

    incapable of love.

    When she used to visit Martha, she¡¯d heard stories about Max¡¯s childhood, how he rarely smiled, how

    he might have starved in the attic had no one brought him breakfast. Once, due to a servant¡¯s

    negligence, Max went without food for two days and lost a significant amount of weight. Martha had

    thought her son was simple¨Cminded until she realized he simplycked certain emotions.

    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

    Hearing these stories, Alivia felt they were beyond herprehension. What kind of child didn¡¯t cry out

    when hungry? Was he really prepared to starve in the attic?

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    Chapter 344

    It was terrifying. How could a man who could be so indifferent to himself, ever show warmth to others?

    So, she believed Max was incapable of love.

    But if that were true, how could he let someone else leave such a mark?

    That bite mark would haunt Alivia¡¯s nightmares. She was desperate to return home to Investigate, but

    she couldn¡¯t afford for anything to happen to her anchor, Martha.

    Having calmed her nerves, Alivia gazed out the window at the garden, designed by a renowned

    landscape architect. The sight was genuinely soothing.

    Her eyesnded on some purple flowers ¨C irises. Her expression darkened, a sh of malice in her

    eyes. She hoped it wasn¡¯t what she thought.

    Pulling out her phone, she hesitated, then dialed Spencer. She knew Spencer well because they grew

    up in the same circles.

    These days, Spencer was consumed with finding evidence of Brielle and Max¡¯s secret encounters. He

    didn¡¯t care about anything else. The suspicion gnawed at him, a pain that throbbed relentlessly. He

    needed answers to either confirm or dispel his hunch.

    After a fire at Brielle¡¯s apartment building, all the residents had relocated. Spencer had asked around,

    and thanks to connections through Ryan, he was at yet another temporary housing unit. His eyes were

    red with a predatory re.

    Before stepping in, he called Brielle, even though it was approaching eight in the evening. The time

    difference meant his call coincided with Alivia¡¯s. He had no intention of answering Alivia¡¯s call anyway.

    As if under a spell, he waited for Brielle to pick up.

    Brielle had spent the day at home. Seeing Spencer¡¯s call, her brows knitted together. What was he up

    to now? She hit the decline button.

    Spencer¡¯s message came through immediately. [Brielle, this is yourst chance toe clean

    withstand my retaliation.]

    with me. If I find out myself, you won¡¯t be able to

    Madman.

    Brielle regretted removing him from the cklist, yet she was curious about what Spencer could

    possibly stir up.

 Chapter 345

    Chapter 345

    Spencer knew Brielle wouldn¡¯t respond, just as she hadn¡¯t when he¡¯d sent a simr message earlier

    that morning on his way to the temporary housing unit. Every time he stepped into one of those units,

    he felt as if he was on the brink of uncovering the truth.

    His blood boiled with both excitement and resentment.

    If it was true.

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    If it was true, he¡¯d make damn sure to pay back in spades!

    Only a handful of families had been relocated to this particr floor from the building that had burned.

    Standing in front of one of the doors, Spencer pulled out the photograph he¡¯de prepared with..

    ¡°Excuse me, had you seen this man around the apartmentplex before the fire?¡± he asked, showing

    the woman a sneakily snapped picture of Max.

    The angle wasn¡¯t great, but Max¡¯s face was still wlessly handsome.

    The woman, in her thirties, shook her head. ¡°No, haven¡¯t seen him.

    Spencer got a bit frantic, his voice rising unintentionally. ¡°Could you please think again?¡±

    The woman chuckled, ¡°Honey, I really haven¡¯t. If I¡¯d seen a face like that, trust me, I wouldn¡¯t forget it.

    When you pulled out that photo, I thought he was a movie star or something. Nope, movie stars don¡¯t

    evene close to this guy.¡±

    Spencer¡¯s face darkened, feeling a pang of humiliation. If Brielle¡¯s beauty could spark envy among

    women, Max¡¯s looks were enough to make any man insecure. And what pissed Spencer off the most

    was that looks were the least impressive of Max¡¯s many attributes.

    Spencer¡¯s clenched hand trembled with rage, as he snatched back the photo and knocked on another

    door, but after nearly canvassing the entire floor, no one had seen Max¡¯s face. He¡¯d been to countless

    ces over the past few days, and this was thest stop.

    The torched apartmentplex had housed a diverse group of residents and was old and rundown,

    with hardly any ces to hide. If Max had visited, his presence would have certainly drawn attention.

    But no one had seen him!

    Was his gut feeling wrong?

    This realization brought a sense of relief to Spencer, but with it, his eyes reddened.

    Thank goodness Brielle had the sense not to get involved with Max. The mere thought made him feel

    queasy.

    His fianc¨¦e rolling in the hay with his uncle ¨C how could that not be sickening?

    1/3

    15:14

    Chapter 345

    Spencer exhaled deeply.

    Having checked thest few ces, it seemed pointless to continue the investigation. He chuckled at

    his own paranoia. How could he have suspected Max of getting involved with Brielle? Sure, Brielle had

    some talents, but after all Max had been through, why would he settle for her?

    Max did admire Brielle, but that was because she truly had the chops, right?

    Spencer breathed a sigh of relief and shot Brielle another message. [Lucky, you yed it smart.]

    Brielle was lounging on the couch when she received the text.

    Patrick¡¯s words had resonated with her; she hadn¡¯t visited Kenzo but had sent some fruit and flowers

    through Tiffanie, choosing to rest at home instead.

    Seeing Spencer¡¯s message, she scoffed with irony. It seemed he hadn¡¯t found a shred of evidence.

    She didn¡¯t reply. Instead, she picked up herptop to work on some documents. She should be able to

    return to Dorsey International tomorrow.

    Scrolling down, she noticed an email from the HR department. It was about Spencer¡¯s employment

    approval.

    Brielle thought she had misread. Did Spencer¡¯s employment really need approval? She dialed the HR

    director.

    The HR director sat upright in his Dorsey Tower office the moment he saw Brielle¡¯s iing call,

    mustering all his attention. ¡°Ms. Brielle, hello.¡±

    Brielle hadn¡¯t worked directly with the director but was familiar with the office gossip that he was a bit

    difficult. Yet, he seemed almost overly gentle with her.

    A man with foresight, the HR director knew that even though the CEO had seemingly dumped Brielle,

    he also remembered how the CEO had removed Brielle¡¯s crutch for her during the elevator incident.

    Men could be fickle, decide to break up in anger, and perhapster decide they still have a taste for the

    past.

    So, Alivia would be the future Mrs. CEO, and she couldn¡¯t be offended. Brielle was the one who could

    bring the CEO down from his pedestal. She was also not to be trifled with.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, are you referring to Spencer¡¯s employment application? As per the rules, you also have

    the right to vote.¡±

    Brielle found it amusing. It hadn¡¯t been long since Spencer had wanted her out, and now, his

    employment was subject to her vote. What skills did Spencer have?

    She pondered without bias but couldn¡¯t think of any noteworthy talent except, perhaps, his

    arrogance.

    Chapter 345

    ¡°So, I can cast a dissenting vote?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely.¡±

    3/3

 Chapter 346

    Chapter 346

    Upon hearing the words, Brielle couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Alright, got it,¡± she said, with a casual and

    friendly tone. After hanging up the phone, she voted a firm ¡®no¡® in her mind.

    Did Spencer think he could waltz back into thepany and ruffle her feathers? In his dreams.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    The following morning, Brielle finally made her way to the office. As she entered her department, she

    felt the weight of her colleagues¡® gazes upon her. Sensing her attention, they quickly diverted their eyes

    and returned to their work in silence.

    Brielle¡¯s brow furrowed slightly.

    She settled into her chair and booted up herputer, noticing a flood of emails. Most were from her

    department, but one caught her eye¨Cit was from Max. The email was several days old, sent during her

    hospital stay, and thus unseen until now. It was a formal email strictly about business. She pondered

    for a moment before replying with a sinct ¡°Received.¡±

    As soon as she sent it, she regretted it. Surely, the department had already dealt with the matter.

    Replying now seemed a bit personal, as if she were looking for a reason to connect with him.

    Why not just reach out to him openly if she wanted to talk? It would also be a chance to clear the air

    about the other night. Just the thought brought a flush to her cheeks.

    She hurried to retract the email but before she could do so, Max replied with a new message.

    [Received what?]

    Heat crept up Brielle¡¯s face. She needed to keep her cool.

    [Sorry, I didn¡¯t realize the work email was from a few days ago. My apologies for the disturbance.]

    [Apologies?] Max¡¯s response seemed tinged with emotion.

    Their conversation was as cold as ice, a stark contrast to the heated kiss they had shared not long ago.

    Separated by screens, neither could guess the other¡¯s expression.

    Max stared at the email for a few minutes before closing hisptop. His chest felt tight. He missed the

    way Brielle had kissed him tenderly in bed.

    Behind him, Martha was being fed soup by a caregiver at the nursing home.

    The caregiver offered Max a bowl, too, her demeanor shy and bashful around him. However, Max¡¯s

    attention was fixed on hisputer, not sparing her a nce.

    Unable to resist ament, the caregiver said, ¡°Ma¡¯am, your son is such a workaholic. He needs to

    take care of himself. Overworking at his age can lead to health issuester on.¡±

    Martha paused before looking at Max with concern. ¡°Max, don¡¯t forget to get a check¨Cup every year.¡±

    Chapter 346

    The caregiver¡¯s eyes lit up at the mention of a check¨Cup. It was an opportunity for closer interaction

    with Max. ¡°The nursing home has all the facilities for a thorough check¨Cup. We have top¨Cnotch doctors

    on call, knowing your son is the cream of the crop. A simple check¨Cup will be no trouble at all.¡±

    Martha smiled with pride. ¡°Max is indeed outstanding. I just wish he¡¯d settle down and give me a

    grandchild. I don¡¯t have many years left, and I¡¯d love to hold a chubby little one in my arms.¡±

    Unmarried?

    The caregiver had assumed the woman who visited earlier was Max¡¯s wife. A hint of tion crossed

    her face as she encouraged Max to get the check¨Cup. ¡°It¡¯s always better to be safe. Some conditions

    can go undetected for a long time.¡±

    Martha agreed. Turning to Max, she began, ¡°Max, maybe you should-¡±

    Before she could finish, there was a knock at the door. Max¡¯s primary doctor had arrived. Leaving his

    phone andptop behind, Max stepped out to speak with the doctor.

    ¡°Max, the specialists have decided to start the treatment the day after tomorrow. We¡¯ll prepare

    nutritional meals for her to build her strength. And regarding her phobia, it¡¯s important to investigate. If

    she continues to resist treatment, even the new medication won¡¯t be effective for long.¡±

    Max nodded and asked a few more questions. Meanwhile, his phone began to ring¨Cit was Brielle

    calling.

    Brielle had been hesitant about making the call, but now it seemed urgent. Today was her first day back

    at work after her leave, and with Max and Patrick absent, she¡¯d learned that the Book investment

    project had been handed over to William.

    William had already snagged the small Kingston Enterprises project, and now he was poaching the

    major book project. Brielle wondered if Max was even aware.

    Feeling anxious, she feared William had ulterior motives, but as soon as the call connected, a perky

    female voice came through the other end.

    ¡°Hello, are you looking for Max?¡±

    Brielle felt a chill run through her. The woman continued, ¡°He¡¯s busy right now, but if you have a

    message, you can tell me.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure Max gets itter.¡±

 Chapter 347

    Chapter 347

    The carer deliberately slowed her speech, making it sound a tad syrupy.

    Brielle¡¯s momentarily stalled brain clicked into gear. ¡°I¡¯m Mr. Dorsey¡¯s employee. I need to discuss

    something with him.¡±

    ¡°Oh, is that so?¡±

    A flicker of disdain passed through the carer¡¯s eyes. Was this one of those assistants who used the

    guise of reporting to Mr. Dorsey as a ploy to flirt? And with that pleasing voice, the possibility seemed

    even more likely.

    ¡°Max is aware of the situation already.¡± she stated dismissively and hung up, cing Max¡¯s phone back

    in its spot.

    No sooner had she done this than the door swung open, and Max stood in the doorway, his gaze

    turning icy and piercing. ¡°What are you doing at my desk?¡±

    Hisputer had a privacy screen, and all the folders were locked. There had been attempts to steal

    company secrets before, but none had seeded. So the instant he saw someone near hisputer,

    he was on alert.

    The carer¡¯s cheeks flushed instantly. ¡°Max, about the health checkup I mentioned¡­¡±

    Her shy and coy demeanor did nothing to stir Max; instead, he addressed someone behind him, ¡°Get

    someone else to take care of my mother, she¡¯s too noisy.¡±

    The carer¡¯s face froze, thinking she must have misheard. She was attractive, and whether at work or

    out and about, men often ogled her figure. But Max had never given her a second nce, and even

    Her face turned crimson, a sense of defeat like she had never felt before washing over her.

    Max approached, frowning as her perfume assailed his nostrils. Just as he reached for his phone, his

    fingers paused. ¡°Did you touch my phone?¡± He always ced his phone about six inches from the

    edge of the desk, but now it seemed closer to eight.

    The carer¡¯s face grew even more ufortable. Hadn¡¯t she ced it exactly where it was before? And

    surely Max hadn¡¯t had time to check the surveince footage. She had even gone. as far as to delete

    the call log. How could he know?

    Her heart pounded erratically, but she feigned innocence. ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡±

    Martha was sound asleep; her mental state hadn¡¯t been great, and a sedative meant not even thunder

    could wake her, leaving her unable to corroborate any story.

    Max¡¯s expression turned to stone, his aura sharp as a knife¡¯s edge.

    The carer¡¯s eyes darted about as she slowly began to peel off her clothes. ¡°Max, I¡¯ve fancied you from

    the moment I first saw you.¡±

    15:14

    Chapter 347

    Before she could react, Max whipped out a handkerchief, which he swiftly tied around her wrists. With a

    firm tug, she was pulled out of the room. She didn¡¯tnd on her feet, her clothes were disheveled, and

    she found herself sitting on the floor.

    The door mmed shut with a loud ¡°bang.¡±

    The carer clutched her blouse, and her face turned pale. She heard the click of high heels approaching.

    Shortly after, Alivia, a woman she often saw around, appeared before her.

    Just by looking at the carer¡¯s disarray, Alivia knew what had gone down. Alivia¡¯s eyes were ruthless as

    her heel bore down onto the carer¡¯s hand.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    The woman nearly screamed from the pain but heard Alivia¡¯s cold voice, ¡°Make a sound, and I¡¯ll ruin

    that pretty face of yours.¡±

    Thest bit of color drained from the carer¡¯s face as she trembled, silent.

    Alivia leaned in, her gaze fleetingly cold as she smirked. ¡°Coveting what belongs to others is

    punishable. Now scram.¡±

    Tears streamed down the carer¡¯s cheeks as she clutched her blouse, attempting to stand. But Alivia

    sneered, ¡°I said strip and get out of here.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Alivia, I¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± She knew of Alivia¡¯s renown; everyone at the sanitarium treated her with the

    utmost respect, and her research institute held a global standing.

    ¡°I won¡¯t repeat myself.¡± Alivia was never lenient with those who eyed her possessions.

    The carer sobbed once, shamefully undressing before leaving.

    Disgust flickered in Alivia¡¯s eyes. She thought of the woman¡¯s audacity to get close to Max and scoffed

    at herck of self¨Cawareness.

    As she cracked the door slightly, she heard Max¡¯s voice, softer than she had ever heard it. ¡°Brielle, did

    you call?¡±

 Chapter 348

    Chapter 348

    Max guessed it. He had assumed that the female employee was afterpany data, but as he

    watched her shed her clothes, it dawned on him that she was pursuing a different kind of rtionship

    altogether. A wave of revulsion surged through him.

    There was disinfectant in the room, and he doused his phone in it repeatedly, gingerly holding it in his

    palm afterward. Still, there was a hint of reluctance in his heart. That carer had definitely touched his

    phone and even answered his calls.

    He checked the call log. It was clean¨Cconversations with some executives at Dorsey International and

    then with business partners.

    If any of those people had called, the female employee wouldn¡¯t have dared to delete it. But since she

    did, it meant the caller was a woman.

    Which woman would call him? Only Brielle.

    His private number was a closely guarded secret, and as for Aubree, he dismissed her instantly, not

    even considering her as a woman.

    Max analyzed the situation briefly and made the call. It took a full minute for the call to be picked up on

    the other end.

    By then, Brielle hadposed herself enough to remain calm. So when Max asked, she nodded, then

    realizing he couldn¡¯t see her, she quickly spoke up. ¡°Yes, Mr. Dorsey, I came into work today and found

    out that the book project was handed over to William. Why

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    Dorsey International was set to invest two billion in the project. Although she and Max had been

    skeptical at first, the book had made some concessions, prompting Dorsey International to take on the

    project.

    Logically, with Alivia¡¯s involvement, Max, as the CEO, should have been approving every stage. of the

    project. Now, it seemed he waspletely out of the loop¨Ceven the approvals hadn¡¯t gone through

    him. What was going on?

    ¡°Are you aware of this, Mr. Dorsey? If William has bypassed you, that means he¡¯s-¡±

    She was cut off mid¨Csentence by Max. ¡°Is your injury healed?¡±

    His tone was soft, so tender it felt like it could drip through the phone. Across the miles and through the

    wires, his words pierced Brielle¡¯s heart. It was a mixture of pain, and sweetness.

    Max had always had this unreasonable way of invading one¡¯s heart. She fell silent, waiting for her

    rapidly beating heart to settle. It was like an arrow shot across mountains and rivers, always finding its

    target in the person whose heart fluttered.

    Max, however, didn¡¯t give her time to respond. ¡°What wishes did you make at Radiant Light Church?¡±

    Why did he even need to ask that?

    Brielle bit het ling her delicate flesh was caught between her teeth as if she might draw blood. She

    hated how vulnerable she felt. She was like a fish gasping for breath on a cutting board, surviving only

    on the asional droplets of water Max spared her. In the moments he withheld, shey there,

    gasping, staring at the sky.

    The feeling of being out of control or of cing one¡¯s hope in someone else was truly dreadful.

    ¡°Just a few simple wishes.¡± She deliberately cooled her tone, but then she heard Max chuckle softly on

    the other end.

    ¡°You have every right to be angry. I broke our appointment and haven¡¯t had the chance to apologize.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s eyes welled up instantly, reminded of the sunset she¡¯d seen on her way to Radiant Light

    Church. If only the person who had made promises to her had been there to see that brilliant sunset

    with her. But some moments, once missed, were gone forever.

    Even if there were more beautiful sunsets in the future, they would never be like that one. Such a

    sense of loss would stick like a thorn in one¡¯s heart.

    But on the night Max left the country, they made love.

    In truth, she had regrets because Max was the most rational person she¡¯d ever met. He was always

    able to control his emotions with ease. He could have anyone he wanted, and if he chose to leave, he

    could do so without a second thought.

    They had just broken up, yet they had immediately shared an intimate moment.

    She could still feel the warmth he left on her skin.

    Scorching.

    Burning hot.

 Chapter 349

    Chapter 349

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, what I¡¯m talking about here is strictly business¨Cthe Book project is no small feat.¡± ¡°Brielle. I

    really don¡¯t feel like talking shop right now.¡± His tone was casual, and his presence emanated a gentle

    coolness that seemed almost out of ce for a man who¡¯d just shown such repulsion to the advances

    of an undoubtedly attractive woman.

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    Brielle fell silent. Her experience in matters of the heart was scant. Beyond traveling over hills and

    across streams to follow her desires, she knew nothing of love¡¯s games, content instead to wait

    awkwardly for her beloved¡¯s return.

    This was Brielle in her most raw and precious form.

    His voice continued to reach her ears, ¡°Haven¡¯t you missed me?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s lips pressed tighter, her heart pounding a wild rhythm. She was no match for Max. If Max

    decided to use his charm, no woman could escape.

    Tears welled in her eyes as if she had been hurt.

    Despite his hot¨Cand¨Ccold demeanor and despite theck of promises, which included a featherlight

    assurance ¨C wait for his return, she wanted to believe, to love with fervor.

    Human greed could be quite endearing at times. Faced with feelings of affection, it was innate to

    be a gambler. Everyone hopes for that stroke of luck to hit them¨Cjust one gamble, just

    once.

    ¡°Yeah, a little.¡±

    ¡°Only a little, Brielle?¡±

    Max chuckled softly on the other end, gazing out at the few irises blooming outside his window. He

    seemed to feel more than ¡®just a little.¡®

    ¡°When will you return, Mr. Dorsey?¡± To rify everything¡­

    A flicker of amusement crossed Max¡¯s eyes, but before he could speak, amotion arose at the door.

    It was Alivia, her arms full of a lunchbox that now spilled its contents chaotically across the floor.

    His brow furrowed in annoyance.

    Horror painted Alivia¡¯s face as she struggled with disbelief. Max was using such a tender tone with

    someone else. Max could be sweet,ugh, and be as careful and hopeful as any ordinary man in love.

    Alivia¡¯s features twisted in a fury, her head bowed to hide the storm raging across her face.

    The hatred was palpable. Brielle¨Cwas it Brielle who had stolen what she loved most? Was Max¡¯s smile

    for the irises, or was it for Brielle?

    15:15

    Chapter 349

    Alivia¡¯s beloved deity seemed to have descended among themon folk, and for that, she was

    unforgiving.

    Alivia¡¯s chest heaved with suppressed rage, yet when she lifted her head, her face was alight with a

    radiant smile. ¡°Clumsy me, I just got a bit shaky, Max. Are you on the phone?*

    Max, interrupted at a crucial moment, felt a noticeable Irritation. As his gaze met Alivia¡¯s, all warmth

    withdrew, reced by the detachment of a machine.

    Behold, the stark contrast between affection and Indifference.

    Alivia seethed internally, her surface smile belying the tempest within. ¡°I made some soup for Martha.

    The doctor did say we should nourish her well, didn¡¯t he? I¡¯ve been out since dawn gathering the

    ingredients.¡±

    Max didn¡¯t respond to her. Instead, he quietly told Brielle, ¡°I¡¯ll talk to you when I get back.¡± He didn¡¯t

    want Brielle to be exposed to Alivia.

    After hanging up, he frowned in confusion. ¡°We have top chefs here.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t grasp why anyone would engage in tasks outside their expertise. What was this thing

    called ¡®human touch?¡±

    To anyone but Brielle, Max seemed tock certain emotional circuits because his words spared no

    one¡¯s feelings. Although Alivia maintained herposure, Max¡¯sment wounded her.

    Earning Max¡¯s favor was a challenge. His brain was always engaged in rational analysis, making

    judgments on the viability of every action.

    With top chefs and ingredients avable at the sanatorium, why bother making soup herself? He didn¡¯t

    understand, nor could he feel moved. From his perspective, the gesture was simply iprehensible.

    ¡°Alivia, let the professionals handle their work.¡±

    Another cutting remark.

    Alivia¡¯s hatred grew wild inside, wishing she could fly back home and tear Brielle to pieces.

    How could Brielle deserve his love!

    Chapter 350

 Chapter 350

    Chapter 350

    But all the madness was cloaked beneath a calm exterior. She moved towards the bed where Martha

    lay sleeping, and in a corner where Max couldn¡¯t see, a resentful curl touched her lips.

    ¡°Hmm, I get it. It¡¯s just tough seeing Aunt Martha like this, you know? Always makes me wanna do

    something for her.¡±

    Max¡¯s chill seemed to dissipate a bit. ¡°Alivia, I really appreciate you taking the time to visit my mom.

    Whether it¡¯s cash or getting Dorsey International to invest in the research institute, I can make it

    happen for you.¡±

    That was what they had agreed upon from the start, and he had provided Alivia with a card in the past.

    What mattered most was that Max had made it crystal clear years ago¨Cif he happened to meet

    someone he liked, he was going to marry that person. So, he didn¡¯t need anyone waiting for him.

    Everyone was an independent entity in this world. There was no need to waste time on someone else.

    Alivia¡¯s hand, hanging by her side, slowly clenched into a fist. Her nails dug into her palm. Before, she

    would have agreed without hesitation because she was confident that Max would never meet anyone

    he liked.

    But reality had hit her hard. She would have to go back to the States and see for herself who this

    Brielle was that had ensnared Max!

    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    ¡°I know, Max. Don¡¯t feel burdened. I visit Aunt Martha because she was always good to me, and you

    can¡¯t let go of her, can you? If you do find someone in the future, I¡¯ll just be happy for you. But I hope

    that doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll drift away from me. After all, we grew up together, didn¡¯t

    we?¡±

    She yed the sentiment card first, to bridge the gap between them.

    Max wouldn¡¯t speak too harshly, whether it was for the years of acquaintance or her care for Martha,

    even considering Kenzo¡¯s sake. As long as she could be by his side, even just as a friend, there would

    be opportunities in the future. Her presence would always be a threat to Brielle. The thought of Brielle

    defeating her was simply ludicrous.

    After quickly weighing the pros and cons, Alivia¡¯s eyes settled into a detached calm. ¡°Max, have you

    met someone you like?¡±

    Max¡¯s expression softened in an instant, and he looked down with a gentleugh. ¡°I suppose

    50.¡±

    Alivia tasted bitterness, but thankfully, he had said ¡°I suppose¡± and not ¡°definitely.¡± Considering the

    obstacles lying between him and Brielle, their path wouldn¡¯t be easy. But if Max were with Alivia, it

    wouldn¡¯t be so difficult. Everyone would bless their union. Even Michael couldn¡¯t wait

    1545

    Chapter 350

    for them to tie the knot.

    A cold sneer flickered through Alivia¡¯s eyes. The whole world seemed to be against Max and Brielle

    being together, yet it was rooting for Allvia and Max. No matter how capable Brielle was. how could she

    fight against so many? Moreover, Max¡¯s feelings for Alivia were still unclear even to himself.

    With this in mind, Alivia felt increasingly confident. She slowly unclenched her fist, the bloody marks

    marred her palm.

    ¡°Once you¡¯re sure, you¡¯ve gotta tell me, Max. Our rtionship is special. Our families have been close

    for generations. I haven¡¯t married, and people think I¡¯m waiting for you. But we¡¯re both clear¨Cheaded.

    The most suitable person for you to marry is me, and vice versa. Even if we meet others we like, it

    won¡¯t affect our friendship, right?¡±

    No matter what, she wasn¡¯t going to be left behind.

    Now that Alivia had positioned herself advantageously, if Max and Brielle ever dide out as a

    couple and Brielle took issue with Alivia¡¯s presence, then Brielle would seem petty and small¨Cminded.

    By then, a host of people would be up in arms defending Alivia. After all,pared to the time Alivia

    had known Max, Brielle was, at best, just a passing fancy.

    Having analyzed all this, Alivia took a moist towelette and gently wiped Martha¡¯s palm. ¡°But Max, let¡¯s

    not tell Aunt Martha until you¡¯re sure about your feelings. She¡¯s always hoped we¡¯d end up together.

    Hearing another woman¡¯s name out of the blue would disappoint her. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll keep your secret.¡±

    Indeed, Alivia¡¯s words scored major points with Max. From Max¡¯s perspective, this was the Alivia he

    knew, the girl raised with the best of everything since childhood.

 Chapter 351

    Chapter 351

    ¡°Alivia, thank you.¡±

    Max¡¯s chill seemed to fade a bit as he stepped out to discuss the potential side effects of the new

    medication with the doctor.

    Once he was gone. Alivia¡¯s eyes brimmed with venom, her grip tightening on Martha¡¯s hand until it

    reddened.

    Martha slowly opened her eyes and, seeing Alivia distressed, couldn¡¯t help but reach out, ¡°Alivia,

    what¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Quickly dabbing at her teary eyes, Alivia apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Aunt Martha. Did I hurt you? I was just

    lost in thought.¡±

    ¡°Did Max give you a hard time?¡±

    ¡°No, Max would never do that to me.¡±

    ¡°Then someone must havee into Max¡¯s life, someone who¡¯s making you unhappy?¡±

    Martha was a sharp woman when lucid and had hit the nail on the head. Alivia fell silent, letting her

    gaze drop. ¡°Aunt Martha, you just focus on getting better. Don¡¯t worry about anything else.¡±

    Martha¡¯s moments of rity were few. Now, she stared at the ceiling. ¡°I heard they¡¯re trying a new drug

    on me. It¡¯s supposed to give me more lucid time, but with side effects. After I start the treatment, I¡¯ll be

    moved to a care facility back home. Alivia, you¡¯re the daughter¨Cinw I¡¯ve chosen for Max. Only when

    you two are married will I rest in peace.¡±

    A flicker of amusement crossed Alivia¡¯s eyes. ¡°Aunt Martha, concentrate on your health. Don¡¯t fret over

    our rtionship.¡±

    Martha¡¯s gaze was steely. ¡°As for other women, I won¡¯t allow them anywhere near Max.¡±

    This was what Alivia wanted. She couldn¡¯t control Max, but she could easily manage the people around

    him.

    With the new drug. Martha would likely spend a couple of months in recovery. By the time she returned

    to Beaconsfield, things would certainly heat up.

    ¡°Aunt Martha, I¡¯ll keep an eye on Max for you, but please, don¡¯t mention any of this in front of him,

    okay?¡±

    Martha closed her eyes, already weary from the brief moment of alertness. ¡°Mhm.¡±

    After wiping Martha¡¯s palm, Alivia retreated to a corner of the hallway and dialed Noah to check on his

    progress.

    At the sight of the iing call, Noah felt a flush of heat on the other side of his desk sat Brielle.

    Chapter 351

    Brielle was organizing files from a recent executive meeting and raised an eyebrow at the shing

    name on his screen. ¡°Mr. Noah, aren¡¯t you going to answer that?¡±

    Noah mmed his documents onto the desk with frustration and embarrassment. ¡°My calls are none of

    your business! Brielle, I heard you voted against Spencer. You really y hardball. If Spencer doesn¡¯t

    get into Dorsey International, he¡¯ll be theughing stock of Beaconsfield.¡±

    The idea of a Dorsey family member not making it into the familypany was indeed quite

    Brielle merely smiled, her poise unshaken as she regarded the other executives in the room. ¡°My vote

    wasn¡¯t decisive. Whether Spencer gets in is up to HR. Mr. Noah, I was merely asking about your call.

    Why do you seem to have stepped on andmine? Could it be that Ms. Alivia is someone you¡¯d rather

    keep hidden?¡±

    ¡°You!¡± Noah was livid, and his grip on his phone turned white. With a final re at Brielle, he stormed

    out of the conference room. Alivia¡¯s timing with her call couldn¡¯t have been worse.

    Finding a quiet spot, Noah cleared his throat and finally answered the call. ¡°Alivia?¡±

    He expected her to immediately ask if he hadpleted his task, but instead, she inquired about his

    well¨Cbeing and if he had encountered any troubles at worktely.

    In matters of cunning and strategy, Noah was no match for Alivia. She deftly steered the conversation

    towards his job frustrations, which, as it turned out, were mostly due to Brielle. Thus, the topic naturally

    shifted to her. ¡°Noah, did you make any progress with what I mentionedst time?¡±

    He stiffened at the mention of Brielle, his anger ring anew. ¡°I thought I was close several times, but

    Brielle ys hard to get like a pro. And you know about Spencer, right? He broke off their engagement

    before, publicly dismissing her ¨C everyone at thepany knows. Now, he¡¯s inexplicably desperate to

    work under her, as her assistant of all things. I swear, Brielle¡¯s like a siren, casting spells on men. Why

    else would Spencer swallow his pride like this?¡±

    Alivia gleaned the essential information from Noah¡¯s rant. Brielle and Spencer¡¯s ties were not yet

    severed.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

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    Chapter 352

    Her eyes twinkled with mirth. ¡°You know, Spencer is sort of a friend of mine, too. Noah, if Brielle really

    grinds your gears, why not y matchmaker with those two? Spencer¡¯s part of the Dorsey n. If he

    ever climbs the corporatedder, he could be a powerful ally for you.¡±

    A spark of interest flickered in Noah¡¯s eyes. The thought of Brielle¡¯s recent arrogance left a sour taste in

    his mouth. If Spencer rose to power, he¡¯d undoubtedly make Brielle¡¯s life difficult. And even if Spencer

    ended up as just another face in the Dorsey International crowd, his mere presence would be a thorn in

    Brielle¡¯s side, given her disdain for him.

    ¡°Alivia, I¡¯ve got it handled. Trust me, I¡¯ll make sure Spencer gets a foot in the door at thepany.¡±

    They exchanged a few more words before Noah reluctantly ended the call. As he turned around. he

    nearly jumped out of his skin at the sight of a woman standing mere meters behind him. His

    embarrassment quickly turned to anger. ¡°Brielle! Were you eavesdropping on my call?!¡±

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Brielle¡¯sugh was sardonic as she pointed to the floor. ¡°This is a public area, Mr. Noah. Maybe next

    time, you should find a more private spot for your calls. I had to pass by to get to my department and

    was polite enough not to interrupt.¡±

    Noah¡¯s face turned icy. He was embarrassed and wished he could strangle her right there. ¡°How much

    did you hear?¡±

    He hadn¡¯t been on speaker, but if Brielle had been there from the start, she¡¯d have heard every word.

    ¡°Mr. Noah, would you believe me if I said I heard nothing?¡±

    Brielle gave him a once¨Cover, her tone tinged with pity. ¡°I¡¯ve never met Ms. Alivia, but if she¡¯s

    manipting her admirer to go after someone she dislikes, it doesn¡¯t seem very honorable. Wasn¡¯t Ms.

    Alivia brought up with a top¨Cnotch education?¡±

    The skepticism in Brielle¡¯s eyes felt like sphemy to Noah. He wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to belittle Alivia.

    His gaze turned malevolent, and he reached out to grab Brielle¡¯s throat.

    But Brielle ducked, avoiding his grasp, and with a swift move, she pinned his arms behind his back,

    pressing him against the wall. Noah, red with rage, struggled helplessly. ¡°Let go of me!¡±

    ¡°Mr. Noah, like I said, don¡¯t start anything, or I¡¯ll make a move too.¡± She released him and walked

    towards the elevator.

    Rubbing his sore arms, Noah seethed with loathing for Brielle. Shecked any semnce of femininity,

    nothing like Alivia¡¯s grace.

    Once inside the elevator, Brielle¡¯s brow furrowed. Alivia¡¯s reach was indeed long, meddling in Dorsey

    International¡¯s affairs and bossing around its executives. With the backing of the Barnes family, she

    lived a life of ease that 99% of the world could only dream of.

    Brielle sighed softly as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. It was unwise to confront someone like

    Alivia without having her own wings fully spread. But Alivia had already made her

    Chapter 352

    move.

    Returning to her office, Brielle tackled an afternoon¡¯s worth of paperwork. By 8 PM. Dorsey Tower was

    still buzzing with activity. Having cleared her backlog of work, she rubbed her tired. eyes and stood to

    leave, only to be greeted by amotion outside. Curious to check it out, she grabbed her bag and

    stepped out to a hallway filled with delicious aromas.

    Spencer, all smiles, was at the center of a lively crowd. Spotting her, his face lit up. ¡°Brielle.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s expression darkened. She turned to leave, but Spencer caught her wrist. ¡°I got somete¨C

    night snacks for the team. You¡¯ve been working hard all day; have something before your 90.¡±

    The office eavesdropped eagerly, remembering how Spencer once couldn¡¯t stand Brielle. Yet now, it

    seemed he had taken a sudden liking to her.

    Shaking off his hand, she said tly, ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡±

    Undeterred, Spencer chuckled, ¡°I packed a light meal just for you. Take it home, heat it up if your get

    hungry.¡±

    Brielle frowned and her patience was wearing thin. ¡°What¡¯s this all about, Spencer?¡±

    It was best to address some matters head¨Con, especially with so many onlookers. If she didn¡¯t make

    her stance clear, people might think she was leading Spencer on. In this society, women were held to a

    much higher standard than men.

    ¡°Look, Brielle, am I not being clear enough? I¡¯m trying to win you back. I made mistakes before. and I

    know you have feelings for me, too. Can we drop the past and start over?¡±

    Chapter 353

    ¡°I know you have feelings for me, too?¡±

 Chapter 353

    Chapter 353

    Brielle almost burst intoughter at the sheer audacity of Spencer¡¯s confidence. Stripping away the

    years of familiarity, what did Spencer have to his name except the legacy of the Dorsey family?

    She didn¡¯t want to utter a single word, yet she overheard the murmurs of discontent within the

    department.

    ¡°We¡¯ve been putting in so much overtimetely. What¡¯s the harm in a littlete¨Cnight snack?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s been on leave for so many days. We¡¯ve all had to pick up the ck.¡±

    It dawned on Brielle that there was more to leadership than just strength; it was about managing

    people. Your power was measured by how many were willing to serve you. She had never before

    considered the intricacies of interpersonal rtionships, but now she couldn¡¯t ignore her colleagues¡®

    comints. Due to her absence, overtime had indeed increased.

    She offered a smile, turning to those still present. ¡°Friday¡¯sing up. Let¡¯s do dinner on me, huh?

    Spread the word to the rest, you¡¯ve all earned it.¡±

    Theiners were taken aback, somewhat startled. They¡¯d never expected Brielle to show such a

    down¨Cto¨Cearth side. Back when Brielle was a manager, she was a lone wolf. So, this sudden gesture

    left them feeling a bit sheepish.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, there¡¯s quite a bunch of us in the department. This could run you a pretty penny,¡± one of

    them said.

    Brielle¡¯s smile grew more generous. ¡°No worries. Just send me the bill afterward.¡± With that. she strode

    off.

    Spencer hurried after her. ¡°Brielle!¡±

    She pretended not to hear him, frowning as she pressed the elevator button.

    Meanwhile, the department was abuzz with whispers, especially about the one who had spoken

    1. up.

    ¡°Why are you worried about Ms. Haywood¡¯s money? She¡¯s a director now, and with Spencer chasing

    her, she¡¯ll likely marry into wealth.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. Let¡¯s not hold back tomorrow night. Order the expensive stuff. I¡¯ve never liked her much

    anyway.¡±

    ¡°First, Noah, now Spencer. Why does Brielle have all the luck?¡±

    The other women in the department were green with envy. Hooking up with a high¨Cup meant a life of

    luxury, and Brielle had snagged two. Spencer, set to inherit a chunk of the Dorsey fortune, was leagues

    ahead of Noah.

    1/2

    The loudest of theiners was Sarah.

    ¡°I say we all go for king crab tomorrow night. If it doesn¡¯t cost us a small fortune, we¡¯re not doing justice

    to Ms. Haywood¡¯s status.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit much?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the harm? She didn¡¯t set a limit. When others got promoted, they knew how to treat their

    colleagues. It took Spencer to remind her. I can¡¯t fathom what he sees in a woman he once dismissed.¡±

    The more Sarah thought about it, the angrier she became.

    It was clear to everyone that Sarah probably had a crush on Spencer. With Spencer¡¯s boyish charm

    and his history in the department, it was inevitable that some would fall for him..

    ¡°Sarah, cut it out. There are cameras here. Be careful. Do you remember what happened to Emily after

    crossing Brielle? She vanished.¡±

    Someone warned Sarah, hoping to prevent any drama that might make life difficult for

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    everyone.

    Sarah pouted. ¡°Can¡¯t I even speak my mind? Every time I see her smug face, it just gets to me.¡±

    Sarah¡¯sints dwindled, but the department remained restless.

    Brielle, who had already driven off, avoiding Spencer and returning to Pearl Estate, didn¡¯t know any of

    this.

    It was only after locking her door that she finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling an unease settle in her

    chest. After a ss of water and a nce out the window to ensure no odd figures were following her¨C

    fortunately. Spencer hadn¡¯t¨CBrielle settled on the couch.

    In the stillness, her thoughts inevitably drifted to the phone call with Max. What would they talk about

    when he returned?

    His departure was hasty, and she didn¡¯t even know why he had to travel abroad with Alivia. She was in

    the dark about everything. It was all just a gamble.

    This might¡¯ve been the only gamble she¡¯d ever taken in her life, so she prayed silently, hoping

    not to lose.

    Her phone chimed, and as though summoned by her thoughts, there was a picture from him. It was a

    cluster of small flowers.

    Brielle instantly recognized them as irises. She smiled, feeling a profound sense of peace. Everything

    else could wait until his return.

 Chapter 354

    Chapter 354

    On a Friday afternoon, Brielle wrapped up her day¡¯s work early when she heard the distant buzz of her

    colleagues gearing up for a dinner party. Her office door swung open, and someone strode in.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, we¡¯ve got a private dining room booked. Come have a drink or two with us.¡±

    Initially reluctant, Brielle considered the solitude of her ownpany at home and agreed with a nod.

    After tidying up loose ends for the uing workdays, she nced at the clock¨Cit was 8 PM. She

    decided to make a brief appearance at the gathering, a gesture that wouldn¡¯te off as rude. Arriving

    too early might have stifled the fun, she reasoned.

    Following the directions provided by her colleagues, Brielle easily located the restaurant. It was a

    decent ce¨Cnot too pricey. By her estimate, the group¡¯s meal would probably run up a tab of around

    four thousand bucks.

    Pushing open the private room¡¯s door, she found everyone already in high spirits.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, you¡¯ve made it!¡±

    ¡°How about singing a song?¡±

    ¡°With your good looks, Ms. Haywood, I bet you¡¯ve got a lovely voice, too.¡±

    One unique feature of the restaurant was that the karaoke setup was integrated into the dining. area.

    Some had already begun to belt out tunes, but with Brielle¡¯s arrival, even the sober ones seemed a bit

    restrained.

    Brielle grabbed a bottle from the table and poured herself a drink. ¡°I won¡¯t stay long¨CI don¡¯t want to

    cramp your style. You all have fun tonight and rest up tomorrow. I asked the front desk when I came in.

    They have plenty of snacks, so let¡¯s have them bring some inter.¡±

    ¡°Hurray for Ms. Haywood!¡± A cheer went up from the crowd.

    This was Brielle¡¯s first time socializing with her colleagues in such a manner. She smiled, nodded, took

    her drink, and made to leave.

    But then, a voice cut through the crowd. ¡°Just one drink? Surely that¡¯s not enough. Laters have to

    down three, you know.¡±

    The atmosphere turned awkward in an instant, as everyone seemed unsure of how to react.

    The speaker was Sarah, already tipsy. Her eyes squinted with unmasked displeasure at Brielle¡¯s

    presence. Brielle gave her a nce, choosing not to take offense, hoping to give them both an out.

    Some people, however, refused the chance even when it was right in front of them. Probably irked by

    Brielle¡¯s non¨Cresponse, Sarah staggered to her feet, and no one dared stop her.

    10:58

    Chapter 354

    This was their boss, after all. Embarrassing her in such a setting was a fool¡¯s errand.

    Microphone in hand, Sarah¡¯s flushed face broke into a sneer. ¡°You¡¯re not just drinking three¨Cyou¡¯re

    gonna listen to me sing. How about ¡®Femme Fatale? Seems fitting, given how you snare one heart after

    another.¡± Everyone held their breath, but Sarah felt vindicated.

    Brielle chuckled lightly, asking someone nearby, ¡°Is there really a song called ¡®Femme Fatale?¡±

    The questioned colleague was mortified and nodded.

    ¡°Alright, then. I¡¯ll stay for the song,¡± said Brielle as she took a seat.

    People expected an outburst from Brielle, but she remainedposed. Hearing this. Sarah suddenly

    didn¡¯t know what to do, her breaths growingbored. Realizing the mood had soured and the alcohol¡¯s

    effect was waning, she panicked at the sight of Brielle sitting coolly among them.

    Brielle¡¯s gaze was calm yet piercing. Brielle looked at Sarah, just clutching the mic, and she frowned.

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you going to sing?¡±

    Sarah shivered at the remark, looking like the victim in the eyes of the uninformed. She bit her lip,

    unable to meet Brielle¡¯s eyes, let alone sing.

    Now, her colleagues began to urge her.

    ¡°Sarah, weren¡¯t you going to sing? Go on, Ms. Haywood is waiting.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t keep her waiting.¡±

    When they had been choosing the dinner venue, Sarah had been the most enthusiastic, suggesting a

    three¨Cstar Michelin restaurant. With so many in the department, dining Michelin¨Cstyle could easily cost

    Brielle tens of thousands. They wisely chose a more modest establishment, but now Sarah¡¯s drunken

    antics had led to this tense moment.

    As the director, Brielle had the power to make or break careers. Challenging her like this was a clear

    sign of a malfunctioning brain.

    Sarah¡¯s voice trembled with fear. ¡°Ms. Haywood, I¨CI¡¯m sorry, I was drunk.¡±N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    Brielle remained silent, simply smiling at her ss. Her silence spoke volumes. It was as if she was

    saying, ¡°If you don¡¯t sing, I won¡¯t leave.¡±

 Chapter 355

    Chapter 355

    Sarah had no choice but to bring the microphone to her lips, her voice quivering as she tentatively

    began to sing ¡°Femme Fatale.¡± She couldn¡¯t find the tune to save her life, and the discordant sounds

    seemed to buzz relentlessly in her head. By the end of the song. Sarah was in tears, wiping her eyes

    and sobbing.

    She thought that by now, someone from work, one of the guys, woulde to her defense with a few

    kind words, but after half a minute of weeping, there was only silence. She felt bitter and regretful, but

    she mustered the strength to finish thest verse.

    The moment the backing track ended, Brielle pped with a chuckle. ¡°Your singing needs some work,

    but I apud the courage.¡±

    That ¡®apuse for courage¡® was a backhandedpliment, if ever there was one.

    She turned to the others, downing another drink. ¡°I¡¯ve settled the tab. Everyone have fun, and guys,

    don¡¯t forget to give a lift home to anydy who¡¯s had one too many. Let¡¯s make sure everyone gets

    home safe and sound.¡±

    The men around began to agree.

    Brielle then turned and left. Stepping out into the chilly night, she sneezed.

    Christmas lights twinkled everywhere, reminding her that it was Christmas Eve. The cold was setting in,

    but the spirit of Christmas warmed the bustling streets.

    Everywhere she looked, Christmas trees sparkled, and festive stickers adorned the windows.

    spreading holiday cheer.

    Brielle warmed her hands with her breath before heading over to her car. But just as she was about to

    reach it, another car pulled up beside her, a familiar license te catching her eye.

    The window rolled down, and although the backlight obscured the figure inside, she could see the glint

    of a ck rosary dangling from a hand with long, artistically slender fingers.

    Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of Max, and she felt a strange shyness after days apart. She got

    in, and as the car door shut, they drove off in silence. Her hands were resting awkwardly on her knees

    as if her throat was constricted.

    It wasn¡¯t until she noticed they weren¡¯t heading towards Premier Pce or Pearl Estate that she finally

    spoke up, ¡°Where are we going?¡±

    Max, who had been stealing nces at her, looked away with a smirk. He had missed her more than

    he expected, especially after seeing the irises abroad. He couldn¡¯t forget the sight of her lying still on

    the ground, a faint trail of blood behind her. His insides had felt torn, a visceral pain clenching at him.

    These few days abroad, he had realized that if he had lost Brielle, he wouldn¡¯t know what to do. When

    he found she was still breathing, his heart, which he thought had died, suddenly revived. Some things,

    he felt, needed to be said in person.

    1/2

    10:58

    Chapter 355

    ¡°Going to a hotel,¡± he finally replied, his gaze returning to the road.

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    The word ¡®hotel¡® sent a jolt through Brielle, but she dared not look at his face. The initial rush of

    excitement was quickly reced by a sinking feeling of disappointment. To her. Max was like at drug,

    and once the high wore off, she was left to deal with the harsh reality.

    He wanted to take her to a hotel as soon as he returned, treating her like a call girl who could easily be

    summoned and just as easily dismissed.

    She lowered her gaze, feeling a bitter tang of sadness..

    Max, meanwhile, had pulled out a pillow from somewhere in the car¨Ca clear sign of premeditation, as

    his car never used to have such things. ¡°If you¡¯re tired, you can use this to get some sleep,¡± he said,

    handing her the pillow.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Brielle muttered. Her thoughts were elsewhere, feeling as if her heart was being

    squeezed tight. She didn¡¯t realize that Max was waiting for something, looking almost uneasy.

    After a brief struggle with her emotions, Brielle looked out the window. Her voice was hoarse with

    unshed tears. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, I have things to do when I get back. You can let me out here.¡± She didn¡¯t

    want to stay another minute, seeking refuge where she could lick her wounds in private.

    Max didn¡¯t expect her to react this way. ¡°It¡¯s Friday. You don¡¯t work tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°I have to work overtime. Please, let me out.¡±

    ¡°Brielle,¡± he started to protest.

    ¡°I want to get out!¡± she insisted, her voice breaking.

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    Chapter 356

    Her voice was resolute, and perhaps realizing a surge of emotion, she slowly lowered her gaze.

    Max was just quietly watching her while Brielle dared not meet his eyes. After a long moment. Max

    slipped oft the ck rosary from his wrist and ced it onto hers. The ck beads still carried the

    warmth of his skin, his scent.

    Brielle jerked her head up in disbelief. Had he really given her the rosary? Had Max ced his rosary

    on her wrist?

    Her eyes widened in shock, and her mind was a nk canvas. It was as if the Milky Way had. suddenly

    cascaded into the core of her heart.

    She must¡¯ve been dreaming!

    However, the coolness on her wrist reminded her that this was all very real.

    ¡°Brielle?¡±

    Seeing her sitting there, dazed, Max took her hand and gently kissed it. His lips were cool, cool enough

    to make Brielle retract her fingers slightly. ¡°Brielle, stay with me tonight.¡±

    Max had the ability to make any woman fall into the trap of his love if he so wished.

    Brielle opened her mouth. She had words that could fill an entire universe to say, yet unable to utter a

    single star. At that moment, she felt a potent flutter, like a wildfire raging uncontrobly. She could

    navigate all the rivers and the winding roads, but she couldn¡¯t navigate around Max.

    Stunned, she lowered her head and touched the ck beads on her wrist. Without another word from

    him, she understood. It wasn¡¯t unrequited love; she wasn¡¯t performing a solo act.

    Max had responded. This realization filled her with such joy that she nearly lost her voice.

    She didn¡¯t recall how she got out of the car, or how she took the elevator. Everything around them

    seemed too quiet; in the whole hotel, it felt like they were the only two people.

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    Their room on the top floor overlooked the entire town of Beaconsfietti.

    Max¡¯s eyes were dark; his usual aloofness was now an intoxicating allure. ¡°As his lips met hers, Brielle

    was still a bit dizzy. All the lights below seemed to turn into stars on the ground. She could reach out

    and pluck them from the sky.

    Her cheeks flushed as she raised her head and wrapped her arms around his neck.

    Max¡¯s hands slid from her back to her waist, flipping her over. They fell into this mire together,

    entwined.

    Brielle felt an immense satisfaction, joy seeping from her very bones. She never aspired to be at

    celestial being; all she wanted was to be with the one who made her heart race, to be just another

    couple in Beaconsfield.

    Chapter 356

    The town lights were before her, and behind her was her worldly haven. The ck beads on her wrist

    gently swayed. He was no longer The Priest.

    He was just Max.

    Brielle¡¯s face was flushed with shyness, and then she saw fireworks suddenly erupt in the distance,

    lighting up the entire city. Under the witness of these fireworks, they engaged in the most intimate,

    irreceable lovemaking.

    He kissed her lips tenderly, so gently they seemed to weep.

    The fireworks blossomed not in the sky but in her heart. The booming sounds made her eardrums

    tremble.

    Max seemed to whisper something in her ear before moving his kisses along her skin.

    Brielle was too exhausted from the night¡¯s activities, watching the fireworks fade away until the sky

    began to show the first light of dawn. She felt worn, her body was devoid of any unblemished skin, and

    her eyes reddened several times over.

    She couldn¡¯t move a finger as shey in bed. Yet, she was still trying to remember what Max

    ad said at the end of the fireworks.

    ventually, she was too tired to think, turned and nestled into his embrace, and fell asleep.

    Max looked down at her and chuckled softly, repeating the words. ¡°Brielle, I¡¯ve been defeated by

    opamine.¡±

 Chapter 357

    Chapter 357

    Dopamine, the instigator of fondness, the spark behind it all. It represented addiction and longing. The

    name Brielle amplified those cravings.

    Max had lived for twenty¨Csix years, and for the first time, he admitted defeat.

    When Brielle woke up, snow was drifting past the window. She turned over wearily, finding the other

    side of the bed empty. Her eyes snapped open, and she sat up abruptly.

    The movement sent a wave of soreness through her body, and she frowned, taking in the unfamiliar

    surroundings.

    It snowed, and Max had returned. They had kissed their way from the elevator to the doorstep.

    Her cheeks burned with heat as she thought of lifting the nket, only to notice the string of ck

    beads around her wrist.

    Max had given her those beads, leaving a cool kiss on her fingertips.

    Max.

    Max.

    Her mind was now a whirlwind of thoughts about Max.

    After freshening up, she quietly opened the door to the living room. Max was already dressed in a suit,

    sipping coffee, and browsing through the documents Patrick had delivered that morning. He looked up

    slowly at the sound of her footsteps.

    Brielle paused, awkwardly averting her gaze. Her pale skin made the bracelet around her wrist

    stand out even more.

    The fairy of the night had brought The Priest down to earth, and that bracelet was a token of his willing

    descent.

    Brielle walked uneasily, feeling a tender ache with every step. It wasn¡¯t unbearable, but it stirred an

    unsettling restlessness within her.

    Max reached out, grasping her wrist and pulling her into his embrace. She wore the silk. nightgown

    provided by the hotel. Its neckline was modest, but the patchy marks on her neck. were impossible to

    cover.

    ¡°Max,¡± she said, frozen in his arms, while he remained casual. His hands encircled her waist as he

    continued with his paperwork.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    Brielle bit her lip, taking a while to rx against his chest.

    Max¡¯s chin rested lightly on her shoulder, asking. ¡°Are you hungry?¡±

    Indeed, Brielle felt a pang of hunger, but happiness hade so unexpectedly that she felt like

    ¡±

    Chapter 357

    she was walking on clouds, engulfed in a surreal softness.

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    Max¡¯s fingertip touched her chin, tilting her face up. ¡°Brielle, don¡¯t you have anything to ask?¡± Like why

    he gave her the bracelet, or why they were having sex again.

    Her gaze met his, unaware of how enchanting her eyes were¨Csparkling, gleaming, like ss

    submerged in water. If she were a canary, he wished she¡¯d always sing in the opulent cage he¡¯d

    crafted. But he knew well that Brielle was no canary.

    His fingertips gently traced the marks on her neck, as he remembered hisck of control. When he saw

    those irises abroad, he understood what longing was. He thought he must¡¯ve liked Brielle.

    He had been trying to resist this uncontroble feeling, but when he saw her bruised and battered, all

    thoughts of dopamine, desire circuits, oxytocin, and vasopressin seemed irrelevant. He just wanted to

    see Brielle, nothing more.

    Max lowered his head to the marked tender skin and kissed those traces gently.

    Brielle¡¯s toes curled, and her cheeks flushed. ¡°No.¡± She knew what he was trying to say, so there was

    no need for words to prove it.

 Chapter 358

    Chapter 358

    ¡°No? Really?¡±

    Max echoed the words, but with a different inflection that carried a tinge of amusement.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    The next moment, he chuckled softly, resting his chin lightly on her shoulder while maintaining their

    close embrace. His hair brushed against Brielle¡¯s cheek, making her feel as if her heart had melted into

    a warm puddle.

    In the past, she would have found it hard to imagine Max being so affectionate with a woman. Even

    during their few lovemakings, he had always been in absolute control, perhaps indulgent at times but

    never as tender as he was now.

    Sitting in his arms with her cheeks flushing, Brielle gazed out at the snowkes dancing in the air and

    thought to herself, ¡°This must be what being together feels like.¡±

    The thought of being with Max filled her with an indescribable sweetness.

    A knock on the door drew Brielle out of Max¡¯s embrace, and she settled herself on a nearby chair.

    Patrick walked in and immediately noticed the ck beads around Brielle¡¯s wrist, his eyes betraying a

    sh of surprise. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, Ms. Brielle, I¡¯ve ordered breakfast. It should arrive in about ten minutes.¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t miss the flicker of emotion in Patrick¡¯s eyes. She had always wondered what those ck

    beads meant to Max. To everyone in the Beaconsfield elite, the beads were synonymous with Max, and

    his austere demeanor earned him the nickname ¡°The Priest.¡± Her fingers lightly traced the beads as a

    smile curled the edges of her lips.

    Max, noticing her gesture, felt a strange sense of satisfaction. Perhaps admitting his fondness for

    Brielle had torn down some psychological barrier because now, he thought she was perfect from head

    to toe, including every strand of her hair.

    Although Max didn¡¯t fully understand that this was what liking someone felt like, he was certain about

    one thing ¨C Brielle was different, and others simply wouldn¡¯t do.

    Patrick, sensing he was somewhat superfluous at the moment, discreetly made his exit.

    True to his word, ten minutester, a server wheeled in a cartden with an array of exquisite dishes.

    Wearing pristine white gloves, the server carefullyid the dishes out on the table.

    After being up all night, Brielle¡¯s hunger had returned with a vengeance.

    Once the server had arranged everything and politely left, Max handed Brielle the cutlery and observed

    her eating habits. She had a penchant for a breakfast of oatmeal, a boiled egg, and a side of vegetable

    sd. She was a picky eater and left the carrots untouched in her sd. She favored in oatmeal

    and did not even touch the sweet or savory options.

    Chapter 358

    With every bite Brielle took, Max cataloged her preferences. When Brielle finally set her spoon down,

    Max frowned slightly, concerned she hadn¡¯t eaten enough.

    Brielle caught his gaze, and despite the familiarity of his face, she still felt a thrill each time their eyes

    met.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Max¡¯s face was the most handsome she had ever known. His aura was akin to a rare blossom, cold

    and translucent. Suddenly, the image of his expression shifting from icy detachment to fiercely

    possessive as he gripped her waist shed in her mind. It was the look of a dangerously alluring flower,

    and her toes curled slightly.

    His usually stoic eyes softened with a smile, sparkling like stars in the night sky. ¡°Brielle, what¡¯s on your

    mind?¡± he asked, his gaze trailing down her neck.

    Brielle abruptly remembered how low the neckline of her nightgown was. Had Patrick seen the marks

    there? A wave of annoyance washed over her.

    ¡°Max, about that book project, did you know William is handling it now?¡±

    The world¡¯s most mood¨Cbreaking woman¨CBrielle.

    Max sighed softly, signaling for the server to clear the table, and then he undid the top button of

    his shirt.

    Brielle¡¯s eyes were helplessly drawn to his fingers. Max¡¯s hands were the most attractive she had ever

    seen. Even if his face were hidden, just a photo of those hands posted online would attract hordes of

    adoring fans.

    Every part of him was perfect as if he were a favored creation of the divine.

    Brielle¡¯s thoughts began to wander again, but before she could gather herself, Max had pulled her

    close, his voice a whisper in her ear. ¡°Just now, were you really thinking about work?¡±

    His voice was seductive, and she couldn¡¯t admit that she was actually thinking about him. He was right

    there in front of her, yet she still wanted more.

    As the snow outside grew heavier, she looked up as if making a decision and boldly wrapped her arms

    around his neck.

    Max sensed the change in Brielle. Before, in their encounters, she had been quite forward. But since

    he had given her the beads, she seemed to have softened, bing more docile as if a hedgehog

    was showing its vulnerable belly.

    He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, unable to resist the allure of her submissive gaze¨Cit

    was too easy for one to fall for it.

 Chapter 359

    Chapter 359

    When Brielle stirred awake, she found herself already in Pearl Estate. Her body was feeling as though

    she had been through a prize fight ande out the loser.

    The room was empty. Max must have gone to the office to catch up on work he¡¯d missed.

    A warm, fuzzy sensation fluttered in Brielle¡¯s chest at the thought of him. Just then, her phone¡¯s

    ringtone sliced through the quiet, and her brow furrowed when she saw the name shing on the

    screen.

    Spencer.

    She hit the answer button, her voiceing out more gravelly than she¡¯d expected. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°Brielle, why weren¡¯t you home this morning? I¡¯ve been calling you for ages, and you¡¯re only now

    picking up.¡±

    Brielle nearlyughed. ¡°Spencer, since when are we even friends? I don¡¯t think I owe you any updates

    on my whereabouts.¡±

    ¡°Brielle, have you been seeing those¡­ those guys again?*

    He couldn¡¯t think of any other exnation. It was Christmas Evest night, and she hadn¡¯t answered

    his calls. Now, on Christmas Day, he¡¯d swung by Pearl Estate, and she wasn¡¯t there, and her phone

    was going unanswered.

    What on earth could she be doing?

    The thought of her possibly spending time with some other man was like a punch to the gut.

    Brielle raised an eyebrow, her mind briefly caressing the image of Max¡¯s face; her heart sweetened at

    the thought. If this were the old days, she might have yed along with Spencer¡¯s insinuations. But not

    today. Instead, she stated firmly, ¡°Actually, I am with a man. He¡¯s my boyfriend.¡±

    The words ¡®my boyfriend¡® cut through Spencer¡¯s heart like a de, Enraged, Spencershed out. ¡°You

    were engaged to me! Who else in the high society of Beaconsfield would take on ¡®used goods?¡® Unless

    it¡¯s some nobody from outside our circles. Brielle, are you really content with settling for that? Constant

    worries over trivial things, when you could have had the easy path with me.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Brielle cut him off mid¨Crant. ¡°I¡¯m tired, Spencer. If you don¡¯t have anything else. please

    stop calling. We¡¯re not at a point in our rtionship where phone calls are appropriate.¡± Spencer felt

    like his eyes were ame, his fists clenched and unclenched. He consoled himself with the thought that

    their broken engagement had been the talk of the town. No one within their elite circle would look at

    Brielle twice. Despite her beauty, no man would want a woman that used to be someone else¡¯s fianc¨¦e.

    So she must¡¯ve been lying to deter him.

    1/2

    Chapter 359

    His temper simmered down, and a smug smile curled his lips as he dialed Noah to check on his job

    application status.

    Noah, seeing Spencer¡¯s call and remembering his task, picked up. ¡°Mr. Dorsey,¡±

    ¡°Noah, did HR reject my job application?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m not sure why, but the HR director followed Brielle¡¯s lead and voted against it. You know your

    situation is¡­ delicate, and Brielle probably doesn¡¯t want to see you. However, I have another position

    avable. You could start working on the top floor. How¡¯s that?¡±N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    Working on the top floor meant running into Max, which ignited a spark of interest in Spencer. It was a

    perfect opportunity to snoop around about Max¡¯s interests.

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯lle.¡±

    After hanging up. Noah arranged for Spencer to work close to him, bypassing the usual channels; a

    nod from him was enough.

    Spencer, thinking about being back at Dorsey International and seeing Brielle daily, was ecstatic. He

    figured he should get Brielle a gift, but what did she like?

    He realized he didn¡¯t actually know her preferences. He frowned, and headed to Tequ Sunset on a

    hunch.

    He hadn¡¯t expected to actually run into someone, but there was Aubree, a regr at the bar. perched

    on a stool in a daring miniskirt, sipping her drink.

    Her expression soured at the sight of Spencer, but he seemed oblivious to her disdain as he pulled up

    a seat and ordered her another drink.

    Aubree sneered, ¡°Mr. Dorsey, I hardly think I should ept a drink from you.¡±

    Spencer understood the jab; his past indiscretions with Lillian had hurt Brielle and tainted her friends¡®

    impressions of him. But he believed there was still time to make amends..

    ¡°Aubree, I just want to ask¡­ what does Brielle like?¡±

    At his question, Aubree¡¯s sneer deepened, and her fingertips drummed on the bar.

 Chapter 360

    Chapter 360

    ¡°Brielle¡¯s been your fianc¨¦e for a decade, and you don¡¯t even know her favorite things. Spencer, oh

    Spencer, why are you snooping around now? It¡¯s none of your business anymore, you

    know?¡±

    Spencer¡¯s face soured, but he swallowed his anger. He was willing to go back to Brielle. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t she

    feel honored? Now she¡¯s got nothing, is not the Haywood heiress anymore, and is reclusive by nature.

    I¡¯m ready to embrace her, and that¡¯s her luck,¡± he thought.

    Aubree noticed his displeasure, and her lips curled into a cold smirk. ¡°Are you looking to chase her

    now? Toote. Bri¡¯s got herself a real catch. I bet you can¡¯t hold a candle to him, not in looks and

    probably not in bed either.¡±

    Aubree was always blunt to the point of disrespect, even casting a derisive nce at a certain part of

    Spencer¡¯s anatomy.

    Spencer felt like he¡¯d been pped in the face and stood up abruptly. ¡°Aubree!¡±

    He was shaking with fury, and his lips were turning white from the humiliation. No man could stand

    such an affront to his pride, especially when he considered himself quite capable in the bedroom.

    Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm the storm inside.

    Aubree wasn¡¯t scared of him. She took a casual sip of her drink, feeling utterly bored with the

    situation.

    *Spencer, you Dorsey men are truly heartless. You were hot and heavy with Lillian, and even conspired

    to deceive Bri. Now, with Lillian gone and her parents still at the police station, here you are, inquiring

    about your ex¨Cfianc¨¦e¡¯s preferences. What woman would want a man like you?¡± Sheughed as she

    spoke.

    Spencer clenched his teeth. If it weren¡¯t for her connection to the Clements family, he would not let this

    woman off easily.

    Approaching Aubree was a clear mistake.

    His chest heaved, and he turned and left. If Aubree thought Brielle wouldn¡¯t be Interested in him now,

    he was determined to win her back just to prove her wrong.

    Stepping out of the bar, he was still fuming when he spotted a drunken girl fending off a man¡¯s

    advances.

    ¡°Back off!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡±

    Spencer frowned; the voice sounded so much like Brielle¡¯s. He approached quickly and kicked the

    persistent man to the ground.

    The man cursed but recognized Spencer and slunk away.

    Chapter 360

    Spencer turned to the girl. She was cute and petite. Despite being drunk, she wasn¡¯tpletely out of

    it. Looking up at Spencer, her eyes lit up. ¡°Hey, I know you.¡±

    Her voice was eerily simr to Brielle¡¯s, but her looks were nothing like Brielle¡¯s renowned beauty. She

    was more of a girl¨Cnext¨Cdoor type..

    Fresh from the sh with Aubree and now faced with someone whose voice so resembled Brielle¡¯s,

    Spencer¡¯s mind was a blur. By the time he snapped back to reality, he had already taken the woman to

    a hotel room.

    He covered her face with his suit jacket, knowing she was willing, and fiercely gripped her waist. ¡°Say

    it.¡±

    The woman had a delicate and pretty appearance, not totally naive and was well aware of the

    intentions they both had. They had just met outside a bar and as mature adults, spending the night at a

    hotel if they found each other agreeable wasmon.

    The previous man had been unsightly and lewd, but this one was quite nice and he seemed to be

    fascinated by her voice. Therefore, she let herself go and began to moan seductively.

    C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

    Spencer felt goosebumps. He had no idea about Brielle¡¯s voice in bed, but this woman¡¯s voice was

    surprisingly simr to Brielle¡¯s. If it was actually Brielle¡­

    At this moment, he felt his thoughts were not only perverse, but also quite sordid.

    However, after being kidnapped and current circumstances, he felt he absolutely needed Brielle This

    became a sort of obsession. He did not want her to die, but he didn¡¯t want her to live it up so freely

    either.

    ¡°Say my name.¡±

    The woman hesitated, remembering his face but not his name.

    ¡°Call me Spencer.¡±

    Spencer must have lost his mind, seeking Brielle¡¯s shadow in a stranger. Perhaps it was the holiday

    spirit, or memories ofst Christmas when Brielle could still smile at him..

    ¡°Spencer¡­¡± As she pronounced his name, Spencer became relentless.

    They spent the night tangled together until dawn. When Spencer woke up at seven in the morning, he

    felt a body still in his arms. He frowned and quickly got up.

    The woman woke up with a hangover but clearly rememberedst night¡¯s escapades. Before she could

    fully process it, a stack of bills was thrown her way.

    As Spencer dressed, the woman, still a bit dazed,ughed. ¡°I knew your face looked familiar. You¡¯re

    that guy engaged to Brielle, right?¡±

 Chapter 361

    Chapter 361

    Spencer stiffened at the mention of Brielle¡¯s name, a quilty pang striking his heart. The woman didn¡¯t

    nce at the stack of bills on the bed but instead, fumbled to her feet, standing before him. ¡°I knew it

    was you. I¡¯ve seen your photo, and there was another guy, too.¡±

    She touched her chin, wistfully. ¡°You¡¯re quite the looker, but that other guy, he¡¯s like something out of a

    fairytale. Brielle¡¯s one luckydy. Did she dump you?¡±

    The moment the words left her lips, Spencer¡¯s head snapped up. ¡°Who are you?¡±

    She chuckled, ¡°A rtive of mine lives next door to Brielle. Mentioned setting me up with someone,

    asked if I fancied him for a potential match.¡±

    Spencer recalled Brielle¡¯s chatty neighbor from her apartment days, who indeed had made such a fuss

    about introducing him to someone but he¡¯d taken it as a joke. That wasn¡¯t the point, though. The point

    was this otherworldly man. Who was he?

    ¨C

    His eyes reddened, and his insides churned with unease. He feigned calm as he pulled up a photo on

    his phone. ¡°You said you¡¯ve seen this other guy? What did your rtive say? Was he also visiting

    Brielle?¡±

    The woman smiled, ¡°Yeah, Brielle¡¯s got a fianc¨¦, but it seems like this guy is her kept man. Though

    judging by his looks, I doubt it.¡± Such an aura he had, he couldn¡¯t possibly be a mere boy toy.

    Spencer¡¯s h?nd, resting by his side, clenched until he felt his palm might bleed. He thrust the phone in

    the woman¡¯s face. ¡°Him? Is it him?¡±

    The photo showed Max, the same one Spencer had shown around the apartment. Except for those

    who had perished, he felt he hadn¡¯t missed anyone.

    He had thought Brielle and Max were above board, but the woman¡¯s sparkling eyes sent his heart

    plummeting. The anger in him boiled over.

    ¡°It¡¯s him, so handsome. I was drooling over his picture. Shame, he¡¯s probably not just anybody. right?¡±

    Oblivious to the financial world, she didn¡¯t recognize Max¡¯s renowned face..

    After she spoke, the room seemed to be engulfed in a dangerous aura. Spencer¡¯s scalp tingled with the

    urge to destroy something in his fury.

    It was Max! Max was with Brielle!

    He had suspected as much, but just as he was about to dismiss the idea, it was this woman¡¯s words

    that confirmed his fears. His chest heaved violently, the chair crashing to the floor in his rage.

    The woman, startled, quickly dressed and made for the door. But before she could exit, Spencer¡¯s roar

    stopped her cold. ¡°Stop right there!¡±

    His face flushed with anger, and he resembled a lion ready to pounce, determined to drag this

    Chapter 361

    woman before his grandfather to reveal Max and Brielle¡¯s indiscretions.

    He remembered the scene by the floral wall all too well, Max openly embracing and kissing at woman.

    How could he forget? Now he knew it was Brielle!

    That was Brielle! They had cuckolded him right under his nosel

    The taste of blood filled Spencer¡¯s mouth, but amidst the shock, his mind cleared. Even if he brought

    this woman before his grandfather, Michael wouldn¡¯t believe him.

    The apartment was burned down and there was no video evidence, no solid proof, just this woman¡¯s

    word against his. Besides, Max himself held such a high status in the Dorsey family.

    Spencer¡¯s fists clenched again. He had respected his uncle, but Max betrayed him.

    His eyes reddened as he slowly closed them. He must have his revenge!

    But he would have to bide his time.

    Meanwhile, Brielle was oblivious to Spencer¡¯s newfound clue. She opened herptop to tackle some

    work, her waist was aching, and her stomach was rumbling with hunger.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Just as she contemted making some soup, there was a knock at the door, and a delivery arrived ¨C

    all tailored to her tastes.

    After eating, she noticed several personal messages from colleagues.

    [Ms. Haywood, are you there? You should check thepany chat.]

    [Ms. Haywood, someone posted the video of you making Sarah sing in the big group.]

    Brielle¡¯s frown deepened. She rarely engaged with social media and had muted thepany chat long

    ago, but now she clicked in.

    The chat was aze with discussion. The video was being shared back and forth. She watched the

    video, which was indeed from that night. However, the uploader had carefully omitted the part where

    Sarah was drunk and provoking Brielle, only showing Brielle forcing Sarah to sing. Out of context, it

    looked like Brielle, the boss, was abusing her power to bully a female colleague.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s like that. Poor Sarah.¡±

    ¡°Disgusting, how can she be a boss? She should be fired.¡±

    ¡°We need to take this to the higher¨Cups, or Sarah will continue to suffer under her.¡±

 Chapter 362

    Chapter 362

    Brielle stared at the chatter in the group chat, a frown creasing her brow.

    In the video, Sarah was crying her eyes out, her plea for help making the unsuspecting guys¡® hearts

    break, and they rallied to her defense.

    Sarah wasn¡¯t about to miss this opportunity. Instead of worrying about being fired by Brielle, she¡¯d

    rather make a scene to get the higher¨Cups¡® attention and then take the lead in firing Brielle. It was a

    ssic case of striking first to gain the upper hand.

    Sarah had already checked with the venue they had dinner at, confirming there were no cameras in the

    private room. So the truth, whatever it was, only the colleagues knew.

    Brielle had been MIA for thest couple of days, missing her chance to set the record straight.

    The scales had already tipped in Sarah¡¯s favor. If Brielle were indeed driven out by public opinion, then

    anyone who came out to vouch for Brielle now would stick their neck out and might be ostracized by

    everyone.

    In the workce, being ostracized was a fate worse than death.

    Sarah¡¯s lips curled slightly as she read the ongoing discussions in the group chat and chimed

    1. in.

    [I upset Ms. Haywood, and I¡¯m sorry. Please, let¡¯s not talk about this anymore.]

    The more she yed the damsel in distress, the angrier everyone else became. People tended to

    sympathize with the underdog, and since Sarah was just another rank¨Cand¨Cfile employee, they were

    eager to band together against amon foe.

    [Why shouldn¡¯t we talk about it? She bullied you like that, and what, now she wants to silence all of

    us?]

    [How did she even be a director? Didn¡¯t she just sleep her way to the top?]

    [I saw posts about her on the Beaconsfield College forum before. Her character has always been

    questionable.]

    Triumph gleamed in Sarah¡¯s eyes as she thought of the indignity she had suffered that night. She¡¯s

    gonna use this incident to ensure Brielle never recovered.

    Meanwhile, Brielle was reading these discussions. She hadn¡¯t had a moment to check her phone these

    past few days and, indeed, missed the best opportunity to speak up. Now, any statement from her

    would only add fuel to the fire. And because of her silence, the colleagues who initially spoke up for her

    were now being attacked by the masses, looking like fools.

    Brielle hadn¡¯t expected Sarah to go this far. It seemed her adversary was all in.

    Suddenly, a flood ofint emails were sent to the CEO¡¯s assistant. It was Sunday, and the office

    was not empty; Max was working overtime.

    Chapter 362

    Reading through the barrage ofints, Patrick frowned and hesitated before speaking to Max,

    who was busy with an international meeting. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, there have beenints against Ms.

    Brielle.¡±

    Max¡¯s fingers stilled, and he slowly looked up. ¡°Comints about what?¡±

    ¡°Abuse of power, bullying staff.¡±

    Patrick scanned through the messages, noting there were as many as thirty emails. This was the most

    concentrated wave ofints Dorsey International had ever seen.

    ¡°Hmm.¡± Max responded with a nonchnt hum, then fell silent.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, people are saying thepany chat is full of discussions. Because Ms. Brielle hasn¡¯t

    come out to rify, the rumors have gotten out of control.¡±

    Brielle hadn¡¯t had the time to exin these past few days, and Max¡¯s eyes twinkled with mirth as to

    why. ¡°Then dissolve the group chat.¡±

    Patrick blinked, but he didn¡¯t question further.

    Two minutester, the group chat that was abuzz with discussion was dissolved. Sarah, who was

    itching to spill her long¨Cprepared tirade against Brielle, watched in disbelief as the group fell silent. Her

    typed words went unanswered.

    All that was left was a cold message-[The group admin has dissolved this group.]

    Sarah had a lengthy rant ready, listing all the ways Brielle supposedly mistreated her subordinates¨C

    most of it fabricated. With the video and her lengthy message, Brielle seemed beyond redemption. But

    before Sarah could send it, the group was dissolved.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Only someone in upper management could dissolve the group. Who was helping Brielle?

    Sarah¡¯s mind immediately went to Noah¨Ceveryone knew that Noah had been pursuing Brielle. Hah, did

    they think that just by dissolving one group, she¡¯d have nowhere else to post?

    There were plenty of employee groups, and several didn¡¯t include the higher¨Cups; they were formed on

    the down¨Clow. So she posted her rant in another group, and watching the fresh wave of indignation

    against Brielle, she smirked with satisfaction.-

    ¡°Bitch, let¡¯s see how long youst at Dorsey International.

    She congratted herself for having the foresight to record that video.

    Relishing the feeling of revenge, Sarah continued to provoke the matter. ¡°You guys probably have no

    idea how loose she is with men. She only got promoted because she clung to Mr. Noah¡¯s coattails¨Cand

    that was while she was still engaged to Spencer. She shamelessly flirted around. I only spoke the truth,

    and she had the audacity to make me sing in front of everyone. I hope our CEO notices what¡¯s

    happening. I don¡¯t want to endure this any longer.¡±

    The group offered herfort, assuring her that with such amotion, Mr. Dorsey would definitely

    take notice.

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    Chapter 363

    Max slouched in his high¨Crise office chair; his brow furrowed as he absorbed Patrick¡¯s news about the

    increasing number of whistleblowing letters. He snapped hisptop shut. ¡°Push back the overseas

    meeting.¡± It was time to pay a visit to Brielle at Pearl Estate.

    Patrick, knowing what was on Max¡¯s mind, followed suit.

    They had just reached the exclusive parking garage via the private elevator when Max was halted in

    his tracks. Sarah stood before him, her eyes wide with trepidation and rimmed with red. ¡°Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    It was Sunday, the office was sparse with staff, but top¨Cfloor happenings were hard to hide. Someone

    had tipped Sarah off, prompting her to rush to Dorsey International. Shey in wait by the private

    elevator exit.

    Her heart swelled with pride at the unexpected encounter with her top¨Ctier boss. Gossip in the group

    chats wasn¡¯t enough; she was determined to make Mr. Dorsey despise Brielle enough to fire her.

    Max regarded the woman before him impassively. Sarah momentarily flinched, unsure if Max was privy

    to Brielle¡¯s situation. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, I¨CI wish to formally use my supervisor. She¡¯s been-¡± Max¡¯s

    presence was overwhelming, and despite Sarah¡¯s internal struggle, she couldn¡¯t

    muster aplete sentence.

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    Max, out of patience, stepped around her to leave.

    As Sarah¡¯s mind scrambled, she hurried after him. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, my supervisor, Brielle, has abused her

    power during department gatherings. There¡¯s been discontent ever since she was promoted, and¡­

    and she¡¯s been involved in inappropriate rtionships! Many in the department are her¡­ her bed

    partners!¡±

    Seeing Max¡¯s stoic reaction, Sarah, feeling like a small fry, thought she needed to up the ante. Her next

    words halted Max in his tracks. And Patrick, standing behind him, furrowed his brow deeply.

    Max turned, his gaze cool as he looked at the flushed woman. Her words had struck a chord, and

    Sarah, feeling emboldened, pushed on, ¡°Every word is true, Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    She held her breath. She may have fancied Spencer, but being close to Mr. Dorsey left her breathless.

    No wonder the finance papers deemed him a prince ofmerce; he personified

    the term.

    Max stood there, untouchable and distant like a lofty, snow¨Ccapped peak.

    Sarah¡¯s heart raced. She could throw herself at Spencer without a second thought, but in front of Max,

    all her tactics seemed transparent, as if her souly bare with every word she uttered.

    Who could possibly stand by Max¡¯s side and be his woman?

    Dazed, Sarah came to her senses only to find Patrick in front of her, all business. ¡°Miss Sarah,

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    11:00

    ¦¥¦°

    please hold.¡±

    Skipping the chain ofmand to report her department head to the CEO was foolish.

    Sarah paled, ¡°But I must report Brielle to Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    ¡°You may submit your evidence to thepany.¡±

    Frustration shed in her eyes as her fist clenched at her side.

    Patrick, indifferent, simply nodded and walked away.

    Sarah, seething, pondered the point of her trip to Dorsey International if Mr. Dorsey wouldn¡¯t personally

    punish Brielle. Was she doomed to watch Brielle fire her?

    She stomped in vexation, and as the garage quieted down, a well¨Cdressed man emerged from the

    adjacent alley.

    Sarah recognized him and immediately masked her spiteful expression. ¡°Mr. William.¡±

    What was he doing here? And he seemed to have been waiting for some time.

    William¡¯s eyes twinkled with a serene smile, and he patted her shoulder. ¡°Your name¡¯s Sarah?¡±

    She was taken aback that such an executive knew her name, and she nodded eagerly, her face

    flushing. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Sarah.¡±

    Mr. Dorsey had brushed her off, but Mr. Ryan was surprisingly approachable. Sarah was thrilled and

    blurted out more about Brielle. ¡°Mr. William, it¡¯s just like I said. I¡¯ve even shared the video in the group

    chat.¡±

    A flicker of something passed through William¡¯s eyes, and a smile curled his lips. ¡°So, Brielle is at fault.

    You want her out of Dorsey International?¡±

    A twisted look of hatred crossed Sarah¡¯s face. Brielle had stolen her man and humiliated her publicly.

    Sarah wouldn¡¯t let her get away with it!

    ¡°Yes, I want her ruined! I want her barred from Dorsey International.¡±

    As William stepped past her, he gestured to his car with a smile. ¡°Shall we discuss this in my car? It¡¯s

    not very private here.¡±

    Sarah¡¯s eyes lit up. Mr. William was willing to help her! ¡°Of course, thank

    you.¡±

    She hurried to the car, and William, ever the gentleman, opened the door for her.

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    Chapter 364

    Sarah felt her heart pounding as if it were on the verge of bursting. She nced at the figure following

    her into the car and then heard the definitive ¡°click¡± of the doors locking. She didn¡¯t find it strange for a

    moment but looked up expectantly. ¡°Mr. William, has Brielle crossed you too?¡±

    There was a slight smile at the corner of William¡¯s mouth as he reached for a handkerchief. ¡°Hmm.¡±

    A sparkle lit up in Sarah¡¯s eyes, and just as she was about to say something more, the handkerchief

    came down swiftly, smothering her mouth and nose. Her eyes widened in shock, and she tried to

    struggle, but the pungent odor overwhelmed her senses, and her head felt heavy in an instant. Her

    attempts to fight back grew weaker by the second.

    William released his grip, his expression one of distaste.

    Sarah lost consciousness and slumped down limply.

    William had parked cleverly. His movements were so calcted that from their conversation to the car,

    everything had taken ce out of the surveince cameras¡® sight. He wouldn¡¯t have made his move

    otherwise. Sarah had been waiting like a sitting duck, but William was the bigger predator.

    With Sarah¡¯s newfound enmity towards Brielle and her sudden disappearance¨Cor even possible death¨C

    Brielle would certainly not escape implication.

    Trouble for Brielle meant Max would have to step in.

    William sneered, nudging Sarah¡¯s inert body with the tip of his polished shoe. She¡¯s just a pawn of no

    consequence.

    He took out Sarah¡¯s phone, unlocking it with her fingerprint. Several group chats in Sarah¡¯s WhatsApp

    were buzzing with activity.

    William noted that she had alreadyid the groundwork for prior events, saving him a great deal of

    effort. He typed the words ¡°Help me¡± in one of the groups and then tossed the phone into a nearby

    pond.

    Twenty minutester, the car stopped at his residence. He got out and nced at the bodyguard who

    had been waiting. ¡°Take care of the person in the car, and make it clean.¡±

    The bodyguard, no stranger to such tasks, nodded slowly.

    William took the handkerchief from a man at the door, wiped his fingertips clean, and then casually

    discarded the cloth into a trash can.

    A meaningful smile yed on his lips. With Sarah gone at this critical juncture, the waters. would be

    muddied.

    What would Brielle do? And Max¨Chow would he react? William was looking forward to it.

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    11.00

    Chapter 364

    ¡°Beaconsfield,¡± he thought, ¡°the more chaotic, the better.¡± Only then could he seize the opportunity to

    fish in troubled waters.

    Max¡¯s car was already parked at Pearl Estate, but before he could get out, he received a message.

    Reading the short text message, his brow furrowed. ¡°Patrick, head over to the Clements family.¡±

    Patrick, sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, was puzzled. Shouldn¡¯t Brielle¡¯s situation be the priority? Why was

    the boss suddenly interested in the Clements family?

    ¡°But Ms. Brielle-¡±

    Max nced up at the building above. As her man, he should indeed intervene when Brielle faced

    trouble. But Max was no fool. Acting too hastily wouldn¡¯t draw Brielle closer to him; it would push her

    away.

    Brielle was like a lone mountaineer. Just give her a rope, and she would climb with all her might.

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    Max let his gaze fall away. If he treated her like a caged bird, it would be his loss. He would never have

    the real Brielle. What he needed to be was the rope for Brielle.

    A caged bird never saw the wider world if it was merely kept by his side. But a mountaineer, who was

    used to love along the trails and still needed him, was Max¡¯s understanding of a rtionship. So, he

    couldn¡¯t intervene too much.

    Patrick, catching a glimpse of him in the rearview mirror, couldn¡¯t guess his thoughts but he wouldn¡¯t go

    against his decision either. So he stepped on the gas, and the car moved away.

    Brielle stood by the window, rubbing her eyes, feeling a sense of familiarity with a car that had just

    passed. When she looked again, it was gone.

    Messages in the group chat piled up, most demanding an exnation. Sarah¡¯s video had been

    incendiary. By now, Brielle¡¯s name was notorious at Dorsey International.

    Brielle wasn¡¯t panicking. She was considering her next move. She had already contacted the

    establishment from the dinner, only to learn there were no cameras ip the private room. Theplete

    events of that night, beyond what Sarah had cunningly recorded, remained unounted for.

    This lead was a dead end; she needed a new n.

    Brielle lowered hershes, her calm deepening with the gravity of the situation. After all, she never

    mistreated Sarah.

    Her phone rang. An unfamiliar number popped up on the screen. After pressing the answer button, an

    angry female voice sted through.

    ¡°So you¡¯re the one bullying your staff, huh?! You bitch, thinking you¡¯re some kind of god. Screw you.

    Dorsey International is disgraced with you in it!¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t bother with a verbal spat and hung up.

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    Chapter 364

    But then, a barrage of calls flooded in. Her number had been leaked.

 Chapter 365

    Chapter 365

    Brielle didn¡¯t hesitate for a moment before she turned off her phone. Once it was off, she logged onto

    herputer and checked her WhatsApp, only to discover that it wasn¡¯t just her phoner number that

    had been leaked; her WhatsApp was blown wide open, too. She was bombarded with new contact

    requests, and the apanying messages were filled with curses and vitriol

    This was a premeditated cyber assault. And it wasn¡¯t just a virtual threat. If she didn¡¯t address it soon, it

    could escte into real¨Cworld violence.

    Brielle skimmed through the messages in the group chat and saw that someone had taken a

    screenshot of Sarah¡¯s cry for help..

    ¨CHelp.

    Just those two terse words, and silence thereafter. It seemed like it was Sarah who had stirred up the

    online mob.

    But something didn¡¯t add up. If Sarah merely wanted to use public opinion to force her out, why send a

    ¡°Help¡± message in the group? Was Sarah nning to y the victim and then pin everything on her?

    With that thought, Brielle didn¡¯t second¨Cguess her next move ¨C she called the police.

    Reporting the incident now was a smart move. There were surveince cameras outside her house. It

    something had actually happened to Sarah, she had the perfect alibi.

    Besides, stirring up online opinion would only incite strangers to morally grandstand and curse her,

    which wouldn¡¯t physically harm Brielle in any way. She never cared about the opinions of these

    faceless masses.

    Moreover, she had checked with HR, and Sarah hadn¡¯t handed in her resignation. It looked like she

    intended to stay at Dorsey International. As long as Sarah remained at Dorsey, she was bound to slip

    up.

    So Brielle calmed down quickly, took a rxing shower, had dinner, and then sat down at herputer

    to deal withpany business.

    Before going to sleep, she texted Max a simple ¨C Goodnight. She didn¡¯t mention the ordeal she was

    going through. Max didn¡¯t reply, but Brielle didn¡¯t wait for him. She just drifted off to sleep.

    The next morning, when Brielle arrived at the office, she found the ce buzzing. People in the

    elevator gave her strange looks. No one wanted to stand near her. They all preferred to crowd together

    than to be too close to her.

    Brielle was quite content with the space. As she stepped out of the elevator, she even shed them a

    smile.

    The elevator crowd grimaced, and whispers followed.

    Chapter 365

    ¡°How can she still smile after all that?¡±

    ¡°Well, why can¡¯t she smile? She¡¯s a Director at Dorsey International. That leaked footage of her is

    actually against Sarah¡¯s interests. If Brielle wanted to clean house, wouldn¡¯t it be a piece of cake?¡±

    ¡°Are we sure the video was leaked by Sarah? She seems pretty naive, and she¡¯s staying at Dorsey

    International. Picking fights with the higher¨Cups isn¡¯t going to win her any favors.¡±

    ¡°Heh, power trumps all, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    Because of the video portraying Brielle¡¯s overbearing behavior and Sarah¡¯s pitiful weeping, people had

    already formed a negative opinion of Brielle. The more they saw her unbothered demeanor, the more

    repulsive they found her. This only fueled the rumors.

    When Brielle entered her department, she noticed the gloomy expressions of her colleagues. They had

    all been part of that infamous dinner and knew the real story.

    However, in the corporate world, they were just minor yers. On the inte, their voices were

    insignificant. So, they faced Brielle with a mix of shame and guilt. Those who hadn¡¯t dared to speak up

    for Brielle now couldn¡¯t even meet her eyes.

    Brielle pped her hands, her demeanor as professional as ever. ¡°Let¡¯s pull ourselves together, folks.

    Morning routines, remember? If you¡¯ve got reports to review, get on it. Don¡¯t let the outside chatter get

    to you.¡±

    Her words were like a pebble tossed into still waters, making ripples that forced everyone to truly see

    Brielle for the first time. Before, they had grumbled about her youth and how she didn¡¯t deserve her

    position. But now, the difference was clear.

    The office tried to mumble words offort to Brielle, but she just smiled and pointed to the clock on

    the wall. ¡°Work time.¡±

    Reluctantly, everyone turned back to their tasks, some pping their cheeks to bring their focus back to

    the present.

    That morning, the gossip spread like wildfire throughout Dorsey International, except in Brielle¡¯s

    department, where everyone was busy working.

    The peace was shattered just before lunch when a scream tore through the department. A bloody box

    was knocked over, spilling its gruesome content ¨C a dead rat ¨C onto the floor. The stench of decay filled

    the air.

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    ¡°Ugh,¡± someone gagged, while others pinched their noses.

    This package had been addressed to Brielle, and a colleague was on their way to deliver it to her office

    when the grim discovery was made. Besides the rat, the box was teeming with writhing maggots.

    Brielle stepped out of her office and immediately called building maintenance. As soon as the mess

    was cleaned up, the elevator dinged open, and a group of people stepped out. The woman

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    Chapter 365

    leading them locked eyes with Brielle, her face contorted with resentment.

 Chapter 366

    Chapter 366

    Suddenly, she lunged at Brielle, her face contorted with rage. ¡°Bitch! Give me back my daughter!¡±

    Luckily, her chargecked force, and Brielle simply stepped back, quick on her feet, which sent the

    woman tumbling to the ground.

    About four people hade with her, and they were visibly agitated upon seeing me. ¡°It¡¯s you! You

    killed little Sarah! You are a murderer. How can Dorsey International shelter a murderer!¡±

    No sooner had the words left his mouth than the woman on the ground burst into even more pitiful

    sobs. ¡°My poor, poor child, how did you end up with such a boss? Dorsey International must give us

    some answers!¡±

    It was clear that this woman was Sarah¡¯s mother, while the man who had spoken was Sarah¡¯s father.

    eves ac

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    Greed flickered in the man¡¯s he also began to cry. ¡°Dorsey International can¡¯t bully people like this. We

    need an exnation today ¨C my daughter can¡¯t just die without reason. It must have been her boss

    who drove her to death. Brielle is the murderer! How can such a

    prestigiouspany as Dorsey International protect a killer?¡±

    Their cries grew louder, each trying to outdo the other, and the two family members who hade

    along were just as adept at shedding tears.

    It was now lunchtime, and employees from other departments were also gathering around to

    see what themotion was about.

    Brielle pressed her lips together, uncertain, and asked, ¡°Sarah¡¯s dead?¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t have much of an impression of Sarah. If it weren¡¯t for her repeated targeting. Brielle would

    not have paid her any attention.

    To other employees, Sarah, like many young people, often spoke of not wanting to live, yet in reality,

    she clung to life dearly.

    Brielle even thought that Sarah might¡¯ve yed a victim card next, forcing Dorsey International¡¯s

    higher¨Cups to fire her, but Brielle never thought Sarah would die.

    She died so suddenly.

    Hearing Brielle¡¯s words, the woman copsed even more dramatically. ¡°Oh, my daughter, my

    unfortunate child. You were bullied to death all because I¡¯m useless. We should never have agreed to

    you joining Dorsey International. We worked so hard to send you to college, only for you to be taken

    from us so abruptly- what am I going to do now?¡±

    Her wails grew louder as if trying to draw all the attention to herself. The two other people even took out

    a framed photo of Sarah, clutching it to their chests. The photo was in ck and white.

    Seeing that the audience was sizable, the woman cried with even more fervor. ¡°I ved and scrimped

    to get you through college, thinking you would make something of yourself, but now you¡¯ve ended up

    with such a boss. Oh, god, why are you so blind?¡±

    Standing beside the wailing woman, Sarah¡¯s father, Simon, covered his face with his hands and started

    to weep heartbrokenly.

    The department¡¯s staff looked at each other, unsure of what to do. Only Brielle watched this spectacle

    unfold and then asked a colleague, ¡°Where¡¯s the security?¡± Weren¡¯t there a bunch of security guards

    downstairs? How on earth did these people get in?

    Hearing Brielle¡¯s question, Simon looked up furiously. ¡°You want to throw us out? Do you have any idea

    how long my little Sarah¡¯s body was in the water? You mustpensate us for our loss! I was counting

    on my daughter for my golden years, and you¡¯ve cut off our lifeline!¡±

    Simon reached out to grab Brielle as he spoke. Brielle dodged and stared at him. ¡°Who says I killed

    Sarah?¡±

    The woman, still weeping, red at Brielle with resentment. ¡°Everyone knows it was you. How would

    Sarah have suddenly lost hope if you hadn¡¯t pressured her so much?¡±

    Brielle narrowed her eyes. ¡°Sarah left a message in the group chat asking for help, then something

    happened. Why do you think she took her own life in despair?¡±

    This was a ring contradiction. Screenshots of Sarah¡¯s cry for help had been shared in numerous

    chat groups. Would someone nning tomit suicide leave such a message in a chat group?

    Caught by Brielle¡¯s question, a brief flicker of panic crossed the woman¡¯s eyes, but then she cried even

    harder. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t treated Sarah that way, she wouldn¡¯t have been in such a bad mood. Even if she

    was murdered, it¡¯s still your fault!¡±

    The man chimed in, supporting her. ¡°Yes! Maybe it was you who killed Sarah! You must give us an

    exnation, or we will make such a scene that the whole of Dorsey International will know. We¡¯ll affect

    Dorsey International¡¯s stock price! Everyone will condemn you, heartless woman!¡±

    Brielle found another w in their words. Sarah¡¯s parents didn¡¯t seent like highly educated folks, so how

    could they know that making a scene could impact Dorsey International¡¯s stock price? First, they

    imed Sarah hadmitted suicide, then insistently used Brielle of the deed. Their aim was clear

    ¨C to pin everything on Brielle.

    Brielle¡¯s mind raced with thoughts, though her expression remained calm. She¡¯d already thought of a

    strategy.

    The true puppeteer here wasn¡¯t Sarah; as the one who¡¯d lost the most, death had taken everything

    from her. Given Sarah¡¯s character, which was brash enough to act out in front of her superiors, she

    didn¡¯t have the cunning to y such aplex game. So, the conclusion was simple. Sarah was just a

    pawn to someone else.

    As for the mastermind behind the scenes, Brielle couldn¡¯t pinpoint them yet, but for now, she could start

    by clearing her own name of suspicion.

 Chapter 367

    Chapter 367

    Brielle began, her voice steady despite the chaos. ¡°A whole bunch of folks saw the message Sarah left

    in the group chat. Plus, I called the cops the minute I saw itst night, asking them to keep a close eye

    on Sarah¡¯s whereabouts. And let me tell you, the surveince around my neighborhood is top¨Cnotch

    monitors my every move 24/7. I didn¡¯t step foot outside myplexst night, so I¡¯ve got a solid alibi.

    To say I¡¯m the killer is jumping the gun, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    Brielle¡¯sposure was unexpected, given the circumstances.

    Simon, not the sharpest tool in the shed, only knew how to make a scene. Sweat broke out on his

    forehead, betraying his panic. This was not going ording to n. He shot his wife a look, and they

    were both wailing again in an instant.

    ¡°Oh Lord, what sins have wemitted to cross paths with such a person? Sarah, Mom and Dad miss

    you so much.¡±

    ¡°Brielle, it¡¯s all your fault. An eye for an eye ¨C I¡¯ll fight you to the end!¡±

    The woman lunged forward again, but the security team from Dorsey International was already on the

    scene, and the police had arrived with them. The officers were taken aback by the couple¡¯s spectacle

    at Dorsey International.

    Brielle, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, approached the police. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m the one who called in

    last night.¡±

    The officer snapped to attention, all business. ¡°Ms. Brielle, good to hear from you. After your callst

    night, we¡¯ve been tracking Sarah. But by that time, she was already missing. We¡¯ve been searching

    non¨Cstop until about two hours ago when we found her body.¡±

    The body had been found just two hours ago, but the parents had the obituary photo ready. They had

    already pinned the murder on Brielle, demanding an exnation from Dorsey International before the

    police had even identified a suspect.

    The bystanders were starting to catch on ¨C it seemed like the grieving parents were trying to shake

    down Dorsey International for a quick buck.

    The onlookers, previously spectating, now was impressed with Brielle¡¯s transparency. The fact that

    Brielle was the one who called the police, had them tilting their sympathies toward her. But that didn¡¯t

    fully clear Brielle of suspicion, especially with the video of her pressuring Sarah still circting.

    Brielle nodded coolly at the officer. ¡°Do I need toe with you to the station for a statement?¡±

    That was what the officer had in mind, but Simon and the woman resumed their theatrics, copsing

    onto the floor in tears. They might have had the moral high ground at first, but their tantrum was quickly

    eroding it.

    Brielle looked up at the Dorsey International employees. ¡°Could someone assist these folks to

    11:00

    Chapter 367

    the lobby to rest? As for the rest, let¡¯s wait for the police investigation results.¡±

    The security guards nodded, moving to help Simon and the others. But Sarah¡¯s father, Simon, a

    seasoned drama king, whipped out his phone to start recording. ¡°Look at this, everyone! This is the vile

    face of Sarah¡¯s boss she¡¯s the one who killed my daughter.¡±

    The woman¡¯s cries tore through the air, and the chaos intensified. Brielle, however, remained focused

    and asked the officer, ¡°How long will the statement take?¡±

    The officer, caught off guard by herposure, replied, ¡°Half an hour.¡±

    Brielle nodded, then addressed her colleagues, ¡°I¡¯ll try to make it back by the afternoon shift. I¡¯d

    appreciate it if the reports on the otherpany issues could be on my desk before I return.¡±

    She was wrapped up in a murder case and was still delegating tasks for the afternoon. Her colleagues

    were stunned but then returned to their desks, their respect for her growing.

    Witnessing the scene, the crowd outside was at a loss for words.

    Somebody had already started a live stream of the drama, and initially, thements were full of vitriol

    against Brielle. But now, different opinions were surfacing.

    ¡°This Brielle is really pretty, and her colleagues seem to respect her a lot. Could we have gotten it

    wrong?¡±

    ¡°Pretty, sure, but don¡¯t be fooled. She looks so good and so young ¨C who knows how she really got her

    job.¡±

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    ¡°She was a valedictorian, for heaven¡¯s sake. It was all over the papers. Heck, her study notes are still

    selling like hotcakes online.¡±

    ¡°Now that you mention it, I remember. My daughter was in the same ss as her. A real looker, that girl

    ¨C such bright eyes, but she never was one for mingling.¡±

    ¡°You guys must¡¯ve been paid off by Brielle to say such things. It¡¯s disgusting, siding with a murderer!¡±

 Chapter 368

    Chapter 368

    Online opinions were a mixed bag, with some rallying behind Brielle, but the majority were against her.

    ¡°What a pretender! The true colors of these capitalists are just hideous.¡±

    ¡°Is a human life so worthless in her eyes?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s just so smug. So what if she was the valedictorian? People change.¡±

    The live stream continued unabated. Brielle stood beside the police, responding to questions with a mix

    of humility and pride. Especially noteworthy was Brielle¡¯sposure amidst the cacophony of sobs.

    Coupled with her striking presence, the number of viewers on the live stream skyrocketed.

    Unaware of the live broadcast, Brielle finished recounting the afternoon¡¯s events and followed behind

    the officers.

    Simon wasn¡¯t about to let her off the hook that easily. He grabbed a chair, intending to hurl it at her.

    ¡°Give me back my daughter! You¡¯re not going anywhere!¡±

    The police sprang into action, blocking Simon with stern resolve. ¡°Mr. Simon, the autopsy report for

    Miss Sarah hasn¡¯t been released yet. Ms. Brielle is a suspect, but we need the investigation to

    conclude before any judgments are made.¡±

    Simon, red¨Cfaced with rage, nearly poked the officer in the face as he spat out his words. ¡°You¡¯re

    clearly in cahoots with her. She must¡¯ve bribed you, or maybe Dorsey International did! Get out of my

    way, all of you! I want her to pay for what she¡¯s done!¡±

    Brielle frowned, spotting a glimmer of greed in the depths of Simon¡¯s eyes and suspecting he was

    being manipted. She ran through the possibilities in her mind but couldn¡¯t pinpoint the puppet

    master.

    That was until Spencer walked in.

    He looked from the officers to Brielle, perplexed. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±

    An employee quickly filled him in on the whole story. Spencer sneered inwardly, seeing this as Brielle¡¯s

    comeuppance, his gaze settling on her. ¡°I never thought you¡¯d do something like this.¡±

    His words brought an eerie silence to the room, and even the live stream viewership spiked as they

    spected about Spencer¡¯s role.

    When Simon saw Spencer, a glint of cunning shed in his eyes. He pushed through the crowd and fell

    to his knees before him. ¡°Mr. Spencer, you must seek justice for my daughter. How can someone like

    Brielle remain at thepany? She must be locked up and face thew. Surely. Dorsey International

    won¡¯t shield someone like her, right?¡±

    Spencer looked up, his eyes brimming with resentment as he let out a coldugh. ¡°Indeed, a murderer

    should be behind bars.¡±

    11:01

    Chapter 368

    With Spencer joining the fray, those condemning Brielle grew in numbers. Whispers spread among the

    onlookers. Spencer¡¯s pursuit of Brielle was well¨Cknown, but now, in such a short span, he seemed to

    have turned against her entirely.

    Brielle watched Spencer¡¯s act with quiet scrutiny, unsettling him with her gaze, as if to suggest she¡¯d

    never esteemed him, and that she¡¯d aimed for Max from the start, climbing into his bed.

    He felt like a stepping stone, used and discarded by this vile woman! Internally, he cursed her a

    thousand times over, his eyes bloodshot. ¡°Brielle, have you nothing to say?¡±

    In Spencer¡¯s mind, Brielle was cornered, with no one to turn to but him. If she asked for help, he wasn¡¯t

    entirely unwilling. He might forgive her indiscretions if she would stay by his side and be a ything for

    his whims.

    Fate seemed to favor him¨CBrielle had be embroiled in a murder at such a crucial time.

    Brielle lifted her head, cutting through Spencer¡¯s sordid thoughts. ¡°Has the police determined I¡¯m a

    murderer?¡±

    She directed her question at the officers. The officer shook his head, naturally taking over the

    conversation. ¡°Ms. Brielle, pleasee with us to give your statement.¡±

    Brielle then turned to Spencer, a faint smile on her lips. ¡°Even if you nder me and turn everyone

    against me, I will never yield to your advances. I don¡¯t want a man who cheats so freely. It seems the

    executive decision to have me take over your position was the right one. A director¡¯s role is no ce for

    someone swayed by hearsay, who was unable to separate personal from professional.¡±

    Her words caused a stir. The live stream chat exploded.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? This guy¡¯s name is Spencer, Brielle¡¯s ex¨Cfianc¨¦, and she took over his position.¡±

    ¡°This Spencer guy cheated, and now he¡¯s harassing his ex¨Cfianc¨¦, using this incident to iste her,

    and forcing her to ask for his help. How devious!¡±

    ¡°Brielle got her position by sleeping her way to the top? Disgusting!¡±N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    ¡°Dorsey International is a Dorsey family business. As Spencer¡¯s ex, Brielle even took over his role,

    which means she must have outmaneuvered the Dorsey family¡¯s own to get there. How does that

    trante to sleeping her way to the top?¡±

 Chapter 369

    Chapter 369

    Spencer¡¯s cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and anger as he felt the weight of everyone¡¯s

    gazes upon him. The calmposure he had walked in with was now a distant.

    memory.

    ¡°Me, a serial cheater? Why don¡¯t you take a good look at yourself?!¡± His voice was thick with rage, his

    chest heaving with every breath..

    Brielle let out a soft chuckle.

    ¡°Spencer, it¡¯s all about evidence. There¡¯s a video of you and my so¨Ccalled sister getting cozy floating

    around. And let¡¯s not forget all these lovely witnesses here who can testify that you¡¯ve been hounding

    me even after we called off our engagement. If I¡¯m so terrible, why are you so desperate to rewind time

    with me? Are you blind?¡±

    Spencer was speechless, his fury nearly choking him. He wanted tosh out and question Brielle about

    her dealings with Max, but the room was too crowded.

    He knew if he let slip even a hint of scandal, regardless of proof, Dorsey International would take a hit.

    And he¡¯d be public enemy number one in Max¡¯s eyes.

    Hanging onto hisst shred of sanity, Spencer clenched his fists by his side, wishing he could throttle

    Brielle.

    That witch.

    Damn her!

    Noticing his silence, Brielle¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile. ¡°You¡¯ve badmouthed me more times than I

    can count, Spencer. I used to think you were just immature. Now I see you¡¯re just petty and mean¨C

    spirited. So, let¡¯s cut to the chase and not keep the police waiting for their statement.¡±

    Brielle rarely aired her dirtyundry in public, but now she was using it to her advantage¨Cnot to

    condemn Spencer but to shift the focus.

    Herck of grief over Sarah¡¯s death wasn¡¯t due to cold¨Cheartedness; she had no reason to feel. guilty.

    As Sarah¡¯s boss, Brielle had been lenient despite repeated provocations. She hadn¡¯t fired. Sarah or cut

    her pay. That was mercy enough.

    Sarah had maliciously leaked that video, inviting cyberbullying from the oblivious masses. Brielle was

    the victim here.

    Sarah¡¯s death, to her, was just the loss of an employee¨Cand not even a pleasant one.

    It wasn¡¯t callousness; it was simply the truth.

    However, this persistent belief that the dead must be honored made her pragmatism seem selfish.

    Chapter 369

    ¡°People are dead, Brielle, and you¡¯re just standing there unaffected. Is there anyone colder than you?¡±

    Spencer spat the words out like they left a bad taste in his mouth.

    Brielle frowned, her disdain for Spencer growing.

    ¡°She¡¯s gone, and the real question is who¡¯s responsible. I¡¯m cooperating with the investigation¨Cthat¡¯s

    the most meaningful thing I can do right now. Move aside!¡±

    She brushed past Spencer, not even sparing him a nce.

    Spencer watched her go, his face a patchwork of anger and pallor.

    At the door, Brielle turned to Simon. ¡°This was the former head of our department. Go bother him if you

    want scene.¡±

    Her voice was indifferent as she addressed the crowd, then made her exit.

    The police officer, following her lead, tried to calm the situation. ¡°Currently, there¡¯s no evidence pointing

    to Miss Brielle. The autopsy report will be out soon, so please wait for further investigation.¡±

    With that, the officer followed Brielle out of the department.

    Simon and his group hade for Brielle. They were urged on by someone who had paid them to stir

    up as much trouble as possible, hoping to drag Dorsey International into the mess.

    But Brielle¡¯s quick wit had foiled their n. She remainedposed and managed to walk away

    unscathed.

    Feeling the pressure of the ten million he¡¯d been paid for this job, Simon tugged desperately at

    Spencer¡¯s sleeve.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    ¡°Mr. Spencer, you¡¯ve got to back us up. You¡¯ve seen Brielle¡¯s attitude¨Cit¡¯s atrocious. We expect Dorsey

    International to fire her andpensate for my daughter¡¯s loss.¡±

    A woman joined Simon, clutching at Spencer as if he were herst hope.

    Spencer¡¯s face darkened instantly. Simon was clearly after money, but Spencer wasn¡¯t a fool to throw

    Dorsey International¡¯s funds at him.

    With Brielle gone, who was he putting on this show for?

    He shrugged off Simon¡¯s grasp and frowned at the security guard. ¡°What are you waiting for? Take

    them to the lobby.¡±

    His change in demeanor didn¡¯t go unnoticed by the live¨Cstream viewers.

 Chapter 370

    Chapter 370

    ¡°Can you believe Spencer has a two¨Cfaced act going on?¡±

    ¡°I was skeptical when Brielle mentioned it, but seeing is believing. The second Brielle¡¯s out of the

    picture, he turns Into Mr. Ice. Looks like he¡¯s got it out for her.¡±

    ¡°A guy acting like that? That¡¯s just low ss.¡±

    ¡°Team Brielle all the way. At least she¡¯s upfront and genuine. Let¡¯s wait for the police to sort

    this out.

    Spencer was unaware of the live stream capturing his every move. He might have restrained himself

    had he known.

    After instructing security to escort certain individuals out, Spencer cast a chilling nce at the

    onlookers.

    ¡°What¡¯s everyone staring at? Don¡¯t you have jobs to do?¡±

    They all knew him; he was from the Dorsey family, after all. No one dared to talk back.

    The person secretly streaming quickly shut it off, but not before Spencer¡¯s sudden switch in demeanor

    was broadcasted clear as day, cementing his reputation as a total jerk.

    Meanwhile, Simon and his group were ushered downstairs.

    Seeing that Brielle hadn¡¯t faced any repercussions yet, Simon grew impatient.

    ¡°We¡¯ll just wait here in the lobby. There¡¯s no way that bitch is getting off scot¨Cfree!¡±

    The itch of frustration crawled up his scalp as he eyed the Dorsey International lobby, grand as a

    pce. His fists clenched with greed.

    or

    If they could get Dorsey International to pay off this mess, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry for the rest

    of his life.

    Simon didn¡¯t spare a thought for his daughter¡¯s welfare. In his eyes, she was nothing more than a

    financial drain, a bad investment that had yet to a wealthy husband.

    The only silver lining was the ten million theynded. Otherwise, raising her would¡¯ve been aplete

    waste.

    Simon felt a cloud of bad luck looming as they settled into the sofas, determined to corner Brielle again.

    No sooner had Simon¡¯s rear hit the cushion than his phone buzzed with an anonymous text.

    [Keep it up.]

    Three short words, but he knew exactly who sent them. His body shook, and without hesitation, he

    stood up and began shouting throughout the Dorsey International lobby.

    Chapter 370

    ¡°Poor Sarah, you died so tragically. That heartless Brielle just left us high and dry. What kind of world is

    this?¡±

    Simon¡¯s wife, Sue, knew the drill. Sensing that their benefactor wasn¡¯t satisfied, she joined in the

    commotion.

    Her tears were real; soon enough, a crowd gathered downstairs at Dorsey International.

    Journalists smelling a story swooped in for interviews.

    Sue was sharper than Simon. She had heeded advice on how to sway public opinion.

    She used words like, small¨Ctown girl, prestigious university, and the crush of capital.

    Each keyword added weight to the public sentiment.

    Even as some spected about the couple¡¯s motives, the death of their daughter and their genuine

    grief couldn¡¯t be ignored.

    Public opinion once again swayed, and concerned citizens soon converged at Dorsey International¡¯s

    doors, demanding that Brielle be handed over.

    Standing in the lobby, Spencer smirked as he heard the angry chants against Brielle.

    She deserved it!

    Women like Brielle ought to be put in their ce!

    He stepped into the private elevator with a sneer, only to bump into William.

    William, ever the picture of benevolence, patted Spencer on the shoulder.

    ¡°Spencer, I hear Brielle¡¯s been taken in by the cops?¡±

    Spencer nodded but was caught off guard by William¡¯s next question, ¡°Has your Uncle Max said

    anything?¡±

    The question sent a chill through Spencer¡¯s spine.

    What was his uncle implying? Did he know about Brielle and Max all along? m

    Humiliation bit at Spencer, his teeth nearly grinding to dust.

    Seeing how his casual question ignited Spencer¡¯s rage, William smiled slyly.

    ¡°Spencer, when you talked about marrying Brielle, I wanted to advise you. She¡¯s not worth it. Better

    move on sooner rather thanter.¡±

    Tasting bitterness, Spencer realized his great¨Cuncle knew of Brielle¡¯s affair with Max and was subtly

    warning him.

    How foolish he had been to announce his intention to marry Brielle in front of the Dorsey family. like a

    clown performing for an uncaring audience.

    ¡°That woman is definitely not worth it. Rest assured, I¡¯m over her.¡±

    2/3

    11:01

    Chapter 3

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Spencer had to make Brielle pay for her betrayal.

    William raised an eyebrow, his smile faint yet knowing. Another yer like Spencer in the game. would

    only thicken the plot.

    ¡°Max, what will be your next move?¡±

 Chapter 371

    Chapter 371

    By the time Brielle was seated in the back of the police cruiser, her mind was a whirlwind of confusion.

    Upon arrival at the station, it was revealed to her that Sarah had drowned, and her time of death was at

    nine, the previous night.

    ¡°Miss Brielle,¡± the officer inquired, tapping away at his keyboard, ¡°where were youst night at

    nine?¡±

    ¡°At home,¡± she replied.

    ¡°Any witnesses to confirm that?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a security camera at my front door. I didn¡¯t leave the house all day.¡±

    The officer continued, businesslike, ¡°Who did the victim associate with regrly?

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t really know her,¡± Brielle admitted.

    He gave her a probing look before diligently noting her response.

    Brielle furrowed her brow in thought before asking. ¡°Was Sarah¡¯s death a suicide, or was it foul y?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll have to wait for the autopsy results for that.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s eyes fell. If Sarah¡¯s death were ruled a suicide, things would be incrediblyplicated for

    her. The video of her pressuring Sarah to sing was still out there, and the public would surely me her

    harassment as a direct cause of the tragedy. Moreover, with no surveince in the bar from that night

    and Sarah now gone, no one could corroborate the truth.

    She had managed to bluff her way out of Dorsey International earlier that day, mainly because Simon

    wasplicit in something shady¨CBrielle was certain he had been bribed. Plus, the mysterious

    message ¡°help me¡± sent to the group chat, seemed like a desperate move by someone behind the

    scenes to escte the situation. It was this very act that suggested to the police and the public that

    Sarah¡¯s death might not have been a mere suicide.

    Using this to her advantage, Brielle had confronted Simon, and he had faltered.

    But who was pulling the strings from the shadows?

    The thought alone was chilling, and a name surfaced in her mind unbidden¨CWilliam.

    William had always lurked in the background and was among the first in the Dorsey n to learn of her

    rtionship with Max. Yet, he had remained inactive. His silence was unnerving.

    Brielle¡¯s palms were mmy with anxiety¨Cit was just a suspicion.

    She had already ruled out Spencer and Ryan. Ryan was too impulsive, as evidenced by his previous

    threat to poison Max, and his son Spencer was too rash to be behind such a plot.

    1/3

    11-01

    Chapter

    Victoria, the Dorsey heiress, had her head in the clouds, far from any power struggle.

    Only William remained¨Ca Dorsey family member with deep roots in thepany. If he had been

    monitoring Brielle¡¯s movements, he would¡¯ve been well aware of her recent discord with Sarah.

    Leaving the police station, Brielle drove back to thepany, only to find a crowd gathered outside

    Dorsey Tower. In the midst of it all was Simon, sitting on the ground, wailing with Sue

    in a contest of tears.

    Simon¡¯s eyes locked onto Brielle¡¯s car, and he stood up, pointing an using finger. ¡°Murderer!¡±

    The crowd¡¯s gaze snapped to her, and Brielle¡¯s frown deepened. How did Simon know her car

    on sight?

    It was toote to reverse; the mob was closing in, hurling insults and usations at her vehicle.

    ¡°Get out! You owe this family an exnation!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t think your money can shield you from justice! How hard it is for an honest farming family to raise

    a college student?!¡±

    Those who hade for Dorsey International hadn¡¯t seen the recent livestream. They all thought

    Brielle was to me. Someone even picked up a stone, intending to smash her car

    window.

    ¡°Coward! Witch! Come out!¡±

    Crash!¡±

    The stone shattered the car window in an instant.

    Brielle stepped out, her gaze settling on the middle¨Caged man who had thrown the stone. He shrank

    back under her stare but then stood his ground, defiant.

    ¡°What are you looking at? You killer!¡±

    She couldn¡¯t help but smirk at the absurdity. Her eyes drifted to Simon and Sue, who were hiding

    behind the crowd with smug satisfaction on their faces as if they had won a great victory.

    But Brielle stood tall, her posture unyielding. Without hesitation, she dialed the police, ¡°Hello, this is

    Brielle, the one who just left the station. I¡¯m outside Dorsey Tower, facing a malicious attack. I also

    intend to press nder charges against Mr. Simon and others. Their defamation against me is

    actionable. I need police assistance.¡±

    When reason met brute force, words often failed.

    So, it was time for Brielle to take a stand.

    Simon, hearing her call, panicked.

    2/3

    11:01

    Chapter 371

    ¡°What the hell? Suing me? On what grounds? It was you who killed my daughter, you monster!

    Everyone, see for yourself. This is the real face of the Director of Dorsey International. My daughter

    has barely passed, and she¡¯s already threatened us with legal action. She¡¯s heartless!¡±

    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

    The crowd¡¯s eyes were like daggers, stripping Brielle of her defenses, but she remained steadfast,

    ready to confront the storm.

 Chapter 372

    Chapter 372

    The crowd was buzzing with excitement, but Brielle just nced around with a light chuckle.

    ¡°I¡¯ve juste back from the police station after giving my statement, and I¡¯m more than willing to

    cooperate with the investigation into this incident. The fact that I¡¯m standing here should be enough to

    clear me as a suspect. But Simon, despite the police making things. crystal clear, you¡¯re still here

    stirring the pot, trying to twist the narrative. If I don¡¯t sue you, then who should I sue?¡±

    Her expression was icy, even mocking.

    ¡°Just because you lost your daughter, do I have to stand here and take your nder? Is that what you

    call having a conscience? Or should the CEO of Dorsey International personallye and apologize to

    you? Just because you¡¯ve suffered a loss, does the whole world have to walk on eggshells around

    you? Simon, the police have already looked into Sarah¡¯s financial records since college, and you two

    never sent her a dime for living expenses. She hadn¡¯t been gone three hours before you had her

    obituary photo ready to go. Even after the police advised you, you still tried to throw mud at me. You

    and your wife have been spreading rumors and ndering me, and exploiting the sympathy of these

    people who are here on your behalf.¡±

    ¡°If I kept silent, that would be a real disgrace to Dorsey International.

    Her words silenced the onlookers.

    Nobody was a fool. They¡¯d all rushed over in the heat of the moment, seeking justice.

    But the fact that Brielle had been released so quickly from the police station without being detained as

    a suspect spoke volumes.

    And from her tone, it seemed the police had already advised this couple.

    So why were they still clinging to Brielle?

    Instantly, all eyes turned to Simon and his wife, Sue. Simon turned pale with fear, his lips quivering.

    What could he do?

    How could he handle this?

    He desperately tried to signal to Sue with his eyes, and she, getting the hint, promptly fainted.

    Simon began to cry again, cradling the ¡®unconscious¡® Sue.

    ¡°Oh God! Wake up, honey. We haven¡¯t gotten justice for our daughter yet. It¡¯s all because we¡¯re not

    educated and not as slick¨Ctalking as them. Help! Murder!¡±

    As the situation escted, it became clear to everyone that Simon was putting on an act¡­

    Just as the crowd began to murmur, Brielle was the first to dial 911. After hanging up, her tone

    remained calm.

    11:01

    Chapter 372

    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    ¡°Simon, I¡¯m deeply sorry about what happened to Sarah, but that doesn¡¯t give you the right to hurt me.

    I¡¯ve called for an ambnce, and I hope your wife will be alright. After all, you still have to take care of

    Sarah¡¯s affairs.¡±

    Her voice was detached as she put her phone away and walked towards the building.

    The crowd that had been surrounding her parted, giving her a clear path.

    Brielle¡¯s demeanor was poised and confident, her tone and bearingmanding respect.

    No one else approached her, and they instead gathered around Simon, suggesting he wait for the

    police investigation results.

    Simon gritted his teeth, ring at Brielle¡¯s retreating figure. ¡°Damn her!¡±

    Meanwhile, in a ck car not too far away, Max watched the scene unfold with a detached

    gaze.

    Patrick sat in the driver¡¯s seat. Max was on the verge of intervening when someone had thrown a rock

    at Ms. Brielle¡¯s car.

    The situation would have escted even further if he had shown his face.

    Luckily, Ms. Brielle seemed to notice the car and shook her head, stopping him from getting out and

    potentially igniting the media.

    Patrick nced in the rearview mirror, only to see Max¡¯s face shrouded in a chill.

    As the ambnce arrived to take Simon and Sue away and the onlookers dispersed, Max pursed his

    lips and quietly said, ¡°To the underground garage.¡±

    Patrick nodded and quickly drove to the designated area.

    They took the elevator straight to the top floor.

    Max, radiating an icy aura, stepped out of the elevator only to be met by Spencer.

    Their eyes shed in the air.

    Spencer felt a surge of anger rush to his head.

    Max, however, just gave him a look, asking nothing, not questioning why he was on the top floor

    instead of his usual department.

    His attitude was as if he was seeing a stranger.

    The blood boiling within Spencer seemed to freeze over; nothing was more humiliating than being

    completely disregarded by a rival.

 Chapter 373

    Chapter 373

    Max slumped into his office chair, the weight of the world seemingly on his shoulders.

    Patrick tiptoed behind him. Max was probably steaming mad, fuming at Ms. Brielle for not letting Max

    get out of the car and at himself for actually listening to her.

    Max wasn¡¯t the type tough much on a good day, and when he was mad, hysteria was thest thing

    you¡¯d see. His eyes just got darker, his presence more hushed.

    But the quieter he got, the more danger seemed to linger in the air.

    Patrick instinctively tried to make himself as small as possible.

    The office fell into a deathly silence, the air thinning with tension.

    Buzz.

    Max¡¯s phone vibrated on the desk. He nced at it, a text from Brielle.

    [Can I try to handle this on my own first?]

    The anger in his chest popped like a balloon, but difort still simmered. He texted back.

    [How long?]

    [One week. I can¡¯t lean on you for everything.]

    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    He could shield her from the storms, but also smother her from the sunlight.

    Brielle¡¯s affection had two pirs: submission, where it¡¯s intimate, and autonomy, where it¡¯s not. Only

    then could she be a whole person, and only a whole person could lovepletely.

    Trying to cure with affection was a sure way to worsen the disease.

    This was the truth she had grasped in their brief encounters.

    [Don¡¯t get hurt.]

    Max didn¡¯t stop her; he knew Brielle was different.

    Her heart warmed, a softness shing in her eyes, but she quickly forced herself to set aside personal

    matters and focus on the crisis at hand.

    Now that Simon and his wife had gone to the hospital, the online storm hadn¡¯t calmed.

    If William was orchestrating this from behind the scenes, his real target wasn¡¯t her¨Cit was Max.

    William wanted to corner her, force Max to act, and then use that as leverage against him.

    What she needed to do was to grab a hold of William¡¯s weak spots.

    11:02

    But with William being cautious for so many years, it was unlikely he¡¯d slip up easily.

    Brielle leaned back, pinching a pen in her fingers. How would she handle this?

    Then it clicked. In business, when you¡¯re short on leverage and need to close the gap with a rival you

    either bulk up your own chips or dilute theirs.

    And right now, William¡¯s chips were Simon and his wife. To dilute that, she had to make those

    pawns useless.

    A smirk curled Brielle¡¯s lips as she dialed Tiffanie.

    Herwork wasn¡¯t as extensive as Tiffanie¡¯s, so digging into Simon¡¯s background was best

    left to Tiffanie.

    Tiffanie agreed quickly, and with a promise of a dinner treat, it wasn¡¯t long before Simon¡¯s dossier was

    in Brielle¡¯s hands.

    He was a gambling addict, a materialist, and often abusive to his wife and daughter. And his wife,

    despite the abuse, clung to this rotten man. Sue came from a well¨Coff family, but Simon¡¯s gambling

    squandered her inheritance.

    Even as her world fell apart, Sue never thought of divorce. Now, with their only daughter gone. she still

    blindly followed the man, demandingpensation for their loss.

    ¡°Brielle, Simon is drowning in about eight million in debt.¡±

    With parents like that, Sarah really was a victim. But Brielle was no saint. The world was full of sorrow,

    and if you harm others just because you¡¯ve been harmed, what then?

    Wicked was wicked, and nobody cared about the abuser¡¯s backstory.

    ¡°Tiffanie, thank you.¡±

    Looked like a hospital visit was in order to meet Simon.

 Chapter 374

    Chapter 374

    Brielle chose not to drive her own car to the hospital, fearing that her license te might have been

    sted online, turning her vehicle into a target for any fanatic who might take their rage out on the

    road.

    The online world was still abuzz with spection, and the thought of being rammed by an extremist if

    they caught wind of her car made her shudder.

    Having learned where Simon was hospitalized, Brielle was ready to confront him. But since Sue¡¯s

    copse was all an act, the two sat idly in the hospital room.

    Wary of the media circus waiting for an interview outside, Simon had Sue feign a state of utter distress.

    It seemed they were trapped in the hospital for the foreseeable future.

    Sue sat on the hospital bed, a look of worry crossing her face.

    ¡°Honey, do you think we¡¯ll really get our hands on a big sum? What if the guy¡¯s just pulling our legs?¡±

    she voiced her concern.

    Simon¡¯s response was swift and harsh¨Ca p across her face.

    ¡°We¡¯ve got ten million in the bank, for heaven¡¯s sake! Enough with your nonsense! Get your act

    together, and don¡¯t screw this up,¡± he snapped.

    Sue¡¯s cheeks reddened as she touched her face, tears welling up. ¡°I¡¯m just scared we won¡¯t get the

    money. You know how ruthless those loan sharks can be. If anything happens to you, I don¡¯t want to

    live either.¡±

    Simon sneered. ¡°It¡¯s just eight million. We¡¯ve already got ten, and we¡¯ll clear that debt in no time.

    Dorsey International is loaded. We¡¯ll milk them for another ten million easily. Then we can live the high

    life anywhere.¡±

    Sue nodded, her hand instinctively moving to her stomach.

    Sarah was gone. At her age, having another child was out of the question.

    If Simon left her for a younger woman, what would she do?

    She had nothing left but Simon.

    Simon saw her deep in thought, and irritation flickered across his face.

    ¡°Think I¡¯m going to dump you? You should remember, I didn¡¯t turn my nose up at you for having

    a daughter. Any other man would have divorced you for bringing in a liability like that.¡±

    Sue nodded fervently, remembering her own fear of divorce after giving birth to a girl. But Simon had

    forgiven her, and she resolved to be unwaveringly loyal to him.

    From outside the room, Brielle listened in, and her brow furrowed.

    Brielle had thought there might be hope for Sue, but it was clear that even Sue saw having a

    14

    11:02

    daughter as a grave mistake.

    The mindset was too ingrained to change; otherwise, Sue wouldn¡¯t have neglected Sarah all those

    years.

    Brielle had considered approaching Sue, but now her focus shifted to Simon.

    Sue was nothing but an extension of Simon, a ssic case of masochism.

    Brielle hated tobel unhappy wives that way. Rtionships like Simon and Sue¡¯s were all too

    common, and society often painted these women as masochists who sought and enjoyed pain.

    Labeling these self¨Csacrificing, submissive women as ¡°masochists¡± was a convenient but damaging

    shorthand. It excused the abuse, implying that women somehow relished such treatment.

    Simon¡¯s verbal abuse continued in the background.

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    ¡°Now that Sarah, the financial drain, is gone, you¡¯ve got to make me happy somehow after all these

    years of nothing to show for it.

    ¡°Honey, I¡¯ll do whatever you want. But can you please stay away from the underground casino?¡± Before

    she could finish, another pnded on her face.

    ¡°My business is none of your concern! Even after I pay off the eight million in gambling debts, I¡¯ll still

    have fun there. Stop nagging and focus on how we can bleed Dorsey International dry. Dealing with

    that bench Brielle won¡¯t be easy.

    Sue¡¯s cheeks were swollen as she bowed her head submissively.

    Brielle, who had arrived prepared, knew about Simon¡¯s gambling debts. Her phone was already live¨C

    streaming anonymously. Since Simon wanted to use online opinion against her, her first move was to

    undermine his and Sue¡¯s victim facade.

    The live stream, initially quiet, soon surged with over a thousand viewers. The ongoing scandal had

    piqued public interest, and they were eager for thetest development.

    No one expected Simon to be such a character behind closed doors.

    ¡°Now that Brielle is a formidable opponent, shouldn¡¯t we take care of Sarah¡¯s funeral first?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have time for that dead weight now. Pretend to be sick. Our first priority is to drive Brielle to her

    grave, or both of us will suffer!¡±

    The live stream¡¯s audience grew, and discussions erupted.

    ¡°How can such a creature even be considered a father?¡±

    ¡°Poor Sarah, cursed with parents like these. We thought they wanted justice for their daughter, but it

    was all about the money.¡±

    Chapter 374

    ¡°Now that I think about Brielle¡¯s words, they¡¯re starting to make a lot of sense!¡±

 Chapter 375

    Chapter 375

    Simon¡¯s phone rang with the shrill urgency of a siren in the sterile hush of the hospital ward.

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    Brielle, quick as a sh, killed the livestream and made her exit through another corridor.

    Simon hit the answer button. A voice, cold and detached, seeped through the speaker.

    ¡°Idiot, someone¡¯s been streaming from your sickbay.¡±

    A chill ran through Simon¡¯s spine. He frantically searched the room and even peered outside the door

    but found no one.

    Restlessness took him hostage as he recalled his recent words¨Chad they all been broadcasted live?

    Damn it, who could it be?!

    By that time, Brielle had already left the hospital. Her stream was anonymous and brief, but the

    captured moments were already spreading like wildfire online, igniting discussions and debates. Within

    half an hour, everyone who had been spewing venomous words saw the video. Simon¡¯s true, ugly

    colors wereid bare for all to see.

    Brielle hadn¡¯t anticipated stumbling upon such a revealing conversation. She thought disarming these

    two pawns would take more effort, but it turned out to be a windfall.

    Monitoring the online chatter, she saw the focus of gossip shift to Simon and Sue, giving her a moment

    to breathe.

    Reaching the curbside, Brielle hailed a cab. Just as she was about to give the driver the address, she

    saw Simon bursting out of the hospital entrance, speaking frantically on the phone. Too far to hear the

    words, she simply leaned back and said, ¡°Please take me to Pearl Estate.¡±

    Her request was cut short by a violent crash and the collective screams of onlookers.

    Her heart skipped a beat. Sitting upright, she witnessed the horror ¨C ?imon, who was just beside the

    road moments ago, was now a lifeless, bloodied heap..

    Brielle¡¯s face drained of color. Nurses poured out of the hospital, but it was clear¨CSimon was beyond

    help, reduced to nothing more than a bloodstain on the pavement.

    A pawn, stripped of its use, held no value to the game.

    The screams seemed to echo in Brielle¡¯s ears, a tormenting reminder of her throbbing head.

    She thought disarming William¡¯s pawns would buy her time, b

    ut William, ruthless in his strategy, had Simon killed.

    A life was as insignificant as a piece of paper in his eyes.

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    Chapter 375

    the c

    Concerned, nced at Brielle¡¯s pale face. ¡°Miss, are you okay? We¡¯re right by at hospital. You look

    quite pale: maybe you should get checked out. What a tragedy to have an ident right outside a

    hospital. Looks like a fatality.¡±

    ¡°No, please, just drive to Pearl Estate. Thank you,¡± Brielle¡¯s voice was hoarse as she spoke, turning to

    see Sue emerging from the hospital, her cries tearing through the air.

    Ironically, this time, Sue¡¯s tears were genuine, unlike her performance at Dorsey International. A

    husband lost was a true cause for grief, but the loss of her daughter Sarah seemed to leave her numb.

    Closing her eyes, Brielle had to admit, albeit reluctantly, that she was losing this round.

    She wasn¡¯t like William, who had been steeped in power since birth, to whom the lives of the ordinary

    meant nothing.

    So, Sarah had to die, and so did Simon once he became useless. Simon¡¯s death spelled trouble for

    Brielle. This was William¡¯s game.

    But Brielle couldn¡¯tmit such acts.

    Simon was disgusting, but she wasn¡¯t God, nor the Grim Reaper; she had no right to decide life or

    death.

    That was why she was losing.

    The car drove away, but Sue¡¯s screams still pierced the air as if threatening to shatter the heavens.

    Brielle was overwhelmed by a sense of despair. The plight of being a small yer in a grand game was

    heavy on her heart. She¡¯s fearful of bing the next Sarah or Simon.

    She acutely realized her insignificance.

    Arriving at Pearl Estate, she wearily unlocked the door.

    Inside, she found Max waiting, a coffee mug in hand. The room was filled with itsforting

    aroma.

    Brielle¡¯s eyes reddened as she moved into his embrace, unable to hold back her emotions.

    If she hadn¡¯t rendered Simon useless, William wouldn¡¯t have acted. Her heart wasn¡¯t cold enough, and

    that¡¯s why she felt awful.

    Max set the coffee down and began to pat her back softly.

    She overheard Max¡¯s phone call, presumably to Patrick.

    ¡°Wipe Brielle¡¯s afternoon surveince.¡±

    uns were

    After hanging up, he cradled Brielle¡¯s face. Her red and on the verge of tears.

    Brielle averted her gaze, biting her lip softly. ¡°Simon¡¯s dead.¡±

    11:02

    Chapter 375

    ¡°I know, and you¡¯ve done all you could,¡± Max reassured her.

    Every move Brielle had made was correct, but she had underestimated William¡¯s brutality.

    A man consumed by power was a madman.

    And Brielle, a sane person, could never beat a madman.

 Chapter 376

    Chapter 376

    Brielle wasn¡¯t in the mood for deep thoughts; it was the first time she had witnessed two lives snuffed

    out because of her.

    She needed a moment to breathe, to think about her next move.

    Right now, Max¡¯s embrace was her sanctuary, and she longed to surrender to a brief respite.

    What should she do next?

    Would Sue also end up dead if this continued?

    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

    Her mind was a whirlwind of chaos. She closed her eyes, forcing herself to rest first.

    Max¡¯s hand gently stroked her back, his eyes reflecting a chill as he noticed the weariness on her face.

    He rose, carefully cradling Brielle in his arms, andid her down in the bedroom.

    The moment Brielle touched the bed, she stirred awake, sensing his presence in the room, and

    mumbled, ¡°I want to try again.¡±

    Max froze for a second, gazing at her sleeping face, then tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear,

    murmuring. ¡°Okay.¡±

    What Brielle didn¡¯t know was that since she left the hospital, the ce had been swarming with

    people.

    No one expected Simon to die, and Sue, clutching Simon¡¯s mutted body, wept with a heart¨C

    wrenching sorrow.

    Those who had condemned Simon online were caught off guard.

    One moment, they were decrying Simon as a man unworthy of fatherhood; the next, Simon was dead.

    And Sue¡¯s grief¨Cstricken wailing tugged at heartstrings.

    Public opinion hadpletely shifted against Simon, but with his death, everyone was at a loss. about

    what to do next, so they began discussing the ident.

    Was it a mishap or something more sinister?

    Bereft of her anchor, Sue finally let go of Simon¡¯s body after much persuasion from the doctors. Her

    husband was dead, and she saw no reason to live on.

    They shouldn¡¯t havee to im that money.

    Sue sat numbly in the morgue, watching as Simon was zipped into a body bag.

    Her phone buzzed with a message.

    11-02

    Chapter 376

    (Are you content to let your husband die in vain? Brielle killed him. She killed your husband and your

    daughter. Will you let her get away with it?)

    When hope was lost, grasping at straws became second nature.

    For Sue, that message was her lifeline, the only thing keeping her hope alive.

    It was Brielle. Brielle had killed her husband!

    Sue¡¯s eyes zed with hatred. Wiping away her tears, she clutched her phone and left the

    morgue.

    She would seek justice for her husband! Even if it cost her life, she wouldn¡¯t hesitate.

    She nned to take her own life, then make it seem as if Brielle had driven her to it.

    Using her death to sway public opinion seemed like the best strategy.

    If her entire family was dead, why should Brielle live in peace?

    A cold smile crossed Sue¡¯s face as another message popped up on her phone.

    [Tell the public that Brielle started the live stream from the hospital, and that Brielle indirectly killed

    Simon. And with your husband dead, what¡¯s the point of you living? Aren¡¯t you afraid Simon is lonely

    down there?]

    Sue¡¯s limbs be. It wasn¡¯t until she stepped out of the hospital that she realized a crowd of

    reporters was waiting to interview her.

    With swollen eyes, she faced the cameras, her mind echoing the text message, and she began

    to recount.

    ¡°It¡¯s Brielle¡¯s fault, all of it. She wants us all dead.¡±

    ¡°Poor Sarah, you died so tragically.¡±

    ¡°Even if Simon was at fault, Brielle had no right to y God. Brielle, you bitch, I will never forgive you,¡±

    she sobbed.

    At the end of the day, everything stemmed from the conflict between Brielle and Sarah. It was

    understandable that Sue med Brielle, especially since she had lost her husband and daughter.

    After delivering her speech, Sue stumbled into a nearby taxi.

    The reporters didn¡¯t follow, but the interview was already live¨Cstreaming online.

    The inte was aze with outrage, calling for Brielle¡¯s head.

    It was her actions that led to the ruin of Sue¡¯s family.

    And the unsavory truths about Simon that had been revealed were now conveniently forgotten.

    In a nutshell, the man was dead. What more could be done? Surely, it was all Brielle¡¯s fault.

    2/3

    11:02

    Chapter 376

    Brielle was a light sleeper, and she woke up rubbing her temples.

    Once she had gathered her wits, she threw off the covers and got out of bed.

    The voices of Max and Patrick conversing drifted from the living room. Max looked up to see her, hair

    disheveled, her face delicate but her expression resolute as she turned to Patrick.

    ¡°Patrick, can we have Sue taken to the police station? It needs to be done quickly. I fear she might be

    coaxed into suicide, then have everything pinned on me.¡±

    She had overheard enough at the hospital to know how much Sue idolized her husband.

    Sue¡¯s sense of self was not intact; she had invested everything in Simon. With Simon gone, she, too,

    would crumble.

    If someone exploited this vulnerability, she would dly surrender her life.

 Chapter 377

    Chapter 377

    Patrick bowed respectfully, ¡°Ms. Brielle, the boss thought the same, so he¡¯s already had Sue

    sent over.

    Brielle heaved a sigh of relief and poured herself a ss of water, b

    ut as she held the ss, she did not take a sip.

    The situation had developed into a seeming impasse.

    The tactic of diluting William¡¯s leverage was useless.

    Everything had to revert to square one. She had to prove that it wasn¡¯t her who had oppressed Sarah.

    Only then could she extricate herself from this web of troubles.

    However, there were no security cameras at the restaurant at the time.

    Brielle was not just unwilling to ept this. She was even disgusted by William¡¯s dirty tactics.

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    Using the lives of pawns to coerce them to achieve his ends was despicable.

    In the face of absolute power, Brielle felt an unprecedented sense of powerlessness.

    A pair of cool hands reached out, gently touching her temples..

    His voice whispered in her ear, ¡°I¡¯ll help you.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Truth be told, she didn¡¯t know how Max could help.

    Being led by the nose by William had frayed her nerves, yet she still wanted to try on her own.

    ¡°I want to talk to Sue.¡±

    Max frowned, clearly disagreeing with her decision.

    Sue was now a madwoman, someone who didn¡¯t even care about her own life, let alone someone

    else¡¯s.

    If Brielle showed up in front of her, she¡¯d probably want to stab her with all her might.

    ¡°I won¡¯t allow it.¡±

    Max¡¯s tone was indifferent, his hand retracting as if he didn¡¯t want to discuss it further.

    Brielle smiled and quickly offered him a ss of water.

    Max didn¡¯t take it; such small favors were of no use to him.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey?¡± ¨C

    Brielle softened her voice, and Max nced at her before reluctantly epting the ss. ¡°You could be

    in danger.¡±

    ¡°Not at the station. I¡¯ll talk to her at the police station.¡±

    11:02

    Chapter 377

    Max¡¯s frown softened slightly.

    He knew Brielle wanted to exhaust her own efforts first, but he was still ufortable.

    Brielle looked at him and finally leaned in, nting a kiss on his lips. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, may 1?¡±

    All the pent¨Cup frustration vanished in an instant. Max looked up at her, then averted his gaze, this time

    answering more readily.

    ¡°Mm¨Chm.¡±

    Patrick stood quietly on the side, clutching files, watching as his boss was swayed by a feathery kiss.

    Brielle breathed easier, wanting to see Sue right away, but as she stood up, a wave of dizziness hit her.

    She hadn¡¯t eaten much and was feeling a bit hypoglycemic.

    Patrick tactfully looked down. ¡°Ms. Brielle, sir, dinner is just outside the door. I¡¯ll bring it in

    now.¡±

    Brielle had been asleep earlier, and Max hadn¡¯t eaten either. Patrick hurriedly pushed in the dinner cart.

    Brielle nodded, reaching into a drawer for a white bottle and downing two pills before attempting to put

    them in her mouth, b

    ut Max grasped her wrist, his eyes darkening as he looked at the white bottle in her hand.

    He was all too familiar with that bottle, so much so that the memory still stung like a venomous

    bite.

    Brielle paused, looking down at him in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    She was unaware that Max had learned of her dealings with Ryan, even witnessing her rece the

    contents of the bottle with vitamins.

    That bottle was something Max knew all too well.

    ¡°Brielle, you-¡±

    Brielle smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve been feeling a bit off these past few days, just taking some vitamins to boost my

    health.¡±

    She had intended to throw away the bottle but thought it was just vitamins, so there was no harm in

    keeping it.

    Vitamins?

    Max¡¯s grip slowly rxed, watching as Brielle swallowed the pills.

    She tucked the bottle back into the far corner of the drawer, her tone casual.

    ¡°You know, there¡¯s something I never told you. Ryan hade to me with a proposition, asking

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    11:02

    Chapter 377

    me to poison you. I switched out the contents of the bottle with vitamins. Be careful of him. He and

    William would love nothing more than to see you in trouble.¡±

    As soon as she finished speaking, Max pulled her into his arms.

    ¡°Vitamins?¡±

    His voice carried a hint of relief, his chin resting on her shoulder, his eyes reflecting a soft

    glimmer.

    ¡°Yeah, what else could it be?¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t dwell on it, and she certainly didn¡¯t imagine that Max had seen that moment.

    Max leaned his forehead against her shoulder, chuckling softly, ¡°I thought-¡±

    It doesn¡¯t matter now. Even if it were something else, it would be fine.

 Chapter 378

    Chapter 378

    Brielle popped thest of her vitamins and chuckled to herself as she saw that Patrick had already

    made himself scarce, like a good little ghost..

    Patrick was like a shadowy guardian straight out of medieval times, always there but never

    seen.

    She reached for a couple of bowls, eyes widening a bit as she took in the spread of five dishes. on the

    dinner table. She swallowed hard in anticipation.

    Max was in a good mood, and it only got better when he noticed Brielle serving him a bowl of soup. A

    smile curled at the edge of his lips.

    Brielle sat down across from him and, struck by a sudden thought, looked up to ask, ¡°So, what¡¯s the

    deal with William and Ryan? Are they tight?¡±

    ¡°In the Dorsey n, no one¡¯s really buddy¨Cbuddy with anyone.¡±

    ¡°I was thinking, if both Ryan and William are gunning for you, maybe we could y Ryan to trip up

    William?¡±

    Just to throw William off his game for a bit and shift his focus

    Munching thoughtfully, Brielle quickly sorted through the options in her mind. After a moment, she

    looked up again.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t William get saddled with that Kingston Enterprises project? It¡¯s a decent¨Csized deal, right? Has

    the contract been signed already?¡±

    Max, ever the attentive partner, served her some more food, piling her te high. ¡°Eat first.¡±

    With no other choice, Brielle bent her head and took a few bites, though her mind was

    elsewhere.

    Max chuckled, knowing she wouldn¡¯t be at peace until this was sorted out. ¡°The contract¡¯s still up in the

    air, but the paperwork with Book is all done.¡±

    Brielle nodded, her earlier words to Noah apparently having an effect. With the Kingston heir stirring up

    trouble, any partnership with Kingston Enterprises was bound to bring headaches to Dorsey

    International.

    William hadn¡¯t sealed the deal yet, and Ryan had always been itching to get back into the Dorsey fold.

    Maybe it was time for Ryan to take this chance to sabotage William in front of Michael.

    After all, what William feared most after years of treading carefully in the Dorsey family wast Michael¡¯s

    disappointment.

    William ying hardball with the Kingston deal was already taking a toll on Dorsey International¡¯s

    reputation.

    11:03

    Brielle frowned, feeling that it wasn¡¯t William¡¯s usual style. If he knew partnering with Kingston

    Enterprises was risky, why keep them on the hook?

    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

    Maybe Kingston had something he could exploit.

    What mattered most to Bradley and Catherine? Their beloved son.

    Controlling their son meant controlling Kingston Enterprises.

    Setting down her bowl, Brielle quickly called Tiffanie, only to find out the Kingston heir had been

    missing for days.

    No wonder Kingston Enterprises hadn¡¯t made a fuss over the stalled contract¨Cthey were too busy

    looking for their missing son.

    William was probably on the hunt, too. He wanted Kingston Enterprises for himself!

    While stirring trouble for Max to keep him in check, William was also expanding his own. influence.

    Brielle¡¯s eyes turned icy. Besides needing to talk to Sue soon, she had to find the Kingston heir before

    William did.

    If William got to him first, he¡¯d be able to manipte Kingston Enterprises at will.

    Although she wasn¡¯t fond of Bradley or Catherine, Kingston Enterprises was a power yer, having

    carved out its own path to partner with Dorsey International.

    If William got control, it would be atent threat to Max.

    She couldn¡¯t help but nce over at Max, who was calmly reviewing some documents on the couch as

    if the world¡¯s troubles didn¡¯t concern him

    The dinner remnants had been cleared, the room now belonging to just the two of them.

    Sensing her gaze, Max patted the space beside him with a quiet. ¡°Come here.¡±

    Like a ma, Brielle found herself drawn to his side.

    She never denied the pull she felt towards Max, nor the desire that crackled between them.

    Initially, her entanglement with Max wasn¡¯t just about revenge against the Dorseys¨Cit was the lure of

    Max himself. His voice, his touch, every inch of him was perfection.

    In his presence, even the strongest resolve melted into a bashful blush.

    Brielle was forthright. Once she knew this wasn¡¯t a one¨Cwoman show, she hid none of her thoughts or

    feelings.

    Now, as the room lights dimmed, and the night grew bold and inviting, she was free from the worries of

    public scrutiny, forgetting all else.

    Freed from the constraints of daylight decorum, the taboos she diligently observed were the

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    Chapter 378

    very ones she yearned to break in the dark.

    In this Intimate space, she could safely indulge in the forbidden pleasures that Max offered.

 Chapter 379

    Chapter 379

    Maxid the documents aside, turned Brielle¡¯s head towards him, and nted a tender kiss on her lips.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help but blush, smitten with the way Max took control at times like this.

    Even his passionate kisses and embraces,den with desire, made her feel irresistibly sexy and

    ratcheted up her nervous excitement. It was as if he was so eager for her that he couldn¡¯t keep himself

    in check.

    She delighted in his loss of control, so she reveled in the sense of abandonment that came with being

    dominated.

    Max pulled her into his arms, seeing the fleeting haze in her eyes, a stark contrast to her usual sharp

    analysis.

    He adored this submissive side of Brielle before him. It made him all the more reckless.

    It seemed he was leading this flirtatious dance, but in reality, he was firmly in her grasp.

    Max held her close, letting her sit on hisp as his fingers deftly unfastened a few buttons of

    her shirt.

    Brielle¡¯s heart pounded, yet she didn¡¯t stop him.

    The emotion on Max¡¯s face and the heat in his eyes gave her immense satisfaction.

    She had known from the start that, in some ways, she and Max were alike; they both had strong

    exteriors, with Max being stronger than most.

    However, if one were to apply all the strict modern social concepts, like the desire for equality. seeking

    consensus,promise, fairness, and mutual tolerance, to the intimacy of the bedroom, it would make

    such closeness dreadfully dull.

    He excelled at being in control, and she willingly surrendered it, only to see him unravel.

    His obsession with her, his addiction, was more effective than any sweet talk..

    Max was mindful of her recent fatigue and didn¡¯t go further. After more kisses, he finally released her.

    Brielle, catching her breath on his shoulder, felt their breath intertwine in the dimly lit room. fostering an

    intimate entanglement.

    After a while, as her breath steadied, she swallowed and reached for her coat.

    ¡°I¡¯m heading to the police station.¡±

    Max closed his eyes, her bewitching expression still etched in his mind.

    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get hurt.¡±

    1/3

    11:03

    Brielle¡¯s lips curled slightly, nodding. ¡°Don¡¯t bother sending Patrick with me. Everyone¡¯s eyes are on me

    now. If they drag you into this, William will have seeded.¡±

    Max didn¡¯t care about William; no one was a match for Max.

    Brielle took a few steps, then turned back. ¡°But you could help me find out where that young master of

    Kingston Enterprises is,¡±

    Hearing there was something he could do, Max¡¯s mood visibly improved.

    Good, she was at least trying to rely on him.

    After Brielle left Pearl Estate, she made her way directly to the police station.

    There, Sue was already detained. Herte¨Cnight purchase of a carving knife had been discovered, and

    the officers didn¡¯t dare let their guard down.

    Sue was ranting incessantly, cursing Brielle.

    ¡°Bitch go to hell. It¡¯s all because of you. It¡¯s all your fault.¡±

    ¡°My love, my heart breaks for you.¡±

    ¡°Brielle, why doesn¡¯t heaven take you instead?¡±

    As she railed, Sue began to bang her head against the wall.

    When Brielle was led in, this was the scene that greeted her.

    ¡°Sue?¡±

    At the sound of her name, Sue stiffened, turning incredulously to see Brielle at the doorway. She

    screamed and lunged at her.

    With a deft move. Brielle pinned her to the ground.

    Sue struggled briefly. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her mouth was smeared with blood.

    ¡°Brielle, you¡¯ve destroyed everything for me! You ruined it all!!¡±

    Brielle held her down until she was sure Sue had no fight left, then slowly let her up.

    Suey on the ground, gasping, then covered her face with her hands and began to sob loudly.

    She was clearly venting, and Brielle said nothing. She just watched Sue cry.

    After half an hour, Sue looked up with swollen eyes. ¡°I will kill you!¡±

    ¡°And then what?¡± Brielle sat on a nearby chair, her expression cool.

    ¡°Sue, I¡¯ve seen your file. You graduated from a prestigious university, while Simon didn¡¯t even finish

    elementary school. Your parents strongly opposed your rtionship to the point of falling ill. Not only

    did you not break up with Simon, but you also sold your family¡¯s property behind their backs to support

    his gambling addiction. Was it really me who ruined you, or did you ruin yourself? Or perhaps it was the

    person who introduced you to Simon?¡±

    2/3

    11:03

    ¡°Briellel Shut up! You¡¯re just trying to confuse me.¡±

    Brielle raised an eyebrow, amused.

    ¡°Sue. I just want to talk. I hope you can put aside your bias for a moment and think about who you were

    doing when your parents passed away?¡±

    Sue didn¡¯t want to think, or rather, forced herself not to.

    After selling her family¡¯s possessions, her parents¡® conditions worsened, and they died of grief.

    As an only child, she was left an orphan in an instant, and rtives shunned her as bad luck, severing

    ties.

    Only Simon didn¡¯t despise her.

 Chapter 380

    Chapter 380

    Brielle approached the silent woman, crouching down to meet her gaze eye¨Cto¨Ceye.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not beat around the bush. Have you ever genuinely cared about your daughter?¡±

    Sue¡¯s pupils shrank sharply as she stumbled backward.

    ¡°Why should I care about that trash?! Don¡¯t you know she was fooling around with boys outside of

    school when she was just in middle school? She¡¯s younger than me, prettier than me. What if she fell

    for Simon? Several times, I¡¯ve felt Simon¡¯s gaze on her was just not right.¡±

    Brielle could no longer contain her anger, and her hand flew across Sue¡¯s face in a swift p.

    She hated resorting to violence against another woman, but Sue¡¯s morals were rotten to the core.

    How could someone who had attended a proper university turn into what she was now?

    Sue was stunned by the p, and after regaining her senses, she began to scream towards the door.

    ¡°Murder! Brielle¡¯smitting murder! Help, someone! Brielle is trying to kill someone at the police

    station!¡±

    The police arrived promptly, their brows furrowed in question. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±

    Sue¡¯s hair was disheveled as she pointed usingly at Brielle.

    ¡°She¡¯s trying to kill me! Arrest her, that bitch! She even hit me right in front of you, showing no respect

    for thew.¡±

    The imprint of Brielle¡¯s fingers was still visible on Sue¡¯s cheek from the force of the p, b

    ut her frantic behavior made it almost seem as if Sue could have pped herself.

    Brielle smiled at the officers. ¡°I¡¯ll be done in ten minutes.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, please refrain from violence. Such actions are illegal within the precinct.¡±

    Brielle remained silent, noticing Sue¡¯s smug look.

    When the police had left, Brielle took a deep breath.

    I

    ¡°Sue, I¡¯m only going to say this and after that, I won¡¯t bother with you again. Whether you

    live or die is of no concern to me.¡±

    ¡°You think it was me who ruined you, but your miserable life began when you met Simon. Right from

    the start, he was nning to control you by belittling you in every aspect ¨C your family. your education,

    your job. And you, amidst all this belittling, began to doubt yourself. Simon took advantage of this,

    elevating his status in your heart. The more you depended on him, the higher. his pedestal became,

    and the more willing you were to sacrifice everything for him. It¡¯s a vicious cycle. Without him, you feel

    you have nothing.

    1/2

    11:03

    Chapter 380

    ¡°When you first met Simon, you must have sensed something off about him. He had no decent job, no

    education, enjoyed gambling, and was full of lies. The thrill you felt with him wasn¡¯t love; after all, you

    never fell for any of the well¨Cbred, eligible bachelors at university. Your

    feelings for Simon were born from a saviorplex, believing that your care could heal all his

    life¡¯s wounds, thinking that your willingness to give would inspire him to reach his potential and be

    a sessful, responsible man.

    ¡°You even thought your love could change Simon, and that belief acted like a drug, making you feel like

    a goddess, a nurturing mother earth, a miraculous healer. Whether Simon¡¯s issue was poverty or

    gambling, with your support, help, and sacrifice, you created a powerful illusion for yourself. Plus, there

    was a sense of heroism, that by saving a man, you appeared nobler. To put it bluntly, you are selfish. Is

    all this sacrifice really worth it?

    ¡°Sue, that¡¯s all I¡¯m going to say to you.¡±

    Brielle picked up her bag, casting a final indifferent nce at the woman sitting dazed on the floor.

    ¡°Simon wasn¡¯t killed by me; he was killed by the same person who¡¯s been pulling the strings behind the

    scenes, making youe after me. Even Sarah was a victim of his designs. You continue to target me,

    but to him, you¡¯re just a disposable pawn, a means to an end.¡±

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Brielle had no interest in saving someone beyond hope.

    The addiction to love, like alcoholism or gambling, offered Sue an unparalleled high. For that high,

    she¡¯d endure any abuse, a dependency that left her a shell of her former self.

    And what of Simon? A man like him who no girls would fall for was undeserving of a girl who had been

    so well¨Cprotected. Her seeing him as the be¨Call and end¨Call of her life was ludicrous.

    Brielle had no desire to y savior to a stranger.

    Just as she was about to step through the door, Sue¡¯s voice stopped her, ¡°Who is it?¡±

    Brielle turned to see Sue standing up, her cheek still marked by the p, hoarsely asking. ¡°Who¡¯s

    behind all of this?¡±

 Chapter 381

    Chapter 381

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help but doubt the sincerity of the woman before her. After years of blind devotion, how

    could she suddenly see the light?

    Was Sue just probing her?

    Before Brielle could respond, Sue continued to mutter to herself.

    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I¡¯ve ruined everything, my parents, Sarah¡­ I kept thinking Simon would change. for

    the better. I¡¯ve invested so much. Quitting now would be like abandoning everything I¡¯ve worked for,

    right?¡±

    A flicker of understanding crossed Brielle¡¯s eyes. Staying with a guy like Simon was like ying the

    slots in Vegas. Once you started, you couldn¡¯t pull yourself away because you were convinced that the

    next pull might be the jackpot. That tantalizing taste of victory was addictive, and the rollercoaster ride

    of highs and lows was overwhelmingly disorienting.

    So, of course, Sue wouldn¡¯t snap out of it that quickly. Others must have warned her about Simon

    before.

    Her current confession was nothing more than a test for Brielle. But at least, Brielle thought, Sue was

    starting to think for herself.

    ¡°Sue, after you leave the precinct, check this ce out,¡± Brielle said, handing her a scrap of

    paper.

    Sue instinctively stepped back, her guard up. She clearly didn¡¯t trust Brielle.

    Brielle had no patience for further talk. She tossed the note and walked away.

    The address on the paper made Sue¡¯s pupils shrink. It was the house she had sold off long ago, a

    ce she hadn¡¯t returned to since.

    What was Brielle implying?

    Seeing the confusion etched on Sue¡¯s face, Brielle offered a reminder, ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious to see who

    ended up with the house you sold for a song?¡±

    Sue clutched the paper, her heart pounding. Brielle wouldn¡¯t share this address without reason. ¡°The

    cousin who introduced you to Simon, wasn¡¯t she the one who came from the countryside. seeking your

    help? She got your house for a steal and now has found herself a decent guy. She¡¯s living the dream

    with a perfect little family.¡±

    That cousin, just like Simon, was uneducated. In her cousin¡¯s eyes, Sue didn¡¯t deserve her city life or

    her college degree. She wanted to ruin Sue, so she set her up with Simon.

    And Sue yed right into her hands. Her life was shattered by Simon.

    Sue copsed, her mind buzzing, tears flowing like a faucet left open. Sue¡¯s face turned pale,

    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    Chapter 381

    her mind buzzing. Her legs gave out, and she knelt on the ground.

    She didn¡¯t have the heart to ponder over Brielle¡¯s intentions now. The fact that Brielle got the guts to

    give her this address showed that it had been verified.

    The happier her cousin led her life, the more it proved how sessful her scheme was back. then, and

    how much of a failure Sueu was.

    She copsed on the ground, trembling all over. This was ten thousand times more painful than losing

    Simon.

    After several minutes of silent weeping, she took a deep breath. She had nned to feign trust in

    Brielle, to see what this smooth¨Ctalking woman was up to. She hadn¡¯t expected Brielle to drop such a

    bombshell.

    ¡°Brielle, you see me crying. Do you think I¡¯m putting on an act? Do you find me disgusting?¡±

    ¡°Not at all. But maybe you should cry at your parents¡® graves. They¡¯d find peace knowing you cared,¡±

    Brielle said coolly, having done her part regardless of Sue¡¯s trust.

    Brielle never believed in Sue anyway. Just like Max said, someone who didn¡¯t care about their own life

    was capable of anything.

    Despair etched Sue¡¯s face. ¡°I still can¡¯t let go of Simon. I know it¡¯s my fault, my just deserts. I loathe

    myself for it, yet I can¡¯t stop arranging everything for him. I can¡¯t visit my parents¡® grave. Thest thing I

    want is to make those who plotted everything pay, to at least avenge Sarah.¡±

    She was no qualified mother.

    Brielle raised an eyebrow, gauging the truth in her words. Whether true or false, it was no longer

    Brielle¡¯s concern. She was no saint.

    ¡°That person is too powerful for you to touch,¡± Brielle said.

    Sue looked up, determination in her eyes. ¡°Just tell me who it is.¡±

 Chapter 382

    Chapter 382

    ¡°William Dorsey, a board member at Dorsey International.¡±

    The name etched itself into Sue¡¯s memory before she bowed her head.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t stand up for you online. The court of public opinion is fierce. Even if I spoke up now

    and said none of this mess has anything to do with you, people would only think I¡¯m under your thumb

    and that I¡¯m speaking out because you coerced me.¡±

    Brielle could finally breathe a sigh of relief. When Sue wasn¡¯t being headstrong, at least her intellect

    was on point.

    ¡°I never expected you to clear my name. You speaking up for me would only make people more

    suspicious. But aren¡¯t you worried that I might have bullied your daughter?¡±

    Sue looked down, her gaze empty and hollow.

    ¡°The first time I met you, I didn¡¯t think you were capable of that. In fact, I regret going to Dorsey

    International with Simon. If he hadn¡¯t been so greedy, he wouldn¡¯t have ended up dead.¡±

    She took a deep breath, her eyshes quivering. ¡°Someone has been sending texts, instructing us

    what to do. But whoever it is, they¡¯re high up and untouchable. That number can¡¯t be traced.¡± ¡°Sue, I

    don¡¯t need you to do anything. Just don¡¯t harm yourself and pin it all on me.¡±

    Brielle cut her off, not wanting to linger.

    Sue was stunned, then a wave of fear washed over her, and she gave a bitter smile.

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what they told me to do. My life is worthless anyway.¡±

    ¡°No one on this earth has the right to determine our worth, whether we think we¡¯re valuable or not.¡±

    After those words, Brielle walked away.

    She was frustrated with Sue¡¯s state over the years. As a fellow woman, it pained her to see another

    suffer so.

    But who was to me?

    Society always preached a lesson to women¨Cthat beingpliant and undervalued would earn them

    praise or reward, like being the perfect daughter¨Cinw or the exemry wife.

    However, the very education that taught women to be gentle and understanding was the root of their

    suffering.

    Sue was indeed unfortunate, a misfortune seeded by her parents¡® insistence that she be sensible and

    always heed her partner¡¯s word.

    Exhausted, Brielle got in her car and headed home.

    Chapter 382

    By the time she arrived at Pearl Estate, it was eleven at night.

    Max was gone, but he¡¯d left a note at the entrance¨Ccalled away to a meeting, get some rest.

    She felt a wave of loneliness but was too tired to dwell on it. After freshening up, she copsed into

    bed.

    She slept soundly until one in the morning, when her phone pinged with a new message.

    [Ms. Brielle, we¡¯ve located the young master of Kingston Enterprises at an underground casino.]

    Brielle recalled Simon mentioning such a ce. Could it be the same one?

    But Patrick only said the young man was found, implying he couldn¡¯t be taken out.

    The enigma behind the casino was too great for William to navigate, and Brielle couldn¡¯t get Daniel out.

    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

    Daniel was Catherine¡¯s son, the young heir to Kingston Enterprises.

    It seemed the little lord had stirred up trouble at the tables, but as long as William couldn¡¯t find him, it

    was fine.

    Brielle finally rxed, closed her eyes, and fell back asleep.

    When she woke, she immediately checked the news.

    The scandal continued to brew, and her colleagues had messaged her advising her not toe to

    work. Reporters swarmed the ce, waiting for a scoop on Brielle, the person of interest.

    With work off the table, she considered visiting this so¨Ccalled casino.

    Before she could settle on a n, Tiffanie called.

    ¡°Brielle, that casino where Simon racked up his debts is quite the hotspot. A bunch of my friends hang

    out there. Want to check it out?¡±

    ¡°Sure, let¡¯s do it.¡±

    Brielle and Tiffanie arranged to meet that evening, and in the meantime, Brielle kept a close eye

    on the online narrative.

    Without Sue fanning the mes, the one¨Csided attacks weren¡¯t as prevalent. People were more

    focused on the car crash.

    The police had taken over the investigation and promised to disclose their findings as soon as they had

    answers.

    Two hourster, Sarah¡¯s death certificate was released. It was ruled a suicide.

    Brielle wasn¡¯t surprised. With William¡¯s influence, there was no chance he¡¯d leave behind evidence of

    foul y.

    Only if Sarah¡¯s death was deemed a suicide would the public pressure crush Brielle.

    11:04

    Chapter 382

    The ¡°help me¡± message left in the group chat was William¡¯s most significant blunder.

    Rubbing her temples, Brielle realized that now the police had announced Sarah¡¯s cause of death, she

    had to brace herself for the public¡¯s scrutiny.

    The online world erupted in an instant.

 Chapter 383

    Chapter 383

    ¡°It was suicide, so she really was driven to it by her boss.¡±

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    ¡°Brielle¡¯s got some exining to do now. If it wasn¡¯t for her treatment of Sarah, Sarah wouldn¡¯t have

    died, Simon wouldn¡¯t have ended up at Dorsey International, wouldn¡¯t have gone to the

    hospital, and wouldn¡¯t have died.¡±

    ¡°Brielle is truly a piece of work.¡±

    But then some folks started wondering about the current state of a certain Sue. After all, shet was the

    only one left alive in this whole mess.

    Especially since Sue wasn¡¯t looking too hot when she stormed out of the hospital yesterday. ranting

    about getting back at Brielle. Where was she now?

    Right now, Sue was still at the police station, shell¨Cshocked from Brielle¡¯s words the day before, and

    still struggling to snap out of it.

    She didn¡¯t want to believe Brielle, not for a second, even going so far as to have the cops.

    confirm the current owner of that house.

    Turned out, it was indeed owned by her cousin.

    What a

    aughable world this was, and what had she been doing all these years?

    Her family had taken in her cousin and others from the countryside, hoping to give them a better life.

    But those people turned out to be wolves in sheep¡¯s clothing.

    Sue was young back then, with not much sense to speak of. She always thought her cousin was

    looking out for her best interests.m

    ¨C

    So, when her cousin introduced her to Simon ¨C a man Sue thought was beneath her she still agreed to

    give it a shot.

    Her first time with Simon was a blur, a drunken mistake, and her cousin was right there, feeding

    her lines.

    ¡°Once you¡¯ve lost your purity, you¡¯re cheap, and you¡¯re damaged goods. If anyone finds out, not

    decent man will have you.¡±

    ¡°Sue, you sure don¡¯t want your parents to know you¡¯ve been fooling around with a man, especially one

    who¡¯s not your boyfriend. Simon¡¯s actually a decent guy: you should focus on his good attributes.¡±

    And so, she

    was persuaded.

    After that, Sue couldn¡¯t understand why her mental state was declining and why she became so

    forgetful.

    Sitting in the police station lobby, she watched a cop approach slowly, handing her a new note.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle left this for you before she left,¡± the officer said. ¡°Hopes it might help you.

    somehow.¡±

    Sue had no love lost for Brielle, but she took the note anyway.

    The message was simple:

    ¡°Sue, your cousin and Simon were an item back in the countryside. All the money you spent on Simon

    was actually for her. I think I figured out how Simon¡¯s been manipting you. Ever heard of

    gaslighting? A man hides his woman¡¯s jewelry to make her think she¡¯s lost it or removes something

    from the house and mes her. These acts make the woman doubt her sanity. gradually destroying her

    mind.¡±

    Sue felt like she¡¯d been struck by lightning, thest bit of color draining from her face.

    After getting together with Simon, she felt like she was losing her memory and growing more and more

    insecure.

    But now Brielle was suggesting it was all Simon¡¯s ploy to control her.

    Her lips trembled as she looked up, pleading with the police to investigate her cousin and Simon¡¯s past

    in the countryside.

    As a key person of interest, the police had to stabilize Sue¡¯s emotions, so they actually did look

    into it.

    The results confirmed Brielle¡¯s words. Sue¡¯s cousin and Simon were a pair in the countryside.

    After all the twists and turns, it turned out Sue was the biggest fool of them all.

    All sense of reason copsed in an instant, and Sue wanted to smash everything, to slice Simon¡¯s

    corpse piece by piece to satiate her vengeance.

    What had she done?

    For this man, she had caused her parents¡® death and alienated her daughter. What had she done?

    She was desperate for revenge, wishing to destroy everything, b

    ut the shock was so great that she soon calmed down.

    If Simon¡¯s body was before her, could she really bring herself to destroy it?

    She was thoroughly tamed, instinctively considering everything for Simon.

    Sue blinked away her despair, at least wanting to avenge her daughter.

    She quickly formted a n.

    If those behind the scenes wanted her to go after Brielle, her not doing so would surely make them

    anxious.

    Chapter 383

    With the public against Brielle now, taking a stand to condemn her would serve their purpose, b

    ut if Sue held back, surely, they would try to provoke her further.

    Her gaze clouded, and she lifted her head to the officer beside her. ¡°I¡¯d like Brielle¡¯s phone number.¡±

    The cop sighed, thinking she still wanted revenge on Brielle.

    ¡°I hope you can keep a cool head. Don¡¯t end up throwing away your life, too.¡±

    Sue dropped her gaze. ¡°I¡¯m not after trouble. I just want to discuss something with her.¡±

    She might not have cared for her own life, but she couldn¡¯t let the real viins go free.

    The officer passed Brielle¡¯s contact number to her.

 Chapter 384

    Chapter 384

    Sue sat stiffly in the police station all afternoon. Her cell phone suddenly rang to life. She turned to the

    officer beside her and said, ¡°I wish someone would tap my phone.¡±

    Currently, she was a victim, so the police obliged.

    Once Sue was certain her call was being monitored, she pressed the answer button.

    A sinister voice came from the other end.

    ¡°Now¡¯s the time to crush Brielle with public opinion. What are you up to? Don¡¯t you want to avenge your

    husband?¡±

    The officer listening to the call looked up at Sue in surprise, b

    ut Sue appeared indifferent, replying with vulnerability in her voice.

    ¡°Even if Brielle dies, my husband won¡¯te back.¡±

    ¡°At least you can make the person responsible pay, right? I¡¯ve already given you my advice. If you

    commit suicide and me everything on Brielle, she won¡¯t be able to shake this off. Now is the best

    time.¡±

    There seemed to be some noise in the background of the man¡¯s location, and then the call was

    abruptly cut off.

    The man, visibly annoyed, turned to look at the calm William seated nearby.

    ¡°Dad, if Sue doesn¡¯t pin this on Brielle at this critical moment, are all our efforts for nothing?¡±

    William held a mug of coffee, appearing confident.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve sent someone to retrieve the hospital security footage. As long as Brielle was near

    Simon during the time of his death, even if she didn¡¯t hit him, she won¡¯t escape public association with

    the incident.¡±

    A smirk of self¨Csatisfaction crossed William¡¯s face, confident the investigator would return soon with the

    footage.

    Just as he thought this, the living room door opened, and his bodyguard walked in respectfully.

    Seeing the bodyguard¡¯s grim expression, William¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Where¡¯s the footage?¡±

    The bodyguard hastily bowed his head. ¡°We¡¯ve reviewed the surveince, sir. We found no evidence of

    Ms. Brielle being in the hospital at the time or even around the vicinity.¡±

    ¡°How is that possible!¡±

    William crushed the coffee mug in his hand.

    Someone had tipped him off this morning that Brielle was at the hospital. It was just bad luck that she

    happened upon the scene of Simon¡¯s death. Publicizing the footage would have made

    it impossible for Brielle to clear her name; she would be branded with shame for life.

    But now, the bodyguard was telling him there was no sign of Brielle.

    Could the tip have been a mistake?

    Cold fury shed in William¡¯s eyes. ¡°Are you certain the surveince wasn¡¯t tampered with?

    The bodyguard, trained professionally for such tasks, shook his head. ¡°The footage has been

    deliberately edited.¡±

    William¡¯s face turned pale with anger. Someone had beaten him to the punch.

    Could it have been Max?

    William felt a wave of humiliation as if his every move was controlled by his adversary.

    He took a deep breath and turned to the young man beside him.

    ¡°Keep pressuring Sue. I want her to drag Dorsey International through the mud!¡±

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Damn it, he had to outmaneuver Max!

    Meanwhile, Sue, looking at her disconnected phone, slowly looked up.

    ¡°I suspect my daughter was murdered, and it was made to look like a suicide. I want the police to

    reopen the investigation and check on the person who¡¯s been calling me. From the start, this person

    has been manipting my husband and gave us ten million dors. The transfer is recorded, though it

    might be from an overseas ount. All signs indicate this isn¡¯t an ordinary incident.¡±

    Ten million was not an amount a regr person could produce.

    The police officer, taking no chances, quickly inquired, ¡°Is there a record of the transaction on your

    husband¡¯s phone?¡±

    Sue nodded. ¡°I can provide that.¡±

    The officer acted swiftly and, with the transaction evidence in hand, released a new statement to the

    public.

    It suggested that Sue, the family member of the deceased, was asking for a fresh investigation,

    iming she had been threatened. She and herte husband, Simon, had initially targeted Dorsey

    International because Simon was in debt. He owed eight million to a loan shark. The person behind the

    scenes gave them ten million, aiming to implicate Dorsey International

    The detailed transfer records were made avable by the authorities.

    Since Simon¡¯s conversation with Sue in the hospital had been broadcasted live, everyone knew about

    his eight¨Cmillion¨Cdor debt. However, the ten million was overlooked.

    Who gave ten million to Simon? What were their intentions?

    Could it be apetitor of Dorsey International?

    11:05

    Chapter 384

    Public rage towards Brielle began to subside, and the focus shifted instantly. This was no ordinary case

    of a superior causing the death of a subordinate¨Cit was possibly a ploy by a business rival of Dorsey

    International.

    Which average

    family could just transfer ten million dors? Not to mention, Sue herself imed she faced a death

    threat, with the perpetrator wanting to bring down Dorsey International, or else they wouldn¡¯t let her off.

    Spections arose that Sue must have sought police protection to dare to speak the truth.

    And the police delivered on public expectations by releasing the audio of the recent phone call,

    confirming the authenticity of its content.

 Chapter 385

    Chapter 385

    A storm was brewing, and public opinion had reached a new crescendo.

    ¡°So it¡¯s all been orchestrated by someone else, someone who just wants to stir the pot and drag

    Dorsey International through the mud.¡±

    ¡°Must be a business rival. A wire transfer record for ten million can¡¯t be faked. Whoever is behind this

    has deep pockets, clearly not your average Joe.¡±

    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

    ¡°Looks like Brielle¡¯s caught a bad break. There were already people from Dorsey International stepping

    forward, iming that the video was edited, that Sarah herself had been repeatedly hassling her boss.¡±

    ¡°Just wait and see. The police will uncover the truth.¡±

    Brielle thought she¡¯d be gued by rumors for a while longer, but Sue had brought the

    mastermind into the spotlight in an unexpected way.

    William looked down on these pawns, thinking he could y god with their fates.

    However, those who underestimated the human spirit would ultimately be defeated by it. Sue¡¯s

    counterstrike was bound to throw William into a panic.

    William probably never expected Sue to do this, considering how much she cared for Simon. If she let

    slip about the ten million dor issue, even if Simon were dead, he¡¯d be scorned posthumously.

    Sue loved Simon dearly: how could she bear to see the man she loved maligned?

    William underestimated a woman¡¯s resolve.

    The most loving could also be the most ruthless.

    Human nature was forever a mystery, inscrutable, imprable, and unverifiable.

    Now that the whole affair had been linked to a corporate conspiracy, to a puppeteer pulling the strings,

    Brielle was also just a pawn used to take down Dorsey International. Harassing her was pointless.

    Moreover, Brielle had to admit that once Sue had her epiphany, her smarts were impressive. She had

    managed to elevate the situation with the police, not pointing to the puppeteer as someone trying to

    destroy Brielle but as someone trying to sink Dorsey International. Thus, Brielle¡¯s role in the affair was

    diminished, and the public saw her merely as a pawn.

    Her phone buzzed with a text from Sue..

    [I still despise you, but I will fight this shadowy figure to the bitter end.]

    Brielle was reflective. Until yesterday, she thought Sue was beyond help.

    Turned out, once a woman broke free from the so¨Ccalled bonds of love, she could be quite

    1/3

    11:05

    Chapter 385

    astute.

    It¡¯s too bad Sue had her awakening a bit toote..

    Brielle was genuinely grateful though. Sue¡¯s actions had finally shifted the online vitriol away from her.

    She no longer had to worry about being mobbed when she stepped outside, or about the judgment in

    others¡® eyes.

    A colleague called her, saying the reporters swarming Dorsey International had dispersed, now hot on

    Sue¡¯s trail.

    But Sue was safe and sound in the police station, beyond the reach of the press, who were left pacing

    anxiously outside.

    Brielle¡¯s lips curled into a smile. After a moment¡¯s thought, she texted Sue back.

    [Thanks.]

    Sue didn¡¯t respond, and Brielle didn¡¯t expect her to. Instead, Brielle set her sights on the underground

    gambling dens.

    With public opinion now diverted, what would William do next?

    Would he continue to involve the heir of Kingston Enterprises, or simply eliminate Sue?

    But Sue had made the maniption usations so public that the entire nation was watching her, and

    the police wouldn¡¯t let anything happen to her. She was under their protection, and any move by

    William would be nigh impossible.

    Since Sue had caused trouble for William, Brielle didn¡¯t want to sit idle either. She called Ryan.

    Ryan didn¡¯t expect Brielle to reach out to him and sneered internally.

    ¡°Brielle, you¡¯ve got some nerve.¡±

    Knowing Ryan to be suspicious and impulsive, Brielle

    understood that beating around the bush

    would only make him more paranoid. Best to be straightforward.

    ¡°Ryan, you want to get back into Dorsey International, right? Well, there¡¯s a window of opportunity right

    now.¡±

    Of course, Ryan didn¡¯t trust Brielle. She¡¯d deceived him more than once.

    And the unresolved matter of Spencer¡¯s kidnapping somehow felt like her machinations.

    But if Brielle had the power to do that, why would she have suffered under the Haywood family¡¯s thumb

    for so long? So, he was momentarily puzzled.

    ¡°You think I¡¯m going to believe you?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need you to believe me. Just do a little digging, and you¡¯ll see. William has been sitting on

    Kingston Enterprises¡® contract without finalizing it. Thepany went through a lot to get

    11:06

    Chapter 385

    this opportunity, and William¡¯s been stringing them along for ages.¡±

    ¡°Heh, as if Kingston Enterprises would let him. If things don¡¯t work out with Dorsey International, they¡¯d

    just go to anotherpany. Brielle, don¡¯t try to fool me.¡±

    Chapter 386

 Chapter 386

    Chapter 386

    Brielle massaged her temples and let out a half¨Csmile.

    ¡°Ryan, it¡¯s not that Kingston Enterprises isn¡¯t looking for otherpanies, but you know their golden

    boy, Daniel who¡¯s gone missing. Bradley and Catherine are out of their minds trying to find their son¨C

    he¡¯s the apple of their eye. Until Daniel is found, they¡¯re too preupied to focus on business.

    William¡¯s been sniffing around in the shadows for Daniel. Imagine if he finds Daniel and uses him to

    force Kingston into signing a lopsided deal. His stock with Michael would skyrocket, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    Ryan felt a knot tighten in his gut, and his lists clenched.

    He had no standing with Michael and couldn¡¯t even set foot in Dorsey International, while William¡¯s

    position seemed unshakeable.

    If William managed to bully Kingston Enterprises into an unfair deal, Dorsey International would bleed

    Kingston dry, and all that credit would go to William.

    Ryan¡¯s breath quickened. If William continued to gain favor, Ryan¡¯s standing would only diminish until

    he became invisible within the Dorsey n.

    He couldn¡¯t let William find Daniel.

    ¡°Brielle, where are you getting your intel? And why tell me¨Cwhat¡¯s your angle?¡±

    ¡°Ryan, I¡¯ve handed you an opportunity. Whether you grab it is your call. Just tip off Michael about

    William¡¯s pressure on the Kingston deal. I doubt Michael would let anyone in the Dorsey. family

    smotherpetitors with such tactics.¡±

    The business world wasn¡¯t about good guys and bad guys, but William¡¯s y was the dirtiest of

    them all.

    A real businessman, someone like Max, would drive apany to ruin using legitimate business

    strategies, not by threatening family members like some street thug..

    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    All Ryan had to do was drop some hints to the old man, and William¡¯s days would be numbered. Once

    the seeds of doubt were nted in Michael¡¯s mind, they were bound to sprout.

    Being the middle child, overshadowed by William and outmaneuvered by Max, Ryan knew the

    bitterness he felt over the years all too well.

    Brielle¡¯s words spelled crisis, and Ryan wouldn¡¯t stand idly by.

    After hanging up, Brielle exhaled slowly.

    Now, she just had to wait.

    Returning to herputer, she saw that Dorsey International¡¯s official website had released at

    statement.

    Chapter 386

    Theymitted to cooperating fully withw enforcement and offered apensation of five million

    dors to Sue¡¯s family.

    This statement from Dorsey International was timely, as the police had just concluded that a business

    rival was behind everything. Although Dorsey International was an innocent party. out of humanitarian

    concern, they had to offerpensation to their employee.

    Five million was a hefty sum, showcasing the stature of a major corporation.

    For Brielle, it helped to minimize her role in the incident. No one was talking about her anymore: the

    focus had shifted to the puppet master behind the scenes.

    In a sh between capital giants, everyone involved could be seen as a victim.

    Once Brielle was out of the public eye, she could be forgotten.

    She was finally free from this mess.

    Taking a deep breath of relief, she took out her phone and sent Max a kissing emoji.

    Max, sitting in his high¨Crise office, froze mid¨Csip of his coffee upon seeing the emoji. A

    couple of drops spilled, and the executives around him thought he¡¯de up with a new billion¨Cdor

    strategy. They collectively held their breath in anticipation.

    After a long pause, the head of HR cautiously asked, ¡°Mr. Dorsey, is there something wrong with the

    proposal we discussed?¡±

    Max looked away, feigningposure as he took a sip of coffee. ¡°We¡¯re targeting the wrong market.¡±

    After saying that, he set down his coffee cup and shot Brielle a message in return.

    [Send more of those emojis in the future.]

    After sending the message, he put his phone down with a stern expression. T

    he executives around him, witnessing his demeanor, thought he had just wrapped up a billion¨Cdor

    deal.

 Chapter 387

    Chapter 387

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the message she received, but she resisted the urge to reply and

    turned her attention back to the online world.

    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    The issue had escted into a high¨Cstakes game between two financial titans, with the police now

    involved. Brielle realized she no longer needed to worry.

    What nagged at her, however, was the video released by Sarah herself. Withoutplete surveince

    footage from the restaurant, it just lingered out there, unresolved.

    Even though everyone seemed to have moved past their scrutiny of Brielle, it remained a thorn in her

    side.

    However, dwelling on it was pointless now. She had extricated herself from the mess.

    As the evening settled in. Tiffanie rang her doorbell.

    Brielle opened the door to find Tiffanie, her arms still a canvas of dense rose tattoos and several

    dreadlocks woven into her wild mane. Brielle was long ustomed to her friend¡¯s unique style.

    Tiffanie had a lollipop jammed in her mouth.

    Once they were in the car, Tiffanie¡¯s grip tightened on the steering wheel, her tone light.

    ¡°How did you get tangled up in such a mess this time?¡±

    With a wry smile and a shrug. Brielle replied, ¡°Just bad luck, I guess.

    Tiffanie nced over, her attempt at constion half¨Chearted. ¡°Hey, chill out. The online mob¡¯s off your

    back now. You¡¯re out of the woods. Just¡­ worry about other stuff, okay?¡±

    Brielle, sensing an undercurrent in Tiffanie¡¯s words, raised an eyebrow inquisitively.

    Tiffanie coughed subtly.

    ¡°Looks like you haven¡¯t heard yet. Uncle Max¡¯s biological mom is being transferred back from her fancy

    overseas retreat to a local facility. Guess I¡¯ll have to start calling her ¡®grandma. huh?¡±

    ¡°And that means?¡±

    ¡°Oh,e on, Brielle, don¡¯t be dense. Grandma¡¯s a big fan of Alivia and has been pushing for her to

    marry into the family. Once she¡¯s back, Alivia will surely follow suit. Word is she¡¯s already sorting the

    paperwork. You have no idea how high Alivia¡¯s stock has risen. There¡¯s this world¨Css research

    institute setting up a branch right here in Beaconsfield, and she¡¯s going to be the head honcho.¡±

    The prestige of that position was enough to eclipse any local socialite or heir.

    Alivia had the clout tomand respect.

    11:06

    Chapter 387

    The more aplished she became, the greater threat she posed to Brielle, especially with Alivia

    already having set her sights on her.

    Tiffanie prattled on, eventually letting out a sigh.

    ¡°Look, if shees back, avold a head¨Con sh with her. Just a heads¨Cup. As long as Uncle Max

    doesn¡¯t pop the question to you, you¡¯ll never outrank All.¡±

    After her spiel, perhaps realizing the blow to Brielle¡¯s morale, Tiffanie hurried to bolster her friend¡¯s

    spirits.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get down. You¡¯re plenty impressive yourself. It¡¯s just your background that¡¯s holding your back. If

    you were top¨Ctier rich, Alivia would be nothing. You could squash her with a flick of your finger.¡±

    But life was not always fair, and Brielle knew it well.

    Her eyes fell, not in defeat, but acknowledging the looming crisis.

    The car pulled up to thergest estate in the suburbs, and Tiffanie hopped out of the convertible with a

    carefree grace, handing Brielle a card.

    This was a high¨Croller¡¯s ticket into the exclusive casino, essible only to those who could front the

    steep two¨Cmillion¨Cdor membership fee.

    Such a price tag weeded out the merely affluent, highlighting the true wealth of its clientele and the

    recklessness of someone like Simon who had ventured there.

    Tiffanie turned and nodded at Brielle. ¡°She¡¯s with me.¡±

    Each cardholder could bring just one guest, and as the gates of the estate swung open, awork of

    cameras nketed every inch of space.

    This countryside casino, sprawling across a hillside, offered no ce to hide.

    Once they were inside, the doors shut swiftly. Brielle¡¯s and Tiffanie¡¯s faces popped up on the security

    monitors. Their features were scrutinized, and their personal financial data was disyed¨Ccredit

    scores, debt ratios, and how much they could afford to lose.

    In the grandest hall, with its opulent decor, even the most inconspicuous potted nt appeared worth a

    lifetime of work for the average Joe.

    Finding Daniel here felt like searching for a needle in a haystack.

    Brielle sighed and watched as Tiffanie eagerly exchanged cash for chips, itching to try her luck.

    Gambling held no appeal for Brielle, so she hung back by the bar and dessert table.

    She overheard¨Ca nearby conversation, the voices loud enough to carry.

    ¡°When¡¯s the ¡®Lucky Lad¡® gonna show up? Heard there¡¯s a crowd waiting for him tonight.¡±

    ¡°Some of these nearly bankrupt big shots made a fortune off him, and came back from the brink

    11:06

    Chapter 387

    with billions.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s from one of North America¡¯s elite families, a prince of the diamond trade. What¡¯s a few billion to

    him?¡±

    ¡°He hasn¡¯t been home in ages. You know Mr. Connor from Apex Dynamics Ltd., right? He¡¯s here

    waiting to win big.¡±

    Connor?

    Brielle¡¯s brow furrowed at the mention of that name, thest thing she wanted to hear.

 Chapter 388

    Chapter 388

    ¡°Who¡¯s targeting Apex Dynamics? After the Haywood family hit a streak of bad luck, it seems they¡¯re

    next in line. Word on the street is they¡¯re still short of a cool eight billion.¡±

    ¡°There he is! Money Burner¡¯s in the house tonight!¡±

    Brielle craned her neck, trying to spot the infamous Money Burner in the throng, but the ce was

    swarming. She knew they were talking about Infinity Brilliance¡¯s lone heir, Dustin Lynch.

    Just thinking about Dustin brought back memories of their chance meeting abroad. She couldn¡¯t help

    but suppress a smile. For some reason, she found hispany effortlesslyforting.

    Deciding to ditch her dessert, she figured it was worth taking a stroll to see if she could dig up any

    news on Daniel.

    As she rounded the corner, Dustin¡¯s voice floated towards her. ¡°Darling, are we really going to debate

    the origin of love right now? I¡¯m far more interested in the color of your dress tonight.¡±

    Brielle froze. The voice came from the balcony, a ce she had to pass by. Walking through would

    mean interrupting, wouldn¡¯t it?

    The woman¡¯s breathy sighs grew louder. ¡°Mr. Lynch, you¡¯re such a tease. It¡¯s been ages since you¡¯ve

    been around. Didn¡¯t any of those foreign girls satisfy your appetite?¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t bear to listen any longer and turned to leave, but in doing so, her foot knocked against a

    potted nt. The noise startled the woman on Dustin¡¯sp, who let out a shriek and hastily retreated,

    clutching her undergarments.

    Embarrassed, Brielle tried to hurry away but found her cor caught in a firm grip.

    ¡°Brielle?¡± Dustin was tall, and lifting her by the back of her neck seemed effortless.

    Standing on tiptoes, helpless, Brielle exined, ¡°I was just passing by.¡±

    He raised an eyebrow and let her go, then idly twirled a finger. ¡°What a shame. You have no idea how

    delightful she felt.¡±

    Brielle mentally insisted she didn¡¯t want to know.

    Dustin¡¯s eyes twinkled mischievously, his thin lips giving him a look of both passion and indifference.

    Straightening her clothes, Brielle asked as politely as possible, ¡°Mr. Lynch, when did you arrive?¡±

    ¡°Hmm,nded about an hour ago.¡±

    Fresh off the ne and already at the casino, his life seemed quite indulgent. Brielle was at a loss for

    words.

    Chapter 388

    Dustin surveyed her from head to toe and chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ve lost weight.¡±

    His familiar tone touched her, albeit slightly.

    His gaze then shifted indoors, lighting up at the sight of a woman dressed as a yboy bunny. ¡°After all

    the looking around, it¡¯s clear thedies here are top¨Cnotch. Soft and delicate, and they sound so sweet

    in bed.¡±

    Brielle took a deep breath, wishing she hadn¡¯t heard that.

    Noticing her difort, Dustin found it amusing and pulled her by the wrist. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s y a

    round.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, let¡¯s not. I don¡¯t have any chips.¡±

    Dustin wrapped an arm around her shoulder, sighing, ¡°Brielle, it seems Max hasn¡¯t been treating you

    well. Why don¡¯t youe with me? Pick any property you fancy in Beaconsfield, stay with me for a few

    days, and it¡¯s yours. How about that?¡±

    His offer of ¡®y¡® was different from what he proposed to other women. It was more about taking a

    vacation and experiencing the beauty of another ce.

    Brielle thought about his Money Burner nickname and pressed her hand to her forehead. ¡°Let¡¯s not. If

    you frequent this ce too much, you might actually go bankrupt.¡±

    No one had ever worried about Dustin going bankrupt. Infinity Brilliance was a powerhouse in North

    America, with connections even to high¨Cranking officials abroad. No one believed they could fall, not

    when they dominated the diamond market. As long as there were women in the world, diamonds would

    be in demand. So, to Dustin, Brielle¡¯s concern was endearing.

    Heughed softly, his eyes warming with amusement.

    Women passing by couldn¡¯t help but steal nces, their cheeks flushing at his smile. Brielle was used

    to Max¡¯s handsome face; even Dustin¡¯s striking looks couldn¡¯t cause much of a stir

    in her.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Dustin drew her closer. ¡°I won¡¯t go broke, sis. Come on, let¡¯s have some real fun.¡±

    The term ¡®sis¡® cast a shadow in Dustin¡¯s eyes, but Brielle missed it, assuming he was just being

    brotherly as he was with every other woman.

 Chapter 389

    Chapter 389

    The moment Dustin swaggered up to the central poker table, a collective gasp washed through the

    crowd. Brielle faintly heard the murmurs of ¡°Money Burner¡± bouncing around the room. Seemed like the

    guy was quite the legend in this joint.

    She tried to wiggle free from his grasp, but Dustin nonchntly pulled up a chair, plopping her down

    next to him.

    Dustin was known for his revolving door of arm candy, so no one paid much mind to Brielle¡¯s identity.

    Those who relished in the local gossip recognized her in an instant¨Cwasn¡¯t she thetest buzz on the

    net?

    But here, nobody gave a hoot about online chitchat. Once you stepped through these doors, the only

    thing that earned you respect was cold, hard cash.

    Overpowered by Dustin, Brielle resigned herself to the seat.

    Another voice cut through the air as a figure approached, taking a seat directly across from Brielle.

    Connor waste to the party and clueless about Dustin¡¯s setup, so when he spotted Brielle, a sneer

    curled his lips. ¡°Well, well, if it isn¡¯t Ms. Brielle. You¡¯ve been quite the sensation online, I hear.¡±

    Connor had once fancied the idea of marrying Brielle, but after being dressed down by her, he

    harbored a grudge that just wouldn¡¯t quit.

    He¡¯d gleefully shared a juicy rumor from the Hatfield family grapevine with Catherine, thinking Brielle

    had snagged Max. But Catherine hadughed in his face just days before, iming Brielle was

    throwing herself at Max, who didn¡¯t even give her a second nce.

    The thought of Brielle demeaning him while groveling to another man boiled his blood. And with his

    business hitting the skids, his words were all the more venomous. ¡°So what¡¯s the n, bedded and

    bored by yourst sugar daddy, and now trawling for a new one? But after Dorsey¡¯s had his fill, I doubt

    you¡¯ll find many takers.¡±

    Connor¡¯s chip stack was modest¨Cfifty million at best. He¡¯d been biding his time, waiting for Dustin¡¯s

    appearance.

    The moniker ¡°Money Burner¡± was well¨Cearned with Dustin. Sitting at a table with him meant you could

    easily rake in a few hundred million. There was that one CEO, nearly bankrupt and on the verge of a

    skydive without a parachute, who turned his fortune around with a ten billion win from Dustin.

    Nobody dared cross Dustin unless they were looking to make an enemy of wealth itself. And Dustin

    was much more than just money.

    As Connor¡¯s words hung in the air, a shadow passed over Dustin¡¯s eyes. He was about to retort when

    Brielle beat him to the punch. ¡°Word on the street is yourpany is going under, Mr.

    Chapter 389

    Connor. Is that because you¡¯ve been bad¨Cmouthing karma?¡±

    ¡°You!¡± Connor was livid, his scalp tingling with rage. He¡¯d been living high for years, but now, he didn¡¯t

    who he had offended. Deals crumbled one after the other. His once flushpany was now drowning

    in debt, and the banks were cutting him loose.

    With no other options, the casino was hisst resort, and thank goodness Dustin was there.

    A chuckle rippled through the onlookers. Apex Dynamics¡¯s troubles were an open secret, but nobody

    spoke of it outright¨Cbusiness etiquette and all. Brielle didn¡¯t care for such niceties, and Connor was left

    smarting from the blow.

    However, making a scene over Brielle here would only paint him as a bully. He scoffed, throwing a

    nce at Dustin, then offered a ¡®friendly¡® warning. ¡°Mr. Lynch, you¡¯d do well to steer clear of this one.¡±

    Pitying nces shot Connor¡¯s way from the other patrons; they knew Brielle was Dustin¡¯s guest, and

    their rapport seemed¡­ intimate. Connor was fishing for a windfall from Dustin. oblivious to the fact that

    he¡¯d just made a formidable enemy.

    Expecting Dustin to erupt, the crowd was surprised when he didn¡¯t. Instead, he propped his head on

    one hand and, with a room full of onlookers, slid a stack of chips towards Brielle. His eyes crinkled as

    he surveyed the room, then he chuckled. ¡°Texas Hold¡¯em, no limit¨Cany takers?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    No limit¨Cthose words were enough to send shivers down a gambler¡¯s spine. Overnight. fortunes could

    soar into the billions or plummet to ruin. Only the true heavyweights, those worth several billions

    themselves, dared to y.

    The seats hadn¡¯t filled up right away, but with Dustin, the infamous ¡°Money Burner,¡± in the mix, Connor

    had already imed his spot.

    Dustin had only yed no¨Climit a couple of times, but one game was legendary and revived a dying

    corporation. This time, it looked like Connor was about to cash in on some of that luck.

    A greedy grin stretched across Connor¡¯s pudgy, flushed face.

 Chapter 390

    Chapter 390

    The crowd¡¯s gaze wasn¡¯t on Connor; instead, it was fixated on Brielle.

    Seated around the table were faces regrly sshed across the finance sections of newspapers,

    scions of the top ten magnate families of Beaconsfield, and North American blue bloods like Dustin.

    And Brielle? She was none of these things. Yet here she was, taking her seat at this thrilling. eye¨C

    opening poker game, her posture poised with a confidence that belied her status.

    Typically, the women apanying the high rollers to a casino like this clung to their benefactors,

    ying the role of arm candy with a practiced grace. They would barely dare to breathe too loudly while

    their patrons studied their cards, fearing to provoke any displeasure.

    This casino epitomized luxury, and many guests often brought along the topdies of the entertainment

    industry as their dates, ranging from award¨Cwinning actresses to adored ing¨¦nues. Even the most

    seasoned celebrities would find themselves awestruck upon their first visit to this establishment, but

    Brielle¡¯s eyes betrayed no such wonder, sparking curiosity. in those around her.

    However, the people here weren¡¯t as gossipy as the online trolls, who threw around viciousments

    without a second thought. Most of those critics weren¡¯t worth a million, while the ones standing in this

    room were at least millionaires.

    Experience limits one¡¯s perspective, perspective limits ability, and ability dictates the ying field¨Cit¡¯s a

    vicious cycle. That was why most of the crowd wouldn¡¯t stoop to vulgar insults about a woman.

    But Connor was the exception. Seeing Brielle ready to join the game, he couldn¡¯t help butugh.

    outright. ¡°Brielle,e on, are you serious? Borrowing money from Mr. Lynch to bet at this table? Can

    you handle the loss if your luck runs out? Do you have any idea how much money goes into the pot in

    a no¨Climit game?¡±

    Even if Brielle was once a miss of the Haywood family, they hadn¡¯t provided her with a life of luxury.

    Her car wasn¡¯t even worth two hundred thousand. Could she possibly have any experience with Texas

    Hold¡¯em?

    Unperturbed, Brielle simply ced her chips in front of her and spoke with nonchnce. ¡°So, I just

    won¡¯t lose, right?¡±

    Her matter¨Cof¨Cfact tone left Connor speechless. His body was shaking with silent rage, thought he

    couldn¡¯t do anything as everyone had taken their seats. He scoffed and muttered under his breath.

    ¡°We¡¯ll just see you crying all the way home tonight. Then you¡¯ll realize that there are ces that just

    aren¡¯t meant for lowly people like you.¡±

    Brielle ignored him, instead scanning the other yers at the table. Apart from Dustin and Connor, she

    recognized everyone else, though only by sight. What puzzled her the most was

    the heir to the Hatfield family, Sammuel, who offered her a warm smile. She could only return the

    gesture with a small smile of her own before the dealer appeared, and the room fell into

    silence.

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    Though Texas Hold¡¯em was amon sight in casinos, ying no¨Climit was another league entirely,

    especially with a wild card like Dustin in the mix. The pot could swell to an astronomical sum in the

    blink of an eye.

    The attendees, all wealthy in their own right, couldn¡¯t help but steal nces at Brielle, whose

    composure seemed to surpass even the most seasoned veterans of high¨Cstakes games.

    As the first round of dealingmenced, the yers to the dealer¡¯s left ced their bets, six million

    and three million, respectively.

    Without watching the others¡® reactions, Brielle nced at her own two cards once they were dealt.

    Sitting next to her, Dustin also checked his hand. Being to the left of the big blind, Brielle was the first to

    act. She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Raise.¡±

    Her raise was twelve million, bringing the pot to twenty¨Cone million.

    Spectators were taken aback, some even snickering at the bold move. No¨Climit games typically saw

    cautious ys, and such early raises were either the mark of a seasoned pro or a ¡®Money Burner¡® like

    Dustin.

    Connor¡¯s face twisted into a sneer. ¡°Brielle, maybe you should just go stand prettily in the corner.

    Maybe if you¡¯re lucky, you¡¯ll find a man tonight who doesn¡¯t mind yourpany.¡±

    At his words, Brielle lifted her gaze to meet his. ¡°Mr. Connor, all your talk seems to revolve around

    what¡¯s in your pants. Now I understand why yourpany¡¯s tanking.¡±

    Each word struck a nerve, and Connor, chest heaving with fury, realized he was no match for Brielle in

    a verbal spar.

    That bitch!

    Fine, he thought, tonight he¡¯d make her see that this kind of game was no ce for a woman. Women

    belonged in bed, legs spread, pleasing men¨Cthat was all they were good for.

    He bit back any furtherment and cautiously opted to call the bet.

 Chapter 391

    Chapter 391

    At the poker table, the game was heating up, and only Brielle had the guts to raise the stakes, pushing

    in a massive twelve million. If anyone wanted to stay in the game, they¡¯d have to match that hefty sum,

    Some yers folded, but the pot was swelling, and was now over eighty million.

    The dealer confirmed the end of the first round and flipped themunity cards: a pair of fours. and

    the King of Hearts.

    As the second round of betting began, the yer to Brielle¡¯s right put in their chips. After a moment¡¯s

    thought. Brielle casually said, ¡°Check.¡±

    Her words triggeredughter around the table, not just from Connor but from the onlookers as well.

    Dustin, seated to Brielle¡¯s left, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, resting his head in his hand. Brielle, puzzled

    by the reaction, turned to ask, ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡±

    Dustin found her innocent confusion utterly charming. ¡°You can¡¯t just check after someone¡¯s raised,¡± he

    said with a light¨Chearted flick to her forehead. ¡°It¡¯s either put up or fold, darling. Don¡¯t you know the

    basics?¡±

    The murmurs started to spread through the crowd.

    ¡°I thought she was some kind of poker pro with that cool act of hers.¡±

    ¡°Who gave her the nerve to sit there, not knowing squat?¡±

    ¡°This is no¨Climit- she could lose billions if she messes around.¡±

    Connor was practically giddy with delight. It seemed she didn¡¯t even grasp the fundamental rules. ¡°So

    na?ve,¡± he thought, ¡°Max would never fall for someone as clueless as her.¡±

    Undisturbed by the chatter, Brielle tossed her cards into the muck. ¡°Then I fold.¡±

    Her fold brought the round to a swift end as the seasoned yers made quick decisions.

    Brielle¡¯s first round was aedy of errors in the eyes of the onlookers, raising blindly and trying to

    check when it wasn¡¯t allowed.

    That round saw Connor rake in three hundred million. A passing Bunny got a firm smack on the behind

    from Connor, who then slipped a couple of chips down her cleavage with a flourish. Whistles filled the

    air as she blew a bold kiss his way.

    After his show, Connor sneered at Brielle. ¡°Brielle, you can still back out now. Spend a couple of nights

    with me, and I¡¯ll cover what you lose so you won¡¯t owe Mr. Lynch.¡±

    Before Brielle could respond, Dustin chuckled. ¡°Connor, even the ones who¡¯ve just held my hand would

    get more than a measly twelve million from me. Be careful with your words.¡± His eyes twinkled with

    amusement.

    Connor quickly apologized, ¡°My apologies, Mr. Lynch. I just don¡¯t want you to be fooled by this

    1/2

    11:07

    Chapter tot

    woman. Her past is a tangled mess.¡±

    No sooner had he finished than Brielle arched an eyebrow. ¡°Mr. Connor, before you talk about others¡®

    messy private lives, why not ask around about your own reputation? You were the one chasing me for

    marriage, remember? Sour grapes much?¡±

    Dustin was the first tough, followed by Sammuel, even to the point of coughing.

    Connor turned red with fury. His constant needling at Brielle had everyone wondering if there was truth

    to her words; was he really just bitter because he couldn¡¯t have her?

    Frustrated, Connor snapped at the dealer, ¡°What are you waiting for? Get on with the second. round!¡±

    Clearly, he was embarrassed and angry.

    For the next rounds, Brielle was the fastest to fold. It seemed she had finally grasped the rules. and

    didn¡¯t dare to gamble recklessly as she did in the first.

    Sammuel won the second round, pocketing five hundred million.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Brielle lost six million in the third round and three million in the fourth. She folded early in every round,

    never making it past the first cycle of bets. To the seasoned yers, she was the least. interesting, too

    cautious and afraid to lose, an oddity in a no¨Climit game.

    After four rounds, Brielle had lost the least, but the spectators were growing restless.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t know how to y, step down and let me take over.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, just hogging a seat and folding every hand. You should have picked up the basic rules by now,

    right?¡±

    ¡°Typical woman, too timid. If you know your ce, why not just be a pretty face and stay out of the

    game?¡±

    Hearing thesements, Connor¡¯s face was the picture of arrogance. He had won two billion over the

    four rounds, emerging as the biggest winner at the table.

    Of course, the biggest loser was Dustin ¨C the infamous Money Burner.

 Chapter 392

    Chapter 392

    Dustin remained cool as a cucumber throughout the game, only casting a nce when he overheard

    someone gossiping about Brielle, which promptly silenced the chatter.

    Brielle paid no mind to the whispers, focusing intently on the fifth round. This time, she upped the ante

    with a whopping 18 million. She held her ground through the first round of betting and waited as the

    community cards were revealed.

    Connor, spotting her serious expression, couldn¡¯t help but smirk. ¡°Brielle, looks like you¡¯re finally willing

    to dig deep into your pockets. Too bad, though. The more youy down, the harder you¡¯re gonna fall.

    There are plenty of ways for ady to make a buck, but you just had to pick the one you¡¯re least cut out

    for.¡±

    Themunity cards were a Jack of Spade, a Five of Hearts, and a Five of Diamonds.

    In Connor¡¯s hand was a Five of Spades and an Ace of Diamonds, giving him at least a pair. He

    matched Brielle¡¯s 18 million bet and provocatively eyed her.

    Unfazed by his taunts, Brielle watched as the betting roundpleted and the fourthmunity card

    was turned over ¨C an Ace of Spades.

    Now, it was just her and Connor left at the table. She raised to 24 million, giving Connor a measured

    smile. ¡°Mr. Connor, you wouldn¡¯t happen to be sitting on just two pairs, would you?¡±

    Her tone was light as a feather. After speaking, she nudged her chips forward, indicating she was ready

    to keep ying.

    This was the first time Brielle had made it to the end, and it was down to just the two of them. The

    onlookers, curious about her hole cards given her confident demeanor, began to murmur among

    themselves.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    ¡°She¡¯s gotten the hang of the rules and has been ying it safe. She must have something solid to

    have stayed in this long.¡±

    ¡°Ha, the dark horse is betting 24 million now. She wouldn¡¯t stick around without a surefire win.¡± ¡°That¡¯s

    why ying with these types isn¡¯t fun. There¡¯s no suspense in winning¡® or losing.¡±

    Connor couldn¡¯t believe Brielle could have a better hand, but the spectators¡®ments sowed a seed

    of doubt, making his decision to raise a shaky one. In the end, he just called.

    The pot was nearing the four billion mark, and he couldn¡¯t believe Brielle had the appetite for such a

    gamble. He figured she¡¯d never seen so much money in her life, so her calm must¡¯ve been an act,

    especially since she had barely known the rules at the start.

    Just as this thought crossed his mind, Brielle confidently raised again. And she doubled it, shooting up

    to 48 million.

    Someone who had been folding at the start was suddenly betting 48 million in one go, a clear

    Chapter 392

    sign she was holding a very strong hand.

    Sweat began to bead on Connor¡¯s forehead, but he tried to look cool as he locked eyes with Brielle.

    ¡°Brielle, what¡¯s in your hand?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s smile grew. ¡°Though it¡¯s my first night at this game, I¡¯m pretty sure revealing hole. cards to the

    opponent isn¡¯t allowed. Mr. Connor, you¡¯ve yed long enough; don¡¯t you know the rules?¡±

    Connor bit his lip in frustration. If he called, the pot would grow to six hundred million. He had won a lot

    that evening, but he was there to win more, not to gamble recklessly, especially not with Brielle looking

    so sure of herself.

    Wiping the sweat from his brow and internally cursing Brielle once more, he gritted his teeth and called

    the 48 million.

    The final card was revealed ¨C a King of Spades.

    Brielle didn¡¯t hesitate to raise once more, this time to 96 million. Everyone thought she had lost her

    mind. She alone had put nearly three hundred million on the line.

    That wasn¡¯t a surprise for someone like Dustin, but Brielle? Could she handle the consequences?

    The crowd¡¯s murmurs grew louder.

    ¡°If that¡¯s not a strong hand, I¡¯ll eat my hat.¡±

    ¡°All five cards are on the table, and she¡¯s still going all in. Considering her previous y, could it be the

    legendary royal flush?¡±

    ¡°The odds of hitting a royal flush are tens of thousands to one. It¡¯s her first time ying: how.

    could she possibly

    ¡°If it¡¯s not a royal flush, I¡¯ll run naked right here.¡±

    Connor¡¯s forehead was slick with sweat as he pondered his next move. He had already sunk four

    hundred million into the game, and now he had one choice: to call or to fold.

    Calling meant throwing in another 96 million. Raising would only mean putting in more.

    If Brielle had the royal flush, he¡¯d lose another hundred million or so for nothing. But what if she didn¡¯t?

 Chapter 393

    Chapter 393

    Brielle was the epitome of cautious, never going all¨Cin unless she was one hundred percent. sure of a

    win. This was simply her nature and not a trait she was willing topromise on.

    Once Connor understood this, no matter how unwilling he was, he could only discard the two cards.

    ¡°How could this damned jerk be so lucky. Damn it, after leaving the casino tonight, I must have

    someone kill her.¡± Connor was cursing in his heart, his teeth grinding together in anger.

    His discard wasn¡¯t made with a full heart, and the distance from the dealer prompted a second check.

    ¡°Mr. Connor, are you sure you want to fold?¡± the dealer inquired.

    Connor nced at Brielle¡¯s smug expression, tasting the bitterness in his mouth. ¡°Fold!¡±

    The dealer collected his cards, turning them over for all to see a pair of fives and a pair of aces. Not the

    strongest hand, but not the weakest either, thanks to the aces. All eyes were on Brielle now. Everyone

    was itching to see what she held.

    With a nonchnce that only added to the tension, Brielle raked the entire pot towards herself, offering

    Connor a simple. ¡°Thanks for the game.¡±

    ¦§

    Connor was livid, fists clenched. ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky, Brielle. Do you think I¡¯d lose if it weren¡¯t for you

    holding a royal flush? Just your damn good luck.¡±

    Brielle let out a soft chuckle and flipped her cards for all to see. A four and a seven. There¡¯s no royal

    flush, not even a pair, let alone a straight.

    With themunity cards factored in, she had what folks would call a big fat nothing ¨C not even strong

    enough to beat Connor¡¯s two pairs.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Brielle had been holding the weakest hand possible!

    Silence descended upon the room. The crowd was speechless.

    Connor¡¯s eyes bulged, staring at the cards in disbelief as if his body was on the verge of rejecting

    reality. It took a while before he seemed to choke on his own anger.

    Meanwhile, Brielle just smiled and started to organize her chips. She was the new billionaire at

    the table.

    After about twenty seconds of stunned silence, someone finally dared ask, ¡°So she bluffed with nothing

    and raised three hundred million?¡±

    ¡°Who was it that said they¡¯d eat their hat?¡± another added.

    ¡°And who was betting on a streak run?¡±

    Everyone looked at Brielle as if she were a creature from another world, while she just smiled sweetly

    at the mountain of chips before her. She offered one more piece of wisdom, ¡°Mr. Connor, you really

    need to work on your game face. If you had called, these billions could¡¯ve

    11:07

    Chapter 393

    been yours.¡±

    Connor¡¯s chest heaved, and he leaned back, nearly passing out from the shock.

    Sitting beside Brielle, Dustin couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at her audacity. Was a rookie bluffing a pro? That

    took some serious guts.

    Brielle¡¯s move wasn¡¯t unheard of in Texas Hold¡¯em, but it rarely paid off, especially in a no¨Climit game

    like this. However, her early show of careful y, folding hand after hand, had convinced everyone that

    she couldn¡¯t afford to lose. Her sudden three¨Chundred million bet made everyone think she had a

    winning hand.

    A lousy hand had scared off Connor¡¯s two pairs. Only Brielle could pull off such a bluff.

    Connor gulped down a ss of ice water handed to him by a waitress in a bunny outfit. managing to

    quench the fire in his belly. He glowered at Brielle as if wishing he could carve out a piece of her victory

    for himself.

    But Brielle? She just yed with her chips, as serene as a summer sky, utterly indifferent to his

    rage.

    With a loud thump, Connor mmed his ss back onto the waitress¡¯s tray, his eyes bloodshot with

    anger. ¡°Next round, let¡¯s go, Brielle. I swear, by the end of tonight, you¡¯re going to lose everything,

    including the shirt off your back!¡±

 Chapter 394

    Chapter 394

    Brielle was nonplussed by his tirade it was nothing more than Impotent fury.

    ¨C

    Connor, a big¨Cshot CEO, was stooping to berate a woman for winning a poker game? It was crystal

    clear who held the moral high ground here.

    The other guys at the table had been tempted to speak up for Brielle. Her stunning bluff had caught

    everyone off guard. Even they would¡¯ve fallen for it, hook, line, and sinker. Brielle wasn¡¯t just ying

    cards; she was ying mind games.

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    The onlookers weren¡¯t fans of Connor¡¯s antics either. In this ce, your poker face reflected. your true

    character, but with Dustin holding his peace, they just continued to watch the spectacle unfold.

    The no¨Climit Texas Hold¡¯em game had drawn a crowd, with folks from other floors now pressing in to

    see the action.

    Andrew, with his arm snug around Tessa¡¯s waist, noticed the movement towards the poker table and

    raised an eyebrow curiously. ¡°What¡¯s the hubbub?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Clements, haven¡¯t you heard? There¡¯s a newbie at the no¨Climit table.¡±

    No¨Climit? That wasn¡¯t a game for greenhorns. Was this just anothermb walking into the

    ughterhouse?

    The same person who¡¯d informed Andrew couldn¡¯t help but add, ¡°Connor from Apex Dynamics is there,

    too. Some rookie bluffed him out of millions, and he¡¯s fuming. The game¡¯s still on. Mr. Clements, want

    to take a look? The newbie¡¯s ady, goes by the name of Brielle, I think.¡±

    At the mention of Brielle, Andrew¡¯s face tensed, thinking he¡¯d misheard. Brielle at a high¨Cstakes table?

    Membership alone cost a fortune, and she didn¡¯t seem the type to indulge in such luxuries. Even if she

    were with Max, that workaholic was thest person you¡¯d expect to find in such an establishment. So,

    who had shee with?

    Andrew felt an almost uncontroble urge to check out themotion, but Tessa clung to his

    arm for dear life.

    Ever since her fallout with Brielle, Tessa had hardly set foot outside. Thest person she wanted to

    cross paths with was Brielle. She was already feeling out of sorts, and her eyes. reddened with anger.

    Her health had been fragile, and she hadn¡¯t been to any entertainment venues in years. But now, she

    couldn¡¯t let Andrew out of her sight. An unsettling feeling had gripped her.

    ¡°Andrew, let¡¯s not go over there. I¡¯m not feeling well,¡± she said, her already pale face taking on a pitiful

    cast that easily stirred Andrew¡¯s protective instincts. After all, nothing was more important than Tessa¡¯s

    health.

    He pulled out his phone and shot Max a message. [Did you know Brielle¡¯s at the underground casino?]

    Chapter 394

    Max was at the Dorsey family estate, where Michael sat at the head of the table, coughing twice but

    remaining silent.

    Ryan had followed through on Brielle¡¯s expectations and sought out Michael that very evening.

    rifying the pending contract between Dorsey International and Kingston Enterprises. The dy in

    signing was an undeniable issue.

    The executives at Kingston Enterprises, although too busy to manage their business directly, were

    growing dissatisfied with Dorsey International¡¯s stalling tactics. A little digging would bring everything to

    light.

    The atmosphere at the Dorsey family gathering was tense, and Max, having been dragged into it,

    couldn¡¯t leave just yet. His phone was on silent, so he missed Andrew¡¯s message.

    After sending the text, Andrew carefully escorted Tessa to one of the luxurious private rooms upstairs.

    As they reached the stairwell, they could survey thevish scene below, including the

    central poker table.

    The crowd surrounded the table so thickly that a new round of the game was about to

    Tessa leaned on Andrew, sneaking a nce below, and that¡¯s when she saw Brielle, the center of

    attention. Behind her stood a retinue of Beaconsfield¡¯s top brass, and even her tablemates. including

    Dustin, were prominent figures.

    Tessa¡¯s breathing quickened, and her palms turned white with the pressure of her grip. How could

    Brielle, who crawled up from the mud, rub shoulders with such elites? Even Tessa herself hadn¡¯t

    spoken to these big shots. Damn it all!

    Did Brielle deserve this adtion? It was Tessa and Alivia who should be Beaconsfield¡¯s most sought¨C

    after socialites!

    Seething with jealousy, Tessa wished Brielle would just drop dead at the poker table. Andrew, too,

    caught sight of the bustling table below and hesitated, exining to Tessa. ¡°No¨Climit Texas Hold¡¯em, I

    mean, even I¡¯ve only yed it once after years of poker. You meet a few wild cards, and you can drop

    a hundred billion in one night, just like that. You¡¯ve heard of Dustin. right? He¡¯s one of those wild cards.

    They said Brielle bluffed her way to millions. Max¡¯s Little Canary is something special, alright. Most

    women would¡¯ve buckled at the ¡®sight of that lineup.¡±

 Chapter 395

    Chapter 395

    Andrew, though never having been a fan of Brielle, now spoke with a candor that wasced with a

    begrudging admiration for her

    Indeed, there were plenty of women onlookers, but most were merely arm candy, clinging to the sides

    of their men, andcking the guts to y in the big leagues.

    Some truths were hard to swallow, but for these seasoned business tycoons, a beautiful woman often

    resembled the currency of high society. As for the celebrities, themon folk might¡¯ve elevated them

    to the status of demigods, but to the insiders here, they were merely numbers in a game.

    Tessa, overhearing Andrew¡¯s words, felt a surge of anxiety. She had to admit that if she were in

    Brielle¡¯s shoes, under the scrutiny of such powerful figures, her nerves would betray her with trembling

    that she couldn¡¯t control. The clearer this realization, the more resentment she harbored against Brielle.

    Where on earth did that wretch find the courage?

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Her grip tightened around Andrew, her lips beginning to quiver.

    ¡°She¡¯s only winning because of dumb luck. Remember, Brielle¡¯s never seen this kind of money before,

    not to mention the millions she extorted from you. I¡¯ve never had a good impression of her,¡± Tessa said,

    her voice a mixture of vulnerability and frankness in front of Andrew. Besides. her feud with Brielle had

    reached a boiling point; there was no need to feign appreciation, which would only invite Andrew¡¯s

    suspicion.

    Andrew sighed and affectionately ruffled her hair. ¡°You¡¯re right. The stakes are high, and everyone at

    that table is no amateur. Brielle¡¯s winning streak is pure luck, and it was just one hand. In no¨Climit

    Texas Hold¡¯em, each hand is critical; one can spell life or death. She¡¯s overstepped her bounds, but

    now, with everyone watching, she has to y the next round or risk embarrassment.¡±

    Inwardly. Tessa sneered. Perhaps the next round would see Brielle lose everything. A woman should

    be content being a delicate vine by a man¡¯s side, not bounding about as if she were the seconding

    of Alivia. She clearly didn¡¯t know her ce.

    Wanting to conserve her energy for more important matters than Brielle. Tessa leaned even more

    weakly against Andrew. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted. Let¡¯s go rest,¡± she murmured.

    Andrew¡¯s gaze lingered downstairs, intrigued by the game like any other man, but Tessa remained his

    priority. He nodded, supporting her as they moved to the lounge.

    Downstairs, the next round was in full swing, and to everyone¡¯s surprise, it was unfolding almost

    identically to the previous one. Even themunity cards were strikingly simr.

    Now, fourmunity cardsy face up¨CJack of Spades, Six of Hearts, Seven of Hearts, and Ace of

    Spades.

    With four yers remaining¨CDustin, Sammuel, Brielle, and Connor¨Cand two more betting. rounds to

    go, tension was palpable.

    11-07

    Chapter 395

    Connor gripped his hole cards, both Sixes, tightly. Without the river card, he already had a set, a strong

    hand that could beat any two pairs. Should the river bring another Six, he¡¯d have quads. over which

    only a higher set of quads or a straight flush could prevail.

    Excitement made Connor¡¯s palms sweat, not just because they were down to four yers, but because

    the pot had swelled to a billion. The cards seemed promising this round, and he felt confident his hand

    was the strongest.

    Dustin was up first. He raised an eyebrow and casually tossed in a hundred million, quieting the room

    with the gravity of the bet.

    This was the essence of no¨Climit Texas Hold¡¯em¨Cit could bankrupt a CEO or revive a fallen. empire.

    Sammuel, always smiling as if he barely existed at the table, followed suit and raised two hundred

    million.

    Connor, hardly able to contain himself, matched the two hundred million.

    The pot soared to 1.5 billion and kept growing. Now, it was Brielle¡¯s turn. She sat with her eyes closed,

    deep in thought.

    Connor sneered at her contemtive state. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Lost your nerve?¡±

    ¡°Raise,¡± Brielle dered without hesitation, pping down four hundred million.

    The pot hit 1.9 billion, and the table waited with bated breath for what woulde next.

 Chapter 396

    Chapter 396

    Just as everyone

    expected Dustin to chime in. Brielle looked up, her tone casual. ¡°Ah screw it. I¡¯m going all in,¡± she said

    as she pushed her remaining four hundred million in chips into the

    pot.

    The pot swelled to 2.3 billion, but three yers had yet to make their move. Brielle must¡¯ve been on

    cloud nine, having won only one hand, and now daring to go all in like this.

    Dustin maintained his pose, propping his chin with one hand. A faint smile curled at theers of his

    mouth as he watched Brielle risk eight hundred million on her own. ¡°Since Bri¡¯s got guts. I might as well

    go all in, too.¡± In front of himy a towering stack of two billion chies

    Chips here could be exchanged anytime, so he wasn¡¯t fazed by the sum.

    It wasn¡¯t unusual for Dustin to go berserk nobody was surprised by it. But with the pot hitting 4.3 billion,

    who wouldn¡¯t be tempted? Everyone seemed to hold their breath, their palms slick with sweat.

    It was Sammuel¡¯s turn to speak. Unruffled, he matched the two billion.

    ¡°Wow! What on earth are they holding?!¡±

    ¡°Damnation, thestmunity card¡¯s not even out yet, and they¡¯re ying this big!¡±

    ¡°Dustin probably doesn¡¯t have much. He¡¯s always messing around like this.¡±

    ¡°If the pot hits ten billion, the casino boss usually meets with the winner, right? Who was itst time?¡±

    Everyone turned to look at Dustin, it seemed like it was Dustin¡¯s gamest time. All eyes turned to

    Dustin as if expecting him to reveal his hand. He tapped his cards lightly, his eyes twinklin ¡°Just a pair

    of aces, that¡¯s all¡±

    Those who had gambled with Dustin knew he was a straight shooter, hence the nickname ¡®Money

    Burner.¡® With just a pair of aces and themunity cards, it was madness to bet so much.

    Sammuel chuckled at Dustin¡¯s admission. ¡°Mr. Lynch ims a pair of aces, so it must be true. Funnily

    enough, I¡¯ve got two pairs.¡±

    One with a pair, the other with two pairs.

    The pot hit 6.3 billion. The yers were seemingly out of their minds. With hands like these, the odds

    of winning were slim!

    Now, it was Connor¡¯s turn. He was visibly the most agitated at the table. Sweat beaded on Connor¡¯s

    forehead, his fingers trembling as they clutched his cards.

    Dustin had a pair, Sammuel had two pairs, but Connor had three of a kind. His hand was surely

    stronger than the other two. With the pot already at 6.3 billion, he could either call or fold, but

    Chapter 346

    with such high chances of winning, folding was out of the question. Yet to call, he needed to match

    another two billion.

    Connor¡¯s starting funds for the night were less than a hundred million; he couldn¡¯t possibly cover the

    bet. Hispany was deep in debt, and he hade here hoping to take eight. billion off the table to

    save it. And the opportunity was right in front of him!

    Flushed, he looked around desperately. ¡°Who¡¯ll lend me two billion in chips? I¡¯ll pay you back. after I

    win this hand.¡±

    Connor was red¨Chot with feverish determination, shooting Brielle a look that could kill.

    The crowd held their breath. Not a single round of betting had begun, and yet the pot was about to

    reach a staggering 10.3 billion. Someone extended the needed chips to Connor, and with a heated

    breath, he called. ¡°Call! Brielle, if you think you can pull that stunt again, you¡¯re dead wrong. I won¡¯t be

    fooled this time!¡±

    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    The game had reached a fever pitch, and everyone was eagerly anticipating the finalmunity card.

    The dealer, swallowing hard, flipped thest card: the King of Spades.

    The reaction was immediate; a collective gasp rippled through the spectators. It was a repeat of the

    previous round.

    Connor let out a scoff. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s my turn to make aeback. Last hand, your trash cards just got

    lucky.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s lips quirked up in amusement. ¡°A royal flush is a one in millions chance, Mr. Connor. You tter

    me by thinking I had such a handst time,¡± she said.

    But then her tone shifted. ¡°However, this time, I do have a royal flush, so maybe you should fold, Mr.

    Connor. Otherwise, you¡¯ll have to chuck in another two billion next round. I¡¯m notfortable winning

    so much from you, you know?¡±

    If the pot reached ten billion, she could meet the elusive boss behind the scenes. She had to try. Her

    goal was to find Daniel, and only the casino¡¯s shadowy owner knew of his whereabouts.

    Damn her! The nerve of this woman! She had bluffed Connor like that in thest round, and now she

    dared to talk big!

 Chapter 397

    Chapter 397

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Connor simply scoffed with a derisive smirk, choosing to remain silent, but the onlookers were anything

    but calm.

    Everybody was aware of Brielle¡¯s victory in the previous round, and using the same tactic again would

    be foolish. Yet, with the pot swelling with money, everyone held their breath in

    anticipation of this round¡¯s oue.

    Thest betting round was upon them, and it was Brielle¡¯s turn to act first. However, Brielle had.

    already gone all¨Cin during thest round of betting. Now, she could either call or fold.

    If she folded, she would lose everything she had invested¨Cthe colossal sum of eight hundred. million

    would be someone else¡¯s fortune. Continuing to call, though, meant risking losing far more than

    that.

    The spectators¡® throats were tight with tension, yet Brielle merely turned to Dustin. ¡°Mr. Lynch, could I

    trouble you for a loan of two billion chips?¡±

    Dustin raised an eyebrow, seemingly enjoying the sight of Brielle asking him for help. Without

    hesitation, he gestured to a waiter, who quickly returned with two billion in chips.

    At this poker table, money had ceased to be just money; it was as if the chips were merely insubstantial

    pieces of paper.

    Once the chips were in her possession, Brielle tossed them into the pot. The pot swelled by another

    two billion, reaching an astronomical 12.3 billion.

    The onlookers fell silent, their excitement mounting as they waited to see who would win this gamble.

    It was Dustin¡¯s turn to speak next. He flipped his hole cards with a flourish. ¡°I fold. No way I¡¯m ying

    this hand. Little Bri¡¯s iming a royal flush, and I¡¯m not about to be the big loser here.¡± His face was

    alight with amusement, seemingly indifferent to the billions he had just lost.

    His words drew scornful chuckles from the crowd, with someone shouting out. ¡°If Brielle has a royal

    flush, I¡¯ll livestream myself eating a chair!¡±

    His neighbor sneered. ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one threatening to streakst round?¡±

    The heckler¡¯s face turned beet red, and the surrounding crowd erupted intoughter. Theughter died

    quickly as attention returned to the game.

    Following Dustin¡¯s fold, Sammuel also bowed out as if they truly believed Brielle¡¯s im of a royal flush.

    Now, only one person was left to act¨CConnor. If Connor tossed in another two billion, they would go to

    showdown. Victory or defeat would be revealed shortly.

    Connor unhesitatingly borrowed two billion in chips and threw them into the pot. The pot grew to a

    staggering 14.3 billion.

    11:08

    Such an amount was beyond the wildest dreams of the average person, let alone on a poker table.

    This game was even worthy of high society¡¯s attention. Thus, the area was packed to the brim with

    onlookers.

    After Connor¡¯s bet, he stared intensely at Brielle. ¡°I won¡¯t be fooled again, Brielle. You¡¯ve

    borrowed so much money, you could sell yourself thousands of times over, and it still wouldn¡¯t cover

    your losses.¡±

    Leaning back casually, Brielle responded, ¡°Mr. Connor, I did tell you I have a royal flush. Why won¡¯t you

    take my advice?¡±

    Connor was in no mood for banter and revealed his hand¨Ca three¨Cof¨Ca¨Ckind, three sixes. Dustin had

    just admitted to having a pair of aces, and with themunity cards being what they were, it was

    impossible for Brielle to have a straight or four¨Cof¨Ca¨Ckind. For Brielle to win, she needed a royal flush,

    but that was one in several tens of thousands chance!

    Connor was bold in his move because Dustin¡¯s and Sammuel¡¯s hands had lessened the probability of

    Brielle having a three¨Cof¨Ca¨Ckind. The most Brielle could have was a pair, maybe

    two pairs like Sammuel.

    Connor was nearly bursting with pride, his eyes gleaming with triumph. ¡°Bitch, you think I¡¯m scared to

    call your bluff this time? Let¡¯s see how you get out of this one!¡±

    The crowd around them shook their heads.

    ¡°Young and naive indeed. The same trick won¡¯t win twice, and Connor¡¯s no fool.¡±

    ¡°She got greedy. She could have walked away with millions.¡±

    ¡°Youths often fail to recognize their opponents. But this is a costly lesson. Billions in debt, and working

    it off in a ce like this, with severe consequences for unpaid debts¡­¡±

    Even if Dustin fancied her, would he really pay off billions for her? In all the years, none of

    Dustin¡¯spanions hade with such a high price tag. After all, their time at his side was always

    too brief.

 Chapter 398

    Chapter 398

    Everyone was shaking their heads in disappointment, the murmurs growing louder as Brielle had yet to

    reveal her hand. It appeared to all that this round was Connor¡¯s win. Even Connor himself believed so.

    He stood up with a smug grin, his hands ready to rake in all the chips.

    ¡°Brielle, of all the people to cross, you had to pick me. I once said I¡¯d marry you, but with your debts

    piling up like that, you¡¯re not even worth a second nce. Let¡¯s see how you¡¯re going to

    walk out of here.¡±

    Upstairs, someone was watching themotion from the balcony¨Cit was Tessa.

    Tessa felt a wave of satisfaction seeing everyone mock Brielle and called over Andrew to join her. She

    wanted Andrew to see Brielle for who she really was¨Ca gambler who dared to sit at the high¨Cstakes

    table. She had lost a fortune, and yet she thought she had the same clout as the big yers. High

    society didn¡¯t care about your looks; it was all about your family¡¯s status and your capabilities.

    What did that lowlife Brielle have?

    Andrew walked over, hearing the bystanders¡®ments, while Connor looked like the cat that got the

    cream. Andrew pulled out his phone and texted Max. [If you don¡¯t show up soon, Brielle¡¯s going to be in

    deep. Heard she¡¯s down by billions.]

    Tessa, seeing Andrew texting, snuggled into his arms. ¡°You really should advise Max to stay away from

    the likes of Brielle.¡±

    Andrew chuckled softly, pocketing his phone. ¡°He¡¯ll get bored of her eventually.¡±

    Tessa felt reassured and nced down once more. ¡°Now that she¡¯s in debt, let¡¯s see how she wraps

    this up. She could work her entire life and never pay it off.¡±

    If you were not born with some things in life, you would never have them. Brielle was obviously blinded

    by the glitz of the casino, treating billions as if they were mere dors. Foolish!

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    Brielle sat casually at her spot, watching as Connor smugly began to collect the chips. She stood up.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t there supposed to be security in a ce like this? Isn¡¯t touching someone else¡¯s chips without

    permission grounds for being thrown out?¡±

    The onlookers thought Brielle was just being stubborn.

    Connor raised an eyebrow in amusement. ¡°Still struggling, Brielle? Face it, you¡¯re done.¡±

    Brielle arched her own brow. ¡°Face what, Mr. Connor? The odds of a royal flush are one in tens of

    thousands. Just because I didn¡¯t have itst round, doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t have it this time.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re delusional, thinking you could win. You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡±

    Connor was so animated he was practically dancing, eager to have his security toss Brielle out, but

    Brielle slowly revealed her two cards.

    11:08

    Chapter 398

    The Queen of Spades and the Ten of Spades. A true royal flush!

    ¡°Impossible!!

    Connor let out a scream, his face draining of color.

    The crowd, ready to jeer, suddenly fell silent. Their eyes were glued to the two cards on the table.

    Those cards, along with the threemunity cards, formed a royal flush. Against such odds, Brielle

    had hit the jackpot.

    The room was silent. Brielle twirled the card between her fingertips, her eyes fixed on the pile of chips.

    ¡°Mr. Connor, I believe you owe me my winnings.¡±

    The cards dropped lightly from her fingers.

    The onlookers¡® expressions varied, but they all shared one thought¨Cmonster.

    ¡°Impossible! You¡¯re cheating! You dare to cheat here, Brielle! You¡¯re done!¡±

    Connor was shaking; his chair overturned in his agitation.

    Initially, everyone was shocked, but now the room fell into a hushed silence.

    How is it possible that one would bluff about having a royal flush in one round, and then incredibly get

    dealt a royal flush in the next? No wonder Connor¡¯s interrogations carried a hint of disbelief.

    Those who had admired Brielle now watched her with suspicion.

    ¡°Yeah, Connor¡¯s right. She must be cheating.¡±

    ¡°Are you crazy? Who would dare to cheat here?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s new, isn¡¯t she? Probably doesn¡¯t grasp the consequences.¡±

    Hearing the crowd echo his sentiment, Connor¡¯s face twisted malevolently. That bitch dared to cheat

    here? Once the boss showed up, she would probably be dead on the spot.

    In this underground casino, money and honor were trivial¨Ceverything could be bet on the table. This

    ce was a hell of human nature and a paradise for devils. If Brielle dared to cheat, she¡¯d be

    tormented here for life, until she met a miserable end.

 Chapter 399

    Chapter 399

    Connor¡¯s smile was fraying at the edges, a clear sign that he wouldn¡¯t need to deal with Brielle himself;

    she seemed perfectly capable of causing her own downfall.

    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    $77777uddenly, the overhead speakers in the hall crackled to life, broadcasting a voice crisp with

    authority.

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, our casino¡¯s state¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cart surveince system offers 360¨Cdegree, no¨C

    blind¨Cspot monitoring, capturing every nuanced movement¨Ceven the trajectory of a single hair strand.

    Throughout this game, we¡¯ve observed closely, and I can assure you, Ms. Brielle has yed a fair

    hand.¡±

    No one doubted the capabilities of the casino¡¯s security. Even the slickest card sharks known to grace

    the world¡¯s gambling hot spots could pull no tricks here. Brielle, a mere rookie, stood. no chance of

    cheating under the watchful eyes of countless cameras, let alone in full view of a captivated audience.

    Not to mention the numerous staff backstage who had their eyes glued to this very game, making any

    deception on Brielle¡¯s part next to impossible.

    Connor felt as if his soul had been yanked out of his body. He slumped backward, copsing onto the

    floor. It was over. All was lost.

    All those chips were squandered¨Chispany¡¯sst lifeline was gone.

    14.3 billion. He could¡¯ve won 14.3 billion, but Brielle, that wretched woman, had ruined everything. And

    now, he was in debt¨C4 billion in the hole.

    Trembling took over Connor¡¯s frame as he watched Brielle return 4.3 billion in chips to Dustin with a

    smile ying on her lips. ¡°Mr. Lynch, consider this doubled and returned.¡±

    Dustin raised an eyebrow yfully. ¡°Should I say you¡¯re lucky?¡±

    Others might have been unsettled sitting next to Brielle, but her expression remained impassive

    throughout, a blend of audacity and charm.

    Brielle had the remaining 10 billion in chips converted into a check, her smile curving deeper. ¡°There

    are 1,326 possible two¨Ccardbinations in a 52¨Ccard deck, and when you factor in the four suits,

    each non¨Cpaired hand has 16 variations, and each off¨Csuited non¨Cpair hand has 12. Given the pairs

    you and Mr. Hatfield held, it narrowed down the range for thestmunity card. Your blockers were

    the most decisive cards in determining the odds.¡±

    Dustin chuckled, draping an arm around her shoulder to halt her exnation. ¡°So it¡¯s not luck. but card

    counting?¡±

    Brielle nodded with a spark in her eyes. ¡°But odds can be so unpredictable.¡±

    ¡°Such brilliance¨Cnot at all surprised by your academic des.¡±

    The title of valedictorian, in the eyes of people like Dustin, held little value. Yet the more he observed

    Brielle, the more he was taken by her¨Cshe was smart, beautiful, and gutsy. He took Brielle¡¯s hand,

    gently kissing it¨Ca gesture devoid of any untoward implication, simply an

    1/2

    11:08

    expression of delight.

    ¡°Little Bri. I¡¯m growing quite fond of you. How about youe with me¡­¡±

    Dustin¡¯s offer was cut short by Connor¡¯s bellowing. ¡°Bitch! You vile bitch! I don¡¯t believe it! I don¡¯t

    believe this!¡±

    Connor¡¯s rage was swiftly quelled as burly security guards dragged him away; his figure was the

    epitome of disarray.

    The onlookers exchanged knowing nces at Brielle. The older ones chuckled at the audacity of youth.

    They had overheard Brielle and Dustin¡¯s exchange, realizing that this wasn¡¯t merely luck at y: Brielle

    had been calcting her moves all along. The gambling world was rife with. pros skilled in the art of

    odds, but none so meticulous as this.

    She¡¯s a true prodigy.

    After this night, Brielle¡¯s name would be synonymous with victory in this illustrious casino. The crowd,

    having gossiped their fill about the night¡¯s events, dispersed back to their own games.

    Brielle, holding the check worth 10 billion, allowed a triumphant smirk to form. It was the perfect

    infusion of capital herpany needed.

    Upstairs, Andrew¡¯s coldughter went unnoticed, as did Tessa¡¯s bitter expression beside him.

    Brielle! Tessa seethed with hatred, unable to fathom how this woman kept stealing the spotlight.

    Damn it, why her!

    Andrew remained oblivious to Tessa¡¯s turmoil. He could have snapped a photo of Brielle cozying up to

    Dustin and sent it to Max, but he refrained. It was better for them to split sooner

    rather thanter.

    Yet, the thought of Max potentially being cuckolded soured Andrew¡¯s opinion of Brielle even further.

    Still, as a brother, he had already warned Max twice¨Cthat was enough.

 Chapter 400

    Chapter 400

    Downstairs, after the crowd dispersed, Tiffanie approached with a pile of chips in her hand, olving

    Brielle a thumbs¨Cup.

    Tiffanie had just left a high¨Croller suite and wasn¡¯t quite clued in on the recent events. Having heard the

    buzz, she couldn¡¯t find any words more fitting than her silent gesture of approval. No wonder Maxie

    was smitten with Brielle.

    But who was this guy with Brielle? Her gaze shifted to Dustin, sizing him up with curiosity.

    In Tiffanie¡¯s eyes, Maxle was the cr¨¨me de cr¨¨me of men. Despite this new guy being a looker, she

    couldn¡¯t let Brielle¡¯s attention stray toward him. So, with feigned nonchnce, she wedged herself

    between the two, casually grabbing hold of Brielle. ¡°Brielle, you must have other fish to fry here at the

    casino, right?¡±

    Brielle was oblivious to Tiffanie¡¯s subtle maneuver and simply nodded in agreement.

    A walter approached, requesting Brielle¡¯s presence backstage.

    Brielle wasn¡¯t overly concerned about being able to leave with her winnings. The onlookers had already

    stated it was the casino¡¯s policy. Plus, she had heard through the grapevine about a gambler who had

    made a miraculouseback with a fortune, safely walking away with the loot.

    She had a hunch, too, that if there was any danger, Dustin would step in.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, shall we meet again sometime?¡±

    Regret tinged Dustin¡¯s expression. ¡°I¡¯m headed back tomorrow. It¡¯s a shame I can¡¯t take you out for a

    meal. Little Bri.¡± He genuinely had pressing matters to attend to, or else he would¡¯ve seized the chance

    to spend more time with Brielle.

    Brielle could tell he meant it, and oddly enough, she felt a twin

    of reluctance at his departure. ¡°When you¡¯re back in town, Mr. Lynch, give me a call. Dinner¡¯s on me.¡±

    Dustin¡¯s eyes sparkled with mischief, and he barely resisted the urge to tousle her hair.

    Tiffanie quickly pulled Brielle behind her, eyeing him with wariness. Dustin¡¯s fingertip drifted up.

    yfully lifting Tiffanie¡¯s chin. ¡°Take a look at that. You¡¯ve got some fire in you, too.¡±

    Tiffanie frowned, well aware of who this man was¨Ca notorious yboy known for his escapades across

    North America, a heartbreaker of the highest order. Yet, his wealth and status were undeniable. And

    that face, damn, it was handsome.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Tiffanie silently chanted her boyfriend Mason¡¯s name in her head and sighed. That was the downside of

    being in love¨Cyou could look at the feast before you, but you couldn¡¯t taste it.

    Brielle patted her shoulder. ¡°Shall we check out other spots?¡±

    Looking up, Tiffanie realized Dustin had vanished. She felt a twinge of annoyance. ¡°When did he

    1/2

    11:08

    Chapter 400

    leave?¡±

    Brielle chuckled, ¡°While you were busy admiring that face, nodding and shaking your head.¡±

    ¡°Seriously, that wasn¡¯t me being lovestruck. I was justmenting that he¡¯s not as handsome as Mason!

    You have no idea how he toys with women abroad. Stay away from that sort of man at

    all costs.¡±

    ¡°Really? I thought he seemed pretty decent. But anyway, Tiffanie, I need to see the casino boss. now.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid they might carve you up?¡±

    ¡°It shouldn¡¯te to that. Do you know who runs this ce?¡±

    With arms crossed, Tiffanie shook her head slowly. L,¡°All I know is they¡¯re connected to some big shot

    overseas and have been known to y masked at the tables. This casino is Beaconfield¡¯s grey area.

    You¡¯ve seen the clientele¨Cwealthy and powerful. Who knows how many secrets they hold over them?¡±

    Indeed, the patrons were all influential, some even with political ties. If anything happened to the

    casino, the dirtyundry of all who had passed through its doors would be aired. It wouldn¡¯t just be

    Beaconfield facing upheaval but potentially the entire country. That was why both business magnates

    and politicians preferred the casino to operate without a hitch. It was the secret to its longstanding

    presence.

    Brielle gazed out at the night, curiosity getting the better of her. ¡°Have you heard anything about them

    holding Beaconfield¡¯s elite hostage?¡±

    The glint in Tiffanie¡¯s eyes red with the thrill of gossip. ¡°Well, rumors are all over the ce, but

    nobody¡¯s sure. There was this one bigwig¡¯s son who got detained here. He came in fat and sassy and

    left looking like a skeleton. Do you know what happened to him?¡±

    Tiffanie¡¯s voice dropped to a whisper, ¡°Rumor has it he was drained dry by a bevy of beauties every

    day.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s mouth twitched, and she rubbed her temples. Trust Tiffanie to deliver the most. oundish

    stories.

    The waiting server spoke up respectfully, ¡°Ms. Brielle?¡±

    With no other option, Brielle asked Tiffanie to stay put and followed the server.

 Chapter 401

    Chapter 401

    After leaving Brielle, Dustin whipped out his phone and shot a text to Max. [Hey Max, had a st at the

    casino with little B. nted a kiss on the back of her soft hand, and she blushed something fierce.

    Adorable.]

    Max saw the message, as the business with the Dorsey family had already wrapped up. His face

    instantly turned to ice,pounded by the sight of two messages from Andrew. The air in the car went

    subzero.

    Patrick was sitting in the front and shivered involuntarily, wondering who had crossed Max this time.

    A minuteter, Max dialed Brielle¡¯s number. She was just about to step through the innermost door

    when her phone rang. She hit the answer button.

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    ¡°Where are you?¡± Max¡¯s tone was icy, and his anger was barely contained.

    Brielle was puzzled at who might have upset him and answered truthfully. ¡°At the casino. I wanted to

    snoop around about Daniel¡¯s situation.¡±

    ¡°You and Dustin having fun?¡±

    Even through the digital divide, Brielle could taste the acidity in his question. Her heart fluttered, and

    she couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°How did you know?¡±

    He hadn¡¯t reached out all evening and was probably tied up with something. Was he keeping

    tabs on her?

    ¡°Dustin was showing off to me.¡± Max¡¯s voice was t. It was obvious, even to someone as emotionally

    oblivious as him, that Dustin was bragging in the most obnoxious way.

    Brielle was amused and rushed to reassure him. ¡°It was just a game of cards.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ming to pick you up.¡±

    There was no arguing with Max¡¯s tone. Brielle simply agreed, ¡°Okay, that¡¯s fine.¡±

    After hanging up, Brielle rubbed her temples, thinking how childish Dustin was. She stood before a

    massive floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window. Inside was a den of vice and vigor, outside the sultry night of

    Beaconsfield.

    Even though she came to investigate Daniel¡¯s case, she knew she had no chance to take him away,

    especially when even Patrick couldn¡¯t do it.

    She wondered if Daniel was being held against his will. And she was curious¨Cwho was the puppet

    master behind the underground casino with such clout?

    With these questions, she saw the door open and a gazebo appear on the farthest balcony. There

    stood a man, his back to her as if he¡¯d been waiting for some time. ¡°Ms. Brielle, care to join me for a bit

    of moon¨Cgazing?¡±

    Chapter 401

    As she approached, she saw a cup of tea in his hand, a selection of delicate dessertsid out before

    him, and an empty cup. His posture was erect, but he wore a mask that hid his true.

    face.

    Brielle sat down slowly and cautiously.

    The man¡¯s elegant fingers poured her a cup of tea.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± She replied casually, then took a sip. The tea was fragrant and clearly high¨Cquality.

    The man chuckled, appraising her, ¡°Not afraid of poison, then?¡±

    ¡°If you wanted me dead, you wouldn¡¯t resort to such roundabout methods. Assam tea of such caliber¨C

    quite the expense.¡±

    Such tea was auction¨Cworthy. She had never tasted it but had once had the fortune to smell it at a

    business negotiation.

    Brielle¡¯s memory was exceptional, far beyond the average. The world was full of academically gifted

    individuals, but to be a top schr, one needed more than just to be book¨Csmart. Interviews with such

    individuals often revealed a well¨Crounded development, intellectually and otherwise. Intelligence wasn¡¯t

    something that could be drastically altered by sheer effort. This gap between effort and true intellect

    could be disheartening, yet it was an undeniable truth.

    Sitting there, Brielle sat up straight and spoke inly.

    ¡°I want to know about the young master of Kingston Enterprises. Can you tell me about him?¡±

    The man raised an eyebrow and, after a moment, chuckled lightly. ¡°Daniel?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s fine, though he lost quite the gamble.¡±

    ¡°How much?¡±

    ¡°A life.¡±

 Chapter 402

    Chapter 402

    Brielle was well aware that the young heir to Kingston Enterprises was no saint, but she hadn¡¯t

    anticipated him being this reckless. No wonder he had been detained.

    ¡°If someone came to im him, would you release him?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Of course not,¡± came the reply with a sly edge. ¡°But for you, Ms. Brielle, I might just consider it.¡±

    As long as he wasn¡¯t released, William wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. Therefore, Daniel staying put was

    actually to her advantage.

    The man had already picked up his ss and was idly toying with it. ¡°Men like Dustin and Max hold you

    in high regard, Ms. Brielle. I¡¯m quite curious about you.¡±

    ¡°Do you fancy Max, Ms. Brielle?¡± The tone was casual, as if two old friends were catching up.

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¡°And do you love him?¡±

    Love? Brielle had never really entertained the concept, or rather, she had never truly encountered it.

    She acknowledged her fondness for Max, secure in the knowledge it wasn¡¯t unrequited. If she hadn¡¯t

    sensed Max¡¯s affection for her, she would have guarded her feelings closely.

    Affection was like basking in the warmth of a cozy firece ¨C you didn¡¯t ask others what warmth was;

    you simply felt it. If you couldn¡¯t feel it, or if you found yourself seeking confirmation from a third party,

    then it was absent. That was why when she saw girls online asking strangers if their boyfriends still

    liked them, she knew that those asking usually had their answer already.

    But love was different ¨Cplex and yet pure. Affection wasmonce: true love was rare. It was

    an oasis in a long¨Cparched desert, a fleeting joy upon first sight ¨C both eternally scheming and dirtied

    with thought.

    Having once ventured into a real desert during her college years, Brielle understood that oases were

    indeed scarce, but the endless sand was the norm. So she remained silent.

    Pleased by her reticence, the man said, ¡°Mr. Dorsey should be arriving soon. I¡¯ll have someone

    escort you out.¡±

    Brielle nodded politely, unsure of his intentions but eager to leave.

    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    A waiter soon approached and led her towards the exit. As she walked away, she nced back. at the

    man still seated in the gazebo. His fingers caressed his ss, and a slight smile yed at the edges of

    his concealed lips.

    Brielle frowned but didn¡¯t dwell on it.

    Once outside, Tiffanie was waiting anxiously at the exit. Upon seeing Brielle emerge, she quickly

    circled her, checking for any harm. ¡°Thank God, I was terrified you¡¯d been chopped up or something.¡±

    She let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Maxle would have killed me If anything happened to you.¡±

    As she finished speaking. Max¡¯s car pulled up.

    Tittanie, feeling a tad guilty for having brought Brielle to the casino in the first ce, avoided. Max¡¯s

    gaze and quickly ushered Brielle into the car, ¡°See you next time! Have fun.¡±

    ¡°Bang!¡±

    The car door closed, and Tiffanie sauntered off to her own convertible.

    Brielle swallowed, sensing the chill in the car¡¯s atmosphere. ¡°I can exin,¡± she said in a gentle voice,

    not minding ying the peacemaker.

    Max¡¯s gaze fell on the back of her hand.

    Brielle had thought nothing of Dustin¡¯s European manners. A polite kiss on the hand was customary,

    after all. But under Max¡¯s scrutiny, she felt that patch of skin burn. Her fingers curled involuntarily, and

    before she could react, Max was wiping her hand meticulously with a disinfectant wipe, as if handling a

    precious artifact.

    Brielle knew he was upset, but his careful actions conveyed respect and care.

    Affection was like moon¨Cgazing. You didn¡¯t just see the moon. It illuminated you even before. you

    looked up.

    And so, she was willing to let her guard down around Max, even relinquishing control of her body to

    him. She couldn¡¯t help feeling shy in his presence, her transparency leaving no need to hide her

    emotions.

    Yet she was certain ¨C she didn¡¯t love Max. Or rather, the moment hadn¡¯te for her to feel that she

    loved Max.

 Chapter 403

    Chapter 403

    Max wiped his hands on the napkin, his gaze lifting to meet hers. ¡°So, the bigwig from that underground

    poker den didn¡¯t give you any trouble?¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t need to borate. She could tell Max had a pretty good idea of the hand she¡¯d yed that

    night.

    200

    ¡°Nah, I did run into him, though. Is he from around Beaconsfield? Do you two know each other?¡± Max

    shook his head, his fingertips casually tracing the edge of his own ss. The gesture held no

    disrespect; rather, it was oddly captivating. ¡°The casino doesn¡¯t intersect with Dorsey International¡¯s

    business. We¡¯re not acquainted, just aware of each other¡¯s circles.¡±

    Hearing this, Brielle had a hunch that the man she had just met was more familiar with Max than he let

    on. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have asked those questions.

    Upon reaching the Premier Pce, Brielle didn¡¯t y coy about going home. It wasn¡¯t her first time

    here, after all. She followed Max with the ease of familiarity, her curiosity getting the best of her. ¡°Where

    were you tonight?¡±

    ¡°The Dorsey family. Ryan went and spilled the beans about William¡¯s stunt to Father.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s lips twitched into a wry smile. She¡¯d expected Ryan to make a move, but not this swiftly.

    She waited for Max to continue as they approached his bedroom, but once the door shut behind them,

    the room plunged into darkness. Guided only by the faint streetlights outside, Brielle could barely make

    out Max¡¯s silhouette. His fingers traced a path from her neck down her arm,ing to rest on her wrist.

    The spot where she should have worn the rosary he¡¯d given her

    was bare.

    Brielle held her breath, feeling her heart leap into her throat with each of Max¡¯s deliberate touches. It

    was as if he was clueless about the art of flirtation, yet every move he made was irresistibly stirring.

    She was about to tiptoe up for a kiss when she heard him say, ¡°Father. demoted William and instructed

    me to call Ryan back to Dorsey International to take over some of his duties.¡±

    This was a clear cut to William¡¯s influence, but was this really the time to talk business?

    Brielle¡¯s cheeks flushed, realizing she¡¯d been too eager. She coughed softly, lowering her tiptoed

    stance.

    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    ¡°In doing so, my own position is secured. William¡¯s definitely harboring resentment towards Ryan. Their

    little tug¨Cof¨Cwar might just keep him from scheming against me for a while.¡±

    The recent ordeal with Sarah had left Brielle feeling vulnerable. If she couldn¡¯t confront William head¨C

    on, then she¡¯d have to y the long game, letting others restrain him.

    ¡°And with Daniel detained by the casino, William has lost his grip on the young heir. His ns.

    Chapter 403

    to pressure Kingston Enterprises into a contract concession have backfired ¨C not only has he alienated

    them, but he¡¯s also brought Ryan back to Dorsey International. Talk about a botched. job.¡±

    Brielle was quite pleased with the chaos she¡¯d orchestrated. Ryan was more manageable than William.

    If she could bring Ryan back to Dorsey International, she could just as easily send him packing again.

    ¡°Max, I-¡± Before she could finish, Max¡¯s phone buzzed to life, shattering the intimate atmosphere. It was

    Dustin calling.

    Max didn¡¯t answer; he simply hung up.

    But secondster, a new message popped up on his screen. [Little Brie didn¡¯t resist my arm around her

    tonight. Does that mean I can whisk her away on a vacation next time? *smug*]

    Some people just couldn¡¯t help but be sleazy.

 Chapter 404

    Chapter 404

    Max tasted the bitter sting of jealousy for the first time, as if a ss of lemonade had spilled over, sour

    and unrelenting. He nced down at Brielle, feeling the chill around him grow colder by the second.

    Brielle shivered slightly, puzzled at the sudden shift in his mood.

    ¡°Did you let Dustin wrap his arms around you?¡± he asked, the jealousy in his heart seeping into his

    words.

    Brielle was taken aback. Had Dustin hugged her? She couldn¡¯t recall for sure, but she remembered

    feeling unusually at ease around him. She knew Dustin was a charmer, but from the first time they met,

    his gaze upon her had been nothing but genuine. Now that she thought about it. Dustin had indeed

    embraced her. A flicker of guilt crossed her face.

    That flicker was enough to intensify the jealousy swirling in Max¡¯s chest. He took a deep breath. pulled

    her into an embrace, and then slowly guided her towards the plush bed by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window.

    Brielle resisted a little. ¡°I¡¯d like to take a shower.¡±

    Max pecked her on the lips, sensing her reluctance, and let her go.

    She got up and retrieved a silky nightgown from the bedroom wardrobe before retreating to the

    bathroom. As soon as the sound of running water filled the bathroom, Max heard a knock at the door¨Cit

    was Wesley, the butler.

    ¡°Sir.¡± Wesley said, bowing respectfully, ¡°there are a few details to discuss regarding Ms. Martha¡¯s

    transfer.¡±

    Max frowned. Martha had been insistent on returning to her home country, so he had been in the

    process of coordinating with facilities back home, but he wasn¡¯tfortable with just any facility, hence

    the meticulous selection process. Martha had suffered her incident back home. and Max could not

    afford to take any chances.

    After showering in another room, he headed to his study. Theputer was on, with several people

    waiting on the other end for an online meeting. Dorsey International had a diverse portfolio, but it hadn¡¯t

    ventured into healthcare. If anyone in Beaconsfield had clout in the medical field, it was the Rond

    family.

    The Rond family¡¯s main business was healthcare, with stakes in several of the country¡¯s most

    renowned hospitals. Without hesitation, Max had reached out to the Ronds and secured a spot in

    one of their best nursing homes.

    The Ronds, aware that Martha would be in their care, were on high alert, leaving no stone unturned

    to ensure herfort.

    Just as Max finalized these arrangements, the study door opened. Brielle entered, her hair loose and

    wearing a silken nightgown that highlighted her delicate skin. She had a perfect

    1/2

    1756

    Chapter 404

    Max¡¯s eyes darkened at the sight. He shut down hisputer, walked over to her, and pressed her

    down onto the soft leather sofa in the study.

    Brielle blushed, sinking into the s¡¯s cushioning embrace.

    Max¡¯s kisses were gentle, cascading over her skin like water. Her skin flushed even more, yet he kept

    her pinned beneath him, carefully observing every nuance of her expression. He wanted more than just

    to see her belly exposed; he wanted this hedgehog to unfurlpletely, to reveal every inch of herself

    to him.

    For Brielle, the physical sensation overwhelmed any embarrassment she might have felt. She

    suspected Max was still angry, and his actions now were a deliberate disy of that anger.

    Their skin touched, their warmth mingled, and she felt too exhausted to protest. Yet, whenever she

    tried to speak, he would steal away her breath, leaving her gasping for air.

    A jealous man could indeed be frightening. In the end, Brielle surrendered, limp as if boneless. Deep

    down, she knew Max wasn¡¯t just upset about Dustin. It was also because she wasn¡¯t wearing the string

    of beads he had given her¨Ca gift he must have pondered over deeply before presenting it to her.

    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.

    But Brielle didn¡¯t want to wear it. To her, Max was like a rare diamond, which she wanted to keep

    hidden, away from prying eyes. The moment others noticed the diamond¡¯s brilliance, more would covet

    it, and she didn¡¯t feel strong enough to protect it. If she lost the diamond due to a moment of careless

    pride, the regret would haunt her for life..

    She was also grateful to Max. He acted rather than questioned, showing a ferocity that was absent

    from his usual detachment. She loved his restraint and his calm, but she also loved him. now, colored

    with passion.

    Chapter 405

 Chapter 405

    Chapter 405

    It was 3 a.m. when everything came to an end, and she was too exhausted to lift a finger.

    Max scooped her up and headed towards the master bedroom. He was only wearing a robe. In her

    groggy state. Brielle couldn¡¯t help but worry about being caught by someone. But as it turned out, they

    went unnoticed, and once she wasid on the bed in the bedroom, she fell into a deep sleep from

    sheer fatigue.

    Max fetched a towel from the bathroom and gently wiped down her skin inch by inch. So when Brielle

    woke up the next day, she felt clean and refreshed all over.

    Lazily snuggled in bed, she didn¡¯t want to move, and noticed it was still snowing outside.

    Max must have gone to the office by now. Shey there for another ten minutes before slowly getting

    up. Right after freshening up, there was a knock on the door. It was the butler, Wesley.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, breakfast is ready.¡± he announced.

    Feeling weak all over, Brielle mustered just enough energy to head downstairs for breakfast.

    Wesley had thoughtfully set up herptop for her. After eating, Brielle settled on the couch with her

    laptop to take care of some business matters. She first touched base with Mason, discussing the ten¨C

    billion¨Cdor fund situation.

    There was silence on Mason¡¯s end for a few seconds before he asked, somewhat uncertainly. [Could

    you repeat that? How much?]

    Even through the screen, Brielle could imagine his expression. [Ten billion.]

    Mason was silent for a full minute before sending a message. [Brielle, you¡¯re a legend!]

    Brielle chuckled, feeling a great sense of satisfaction.

    After cheerfully replying to Mason, she opened thepany¡¯s official forum. Sarah¡¯s name was still in

    the headlines, but Brielle¡¯s was not. She checked the outside public opinion; everyone was waiting for

    the police results.

    Brielle had already stepped out of this mess, but another piece of news caught her eye on the website.

    It was about Max and Alivia¡¯s uing engagement.

    She frowned and couldn¡¯t help but scroll through the feed, discovering that the spection was due to

    Max¡¯s ck bracelet going missing.

    She couldn¡¯t help but ask anonymously, ¡°Why does a missing bracelet signal an impending wedding?¡±

    The buzzing forum went quiet for a few minutes before replies started pouring in.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Because Alivia¡¯s rosary is missing too.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I just saw a photo of Alivia abroad, and the thing on her wrist is indeed gone.¡±

    1/2

    12:57

    Chapter 405

    ¡°Did they make some kind of pact?¡±

    Seeing this, Brielle continued scrolling and Indeed found a recent photo of Alivia, sans bracelet. Both of

    them had worn identical pieces before, and now both were missing, which naturally fueled spection.

    If it weren¡¯t for Max¡¯s rosary ending up with her, Brielle would have thought the same.

    Brielle closed the forum; she wasn¡¯t angry but felt like she¡¯d been hit with a mallet.

    Alivia could involve herself in Dorsey International¡¯s affairs. The Barnes family was on good terms with

    the Dorsey n. Alivia¡¯s brother and Max were longtime friends, and she had been admitted to a top¨C

    tier research Institute. Alivia and Max were childhood friends.

    If Max¡¯s life were a movie, Alivia would be the tailor¨Cmade leadingdy. She had looks, family

    background, and capability ¨C she had it all.

    Brielle dropped her gaze, thinking not only of these but also of Alivia¡¯s tactics.

    Alivia was quietly stirring up trouble from abroad. She was clearly up to no good. She had already

    made her move; Noah was but a pawn.

    Taking a deep breath, Brielle didn¡¯t look any further but felt a sense of impending crisis.

    That afternoon, she still went to the office. Shortly after arriving at her desk, a colleague came in and

    informed her of a meeting on the top floor in twenty minutes.

    Brielle nodded, picked up her documents, and headed to the private elevator. But what she didn¡¯t

    expect was to find Spencer inside.

    By now, her feelings toward Spencer were not just of disdain but of outright disgust.

    Max had been rather rough the night before, leaving not an inch of her skin untouched, so she had

    worn a white scarf today. However, to a veteran like Spencer, it wouldn¡¯t be hard to guess why she was

    wearing a scarf.

    Just as Brielle thought to step back, Spencer¡¯s hand shot out and yanked her inside. ¡°Let go!¡± Her tone

    was cold, and then her scarf was pulled away, revealing a patchwork of marks.

    Spencer¡¯s pupils shrank violently, his grip on her shoulders almost uncontroble. ¡°Brielle, how low can

    you go? Do you actually enjoy being his ything?!¡±

 Chapter 406

    Chapter 406

    Brielle took a deep breath. Her leg swung up in a swift arc aimed squarely at his groin.

    Spencer was clouded by anger and failed to dodge; his face turned ashen with pain.

    Brielle found him repugnant. Her disdain was so intense that merely sharing the same air felt

    suffocating. ¡°Spencer, whether I like someone or not is my business. We¡¯re not even strangers at this

    point. What gives you the right to pass judgment on my life?¡±

    Spencer, wincing with pain, shot back a furlous re. ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb with me. I know that guy is

    Max. You¡¯ve been rolling in the hay with him, and you really think he¡¯s into you? Alivia will be back in

    town soon, and you won¡¯t even see what hit you. Brielle, once he tires of you, he¡¯ll kick you to the curb.¡±

    Hearing the certainty in Spencer¡¯s voice, Brielle knew he must have found some damning evidence.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Spencer sneered, ¡°You only threw yourself at him to get back at me, didn¡¯t you? Does he know why? A

    woman who¡¯d give herself away so easily just to spite her ex¨Cfianc¨¦ is hardly worthy of affection.

    Brielle, you should really know your ce.¡±

    Spencer wished he could hurl every insult at Brielle. The marks on her neck were so fresh. They must

    have been fromst night.

    How dare she?

    Just thinking about them tangled up all night made his stomach churn with nausea.

    The elevator had reached the top floor. Tired of the exchange, Brielle was about to exit when Spencer

    added, ¡°Brielle, you¡¯ll regret this.¡±

    Brielle paused, fed up with Spencer¡¯s nonsense. She stepped back towards him, closing the distance

    between them.

    ¡°Regret what? Regret sleeping with such a catch? You¡¯re right, Spencer. I do enjoy being with him.

    What about it?¡±

    A look of surprise crossed Spencer¡¯s face, and for a moment, he was at a loss for words. In his mind,

    even if Brielle were the lowest of the low, she wouldn¡¯t stoop to such vulgar speech. Yet not only had

    she spoken those words, but she did so with a chilling detachment.

    His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed involuntarily, finding her sudden change from icy to desirous strangely

    alluring. The stark contrast excited him in a shameful way. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder what Brielle

    was like in bed. Was her voice as enticing as her defiance?

    His eyes betrayed too much, and Brielle frowned in disgust. ¡°Keep your filthy thoughts to yourself. I told

    you before, I¡¯d rather hire an escort than be with you.¡±

    Her words were a brutal stomp on Spencer¡¯s ego. The physical pain had subsided, and now Spencer

    straightened up, hisugh cold. ¡°You¡¯lle crawling back to me in tears one day.

    1/2

    12:57

    Chapter 406

    Just wait.¡±

    Brielle shuddered with revulsion, eager to leave the elevator. Spencer followed, his face a pallid mask

    of fury.

    As Brielle approached the conference room, she saw Ryan.

    Having fought hard to return to Dorsey International, Ryan was now the picture of sess, greeting the

    executives one by one. Seeing Brielle, his smile widened. ¡°Brielle, perfect timing. I have you to thank

    for this turn of events.¡±

    Ryan, the old fox, was deftly shifting the attention. It was as if he was saying to everyone, ¡°Curious how

    I came back? It was all Brielle¡¯s doing. She was the mastermind behind my return.¡±

    Brielle kept aposed face, though inwardly, she rolled her eyes at his ingratitude. ¡°Mr. Ryan, you

    jest.¡±

    i everyone

    She chose not to borate. In times like these, the less said, the better. After knew she had recently

    suffered from cyberbullying. She wouldn¡¯t have had the time to meddle in Ryan¡¯s affairs. Ryan was

    simply seeking a scapegoat, and they were not fools.

    As the atmosphere grew tense, William arrived. Despite a significant fall from grace, William

    maintained his trademark smile, though his eyes lingered on Brielle for a moment. Brielle pretended not

    to notice and followed the other executives into the conference room.

    Ryan and William remained behind. William¡¯s expression darkened, while Ryan¡¯s smile persisted.

    ¡°William, I look forward to learning from you again.¡±

    A portion of William¡¯s business had been allocated to Ryan, who had also intended to push the

    troublesome Kingston Enterprises contract onto Ryan. The young heir of Kingston Enterprises had

    plenty of skeletons in his closet, which, if exposed, would affect the business deal. But Ryan, having

    grown wiser during his absence, tly refused. Thus, William was stuck with a project he knew was

    doomed.

    Damn that Brielle. A chill passed through William¡¯s eyes, but when he spotted Spencer, an ideal

    took root.

 Chapter 407

    Chapter 407

    Ryan had been keeping an eye on Spencer, but the man seemed to be miles away in his own head.

    Giving him a nudge, Ryan said. ¡°Keep your head in the game up here, and Brielle¡¯s job will be yours

    before you know it.¡±

    Spencer didn¡¯t respond. He just nodded. He wasn¡¯t part of the upper echelon at Dorsey International

    anymore; he had no business attending meetings. Seeing Brielle so smug and sessful only twisted

    the knife deeper for him.

    Everything Brielle has now, she took from him- the prestige, the social standing, and even the man

    she¡¯s associated with. Isn¡¯t it only because she knew him, a member of the Dorsey family. that she

    found herself in the arms of Max? Just thinking about it made his blood boil.

    As soon as Ryan left, William pped Spencer on the shoulder. ¡°Chin up, Spencer. At the end of the

    day, this is all on Brielle.¡±

    Spencer remained silent, but his hand, hanging by his side, clenched into a fist, throbbing with pain.

    William noted the look on Spencer¡¯s face and allowed a crooked smile to form. ¡°Takingplete

    control of someone is easy, especially someone like Brielle. Crush her career. alienate her friends,

    break her spirit, and she¡¯ll see your worth when she¡¯s lost everything. You can¡¯t be soft with women,

    Spencer. Brielle has too much right now, and you¡¯re just an option to her. But when she hits rock

    bottom, she¡¯ll realize how precious you are.¡±

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    William was a master at manipting emotions. Seeing the longing in Spencer¡¯s eyes, William gave his

    advice from the perspective of an elder, but every word wasced with the temptation to lead Spencer

    astray.

    Spencer, however, was blind to this. He felt every word was gospel truth. Brielle was too arrogant. Only

    by breaking her, piece by piece, would she give him a second nce.

    Spencer lost all restraint as he remembered his sleepless nights while she reveled with Max. Why

    should he suffer alone? If misery were the game, then they would all y.

    Sensing Spencer¡¯s resolve, William patted his shoulder meaningfully and then entered the boardroom.

    The meetingsted two hours, and Max was absent. Brielle knew Max was a busy man and didn¡¯t

    bother to track his every move.

    When it ended, she grabbed her documents and was about to leave when she heard William call out.

    ¡°Brielle.¡±

    She frowned slightly but still managed a smile as she turned. ¡°Mr. William, what can I do for you?¡±

    William approached her slowly. ¡°I heard about your triumph at the casinost night.

    Congrattions.¡±

    13:57

    Chapter 407

    Brielle knew she couldn¡¯t keep it a secret; the high society was a small world, and by now, her name

    was surely making the rounds.

    ¡°You¡¯ve surprised me.¡± William¡¯s voice was soft, almost intimate, as he leaned in. ¡°Being with Max

    without any realmitment, don¡¯t you feel undervalued? You know, my son is about Max¡¯s age. If you

    were with him-¡±

    She cut him off mid¨Csentence. ¡°Mr. William, is this about the ten billion? I¡¯d think you¡¯re not that hard up

    for cash.¡±

    This stung William, his usually calm and collected facade cracking as he pressed his lips together,

    staring coldly at Brielle.

    Brielle met his gaze unflinchingly, lifting the documents in her hand slightly. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve got work to do in

    my department.¡±

    The other executives hadn¡¯t left yet and had witnessed the tense exchange. The HR Director inwardly

    admired Brielle¡¯s fortitude. She had managed to strip the cunning William down to his true colors.

    William¡¯s face remained frozen for a full minute, rooted to the spot. By the time he snapped out of it,

    Brielle was already gone. Fuming inside, he wanted nothing more than to tear the insufferable woman

    apart. But with all eyes on him, he had to maintain hisposure, so he smiled at the other executives

    as if nothing had happened.

    They all felt the awkwardness of the moment, pretended it hadn¡¯t happened, and quickly dispersed. ¨C

    What irked William the most was Ryan passing by with a deliberate sneer. Ryan was impulsive and

    vicious, but these childish acts made William lose it.

    Taking a deep breath topose himself after everyone had left, William kicked over a nearby. chair in

    a fit of rage. ¡°Bitch!¡±

    Chapter 408

 Chapter 408

    Chapter 408

    Brielle leaned against the cold marble column near the elevator, her gaze following Ryan and Spencer

    as they approached. Before they could spot her, she deftly slipped behind the pir,

    out of view.

    Ryan, true to Brielle¡¯s expectations, was at loggerheads with William. When Ryan was part of the

    Dorsey International team, he hung on to every word William said. Even if he begrudged it inwardly, he

    was professional on the surface. There was a time when Ryan thought he and William were teaming up

    against Max. After Max had him ousted, Ryan had sought out William, hoping for some brotherly

    intervention to get him reinstated. William, however, deflected with excuses at every turn.

    After a few such encounters, Ryan realized they were never really a team, just two soldiers fighting

    their own separate battles..

    Now that Ryan had stepped over William to make hiseback, he wasn¡¯t about to start showing any

    deference as he used to.

    Ryan seemed to be in high spirits, a smile ying on his lips as he waited for the elevator. He yfully

    pped Spencer on the back. ¡°Spencer, you didn¡¯t let me down this time, buddy. Clever move aligning

    with Noah,¡± Ryan said, barely containing his glee. ¡°You should have seen. William¡¯s face just now. Oh,

    it was priceless!¡±

    Spencer didn¡¯t seem to share his father¡¯s enthusiasm. His mind was elsewhere as he asked, ¡°Dad, is it

    true that Uncle Max¡¯s mom is considering moving back stateside?¡±

    Ryan¡¯s expression stiffened, his mood souring. ¡°Why do you care about her? That crazy old bat, always

    causing a scene at the drop of a hat.¡±

    Ryan¡¯s face twisted with distaste as he massaged his temples. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about things that don¡¯t

    concern you. Focus on how you¡¯re going to convince Max to give you a promotion. You can¡¯t just keep

    doing the small¨Ctime deals under Noah¡¯s shadow. It¡¯s beneath a Dorsey family member.¡±

    Spencer took a deep breath. A promotion from Max? That was wishful thinking¨CMax would probably be

    happy to see him gone. But it didn¡¯t matter. With Max¡¯s moming back, Alivia¡¯s status would

    skyrocket, and Brielle would have to face the harsh reality that she meant nothing

    to Max.

    With a sneer, Spencer followed Ryan Into the elevator.

    Once they were gone, Brielle stepped out from behind the pir. Tiffanie had already informed her

    about Max¡¯s mother¡¯s potential move back home, and Alivia¡¯s likely return. Max hadn¡¯t attended today¡¯s

    meeting¨Cwas he busy with this?

    Brielle tried to focus on her work in her department but found it difficult to concentrate on the tasks at

    hand. As the day neared its end, her phone rang. It was Tiffanie.

    ¡°Brielle, have you seen the news?¡± Tiffanie asked.

    1/2

    12:57 L

    Charder 40p

    ¡°What news?¡±

    Tiffanie sounded exasperated. ¡°About Aliviaing back home, of course. The media is all over it.

    She¡¯s being halled as a proy, the youngest head of a research Institute,¡±

    Brielle flicked on herputer and, sure enough, Alivia was the headline, Alivia may not have been a

    stunner at first nce, but she had a gentle beauty and soft¨Cspoken manner.

    Prominent universities back home were even sharing the news of her return¨Ca level of clout that

    seemed reserved for Alivia among her peers.

    Tiffanie was still talking. ¡°Do you have any idea what being the head of a research Institute branch

    means back home? That¡¯s a position with massive resources at your fingertips. I bet. Dustin¡¯s visit was

    tied to this.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t Infinity Brilliance a leader in the diamond Industry? What¡¯s that got to do with a research

    institute?¡±

    Tiffanie realized Brielle was clueless and patiently exined. ¡°Dustin may be a yboy, but his family is

    old money In North America. Diamonds are their main gig, sure, but they have deep. ties to

    international politics¨Croyalty even. He turned down a title from the Queen, for goodness¡® sake. Plus,

    research Institutes abroad often link up with capital and need funding¨Cbig funding. And guess who¡¯s the

    major shareholder In most of them? Infinity Brince. So, when you hear about an institute expansion,

    you can bet Dustin¡¯s financing it. Why else would he be here now?¡±

    Brielle knew¨CInfinity Brilliance was a powerhouse, but she hadn¡¯t realized Dustin¡¯s influence ran so

    deep.

    Tiffanie, not hearing a response, thought Brielle was disheartened. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t worry. Max is into you

    right now, and that¡¯s what matters. Forget Alivia. She doesn¡¯t mean a thing to him. But I just wanted to

    give you a heads up¨CAlivia isn¡¯t as great as everyone says. If you cross paths, just be careful, okay?¡±

    12:57

    2/2

    Chapter 439N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

 Chapter 409

    Chapter 409

    Tiffanie had her reasons for being so wary of Alivia, especially since she¡¯d seen firsthand how Alivia

    tormented any woman who showed interest in Max.

    Alivia was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, and her path as the darling of high society was set

    from the moment she drew her first breath. She was nothing like Tessa. The Rond family hadn¡¯t

    given Tessa much attention until recently, so she cherished her newfound influence all the more.

    As for Alivia, she believed the world revolved around her, and Max was tailor¨Cmade to fit into her orbit.

    Still, her brand of arrogance was unlike most; at least to elders and peers, she lived up to thebel

    ¡°exceptional.¡±

    Had Tiffanie not witnessed Alivia, in a fit of spite, crush the hand of a young, promising pianist with her

    stiletto heel, she might have been fooled into thinking Alivia was mild¨Cmannered.

    The pianist was touted as the next big thing, a veritable prodigy, but after that incident, her career was

    over, and she disappeared from the public eye. Everyone whispered about an ident, but Tiffanie

    knew it was sabotage.

    Alivia was cold¨Chearted and a master of disguise, and Brielle was no match for her.

    Despite Tiffanie¡¯s warnings, it was toote. Alivia had already removed her rosary, a clear sign. she

    knew about the missing one from Max¡¯s wrist. It was evident she¡¯de back to square things up with

    Brielle.

    ¡°Tiffanie, thank you,¡± Brielle said, her voice tinged with gratitude.

    The corners of Tiffanie¡¯s mouth turned up in a small smile. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. Just remember,All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

    I¡¯ve always got your back.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s thoughts drifted to Mason, and she couldn¡¯t help but probe. ¡°How are things between you and

    Mason?¡±

    There was

    a brief silence before Tiffanie let out a forcedugh. ¡°You don¡¯t seriously think we¡¯re an item, do you?¡±

    Brielle frowned, puzzled by her response. Weren¡¯t they together?

    ¡°I admit, I¡¯m drawn to his looks, but the idea of being tied down to one guy for life? Please, I¡¯ll probably

    move on once the thrill fades. Dustin¡¯s a catch, though I bet he¡¯s out of my league.¡±

    Whether Tiffanie spoke the truth or jest, Brielle couldn¡¯t tell Tiffanie was never one to hide her

    affections; her crushes were as tant as billboards. Now she spoke of nonmitment. leaving

    Brielle at a loss for words.

    Tiffanie could sense Brielle¡¯s confusion and sighed. ¡°I tried, you know. But I can¡¯t do

    monogamy. I can¡¯t learn to love in the way most people do. I need something more¡­ universal. Not the

    ¡®you¡¯re the only one for me¡® kind of love.¡±

    1257

    Chapter 409

    Universal love meant the ability to care for someone while equally capable of caring for others, just with

    a bit more passion for one person. But love, unlike friendship or family affection, was exclusive.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t me her. In their circle, who had truly experienced love? None of them. The capacity

    to love was either innate or forever out of reach.

    Tiffanie was genuine, but her genuineness didn¡¯t equate to faithfulness. In fact, it could be profoundly

    hurtful.

    Her rtionship with Mason was a ¡°fauxmance.¡± filled with activities befitting a couple¨Cdining out,

    watching movies¨Cyet emotionally hollow from Tiffanie¡¯s perspective. Her desire for a

    rtionship was a yearning for intimacy, but her verbal denials signaled a deep¨Cseated fear of

    1. it.

    So, when she imed they weren¡¯t dating, she found a bnce between longing and trepidation.

    But this was not love; it was an imitation of it¨Ca superficial intimacy crafted by Tiffanie to stave off

    loneliness and shield herself from potential heartache.

    Realizing this, Brielle felt a wave of sadness and sympathy wash over her. After hanging up. she sat

    lost in thought until it was time to leave work. As she was about to head home, a text from Max buzzed

    on her phone. [My mother is returning stateside soon. I have to handle her discharge paperwork. Take

    care of yourself.]

    Brielle¡¯s heart warmed as she replied with a simple acknowledgment. She thought that¡¯d be the end of

    their exchange for now, but as she reached her car, another text from Max came in. [Keep your

    distance from Dustin.]

    A chuckle escaped her lips. She was curious about what Dustin had said to Max to provoke such

    caution. [Understood.] She sent her reply and approached the Dorsey Tower entrance.

    ¡°Crash!¡±

    A potted nt, half a meter tall, shattered behind her, scattering soil and shards across the pavement.

    Had she been a moment slower, it would have concussed her.

    Her expression turned icy as she noticed William exiting the building, nked by executives. He

    greeted her with his usual warmth. ¡°Seems like we¡¯ve got a mighty wind here in Beaconsfield this

    month, Ms. Haywood. Are you alright?¡±

    ¡°Is it the wind of Beaconsfield that¡¯s strong, or is it your ambitions, Mr. William?¡±

    Brielle met his gaze with a defiant smile, unflinching in the face of danger.

    2/2

 Chapter 410

    Chapter 410

    The air was thick with tension.

    William¡¯s face turned icy, his expression souring by the second. The few executives surrounding him

    sensed the tension ramping up between him and Brielle and, feigning deafness, made a hasty retreat.

    Brielle stood her ground, watching William approach with a steely gaze. Ever since the debacle with

    Sarah that William had engineered, there was no pretense of civility between them.

    ¡°Brielle,¡± he began with a sneer. ¡°You flirt with Max on the one hand, while you help Ryan, your ex¨C

    father¨Cinw, w his way back into Dorsey International. Does Max know about your undying torch

    for Spencer? This time, Spencer really should be thanking you.¡±

    ¡°Mr. William, you needn¡¯t worry about my affairs. Perhaps you should concern yourself with your own

    issues. The police are investigating Sarah¡¯s case, and I¡¯m sure the puppet master behind the scenes is

    starting to sweat, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    William¡¯s eyes darkened, a mix of amusement and malice dancing within them. How could the police

    possibly trace anything back to him? He¡¯d been ying the game in Beaconsfield for years, with plenty

    of pawns willing to fall on their swords for him. Brielle was just too naive if she thought the world was

    ck and white.

    ¡°Brielle, you¡¯re a ridiculous,¡± he taunted. ¡°Just wait until Michael hears about your little escapades with

    Max. Both of you will be in deep trouble, especially Max. He¡¯ll lose all trust from Michael.¡±

    And then, there would be no ce for Max in the Dorsey family.

    ¡°Mr. William, who¡¯s the real fool here? Max¡¯s vision epasses mountains and seas, but your sight is

    forever confined under the Dorsey family¡¯s roof. You use gentility as a tool to probe hearts and your

    privileged cunning to curry favor with Michael. I now see why Max never bothered to mention you.

    Someone who can¡¯t see beyond the Dorsey family¡¯s shadow simply doesn¡¯t qualify as his adversary.¡±

    Her words hit him like a physical blow.

    William¡¯s face contorted with rage. No one had ever humiliated him like this!

    His jaw clenched so tight he thought his teeth might crack, his carefully maintained facade crumbling

    away. He could barely breathe, his fury shaking with each exhale. Catching a glimpse of pity in Brielle¡¯s

    eyes only added to his humiliation.

    Brielle, that damned bietch!

    He had lived as the Dorsey family¡¯s eldest for years, only to be outdone by someone two decades his

    junior. It was a cruel joke.

    Max was a prodigy alright, but what right did he have to be the chosen sessor?

    1/2

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    12:57

    Chapter 410

    William¡¯s countenance grew colder, bordering on murderous. He felt an almost uncontroble urge to

    strangle Brielle on the spot. To him, Brielle was nothing but an ant, easily crushed. underfoot. Yet she

    dared to provoke him in his own minefield.

    His lips pressed into a thin line. It was only by a sliver of remaining sanity that he didn¡¯tsh out then

    and there. The storm in his eyes was brewing, and he finally forced himself to turn and walk to the

    waiting car.

    After he drove off, Brielle remained rooted to the spot. She wasn¡¯t intended to provoke William, but she

    couldn¡¯t just sit idly by with her life on the line.

    Her palms were sweaty, and she knew that had it been a secondter, she would be dead. The flower

    pot dropping from such a height was no ident; it was clear she wasn¡¯t meant to

    survive.

    Avoiding William wasn¡¯t an option; he already saw her as a thorn in his side and was eager to remove

    her.

    Once William was in the car, his internal turmoil continued. His grip tightened as he watched Brielle

    from a distance.

    Brielle felt as if a venomous snake was watching her, and only when the car was hundreds of meters

    away did that oppressive gaze vanish. Clutching her upset stomach, she frowned slightly. Was the

    confrontation causing her stomach issues to re up?

    She made her way to a nearby pharmacy by Pearl Estate, barely managing to request some antacids,

    but the pharmacist, noticing her pallor, asked the routine question.

    ¡°Do you have period cramps? Do you usually take painkillers for it?¡±

    Brielle froze, her fingers tightening over her abdomen. Her period, it had been a while¡­

    Panic set in, and the pharmacist, mistaking her reaction for confirmation, reached for a box of

    ibuprofen. ¡°If the pain¡¯s that bad, take this,¡± he suggested.

    But Brielle¡¯s eyes were fixed on the pregnancy tests behind him, her breath catching. She and Max

    hadn¡¯t been careful, and now she was to me for forgetting something so critical.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take one of those,¡± she pointed, her voice betraying her unease.

    The pharmacist gave her a knowing look. ¡°Youngdy, remember to use protection next time. It¡¯s

    irresponsible not to, and if you are pregnant, what then if the man doesn¡¯t step up? Just yesterday, I

    had a young guy, barely twenty, asking for abortion pills.¡±

    Feeling a heatwave envelop her body, Brielle grabbed the pregnancy test and hurried back to Pearl

    Estate. Once home, with the test in hand and theputer on the coffee table still. disying the news

    of Alivia¡¯s return to the country, she felt utterly drained.

 Chapter 411

    Chapter 411

    Brielle¡¯s stomach churned uneasily as she stared at the pregnancy test in her hand, feeling utterly

    clueless for the first time. She had attempted to tear open the wrapper several times but couldn¡¯t

    muster the courage. Instead, she just leaned back on the couch, trying to alleviate the pain in her

    abdomen.

    It was almostughable that a woman could forget to take precautions during an intimate encounter

    with a man.

    Was Max¡¯s devilishly handsome face so distracting, or did she, somewhere deep down, actually want

    to leave something behind from their fleeting moments together?

    But this lovesick foolishness was so not Brielle.

    She sighed, simply sitting on the couch, lost in thought. Eventually, she fell asleep right there, slumped

    over the armrest.

    When she woke up at nine in the morning, dark circles had taken up residence under her eyes. She

    was alreadyte for work. ncing at the pregnancy test, still unopened, Brielle massaged her temples

    and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. Finally, she ripped open the wrapper.

    Six minutester, she stared at the two lines on the stick, her mind going nk. The pregnancy test felt

    like it was burning her hand. Once she snapped back to reality, she chucked it into the trash bin.

    With no appetite for breakfast, she sat back on the couch, zoning out just like the night before. Her

    computer automatically updated with new messages.

    Photos of Alivia and Max had already hit the front¨Cpage headlines. And there was Alivia, supporting a

    figure dressed in an elegant suit. The media only captured a back shot. Spection was rife that this

    was Max¡¯s mother¨CMartha.

    Brielle stared nkly at the screen as every channel buzzed with news about the power couple. The

    media was even hyping up their matching rosaries, positing that the wedding bells would ring within the

    month.

    Whispers suggested that even Martha¡¯s return to the country was to orchestrate Max¡¯s nuptials.

    ¡°A match made in high society heaven.¡±

    ¡°Are the golden girl and golden boypromising for love, or is it just another tale of aristocratic

    romance?¡±

    ¡°Everyone loves a storybook romance, and Max and Alivia are living proof that fairy talese true.¡±

    Beyond the media frenzy, onlinementers were leaving thousands of messages, and the buzz was

    relentless.

    Brielle, staring at the photos and videos, along with the revelry of thements, felt eerily calm. She

    knew full well the clout Alivia wielded in Beaconsfield, so none of this came as a surprise.

    Her thoughts drifted back to the pregnancy test with the damning two lines. She had no idea

    what to do next.

    By noon, she dragged herself to Dorsey International, still in a daze. It was clear to the whole

    department that she was distracted. Even the documents she reviewed were riddled with

    errors.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, if you¡¯re not feeling well, maybe you should take a sick day?¡± her colleagues

    suggested, genuinely concerned for her well¨Cbeing.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Brielle seemed to snap back to reality, noticing her scribbles on the documents, and again. pressed a

    hand to her temple.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be okay in a bit,¡± she assured them.

    But just then, Spencer walked in. Brielle¡¯s face darkened immediately. Why couldn¡¯t this guy. take a

    hint?

    Spencer noticed the slightly pale look on Brielle¡¯s face, his eyes full of triumph. ¡°Alivia only just got

    back, and she already can¡¯t stand it?¡± he thought.

    The employee standing by, aware of the past grievances between the two, wisely left. Once she had

    left, Brielle looked up without courtesy. ¡°Get out.¡±

    But Spencer didn¡¯t seem angry, rather there was a sense of smug satisfaction. ¡°Brielle, Uncle Max left

    you to go pick up Alivia. You must be very upset?¡±

    Brielle thought Spencer was seriously sick in the head. She was never pleasant to him, yet he kept

    coming back for more.

    ¡°I¡¯m indeed very upset. You know how thirsty I am.¡± She said with mock severity, trying to rattle

    him.

    Spencer, however, seemed taken aback and struggled to respond. ¡°Since when did you start talking so

    coarsely?¡± But he couldn¡¯t deny the rush of excitement he felt.

    The words Brielle had uttered yesterday-¡°I do enjoy being with him on bed¡°-had haunted his dreams all

    night, her voice echoing, her flushed face haunting him.

    Spencer had gone through adolescence like anyone else, but this was the first time since reaching

    adulthood that he felt embarrassed by a dream about a woman. In the morning, he had even thrown

    away his pants in a guilty panic, as if they were tainted with his dirty thoughts.

 Chapter 412

    Chapter 412

    He had toyed with the idea of Inviting that woman whose voice was a dead ringer for Brielle back to his

    hotel room, but he hadn¡¯t snagged her contact Information after theirst encounter.

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Spencer¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he lowered his volce. ¡°If you¡¯re itching for it, I can satisfy you right

    here in the office,¡±

    No sooner had the words left his lips than a cup of coffee sshed on his face. The brown stain of the

    coffee slid down his cheek, soaking through his sult to the white shirt beneath.

    Brielle hadn¡¯t expected Spencer to be so brazen, so utterly shameless. A colleague had brought in the

    coffee, but due to the morning¡¯s positive pregnancy test, she hadn¡¯t touched it, and it had gone cold.

    Spencer wiped his face, unsurprised by Brielle¡¯s retort. ¡°Are you still holding out for Uncle Max to

    sweep you off your feet? Brielle, how low can you get?¡±

    The more he insulted her, the more it pained him.

    ¡°Get out.¡± Brielle shifted her gaze to theputer, unwilling to waste any energy on such a

    person.

    With pursed lips, Spencer gave her one deep look and then pushed the door open to leave.

    The colleagues outside saw his coffee¨Cstained figure but dared not stare, all thinking Ms. Haywood

    was the real powerhouse.

    Once Spencer entered the elevator, he leaned against the wall, catching his breath, and nced at his

    arousal. It wasn¡¯t Brielle who was cheap, it was him, so cheap that despite knowing her disdain, he

    almost lost it over her words.

    Frustrated, he punched the elevator wall. With no outlet for his pent¨Cup energy, he felt suffocated.

    Back in the office, Brielle felt nothing but irritable. She had a sharp sense that Spencer had changed;

    his eyes held not only disgust but something more that made her feel endangered. But she had no time

    to dwell on these feelings. Her mind was preupied with the two lines. on the pregnancy test, still

    feeling like an illusion.

    Herputer kept pinging with notifications. The Beaconsfield media was all praise for Alivia, nearly

    putting her on a pedestal. And as for Max, he was already a figure of reverence.

    Brielle felt no stirrings in her heart, nor did she call Max to ask about the details. She had long known

    Alivia¡¯s maneuvers, how she hid behind others in an armor of generosity and gentleness, deceiving the

    public.

    This media circus, this deluge of blessings, was Alivia¡¯s warning shot. If Brielle showed any sign of

    weakness now, she¡¯d be conceding defeat to Alivia before their battle had even begun.

    1/2

    12:58

    Alvia¡¯s spectacle was meant to provoke her. Il Brielle called Max now to check on him, she would seem

    petty inparison to Alivia¡¯s poised and dunified front after all, Alivia had truly taken care of Martha

    for years.

    gaze dropping to her belly with heavy thoughts. This was a

    Belle shut down herputer, her gaze dro the problem.

    Meanwhile, at the Rond Health Center.

    This was Beaconsfield¡¯s most prestiulous sanatorium, and Martha¡¯s thousand¨Csquare¨Cfoot vi was

    dedicated to her service alone. The treatment rivaled that of any facility abroad. However, ever since

    her return, her spirits had beenul. Her hands lightly clutched the sleeves of Max¡¯s suit

    Max had someone bring in a light meal for her, but Martha just waved it away, ¡°Max, why don¡¯t you stay

    for dinner tonight? It¡¯s been ages since we¡¯ve had a meal together,¡±

    Max¡¯s thoughts still lingered on Brielle, but seeing Martha¡¯s weary and anxious face, he nodded.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Martha¡¯s expression softened, and she eventually drifted off to sleep.

    Upon leaving, Max pulled out his phone, intending to call Brielle to exin the situation. But Alvia

    approached, a smile appearing on her face upon seeing him still there. ¡°Max, I thought. you¡¯d have

    gone back by now.¡±

    She noticed his phone in his hand, but her expression remained unchanged. ¡°Do you remember our

    last conversation? I asked if you had someone special, and you said maybe. What about. now? Have

    you made up your mind?¡±

    Max looked into the distance, his face lighting up with an Involuntary smile at the thought of Brielle.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    The word plunged into Alivia¡¯s heart like a knife, swift and unhesitating. Despite agony in her heart, her

    face betrayed nothing. ¡°Really? Congrattions. Are you nning to tell your

    mother?¡±

    ¡°The situation with my mother isn¡¯t great. I¡¯m not nning to tell her just yet. Plus, the woman I like has

    her reasons for not wanting to make our rtionship public.¡±

    Alivia¡¯s jealousy made her tremble, unable to fathom someone who did not want to dere a

    rtionship with a man like Max. Was Max waiting for this woman to give himmitment?

    How could Brielle be worthy? What gave her the right to have Max wait for her?

    Alivia¡¯s nails dug into her palms, wishing she could subject Brielle to the cruelest tortures imaginable.

    The heartache Alivia felt now, Brielle would have to repay It a hundredfold!

    But she couldn¡¯t rush. Brielle had never been her match, after all. All she needed to do was stir others

    into action against Brielle.

    312

 Chapter 413

    Chapter 413

    Alivia¡¯s face still held a gentle warmth as she spoke, ¡°We¡¯ve known each other for so many years, and

    it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve heard you talk about someone special. She must be quite the catch. As a friend,

    I¡¯m really happy for you. Are you sticking around for dinner tonight? If you¡¯re eager to be with her,

    maybe you should head over, especially with how outrageous the media has been today. I worry it

    might give her the wrong idea.¡±

    It was a tactical retreat. Alivia was ying her cards right by suggesting Max should go to Brielle and

    mentioning the media¡¯s exaggerated stories, implying that the media¡¯s fabrications. had nothing to do

    with her.

    Having known Max for years, Alivia was aware that aside from his work, he hardly paid attention to

    anything else, let alone spontaneously checking someone¡¯s social media. That¡¯s why she felt confident

    enough to post those ambiguous messages on her own ount, only to delete them shortly after

    posting. Even if someone took screenshots, she could im it was malicious intent, and she¡¯d still

    manage toe out squeaky clean.

    In Alivia¡¯s eyes, Max¡¯s affection for Brielle was simply due to men¡¯s natural inclination to protect the

    vulnerable. Yes, it was because Brielle was less capable, less dazzling than Alivia was, that Max was

    momentarily beguiled by her.

    Men didn¡¯t fancy women with too much guile; they felt threatened and found them hard to handle. But if

    she positioned herself as a humble admirer, whose every action sprang from her affection for him, what

    reason would Max have to be harsh with her?

    If she could soften his heart just once, she knew it would gradually lead to a bond of

    Even now, Alivia refused to believe that Max could truly love Brielle. She saw Brielle¡¯s emergence as a

    minor disturbance; as long as Alivia¡¯s rtionship with Max could withstand this trial, she had nothing

    to fear from any future storms.

    In short, Brielle was nothing more than a spice in Alivia¡¯s emotional recipe, not worth fretting over, and

    certainly not worth a full¨Cscale war.

    Still she had no intention of making life easy for her either.

    Ultimately, Max set down his phone. ¡°I¡¯ll stay. Spend time with Mom.¡± He stood by the window. his voice

    indifferent.

    A hint of amusement flickered in Alivia¡¯s eyes as her lips curled into a smile. ¡°Aunt Martha will. be

    thrilled. I¡¯ll let the chef know to get started.¡±

    Max nodded, and it wasn¡¯t until he had left that he raised his hand to massage his temples.

    Alivia¡¯s admiration was too evident, though she tried hard to disguise it. Max was no fool and could see

    right through it. He had rejected her once, twice, countless times, and had made his position crystal

    clear. But Alivia was cunning. Her admiration was open and seemingly without the intent to disturb him.

    If he couldn¡¯t tolerate even this, pushing herpletely out of sight, it

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    125

    Chapter 413

    would border on ingratitude, given how attentive Alivia had been to Martha over the years.

    After all, she had said it herself; she was just a friend of many years. From Max¡¯s perspective, there

    seemed to be no fault to pick. But he still worried about Brielle getting the wrong idea. He never paid

    any mind to gossip, but he¡¯s not sure about Brielle.

    So, he picked up the phone and stepped onto the balcony to call her.

    Brielle was bagging up trash in the bathroom at that moment. She had tossed the pregnancy test into

    the bin that morning and hadn¡¯t thought about it since. Max could show up at any time: she couldn¡¯t let

    him see that.

    Startled by Max¡¯s iing call, she felt her heart clench and her grip loosening, dropping the trash to

    the floor. ¡°Max?¡±

    Just hearing her voice made Max feel a soft pang in his chest. ¡°Have

    ¡°About to.¡±

    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

    ¡°Did you make something yourself?¡±

    As Brielle picked up the scattered trash, she replied, ¡°Yeah.¡±

    U had dinner yet?¡±

    Distracted, she didn¡¯t notice the pregnancy test that had fallen under the sink cab. She hastily tied

    up the trash bag, feeling a bit like a thief.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t feel like cooking, I can have Patrick send over a chef.¡±

    ¡°No need. I¡¯ve not been that hungrytely.¡±

    Hearing herck of appetite only made Max¡¯s smile grow. Was it jealousy over the medial reports?

    He looked out at the twilight sky, his expression tender. ¡°Brielle, don¡¯t believe the media. They¡¯re all

    talking nonsense. I¡¯ve never thought of marrying Alivia.¡±

    What he really wanted to say was, ¡°I have you now, so I¡¯ve never thought of marrying Alivia.¡±

    In his twenty¨Csomething years, Max had never spoken such words to a woman, which gave him. a

    secret sense of embarrassment. It was as if he was breaking himself apart to be reassembled into a

    completely unfamiliar version of himself.

    2/2

 Chapter 414

    Chapter 414

    Max had never truly understood the notions of fondness or yearning. His life was a constant climb, an

    unending quest for achievement, with scant regard for the journey¡¯s joys.

    He was a man devoid of excess emotion; even during the year Martha descended into madness, he

    remained stoic.

    His father always said he was born to do business. But now, a curious new sentiment was taking root

    within him, warming him to the core and leaving him utterly disconcerted. He didn¡¯t recognize this

    feeling as shyness; rather, it felt as if every pore was radiating heat. So, he never did utter the words,

    ¡°because I found you.

    His tone was even, and through the screen, Brielle couldn¡¯t see the expression that yed upon his

    face, but for Max, even in the midst of a tempest, one would be hard¨Cpressed to see him furrow his

    brow.

    Brielle paused, ensuring the trash bag was securely tied before heading downstairs. ¡°I know.¡±

    Ever since Max had given her that rosary, she had a hunch about his feelings. But now, things were

    different. She nced down at her belly and thought it wasn¡¯t the right time.

    Her world was in utter disarray.

    ¡°Brielle, is your loss of appetite because you¡¯re¡­ jealous?¡± It was rare for Max, a man seemingly

    oblivious to the throes of love, to even recognize the concept of jealousy.

    ¡°No. I just need some rest.¡±

    The hint of a smile in Max¡¯s eyes faded slightly. Was she not jealous? He furrowed his brow. wondering

    if Brielle really liked him. Wouldn¡¯t she feel uneasy knowing he was getting close to another woman?

    ¡°Max, don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t be affected by these trifles.¡±

    Trifles? Max¡¯s frown deepened, unsure of what he was feeling. He didn¡¯t want Brielle to be upset, yet if

    she truly felt no twinge of jealousy, he felt oddly deted. This must¡¯ve been what Andrew meant by

    ¡®torture.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, as long as you trust me, that¡¯s all that matters.¡±

    After hanging up, he pursed his lips, a picture of puzzlement.

    Just then, the chef rolled in the dinner cart, and he followed them inside. Martha hadn¡¯t rested long

    before she was up and smiling at Max, beckoning him over. ¡°Max,e and sit down.¡±

    The room was spacious, with arge dining table by the window. Martha was already seated there,

    prim and proper.

    Max walked over, taking a seat opposite her.

    Martha¡¯s gaze shifted to the door, noting Alivia¡¯s absence, and frowned. ¡°Where¡¯s Alivia? Did

    1/2

    12:58

    Chapter 414

    she leave? Max, how could you not Invite her to stay for dinner? After all these years, you still have no

    clue how to treat ady.¡±

    As she finished speaking. Alivia entered, carrying a bowl of soup. ¡°Aunt Martha, don¡¯t me Max. I

    wanted to make you some soup to help you recover.¡±

    Martha stood up happily to take it, casting a reproachful nce at Max. ¡°What are you waiting for?

    Max, go help her.¡±

    Max¡¯s face remained impassive; he didn¡¯t refuse but took the soup from Alivia¡¯s hands.

    As Martha thought the two might grow closer, she heard Max say. ¡°As I¡¯ve said before, soup¨Cmaking is

    best left to the professionals.¡±

    Alivia¡¯s face fell, a look of hurt shing in her eyes.

    Hearing Max¡¯s words, Martha felt exasperated, wondering how he could be so tactless, event with the

    woman who might be his future wife. She quickly took Alivia¡¯s hand, blowing on it affectionately. ¡°Don¡¯t

    mind Max¡¯s nonsense. I¡¯m truly touched you made soup for me. I can¡¯t wait for the day you join the

    Dorsey family.¡±

    Alivia nced at Max, knowing that any hesitation or coyness would only erode his trust in her. Max

    had already made it clear he had someone else in his heart. ¡°Aunt Martha, let¡¯s talk about thatter.

    Max and I are still young. There¡¯s no rush.¡±

    From Max¡¯s perspective, Alivia was making excuses for him. Although he was dissatisfied with the

    current atmosphere, he said nothing.

    Martha smiled even more warmly, patting Alivia¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡±

    Max¡¯s mind was elsewhere during the meal, only picking at his food. When his phone rang, it provided

    the perfect excuse to leave.

    ¡°Mother, Alivia, please enjoy. I have to go to the office.¡±

    Martha¡¯s face clouded with displeasure. It was alreadyte; why hurry to the office? ¡°Max, it¡¯s been so

    long since we¡¯ve had a peaceful meal together, and Alivia is here, too,¡±

    Alivia swiftly served Martha some food. ¡°Aunt Martha, there¡¯s no helping it. Max is busy with the

    company. Now that you¡¯re back in the country, we¡¯ll have plenty of opportunities to dine together. We

    can always do it next time.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Seemingly making excuses for Max, Alivia cleverly set the stage for another mealtime.

    Chapter 415

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    Chapter 415

    Martha couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, shooting Alivia a look of exasperated amusement. ¡°You, my dear,

    haven¡¯t even walked down the aisle yet, and here you are, putting his needs first.¡±

    ¡°Mother, enjoy your dinner,¡± Max paid no mind to their conversation, his gaze steady and undisturbed.

    As soon as he left, Alivia looked forlornly at her te, her appetitepletely gone.

    Martha sighed with a mother¡¯s concern when she saw her daughter¨Cinw¨Cto¨Cbe like that. ¡°Last time

    you mentioned Max was seeing someone, who is she? Is it just a fling, or is he serious?¡±

    Alivia slowly looked up, realizing her slip inposure, and forced a smile. ¡°Aunt Martha, really, these

    matters are for Max to decide. Besides, I promised to keep his secrets. You¡¯ve been. unwell; don¡¯t

    stress yourself over this.¡±

    The more understanding Alivia was, the more Martha¡¯s heart ached for her. Martha snorted

    dismissively. She was determined to find out who this sly girl was!

    Alivia tactfully added, ¡°I¡¯ve heard she¡¯s an employee at Dorsey International. She must be quite

    competent, I suppose.¡±

    H

    ¡°An employee of Dorsey International? Competent, my foot! She¡¯s using her position to seduce her

    boss¨Ceveryone knows her game. Max won¡¯t be fooled by that kind of woman. It¡¯s just a whim at best. I

    won¡¯t let someone like her step foot into the Dorsey family. Alivia, rest assured, you won¡¯t suffer any

    injustice. If Max marries someone else, I¡¯d rather be six feet under.¡±

    Alivia was taken aback and quickly patted Martha¡¯s back. ¡°Please, don¡¯t talk like that. I promise, I¡¯ll

    work hard to win Max back. I won¡¯t let him go to another woman.¡±

    Martha rxed a little, her lips pursing in satisfaction. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. No other woman is worthy.¡±

    Alivia had achieved her aim, her lips curving in a faint smile. She had said it before¨CBrielle was no

    match for her, not even worth her personal intervention. A woman of lowly birth had no right to set her

    sights on Max, no right to dare love him, no status to love him.

    Brielle¡¯s fate was to struggle and scrape by in Beaconsfield. From birth, it was decided. Alivial was aas

    radiant as the moon, Brielle as lowly as the dirt. Brielle had never been her rival; Alivia¡¯s true opponent

    had always been Max¡¯s heart.

    Max got into his car, intending to drive to Pearl Estate, but on a whim, he turned back to Premier

    Pce.

    The snow continued to fall outside, as Beaconsfield¡¯s winters were notoriously long. He handed the

    keys to the housekeeper and walked in.

    Wesley, the butler, opened the door for him, his expression hesitant. Max felt an inexplicable unease,

    as if the mansion were hollow. That feeling vanished the moment he saw Brielle sitting

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    Chapter 415

    on the couch, engrossed in a children¡¯s cartoon, the flickering light softening her features.

    Max shook off the snowkes from his coat, hung it on the rack, and approached her, Brielle watching

    a financial seminar wouldn¡¯t have surprised him, but a children¡¯s cartoon? The contrast amused him,

    and he couldn¡¯t resist scooping her into his arms,

    ¡°What¡¯s got you into this kind of show all of a sudden?¡±

    The weariness of the past few days seemed to vanish at the sight of her. He leaned in to kiss the skin

    of her neck. His hands slowly moved down as the others in the room discreetly withdrew.

    Brielle wasn¡¯t in the mood tonight, turning her head away from his kiss.

    Max tilted her face back, noting the troubled look in her eves, and asked softly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Her

    lips pressed together, and after a moment of stillness, she regained herposure. ¡°1 just¡­ I saw this

    little kid at the office today. He was wearing a coat with cartoon characters on it, from this show.¡±

    Max frowned, not quite grasping her point. After a minute, he ventured, ¡°Do you want one?¡±

    Brielle, still anxious, couldn¡¯t help butugh at his off¨Cbeat response.

    Max thought he had guessed right. ¡°Which character? I¡¯ll have one of mypanies make an adult

    version for you.¡±

    So Mr. Dorsey still harbored a touch of that straightforward, male thinking.

    ¡°It¡¯s not that; I just thought the kid was adorable.¡± The hint was there; surely he would understand now?

    But before she could gather her courage to speak inly, Max¡¯s phone rang¨Cit was Michael His brow

    furrowed, and after a brief pat on Brielle¡¯s head, he answered. ¡°Father.¡±

    ¡°Max, did you hear about Ryan¡¯s bastard child making a scene in public?¡±

    Michael was seething. ¡°It¡¯s scandalous. That woman brought the child right to our doorstep!¡±All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

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    Chapter 416

    Max wasn¡¯t surprised, really. After all, Ryan had always been the ck sheep, a yboy whose

    escapades were the talk of the town. Poor Faith, the cuckoo in her nest, probably didn¡¯t even know the

    count anymore.

    However, Faith had the patience of a saint. She turned a blind eye because she adored Ryan, and he

    had only one son, Spencer, so she chose to overlook his dalliances.

    But an illegitimate child? That was a whole different can of worms.

    Back in the day, Michael had his fair share of lovers, but only those he permitted could have his

    children. Even with his wandering eye, Michael never let any of those nameless flings cause the

    scandal of a bastard child. The Dorsey family despised nothing more than the stain of illegitimacy.

    And now Ryan, fresh back at Dorsey International, had stirred up this ho¡¯s nest. It seemed this

    woman was ying for keeps.

    Max frowned, and Michael¡¯s stern voice carried on. ¡°Max, your brother has really crossed the line this

    time. His affairs are one thing, but a bastard child? That¡¯s a stain on the Dorsey family legacy we

    simply cannot abide.¡±

    ¡°Father, we all know the rules. A child born without our blessing cannot be part of the Dorsey lineage.*

    Michael¡¯s eyes were cold as he massaged his temples. ¡°I¡¯ll see to it that the child is taken care of. Keep

    an eye on Ryan at Dorsey International.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Max was always business¨Cfirst with Michael. But Brielle, sitting by his side, couldn¡¯t shake the weight of

    the words¨C¡®a child born without our blessing cannot be part of the Dorsey family.¡±

    Hershes fluttered down, her mind reeling in a void.

    Max¡¯s voice continued to echo. ¡°Trying to leverage a child for status? I told her, she¡¯d bepensated,

    but the child couldn¡¯t stay.¡±

    This scandal would be a blot on the Dorsey family¡¯s reputation.

    Brielle tried to tune it out, but each word Max spoke drilled into her ears, shredding her peace of

    mind.

    Love was supposed to be a dalliance between equals, not a desperate grasp at status from a world

    apart. If Brielle fell pregnant carelessly, everyone would assume she was just like that woman, trying to

    set foot in high society through a child. Besides, Max was with her, but he had never talked about

    marriage.

    Max ended the call and turned to find Brielle daydreaming. It was rare to see her so out of sorts, and he

    found it amusing, pinching her earlobe affectionately. ¡°Were you about to say

    Chapter 416

    something?¡±

    Brielle snapped back to reality, shaking her head quickly. ¡°No, nothing.¡±

    She stood up, eager to escape somewhere, anywhere¨Cbut home wasn¡¯t an option. Mentioning home

    now would clue Max in on her unease. She forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m going upstairs to rest.¡±

    Max was still buried in work and pulled her into a hug, pressing a kiss to her lips. ¡°Okay.¡±

    Brielle trudged upstairs, and after a shower, she examined her stomach in the mirror from different

    angles.

    Nothing showed. Should she get checked out? But she feared being watched¨Cby William, Spencer, or

    maybe Alivia. If any of them were on her tail, a trip to the obstetrician would scream headlines, and the

    Dorseys would be plunged into scandal.

    Her n was simple: if the Dorseys wouldn¡¯t acknowledge the child, and the child was a ticking time

    bomb for Max, she¡¯d keep it to herself. When she started showing, she¡¯d request a work trip far away,

    have the baby in secret, and then return.

    Though she hated to admit it, she was thrilled about the life growing inside her. Her feelings for Max

    were deeper than she¡¯d ever let on.

    Clothed and in bed, she tried to sleep but was awakened by a heat stirring within her. As Max¡¯s

    advances became imminent, she shifted away.

    Max, his arm around her waist, felt her resistance and held back with effort. ¡°Brielle?¡± He called out and

    leaned in to kiss her again.

    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    Silently, Brielle pulled the covers over herself. ¡°I¡¯m a bit tired.¡±

    At those words, no matter how much he desired her, Max couldn¡¯t continue. He even checked her

    forehead to make sure she wasn¡¯t feverish before he rxed.

    Brielle noticed his concern and sighed inwardly. She couldn¡¯t help falling: Max¡¯s tender trap was simply

    too enticing.

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    Chapter 417

    ¡°Just rest if you¡¯re tired,¡± he said as hey on his side, pulling her close by the waist.

    Brielle turned to nestle into his embrace, hearing his lingering question. ¡°Sure, you don¡¯t want. that

    cartoon¨Cthemed down jacket?¡±

    So that was still on his mind.

    In Max¡¯s eyes, Brielle was unlike any other woman. She might¡¯ve appeared dull, but her thoughts were

    more intricate than anyone¡¯s, never demanding anything from him, nor voicing her own needs. Yet, that

    very fact left Max on edge, always fearing he might inadvertently. cross some unseen boundary and

    umte enough disappointments in her to walk away in silence.

    Brielle was like the shattered bits of colored ss in a kaleidoscope, tiny and fragmented, hidden deep

    within, and impossible to fully see.

    Max was willing to fulfill all her wishes if only she would ask, but she never did, so he remained

    clueless about her desires.

    ¡°No, let¡¯s just sleep,¡± she replied.

    Max¡¯s arm, draped around her waist, tightened, and he gave a reassuring pat. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s sleep.¡±

    But wasn¡¯t sleepy. It wasn¡¯t that she was rejecting Max¡¯s affection; it was just best to be cautious during

    the early stages of pregnancy.

    Max had a robust vitality; once he got going, there was no end in sight, whichpletely contradicted

    his seemingly reserved exterior. It was out of concern for the baby that she had declined.

    Max let go of her and got up to head to the bathroom, where the sound of running water soon. filled the

    room. He had already taken a shower that night; he probably wanted to cool down his urges with a cold

    shower.

    Feeling a pang of guilt, Brielle was just turning over when her phone by the bedside began to ring. She

    cursed her sharp eyesight and immediately recognized the shing name ¡°Alivia.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t naive; she could guess Alivia¡¯s game. She trusted that Max wasn¡¯t the type to keep looking

    for something better while he had something good, so he must have made his stance. clear to Alivia.

    But Alivia knew how to use Max¡¯s mother as a tie, binding their rtionship tightly.

    If Max had been entirely indifferent to Martha, he wouldn¡¯t have sent her abroad for convalescence,

    away from the troubles of Beaconsfield. So if Brielle ever showed displeasure at Alivia contacting Max

    because of Martha, that would be Alivia¡¯s cue to gain an advantage.

    The ringtone persisted, especially intrusive in the dead of night.

    Chapter 417

    Brielle could have yed the same game as other women, and picked up the phone at such a moment

    to rile up Alivia, but while effective, that tactic also disrespected Max himself. So, she got up, took the

    phone, and knocked on the bathroom door. ¡°Max, your phone¡¯s ringing.¡±

    The sound of water stopped, and his voice came through, ¡°Who is it?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    ¡°Alivia.¡± Brielle¡¯s tone was calm, betraying nothing.

    Max frowned slightly; a call at this hour likely meant something about his mother, ¡°Can you take it for

    me? Ask what¡¯s needed. I¡¯ll be a few minutes.¡±

    He sounded a bit embarrassed when he mentioned a few minutes.

    Brielle blushed, thinking how the cold shower wasn¡¯t doing him any good in this chilly weather. But

    wasn¡¯t all of this her doing?

    Max had respected her refusal to touch her earlier, showing her utmost respect. Now, he was deferring

    to her to handle a call from another woman. Sometimes, Brielle even felt that seducing Max had been

    the most correct decision of her life.

    The water started again, and Brielle nced down at the phone, a slight smile curving her lips. Since

    Max had agreed, she wouldn¡¯t hold back.

    She pressed the answer button, and Alivia¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Max, I suddenly remembered

    something about the new medication the doctor mentioned. Are there any side effects? I¡¯m choosing a

    new home nurse for Aunt Martha and want her to be aware of any potential issues.¡±

    See, Alivia was so concerned about Martha. She was even selecting a trustworthy nurse for her in the

    late hours.

    Woman to woman, Brielle knew the y. If Max had been the one to answer, even though he disliked

    outside interference, he wouldn¡¯t have rebuked Alivia. After all, everything Alivia did was for Martha¡¯s

    sake, and even if it was to no avail, she was busy until the wee hours.

    ¡°Ms. Alivia, Max is in the shower.¡±

    After saying this, Brielle suddenly recalled a past moment when she had called Spencer, and Lillian

    had answered. Lillian had said Spencer was in the shower with a tone that seemed boastful as if

    reveling in besting the ¡®main wife¡® ¨C It was quite distasteful.

    Brielle chuckled to herself; heaven was her witness, Max was genuinely in the shower, and she was

    merely stating the truth, with no ulterior motive.

    Chapter 418

    But Alivia was definitely not feeling it.

 Chapter 418

    Chapter 418

    The moment Alivia heard a woman¡¯s voice, her face contorted in disgust. Her hand at her side

    clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palm. There was no doubting it; Brielle picked up the call.

    She had thought Brielle had some sort of talent, but as it turned out, she was just a man¨Cstealer, a

    homewrecker. Such tactics were despicable to Alivia, even contemptible.

    She guessed that Max was either workingte, with his phone out of reach, or he¡¯d already fallen

    asleep, allowing Brielle to act so brazenly.

    The taste of blood filled Alivia¡¯s mouth. She yeared for Brielle to just vanish.

    As low and vile as the method was, Alivia had to admit that the damn woman had seeded in getting

    under her skin. ¡°I need to speak with Max. Who is this?¡± She feigned ignorance of Brielle¡¯s identity,

    keeping her tone as t as possible.

    Brielle arched an eyebrow, cool as a cucumber. Well then, let¡¯s see how long Alivia could keep this up.

    A smirk danced at the corners of her lips as she knocked on the bathroom door. ¡°Max, Ms. Alivia here

    says she needs you.¡±

    The sound of water stopped once again, with Max stepping out of the steamy bathroom wrapped in a

    towel. He towered over her, looking down with a height advantage.

    Brielle¡¯s gaze slipped downwards, catching sight of his still¨Cdripping torso. Her cheeks flushed as she

    averted her eyes. She couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Why don¡¯t you dry off?¡±

    Caught up in the allure of his masculine appeal, she¡¯d momentarily forgotten she was on the phone.

    Realizing herpse, she nced at the mobile device.

    Thinking she was gesturing for him to take the call, Max naturally grabbed the phone and held it to his

    ear. ¡°Alivia, what¡¯s up?¡±

    Alivia was gritting her teeth, eyes icy with contempt. She was convinced Brielle was doing this on

    purpose, trying to make her look foolish, but she was no ordinary woman, and if Brielle thought these

    petty games could drive her away, Brielle was sorely mistaken.

    Though disgusted, Alivia¡¯s tone regained itsposure. ¡°I¡¯m helping Auntie pick out a caregiver. I¡¯ve

    gone through four or five candidates, and none are quite right. I wanted to check on the specific side

    effects of the new medication so that I could brief them properly. We don¡¯t want them to mishandle her

    care.¡±

    Max¡¯s brow furrowed. It wasn¡¯t that he found Alivia off¨Cputting, he was just puzzled. It was midnight;

    surely, this could have been discussed during the day. Why now? And the care facility he¡¯d chosen was

    well¨Cstaffed with top¨Ctrained caregivers. Why would Alivia need to find someone else?

    ¡°The care home¡¯s staff is more than adequate.¡±

    Chapter 418

    ¡°But I¡¯m still worried about Martha. Ever since you¡¯ve been away, her spirits have been low. The

    professionals are verypetent but seem afraid of making mistakes. Theyck a certain¡­ warmth.

    The people I¡¯m choosing are from the Barnes family. They can keep herpany and have a chat.¡±

    Alivia¡¯s reasoning was watertight.

    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    The facility was part of the Rond family¡¯s holdings, and to curry favor with Max, they¡¯d made it

    abundantly clear to everyone to take great care of Martha, emphasizing her status repeatedly, and

    likely warning them of dire consequences for any slip¨Cups. Under such pressure, the staff would

    naturally be walking on eggshells, afraid to err. So, Alivia¡¯s concerns. seemed justified.

    Brielle, overhearing this exchange, felt that if Max made things difficult for Allvia now, he¡¯d be

    ungrateful. She moved to retreat to the bed but was stopped by Max¡¯s grip on her wrist.

    Without hiding from Alivia on the phone, Max addressed Brielle directly. ¡°Don¡¯t walk barefoot on the

    floor. It¡¯s cold.¡±

    Only then did Brielle look down at her feet. The room¡¯s floor was spotless and disinfected daily by the

    housekeeping staff. She had forgotten to put on slippers when she got out of bed, and when Max

    reminded her, she felt a chill. She hurried back to the bed, curling her toes.

    Still talking to Alivia, Max moved closer to the bed and ced Brielle¡¯s feet in his empty palm to warm

    them. ¡°As for side effects, there¡¯s a propensity for agitation, same as before, but this new medication

    intensifies that unpredictability. Meaning, my mother couldsh out at any moment, like before, but

    she¡¯ll have more moments of rity.¡±

    Alivia wasn¡¯t really listening: her mind was reeling with Max¡¯s tender instructions to Brielle. The thought

    of the two of them sharing a room, possibly about to share a bed, was driving her to a jealous frenzy,

    but her voice remained calm and collected. ¡°Got it. I was just a bit anxious and called you. Sorry for

    interrupting your rest, huh?¡±

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    Chapter 419

    Max thought of Brielle¡¯s recentment about being tired and responded with a simple, ¡°Yeah.¡± That

    one word cut through the air like a de.

    Max was an Imprable fortress around other women, impervious to their sweet nothings and ttery.

    Brielle, feeling the warmth in her palm, couldn¡¯t help butugh at his response. He was like a log devoid

    of emotion. If she were Alivia, she¡¯d probably be seething with rage.

    Indeed, Alivia was on the brink of exploding, but she managed to apologize, nheless. ¡°I won¡¯t call

    at this hour next time. Get some rest, goodnight.¡±

    After hanging up, Allvia took a deep breath, resisting the urge to smash everything in sight. She had to

    stay calml

    Her mouth tasted of blood from biting her tongue in frustration. Finally, she decided to give Spencer a

    call. Noah had mentioned Spencer was scheming to woo Brielle, which could make him a useful pawn

    in her game.

    Spencer answered quickly, as Alivia¡¯s return from abroad was no secret. He was surprised by her call,

    though. They knew each other, sure, but they weren¡¯t close.

    ¡°Spencer, it¡¯s me.¡± Alivia¡¯s voice was soothing, quickly settling into a poised and proper tone.

    Despite his confusion, Spencer replied courteously, ¡°Calling sote, is everything alright?¡±

    ¡°Well, there is a small matter. I heard you¡¯re no longer the director at Dorsey International. What

    happened?¡± Alivia was cunning, not mentioning Brielle directly but meandering slowly to her point,

    masking her true intentions.

    For Spencer, the subject was a sore spot, especially since Alivia was an attractive woman. No man

    wanted to get embarrassed in front of a prettydy.

    ¡°Dorsey International is a fair ce. Some rise above others when they prove their worth.¡±

    ¡°I heard it was a woman who took your ce. I met Noah abroad, and he mentioned her not¨Cso¨Cster

    reputation.¡±

    A cold smirk formed on Spencer¡¯s lips. Alivia had barely set foot back home and was already targeting

    Brielle. If she knew about Brielle¡¯s tryst with Max, she¡¯d probably spring into action right away.

    ¡°Her reputation is indeed tarnished.¡±

    ¡°Spencer, I don¡¯t mean to pry. I¡¯ve just returned to the States and was dealing with the signings with

    Book recently, so I¡¯m naturally concerned about Dorsey International¡¯s affairs. We¡¯re essentially family

    now, and I thought I¡¯d ask. If the person who took your ce is truly problematic, I could have a word

    with Max on your behalf.¡±

    Chapter 419

    In saying this, Alivia conveyed two things:

    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

    First, that she was close enough to Max to influence high¨Clevel decisions at Dorsey International.

    Second, she was unaware of the intimate connection between Max and the person who reced

    Spencer, portraying herself as innocent and even pitiable.

    Spencer had been scoffing internally, knowing her words couldn¡¯t hold a candle to Brielle¡¯s influence,

    but Alivia¡¯s apparent concern for him softened his scorn. He even thought Alivia, despite her status,

    was just a na?ve little woman, a pitiable fool. Max had passed over someone like her for Brielle, which

    seemed preposterous to Spencer.

    He sighed, offering a word of advice, ¡°The woman who took my ce was once my fianc¨¦e, Brielle,

    and her rtionship with Uncle Max is¡­plicated. You might want to investigate further. Besides,

    why not ask Uncle Max directly about his marriage ns?¡±

    ¡°Complicated? What do you mean? Max has always been above reproach. He wouldn¡¯t fool around.

    And he¡¯s already made it clear he intends to marry me.¡±

    ¡°You haven¡¯t seen how low Brielle can stoop!¡± Spencer was agitated, his emotions far more transparent

    than Alivia¡¯s subtle maniptions.

    After speaking, he suddenly realized something ¨C had Max promised to marry Alivia? Max was a man

    of his word; if he¡¯d made such a promise, it was as good as done. So, Brielle was just a

    mistress, after all.

    A new scorn filled Spencer¡¯s eyes. If that was the case, then pursuing Brielle himself wasn¡¯t such a bad

    idea after all. Strangely, he was reminded of Brielle¡¯s crass words, which danced upon his heart,

    preventing him from finding peace.

    *If Uncle Max truly intends to marry you, then congrattions, Ms. Alivia. But let me remind you, my

    former fianc¨¦e is quite the catch. You¡¯d best keep a close eye on Uncle Max, or your might find yourself

    dealing with a love child, and then you¡¯ll really be out of the running.¡±

    ¡°Impossible!¡±

    The notion of a love child struck a nerve with Alivia, shattering her,posure as she became frantic.

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    Chapter 420

    Given what Alivia knew about Max, she wouldn¡¯t stand a chance if Brielle were indeed pregnant. Max

    was the kind of man who stood by his responsibilities. Even if he didn¡¯t love Brielle, he¡¯d marry her just

    to give the child a proper family name.

    A venomous look shed in Alivia¡¯s eyes. If that bitch dared to carry a child, she¡¯d make sure to

    terminate the pregnancy herself and ensure that Brielle belleved Max wanted nothing to do with the

    baby.

    With a cold press of her lips, Allivia thanked Spencer, ¡°I get it, Spencer, But I¡¯m still not gonna pry into

    Max¡¯s business. I asked him before I left If he had someone special, and he said no. He wouldn¡¯t lie

    about that. Even if he did stray, it must¡¯ve been that woman throwing herself at him. Since she¡¯s your

    ex¨Cnc¨¦e, could you maybe talk some sense into her?¡±

    Alivia knew damn well Spencer couldn¡¯t sway Brielle. In Brielle¡¯s eyes, Spencer was a nobody.

    compared to Max. No woman would pick Spencer over Max. Alivia¡¯s words were just a ploy to craft her

    image ¨C the youngest head of a research Institute, an educated and well¨Cconnected heiress, yet her

    emotional life was as nk as a fresh sheet of paper. Alivia was gentle and intelligent, yet so pure.

    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    Once this persona took hold, Spencer would undoubtedly speak well of her to Michael.

    Alivia was never stingy with her charm unless it came to women eyeing Max. Those rivals would be

    driven away by any means necessary.

    Sure enough, Spencer felt a twinge of sympathy ¨C amon male affliction, mistaking a strong

    woman¡¯s vulnerability for an opportunity to shine.

    ¡°Ms. Alivia, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll put in a good word for you with Grandpa so you and Uncle Max can

    tie the knot sooner.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Spencer.¡± Her mission was aplished. She exchanged a few more pleasantries before

    hanging up.

    A sly smile crept across her face. ¡°Brielle, you¡¯d better get past your ex before you even think about

    dealing with me.¡±

    Unaware of these machinations, Brielle woke up early, and after freshening up, she headed downstairs,

    only to find that Max had already left.

    As she reached the ground floor, she heard Wesley mention today¡¯s special tomato soup with red wine.

    Wesley was passionate about brewing various soups for her, iming they were to fortify her health.

    But the thought of red wine made Brielle Instinctively nce at her belly.

    She couldn¡¯t risk a hospital visit before confirming that no one was watching her, and to avoid arousing

    Max¡¯s suspicion, she had to tread carefully.

    Last night, she¡¯d researched and learned that wine could be dangerous during pregnancy.

    By the time Wesley served the soup and wine, Brielle had already decided to take it to the office,

    1/2

    12:59

    Chapter 420

    not wanting to offend him.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, you¡¯ve got time before work. Have some soup,¡± Wesley urged with a smile.

    ¡°Could you pack it up for me? I¡¯d like to take it to the office,¡± she replied, careful to eat just enough of

    the other dishes to maintain a bnced diet before taking her insted container and heading to work.

    Just as she arrived at the office, she saw familiar police officers in the lobby. They took the elevator up

    as she entered her private one, and they exchanged nods from a distance.

    Brielle had seen police officers too many times this year, but this was the first time they weren¡¯t there to

    question her. Who were they after? William?

    But even William had imed that Sarah¡¯s case wouldn¡¯t lead back to him.

    With these questions, Brielle entered her department to overhear colleagues discussing the police visit.

    They all expected the officers to collect evidence for Sarah¡¯s case, but instead, the police had gone

    straight to the top floor.

    The chatter ceased as Brielle entered her office. She set the soup aside and began working on the files

    on her desk.

    Around noon, a young employee came in to retrieve documents and couldn¡¯t resist gossiping with

    Brielle. ¡°Ms. Haywood, did you hear?¡±

    Brielle, about to take a sip of water, looked at her curiously.

    The girl¡¯s face was alight with excitement as she dished out the news, ¡°Mr. William¡¯s been used of

    rape! The police took him in!¡±

    Brielle nearly spat out her water, coughing violently as her face turned red. She thought she must¡¯ve

    been hallucinating.

 Chapter 421

    Chapter 421

    William? Rape?

    Chapter 421

    The young girl, fearing disbelief, quickly widened her eyes and said, ¡°It¡¯s true. The wholepany is

    buzzing about it. They say that it was Sue who reported it under her own name, iming Mr. William is

    tied to her daughter¡¯s death.¡±

    Brielle was rooted to the spot, stunned. It took her a full minute to regain herposure before she

    chuckled and shook her head. She refused to believe that William could have anything to do with Sue.

    After all, William wasn¡¯t Ryan; he wouldn¡¯t leave such a scandalous trail.

    Brielle set down her cup, trying to fathom Sue¡¯s motives. If Sue was just spreading rumors, and the

    police cleared William¡¯s name, he certainly wouldn¡¯t let Sue off the hook with his temperament. He

    might even silence her permanently. And at the very least, Sue would face arrest and charges for

    defamation. Why would she take such a reckless step?

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, you must find it hard to believe, too. We were all discussing it. We thought Mr. Dorsey

    was such a gentleman, but who knew he could be such a person in private? Poor Sue has already

    suffered so much, only to face this too.¡±

    The young girl¡¯s words were a real eye¨Copener for Brielle. During Brielle¡¯sst trip to the hospital, she

    had made an anonymous livestream featuring Sue and her husband. In the video, Sue was entirely

    presented as a victim ¨C a meek, pitiable figure, devoid of any defiance. She bore the brunt of

    humiliation and physical abuse without uttering a word in retaliation. It was a ring testament to her

    chronically timid nature.

    If such a woman was daring to bite at the high ranks of Dorsey International, then her words must¡¯ve

    held a measure of truth. And the public always prided itself on moral high ground, with a penchant for

    filling in the nks. They would naturally rationalize Sue¡¯s actions. A weakling who dares to fight back

    is to be encouraged and praised. The public would not hesitate to side

    with Sue.

    Brielle smiled, a gleam of amusement in her eyes. She had always said, those who underestimate the

    power of public opinion will eventually be defeated by it. In using Sue¡¯s family, William could never have

    anticipated her daring to strike back.

    After a brief pause, Brielle sorted out Sue¡¯s strategy. Sue didn¡¯t expect William to truly be punished, nor

    did she hold any hope for the police investigation. Since William held such a high position, he

    undoubtedly had myriad ways to clear his name. Sue wanted to ruin William¡¯s reputation, to make the

    public associate the name William with the word ¡®rapist.¡® This would not only hinder William¡¯s career but

    also send his public image plummeting.

    People tended to focus on the beginning of a story, rarely caring for the oue. Many high¨Cprofile

    cases stirred up a storm online, only to be resolved muchter when public interest had waned, and

    few were watching. So, in most people¡¯s minds, it was the start of the story that stuck, not the

    conclusion.

    Once William¡¯s case hit the inte, the public would condemn him swiftly. As for the ultimate

    13.01

    Chapter 421

    verdict, only a few would see it. For the majority, William would remain a rapist.

    Sue must have been desperate to take such a gamble, but it was a grip on William¡¯s Achilles¡®

    heel.

    Brielle found herself reassessing the woman once again.

    During lunch break, she headed to thepany cafeteria and found William¡¯s scandal had spread like

    wildfire. In the age of the inte, secrets were hard to keep. She ate her meal slowly, overhearing a

    group of girls at a nearby table.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe Mr. William could be like that. I thought he was really easy¨Cgoing.¡±

    ¡°People can be so deceptive. Our supervisor has already ordered us not to leak anything to the

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    media.¡±

    ¡°Even if they silence us, they can¡¯t silence Sue. She¡¯s still at the police station. No one¡¯s stopping her

    from speaking out.¡±

    Brielle was engrossed in the conversation when they abruptly changed the subject.

    ¡°Forget about Mr. William, he¡¯s old news. Aren¡¯t you more curious about our CEO? I just found out he¡¯s

    got a bite mark on his corbone.¡±

    The girl¡¯s eyes sparkled as she spoke, ¡°Guess who left it?¡±

    The others leaned in, intrigued. In Dorsey International, no one was more maic than Max.

    ¡°It has to be Ms. Alivia. I¡¯ve already imagined her and the CEO in a loving embrace. She¡¯s so lucky to

    have such a top¨Cnotch husband.¡±

    ¡°The CEO is known for his meticulousness and unapproachability, yet he indulges her, leaving a mark

    there. It¡¯s clear he¡¯s absolutely smitten with her.¡±

 Chapter 422

    Chapter 422

    Brielle¡¯s smile faltered slightly. Even though she knew it wasn¡¯t the truth, being so

    misunderstood left a subtle unease in her heart. The bite mark was her own doing, and it was deep.

    The girls were still chattering about Max and Alivia, but Brielle had already stood up and left.

    Back in her office, she sat in her chair, zoning out, when her phone buzzed with a text from Spencer.

    [You spent another night at the Premier Pce. Can¡¯t stay away from men for even a second, can

    you?]

    Creep!

    Brielle promptly blocked the number, certain now that Spencer, that lunatic, had been stalking her

    recently. Her brows furrowed in concern. A hospital visit was out of the question; she¡¯d have to take

    extra care of herself for the time being. As long as she didn¡¯t show, no one would discover her

    pregnancy.

    ¡°Knock, knock.¡±

    Someone tapped politely at her office door. It was a colleagueing to collect documents, the same

    girl who enjoyed sharing thetest gossip with her.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, have you signed off on these files? I¡¯ll take them down to the business department.¡±

    The girl¡¯s gaze drifted to the thermos at the edge of the desk, admiration flickering across her face.

    ¡°How do you still find time to cook up a stew at home?¡±

    The stew was something Brielle had to avoid, so she pushed it away. ¡°If you fancy it, go ahead. I

    haven¡¯t touched it, and the sk is brand new.¡±

    A spark of surprise lit up the girl¡¯s eyes, almost in disbelief. ¡°Can I really have it?¡±

    Brielle nodded with a half-smile. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Ms. Haywood. I¡¯ll work extra hard tonight! I¡¯ll treat it as a midnight snack to nourish myself!¡±

    Brielle found it amusing but said nothing more.

    Once the girl left, Brielle continued with her work, not stopping until eight in the evening. She then took

    the private elevator down. Just as she reached the ground floor, every light in the Dorsey Tower went

    out.

    She froze, witnessing a power outage at thepany for the first time. Quickly, she sent out a

    message to the group chat.

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    [There¡¯s a power issue in the district; all the buildings around have lost electricity. Those still working,

    stay safe. Thepany will switch on the emergency power, and we should be back

    Chapter 422

    up in fifteen minutes max.]

    She reassured her staff, fulfilling her duty, before getting into her car and driving away. But

    unbeknownst to her, the girl who had taken her thermos earlier had just finished the stew and had even

    come by her office to drop off some documents for the morning.

    Now in darkness, the girl reached for her phone for light but felt an abnormal heat coursing through her

    body. The heat was so intense it made her legs buckle.

    Her eyes zed over with weakness as she slumped at the desk, gasping for air.

    The office door seemed to open, followed by a man¡¯s hands. The dim light made it impossible to see

    who it was. Only a wave of panic set in.

    No. Please, get away from me!

    But she couldn¡¯t utter a word,pletely sapped of strength.

    ¡°Do you like this, Brielle?¡± Spencer¡¯s voice was taunting as he gripped her waist, forgoing all pretense

    and taking what he wanted.

    At that moment, he felt a twisted sense of pride. He hadn¡¯t expected Brielle to ever be under him, and

    all his resentment vanished, reced by a sinister smile as he whispered temptations. ¡°This drug won¡¯t

    give you a chance to resist. Didn¡¯t you say you liked it? How about it, am I not better than the others?¡±

    In the shadows, he clutched her chin, kissing her without space for breath. Taking advantage of the

    ckout to force this upon her was a thrill like no other. He even wanted to take a photo of her in this

    state, to send to Maxter, to show him just how Brielle looked beneath another

    man.

    She was nothing but a tramp who couldn¡¯t stay away from men.

    Spencer felt both satisfied and furious, wondering why so many men had her and why she had to be

    with Max.

    ¡°Stay with me from now on. I won¡¯t hold your past against you, okay?¡±

    As he finished speaking, the lights flickered back on. The smile on Spencer¡¯s face froze as he looked

    down at the stranger beneath him, crying silently with clenched teeth.

    He frowned, surveying the office. There was no sign of Brielle.

    He¡¯d spiked the thermos at lunch while Brielle was out, intending only a petty revenge. Coming down

    that evening, he heard the faint breathing from the office and rushed in, driven by the urge to im her.

    But it wasn¡¯t Brielle at all.

    His face darkened as he hastily zipped up and threw money at the problem. ¡°Five million. Keep quiet

    about this. Don¡¯t tell a soul, got it?¡±

    The girl nodded, trembling with shock.

    13:01

    Chapter 422

    Spencer felt cursed, grabbing his hastily discarded tle and storming out of the office.

    The girl clenched her teeth, seething with anger and resentment.

 Chapter 423

    Chapter 423

    But Brielle was none the wiser, having told Max she wouldn¡¯t be at the Premier Pce and had Instead

    gone back to Pearl Estate for some rest.

    The next day, when she arrived at Dorsey International, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that there was a

    strange odor in her office. The scent was enough to make her feel a bit queasy.

    A stack of documents needing her signature was on her desk, and after attending to that, she decided

    to head to the top floor.

    Passing by the workstation of the girl who had been the center of yesterday¡¯s gossip, she noticed that

    herplexion was ghostly pale, devoid of any color.

    Brielle frowned. The girl, Sydney, was usually such a cheerful soul. ¡°If you¡¯re not feeling well, just write

    me a sick note, and I¡¯ll approve your leave.¡±

    Sydney jumped at the sound of Brielle¡¯s voice, shrinking back. As whispers of Mr. William¡¯s assault

    allegations reached her ears, thest bit of color drained from her face. She stood up abruptly,

    knocking her chair to the ground.

    It seemed she only then noticed Brielle, her eyes suddenly brimming with tears.

    It must have been something aboutst night¡¯s soup, and if it hadn¡¯t been for Brielle¡¯s soup, she

    wouldn¡¯t have had that encounter with Spencer. Now, seeing Brielle¡¯s innocent expression, Sydney¡¯s

    heart filled with resentment.

    After what she¡¯d been through because of Brielle¨Ccrying for the better part of the night, still puffy¨Ceyed¨C

    there was Brielle looking like the picture of innocence, and Sydney couldn¡¯t help but feel bitter.

    Moreover, Spencer had been looking for Briellest night. It was just Sydney¡¯s bad luck.

    Sydney clenched her teeth. When she realized she was overreacting, she quickly cast her gaze

    downward. ¡°I¡¯m fine. There¡¯s no need to take a leave.¡±

    Brielle thought Sydney had been performing welltely, and her upbeat personality was a bonus,

    making her a good candidate for her assistant. She offered a reassuring smile, ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself too

    hard.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, really, I¡¯m fine. I just got a bit too invested in a TV seriesst night, and I couldn¡¯t help

    crying.¡±

    Such a young girl, so na?ve.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you join me for the meeting upstairs?¡±

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Sydney was taken aback. Going upstairs meant possibly facing Spencer. She felt a flush of nerves but

    followed Brielle¡¯s lead.

    Brielle, preupied with work matters, didn¡¯t notice Sydney¡¯s difort.

    1/3

    13:01

    Chapter 423

    Brielle stepped out of the private elevator and saw Spencer looking dapper in a crisp white suit. Despite

    his disagreeable nature, he bore the handsome Dorsey family genes well.

    Brielle didn¡¯t linger on the sight but headed straight for the conference room.

    Spencer smirked at her, ¡°You sure you want to go in there? Alivia¡¯s been inside for over an hour and

    came in with Mr. Dorsey this morning.¡± His gaze shifted past her,nding on Sydney, who instinctively

    hid behind Brielle.

    Spencer found it amusing. Brielle was grooming her new sidekick, his conquest fromst night. The

    thought gave him a perverse satisfaction, much like the thrill he used to get from his ndestine affairs

    behind Brielle¡¯s back.

    He never denied it¨Che was a scoundrel. Five million for just one night? Hardly enough.

    Brielle, oblivious to the tension, pushed the door open. The room was devoid of Alivia. Spencer had

    been bluffing.

    Turning to Sydney, she instructed, ¡°Wait here for me. You can sit in on the executive meeting for me.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Haywood!¡± Sydney¡¯s voice pitched high in rm, but noticing Brielle¡¯s puzzled look and Spencer¡¯s

    threatening re, she shrank back, ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll take good notes.¡±

    Brielle nodded, having to run back for some documents. These kinds of meetings, where only a few

    executives droned on, were perfect for an assistant to summarize.

    She closed the door behind her and called out, ¡°Max.¡±

    Max, already aware of her presence, put down his pen.

    Brielle handed him the documents. Her visit wasn¡¯t just about the paperwork; she also wanted to gauge

    the state of the Dorsey family after William¡¯s incident, stirring up a storm inside Dorsey International.

    Did Michael know?

    Max seemed to anticipate her questions and pushed a cup of coffee toward her. ¡°Patrick¡¯s special

    roast. Want to try?¡±

    But pregnant women should avoid strong coffee.

    Office workers like Brielle usually loved their coffee, but now she had to abstain. ¡°My stomach¡¯s

    a bit off. I¡¯ll pass. How¡¯s the situation with William?¡±

    Max nced at her midsection. ¡°Feeling that bad?¡±

    ¡°No, let¡¯s focus on William.¡±

    Seeing she wasn¡¯t in severe difort, Max leaned back, and a trace of fatigue crossed his face.

    Brielle rose to stand beside him, intending to ease his tension with a temple rub, but as her gaze

    dropped, she spotted a faint lipstick mark on the inside of his suit cor.

    2/3

    13:01

    Chapter 423

    The subtle stain was like a thunderp in her heart, hidden away yet revealing.

 Chapter 424

    Chapter 424

    Her fingers tensed momentarily, but she couldn¡¯t pretend she hadn¡¯t seen it.

    Max¡¯s hair was slightly coarse, and from her vantage point, she could see the perfect arch of his proud

    nose. Brielle¡¯s mind was awash with thoughts, yet she ultimately refrained from asking directly.

    Max sensed her standing behind him, lost in thought, and reached back to catch the tip of her pinky

    with his hand.

    From a man like him, such small gestures could sweep you off your feet. Brielle¡¯s cheeks flushed, but

    the mysterious kiss mark also left a sour taste in her heart.

    Thinking she was feeling unwell, Max suggested, ¡°Brielle, I¡¯ll take you to the hospital for a check¨Cup.¡±

    Hospital. Check¨Cup. That would mean her secret would be out.

    The words Max shared with Michael the night before haunted her, and she didn¡¯t have the heart to

    reveal the truth at this moment. Any hesitation on Max¡¯s part could shatter her defenses.

    Max took his jacket, ready to head to the hospital, but Brielle stood tall. ¡°I¡¯m really okay. You focus on

    your afternoon tasks. I remember you have an important meetingter, but I probably won¡¯t be able to

    attend. I need to go home and grab some documents.¡±

    Max was still worried, but Brielle changed the subject. ¡°Didn¡¯t you return to Premier Pcest night?¡±

    He nodded, the fatigue visible in his brow. ¡°There was a bit of trouble with Mother.¡±

    It had been only two days since their return to the city, and Martha seemed to be struggling to adapt.

    Something here seemed to trigger her innermost fears. Doctors abroad had already said they needed

    to find the root cause of her condition.

    When Martha had an episode, she could get violent. She already had an outburst since arriving. Max

    had rushed overst night, staying with Alivia to soothe his mother until daylight. It¡¯s more exhausting

    than a night¡¯s work.

    ¡°Alivia was there too?¡±

    ¡°Yes, my mother relies heavily on her. Often, she only listens to her.¡±

    This was the worst¨Ccase scenario, Brielle bit her lip, piecing together how that kiss mark came to be.

    She had deliberately angered Alivia, and Alivia was paying her back in kind.

    It was a taunt ¨C don¡¯t think you¡¯re special to Max. He may sleep with you, but he¡¯s not done with me

    either. You, Brielle, are not the only one.

    Brielle felt weary. She could let this slide once, but what about the ¡®next time or the time after? Alivia¡¯s

    presence was like a ticking bomb, ready to explode at any moment.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Chapter 424

    Such petty tactics were meant to whittle down her affection for Max. If Brielle were to lose faith in Max,

    it would y right into Alivia¡¯s hands.

    Taking a deep breath, Brielle stepped forward and buried her head in his chest. Around Max, she

    always retracted her outward thorns, so he patted her back. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Can you promise me something? Just like you asked me to stay away from Dustin, can you stay away

    from Alivia?¡±

    They both had their demands, and both had to abide by them until she grew stronger. Even though it

    was very hard to swallow.

    Max¡¯s hand paused, his brow furrowing. He hadn¡¯t allowed Alivia anywhere near him. No touch, not

    even a fingertip, but frequent meetings were inevitable with his mothering from abroad.

    ¡°Brielle, I¡¯m not that kind of man.¡±

    Brielle closed her eyes, feeling weary.

    Outside the door, Spencer watched Sydney with a detached gaze.

    Sydney bit her lip in fear.

    Spencer chuckled lightly, ¡°Did you tell Brielle?¡±

    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Good, because it¡¯s not your first time, and it probably isn¡¯t worth five million, right?¡± His tone was

    biting, his look disdainful

    Sydney felt both shame and anger but knew Spencer was a man of the Dorsey family, someone not to

    be defied. Not everyone could be like Brielle, bold enough to ssh coffee on his head.

    ¡°I want you to befriend Brielle and keep an eye on her for me. Report everything back to me.

    Understand? Use any means necessary to get close to her, ideally to gain herplete trust.¡±

 Chapter 425

    Chapter 425

    ¡°Mr. Spencer, I really can¡¯t do it,¡± she whispered, her voiceced with a fear she couldn¡¯t disguise.

    Having been around the block at thepany, she knew that Brielle had some serious moxie. Brielle

    was brazen enough to stand up to Spencer and even gave Mr. Ryan a piece of her mind in front of

    everyone. No one was spared her boldness.

    Sydney was just a regr Joe in thepany, a nobody. Crossing someone like Spencer was akin to

    signing your own death warrant without even knowing it. Although because ofst night¡¯s incident, her

    resentment towards Brielle simmered beneath the surface.

    Spencer¡¯s eyebrow arched, his whole demeanor screaming devil¨Cmay¨Ccare. He had always sailed

    through life on easy street, except for the asional setbacks with Brielle. ¡°You have a boyfriend, don¡¯t

    you?¡± he prodded with a wry grin.

    Sydney¡¯s face turned as pale as a ghost. Of course, she had a boyfriend, and they were on the verge

    of discussing their wedding bells. But she couldn¡¯t bring herself to reveal the previous night¡¯s events to

    him; after all, they were both regr folks.

    Spencer leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a seductive whisper, ¡°The paycheck from Dorsey

    International isn¡¯t too shabby, but if you¡¯re looking to buy a house on your own, it¡¯s like climbing

    Everest. Help me out, though, and things change. Look, one romp with me, and I¡¯ve already thrown ten

    mil your way. Keep me happy, and who knows how much more you¡¯ll pocket.¡±

    Sydney¡¯s gaze dropped, tasting the bitterness in her mouth. Harsh as Spencer¡¯s words were, they were

    steeped in truth.

    Beaconsfield was prime real estate, and with both her and her boyfriend¡¯s sries, they¡¯d be scrimping

    and saving for ages just to make a down payment. But Spencer could cover that with a mere flick of his

    wrist.

    She had to admit that her moralpass was spinning out of control, which was why she hadn¡¯t

    thrown his despised check back in his facest night.

    Spencer¡¯s lips curled into a satisfied smirk. ¡°Just keep tabs on Brielle for me. I want to know every little

    thing. Got it?¡±

    Sydney caved in, nodding slowly.

    Pleased, Spencer waited outside for Brielle while Sydney took her ce in the conference room. Only

    upon arrival did she learn the dreaded meeting was scrapped, forcing her to trudge back to the

    president¡¯s office.

    Brielle was just stepping out when she spotted Spencer still lurking. Her brow crinkled in

    annoyance.

    Without missing a beat, Spencer shadowed Brielle. ¡°Alivia called me. She¡¯s getting hitched to

    Chapter 425

    Uncle Max. She asked if he had a soft spot for anyone, but Max kept mum. Brielle, are you really going

    to keep pining for him?¡±

    Brielle halted, unsure of what game Spencer was ying now. If he loathed her so much, why not keep

    his distance? Yet, here he was, again, spewing his venom.

    Sydney, trailing not far behind, felt a surge of indignation. Justst night, Spencer had been with her,

    but it seemed like he had already forgotten her taste and was fixated only on Brielle.

    Biting back her anger, Sydney clenched her teeth and stayed silent.

    Spencer followed Brielle right to the private elevator. ¡°Brielle, I¡¯m talking to you.¡±

    Without hesitation, Brielle yanked Sydney inside and hit the close button.

    Spencer didn¡¯t pursue Brielle; if Max were destined to be with Alivia, there would be other opportunities

    for him to pursue her.

    Somehow, being consistently rebuffed by Brielle seemed to satisfy some twisted part of him. Still, he¡¯d

    be over the moon if Brielle ever gave in to spending a night with him.

    Inside the elevator, Brielle massaged her temples and noticed Sydney¡¯s unusual silence, prompting her

    to speak up. ¡°Did he give you a hard time?¡±

    Startled, Sydney shook like a leaf, but quickly shook her head.

    ¡°Spencer¡¯s been a bit off the railstely. Ignore him. I¡¯ll talk to HR and make you my assistant.¡±

    A shadow passed through Sydney¡¯s eyes, but when she looked up again, her fa?ade of innocence was

    restored. ¡°Ms. Haywood, are you heading home now?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I need to grab some files.¡±

    ¡°Mind if I tag along?¡±

    Brielle considered. If Sydney were to be her assistant, she might as well know where she lived for

    urgent document retrieval.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Sydney exhaled a sigh of relief, surprised at how easy it was to get close to Brielle.

    Soon, they arrived at thevish Pearl Estate. Sydney¡¯s eyes widened in shock at the sight of such a

    well¨Csecured and luxurious home. All this time, she thought Brielle was strapped for cash, yet here she

    was, living in high cotton!

    At that moment, a thick wave of envy washed over Sydney.

 Chapter 426

    Chapter 426

    She had to admit that Brielle had some chops, but everything she had now must¡¯ve been thanks to

    Spencer, right?

    The fastest way to make money in this world, it seemed, was to sell your body.

    Brielle didn¡¯t notice the edge in Sydney¡¯s tone, simply assuming she felt under the weather. After

    saying a quick word to the security guard at the entrance¨Cwho was quite familiar with her¨CSydney was

    let in without issue.

    Reaching her front door, Brielle fished out her keys and unlocked it.

    Sydney¡¯s face subtly changed upon seeing the exquisite interior. The house itself was already worth a

    pretty penny, yet the decor seemed even more expensive, as if every breath wasced with the scent

    of money.

    Even though she worked at Dorsey International, Sydney had always yed by the rules. Apart from a

    likable personality, there was nothing extraordinary about her. Most of her colleagues were graduates

    from reputable universities, but those who actually belonged to the affluent circles were few and far

    between. Having a ce of your own in Beaconsfield was considered

    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

    quite the achievement.

    And here was Brielle, living alone in such a beautiful home. How many years would she and her

    boyfriend have to work without indulging in any pleasures to afford a ce like this?

    Sydney couldn¡¯t help but nce at the shoe rack, where a few pairs of men¡¯s shoes were stored.

    Those were for Max since he asionally stopped by.

    Casting a few surreptitious nces, Sydney feigned nonchnce and asked, ¡°Ms. Haywood, do you

    live in this big ce all by yourself?¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t pick up on the insinuation and wasn¡¯t one to spread details about her private life.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    A hint of scorn shed through Sydney¡¯s eyes. So, Brielle was living alone. The men¡¯s shoes in the

    foyer¨Cif not Spencer¡¯s, then whose?

    A fuck buddy, perhaps?

    With that thought, the disdain in Sydney¡¯s gaze deepened. She had pegged Brielle for a straightced

    type, not expecting her private life to be so messy. She was remembering how Spencer and Noah had

    been doggedly pursuing Brielle, and a wave of jealousy washed over Sydney.

    The money for the house must havee from those two true trust¨Cfund kids, right? If that was the

    case, why did Brielle y so hard to get?

    Sydney masked her expression as she watched Brielle walk over to the coffee table on the sofa and

    start reviewing documents with great concentration.

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    Chapter 426

    Brielle thought too highly of Sydney to suspect thatst night¡¯s events could have so dramatically

    altered her perception. As Brielle mulled over whether to make changes to one of the forms on the

    table, Sydney probed further. ¡°Ms. Haywood, may I use your restroom?¡±

    Without much thought, Brielle gestured towards the bathroom.

    Sydney made her way there, her peripheral vision not missing a chance to take in the house¡¯s decor.

    The more she saw, the more her heart ached.

    Every detail was perfect. Although she wasn¡¯t friends with any designers, her past daydreams of buying

    a house with her boyfriend had led her to peruse many designer portfolios. Yet none had struck her

    quite like this.

    There¡¯s a saying in this world: beggars don¡¯t envy millionaires because that life is too far out of reach.

    But they did envy other beggars who made a bit more than they did. Have you ever seen. the rich

    resent wealth? In the end, it was theck of money that bred resentment.

    Everyone in Sydney¡¯s usual circles was more or less on the same level. If someone had a bit of extra

    cash, it certainly wasn¡¯t enough to afford a house like this one. And since Brielle had never mentioned

    a mortgage, it seemed she had paid in full.

    Sydney looked at her reflection in the mirror, taking a deep breath topose herself before facing

    Brielle again. If she could cash in on this information, why wouldn¡¯t she? No one everined about

    having too much money.

    She sshed her face with cold water from the tap, identally knocking her ck hairpin to the floor.

    Bending down to retrieve it, her hand stumbled upon something else¨Ca pregnancy test.

    Sydney wasn¡¯t naive; she knew exactly what it was and had used one herself before.

    There were two lines on it. This was Brielle¡¯s room; it couldn¡¯t belong to anyone else.

    A surge of triumph shed in Sydney¡¯s eyes, her lips curling up in delight. Brielle was pregnant, and

    Sydney was probably the first to know.

    Sydney wrapped the pregnancy test in a tissue and stashed it in her purse. After washing her hands

    once more, she headed back out to face Brielle.

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    Chapter 427

    Brielle had just finished amending the spreadsheets. When she noticed that Sydney¡¯s face was alight

    with barely concealed joy. Curious, she couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Feeling better all of a sudden?¡±

    Sydney shed a toothy grin. ¡°Yeah, you know,st night¡¯s TV show wasn¡¯t as heart¨Cwrenching as I

    thought. I heard it¡¯s got a happy ending, so I¡¯m not fussing over it anymore.¡±

    Brielle found it amusing, having never seen someone so devastated over a drama before. ¡°Let¡¯s hit the

    road and get back to the office.¡±

    At that moment, Sydney was itching to get out of there, especially with that item in her purse, making

    her feel guilty. She feared that Brielle might discover it by chance.

    However, when Brielle was cleaning up earlier, she didn¡¯t even notice the pregnancy test had fallen to

    the floor, so the thought never crossed her mind.

    Once back at the office, Brielle headed straight for her desk. Taking advantage of the moment she was

    handing over documents, Sydney slipped up to the rooftop.

    Spencer was feeling rather bored that day, and when he saw here up, he pulled her aside to the

    stairwell. For some reason, the thrill was doubled when it involved someone connected to Brielle.

    Sydney couldn¡¯t resist and found herself in an awkward position. Spencer was pressed against her

    back. The risk of being caught at any moment only added to the excitement.

    ¡°Mr. Spencer, I¡¯ve stumbled upon a massive secret, but it¡¯s gonna cost you another five million

    you

    want in on it.¡±

    if

    A secret worth five million? Spencer¡¯s eyes narrowed, but he didn¡¯t stop. Sydney was almost at

    her limit.

    The door to the stairwell was kept closed since people coulde by at any moment. This only

    ramped up the thrill.

    ¡°What secret¡¯s worth five million?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s about Brielle.¡±

    His excitement peaked at the mention of Brielle¡¯s name during such a moment. ¡°Fine, five million it is.

    Spill.¡±

    Making ten million in two days was beyond Sydney¡¯s wildest dreams. She pulled out the pregnancy test

    from her pocket. ¡°I found this at Brielle¡¯s ce. She¡¯s pregnant.¡±

    Suddenly, the world seemed to fall silent. The excitement, the pleasure, vanished in an instant.

    Spencer¡¯s interest evaporated, and he stared at the pregnancy test. His face paled with shock. He

    composed himself, his eyes bloodshot with fury. ¡°You¡¯re saying Brielle is pregnant?¡±

    Chapter 427

    Sydney, not minding the pause, slowly nodded. ¡°Found it in her bathroom. It¡¯s positive. Worth the five

    mil, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    Before she could react, Spencer¡¯s fist mmed into the wall next to them, his knuckles bloody. Sydney

    nearly screamed in fright, her face turning ghostly white as she stepped back.

    Spencer let out a coldugh and, without a word, pulled out a check and threw it at her. ¡°Get lost.¡±

    Sydney felt humiliation like never before. He fucked her twice, and each time he discarded her coldly.

    She felt like nothing more than a throwaway tool.

    As much as Spencer desired Brielle, she had ended up carrying some other man¡¯s child ¨C the irony

    was too rich! Sydney wanted to shout this news from the rooftops, to expose Brielle¡¯s true colors to the

    world.

    The repeated humiliationsbined with the shock of the money shifted Sydney¡¯s perspective

    completely. She had glimpsed the true nature of wealth and felt transformed.

    As she reached for the door, Spencer¡¯s voice froze her in her tracks. ¡°I¡¯m warning you, if you let this slip

    to anyone, I¡¯ll make sure you can¡¯t show your face in Beaconsfield again. Think about it ¨C do you want

    a steady flow of cash or a life looking over your shoulder? Choose wisely.¡± His eyes were a frightening

    shade of dark, and Sydney felt as if her heart was in a vice grip. She could hardly breathe and quickly

    dismissed the thought of revenge. ¡°I¡­ I understand.¡±

    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    With that, she left, her legs shaky. Never had she known Spencer to possess such amanding

    presence.

    After she was gone, Spencer closed his eyes tightly. His heart was seemingly gnawed at by a million

    worms. He lit a cigarette, his eyes red as he began to smoke.

    Damn it, how could Brielle be pregnant? How could she bear a child for someone else?

    At that moment, Spencer felt an overwhelming urge to cry.

    All thoughts of revenge, of striking back, were forgotten. He wanted nothing more than to confront

    Brielle with the pregnancy test, but he knew the response he¡¯d receive would be nothing short of scorn.

    As the cigarette burned down to his fingers, Spencer hissed in pain and flicked it away; the butt hit the

    ground with a quiet thud.

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    Chapter 428

    He lit another cigarette, his lips trembling uncontrobly.

    If Brielle were pregnant, then she¡¯d surely tie the knot with Max, and if she married Max, then Spencer

    would lose his shot forever. They¡¯d be a happy family of three, and his resentment, those deep¨Cseated,

    soured affections, would just fester in some dingy corner, fermenting and rotting away.

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Even when he and Brielle were engaged, she never talked about having kids. But with Max, she barely

    hit the sheets and¨Cboom¨Cbun in the oven.

    Damn, Brielle. Damn it all!

    Spencer punched the wall again, shaking with fury. He couldn¡¯t quite ce this feeling. He had not felt

    like this even when he was with Lillian.

    It was as if his soul was about to leave his body.

    After chain¨Csmoking ten cigarettes, his clothes reeked of smoke, and the floor was littered with butts.

    Spencer rubbed his stinging eyes and finally opened the emergency exit.

    Several people were already standing outside. They looked surprised to see him with his red¨Crimmed

    eyes. Spencer ignored everyone and trudged back to his desk, a lost soul amidst

    the cubicles.

    As he entered Max¡¯s office, he nearly tripped at the door. Max¡¯s brow furrowed at the sight of Spencer.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to work, just go back home.¡±

    Spencer lifted his gaze nkly to Max. He had always looked up to Max, a towering mountain before

    all the Dorseys, visible to all but unscble.

    Even Grandpa had said, ¡°A guy like Maxes once in a century.¡± So, as a junior, Spencer had long

    given up onparing himself to such a man.

    However, his heart¡¯s desire was entwined with this man, and perhaps this stark contrast made Brielle

    leave without a backward nce.

    Right then, upon hearing of Brielle¡¯s pregnancy, Spencer realized what the pain in his heart was. He

    liked Brielle, really liked her, enough to endure her hostility and sneers. His clenched fist trembled at his

    side, lips quivering before he asked. ¡°Uncle Max, do you want kids?¡± His voice was so hoarse it

    sounded like he was on the brink of tears.

    Max couldn¡¯t even begin to associate Brielle with the idea, so he simply looked away. nonchntly,

    ¡°Never thought about it.¡±

    His feelings towards Spencer wereplex; on one hand, he was his junior, but on the other, he was

    Brielle¡¯s ex¨Cboyfriend. Having petty squabbles with a juniorcked dignity, but from a man¡¯s standpoint,

    Max couldn¡¯t let go. Besides, Spencer seemed unable to move on from Brielle, though clueless enough

    not to realize it himself.

    10.00

    Chapter 428

    The only thought swirling in Spencer¡¯s mind was ¡°never thought about it.¡± This meant that Brielle hadn¡¯t

    told Max about the pregnancy yet.

    The only ones privy to the news were probably just Brielle herself, him, and Sydney. Sydney would

    keep tight¨Clipped and not spread the word, which left only him in the know.

    A dark resolve flickered in Spencer¡¯s eyes. That child must never be born. It had to perish in Brielle¡¯s

    womb. But he couldn¡¯t do it alone. Instantly, he thought of Alivia.

    Alivia had connections; she might just have the means.

    Shaking with urgency, Spencer failed to mask his emotions. Max, sitting across from him, narrowed his

    eyes suspiciously. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡±

    Spencer turned pale, feeling the weight of a mountain on his shoulders. It had been ages since he¡¯d felt

    such oppression; his insides felt crushed, painfully so. ¡°Uncle Max, sorry, I was just¡­ distracted.¡±

    Max¡¯s aura receded. ¡°We¡¯re in the office, call me Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    Head bowed, Spencer took the files and left. The moment the door closed behind him, a sly grin spread

    across his face. He slipped into the emergency exit where he¡¯d been before and dialed

    Alivia.

    Alivia hadn¡¯t expected Spencer to reach out so soon. She was prepared for small talk, but his

    bombshell left her reeling. ¡°Ms. Alivia, did you hear that Brielle¡¯s pregnant? With Uncle Max¡¯s

    child.¡±

    She thought she was hallucinating, or maybe she just woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

    Did Max get someone pregnant? Impossible. But this was Brielle, the one who broke Max¡¯s

    pattern.

    Her eyes were bloodshot with jealousy. She lost all reason. ¡°Are you certain?¡±

    The murderous intent was audible in her voice. The child couldn¡¯t live, and neither could Brielle.

 Chapter 429

    Chapter 429

    Spencer¡¯s lip curled into a smirk. ¡°I¡¯ve got someone watching Brielle, and they found a used pregnancy

    test in the trash¨Cdouble lines.¡±

    Alivia¡¯s mind buzzed, her grip on her phone nearly slipping. Brielle was pregnant¨Cthe very thing Alivia

    had dreaded most was happening!

    ¡°But Uncle Max is still in the dark, Ms. Alivia. I don¡¯t want that kid to be born. I¡¯m hoping you can help

    me out here.¡±

    Alivia had connections, the kind that could take care of messes perfectly. Spencer didn¡¯t care whether

    he faced bacsh from Brielle or the rest of the Dorseyster. He just couldn¡¯t stand the thought of

    Brielle having another man¡¯s child! The very idea of that child¡¯s existence was torture to him!

    Hearing this, Alivia felt augh bubbling up. Brielle was such a fool. She had the perfect opportunity to

    tell Max about the pregnancy. Knowing him, he would have shouted it from the rooftops, announcing

    their wedding to the world. But Brielle chose to hide it, an utterly foolish move! She was practically

    handing over the chance to drive a wedge between her and Max!

    After a brief moment of panic, Alivia¡¯s eyes regained their coolposure, not forgetting to maintain

    her carefully curated persona. ¡°Spencer, are you sure about this? After all, that¡¯s

    Max¡¯s first child. If he finds out¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take full responsibility for the consequences. He¡¯s not going to kill me.¡± Michael would never want to

    see such a thing happen anyway.

    That was exactly what Alivia needed to hear. Orchestrating such a scheme was simple for her, but she

    worried about being exposed, revealing her true face to Max himself. She had to hide her intentions

    well, to drive Brielle out of Beaconsfield.

    ¡°Ms. Alivia, it sounds like you¡¯ve got a n.¡±

    The corners of Alivia¡¯s mouth turned up slightly. She now understood Brielle¡¯s hesitations. It was

    because Brielle was of low status, and since Max¡¯s feelings weren¡¯t deep enough yet, Brielle couldn¡¯t

    be sure he would ept the child. If other members of the Dorsey family found

    out, what would be of the child?

    The Dorseys wouldn¡¯t tolerate any illegitimate offspring. Only someone with Alivia¡¯s background would

    be fit to bear Max¡¯s children.

    ¡°I do have an idea, but I¡¯m hesitant. Spencer, are we doing the right thing?¡±

    In Spencer¡¯s eyes, Alivia was a paragon of virtue, a nk te when it came to love. Plotting

    something like this must¡¯ve been difficult for her. ¡°Ms. Alivia, you¡¯ve waited for Uncle Max for years.

    Can you really stand by and watch him marry another woman? If you work with me, it¡¯s a win¨Cwin. You

    get Uncle Max, I get rid of Brielle, and everyone¡¯s happy.¡±

    A hint of sarcasm flickered in Alivia¡¯s eyes. She couldn¡¯t fathom what potion Brielle had given

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    13:02

    Chapter 429

    Spencer. Even with Brielle pregnant, he couldn¡¯t let go. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then alright. I do have a n

    in mind, but I¡¯ll need your cooperation.¡±

    Spencer¡¯s eyes were full of glee as he ended the call and rubbed his eyes. He had to do this. If me

    was due, it was Brielle¡¯s for getting pregnant.

    After finishing her day¡¯s work, Brielle received a text from Max, saying he wanted to take her

    somewhere. Her mind raced through all the ces couples might go¨Ca funfair, a park, maybe even a

    countryside inn. But it wasn¡¯t until she was in the car, pulling up at a top¨Ctier sanatorium, that her heart

    started to race.

    Max leaned back in his seat, his long fingers resting on the steering wheel. ¡°Brielle, I¡¯ve thought about it

    and decided to bring you here to meet my mother. She doesn¡¯t know about us yet, but I want you to

    understand me better.¡±

    It was a well¨Cconsidered move by Max. Aside from Alivia, who had always been close with Martha,

    Max had never brought anyone else to meet his mother, not even Michael.

    Brielle¡¯s nerves kicked in¨Cshe hadn¡¯t expected Max to bring her to meet Martha so soon.

    Sensing her anxiety, Max reached for her hand, warming it in his own. ¡°Thest time I spoke with Alivia,

    you overheard. My mother¡¯s lucid moments are frequent now, but she could rpse at any time. I

    shouldn¡¯t be introducing you to her so soon, but I can¡¯t shake this feeling of unease. Maybe you¡¯ll feel

    more secure if you meet more of my family.¡±

    Max¡¯s words were heartfelt, making Brielle wish she could tell him right then that she was

    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    pregnant.

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    Chapter 430

    Brielle¡¯s nerves were jittery as the car slid smoothly through the suburban streets, en route to see

    Martha. She wished she had taken a moment to pick up a little something. ¡°Should I have bought a gift

    or something?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. The care home provides everything,¡± Max reassured her, his voiceced with a tinge of

    regret. ¡°Brielle, I¡¯m really sorry, but I can¡¯t introduce you as my girlfriend. In my mother¡¯s eyes, Alivia is

    the ideal daughter¨Cinw. For the sake of her health, I can¡¯t reveal the truth just yet. Her new

    medication is only in the trial phase, and I don¡¯t want to risk upsetting her. Am I being too unfair?¡±

    Max was torn for the first time, wondering if it was a mistake to bring her along.

    Brielle felt a pang of sadness, but this was the grim reality between her and Max¨Cone they would have

    to face sooner orter.

    If Alivia could win Martha¡¯s affection, maybe with some effort, she could, too. A surge of confidence

    washed over her. ¡°It¡¯s not unfair, not at all. I only care about my ce in your heart,¡± she said, cheeks

    flushing with a mix of bravado and embarrassment.

    Their rtionship had always been easy, unfolding naturally without any need for over¨Cthe¨Ctop

    derations of love. Never had she thought she¡¯d be the first to utter such a cheesy line. Her impulsive

    bravery quickly dissipated, leaving her with nothing but a warm blush.

    Max chuckled¨Ca sound that seemed to clear the skies and warm the earth. ¡°In my heart, you¡¯re the one

    and only,¡± he said, dishing out a phrase cheesier than what she said.

    The embarrassment vanished and was reced by a sweet feeling so intense she could melt right

    there in the car. How perfect it would be if time could freeze in that moment.

    Max reached out and gently pinched her earlobe, easing her tension. Taking a deep breath, Brielle

    stepped out of the car first.

    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    If she wasn¡¯t visiting Martha as Max¡¯s girlfriend, she¡¯d do so as a colleague. Approaching Martha¡¯s

    room, Brielle stepped back, positioning herself behind Max where a subordinate ought to stand.

    Amused, Max leaned over as if to kiss her, but a surprised voice from behind halted him, ¡°Max?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She turned to face Alivia for the first time.

    Alivia was dressed in a pastel ensemble, her hands resting calmly in front of her, and her eyes

    sparkling with a gentle grace like moonlit marble. Compared to Brielle¡¯s cool demeanor, Alivia¡¯s

    harmless appearance could easily win over anyone, making them want to confide in her. But any secret

    shared would be a weapon in her hands.

    Alivia¡¯s emotions were a whirlwind, though her face showed none of it. She had seen Max, moments

    from kissing Brielle.

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    13:02

    Chapter 430

    Damn it!

    Seeing Max so forting was more painful than discovering a love bite on his corbone. Before,

    Alivia had assumed Max¡¯s tolerance of Brielle was due to novelty, but now she realized their private

    rapport was much more intimate. The armor he wore for others seemingly melted

    away.

    Brielle could touch Max¡¯s real warmth, but to everyone else, he remained an icy peak.

    Alivia approached, her gaze fixating on Brielle, who met it without flinching, quickly spotting the disdain

    in Alivia¡¯s eyes. It didn¡¯t sting Brielle; she wasn¡¯t burdened by the judgments of others.

    Max, unfazed by the tension, made the introductions. ¡°This is Alivia, Kenzo Barnes¡® sister.¡±

    ¡°Alivia, this is Brielle, the woman I care for.¡±

    That simple deration outshone all else. Alivia¡¯s mouth tasted of blood, yet she forced a smile. ¡°So,

    this is the one who made you break your rules, Max. You two do look good together, and Ms. Brielle,

    you¡¯re very beautiful. For the first time, I see that you¡¯re superficial, just like everyone else, Max.¡±

    It was a yful jab between friends, apliment to Brielle. Max was thrilled with thepliment and

    softened visibly, his usual aloofness melting away. But this shift also gave Alivia an opening, and as

    she and Max chatted about other things, Brielle felt somewhat sidelined.

 Chapter 431

    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 ¨C 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?¡±

    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

    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¨Cover. 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¨Cinw 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.

 Chapter 432

    Chapter 432

    Martha had always been a woman of means, and it showed in the steely glint of her eyes as she bore

    down on Brielle with an almost predatory gaze. A scornful chuckle escaped Martha. ¡°Seems like

    something did happen between you two.¡±

    Brielle felt an icy chill spread through her body. Every word from Martha was a sharp sting to her pride.

    ¡°And did you think to use protection? My son is a good kid, but I doubt he thought that far ahead during

    his first time at the rodeo. But you, Ms. Brielle, ought to know better about these things as a woman.

    And let¡¯s not forget, Alivia is the one the Dorsey family has embraced. Since you¡¯ve decided to y in

    Max¡¯s garden, you should be prepared to do it in the shadows. You¡¯re a college¨Ceducated woman, Ms.

    Brielle. I shouldn¡¯t need to teach you such basics. But out of respect for the fact that you were born, if

    not properly raised, I¡¯m reminding you that the Dorsey family doesn¡¯t allow illegitimate children to

    tarnish its name. It¡¯s a creed etched in our bones. If you are pregnant, that child won¡¯t see the light of

    day.¡±

    Martha¡¯s tone was light, yet her words were weighted with a gravity that crashed into Brielle¡¯s ears,

    causing an almost physical pain. The humiliation from the woman whose approval she desperately

    sought was unbearable. It was all for the sake of the man she loved.

    Martha reached into a drawer and pulled out a strip of pills, her face void of emotion. ¡°Here, Ms. Brielle.

    Take these.¡±

    Brielle recognized thebel instantly; they were birth control pills. She couldn¡¯t take them; if she did, the

    life growing inside her would be in jeopardy.

    Brielle internally cursed herself for not having thought through their actions, which was why she was

    now at such a disadvantage.

    Martha¡¯s expression sharpened. ¡°Or are you saying you¡¯re already pregnant?¡± Was that why Max had

    suddenly brought Brielle here, to prepare her for this confrontation?

    ¡°I¡¯m not, Ms. Martha. Max and I have always been careful.¡±

    Martha¡¯sugh was cold as ice. ¡°Is that so? Then prove it. Swallow a few right now, in front of

    me.¡±

    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

    Brielle¡¯s fingers tensed; she desperately hoped for Max to return soon.

    Martha narrowed her eyes, ¡°I¡¯mying it out here, Ms. Brielle. If you are indeed pregnant, it¡¯s either the

    child or me. My life means nothing to me anymore. If I die over this disgrace you carry, do you think

    Max would still stand by you? How far can a rtionship built on guilt really go? Of course, this is only if

    you¡¯re pregnant. To prove you¡¯re not, pop three of these pills right now.¡±

    Brielle wanted nothing more than to walk away from Martha and all this madness, but this was Max¡¯s

    mother. It must have taken a lot for Max to decide to bring Brielle here, and she had botched

    everything.

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    Chapter 432

    Martha¡¯s disdain for her was even deeper than Alivia¡¯s, who at least pretended to have some courtesy.

    Martha¡¯s eyes bore into Brielle like she was the enemy. It hurt because, until this moment, except for

    Tiffanie, Brielle had not earned the approval of anyone in Max¡¯s family.

    Not taking the pills would mean Martha would never let her off the hook and might even suspect she

    was pregnant, which could lead to using the Dorsey family¡¯s influence to make the problem ¡°go away.¡±

    Even if Max wanted to help Brielle, would he challenge his own mother¡¯s

    life for it?

    Taking the pills could harm the baby.

    Feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, Brielle¡¯s mind shed back to a college debate where she had

    firmly believed love should not be pursued because it involved two families, not just two

    hearts.

    The pain of being struck by a tile falling from a roof was one thing, but the deliberate sting of a pebble

    thrown by a loved one or their family was agony doubled.

    Brielle took the bottle and poured out three pills, Martha¡¯s words still echoing. ¡°You can¡¯t breathe a word

    of this to Max. He thinks I¡¯m clueless about you two. Keep it zipped.¡±

    So, it was Alivia who had spilled the beans?

    Brielle had always been confident, but the recent stress of her pregnancy had left her feeling utterly

    drained. Sometimes, love wasn¡¯t enough. The obstacles that surrounded a couple could slowly erode

    their passion. That weariness seeped from her bones, leaving her defenseless. Without further thought,

    she brought the pills to her lips, but before she could swallow, the door swung open, and Max stepped

    in. Brielle¡¯s heart jolted, her eyes instantly welling up.

    Max saw the distress in her eyes, then noticed the pill bottle in her hand, and his face darkened. ¡°Spit

    them out.¡±

    Brielle turned away, but he closed the distance swiftly, grasping her chin firmly.

    In the next breath, his lips were on hers, prying open her mouth to whisk away the pills she hadn¡¯t yet

    swallowed into his own.

    For the first time, Brielle felt the raw intensity of Max¡¯s emotions, fierce as if a gun were held to his

    heart, both brazen and wild.

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    Chapter 433

    She was kissed breathless, gasping for air,

    Max swallowed the pill, took the bottle from her hand, and ced it on the table, turning to his

    mother.

    Martha¡¯splexion had already changed the moment she saw him enter. Now, seeing Mar voluntarily

    take birth control, she stood up in a rage. ¡°Maz! What in the world are you doing?

    ¡°Mother, what about you? What¡¯s the reason for this?¡± His tone was indifferent as he released

    Brielle¡¯s chin.

    Martha trembled, feeling as if she couldn¡¯t breathe, on the verge of passing out. ¡°A man, you¡¯re a

    man¡­ how can you take birth control? You¡¯ve lost your mind!¡±

    Martha felt a wave of weakness and fell back into her chair. ¡°You would have her take it, but it might as

    well be me, Mother. You do understand the nature of Brielle¡¯s and my rtionship, right?¡±

    Max had rarely opened up to Martha. From a very young age, he had never depended on her. but

    Martha had always tried to be kind to him, and he could feel it.

    Unfortunately, Martha¡¯s troubles came too early, and Max never really experienced maternal

    love.

    Martha remained silent because Alivia had instructed her not to let Max know that she was the one who

    had leaked the information. If she admitted it, there would be trouble with Alivia.

    Martha sighed. ¡°I just scared her a bit, but now it seems your rtionship really isn¡¯t simple.¡±

    Brielle looked at Martha. Scaring her? No, Martha had a strong hostility towards her from the moment

    she walked in, which she couldn¡¯t have mistaken. Then Martha had directly asked if they had done the

    deed, not what their rtionship was, and when she asked, the disgust in her eyes was undisguised.

    Even birth control was prepared.

    How could there possibly be birth control in a sanatorium unless Martha had guessed that Max might

    bring someone to see her?

    Max took a deep breath and grabbed Brielle¡¯s hand. ¡°Mother, if you refuse to see her, I won¡¯t bring

    anyone next time.¡±

    Martha opened her mouth but, under such strong provocation, found herself at a loss for words. She

    turned to Brielle, her tone regainingposure. ¡°Ms. Brielle, just remember what I told you.¡±

    If she got pregnant, then between the child and Martha, only one could live. This was meant to drive

    Brielle into a corner, and Brielle was quite certain Martha was not joking. The Dorsey family didn¡¯t have

    a single normal person.

    Max sensed her stiffness and drew her into his embrace. ¡°Mother, whatever you make Brielle

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    11:46

    Chapter 433

    take, I¡¯ll take the same. If there¡¯s ever another chance for you two to meet in the future, I hope you¡¯ll be

    more pleasant,¡±

    Martha clenched her teeth in fury but knew she couldn¡¯t be hasty now.

    Max caught them in that situation, so his heart was undoubtedly leaning towards Brielle. If Martha

    continued to make a fuss, it would only make Max care more for that witch.

    Martha raised her hand to her chest, breathing heavily for a few moments. ¡°Are you trying to kill me?¡±

    Her face turned deathly pale, and her fingertips curled so tightly they lost color.

    Max gently pushed Brielle towards the door. ¡°Walt for me in the car.¡±

    His tone was cold, sending a shiver down Brielle¡¯s spine. Brielle knew he was angry, but she had no

    choice. Her eyes fell, and that feeling of exhaustion spread from the depths of her heart. It felt like the

    whole world was against her and Max being together.

    Her stomach felt terrible, and as she neared the car, she turned pale and leaned against a nearby tree,

    feeling queasy. The birth control pills, though not swallowed, cast a long shadow over her. Every pore

    screamed difort.

    Brielle¡¯s forehead was covered in sweat, and she noticed a pain starting in her stomach. She sat down

    on a nearby bench and saw several doctors rush into Martha¡¯s room from the other

    end of the corridor.

    Martha was having an episode.

    Martha had her hands pinned by Max and was screaming and iling, a stark contrast to her usual

    composure. Max¡¯s suit was wrinkled from her grasp, and the doctor quickly administered a sedative.

    ¡°Max, we¡¯ve discussed not agitating Ms. Martha.¡±N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

    Max saw that Martha¡¯s face had calmed down and touched his chin. There was a long scratch from her

    nails, not the first he¡¯d received, and something he was used to.

    ¡°Sorry, it was an ident.¡± His voice was t, and the doctor, noting his displeasure, didn¡¯t dare

    provoke him further.

    After Martha had settled, Max gave a few instructions and then headed out. A few stepster. he saw

    Brielle sitting on the stone bench and frowned. Her face was deathly pale.

    Brielle looked up at him, confirming that it wasn¡¯t just her imagination Max was truly angry.

    ¡°Get in the car.¡± His voice was t as he took his ce behind the wheel.

    Brielle reluctantly took the passenger seat.

    The drive was silent: the atmosphere was so heavy it was frightening.

 Chapter 434

    Chapter 434

    Brielle gazed at the familiar scenery outside Pearl Estate and turned to him. Her words were caught in

    her throat as he bluntly said, ¡°Get out.¡±

    Her eyshes fluttered as she opened the door and stepped out. The moment the car door closed

    behind her, the vehicle was already speeding away. She watched the taillights vanish into the distance

    and raised a hand to massage her temples.

    To Max, it probably seemed like she could say no to Martha; Brielle was never one to take things lying

    down. But there she was, about to swallow those pills when he caught her red¨Chanded.

    Brielle was touched that Max had snatched the pills from her lips, but the more touched she was, the

    more powerless she felt. What was she to do? Tell Max about the pregnancy, and then what? Have him

    confront Martha?

    Martha had already made her threats clear: it would be either her or no baby. If Martha ever found out

    about the child, she would force Brielle to terminate the pregnancy.

    Brielle¡¯s mind was a whirlwind of chaos. For a fleeting moment, she even considered leaving

    Beaconsfield and taking the life growing inside her somece else. She would have the baby first and

    figure out the restter.

    But what about Max?

    She was greedy, wanting both the child and Max.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    After driving a distance, Max pulled over to the side of the road. He had been too harsh with. Brielle,

    especially considering she had no choice. She was meeting an elder for the first time.

    But he was angry at her attitude, at how easily she reached for those pills.

    Max knew the risks; without precautions, a pregnancy could happen at any time. Since leaving the

    clinic, his mind had been foggy. To him, a child wasn¡¯t a big deal. If it were Brielle¡¯s, it would probably

    be adorable, just like her.

    But he couldn¡¯t bear to think that during all their intimate moments, Brielle might have been taking

    those pills. She must¡¯ve known they were harmful to her health, right?

    Knowing the risks and still not asking him to take precautions, that was what infuriated him about

    Brielle.

    Max mmed on the gas. His brows furrowed in frustration, just as Michael called to ask. where he

    was. ¡°Max, get back to the Dorsey estate; we need to deal with that kid¡¯s issue.¡± He was talking about

    the Illegitimate child scandal Ryan had caused.

    Max¡¯s frown deepened. His mind was already in turmoil; he might as well go to the Dorsey estate and

    assess the situation.

    The Dorsey family had assembled in the living room at the Dorsey estate, save for the two who

    11:46

    were seldom present. The atmosphere was tense, with no one daring to speak before Michael had his

    sav

    Ivan looked miserable, divinusly having been disciplined, but it wasn¡¯t enough. The chilers situation had

    to be addressed.

    Michael was seated at the head of the room and hanged his hand on the table, starting everyone but

    Mas

    ¡°Bangl

    Michael¡¯s gaze lingered on Rtvan before shifting to William, whose face was pater. The two were in a

    bind, especially William, whose affair with Sue had nearly be town gossip if Michael hadn¡¯t firmly

    suppressed it. Michael had also put pressure on the police and was trying to convince Sue to settle

    privately, She could have her settlement, but if she refused to see reason, she¡¯d have no one to me

    but herself for hisck of kindness.

    In the midst of the grave atmosphere, a woman knelt in the center of the room, clutching a child, barely

    a year old, to her chest. The paternity test confirmed the child was Ryan¡¯s.

    So, with an icy tone, Michael dered, ¡°You knew what you were getting into when your approached

    us. The Dorsey family will not acknowledge this child.¡±

    The woman, having ulven birth, clearly had ambitions. Even if she couldn¡¯t rise through the ranks, she

    intended to milk the Dorseys for all they were worth.

    ¡°I will leave with the child, but I want money,¡± she stated bluntly, with no hesitation, aware shel had no

    ce in the Dorsey family.

    Michael massaged his temples. If the child had not been born, he would have dragged her to a hospital

    for a forced abortion, but now, looking at the baby¡¯s round eyes, even the hardened. man couldn¡¯t bring

    himself to do it.

    ¡°Ryan, you¡¯ve just returned to Dorsey International and have already caused a scandal. It¡¯s best you

    don¡¯t go to thepany. Stay home and clean up this mess. And William, I¡¯m disappointed In you too.

    If you both learned a thing or two from Max, it wouldn¡¯t havee to this.¡±

    Max¨C¡®always Max. The golden boy of the Dorsey family, the one who had been free of any female

    entanglements for over two decades.

    But Michael had no idea that Max, usually so quiet, was about to cause a sensation of his own.

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    Chapter 435

    Max¡¯s face remained expressionless as he listened to Michael mention his name.

    Michael spoke again. ¡°Max, I¡¯m entrusting this to you. Take this woman and her child and get them out

    of here. Drop them off somewhere only you know about, so that certain prying eyes Can¡¯t follow.¡±

    After finishing his directive, Michael turned his gaze toward the kneeling woman. ¡°Tell me, how much

    do you want?¡±

    Without any hesitation, the woman stated, ¡°Fifty million.¡±

    Michael had no intention of saying anything further, so with a dismissive wave of his hand, his consent

    was given.

    Max stood up, ready to escort the woman away, but Spencer, who had been sitting quietly in a corner,

    also stood up. ¡°Uncle Max, I¡¯lle with you.¡±

    Max¡¯s brow furrowed at the Interruption, only to hear Spencer add. ¡°After all, he is my half¨Cbrother,¡±

    Discussing so¨Ccalled family ties within the Dorsey n was almostughable, but Max didn¡¯t call

    Spencer out on it.

    The woman followed quietly, holding her child close. The child was only six months old, smiling and

    reaching out to grab his mother¡¯s face.

    The woman had been assertive when demanding money, but now, softened by her child¡¯s presence,

    she sighed and gently soothed him, ¡°Be a good little man.¡± She knew he couldn¡¯t understand, but her

    voice grew tender all the same.

    Max, leading the way, paused at the sound of the child¡¯sughter, unable to resist ncing back. The

    child was indeed beautiful¨Crosy¨Ccheeked and clean.

    Seeing Max stop and look at her child, the woman instinctively tightened her embrace. When she was

    with Ryan, she had indeed thought about having this child as a ticket into high society. She even

    believed she wouldn¡¯t feel anything for the kid. But at the sight of the child, all her schemes vanished

    and were reced by fear of discovery by the Dorsey family.

    The Dorseys had a strict rule against illegitimate offspring, and she was well aware of it. Rather than

    live in fear, she chose to confront them directly. If the Dorseys wanted her child gone, she was ready to

    go too¨Cher own greed had brought this on them both.

    Fortunately, Michael was willing to pay.

    Once away from Beaconsfield, it would be just her and her son against the world. But now, facing this

    utterly impassive man, her heart raced wildly. She knew of Max and had heard Ryan mention him more

    than once, describing him as a cold, merciless, unfeeling creature. So, when he approached, she was

    so frightened that she immediately dropped to her knees, clutching her child fiercely.

    1/2

    11:47

    Chapter 435

    ¡°Max, I¡¯ll leave as soon as I have the money! Really, I won¡¯t cause any trouble for the Dorsey family!¡±

    Max regarded her coldly. ¡°The child shouldn¡¯t exist. I¡¯ve arranged the money and a doctor, too.¡±

    He had spoken with the woman before.

    She shivered, her lips quivering. It was her greed that had led her here. She dreamed only of entering

    the ranks of the elite.

    As the shadow loomed over her, she was about to scramble backward, but then she saw him lean in,

    gently lifting the child from her arms.

    Max wasn¡¯t adept at holding children and lifted him by the cor rather than cradling him. Yet the child

    didn¡¯t cry, even giggled, thinking it was a game.

    As if discovering an amusing toy, Max pinched the child¡¯s foot, eliciting another round of giggles from

    the infant. ¡°You¡¯ve chosen to keep him, so he stays. I¡¯ll arrange for someone to take you away, but don¡¯t

    reveal his parentage unless you want to be separated from him forever.¡±

    The woman nodded rapidly, gratitude filling her eyes. ¡°Yes, yes, I understand. Thank you, thank you,

    Max.¡±

    Max smiled softly. The sound dazzled the woman and sent a blush across her cheeks. She thought

    perhaps Max would make a good father after all.

    Outside the grand entrance of Dorsey International, Max¡¯s people had arrived, taking the woman and

    child away.

    Max turned to face Spencer, who had been trailing behind. Spencer stood rigid with nerves, ¡°Uncle

    Max, I¡¯ll be off too. That little brother of mine is quite charming, isn¡¯t he?¡± His words. were tripping over

    each other in his anxiousness.

    Max stood tall, an aura of steely resolve about him. ¡°Spencer, have you been bothering Brielle?¡± This

    was the first time Max had addressed the issue of Brielle so directly with him. Spencer¡¯s heart skipped

    a beat, and he quickly shook his head. ¡°I was just-¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m with Brielle now.¡±

    To others, Max never wasted words. Unnecessary talk was a waste of his time. So, the more

    straightforward he was, the better.

    ¡°Stay away from her.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

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    Chapter 436

    Spencer thought he had misheard. He snapped his head up to look at Max, only to find a serene calm

    in his eyes as if he was merelymenting on the pleasant weather.

    Spencer¡¯s lips trembled before his voice emerged, hoarse and strained. ¡°Uncle Max, do you even

    realize what you¡¯re saying? Brielle is my fianc¨¦e.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    ¡°Ex¨Cfianc¨¦e.¡±

    ¡°Even if she¡¯s an ex! She was still my fianc¨¦e! Uncle Max, as my uncle, how can you-

    ¡°She never loved you.¡±

    The painful truth was delivered with such nonchnce, just like Brielle herself would do.

    Spencer¡¯s lips pressed into a tight line. His eyes were rimmed with anger. ¡°You¡¯re not afraid I¡¯ll go tell

    Grandpa? He won¡¯t let Brielle through the door.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why I need you to keep this a secret.¡±

    ¡°What about Ms. Alivia?!¡±

    Max¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°What¡¯s she got to do with it?¡±

    If Alivia were there, she¡¯d probably feel like she¡¯d been run through with a sword. Max¡¯s expression was

    so earnest, as if he truly believed his marriage had nothing to do with Alivia.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you give her your rosary bracelet? Isn¡¯t that a sign of mutual affection if your rosaries

    disappeared together?¡±

    ¡°I gave the rosary to Brielle, but she doesn¡¯t seem to care for it much.¡± As Max spoke of Brielle¡¯s

    indifference, theposure on his face faded to a look of frustration.

    Spencer was livid, feeling as if Max hadn¡¯t heard a word he said, as if his feelings were invisible to him.

    A sh of hatred crossed Spencer¡¯s eyes.

    Of course, Max had never really had Spencer in his sight, or he wouldn¡¯t dare make a move on the

    woman Spencer loved.

    had to destroy

    Spencer¡¯s breathing grew heavy, his teeth clenched, tasting the bitterness of his own anger. He had to

    act fast and implement his n. Even if it meant facing Max¡¯s wrath, h the child growing inside Brielle.

    He would not allow that child to live!

    Fortunately, he was prepared.

    His eyes lowered, and his voice was still hoarse. ¡°I understand.¡±

    Max didn¡¯t say anything more and just got into his car. Thinking of his recent fallout with Brielle, he had

    no desire to head to Pearl Estate or back to Premier Pce.

    Chapter 430

    Premier Pce had always beenfortable, but it felt like something was missing ever since Brielle¡¯s

    visit. Especially in her absence, the feeling of loss was profound.

    Meanwhile, since being dropped off at home, Brielle had been sitting on the couch in a daze. The pain

    in her stomach surged, and she sought antacids but was too weak to find them.

    Lying listlessly on the couch, she fell asleep.

    She woke up the next day at nine. The pain in her stomach was more intense, and her body was

    feverish.

    Her phone rang; it was Sydney.

    Having Sydney in her home had been a good choice¨Cshe needed someone to bring the paperwork that

    required her signature. She recalled a crucial acquisition meeting scheduled for today.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, you have a meeting at 9:30, but I haven¡¯t seen you,¡± Sydney said.

    Brielle cleared her throat, her face flushed from the fever. ¡°I¡¯m at home. Can you bring the documents

    from the left side of my desk? I need to sign them.¡±

    ¡°Sure. Are you feeling unwell? Should I bring you some medication?¡±

    ¡°Just a light breakfast will do.¡±

    Brielle was too weak to make soup herself. Thankfully, Sydney wasing over. Hearing this.

    Sydney¡¯s eyes flickered with surprise, and she quickly texted Spencer. [Brielle¡¯s unwell today and

    asked me to bring documents and breakfast. Anything I should do?]

    Spencer saw the message and sensed a golden opportunity. [I¡¯ll drive you there. Indeed, there¡¯s

    something I need you to do.]

    Now was his chance to deal with Brielle¡¯s child once and for all!

 Chapter 437

    Chapter 437

    Sydney was clueless about Spencer¡¯s ns, but the sight of an extra two million in her ount made

    her lips curl into a smile. Her heart had been thoroughly corroded by wealth, rusted, and stripped of its

    original color.

    Yet, people seldom realized their own downfall.

    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

    Clutching the documents, Sydney waited for Spencer in the underground parking lot of Dorsey

    International. Soon enough, Spencer rolled up in his multimillion¨Cdor sports car.

    Sydney had seen luxe rides before, but this was her first time sitting in one. As the sleek vehicle pulled

    up in front of her, her heart rate soared, pounding with excitement.

    Spencer, however, barely gave her a nce. His voice was chilly as hemanded, ¡°Get in.¡±

    e was all

    Sydney chafed at the cold treatment. When Spencer had been desperate for her, he urgent and warm.

    That¡¯s right. Back then, he thought Sydney was Brielle. All that tenderness was for Brielle. But it was

    Sydney who had slept with him, not Brielle.

    Sydney suppressed her inner resentment. Everyone has a tendency topare, especially women,

    and thisparison can be more intense in certain areas. This wasn¡¯t a slight against women; it

    was just like saying women cared more about appearances than men¨Cit was stating a fact.

    Sydney slid into the car, instantly enveloped by the sensation of being surrounded by riches. It was a

    comfort, like stepping into paradise for a moment.

    If something were to happen between her and Spencer in this car, would she be the heroine of

    those romance novels? The thought made Sydney¡¯s heart race even more.

    She sneaked a peek at Spencer, but his eyes were dark, showing no hint of such intentions. Sydney

    felt a wave of shame and even indignation. Was she truly so unappealing?

    Unable to resist, she reached out, her hand boldly suggesting her desire. But Spencer was resolutely

    indifferent, preupied with how to deal with Brielle¡¯s pregnancy. His warning was icy. ¡°Get your hand

    away from me!¡±

    Sydney felt the sting of humiliation as if herst shred of dignity had been stripped away. Her body

    flushed with heat. She knew his mind was on Brielle, so what was she even doing? It was nothing short

    of self¨Chumiliation.

    ¡°Mr. Spencer, I didn¡¯t mean to, I apologize.¡±

    ¡°Ha, don¡¯t think you¡¯re special just because I¡¯ve been with you once. There have been many before

    you. If you weren¡¯t Brielle¡¯s assistant, I wouldn¡¯t give you a second look, got that?¡±

    Sydney¡¯s nails dug into her palms. Was this the stark difference between men¡¯s behavior in bed and

    out? Damn it, it all came back to Brielle. Because of Brielle, Sydney was subjected to this

    Chapter 437

    shame!

    Sydney inhaled deeply, managing a thin smile. ¡°I understand. I overstepped.¡±

    Money was more important, and without a doubt, if this man couldn¡¯t have Brielle, he would eventually

    come looking for Sydney.

    As Sydney lowered her gaze, she had to admit that the Dorsey family had astonishingly good looks.

    After being with Spencer twice, her own in¨CJane boyfriend seemed utterly nd. Their life together

    was like a still pond, utterlycking in ripples.

    Spencer might¡¯ve been a brute, but he had introduced her to a world of thrilling indulgence.

    When the car passed a popr diner, Sydney hopped out to grab soup and some light side dishes¨Cjust

    as Brielle had requested.

    Once back in the car, she watched Spencer take out a small vial containing a liquid. He unscrewed the

    cap and poured the substance into the soup. The clear liquid blended seamlessly with the soup,

    leaving only its appetizing aroma, nothing else detectable.

    Though not a fan of Brielle, Sydney wasn¡¯t looking to make a killer move. ¡°Mr. Spencer, you¡¯re not

    trying to poison Brielle, are you?¡±

    Spencer looked up, and his face twisted in a manic grin. ¡°Of course not. It¡¯s just a little

    something to make her more¡­pliant. Pretend you know nothing, but make sure she eats it all. Call

    me when she passes out.¡±

 Chapter 438

    Chapter 438

    Sydney swallowed nervously, feeling that Spencer had gone off the deep end this time. But she didn¡¯t

    voice her concerns. After all, when you took someone¡¯s cash, you were in for the dash.

    If anything went south, Spencer would be there to take the heat, right?

    The car soon pulled up to the grand gates of Pearl Estate.

    Brielle had brought Sydney here before, and the security guards at the entrance recognized her. They

    heard that Brielle was under the weather and needed some homeforts delivered, so they nodded

    Sydney through without fuss.

    Spencer couldn¡¯t go up since no resident hade down to escort him. However, he had swiftly

    bought a house in theplex overnight. Once Sydney sent the signal, he could waltz in without a

    hitch as a homeowner.

    Following her memory, Sydney reached Brielle¡¯s door and rang the bell.

    Still weak and slouched on her couch, Brielle heard the doorbell and mustered the get up and answer

    it.

    e strength to

    Sydney quickly set down the chicken soup and the side sd she had brought on the table. ¡°Ms.

    Haywood, I got you some food,¡± Sydney said, her voice oozing concern. ¡°Eat something first, and then

    you can worry about work.¡±

    Brielle was in so much pain it felt like she might pass out. Barely holding it together, she muttered a

    feeble ¡°Thank you.¡± She then sat at the table and began to eat the soup and sd without a second

    thought.

    Sydney watched her, wary of any hesitation, but Brielle was focused on warming her stomach and had

    no suspicions about Sydney, who had turned so shady in just a few days.

    The corners of Sydney¡¯s lips curled in triumph as Brielle ate without a second thought.

    After finishing the soup, Brielle felt a touch better but was still in pain. She clutched at her ache. and a

    fine sheen of sweat broke on her brow.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood,¡± Sydney offered, with a hint of fake sweetness, ¡°if you¡¯re not feeling up to par. why don¡¯t

    you take a nap on the couch? Or I could drive you to the hospital?¡±

    E

    ¡°No hospital,¡± Brielle murmured, the exhaustion seeping in and easing her pain. ¡°I¡¯ll just take a

    nap.¡±

    With that, she shuffled over to the couch and copsed into slumber far too quickly.

    Sydney saw Brielle¡¯s rapid descent into sleep and called out tentatively. ¡°Ms. Haywood?¡± There was no

    response; Brielle was out cold.

    Sydney felt like she had struck gold without lifting a finger and promptly texted Spencer.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Spencer smirked as he read Sydney¡¯s message. Without wasting a beat, he called Alivia. ¡°Ms.

    Chapter 438

    Alivia, remember our little agreement? It¡¯s time to take care of the problem in Brielle¡¯s belly. I¡¯ve

    drugged her into a stupor. She¡¯ll be delivered to you shortly. You¡¯ve got a doctor who can keep a secret,

    right?¡±

    A glint of triumph shed in Alivia¡¯s eyes. She hadn¡¯t expected Spencer to deliver so quickly. ¡°Brielle,

    oh Brielle, you never saw thising, did you?¡±

    Memories of her visit to the sanatorium and hearing the shocking truth from Martha¡¯s lips shed

    through Alivia¡¯s mind ¨C how Max had stooped so low as to help Brielle not take the contraception pills.

    Brielle wasn¡¯t worthy!

    Bitternessced with exhration filled Alivia. To dispose of the child Max didn¡¯t know about was to

    control Brielle¡¯s destiny. Brielle deserved to grovel at their feet, a ything in their

    hands..

    ¡°Spencer, I¡¯ll send you an address. Bring her there,¡± Alivia instructed, her voice cold.

    With her extensive connections from working in the research institute, Alivia knew exactly whom to call

    ¨C Tessa. The Rond family¡¯s medical empire was unparalleled, and after ensuring Tessa¡¯s discretion,

    she headed for the destination.

    The clinic was private but staffed with top¨Ctier doctors ustomed to the dirtyundry of

    Beaconsfield¡¯s elite. Whether it was a pristine debutante needing a quiet procedure or a socialite¡¯s

    indiscretion, they were experts.

    And their equipment? State¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cart, catering only to those who could afford the utmost privacy and

    care.

 Chapter 439

    Chapter 439

    After hanging up the phone, Spencer shed his homeowner¡¯s ID to the gatekeeper and was naturally

    granted entry.

    When he reached Brielle¡¯s location, he felt an unexpected surge of excitement. Sydney weed him

    in, and Spencer strode past her into the house.

    There, Brielley on the couch, sleeping quietly but looking terribly under the weather. Spencer¡¯s brow

    furrowed in concern. The medication should have only put her into a deep sleep without harming her.

    Yet, she appeared so frail.

    He nced at Sydney, who hurried to exin. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? Ms. Haywood wasn¡¯t feeling well.

    When I first came in, I noticed she looked quite pale.¡±

    Spencer snorted dismissively, certain that Sydney wouldn¡¯t dare harm Brielle. He bent down, about to

    scoop Brielle into his arms, when her phone on the coffee table rang and caught his attention ¨C it was

    Max calling.

    Sydney also noticed and was surprised. She knew Max was the president of Dorsey International, but

    why had Brielle saved his contact simply as ¡®Max?¡¯

    Others at Dorsey International would¡¯ve respectfully listed him as ¡®Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    A first¨Cname basis suggested either equal standing or a close rtionship. Sydney dismissed the

    former, but could thetter be possible?

    Considering Brielle was Spencer¡¯s ex¨Cfianc¨¦e, her knowing Max on a personal level wasn¡¯t odd. Brielle

    sure knew how to elevate her status, going so far as to save just his first name.

    Spencer¡¯s heart nearly stopped at the sight of the shing screen. He could not answer the call but

    worried that ignoring it might raise suspicion. He took Brielle¡¯s phone, using her fingertip to unlock it.

    The phone unlocked smoothly, but Spencer couldn¡¯t bring himself to press the answer button. Instead,

    he texted Max. [I need a few hours of sleep.]

    Max sat in the Dorsey International penthouse, his brow furrowing upon reading the message. Even

    though she wanted to sleep, there was no need for her to disconnect his call.

    He¡¯d worked through the night at Dorsey International, troubled by something the evening before. In the

    morning, he¡¯d checked his phone to find no messages or missed calls. Brielle sure could keep her cool.

    In the end, hepromised and reached out first, only to have the call disconnected.

    Was she angry? Shouldn¡¯t he be the one upset?

    Amused and helpless, he texted back. [Rest well. Call me when you wake up.]

    Spencer breathed a sigh of relief at the response and picked up Brielle, preparing to leave.

    11:447

    Chapter 439

    She smelled delightful, more intoxicating than ever before. Although he and Brielle had been engaged

    for years, he had never held her like this. And she had never been so docile before. Previously, it was

    indifference, then disgust. Her feelings towards him had always been clear. He knew he had wronged

    her with the whole Lillian affair, but her involvement with Max was also betrayal, wasn¡¯t it?

    He had no other choices. This child could not live. If Max found out about it, marriage would be

    inevitable.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Spencer carried Brielle out, and seeing Sydney about to follow, he instructed her. ¡°Go back to Dorsey

    International, to the penthouse. Make sure Uncle Max knows Brielle is resting and doesn¡¯t want to be

    disturbed.¡±

    Sydney hesitated, fearful of lying to the president. ¡°Mr. Spencer, I-¡®

    ¡°Just do as I say. You understand?! I¡¯ll give you a million if you pull it off.¡± Spencer¡¯s voice was light, as

    if a million dors was merely a frivolous sum.

    Sydney gave in, though nervous.

    ¡°If he doesn¡¯t ask, don¡¯t say a word. Keep me posted on his whereabouts. Dy him if he tries to leave,

    got it?¡±

    She nodded, willing to risk it for the money. In the worst case, she¡¯d quit Dorsey International once she

    had enough.

    Spencer didn¡¯t linger. Carrying Brielle, he descended the stairs. To avoid drawing attention at the exit,

    he covered Brielle with his suit jacket, making it difficult for the guards to recognize

    her.

    As he ced Brielle in his car, he watched her peaceful face and wished he could whisk her away from

    Beaconsfield right then. But Max would surely search for them, and with Max¡¯s influence, Spencer had

    nowhere to hide.

    By driving a wedge between Brielle and Max, Spencer saw a chance for himself.

 Chapter 440

    Chapter 440

    Spencer¡¯s fingertips grazed her cheek, leaning in to steal a kiss, but the thought of another. man¡¯s child

    growing in her belly stopped the kiss dead in its tracks. He pulled back, buckled Brielle into the seat,

    and drove to the clinic where he was meeting Alivia.

    Alivia was already there, pacing.

    The clinic¡¯s floors shone like mirrors, and although the fa?ade was unimpressive, the interior was

    another story. High¨Ctech machines dotted the space, with doctors in white gloves poring over medical

    charts.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Alivia was unusually jittery and even suspected Spencer of deceiving her¨Chow could he have drugged

    Brielle so easily?

    When she saw Spencer¡¯s car pull up, a cold smile spread across her face.

    Spencer carried Brielle in, handing her over to two doctors. During the transfer, Brielle was

    she groggy, blind to her surroundings, and deaf to the conversations around her. She felt as were

    trapped in a dark, silent box, a terrifying space where her struggles were futile.

    She was so tired, wanting nothing more than to sleep forever.

    Alivia, seeing Brielle¡¯s face, could hardly wait to see her dead, preferably right there on the operating

    table. But if Brielle died now, she¡¯d remain a saint in Max¡¯s memory.

    The living could neverpete with the dead.

    She looked at Spencer, hesitant. ¡°Spencer, are you sure about this? If Max finds outter and starts

    digging¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure. Just have the doctors run a check first.¡± His gaze lingered on Brielle¡¯s face for a moment

    before he left her with the doctors.

    Alivia seemed to want to say more, but Spencer was resolute. ¡°Ms. Alivia, my mind is made up.

    Whatever the consequences, I¡¯m ready to face them.¡±

    In the corner of his eye, Alivia¡¯s lips curled in a slow smirk¨Cgood, let him bear the brunt of Max¡¯s wrath.

    Spencer was either too young or too ignorant of Max¡¯s fury, which could be hellish.

    The doctors, having taken charge of Brielle, noticed her pallor and ran some tests with their gadgets.

    They exchanged a look.

    ¡°Ms. Alivia, Mr. Dorsey, what procedure do you wish us to perform on thisdy?¡±

    ¡°Terminate the pregnancy,¡± Spencer said without hesitation.

    The doctors¡® confusion deepened. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, our blood tests show that she¡¯s not pregnant. She¡¯s

    experiencing a hormonal imbnce.¡±

    ¡°What? That¡¯s impossible!¡± Spencer¡¯s voice spiked. ¡°The pregnancy test showed two lines!¡±

    11:47

    Pregnancy tests are generally reliable, with over 90% uracy, but that¡¯s assuming stable hormonal

    conditions. If a person¡¯s hormone levels are erratic, the results can be misleading. This woman has

    been in poor health, likely from a childhood Injury, which makes natural conception unlikely. If she

    wishes to conceive, she¡¯ll need to address her health first.¡±

    So Brielle wasn¡¯t pregnant after all?

    Spencer didn¡¯t know whether to feel relieved or lost. Relleved that she wouldn¡¯t suffer an abortion, but

    lost because if she wasn¡¯t pregnant, what could he use to drive a wedge between him and Max?

    Alvia was just as stunned by the revtion. Hearing that Brielle¡¯s chances of conceiving were slim, she

    felt as if the heavens were alding her. This woman might struggle to carry a child. If she somehow

    managed to marry into the Dorsey family, Max would surely reject her.

    After all, lineage was paramount in such families.

    Now, all Alivia needed to do was capture Max¡¯s heart. Brielle was doomed to be discarded.

    As much as Alivia wanted Brielle to never leave this room, it wasn¡¯t realistic. She had no idea how

    Spencer had managed to bring Brielle here without leaving a trace. If there were any slip¨Cups, Max

    would easily trace it back. Alivia wasn¡¯t about to risk everything for a moment of satisfaction.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, this woman is suffering. Her appendix is inmed, which can be life¨Cthreatening. We need

    to perform an appendectomy immediately.¡±

    Spencer was overwhelmed and at a loss for what to do.

    But Alivia¡¯s eyes sparkled with malice, her lips curving into a smile. ¡°When she wakes up, just tell her

    the pregnancy was terminated.

 Chapter 441

    Chapter 441

    The pain of an impending appendectomy was looming, but Brielle was already in agony. convinced that

    she was with child. Her refusal to take the prescribed birth control pills at the sanatorium was a

    testament to her fear of harming the unborn child.

    Too bad, this woman would never bear a child.

    Spencer, nearby, had caught on to Alivia¡¯s n. It was sinister and yet perfect. If they could make

    Brielle believe that she had lost the child, how could she ever face Max the same way

    again?

    At that moment, Spencer found Alivia terrifyingly ingenious. He turned to look at her, only to find her

    face still wearing a mask of gentleness. ¡°I¡¯m just talking nonsense. Maybe we should drop it,¡± she said.

    Relief washed over Spencer, but the seed of a devastating idea had been nted. ¡°We¡¯ll do as you

    suggested,¡± he said, already plotting. ¡°But on whom shall we pin the me for the loss of the child?¡±

    Who could they make Brielle hate enough to maximize her suffering and drive a wedge between her

    and Max?

    Alivia lowered her gaze, knowing it couldn¡¯t be Max himself. Their rtionship was at a critical point,

    and any heart¨Cto¨Cheart could unravel the devious n.

    But to pin the me on Martha suggested she had forced Brielle to miscarry in secret, without Max¡¯s

    knowledge¨Cthat could work. Brielle would be cornered and unable to take her grievance to Max without

    risking the delicate bnce between him and the Dorsey family.

    Alivia¡¯s lips curled into a sly smile. ¡°Why not me Auntie Martha? Brielle just visited her yesterday.¡±

    A brilliant opportunity.

    Spencer lit up with malicious glee. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the ticket!¡±

    Meanwhile, Brielle was oblivious to their scheming. Her pain was persistent and seemingly endless

    until a shot of medication brought her relief.

    With the n in motion, Alivia decided to leave. Her presence was no longer necessary. Spencer,

    however, couldn¡¯t leave Brielle¡¯s side, now realizing her pallor was due to an inmed appendix. He

    paced outside anxiously, then noticed a new message on Brielle¡¯s phone from Max.

    His hand trembled at the thought of Max¡¯s wrath if he knew Spencer was the one replying. [Still asleep?

    Open up,] the message read.

    Startled, Spencer shot up from his seat. Hadn¡¯t Sydney been tasked with deterring Max? How had he

    still sought out Brielle and was now outside her door?

    11:48

    Chapter 441

    Spencer hastily typed a reply to buy some time. [Out to dinner, feeling a bit queasy.)

    Upon reading this, Max naturally retrieved his keys and entered her room with an air of familiarity.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    The room was tidy. The soup and side dishes from breakfast were still on the table. Having been up all

    night, Max was exhausted and settled onto the couch, resting with eyes closed. He regretted leaving

    Brielle alone the night before. Some things, he realized, could only be resolved face¨Cto¨Cface, and

    sometimes, a hug was more potent than any words could ever be.

    Surrounded by Brielle¡¯s scent, he found a sense of tranquility.

    On the other end, the appendix surgery was a minor procedure and was soonpleted.

    ¡°How long before she wakes?¡± he asked.

    ¡°About half an hour, Mr. Dorsey. Will you stay with her?¡±

    Spencer couldn¡¯t risk it. Brielle¡¯s suspicion would read his every expression.

    ¡°Once she¡¯s awake, tell her exactly what I told you.¡±

    The doctors, ustomed to such scenarios, nodded indifferently. ¡°Of course, Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    Spencer left with a heavy heart. His mind toyed with the idea of taking advantage of Brielle¡¯s

    vulnerability, but she was too weak post¨Csurgery. It would only breed resentment, not affection.

    He preferred her fiery resistance, her defiance. It was that spark in her eyes that could set him aze.

    Eventually, she would be awake in his arms.

 Chapter 442

    Chapter 442

    Brielle awoke to a feeling of utter exhaustion, her body devoid of strength. She could hear voices

    outside her room, murmuring in hushed tones.

    ¡°The poor girl lost the baby. They forced some meds on her and did the D&C.¡±

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t she out of it when she arrived? Why did they even need anesthesia?¡±

    ¡°They performed an appendectomy. If she had gotten here anyter, that appendix would¡¯ve done her

    in.¡±¡®

    ¡°It¡¯s a shame. So young, and now it¡¯s going to be tough for her to get pregnant again.¡±

    ¡°High society is a minefield of drama, isn¡¯t it? We can¡¯t disobey Ms. Martha¡¯s orders. If anyone¡¯s to

    me, it¡¯s just her rotten luck.¡±

    Lying there, staring at the stark white ceiling tiles, Brielle felt the pain not just in her body but spreading

    across her heart. She blinked her stinging eyes, trying to lift a finger to touch her surgical scars, but she

    was too drained,pletely spent.

    Why was being with Max so exhausting? What was so wrong about loving someone that an innocent

    life had to pay the price?

    Biting her lip, she looked at the ceiling, tears silently trailing down her face.

    Having deliberately spoken within earshot, the two doctors exchanged a knowing nce. Their task

    wasplete. Back in their office, they couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°When will we stop being a part of these

    dirty deeds?¡±

    ¡°We know too much. Do you think we can just walk away clean? It¡¯s unfortunate for the girl, but if it

    weren¡¯t for the appendectomy, she¡¯d have realized soon enough that she hadn¡¯t had a D&C. But now,

    with this surgery, she¡¯ll need to rest. Considering she thought she was pregnant, she¡¯ll assume it was a

    miscarriage. Isn¡¯t that exactly what Mr. Dorsey wanted?¡±

    ¡°The high society¡¯s dirtyundry could fill a wholeundromat.¡±

    The conversation ended as both seemed to recall unpleasant memories, their faces turning grim.

    Meanwhile, Brielle, on the hospital bed, kept her eyes tightly shut. Her mind was a nk void. Her body

    ached, and she just wanted to sleep it all away.

    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

    Her phone kept ringing, incessantly buzzing, but shecked the strength to answer it until a nurse

    came in, holding up her phone.

    Struggling to open her eyes, Brielle could just make out the shing name on the screen. It was Max.

    But she didn¡¯t want to see anyone right now.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, do you want me to hang up for you?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s lips were cracked and parched from not having sipped water since the night before.

    Her voice was hoarse as she whispered, ¡°Please, send him a message for me. Tell him I¡¯ve gone to

    stay with Aubree for a few days.¡±

    ¡°And, could you open my contacts and find Aubree¡¯s name? Send her a text saying if Maxasts about

    me, tell him I¡¯m with her.¡±

    The nurse, seeing her politeness and how she struggled to maintainposure in her weakened state,

    felt a wave of guilt, but once you were part of this clinic, you couldn¡¯t share its secrets with the outside

    world. So she did as Brielle asked, and after putting the phone down, she inquired if Brielle wanted

    something to eat.

    ¡°Who brought me here?¡± Brielle remembered Sydney being at her home before everything went ck.

    ¡°Just ady.¡±

    It must have been Sydney, then..

    Brielle closed her eyes slowly; she had no appetite. ¡°Just give me a glucose IV. I don¡¯t want to eat

    anything.¡± She just needed that to sustain her energy.

    The nurse nodded, setting up the IV before drawing the curtains around the bed for privacy.

    This was a clinic ustomed to dealing with the dirty secrets of the elite, often frequented by

    celebrities with unwanted pregnancies and other private matters. The privacy and luxury provided

    ensured Brielle could rest without concerns.

    After receiving Brielle¡¯s message, Max massaged his temples, questioning whether his harsh tone had

    hurt her the day before.

    One of the perks of dating Max was that he never med the woman. In many ways, he and Brielle

    were alike¨Cconfident in all but matters of the heart, where they both fumbled, fearing they might hurt

    the other.

    Yesterday, he was angry and left quickly to avoidshing out at Brielle. He had hoped a cool¨Coff would

    do them both good. He hadn¡¯t expected her to have an even bigger temper.

    Rubbing his forehead, Max dialed Andrew¡¯s number to find out where he was.

    ¡°Tequ Sunset, having a drink. You in?¡±

    Max decided to join him.

    Andrew lounged back in the VIP booth, nudging Kenzo beside him. ¡°Max is on his way.¡±

    Kenzo, swirling a ss of red wine, smiled slightly. ¡°The Dorsey family¡¯s been a messtely. Bet he¡¯s

    got a lot on his mind.¡±

 Chapter 443

    Chapter 443

    Although the media circus remained blissfully unaware, those within the inner circle had their ears filled

    with whispers and rumors about the Dorsey n. Max, the heir apparent to Dorsey International, was a

    busy man, especially with his brothers, each more conniving than thest.

    Andrew shorted with disdain, I¡¯d have had enough of it. If I were in his shoes, I would¡¯ve kicked out the

    whole lot of them¨CWilliam, Ryan, everyst one¨Cright out of the Dorsey family.¡±

    The Clements family didn¡¯t have the same sibling rivalry, which was probably why they took in Aubree

    in the first ce. As for Andrew, his role as the heir had been carved out for him from birth, unlike the

    Dorseys¡® diatorial fight for the throne.

    Kenzo set his ss down with a clink, corners of his mouth lifting in a smirk, reminding Andrew. ¡°Just

    don¡¯t get on Max¡¯s bad side by talking smack about Brielle when he shows up.¡±

    ¡°How am I the one causing him grief? Isn¡¯t he the one who can¡¯t decide who to be with because of your

    sister?¡± Andrew retorted.

    Was Max being indecisive, though? That hardly seemed to fit Max.

    Max arrived promptly and, without reaching for a drink, settled into a quiet observation of the

    room¡¯s screen.

    Andrew raised an eyebrow. The Dorsey drama must¡¯ve really been getting to him.

    Max leaned back, eyes closing slowly, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing in the dim light, making his striking

    features even more pronounced.

    Neither Andrew nor Kenzo disturbed him, and just as they were about to take a sip of their drinks, Max

    suddenly asked, ¡°What do you guys think is the best way to win a woman¡¯s heart?¡±

    ¡°Cough cough!¡±

    ¡°Choke!¡±

    Both men sputtered, with Andrew nearly crying from the shock. His ss was shaking so much that the

    drink spilled. They must have heard wrong. Was Max asking for dating advice? But no, there it was.

    Max had indeed asked the question.

    Andrew set his ss down, face serious. ¡°Max, we men don¡¯t chase after women¡¯s affections.¡±

    Max nced at him, his response dripping with sarcasm, ¡°And wouldn¡¯t you have the nerve to say

    that?¡±

    Andrew¡¯s face flushed, a rare sight.

    Kenzo chuckled, then sighed, ¡°I think it¡¯s good, actually. Max used to be too cold and unapproachable.

    Asking these questions now shows he¡¯s more down¨Cto¨Cearth.¡±

    Andrew turned to Kenzo in disbelief. ¡°Down¨Cto¨Cearth? The guy who, at sixteen, had Wall Street

    tycoons falling at his feet, bankruptingpanies left and right?¡±

    Kenzo just smiled, keeping silent.

    Max pursed his lips. ¡°In Brielle¡¯s eyes, I¡¯m just Max, not a symbol of Wall Street, not a free a the center

    of power. She sees me as just a man.¡±

    Andrew scoffed. ¡°That kind of just a man doesn¡¯te around offen. I bet she¡¯s just after your money.¡±

    Maxughed coldly. ¡°Then why doesn¡¯t she go after someone else¡¯s money?

    Andrew fell silent, unable to find a retort. Why, indeed, didn¡¯t Brielle chase after shere¡¯s wealth?

    Dustin, a top¨Ctier blueblood from North America, had made no secret of his affection for her. His

    pedigree was certainly no less than that of the Dorseys. If she were after money, ticke by Dustin for a

    few months could¡¯ve given her more than she could ever dream of. Why bother with a charade with

    Max?

    Unless it was Max himself she was drawn to.

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Brielle was too genuine for lies, too straightforward for guile. Perhaps it was affection alone that could

    tether her, and maybe all the riches in the world couldn¡¯t hold a candle to a sweet nothing from Mac

    When she liked you, she liked you penniless. If she didn¡¯t, mountains of gold would mean nothing to

    her.

 Chapter 444

    Chapter 444

    Andrew couldn¡¯t fathom how someone like Max, who he thought was oblivious to matters of the heart,

    could possess such insight. It was true¨CMax wasn¡¯t well¨Cversed in emotions, but he had eyes that saw

    clearer than most.

    Society had always been harsh on women, especially within the elite echelons, where it seemed a

    woman¡¯s role was to fawn over men.

    Within such circles, infidelity in married men was somonce it barely raised eyebrows. Elders

    would advise the women to be patient, assuring them that the wandering husbands would return home

    once the novelty wore off. A wife who couldn¡¯t ept such behavior wasbeled ascking

    understanding.

    Flip the script, however, and a woman who strayed was considered unforgivable, a stain on male pride.

    Her husband wouldn¡¯t hesitate to kick her to the curb and find another.

    For Max, when it came to Brielle, there were no such calctions of what should be or questions of

    dignity. The array of emotions Brielle stirred in him was novel, yet not unwee. She made him feel

    enriched in ways he hadn¡¯t known, but also more wanting.

    Max was high above everyone else, but he never demanded Brielle to stand on tiptoes to reach him.

    After a long silence, Andrew couldn¡¯t contain himself. ¡°Max, what you feel for Brielle¨Cis it affection, or

    love?¡±

    The difference was monumental.

    Andrew would go to the ends of the earth for Tessa because he loved her. But Max and Brielle had only

    known each other for a short time.

    Max was stumped by the question, ¡°It¡¯s affection,¡± he said after a brief hesitation.

    Love was a word too heavy to utter lightly. To Max, it was more burdensome than the world, a promise

    of devotion to life and death.

    Relieved by Max¡¯s response, Andrew thought it was good that for men, affection was a shallow thing.

    Something so easily drowned in a few extra beers or cast aside after meeting a few new faces.

    Andrew¡¯s lips curled into a small smile. It seemed Max regarded Brielle simply as a canary. And there

    was no shame in trying to win the favor of a canary.

    ¡°Getting Brielle to like you is easy.¡± Andrew said. ¡°She grew up in an orphanage, starved of attention

    and love. Women fall in love through their ears¨Cthey just want to hear sweet nothings. Compliment her

    often, spend time with her, and keep the giftsing.¡±

    Max only nced at Andrew¡¯s advice, recognizing his friend¡¯s tactics with Tessa.

    But Brielle was not Tessa.

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    11:43

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    Kenzo joined the conversation. ¡°Max, your mother just returned to the States, and she¡¯s quite chummy

    with my sister. If Brielle has feelings for you, she¡¯ll be influenced by that. How about this¨Cin a week,

    some of our friends are heading to a vacation lodge for a barbecue. It will be a st, and since Brielle¡¯s

    new to Beaconsfield, she could use some friends her age. It could. bring you two closer.¡±

    Such gatherings weremon among the young and affluent set, a chance to build connections that

    could lead to strategic marriages. But Max had never shown interest before.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Kenzo lifted his ss with a smirk. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll vet the invitees. No loose lips.¡±

    Max finally loosened up. He didn¡¯t mind his rtionship with Brielle being exposed; he would do his

    best to protect her from harm. However, the purpose of Brielle hiding the rosary was very clear. She

    temporarily did not want their rtionship to be public.

    He respected her wishes.

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll ask her.¡±

    Max dropped the subject. When Andrew taunted Brielle¡¯s status not matching up to Max¡¯s. suggesting

    she was no more than a pretty caged bird, Max didn¡¯t bite.

    ¡°What¡¯s it to them?¡±

    ¡°Brielle could y her cards right and benefit from the connection,¡± Andrew pointed out.

    ¡°And that would make her happy?¡±

    Max caring about her happiness took Andrew aback.

    Finding the conversation futile, Andrew quietly sipped his drink while Max quickly left the bar¨Ca ce

    he seldom frequented anyway.

    Back in his car, Max was at a loss. He gripped the steering wheel, wondering what he used to do

    before Brielle entered his life.

 Chapter 445

    Chapter 445

    Max racked his brain, only to realize that the bulk of his time was spent chained to his desk, working

    overtime. The only respite from his disciplined yet dull routine was the asional beer with Andrew

    and a few other colleagues.

    Pulling out his phone once more, he stared at the screen. True to form, Brielle hadn¡¯t sent any

    messages.

    After driving for a bit, Max couldn¡¯t shake off his concern. He pulled over, hesitated, and then sent a

    text. [What are you up to?]

    Worried that she was still upset with him, he pondered for a while before scrolling through the emoji

    options in WhatsApp and sending a rose for the first time.

    Sending a rose was a safe bet, right?

    Max wasn¡¯t one for emojis, and he rarely chatted on WhatsApp. Apart from replying promptly to Brielle,

    he would typically ignore messages from others unless they were of utmost importance.

    Brielle, however, wasn¡¯t checking her phone. Upon waking, she justy there, nkly staring at the

    ceiling. When hunger struck, she would just ask the doctor for a glucose shot.

    Her heart felt hollow, leaving her entire being cold and numb. She felt a bone¨Cdeep chill paired with an

    aching pain. Her phone chimed, but it was as if she didn¡¯t hear it. Shey quietly, ready to drift back to

    sleep.

    Max waited and waited for a reply and started to think that maybe she didn¡¯t like roses after all. He

    opened the emoji menu again, searching earnestly until he found a fireworks emoji. They had watched

    fireworks together once, and she had loved it.

    Max sent one fireworks emoji, then decided it wasn¡¯t enough and sent five more in a row. After sending

    them, he just sat quietly in the driver¡¯s seat, waiting for a response.

    But there was nothing, and his phone was eerily silent. He started to question whether there was an

    issue with his phone.

    The messages were sent sessfully, so it wasn¡¯t a service problem.

    Max rubbed his temples, reluctant to admit that Brielle might¡¯ve been intentionally ignoring him.

    For the first time, he felt what it was like to be given the cold shoulder. But there was another

    possibility¨Cthat something had happened to Brielle.

    His heart skipped a beat at the thought. Just as he was about to call Patrick to ask him to check

    Brielle¡¯s location, she replied to his message.

    [Exhausted. Need some rest. Is it okay if I take a few days off?]

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    11:48

    Chapter 445

    Max¡¯s frown deepened, and he immediately called her. He braced himself for the worst, tearing that

    something had happened to Brielle and someone else was using her phone, but firielle¡¯s weary voice

    came through.

    ¡°Max.¡±

    He didn¡¯t know it it was his concern, but her voice sounded tearful, and it weighed heavily on his heart.

    ¡°What did you do to get so tired?¡±

    Brielley in bed, pale as a ghost, gripping the bedsheets so tightly that the veins on the back of her

    hand stood out. Each word he spoke stabbed at her heart like a knife.

    She recalled something Sydney had said and decided to use it. ¡°I watched a TV show. The main

    characters lost their child. It¡¯s been tough.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been with Aubree watching TV shows?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it was so engaging. I¡¯m fine, really. Just got a little too invested for a moment,¡±

    Max wasn¡¯t sure how tofort her. One moment, he found Brielle¡¯s empathy endearing, and the next

    moment, absurd.

    His approach tofort was always straightforward, ¡°Which TV show? I¡¯ll talk to the scriptwriter and

    see if we can get the couple another child in the plot.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s tears flowed even harder. ¡°It¡¯s gone¡­ how can they have another? The show said it was hard

    for the woman to get pregnant again.¡±Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 446

    Chapter 446

    She bit her lip, and tears welled up in a storm, but the words she forced out were crystal clear.

    Through the screen, Max couldn¡¯t sense her emotions. But Max wasn¡¯t a fool; he realized Brielle probably just needed to vent. ¡°Then cry,¡± he said. ¡°Let it out, and I¡¯ll feel better.¡±

    No sooner had he spoken than Brielle¡¯s muttled sobs came through, like a wounded animal licking its wounds. ¡°Yeah, how could the baby just be gone?¡±

    Max had never been one to watch soap operas, and hearing Brielle¡¯s sobbing now, he was convinced such things shouldn¡¯t exist.

    Once the sobs had a way out, they were hard to stop. Brielle really wanted to cry her heart out. but she teared it might make Max suspicious, so she suppressed most of the emotion.

    Joy needed to be shared, and so did sorrow.

    After crying for ten minutes, her eyes were sore, and tearing she couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer, she said, ¡°Max, I¡¯m gonna keep watching, okay? Can you give me the day off?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t stay up toote,¡± Max cautioned. He wanted to say more, but Brielle had already hung up.

    Just then, Kenzo sent a message saying that the guest list for the uing barbecue was set. with no bbermouths included.

    Max thought about Kenzo¡¯s line of work and felt irritated. [Can¡¯t you scriptwriters take some responsibility for your audience?]

    [???] Kenzo sent back three question marks, wondering if one of his dramas had caused an issue. He even checked the trending topics on social media, thinking his script might have caused an uproar big enough to reach Max.

    But all was calm.

    This was the first time Kenzo had been on the receiving end of Max¡¯s ire, and he had no ideal why..

    After sending the message, Max pulled up Aubree¡¯s contact. [Next time, bring Brielle to something less melodramatic.]

    When Aubree saw the message, she thought she¡¯d read it wrong.

    Was Max messaging her first? Really?

    She scrolled through the chat, reading it several times just to be sure.

    She had probably been added as a contact only because of Brielle, and now, out of the blue, he was reaching out to her. But she had already been warned by Brielle not to let slip a word to Max, probably because the two had a falling out.

    Right, Mr. Dorsey, you got it.

    After replying. Aubree dialed Brielle¡¯s number, but there was no answer. She tried again.

    Meanwhile. Brielle was curled up in bed, sobbing into her pillow with her body twitching from the effort. Her eyeswere swollen, and she looked a mess.

    Ignoring the persistent ring of her phone, she only stopped crying when exhaustion took over, blinking away the pain in her eyes.

    Her voice waspletely gone, leaving her unable to answer Aubree¡¯s call. So she texted back. [I¡¯m sleeping now. I need some rest these days.]

    Aubree didn¡¯t respond, probably belleving her.

    When the doctor came in and saw Brielle¡¯s swollen eyes, she felt a pang of sympathy. ¡°Ms. Brielle, you should stop crying. You might tear your wounds open. You need to rest and recuperate.¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t have the energy to respond. Her heady listless on the pillow.

    The doctor, a woman in her forties, was reminded of her own daughter when she saw Brielle and sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not impossible to conceive: It¡¯s just going to be hard.¡±All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

    Brielle remained silent, as still as a statue.

    The doctor injected her with glucose, patiently advising, ¡°You can¡¯t keep on with glucose injections forever. Start eating solid food so you can heal faster. Ms. Brielle, you are young. Some things are better epted and moved on from.¡±

    After all, society was brutally realistic, and human nature wasplex.

    Having worked in the clinic for so long, the doctor had seen it all. From the wealthy to the poor, the underlying nature of people was intricate. People strutted and fretted their hour upon the stage of the world, boasting, belittling, and meddling in each other¡¯s affairs.

    In the doctor¡¯s eyes, Brielle was lucky not to have actually conceived, for given the nature of the two men involved, the oue for the child¨Cand Brielle¨Cwould likely have been grim.

    Yet Brielle herself was unaware, and the pain of loss was the same whether she had been pregnant or not.

    The doctor drew the curtain and left the room.

    Brielle closed her eyes to continue resting. She rested for four days.

    During that time, Sydney found those days to be the most unbearable. Ever since she had tampered with Brielle¡¯s soup, she hadn¡¯t seen her again. She even began to suspect Spencer might have actually killed Brielle¨Cwhat else could exin her prolonged absence?

    She went out of her way to confront Spencer on the top floor, but he just ushered her into the men¡¯s restroom, saying nothing, and thrusted into her.

    Sydney knew he didn¡¯t respect her and never really saw her as a woman. To him, she was nothing more than a tool, a mere connection to Brielle,

 Chapter 447

    Chapter 447

    Lately, Sydney had been growing increasingly irritated with her boyfriend to the point where she¡¯d

    contemted breaking up with him several times. And every time she saw him busting his hump to

    save up for a modest suburban home, she couldn¡¯t help but feel the irony. After all, she was sitting on a

    cool twenty million, a little secret she¡¯d kept well hidden from him.

    The reason Sydney hadn¡¯t called it quits wasplex. They¡¯d met each other¡¯s families, their

    hometowns were next to each other, and they¡¯d known each other for years. But perhaps the most

    compelling reason was that her boyfriend¡¯s family had paid for her college tuition.

    Sydney¡¯s own background was nothing to write home about. She was from a family scraping by, and

    her boyfriend¡¯s rtives had supported her entire education. They had covered all her tuition and living

    expenses. Her rtionship with her boyfriend was more a debt of gratitude than a passionate romance.

    Their physical rtionship had be as routine as toast and coffee for breakfastfortable but

    lacking zest.

    But Spencer was a different story. Being rich, handsome, and a wild card, Spencer knew how to turn

    any situation into an adventure. Take the penthouse bathroom they were in now¨CSydney could hear the

    comings and goings of people beyond the walls. Spencer just mped a hand over her mouth. His

    control¨Chis almost humiliating dominance¨Cwas addictive.

    She had a thing for men who took charge, and Spencer fit the bill.

    After having his way, Spencer began to clean up. Sydney was used to his cold indifference, so she

    proactively asked, ¡°Mr. Dorsey, you didn¡¯t really off Ms. Haywood, did you? I never signed on for

    murder.¡±

    Spencer nced at her, and that look froze her in ce. She¡¯d seen him vulnerable in front of Brielle,

    but with her, he was untouchable, and she felt like a handmaid awaiting a royal favor.

    Swallowing hard, Sydney listened as he spoke. ¡°Ever heard of walls having ears? You don¡¯t need to

    worry about Brielle. That¡¯s none of your business, and you¡¯re not in a position to bring her up. Just keep

    an eye on her for me like I asked. You¡¯ll get paid, but don¡¯t expect anything. more. You¡¯re just a trifle to

    me, nothingpared to even a fingertip of hers.¡±

    Feeling humiliated, Sydney¡¯s face went pale. No woman could stand such an insult. What on earth was

    so special about Brielle? She was already pregnant and still on Spencer¡¯s radar.

    Sydney trembled with rage but dared not defy him, meekly nodding her agreement.

    As Spencer headed for the door, he cast a backward nce. ¡°If word about Brielle gets out, your won¡¯t

    live to see another sunrise.¡±

    Sydney flinched, avoiding his gaze.

    Once it was quiet outside, she slumped onto the toilet, sweating with fury. Was she not pretty enough?

    Was her figure not sizzling enough? Why didn¡¯t Spencer give her a second look?

    Chapter 447

    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

    Whenever she went out to dinner with her boyfriend, she could feel the gazes of other men on her, but

    with Spencer, it was like hitting a brick wall.

    Her thoughts were interrupted by her phone ringing¨Cit was her boyfriend. Instantly annoyed, she

    begrudgingly pressed the answer button. ¡°What¡¯s up? I¡¯m swamped at work. Can we talkter?¡±

    ¡°Syd, did you forget? It¡¯s my birthday today. Let¡¯s go out for dinner. I¡¯ve booked a ce.¡±

    Whatever ce he could afford hardly seemed up to par. Sydney rolled her eyes; her massive bank

    bnce made her feel like he was beneath her.

    But with their families so intertwined, dumping him would tarnish her reputation. The hometown gossip

    mill would have a field day, and even her parents would face bacsh. In theirmunity, reputation

    was everything.

    She¡¯d have to find another way to ditch him and, while she was at it, work on getting Spencer to

    fall for her.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got to workte tonight. We¡¯ll talk about your birthday some other time. And you, what about your

    work? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be saving for that house? I saw a nice one the other day.¡±

    ¡°I know, but you only get one birthday a year. I was thinking-

    ¦§

    Sydney cut him off mid¨Csentence. ¡°What, and nobody else does? Can you stop being so sentimental?

    I¡¯ve got to go.¡±

    Hanging up, she sneered inwardly. The thought of going back to him, possibly to have sex with her

    boyfriend, filled her with restlessness and annoyance.

 Chapter 448

    Chapter 448

    Sheposed herself and slipped out of the men¡¯s restroom quietly.

    Reaching the top floor lobby, she caught sight of Spencer, the man she had just hooked up with. After

    their heated moment, he was impably dressed and engaged in conversation with thepany¡¯s

    executives.

    A wave of pride washed over Sydney. Had she known she¡¯d be left feeling this satisfied, she would¡¯ve

    been more cooperative when things initially got heated. A smirk yed on her lips. Just as she was

    about to head down the corridor toward the elevator, the private lift doors slid open, and Max stepped

    out.

    Startled, Sydney dropped her gaze and attempted to make a discreet exit, but Max spoke up. ¡°Are you

    Brielle¡¯s assistant?¡±

    Her body stiffened, a flush of excitement coloring her face. Was the CEO actually speaking to her

    directly?

    Just a few days ago, Spencer had instructed her to dy Max, to keep him from leaving the office.

    Despite her efforts, Max hadn¡¯t so much as nced her way. Back then, she felt like the unattainable

    was just that¨Cunattainable. But now, Max was initiating conversation.

    Up close, his features were even more striking, and Sydney had to pinch herself to stayposed.

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Dorsey, Ms. Haywood promoted me as her assistant just a few days

    ago.¡±

    ¡°Follow me,¡± he

    said curtly, leading the way to his office.

    Sydney¡¯s cheeks glowed with excitement, and she felt the weight of everyone¡¯s gazes on her as if she

    had be the star of the executive floor.

    Walking beside someone so dazzling seemed to also cast a glow on her.

    Internally gloating, Sydney hurried to keep up. As she approached the CEO¡¯s office, she felt Spencer¡¯s

    eyes on her.

    Her smugness deepened. After their previous encounters, Spencer had hardly acknowledged her, but

    now he was watching her every move. Could it be that he was having trouble letting go?

    As she was about to enter the CEO¡¯s office, she wondered what Max would say. Perhaps his intentions

    mirrored Spencer¡¯s¨Cmaybe he desired her too.

    The thought sent a thrilling heat through her. She fancied the notion that the Dorsey men might¡¯ve been

    vying for her attention, and were jealous over her.

    Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she stepped into the office.

    Max was already seated. His presence was somanding that it seemed to slow time and space

    itself. The sunlight filtered in, illuminating his desk and entuating his untouchable

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    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Chapter 443

    aura, For a moment, Sydney wanted to surrender, even be conquered.

    But Max¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t linger on her. She was nothing more than an extra plece in the room to

    him.

    ¡°What would you have me do, Mr. Dorsey?¡± she asked, her voice quivering with a hint of seduction.

    Max, impervious to the advances of women, didn¡¯t pick up on her intent.

    The rejection stung Sydney. Being ignored when trying to seduce someone was humiliating.

    He slid a file across the desk to her. ¡°Brielle should be back soon. Give her this document.¡±

    Sydney blinked. Handing over a document seemed below the CEO¡¯s pay grade. Her cheeks flushed

    with excitement, Perhaps this was just an excuse to talk to her more. Her voice shook. ¡°Of course, of

    course. I¡¯ll make sure Ms. Haywood gets it.¡±

    But Max¡¯s next question knocked her from cloud nine straight to the depths of despair. ¡°Has. Brielle

    been upset these past few days?¡±

    Max had been in touch with Brielle but hadn¡¯t seen her. He realized that no TV show could upset her to

    this extent. Brielle was usually soposed. The only exnation was that she was still angry with

    him.

    Standing before his desk, Sydney¡¯s smugness evaporated at his words. The sparkle in her eyes was

    extinguished as if doused with cold water.

    He had called her in not for her sake or even for the document but because of Brielle.

    Because of that bitch Brielle!

    Sydney¡¯s grip tightened on the file, nearly crumpling it. She wanted to scream, tosh out. Why did

    everyone only see her because of Brielle? When had she be nothing more than Brielle¡¯s shadow?

    Why?

 Chapter 449

    Chapter 449

    Max didn¡¯t catch her reply, his gaze lifting to meet hers for a brief moment. Sydney felt pinned in ce

    by that look, her heart racing with fear that her thoughts might betray her. She quickly dropped her

    gaze. ¡°Ms. Haywood isn¡¯t in the best of spirits.¡±

    She really wanted to say that Brielle¡¯s health wasn¡¯t great either, but Spencer had been clear ¨C not a

    single detail about that day was to be shared with Max.

    It took a while before Max broke the silence, choosing his words carefully. ¡°When she gets back,

    casually ask her whether she prefers movies or shopping.¡±

    He¡¯d been trying to get Brielle to go out with him for days, but she always had an excuse. He didn¡¯t

    know Brielle well enough yet, and with her being upset, she¡¯d dodge the question even if he asked her

    directly. It was better to have her assistant suss it out so he could catch her off guard with a pleasant

    surprise next time. Plus, the outdoor BBQ that Boat Ink mentioned wasing up soon.

    Sydney¡¯s face twisted at his words. The unreachable deity of her heart was now asking her about the

    likes and dislikes of an ordinary woman¨Chow ludicrous.

    She took a deep breath, her hands clenched tight. So, all the jealousy over her had been a farce. Both

    men were only showing her attention because of Brielle.

    With Spencer, Sydney could understand; they had a history as fianc¨¦s.

    But Max? What was his reason?

    Sydney couldn¡¯t figure it out. It must¡¯ve been Brielle¡¯s face then. As much as she hated to admit it,

    Brielle had a striking face¨Caloof and distant when silent. Her usual style was clean and efficient, the

    kind of look that men probably fantasized about in bed. No wonder Brielle had so many men concerned

    for her, even Mr. Noah¡­

    Realizing this, Sydney was more than unhappy¨Cshe felt resentful.

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll ask Ms. Haywood once she¡¯s back.¡± Sydney could taste the bitterness in her voice as she

    spoke. She couldn¡¯t help but steal a nce at Max, noticing how the frosty man softened at the

    mention of Brielle. He liked Brielle, liked her enough to want to know her preferences.

    Sydney felt the sting of pain. No woman liked to bepared, especially not when it came to allure.

    ¡°Yeah, you can go now.¡± Max reverted to his usual indifference as he spoke to her.

    Sydney, though resentful, didn¡¯t dare to overstep in front of Max. She left the office as if in a daze,

    stepping into the elevator just as another person squeezed in.

    ¡°Did Uncle Max ask you about Brielle? What did you tell him?¡± Spencer¡¯s tone there was an edge of

    caution, as if afraid she would slip up.

    e was mild, yet

    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

    Sydney had been holding back her emotions, but hearing Brielle¡¯s name again made her

    Chapter 449

    explode. ¡°Brielle! Brielle! All you people ever think about is Brielle! Am I invisible to you?!¡± After her

    outburst, she seemed to regain someposure, her face turning pale.

    Spencer snorted coldly. ¡°Why would you evenpare yourself to her? Don¡¯t you have any sense of

    reality?¡±

    Sydney¡¯s shame turned her from pale to red.

    When the elevator reached her floor and the doors opened with a ¡®ding,¡¯ she saw Brielle standing not

    far from the entrance.

    Sydney and Spencer both froze, especially Spencer, whose reaction was intense. He immediately

    forgot Sydney¡¯s presence and strode toward Brielle with purpose.

 Chapter 450

    Chapter 450

    It had only been a few days, but she seemed leaner, her eyes were brighter, and her demeanor had

    taken on an icy edge.

    There she stood, casually yet firmly supervising her employees as they summarized content from a

    rivalpany. She demanded absolute precision with every figure and every word.

    ¡°Thispany¡¯s analysis is slightly off. We don¡¯t need to pursue an acquisition here. Scrap this report.¡±

    ¡°But, Ms. Haywood,¡± one of the team members protested, ¡®we¡¯ve all been putting in overtimetely, and

    we think thispany could be a dark horse in the future.¡±

    The colleague looked up to Brielle with a mix of admiration and concern. She had only just returned to

    the department and was already diving into work. Could her health withstand the strain?

    Brielle¡¯s expression remained neutral as she nced at the others. They were all ears, keen to hear

    her take on thepany¡¯s prospects.

    With a light chuckle, Brielle addressed them, ¡°You¡¯ve all worked hard while I was away. Thispany

    started with smartphones, and as I always say, for a product¨Cbasedpany, user experience is king.

    Every acquisition we¡¯ve made has been ofpanies whose products meet, even exceed, consumer

    expectations. I¡¯m not dismissing your efforts¨Cthispany does have potential, and their initial

    products were a hit. Buttely, the CEO¡¯s vision seems to have veered off¨Ccourse, delving into what

    they call ¡®cutting¨Cedge tech.¡°¡±

    The team listened intently, hanging on every word.

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    ¡°Cutting¨Cedge tech and meeting consumer expectations are two different ball games. We¡¯re talking

    about value for money versus technological marvels. They demand different investments, resource

    allocation, and talent pools. And let¡¯s not forget that the sense of purpose and pride that drives

    employees varies with each path. If a CEO¡¯spass starts to wobble, it usually leads to internal

    conflict and inefficiency. So, let¡¯s put the acquisition on hold and see what their next move is. For a

    smartphone aimed at women, making photos look more morous is the way to go, not chasing after

    tech for tech¡¯s sake.¡±

    No sooner had she finished than Brielle felt a strong pull to the side. Looking up, her expression

    darkened upon seeing Spencer. ¡°Let go.¡±

    Feeling the heat of her re and a twinge of hurt, Spencer reluctantly released her wrist and gave her

    a once¨Cover. She was supposed to be mourning the loss of a child and was only days out from an

    appendectomy. Why was she back at work already?

    ¡°Brielle, how are you? Why weren¡¯t you here these past few days? Did something happen? You look

    pale, and you¡¯ve lost weight.¡± Spencer tried to seem genuinely concerned, hoping to atone for his

    internal guilt.

    Brielle, however, was not in the mood for his antics.

    1/2

    11:49

    Chapter 450

    The colleagues, who had been ready to apud Brielle¡¯s speech, now turned their attention to

    Spencer, pretending to be engrossed in their own work to spare Brielle any embarrassment.

    As Brielle turned to head back to her office, Spencer grasped her wrist again.

    ¡°Spencer, are you out of your mind?¡±

    For some reason, being chastised by her didn¡¯t faze Spencer. It felt like the Brielle he knew.

    Brielle¡¯s gaze shifted past him, spotting Sydney near the elevator. It was unusual to see them together.

    Her frown deepened¨Chad Spencer been giving Sydney a hard time?

    Sydney was her assistant, and Brielle was naturally inclined to take her side. ¡°Sydney,e to my

    office. We need to talk.¡±

    Sydney, who had been standing there in shock at the sight of Spencer mooning over Brielle. couldn¡¯t

    help but find the situation amusing. Why should she be anyone¡¯s shadow?

    Hearing her name, Sydney approached, albeit reluctantly. ¡°Ms. Haywood, you¡¯re back.¡±

    Brielle nodded, taking a moment before expressing her gratitude. ¡°Thanks for taking me to the clinic the

    other day.¡±

    Clinic?

    Confusion flickered across Sydney¡¯s face, but noticing Spencer¡¯s gaze, she simply nodded. ¡°No need

    to thank me. It¡¯s part of the job.¡±

 Chapter 451

    Chapter 451

    Brielle dragged herself to the office that day, mustering just enough energy to feign normalcy.

    Losing a child had taken a toll on her spirit. She had barely eaten anything in days. Her appendix scar

    was healing but still caused her pain with every move. The doctor had. suggested she rest a few more

    days, yet Brielle insisted on leaving.

    Only upon her departure did she realize she had been at a high¨Cend clinic, impressed that Sydney had

    managed to find such a ce.

    Without suspicion, she went to her apartment at Pearl Estate, changed into fresh clothes, and headed

    straight for the office.

    For most of these past days, she had been alone. The silence was too much, and her thoughts often

    drifted to the emptiness where her unborn child had been. Bedridden and in pain from the appendicitis,

    she¡¯d be numb, as if the baby had never existed. Yet the memory of those two little lines on the

    test kept reminding her of the life that had been there, a life that vanished before having a chance to

    see the world.

    Brielle yearned for the distraction of a bustling environment, to avoid sinking further into her thoughts.

    Brielle entered her office and Sydney followed close behind, while Spencer was left waiting outside.

    But Spencer wasn¡¯t upset. On the contrary, he was eager to see what Brielle would do next. After

    losing a child because of Max¡¯s mother, could she really continue to be with Max with no hard feelings?

    It seemed inevitable that they would fall out.

    At that moment, Spencer felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction, barely containing the smirk on

    his face.

    Inside the office, Brielle took her seat at her desk.

    Sydney couldn¡¯t help but recall her first time with Spencer, right there in that very office. A sneer¨Cof

    mockery shed in her eyes as if she had triumphed over Brielle. If Brielle knew, she¡¯d surely be

    disgusted, right?

    Brielle¡¯s expression remained impassive as she looked at Sydney. ¡°Has Spencer done. something

    inappropriate to you?¡± She had noticed something off in Sydney¡¯s gaze towards Spencer and

    wondered if it was just her imagination.

    Sydney¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but she was undeniably thrilled. If it weren¡¯t for Spencer¡¯s explicit

    instructions to keep their affair secret, she might have already shouted it from the rooftops, ¡°Your ex¨C

    fianc¨¦ has been addicted to sleeping with metely.¡±

    But she dared not. She had no power to contend with the Dorsey family.

    ¡°No, Ms. Haywood, you¡¯re overthinking.¡± Sydney replied quickly, handing over some files. ¡°By the way,

    Ms. Haywood, you¡¯ve been under the weather and probably in a bad mood. Why not go

    Chapter 451

    out for a meal, watch a movie, or do some shopping? The otherdies in the department love

    shopping, but I¡¯ve noticed you don¡¯t go much.¡±

    Brielle had always been preupied with work and deeplymitted to thepany. Was it because

    of this dedication that the CEO had taken notice of her?

    As Brielle pondered Sydney¡¯s words, Sydney scrutinized her calm and delicate face, which seemed

    aloof when silent.

    Sydney internally despised her, thinking it was all about the face. What was so special about that face

    other than being a bit dolled up? Despite inwardly belittling Brielle, Sydney couldn¡¯t stop observing her.

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Brielle showed little interest in movies or shopping, having rarely indulged in such activities. ¡°I¡¯ll keep

    the files. You may go,¡± Brielle said coolly, her gaze returning to the pile of documents on her desk.

    Sydney had no choice but to leave.

    Once alone, Brielle massaged her temples. She hadn¡¯t yet informed Max of her return to work. unsure

    of how to face him. Max had done nothing wrong from the start. He didn¡¯t even know what she had

    gone through.

    But she couldn¡¯t let go and, therefore, couldn¡¯t face him.

    However, she knew she couldn¡¯t avoid it forever. After work, her phone buzzed with a message from

    him. [Come up.]

    The tone seemed somewhat angry.

    Brielle hesitated in her office chair, sitting stiffly for half an hour without going upstairs. Her eyes

    listlessly scanned the messages on herputer screen.

    It wasn¡¯t until two hourster, at ten o¡¯clock at night, that her office door swung open, and Max¡¯s tall

    figure appeared in the doorway.

    Brielle¡¯s heart skipped a beat, pretending to keep her eyes glued to theputer as if unaware of his

    arrival.

    Max¡¯s expression was calm, almost serene, as he approached her while she continued to stare at her

    screen, fingers trembling slightly as she typed.

    Standing behind her, he remained silent. The two engaged in a silent battle of wills, each testing the

    other¡¯s endurance.

 Chapter 452

    Chapter 452

    Time and space seemed to slow to a hush.

    Outside the window, starlight sprinkled down, and the night breeze threading through the office.

    seemed to move more gently.

    Brielle was supremely ufortable. If she had known he would just stand there like some kind of

    guardian statue behind her when he entered the room, she wouldn¡¯t have pretended not to notice him.

    Now, if she initiated a conversation, he would definitely realize she had been. intentionally ignoring him.

    The sensation of ants crawling under her skin was unbearable, partly because he was her boyfriend

    and partly because he was her high¨Cpowered boss. Being silently scrutinized by him like this doubled

    the pressure.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    What on earth did he want?

    Brielle squirmed in her seat.

    Max just watched her as she tapped out a string of gibberish, yet maintained an air of seriousness. He

    observed her fingers tremble as if she was about to give up. He sighed, approaching slowly, and

    leaned in to wrap his arms around her from behind.

    ¡°Brielle, what¡¯s on your mind?¡±

    If there was one area where Max wasn¡¯t adept, it was definitely understanding women.

    Her body was immediately enveloped by a warmth that was neither sharp nor usatory, but like a

    gentle spring breeze blowing across a pond,pelling her to lean into it.

    Brielle¡¯s hands, poised over the keyboard, froze. Her eyes flickered as she looked up to see her

    computer screen filled with a chaotic mix of numbers and text. He had been watching her pitiful act for

    so long.

    She pursed her lips, realizing that all her pretense was futile in front of him; she couldn¡¯t hide her

    sadness.

    Max was uncertain about her thoughts and felt the need to guess. ¡°I was thinking, it can¡¯t be a TV show

    that¡¯s got you upset. If it really is that, I could ask Kenzo to write a script just for you. and get some A¨C

    list stars to shoot it just for your viewing pleasure. How¡¯s that?¡±

    He was trying to cheer her up, though his way of consoling was so dominantly CEO¨Clike, and had

    many points of criticism.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help but find it amusing. The tears that had threatened to spill were now being pushed

    back.

    Kenzo¡¯s scripts were worth millions, and top directors couldn¡¯t even secure a meeting with him. Yet

    here, Max was willing to use one to cate a woman. If Kenzo knew, even someone as mild¨C

    mannered as him might swear.

    11:50

    However, Brielle was well aware that if she nodded, Max would be on the phone web Zenzo right this

    moment.

    If she had been upset about something else and didn¡¯t want to see Hay, she would be bes won over by

    now. But it was because of that child. The thought alone made every teaches, and even his tender

    breath felt like knives tormenting her skin.

    How could two people be so physically close, yet their souls drifted further and further sou

    Max noticed that Brielle remained silent, so he tilted his head and kissed her hul monog to her

    earlobe. He forcefully turned her face towards him, kissing her nose, and finally her lips, the spot he

    loved the most.

    Brielle¡¯s heart raced in this quiet, forbidden moment, where every hint of intravas magnified a

    hundredfold, a thousandfold. If it didn¡¯t stop, her heart might just couch from the overload.

    d

    But Max clearly had no intention of stopping. When she tried to escape, he turned her car to face him

    directly, trapping her between the desk and his embrace,

    ¡°Tell me, why are you ignoring me?¡±

    Max had never been so disregarded in all his years at the top. His heart had felt tingled these past few

    days.

    Brielle opened her mouth, wanting to say it wasn¡¯t because of him, but what if he persisted in probing?

    ¡°Brielle, are you- Max hesitated, looking at her intently for a long while withoutpleting his thought.

    Brielle¡¯s heart was in her throat, fearing he might have discovered something.

    But what Max said next was¡­ ¡°Do you like someone else?¡± There was hesitation and uncertainty in his

    voice.

    ¡°No, that¡¯s impossible!¡±

    Brielle denied it twice in quick session. No onepared to Max. But she also realized the better

    and kinder Max was, the more her heart ached, the more regret she felt.

    Max exhaled with relief. Everything else seemed bearable as long as it wasnt about that

    there in the evening and

    ¡°In three days, Kenzo¡¯s organizing an outdoor barbecue. We can stay there in watch the stars. If you¡¯re

    feeling down, should I take you?¡±

    Lately, Brielle really didn¡¯t want to be alone at Pearl Estate. Getting out for a change of scenery

    seemed good.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Receiving her agreement, Max leaned in and kissed her lips, then straightened up. ¡°I¡¯m going to check

    on my mother tonight. Should I drop you off first?¡±

    2/3

    Chat

    He hadn¡¯t noticed that at the mention of his mother, Brielle tensed all over. That sense of panle at not

    seeing a future enveloped her again. She bit her lip, slowly widening the gap between

    them.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to go back on my own.¡±

    ¡°Brielle.¡±

    ¡°I said, I want to go back on my own.¡±

 Chapter 453

    Chapter 453

    It wasn¡¯t exactly fair to take it out on Max, but maintainingposure around him was like trying to hold

    onto water¨Cit just slipped through your fingers.

    ¡°Max, pick me up in three days, okay?¡± she murmured, the heaviness in her heart making it difficult to

    keep her voice steady.

    Max just stared at her, a silent sentinel, not quite grasping where things had gone awry.

    Brielle¡¯sshes fluttered downward in a vant effort to dam the emotions threatening to spill over. She

    let out a sigh, rose on her tiptoes, and cradled his face in her hands, sealing their lips together in a

    tender kiss.

    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.

    Max¡¯s resolve melted like butter on a hot skillet. His arms encircled her waist, pulling her so close it felt

    as though they were trying to merge into one person. Their kiss deepened into at sweet, inescapable

    addiction.

    Eventually, amidst the heat of their embrace, Max swept aside the clutter of papers on his desk. and in

    a smooth gesture, Brielle found herself perched atop the cool wooden surface.

    Her legs twined around his waist, and the temperature In the room seemed to soar with their

    closeness. But she had to pull away. The wounds she bore were still healing, and any further exertion

    risked reopening them. Besides, If Max¡¯s hands wandered to those areas, he¡¯d discover the scars that

    marred her skin.

    So she gently grasped his wandering hand, stilling it. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a visit to the sanatorium?¡± she

    asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

    Indeed, Max was due to visit the sanatorium, and her teasing had flustered him more than he cared to

    admit. His lips pressed into a thin line, and he released her after a moment¡¯s hesitation. ¡°Brielle, are

    you doing this on purpose?¡± he asked, a note of Irritation creeping into

    his tone.

    ¡°Great.¡± she thought, ¡°he¡¯s even angrier now.¡±

    Brielle frowned, took a few seconds to consider, then offered, ¡°Maybe another kiss would help?¡± Max

    took a deep breath and remained standing, motionless, as they locked eyes in a silent. standoff that

    lasted minutes. Finally, without a word, he turned and walked out the door.

    The room fell quiet, and Brielle sat alone on the desk, gazing out at the city¡¯s twinkling lights through

    the window. The room¡¯s earlier charged atmosphere had dissipated, but his scent still clung to her,

    warm against her cool skin.

    She lifted a hand, touching the spot where she¡¯d had an appendectomy. The bandage was still

    wrapped snugly around her abdomen..

    It wasn¡¯t that she was being overly sensitive. In the days following her surgery, she had worked hard to

    build up her mental fortitude. At first, the mere thought of Max had her weeping silently

    11:50

    Chapter 45.3.

    in her bed, but now she could face him, even though her rational mind sometimes took leave.

    As long as she didn¡¯t cry, she would be fine.

    Her current situation felt like she was a greedy treasure hunter who, in the midst of digging. uncovered

    a skeleton. Even after hastily burying the bones and nting trees and flowers over the spot, she knew

    all too well whaty beneath. Whenever she saw the flowers or the trees. the buried skeleton was what

    came to mind.

    Simrly, whenever she saw Max¡¯s face or experienced his gentleness, all she could think of was the

    child. She was trapped in a cruel stasis.

    Afterposing herself, Brielle slid off the desk. She bent down to pick up the scattered documents

    before grabbing her purse and preparing to leave. However, as she stepped out of the office, she

    noticed a stranger peering around hesitantly, seemingly searching for someone. ¡°Can I help you find

    someone?¡± she asked, sizing him up. She hadn¡¯t seen him on this floor before: he likely didn¡¯t work

    there.

    Upon seeing her, the man quickly masked his initial tension and exined his presence. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m

    Adrian. I¡¯m looking for my girlfriend, Sydney. She¡¯s been workingte a lot these past few days and

    mentioned she¡¯d be pulling an all¨Cnighter at the office. I was worried, so I thought I¡¯de to check on

    her.¡±

    In Adrian¡¯s hand was a thermos, no doubt filled with homemade soup¨Ca thoughtful gesture.

    No one in the department was workingte tonight. Brielle was thest to leave, which was why Max

    hade into her office.

    ¡°No one¡¯s workingte in the department today.¡±

    ¡°That can¡¯t be right. I spoke to her on the phone an hour ago, and she said she was still at the

    office.¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you try calling her again?¡±

    Brielle hadn¡¯t given Sydney¡¯s potential infidelity a second thought. After all, Sydney always came

    across as bubbly and straightforward, seemingly without a hint of guile.

    Adrian fished out his phone and dialed Sydney¡¯s number once more.

    Brielle was locking the door when she heard Adrian put the call on speaker. At that moment, Sydney,

    flushed and pinned beneath Spencer, was exasperated by yet another call from Adrian. Didn¡¯t he have

    anything better to do?

    Spencer, who had been irked by Brielle earlier, was venting his frustrations on Sydney. Adrian¡¯s

    previous call wasn¡¯t answered, but now, Spencer urged her to pick it up.

    Sydney, intending to disconnect the call, hesitated when she heard hismand and reluctantly

    pressed the answer button.

    Spencer was indulging in the thrill of betrayal, and their excitement was heightened by the

    11:50

    situation.

    Standing next to Brielle, Adrian heard the call connect and immediately asked with tenderness In his

    voice, ¡°Sydney, are you still working?¡±

    Sydney, also on speaker, stifled her responses with her hand, careful not to reveal anypromising

    noises.

    ¡°Sydney?¡±

    She couldn¡¯t help but smirk at her own cunning. ¡°Yes, uh, still working.¡±

    Adrian nced up at Brielle, confusion etched on his face.

    Hearing Sydney¡¯s voice strained with suppressed excitement and seeing the deserted department,

    Brielle would have been foolish not to figure out what Sydney was up to.

    However, Adrian was blissfully unaware. ¡°But I¡¯m at yourpany right now and can¡¯t find you.

    Sydney, did you go somewhere else?¡±

    Spencer found the man¡¯s pitiful tone amusing and pitied his ignorance. Indeed, Sydney was

    somewhere else, but beneath Spencer, not where Adrian imagined.

    Sydney reveled in the situation but perked up as Adrian¡¯s voice came through again. ¡°I even bumped

    into your colleague. She said no one¡¯s workingte in the department tonight.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s¡­ she¡¯s just talking nonsense, uh, we have two departments,¡± Sydney managed to say between

    breaths.

    Had Brielle not heard it with her own ears, she would never have believed Sydney capable of such

    deceit.

 Chapter 454

    Chapter 454

    While juggling the honest affections of one man, she reveled under the touch of another, all the while

    spouting lies.

    Any fondness Brielle had for Sydney vanished in an instant. How could someone so devoid of moral

    fiber be anything butplex?

    The irony wasn¡¯t lost on Brielle; she had misjudged Sydney.

    But Adrian, ever trusting of Sydney, reminded her. ¡°You keep at your overtime. It¡¯s almost midnight, and

    my birthday¡¯s ending. Just wish me a happy one, will you?¡±

    Sydney was lost in the moment, and cut the call short. Her patience had worn thin as her arms found

    their way around Spencer¡¯s neck.

    On the other end, Adrian felt a sting of rejection but then remembered he wasn¡¯t alone¨CSydney¡¯s

    workmate was there¨Cand a blush crept up his cheeks. ¡°Oh, sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to intrude.¡±

    Adrian was honest, sensible, and easy on the eyes.

    Brielle pursed her lips, not revealing she was Sydney¡¯s boss, nor did she expose the lie. Instead, she

    offered, ¡°Wanna head down together?¡±

    Adrian was relieved to be acknowledged, and beamed with gratitude. ¡°Sure, thanks.¡±

    As they shared the elevator ride, Brielle couldn¡¯t shake her doubts and had to ask. ¡°Have you and

    Sydney been a thing for long?¡±

    The mention of Sydney brought out his smile. ¡°Yeah, we grew up near each other. She¡¯d alwayse

    over to y, iming she¡¯d marry me. My folks adored her and funded her education, so we¡¯ve been

    ssmates since grade school. It¡¯s been nearly twenty years now.¡±

    His tone softened when he spoke of her.

    Brielle nced at his modest attire, much like her own. Yet Sydney¡¯s purse alone cost a fortune.

    ¡°So why haven¡¯t you two tied the knot?¡±

    A shadow of sorrow crossed Adrian¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m saving for a house. My sry isn¡¯t much. It¡¯ll take a few

    more years to afford the down payment.¡±

    ¡°Why not ask Sydney to cut back? Her bags don¡¯t look cheap.¡±

    ¡°No way, I told her from the start¨CI can¡¯t skimp on her. I meet her every need, and she¡¯s sensible. We¡¯ll

    marry soon.¡±

    Brielle felt a pang of sadness, maybe anger, thinking of the ten years she spent being deceived by

    Spencer. Yet here was a man still in the dark, heart brimming with sincerity.

    11-50

    Chapter 454

    She couldn¡¯t bear bursting his bubble and simply wished him well as they reached the lobby. ¡°Take

    care, and happy birthday.¡±

    Adrian stiffened; she was the first to wish him well that day. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Brielle sighed, watching his retreating figure.

    Meanwhile, Max had arrived at the sanatorium, post¨Cchat with the doctor, standing aside, lost in

    thought.

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    When footsteps approached, he didn¡¯t turn until Alivia¡¯s voice reached him. ¡°Max, still here at

    this hour?¡±

    She had just left Martha¡¯s room with a tray in hand, the epitome of care.

    Max nodded, noting her weariness. ¡°Alivia, let others handle this.¡±

    She handed off the tray to a passing servant, wiping her hands with sanitizer before approaching Max,

    aware of his need for cleanliness.

    ¡°I could, but I¡¯m back in the country anyway. The research center¡¯s site has just been finalized, and

    there¡¯s debate abroad about who to send. I¡¯m free for now, so I visit Aunt Martha often.¡±

    Max wasn¡¯t keen on small talk.

    Alivia, sensing his cool demeanor, probed, ¡°Ms. Brielle didn¡¯te with you?¡±

    At Brielle¡¯s mention, Max¡¯s expression turned colder.

    Alivia, pleased, sensed discord. With Brielle ming Martha for her supposed loss, facing Max upon

    awakening would be anything but calm. Their strife was her opportunity.

    ¡°Max, you¡¯ve always struggled with women. Is there a problem? If you see me as a friend, you can

    confide in me. Aside from Ms. Brielle, I¡¯m the only woman you¡¯ve been close to.¡±

    Her sincerity was disarming.

    Aunt Martha is concerned too, hoping we¡¯d marry. Now that you¡¯ve found someone, I won¡¯t pressure

    you. But cherish what you have. Ms. Brielle seems like a good woman. Otherwise, I¡¯ll regret letting you

    go.¡±

    She deftly wove a hint of intimacy, suggesting life with her wouldn¡¯t be as troubling.

 Chapter 455

    Chapter 455

    ¡°I just don¡¯t know what she¡¯s thinking sometimes.¡± Max spoke with a casual detachment. ¡°Brielle tends

    to keep a lot bottled up.¡±

    A slight smile tugged at Alivia¡¯s lips as she heard this. Alivia knew that even if it were someone else in

    Brielle¡¯s shoes, they wouldn¡¯t spill the beans to this man either.

    From Brielle¡¯s perspective, the child was gone, and that was a fact no one could change. If Max found

    out, he wouldn¡¯t just sh with Martha, but maybe Michael would get involved too, and before you

    know it, the whole Dorsey n would be up in arms. And as the heir to the Dorsey estate. Max would

    undoubtedly bear the brunt of the chaos.

    The more Brielle cared for Max, the tighter she would hold onto this secret. But the more she kept it to

    herself, the more she suffered alone. Sooner orter, her emotions were bound to copse.

    Moreover, Alivia had made up her mind. Tormenting Brielle was just the beginning. She would slowly

    make Brielle realize the consequences of taking what belonged to someone else.

    ¡°Aunt Martha mentioned Ms. Brielle today. It seems like she¡¯s caught on to your rtionship.¡± Alivia

    added.

    Max nced at her, his gaze unintentional yet probing..

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Alivia rushed to rify. ¡°I never mentioned anything to Aunt Martha, but you know how perceptive she

    can be when she¡¯s lucid.¡±

    Max was initially suspicious of Alivia, but over the years, she¡¯d always maintained a respectful distance,

    never too close forfort, so there was no reason for her to stir trouble. ¡°I know,¡± he acknowledged.

    Alivia breathed a sigh of relief, a trace of resignation appearing on her face on cue.

    ¡°We¡¯ve known each other for years, Max. You should know the kind of person I am. If I really wanted to

    force you into marriage, ying the damsel in distress would be the most direct approach.¡±

    Indeed, if Alivia were determined to marry Max, that tactic would certainly pressure both sets of parents

    to lean on Max. But that would mean losing his heart forever. What good was a title without love? She

    had always been clear about her goal: she wanted Max¡¯s heart.

    ¡°Max, if you¡¯re feeling down, my brother organized a barbecue. Not sure if you got the invite, but are

    you going?¡±

    She probed about the barbecue guest list. Kenzo had asked if she wanted to attend, but being tight¨C

    lipped as ever, he didn¡¯t reveal the guest list. Alivia had found out that some of the people she knew

    weren¡¯t invited.

    Max was surely on the list, but it was uncertain whether he¡¯d attend. If he brought Brielle along. it would

    be quite the spectacle, with Brielle bing an awkward presence there.

    11:50

    Chapter 455

    ¡°I¡¯m going, and I¡¯m taking Brielle for a breath of fresh air.¡±

    With the answer in hand, Alivia¡¯s lips curled slightly, pretending to nce at the time. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte,

    and even if there¡¯s a misunderstanding between you two, it¡¯s best to clear the air soon. Let¡¯s head out

    together.¡±

    Max nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. As they reached the nursing home¡¯s entrance, Alivia bid him

    farewell and hopped into her car first.

    Max stood in the chill of the night air for a moment, the cold breeze sharpening his senses. Just as he

    was about to head to his own vehicle, Alivia emerged from hers. ¡°Max, can you give me a lift? I¡¯m out of

    gas, and I can¡¯t even make it to the nearest station.¡±

    She had put it so inly. Given that she was here to see Martha and that they had known each other

    for years, Max couldn¡¯t just leave her to hail a cab.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Alivia finally got her wish to ride in Max¡¯s car.

    The moment she saw Max at the nursing home, she had someone discreetly drain her car¡¯s fuel. Max

    might¡¯ve not been fond of her, but he wouldn¡¯t let a friend take a cab home.

    Settling into the car, Alivia¡¯s lips curved up again. Following his gaze, she could only see his stern

    profile.

    Around them, journalists who had been lying in wait snapped photos of them leaving the nursing home

    together and getting into the car. They quickly posted them online.

    Alivia¡¯s return to the country had already drawn attention, especially within the circles of the elite.

    Almost everyone was tracking her movements.

    Though a union between the Barnes and Dorsey families was seemingly destined, Max himself had

    never publicly acknowledged it. The media had always spected, eager to know the truth. Fortunately

    for them, someone tipped off the reporters about their whereabouts that night, and they got their big

    scoop.

    The moment the photos hit the inte, they were sted by suggesting the two were having ate¨C

    night rendezvous.

    overy major news outlet.

    One particrly well¨Cangled shot made it seem as though they were kissing under the cover of night,

    even though they were still a distance apart. The photo captured an intimate moment that wasn¡¯t,

    sparking a frenzy of spection and gossip.

 Chapter 456

    Chapter 456

    ¡°Is this what it looks like when a handsome guy and a beautiful girl kiss? My heart flutters just watching

    it!¡±

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey is so sweet to her. He has such tender eyes.¡±

    ¡°Alivia loves Mr. Dorsey too, you know. She waited for him for years. And their kiss is so innocent and

    pure. It¡¯s like something out of a fairy tale.¡±

    The inte was buzzing with chatter, but Max was blissfully unaware of the storm brewing

    online.

    He never paid attention to the gossip on social media, and no one bothered to fill him in.

    As they pulled up to the Barnes¡® estate, his car came to a stop, and Max¡¯s brow furrowed at the sight of

    the crowd gathered outside.

    What in the world?

    Alivia, seated beside him, feigned surprise while mentally patting herself on the back. She had tipped

    off the press, deliberately leaked that misleading photo, and hinted to her servants that Max would

    soon be arriving at the Barnes¡® doorstep.

    And so, the Barnes family elders hade out to greet them, grinning from ear to ear, clearly amused

    by the situation.

    With the elders present, Max, as the junior, was expected to get out and exchange pleasantries

    ording to tradition.

    It was then that Alivia spoke up. ¡°Max, if you¡¯re tired, there¡¯s no need to get out. I¡¯ll exin to them.

    Otherwise, Grandpa will rope you into a game of chess, and we¡¯ll never get away.¡±

    Alivia had lured the Barnes family out for this very moment¨Cto show Max just how much she cared for

    him and how well she understood the big picture.

    Indeed, Max felt a momentary relief at her words, rubbing his temples as he muttered ant

    acknowledgment.

    Stepping out of the car, Alivia approached her family. She could have easily exined that it was Max¡¯s

    assistant, not Max himself, who had apanied her home. But she chose not to.

    ¡°Grandpa, Dad, let¡¯s head inside. Max is so tired he¡¯s about to fall asleep. I didn¡¯t want to make him

    come out and greet everyone.¡±

    The family members exchanged knowing looks and chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re not even married to him yet, and

    already you¡¯re taking his side?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s my future husband. If I don¡¯t stand by him, who will?¡±

    Alivia had always been the darling of the Barnes family, their little princess.

    11:50

    Chapter 456

    Hearing her words, the Barnes n seemed even more delighted. ¡°Yes, Alivia¡¯s all grown up now. We

    can¡¯t hold onto her much longer. Only Max can keep you in line.¡±

    The corners of Alivia¡¯s mouth turned up in a smile, signaling to the Barnes family that things between

    her and Max were going well. If Max ever announced his rtionship with Brielle. these people would

    see Brielle as the homewrecker.

    A detestable homewrecker¨Cwhy would they ever look up to her?

    Alivia felt as if she held all the cards.

    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

    Moreover, she wielded her kindness toward Martha as both a weapon and a shield. Max couldn¡¯t be

    cold to her, not with that in y. That was where Alivia¡¯s clevernessy.

    During this period of strife between Max and Brielle, all Alivia had to do was capture his heart and

    ensure Brielle¡¯splete exit from the picture.

    To make a man fall, a woman had two avenues: one is through the body, the other through the heart.

    While the physical approach might¡¯ve yielded quick results, it rarely ended well. Men were rational

    creatures. Even if they sumbed to their passions in the heat of the moment, they eventually cooled

    down.

    Max and Brielle¡¯s rtionship was seen as such¨Ca temporary passion that most believed would fade

    once Max grew bored.

    Alivia considered herself above such tactics, and chose the path of the heart. She would never stoop to

    replicate Brielle¡¯s methods, which she deemed beneath her. Thus, she constantly showcased her

    virtues.

    with She wasn¡¯t worried about wasting time or effort. The moment Max felt tired or weary Brielle, he

    would suddenly appreciate Alivia¡¯s virtues. This slow¨Cboiling approach could lead Max to believe she

    was the one who truly understood him, the one most suited for him.

    And everything with Brielle? It was merely a fleeting infatuation.

    That was Alivia¡¯s mantra; she never considered Brielle a real threat. A woman of such standing wasn¡¯t

    worth her concern.

 Chapter 457

    Chapter 457

    Brielle had returned to her elegant abode at Pearl Estate, and her thoughts were tangled with the

    secret she had identally unearthed earlier that evening. A crease of concern formed between her

    brows.

    She reached for her phone, her fingers swiftly dialing Patrick¡¯s number. ¡°Patrick, can you do me a solid

    and send over the security footage from the Dorsey International elevator? Not the private one, just the

    one from today.¡±

    Had it not been for the unexpected encounter that night, she wouldn¡¯t have found herself requesting

    surveince footage.

    It was Sydney¡¯s nce at Spencer that had set off rms in Brielle¡¯s mind. At first, she thought it was

    fear, a kind of wariness, but now, reying the lies Sydney had spun to her own boyfriend, Brielle knew

    better. Those lies were delivered with the ease of practice. It was clearly not for the first time.

    Making such a call to her supposed boyfriend while tangled in deceit was both cruel and shameless.

    While waiting for Patrick to send the footage, her phone buzzed with an iing call from Aubree.

    ¡°Bri, have you seen the buzz online? You weren¡¯t with Max? That jerk was caught locking lips with

    Alivia!¡±

    The news hit Brielle like a cold ssh of disbelief. Max wasn¡¯t that kind of guy.

    Still, she instinctively scrolled through thetest news feeds, and there it was¨Cthe top story was Max

    and Alivia.

    The image was like a bright sh that left her eyes stinging with pain.

    Max wasn¡¯t that kind of guy. He had introduced her to Alivia with such openness, which meant there

    was nothing untoward between them. But as a woman, Brielle knew Alivia¡¯s tricks all too well. The

    objective was clear¨Cto chip away at her, piece by piece, just like the lipstick stain on Max¡¯s cor from

    before.

    Brielle could shrug off such incidents, confident in the strength of their rtionship. But what if it

    happened time and time again?

    She wasn¡¯t heartless, not a machine devoid of emotion. Each incident was a prick to her heart. and

    over time, all that would remain was disappointment. Besides, she had lost a child, and the pain from

    seeing such a photograph was like a needle digging in deep.

    Though neither of them had done anything wrong, that was the most disheartening part of it all. Once

    Brielle felt too weary to go on, that would signal the end of this silent war.

    ¡°Bri?¡±

    ¡°Bri?¡±

    Aubree called out twice, but there was no reply.

    1/3

    11:51

    Chapter 457

    Aubree was concerned and nearly ready to rush over to Pearl Estate when Brielle finally said with firm

    denial ¡°It¡¯s fake.¡±

    Somehow, those two simple words carried a weight of helplessness that even Aubree could feel,

    making her own heart clench. Il Brielle and Max weren¡¯t right for each other, it was better to cut ties

    now before things got messier.

    ¡°But he also took Alivia back to the Barnes residence. At this hour, he¡¯s dropping off a woman who¡¯s got

    a thing for him¡­ I¡¯m not buying the innocent act,¡± Aubree said, her voice tinged with a cruel edge.

    Brielle didn¡¯t respond. The pain was throbbing more intensely as if salt was being rubbed into her

    wounds. She let out a weary sigh, and after a long pause, her voice was hoarse as she said, ¡°Aubree, I

    just want to sleep.¡±

    Aubree could tell Brielle was dodging the issue, and it sparked annoyance within her. ¡°It¡¯s just Max, for

    God¡¯s sake. We don¡¯t need him. How about youe out, and tonight, I¡¯ll help you find someone way

    better?¡±

    Brielle, not wanting to be alone with her thoughts, considered the offer for a moment before replying,

    ¡°Come pick me up in a bit.¡±

    A cheer erupted on the other end of the line as Aubree hurried to get ready.

    Meanwhile, Patrick had sent the elevator surveince footage. In the video, Sydney was the first to step

    into the elevator, followed closely by Spencer crowding in after her.

    ¡°Did Uncle Max ask you about Brielle? What did you tell him?¡±

    ¡°Brielle! Brielle! That¡¯s all anyone ever talks about! Am I invisible to you all?!¡±

    ¡°Why do you think you can evenpare to her? Don¡¯t you have a clue?¡±

    The footage was crystal clear, every word cutting through the silence.

    Brielle¡¯s gut instinct was right. There was something off about those two, most likely more than just a

    passing fling. Perhaps Sydney¡¯spanion that night had been Spencer.

    Every time Brielle thought Spencer couldn¡¯t sink any lower, he managed to outdo himself.

    Her expression twisted with disgust, and she was about to m herptop shut when a new email

    notification caught her eye.

    She had blocked Spencer, but there he was, invading her inbox. [Brielle, I told you, you and Uncle Max

    aren¡¯t a match. He was just toying with you. You¡¯ve seen the news, right? He and Alivia kissing¡­ I bet

    they¡¯ve done more than that.]

    The message left Brielle feeling irate, and without a second thought, she relegated the email to the

    spam folder.

    Twenty minutester, her doorbell chimed. Expecting Aubree, she casually opened the door in her thin

    nightgown. To her surprise, it wasn¡¯t Aubree at the door but a slightly inebriated

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    11-51

    Spencer, his gaze brazenly sweeping over her.

    As Brielle moved to close the door, Spencer seized the moment, pushing his way in and deadbolting

    the door behind him.

    Brielle¡¯s rm spiked instantly. ¡°Spencer, what the hell do you think you¡¯re doing?¡±

 Chapter 458

    Chapter 458

    Spencer¡¯s mouth twitched into a smirk. He hadn¡¯t taken advantage of Brielle when she was undergoing

    surgery for appendicitis, mainly because she was unconscious then, like a lifeless body, and that just

    didn¡¯t excite him.

    But now, Brielle was awake, and she was also having problems with Max. It was a time when she was

    most vulnerable, physically and emotionally.

    Spencer had fucked Sydney, but it still didn¡¯t feel enough, like scratching an itch through a boot. When

    Sydney¡¯s boyfriend mentioned running into a coworker in the department, Spencer instantly thought of

    Brielle. The idea of her hearing him in the throes of passion with another woman heightened his

    desires.

    Then, he saw the news and got a phone call that further emboldened him.

    Would Max still want her if Spencer could get something going with Brielle tonight and spread the

    photos everywhere? Would he want a woman who cheated on her fianc¨¦?

    His lips twisted into a smirk as he contemted the feasibility of his n.

    Spencer yanked off his tie, and his gaze fell on Brielle, predatory and intense. Brielle felt the pain of her

    wound, and the weakness from days of being on a glucose drip left her with no strength.

    Without hesitation, Spencer pounced. ¡°Brielle, you¡¯ve been with so many guys. What¡¯s one more? Stop

    struggling. I¡¯m going to make you feel good.¡±

    Brielle hurled her phone at him. The phone struck Spencer¡¯s forehead, raising a welt instantly. but this

    pain was nothingpared to the reaction elsewhere in his body.

    Usually, Brielle could have easily taken Spencer down with her clever moves, but weakened as she

    was, she could only retreat and look for an opening.

    Spencer, looking smug with triumph, had already ravaged Brielle with his eyes. As he lunged for the

    second time, he pinned Brielle beneath him and started to tear open her shirt buttons.

    ¡°So beautiful.¡±

    Her neck was as graceful as a swan¡¯s.

    Spencer felt a heat surge through him. His eyes reddened with desire. He leaned down, ready to bite

    down viciously. But before he could touch her, a sharp pain exploded in the back of his head, and his

    face went pale.

    Brielle, clutching amp, retreated. Seeing the blood on themp, she panicked.

    Spencer touched the back of his head and found blood, and his lips thinned with determination as he

    continued his assault. He would rather die on top of her than give up.

    His lips approached, and just as he was about to bite into her flesh, Brielle struck a second

    11:51

    Chapter 458

    blow.

    Spencer felt dizzy, copsing on top of her, drained of strength.

    The pain in his head threatened to crush him, and he even contemted using hisst ounce of

    strength to strangle Brielle¨Cto die together.

    Silence hung between them. Ten years of warmth and beauty were now sharp as knives raining from

    the sky.

    Brielle¡¯s fingers trembled. Her wound felt like it was tearing open.

    Spencer mustered hisst bit of energy, rolling off her, gasping for air. ¡°Brielle, you¡¯re ruthless.¡±

    He wouldn¡¯t expect her to call for help. She stared nkly at the ceiling, her shirt half unbuttoned,

    exposing her pale neck.

    Somehow, that image of brokenness pierced Spencer¡¯s heart. Regret washed over him, and he

    tentatively reached out to grasp her hand. ¡°Brielle?¡±

    She didn¡¯t respond. Her eyes were open but seemingly senseless. Panic set in for Spencer, ¡°Brielle,

    you-

    Before he could finish, Brielle blinked slowly, gripped themp, and swung it at him again.

    Spencer vomited blood from the blow. Brielle was intent on killing him.

    ¡°Fine, let him die,¡± she thought, ¡°not a tear shall be shed for him.¡± Brielle¡¯s mind was nk. Her body¡¯s

    instinct to protect itself told her she couldn¡¯t stop, or she would fail to protect herself as she had failed

    to protect that child.

    The phone rang frantically, and someone was pounding on the door. Faith¡¯s voice was shrill, ¡°Spencer!

    What the hell are you doing in there? Are you okay?!¡±

    ¡°Crash!¡±

    The door burst open under the security¡¯s force, and Faith screamed at the scene before her, striding

    over to push Brielle aside. ¡°Are you insane, Brielle? Have you lost your mind?¡±

    With a wooden expression, Brielle seemed to snap back to reality, looking down at Spencer, who was

    already unconscious.

    Her grip on themp loosened, and her lips trembled.

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    Faith tested for Spencer¡¯s breath with a finger under his nose; he was still breathing, and only then did

    she break down in tears.

    ON 450

 Chapter 459

    Chapter 459

    ¡°Brielle, I swear on the Dorsey family name, I¡¯ll sue you to the grave!¡±

    The bodyguard had Brielle cornered, and within ten minutes, a stretcher was wheeled onto the

    Hoor.

    All the while, Brielle just watched silently until a stinging p snapped her head to the side. ¡°You bitch!

    You better pray Spencer is fine, or I¡¯ll make your life a living hell!¡±

    Her cheek turned with the blow, and she even stuck out her tongue, tasting the metallic tang of blood at

    the corner of her mouth. It was blood. She had knocked Spencer out cold, and there was a lot of it.

    She couldn¡¯t fathom why she had done it. It was as if all the hatred from losing a child and the

    helplessness with her situation had exploded in that instant. It turned out she had always been

    teetering on the edge of a breakdown, and Spencer¡¯s intrusion had just pushed her over..

    Blinking back weakness, she didn¡¯t argue this time.

    Faith red at her with disgust. Had Spencer not been avoiding her calls and refusing toe home

    recently, she wouldn¡¯t have had to track down his whereabouts and rush over. If she hadn¡¯t, Spencer

    might well have been dead.

    Brielle was capable of such malice. Such cruelty!

    When Aubree arrived, she was greeted by the sight of Brielle being escorted into a police cruiser. She

    was shocked, even thinking she had seen wrong.

    By then, Faith had followed the ambnce away, leaving only Brielle in the custody of the police.

    Aubree hurried over, grabbing Brielle¡¯s wrist. ¡°Officer, what¡¯s going on here? Is there some mistake?¡±

    Was the same person she had just made ns to hang out with now being put into a police car?

    ¡°Please step back, ma¡¯am. Don¡¯t interfere with police business.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s face went pale, and she reached to dial Max¡¯s number. But Brielle seemed toe. back to

    life in that moment, speaking wearily, ¡°Aubree, don¡¯t tell him.¡±

    Aubree froze, then tightened her grip on her phone. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Bri? You have to give me some

    reason. You¡¯re scaring me, you know? You look like you¡¯ve lost weight, and now you¡¯re being taken to

    the station, and-¡±

    ¡°My baby, my baby is gone¡­¡±

    Her voice was hoarse as if she was on the verge of tears. But she didn¡¯t cry, perhaps having spent all

    her tears in those four days.

    Aubree stopped dead, thinking she must have misheard.

    11:51

    Chapter 459

    What baby? When did Brielle have a baby?

    ¡°Max¡¯s baby. His mother¡­ I don¡¯t even know if it was a boy or a girl. Aubree, it hurts so much here.¡±

    She pointed to her abdomen and then to her heart, her words sounding disjointed.

    It seemed Brielle had never really gotten over the loss of her child. Four days and nights of crying had

    not brought her peace. The better Max treated her, the quiltier she felt. The gentler he was, the more

    panicked she became.

    Spencer¡¯s assault and the humiliation were all just a trigger for her to explode. She wasn¡¯t retaliating

    against Spencer, but against herself, as if to destroy her own being.

    Aubree was speechless, holding onto her hand. ¡°Just calm down, Bri. Let¡¯s just take a moment to calm

    down and talk this through.

    While urging Brielle to stay calm, Aubree was in a panic, and her lips began to quiver. What could she

    do now?

    The police didn¡¯t give them another moment, pushing Brielle into the car.

    Aubree held onto Brielle¡¯s hand, attempting to follow, but was stopped. Through the car window, Brielle

    seemed to regain a shred of sanity. ¡°Aubree, don¡¯t tell Max.¡±

    Aubree stood outside, the chill of the night air biting at her. How did ite to this?

    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

    She was so agitated, just about to call Andrew when his call came through first. ¡°Aubree, you¡¯ll need to

    go home on your own tonight. I won¡¯t be back. There¡¯s trouble with Max.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s mind whirled, struggling to process everything. ¡°What happened to Max?¡±

    Andrew sounded irritable, taking a deep drag on his cigarette. ¡°It¡¯s the Dorsey family drama. He got

    Ryan¡¯s kid out of there, and for some reason, Ryan lost it and rammed Max with his car right outside

    the Dorsey residence. Now he¡¯s unconscious.¡±

    How could Max be so easily hit? What was he thinking?

    ¡°Is he alright? Is it serious?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t know, just a temporary ckout. Michael is furious, and Kenzo and I have to head to the hospital

    to check on Max once he wakes up.¡±

    As Andrew spoke, he wished he could just have someone take out Ryan. How could he cause such a

    scene at the Dorsey doorstep? What could have provoked him?

    Andrew rubbed his temples, realizing that even he wouldn¡¯t have expected Ryan to snap like that.

    They said Max had already gotten out of the car, intending to go in and find Michael, when Ryan

    charged out of a corner and plowed into him. If Max hadn¡¯t been quick on his feet, they

    might¡¯ve been arranging his funeral by now.

    Cursing under his breath, Andrew hurried to the hospital.

 Chapter 460

    Chapter 460

    In the hospital at this ungodly hour, the corridors were packed with people.

    Michael¡¯s hands gripped his cane, and he sat brooding in a corner. His expression was dark and

    stormy.

    No one dared to utter a word, not even the usually boisterous Tiffanie, who was now curled up in a

    corner, wishing she could vanish into thin air.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    The Dorsey family would be in chaos with Max¡¯s ident. It was the calm before the storm. Everyone

    was on edge, waiting for news of Max from the emergency room.

    Michael closed his eyes tightly and asked in a cold voice. ¡°Where¡¯s that disgrace?¡±

    He was talking about Ryan. No one could have predicted that tonight, Ryan would go off the rails.

    When Michael had asked Max to handle the situation with Ryan¡¯s child, Ryan hadn¡¯t raised any

    objections, had he? In just a few days, for the sake of his youngest son, Ryan had rammed into Max

    with his car right at the gates of the Dorsey estate.

    With that single act, he¡¯d thrown away everything he had within the Dorsey family.

    William sat off to the side, a hint of glee in his eyes. With Max injured and hospitalized, and Ryan about

    to be exiled, plus the third son absent and not returning soon, he was the only one left in the Dorsey

    family..

    Even if Michael were disappointed in William for the moment, all attention would have to be focused on

    him.

    William couldn¡¯t let Max leave the hospital unscathed. This was his best opportunity.

    ¡°Pop, Ryan¡¯s locked up in the Dorsey estate. What do you want to do with him?¡±

    ¡°How should I deal with him?¡± Michael roared and mmed his cane down hard. ¡°I wish that bastard

    would drop dead this instant! What has he done for the Dorsey family over these years. besides loafing

    around? He¡¯s not content with fathering an illegitimate child and has now injured his own brother over

    that same kid!¡±

    Michael¡¯s chest heaved, and a shadow crossed his face. ¡°Hand him over to the police. For intentional

    assault, let thew decide his fate.¡±

    A smile flickered in William¡¯s eyes. Michael was making a statement for Max ¨C choosing justice over

    family and not even giving Ryan a chance at exile. It seemed Michael was truly done with Ryan as a

    pawn.

    ¡°Alright, Pop, you just cool down. I¡¯ll have someone take care of it right away.¡±

    Michael sneered, ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re plotting. Even if Max were to be crazy after

    this, this position is still his, and no one else in the Dorsey family should even dream of it!¡±

    Chapter 458

    Michael had decided when Max was ten that he would be the heir to the Dorsey family. His youngest

    son had fought his way through Wall Street at sixteen and had never once disappointed him.

    Michael¡¯s high regard for this son was matched only by his disappointment in the others. Max¡¯s journey

    was supposed to take the world atrge and not just cling to Dorsey International.

    It was the first time Michael had openly shown his preference for Max, sending a clear warning to

    William.

    A flicker of hatred passed through William¡¯s eyes, his mouth tasting bitter.

    Even if Max went mad, he was still to be the heir. Fine, In that case, William would make sure Max

    never left the hospital alive. Then, no one could challenge hirm for the throne.

    ¡°Dad, you¡¯ve got me wrong. I never thought about that. Max is in trouble, and I¡¯m more worried than

    anyone.¡±

    Too tired to argue, Michael closed his eyes and held his cane tightly.

    The emergency room light was still on, and no one knew what condition Max was in.

    In the oppressive silence, Faith¡¯s crying broke the stillness. She ran over like a madwoman, dropping to

    her knees before Michael.

    ¡°Dad, Ryan just lost his head for a moment. Please don¡¯t send him to jail. Dad, I¡¯m begging you.

    Spencer is also in trouble. I can¡¯t lose my son and my husband. Dad, please.¡±

    Faith waspletely distraught. When she followed the ambnce to the hospital, she had heard

    about Ryan¡¯s actions and felt like the world was copsing. Then she got a text from Victoria saying

    Michael was sending Ryan to the police. She had rushed over as fast as she could.

    ¡°I know Ryan did wrong by Max, and he shouldn¡¯t have done it. But Max is in surgery, and so is

    Spencer, Dad, on ount of my years with the Dorsey family, I¡¯ve never put a foot wrong. Please spare

    Ryan this time. We¡¯ll leave for another ce, and never to return to Beaconsfield. Please, Dad,¡±

    As she spoke, Faith banged her head on the floor, and blood¨Cstreaked her forehead.

    Michael felt weary but caught the key information. ¡°What happened to Spencer?¡±

    Tears fell from Faith¡¯s eyes as she sobbed. ¡°Brielle, she¡¯s gone mad. She tried to kill Spencer. He¡¯s lost

    so much blood, oh¡­¡±

 Chapter 461

    Chapter 460

    In the hospital at this ungodly hour, the corridors were packed with people.

    Michael¡¯s hands gripped his cane, and he sat brooding in a corner. His expression was dark and

    stormy.

    No one dared to utter a word, not even the usually boisterous Tiffanie, who was now curled up in a

    corner, wishing she could vanish into thin air.

    The Dorsey family would be in chaos with Max¡¯s ident. It was the calm before the storm. Everyone

    was on edge, waiting for news of Max from the emergency room.

    Michael closed his eyes tightly and asked in a cold voice. ¡°Where¡¯s that disgrace?¡±

    He was talking about Ryan. No one could have predicted that tonight, Ryan would go off the rails.

    When Michael had asked Max to handle the situation with Ryan¡¯s child, Ryan hadn¡¯t raised any

    objections, had he? In just a few days, for the sake of his youngest son, Ryan had rammed into Max

    with his car right at the gates of the Dorsey estate.

    With that single act, he¡¯d thrown away everything he had within the Dorsey family.

    William sat off to the side, a hint of glee in his eyes. With Max injured and hospitalized, and Ryan about

    to be exiled, plus the third son absent and not returning soon, he was the only one left in the Dorsey

    family..

    Even if Michael were disappointed in William for the moment, all attention would have to be focused on

    him.

    William couldn¡¯t let Max leave the hospital unscathed. This was his best opportunity.

    ¡°Pop, Ryan¡¯s locked up in the Dorsey estate. What do you want to do with him?¡±

    ¡°How should I deal with him?¡± Michael roared and mmed his cane down hard. ¡°I wish that bastard

    would drop dead this instant! What has he done for the Dorsey family over these years. besides loafing

    around? He¡¯s not content with fathering an illegitimate child and has now injured his own brother over

    that same kid!¡±

    Michael¡¯s chest heaved, and a shadow crossed his face. ¡°Hand him over to the police. For intentional

    assault, let thew decide his fate.¡±

    A smile flickered in William¡¯s eyes. Michael was making a statement for Max ¨C choosing justice over

    family and not even giving Ryan a chance at exile. It seemed Michael was truly done with Ryan as a

    pawn.

    ¡°Alright, Pop, you just cool down. I¡¯ll have someone take care of it right away.¡±

    Michael sneered, ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re plotting. Even if Max were to be crazy after

    this, this position is still his, and no one else in the Dorsey family should even dream of it!¡±

    Chapter 458

    Michael had decided when Max was ten that he would be the heir to the Dorsey family. His youngest

    son had fought his way through Wall Street at sixteen and had never once disappointed him.

    Michael¡¯s high regard for this son was matched only by his disappointment in the others. Max¡¯s journey

    was supposed to take the world atrge and not just cling to Dorsey International.

    It was the first time Michael had openly shown his preference for Max, sending a clear warning to

    William.

    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

    A flicker of hatred passed through William¡¯s eyes, his mouth tasting bitter.

    Even if Max went mad, he was still to be the heir. Fine, In that case, William would make sure Max

    never left the hospital alive. Then, no one could challenge hirm for the throne.

    ¡°Dad, you¡¯ve got me wrong. I never thought about that. Max is in trouble, and I¡¯m more worried than

    anyone.¡±

    Too tired to argue, Michael closed his eyes and held his cane tightly.

    The emergency room light was still on, and no one knew what condition Max was in.

    In the oppressive silence, Faith¡¯s crying broke the stillness. She ran over like a madwoman, dropping to

    her knees before Michael.

    ¡°Dad, Ryan just lost his head for a moment. Please don¡¯t send him to jail. Dad, I¡¯m begging you.

    Spencer is also in trouble. I can¡¯t lose my son and my husband. Dad, please.¡±

    Faith waspletely distraught. When she followed the ambnce to the hospital, she had heard

    about Ryan¡¯s actions and felt like the world was copsing. Then she got a text from Victoria saying

    Michael was sending Ryan to the police. She had rushed over as fast as she could.

    ¡°I know Ryan did wrong by Max, and he shouldn¡¯t have done it. But Max is in surgery, and so is

    Spencer, Dad, on ount of my years with the Dorsey family, I¡¯ve never put a foot wrong. Please spare

    Ryan this time. We¡¯ll leave for another ce, and never to return to Beaconsfield. Please, Dad,¡±

    As she spoke, Faith banged her head on the floor, and blood¨Cstreaked her forehead.

    Michael felt weary but caught the key information. ¡°What happened to Spencer?¡±

    Tears fell from Faith¡¯s eyes as she sobbed. ¡°Brielle, she¡¯s gone mad. She tried to kill Spencer. He¡¯s lost

    so much blood, oh¡­¡±

 Chapter 462

    Chapter 462

    With Max¡¯s ordeal behind them and having dealt with Ryan¡¯s mess, it seemed only natural that Brielle

    would be the next thorn to remove from the Dorsey family¡¯s side. This woman had caused nothing but

    pain for them.

    A sly grin flickered across William¡¯s eyes, thinking about how Michael was shielding Max. He just had

    to wait until Max woke up and found out what happened to Brielle. It would surely lead to a

    confrontation with Michael, and the bond between father and son would suffer.

    At that point, Michael woulde to realize that his most prized son had long since fallen for

    Brielle.

    Michael¡¯s gaze was sharp as he turned to one of the attendants. ¡°How is Spencer holding up?¡±

    ¡°The doctors are still working on him. He took a nasty hit to the head, but his life isn¡¯t in danger.¡±

    Michael let out a sigh of relief and waved dismissively. ¡°Mobilize all of the Dorsey family¡¯s resources.

    Ensure that Brielle spends the rest of her life behind bars, with no visitors allowed. Strip her of her

    position at Dorsey International. Once Spencer is up, he can take over. I don¡¯t want that woman

    anywhere near him again.¡±

    William couldn¡¯t resist fanning the mes a bit more. ¡°Dad, it seems Spencer hasn¡¯t quite given up on

    Brielle. If he makes another misstep after this, he might not be so lucky. You saw how ruthless she was

    this time.¡±

    Such a woman had no ce in the Dorsey family.

    Michael¡¯s brows furrowed in disgust. ¡°Make sure the police keep a tight lid on her. There should be no

    chances for appeal. That will be all for now. Let¡¯s disperse. We can all use some rest.¡±

    His tone left no room for argument; his disdain for Brielle was palpable.

    It was past three in the morning. At his age, Michael could hardly afford to lose sleep. Resolving these

    three issues had taken its toll, and he nned to visit Max again the next day.

    But before he had the chance to leave, amotion in the corridor caught everyone¡¯s attention. It was

    Alivia, pale as a ghost, and lips quivering with fear.

    Michael, where is Max? How is he doing?¡±

    She must have received the newste at night, hastily throwing on a coat that hung loosely from her

    shoulders. Her slippers were missing, and her bare feet had rushed through the winter chill, a

    testament to her desperation.

    Michael¡¯s heart softened at the sight. ¡°He¡¯s still unconscious, but I expect he¡¯ll be awake by tomorrow.

    Alivia, why on earth did youe out without shoes?¡±

    A wave of relief washed over Alivia as she realized she was indeed shoeless and quickly sat down to

    recollect herself. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was just so worried¡­ I¡¯m d he¡¯s okay.¡± Her eyes were

    red¨Crimmed, and her feet were frozen stiff.

    Victoria, who had a soft spot for Alivia, sprang into action. ¡°I¡¯ve got a spare pair of shoes in my car. I¡¯ll

    get them.¡±

    Michael nodded in approval, admiring Alivia¡¯s dedication. ¡°You came all this way in the middle of the

    night. That¡¯s very considerate of you.¡±

    Alivia bit her lip, her cheeks flushing with a mix of worry and relief. ¡°Michael, it¡¯s the least 1 could do.

    Max means everything to me.¡±

    Michael was pleased, Max needed a woman like her by his side. ¡°Alivia, once you¡¯ve settled things with

    your research institute and things aren¡¯t so hectic, we should sit down and finalize your engagement.¡±

    Her eyes brightened at the suggestion, but she was cautious, worried that pushing too hard might drive

    Max away. ¡°Let¡¯s wait until Max wakes up. His opinion is what matters most.¡± Her words were

    calcted, designed to endear her to the Dorsey family.

    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

    Michael smiled for the first time that evening and massaged his temple with a weary hand. ¡°I¡¯m getting

    too old for this. Now that I know Max is safe, I can rest easy. You should head back, too.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll stay here until he wakes up.¡±

    Michael sighed, resigned. ¡°You¡¯re a good girl, Alivia.¡±

    As Michael was escorted away and Victoria returned with shoes for Alivia, the corridor finally emptied.

    Only then did a sly grin creep onto Alivia¡¯s face. She had purposely left her shoes behind as a ruse to

    show the Dorseys Just how much she cared for Max.

    While genuinely concerned for Max¡¯s well¨Cbeing, the news of Brielle¡¯s downfall had put her at ease.

    That phone call she made to Spencer had been the right move. Under such stress, he had sought out

    Brielle.

    Already shattered by the loss of a child, the public scandal, and now being harassed by her despicable

    ex¨Cfianc¨¦, Brielle was bound to crack.

    Alivia had always said that her torment of Brielle was just beginning. She hardly needed to lift a finger;

    her rival would self¨Cdestruct without hesitation.

 Chapter 463

    Chapter 463

    Allvia¡¯s love for Max was like a wildfire, reckless and all¨Cconsuming. If Max were to die tonight, she

    would follow him without hesitation. Therefore, Max had no choice but to love her and her alone.

    Now was the perfect opportunity. Michael, out of loyalty to Spencer, was gunning for Brielle, and with

    Max incapacitated for the moment, All had ample time to foster a bond between the two. Everything

    was unfolding just as she had hoped, smoothly and without hindrance,

    Downstairs at the hospital, members of the Dorsey n were leaving in a procession of sleek

    cars.

    Victoria climbed into her vehicle, casting a disgusted look at Tiffanie, who lingered outside. ¡°What are

    you even doing here? Don¡¯t fool yourself into thinking you¡¯re one of the Harkins. Your haven¡¯t managed

    to earn Everett¡¯s affection yet. You¡¯re a waste of space, barely worth the air you breathe. You might as

    well be dead.¡±

    The more Victoria thought about it, the angrier she became. Her disdain deepened at the glimpse of a

    tattoo peeking from Tiffanie¡¯s neck. ¡°I can¡¯t fathom what sort of lowlife your real. father was, but you¡¯re

    certainly his spitting image. Stay away from the Dorsey¡¯s affairs in the future, would you?¡±

    ¡°Mom, I got it. Just go.¡± Tiffanie replied with rare tranquility, her smile unwavering as she watched

    Victoria.

    Victoria¡¯s stomach churned at that smile. She had always loathed her daughter and tried many ways to

    torment her, yet Tiffanie remained resilient, often popping up when least expected. Instead of breaking.

    Tiffanie had developed a carefree personality. Victoria just couldn¡¯t understand it.

    Too fed up to look at Tiffanie any longer, Victoria drove away.

    Both Brielle and Maxie

    The moment she left. Tiffanie¡¯s smile vanished. Trouble was brewing. were in dire straits, and with her

    grandfather¡¯s orders, Tiffanie couldn¡¯t reach either of them. What should she do?

    Tiffanie was beside herself with worry. As for Victoria¡¯s recent insults, they barely registered to her. Her

    primary concern was Brielle. The Dorseys nned to pressure the police; who knew what Brielle might

    endure in custody?

    Maxie was still unconscious and would be unreachable even if he woke, since his phone had been

    confiscated.

    Frantically pacing. Tiffanie wondered whom she could turn to.

    Andrew? Unlikely. He had never been fond of Brielle and probably wouldn¡¯t mind seeing her stuck in jail

    forever.

    Kenzo?

    1/2

    Chapter 463

    Overwhelmed and with dawn approaching. Tiffanie couldn¡¯t think clearly.

    Aubree was simrly anxious. She had followed the police to the station, where they had initially

    agreed to let her see Brielle. But then, a phone call changed everything, and she was abruptly turned

    away. Someone had given the station orders.

    Aubree was raised in the thick of these circles and was no stranger to such scenarios. But with Max

    incapacitated, she had no allies to turn to. She was about to lose her cool when she tentatively dialed

    Andrew¡¯s number.

    Andrew and Kenzo were holed up in the hospital lounge, having overheard the Dorsey family¡¯s

    conversations. If they showed themselves, they¡¯d be obliged to engage in pleasantries, something they

    were both keen to avoid.

    The Dorsey family seemed to be on the precipice of a significant shift.

    Andrew¡¯s lips curled into a half¨Csmile as he casually flipped a doctor¡¯s pen over in his hand. ¡°Kenzo,

    what¡¯s your take?¡±

    Sitting with a straight back and an amused twinkle in his eye, Kenzo simply said, ¡°Quite intriguing.¡±

    Andrew scoffed softly. ¡°Sometimes I really don¡¯t get you. I was worried sick, and you¡¯re acting like it¡¯s

    no big deal. Weren¡¯t you even a bit concerned for Max? With Ryan pulling a stunt like that, even I might

    not have dodged the bullet.¡±

    Kenzo¡¯s eyes slowly closed, his voice still gentle. ¡°Michael chose him as the heir at age ten, so a little

    vignce is natural for Max.¡±

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Andrew¡¯s family, the Clements,cked numerous heirs, so he couldn¡¯t quite understand the constant

    vignce that came from being targeted by one¡¯s own kin from a young age. Max¡¯s journey had likely

    made him moreposed and more ruthless than most. There was little to worry about. ¡°Even if Max

    willingly walked into the jaws of death.¡± Kenzo mused, ¡°the reaper himself might think twice before

    taking him.¡±

    Andrew lowered his gaze, his brow furrowed. ¡°And what about Brielle? You heard what they said. Are

    you okay with letting her rot in jail?¡±

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    Chapter 464

    Kenzo chuckled softly, his eyes were still warm, but his expression was somewhatden with hidden

    meaning. ¡°Andrew, this is a Dorsey family matter, and it¡¯s Max¡¯s own business. When he wakes up,

    he¡¯ll handle everything. Let¡¯s not rush in and add to the chaos.¡± One of Kenzo¡¯s life principles was to go

    with the flow.

    With his legs encased inbat boots, Andrew kicked the chair impatiently. ¡°Fine, you¡¯re the wise one.

    I¡¯m outta here. No point hanging around when I can¡¯t see anyone.¡±

    He strode out, inevitably bumping into Alivia. Wrapped in her coat. Alivia froze when she saw him.

    What was he doinging out of that room?

    Andrew nodded at her, said nothing, and walked away.

    Alivia was relieved she hadn¡¯t called anyone and revealed her true self. Looking back into room, she

    caught sight of Kenzo. ¡°Kenzo?¡±

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    the

    Kenzo came out, ruffling her hair with a smile. ¡°Grandpa¡¯s given you a free pass. Stick with Max for a

    while.¡±

    Not that she needed telling. Alivia would have stayed by Max¡¯s side anyway.

    Once they were both gone, Alivia finally breathed a sigh of relief.

    Outside the hospital, Andrew¡¯s phone buzzed with a call from Aubree. He could guess what she

    wanted to say and quickly hit ¡®end call.¡®

    Aubree stood in front of the police station, and dialed ten times to no avail. Eventually, the line went

    dead. Even she knew Andrew wasn¡¯t going to help her.

    A bitter smile crossed Aubree¡¯s lips.

    By dawn, the security around the police station seemed imprable. It looked like the Dorsey family

    intended to leave Brielle to her fate. She was isted in her own little world.

    Aubree was helpless against the Dorseys, the first family of Beaconsfield. Only when Max woke up

    could anything change.

    Noon came, and Max still hadn¡¯t stirred.

    The atmosphere on the hospital floor was tense. Every medical staffer delivering medication moved

    with utmost care, each subjected to multiple screenings.

    All non¨Cessential personnel were barred from Max¡¯s vicinity ¨C except for Alivia, whom Michael had

    allowed to stay.

    Sitting by the bed, Alivia gazed at Max¡¯s face. His eyes were closed, his expression unapproachable.

    This was the man she¡¯d been smitten with since childhood.

    She took a deep breath, reaching to take his hand, to hold it in hers, but as she neared, his fingers

    twitched.

    Alivia drew back, and when she looked un, she saw his eyes slowly opening.

    ¡°Max, how do you feel? She quickly pressed the call button, summoning the doctors.

    The doctors swarmed Max, checking his chest wound, then his head. ¡°Max, can you hear us?¡±

    A sharp pain shot through Max¡¯s skull as if a hammer was pounding into his brain.

    ¡°There¡¯s still some bruising at the back of your head. If it hurts, try not to think too much and rest for

    now.¡±

    Max didn¡¯t respond; he just closed his eyes again.

    The doctor straightened up, addressing Alivia. ¡°Ms. Alivia, Max is okay. Waking up is a good sign. He¡¯s

    still under the effects of the anesthesia, but give it an hour, and he should be fully lucid. His physical

    condition is stronger than most ¨C he¡¯ll recover quickly.¡±

    Alivia exhaled in relief. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    But no sooner had the doctors left than Max¡¯s eyes flickered open again. Alivia hurried to pour

    him some water. ¡°Max, want a drink?¡±

    He nced at her, his eyes devoid of emotion, then shut them once more.

    Alivia¡¯s heart melted.

    An hourter, Max was truly awake, surveying the room with furrowed brows. His voice was hoarse and

    unsteady. ¡°Where¡¯s Ryan?¡±

    ¡°Michael had him moved out overnight. Max, is there anything that feels off?¡±

    Max tried to sit up but winced at the pull in his chest. Alivia reached out to help, but he brushed

    her off. ¡°I¡¯ve got it.¡±

    Disappointment flickered in her eyes as she withdrew her hands.

    Max sat up slowly, cushioning his waist with a pillow. His head was throbbing too much to think, his

    face pale.

    This was the worst injury he¡¯d had in his life, a parting gift from a desperate Ryan. Ryan had been like a

    madmanst night. It wasn¡¯t like him to be so unhinged unless someone was using

    him.

    The mere thought sharpened the pain in Max¡¯s head, forcing him to lie back down, his voice The

    indifferent. ¡°Get Patrick to bring me thepany files this afternoon.¡±

    Even in this state, he was concerned about work.

    Alivia found it amusing and puzzling. Since waking up, he hadn¡¯t mentioned Brielle once. What was

    going on?

    A tremor of fear ran through her at the thought that crossed her mind.

 Chapter 465

    Chapter 465

    After making sure Max was sound asleep, Alivia could no longer contain her excitement and promptly

    left the hospital room.

    She sought out the doctor to inquire about Max¡¯s condition. ¡°Doctor, I need to know if the blood clot in

    Max¡¯s brain might cause anyplications. Like, could it make him forget certain things?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Alivia, theoretically, it¡¯s possible. However, Max was quite fortunatest night. The clot isn¡¯t

    located in a critical area, so the likelihood is slim but not entirely out of the question. Your might want to

    check with Max himself for specifics.¡±

    How could Alivia possibly bring herself to ask Max such a thing? If he truly had forgotten, she wouldn¡¯t

    allow anyone else the opportunity to bring up Brielle in his presence.

    But judging from his current behavior, there was a ny percent chance he¡¯d forgotten. Otherwise, he

    wouldn¡¯t have neglected to ask for his phone or about Brielle and would have jumped straight back into

    work like his old workaholic self.

    From now on, Max would belong solely to her. And that bitch Brielle would rot forever in her lonely little

    prison.

    A smirk crossed Alivia¡¯s face. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll ask himter.¡±

    Her eyes flickered with excitement as she stepped out of the room and walked to the balcony at the

    end of the hallway. She dialed a number on her phone.

    Azy voice answered, ¡°Alivia, it¡¯s been ages since you called me after going back home. I thought

    you¡¯d forgotten about me with all the chasing after Max.¡±

    ¡°Jaired, I need a favor.¡±

    Jaired chuckled softly, his voice turning tender. ¡°What kind of favor? Here I am, still in the military, and

    you¡¯re already thinking of using me?¡±

    ¡°Are you going to help me or not?¡± Alivia was more rxed with him than with others, and she didn¡¯t

    put on airs as she did with the rest.

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    ¡°How could I possibly refuse your request? Go ahead, tell me.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t the police force in Beaconsfield under the control of the Riddle family? I remember your uncle just

    got promoted, right? I need you to go to the police station and find someone for me.¡±

    Jaired¡¯s eyes narrowed. Though he wasn¡¯t in Beaconsfield, he asionally heard some rumors from

    there. ¡°Who are you looking for?¡±

    ¡°Brielle. I know you have your ways. I want her to go mad in that ce. That¡¯s not too difficult for you,

    right?¡±

    With hisnguid demeanor and a hint of wild ferocity, Jaired was like a noble jaguar, his

    11:53

    Chapter 465

    muscles taut and ready. ¡°The woman Max is keeping now? Is she worth your effort? Since when did

    you be so insecure, Alivia? Instead of staying by his side, which seems exhausting, why note

    to me? You know I¡¯ll always wee you back.¡±

    ¡°Jaired, you¡¯re Max¡¯s friend. I don¡¯t want to hear such talk again. I¡¯m destined to marry him. Help me

    with this, and when you¡¯re back, I¡¯ll treat you to dinner, Deal?¡±

    Jaired sighed, rubbing his temples. ¡°Alright.¡±

    After hanging up, Alivia¡¯s smile widened.

    Max, Kenzo, Andrew, and Jaired had the closest ties within their circle, but Jaired had always been in

    the military and rarely got involved in Beaconsfield¡¯s affairs.

    The Riddle family¡¯s political influence was not to be underestimated, and Jaired, being the only son of

    his generation, had always carried the family¡¯s hopes. He had stayed in military training and now was

    winning awards internationally. He¡¯d probably return home soon.

    It would be a good opportunity for Max, Kenzo, Andrew, and Jaired to get together.

    It was almost like going back to the old days when the four of them would sit together, and she would

    secretly watch Max from the shadows, only to be caught and teased by Jaired for her little crush. But

    now, this was no longer just a crush.

    As long as Brielle was out of the picture, she could be with Max immediately. Alivia was so confident

    that she didn¡¯t notice a shadow pass by the ss door behind her.

    She tucked her phone into her pocket and returned to Max¡¯s room. There, she saw Max standing by

    the window, which was ajar, letting in the chilly breeze. ¡°Max, you shouldn¡¯t be exposed to the cold right

    now. Let¡¯s keep the window closed.¡±

    Max was idly ying with something in his fingers, his gaze calm and steady as he looked out..

    Alivia moved to drape a coat over his shoulders, but he said, ¡°No need.¡± He always had this way of

    rejecting her.

    Hisplexion was still a bit pale, but he watched the snow falling outside. ¡°Is it almost Christmas?

    Winter¡¯s been lingering for a while now.¡±

    Joy shed in Alivia¡¯s eyes. At that moment, she was utterly convinced that Max had forgotten that

    despicable Brielle! It was as if the heavens were conspiring in her favor!

    ¡°Yes, Christmas is just a couple of weeks away. Jaired should being home soon. You haven¡¯t seen

    each other in quite some time, have you?¡±

    Max lightly tapped his fingers on the window frame, chuckling. ¡°It has been a long time.¡±

 Chapter 466

    Chapter 466

    He delivered the words with anguid and enticing breath, stirring the soul. The winter sun chose that

    moment to bathe him in its light. All Alivia could feel was an irrepressible flutter of the heart. ¡°Michael

    was lividst night. The doctors must have told him you¡¯re awake by now, He¡¯ll be here soon, I¡¯m sure.¡±

    Max stared out at the world draped in its wintry white, probably feeling the ache in his head. He raised

    a hand to rub his temples,

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Max, why don¡¯t you rest some more?¡±

    Max settled back into bed, not lying downpletely but rather leaning against the headboard with his

    eyes slightly closed, seeming somewhat aloof.

    His fingers subconsciously caressed the wrist where a rosary should have been, finding nothing. He

    withdrew his hand, and his lips pressed together coldly, like a tree encased in frost.

    Alivia¡¯s lips curled into a tender smile, her heart meltingpletely. This man was finally, utterly hers.

    Half an hourter, Michael arrived.

    Leaning on a cane, he looked worse for wear, obviously having had little sleep. With both a grandson

    and a son fighting for their lives, he couldn¡¯t find rest.

    Now, seeing Max awake, he let out a heavy sigh of relief. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you¡¯re alright. I¡¯ve made sure

    that Ryan and Faith are no longer in Beaconsfield, and they won¡¯t being back.¡±

    Max¡¯s expression was muted, unreadable.

    ¡°You all just can¡¯t seem to give me a break, not even Spencer. They didn¡¯t get him out of surgery until

    the wee hours of the morning, and he¡¯s still not awake.¡±

    Michael had wanted to talk about Brielle, but seeing Max raise a hand to press at his temples.

    he bit back his words.

    ¡°Father, I¡¯m quite tired.¡±

    Michael had no choice but to stand. ¡°You rest up. I won¡¯t let anyone disturb you for a while. Alivia

    insisted on staying by your side. You¡¯re not getting any younger. Once you¡¯ve recovered, we should

    finalize the wedding arrangements. It¡¯s not fair to her to keep worrying about you like this, is it?¡±

    Alivia, though thrilled on the inside, feigned hesitation outwardly. ¡°Michael, there¡¯s no rush. We¡¯ll do

    things ording to Max¡¯s wishes.¡±

    Michael grew more fond of Alivia by the minute. Both wanted to give Max space, so they left the

    11-57

    Chapter 466

    room together.

    Just then, a doctor came to notify Michael that Spencer had awakened. Michael, intent on checking on

    his other grandson upstairs, set off with Alivia close behind. Spencer was herrade, after all. She

    had crucial information to share.

    Once inside the elevator, Allvia spoke up gently. ¡°Michael, perhaps it¡¯s best not to mention Spencer¡¯s

    situation in front of Max. The doctors say he needs as little stress as possible right now, and since this

    involves Brielle¡­ Well, Max does value Brielle¡¯s professional skills, and it would only upset him.¡±

    Her words served dual purposes: to keep Michael from bringing up Brielle in front of Max and to

    highlight that Brielle¡¯s rtionship with Max was purely professional, valued only for her skills.

    Michael had had his suspicions about Max and Brielle, but hearing Alivia¡¯s reassurances, he felt his

    doubts were perhaps misced. Max was a workaholic, and it was true that he held those who

    excelled professionally in high esteem. Brielle might¡¯vee from humble origins, but her talents were

    undeniable.

    ¡°Alivia, Max is blessed to have you.¡±

    A glint of triumph shed in Alivia¡¯s eyes, but she kept silent, smiling to herself.

    They reached Spencer¡¯s room to find his head wrapped in severalyers of bandages, now sitting up.

    His gaze was empty as he stared out the window.

    ¡°You fool!¡± Michael couldn¡¯t contain his anger upon seeing his grandson in such a state. ¡°You let a

    woman do this to you. You¡¯ve really outdone yourself!¡±

    Spencer¡¯s face grew even paler, and his eyes rimmed with red. Brielle had truly meant to kill him, a fact

    that pained him deeply.

    He admitted he was scum, having wronged her emotionally in the past, but he never wished her dead.

    Even as hey close to losing consciousness under her assault, he thought perhaps it was better if

    they both died. If Brielle couldn¡¯t be his, she shouldn¡¯t belong to anyone else.

    The hatred and panic in Brielle¡¯s eyes were like thousands of needles, piercing straight into his

    heart.

    Before this catastrophe, he thought he was just resentful, but as hey vaguely conscious in the

    emergency room, all he could think of was her.

    He shouldn¡¯t have treated her like this. How could he be such a bastard?

    Where was Brielle now?

    ¡°Grandfather, what¡¯s be of Brielle?¡± His first conscious thought was of her.

    Upon hearing him inquire about Brielle, Michael¡¯s expression darkened further. ¡°Anyone who harms the

    Dorsey family will not get off easy. She¡¯ll be spending the rest of her life behind bars. That much is

    certain.¡±

    11:53

    Chapter 400

    Spencer became frantic. ¡°That won¡¯t do. I still have to marry her.¡±

 Chapter 467

    Chapter 467

    The moment the words left his lips, Michael¡¯s cane came crashing down on Spencer¡¯s back, sending a

    shiver through his body.

    Michael¡¯s scalp tingled with fury. ¡°Stubborn as a mule! You don¡¯t give a hoot about your own folks, but

    you¡¯re all worried about a stranger. Your dad hit Max with the carst night, and I had to whisk him and

    Faith out of Beaconsfield in the dead of night. Spencer, your mom chose to leave you behind; don¡¯t you

    go disappointing her.¡±

    Spencer¡¯s pupils shrank sharply, deted like a punctured balloon. He stopped his ruckus about what

    he would do with Brielle, simply lowering his gaze and clutching the nket in front of him with a death

    grip.

    Growing up in a powerful family, he knew what being sent away meant. To outsiders, Michael had

    washed his hands of them, and keeping Spencer was just a nod to thest thread of kinship.

    ¡°You take the time to get well. Once you¡¯re out of the hospital, I¡¯ll find you a suitable marriage to keep

    you from mooning over a would¨Cbe murderer all day long.¡±

    Spencer fell silent, and once the old man had left, he realized Alivia was still standing in the hospital

    room. Her face carried the same gentle smile as she poured him a ss of water from the dispenser.

    ¡°Spencer, Michael and I just came from Max¡¯s room. He¡¯s forgotten all about Brielle. Congrats, she¡¯s all

    yours now.¡±

    Her words treated Brielle like some cheap trinket.

    Spencer was about to reach for the ss, but his hand froze mid¨Cair at her words. ¡°Are you certain?¡±

    ¡°Mmhmm, the blood clot in his head must¡¯ve squeezed some nerves. Ever since he woke up. he¡¯s been

    out of it, not a peep about Brielle.¡±

    A flicker of wild joy crossed Spencer¡¯s eyes, and his lips curled into a cold smirk.

    Alivia patted his shoulder. ¡°Brielle is yours to shape or shatter as you please. Max won¡¯t interfere

    anymore. Once he¡¯s healed up, he¡¯ll be marrying me.¡±

    ¡°Congrattions to you, Ms. Alivia, for getting your heart¡¯s desire.

    Alivia chuckled lightly. As long as Jaired hurried things along, getting Brielle into trouble behind bars,

    everything would be perfect.

    Alivia didn¡¯t let Jaired snuff out Brielle¡¯s life, not out of kindness; she wanted to drive Brielle mad and

    then have the crazed woman attend her wedding to Max.

    Murder was mundane, but to crush a spirit was the real thrill.

    In prison, Brielle curled up on the narrow cot, feeling the chill seeping through her bones. She wanted

    to sleep, but the pain from her wound kept her too alert.

    Chacher 267

    The prison medic hade once to dress her wounds, admonishing her to stay still before leaving.

    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

    Sweat poured down Brielle¡¯s face. The sound of the iron door being knocked echoed, and then it

    swung open. Her blurred vision couldn¡¯t make out the faces of those who dragged her swiftly to an

    abyssal cell.

    Solitary confinement was amon punishment for unruly Inmates. Inside, time lost all meaning, and

    sanity hung by a thread.

    After being unceremoniously dumped onto the cold floor, Brielle was engulfed in darkness so absolute

    she couldn¡¯t even see her own fingertips. She didn¡¯t cry out or scream; it was as if the darkness was

    born within her heart, bing one with her very being.

    The guards in the surveince room watched Brielle maintain her position on the floor, puzzled. ¡°It¡¯s

    been three hours. She hasn¡¯t begged for mercy or even opened her eyes. What¡¯s she up to?¡± If Brielle

    was scared, her calm face certainly didn¡¯t show it.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just keep her there for now. Of all the people to cross, she had to anger the Riddle and Dorsey

    families. Both gave us the same order: take special care of her. A grown man would lose his mind after

    three days in the hole; she won¡¯tst long.¡±

    ¡°A shame, she¡¯s quite the looker.¡±

    The guards, more brutish in nature, couldn¡¯t afford to be gentle; it wouldn¡¯t do in a ce like

    this.

    ¡°Well, you won¡¯t get a taste of that.¡±

    ¡°That remains to be seen. The Riddle family wants us to drive her mad. What do you reckon is the

    fastest way to drive a woman insane?¡±

    The two guards exchanged knowing looks and fell silent.

    Unaware of the brewing storm, Brielle didn¡¯t know how long she¡¯d be trapped in this darkness. Every

    time hunger wed at her, someone woulde to feed her. She didn¡¯t even know what she was

    eating; she couldn¡¯t see anything, not even a sliver of light. Her body sank into deep. fatigue as if she

    would sleep forever. So tired, so drowsy, every part of her felt rusty and slow. sapping her of the

    strength to even rise. She was certain that something extra was being added to her meals every day.

    After an indeterminate length of time, she glimpsed a hazy light. She tried to move her fingers, only to

    find her hands restrained on either side. She looked up to see two men leering down at her, their eyes

    trailing over her body.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, you¡¯ve got quite the will. It seems we¡¯ll need to get creative to drive you mad.¡±

    Chapter 468

 Chapter 468

    Chapter 468

    Brielle felt drained, bone¨Cweary to her core. Even when she heard their taunts, she could only muster a

    faint nce in their direction.

    The two men felt slighted by her dismissive gaze and grabbed her hair roughly in a fit of anger.

    ¡°Word on the street is you just lost a kid,¡± one sneered. ¡°Why dwell on it when you can have a bit of

    fun? How about you make a couple of kids with us, eh? We¡¯ll give you a ride you won¡¯t forget.¡±

    ¡°Oh, and by the way, Ms. Brielle, you might not have heard thetest gossip¨Cyour lover got into an

    ident, banged up his head pretty badly, and now he¡¯s got amnesia. Can¡¯t remember a thing about

    you. He¡¯s about to tie the knot with somebody else, Ms. Alivia.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s emotionless facade trembled as hershes fluttered in disbelief. She looked up. voice barely a

    whisper, ¡°Liar.¡±

    her

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Seeing her finally react, the men let out a sigh of relief. They threw her into a dingy little room that

    seemed to frighten her none, leaving them at a loss. Earlier that day, they¡¯d received a call from a

    woman who instructed them with grave seriousness on how to break Brielle¡¯s spirit.

    ¡°Us, lie? Isn¡¯t your beau the big¨Cshot CEO of Dorsey International? Do you really think he¡¯s into

    someone like you? He¡¯s all set to marry Ms. Alivia, and both families are over the moon. While you¡¯re

    rotting here alone, we figured you might be a bit lonely. So, how about you give in to us?¡±

    Their hands started to creep toward Brielle¡¯s cor but were met with a cold, mockingugh. The fear

    vanished from her face, reced by an icy detachment. Her rational mind was returning. ¡°So even with

    me locked up here, some people are still nervous, huh?¡±

    The color drained from the men¡¯s faces, but she pressed on, her gaze piercing. ¡°Because if I ever got

    out, whatever she¡¯s got now would be as fleeting as a mirage.

    Faith, being who she was, would have made sure the whole Dorsey family knew about her son being

    knocked out, including Michael. And Tiffanie had always said Michael was fiercely protective¨Cso the

    decision to throw Brielle in jail might have been his idea.

    But a man of his stature, with years in the business world, wouldn¡¯t resort to sending two thugs to defile

    a woman. Michael probably didn¡¯t care how she fared in jail; he just wanted her gone for good.

    Someone was terrified of her getting out, scared of her showing her face again. That was why they

    were so concerned about her well¨Cbeing in this cell.

    Brielle had felt devoid of spirit, almost too numb to resist what seemed like fate. Maybe she really was

    cursed, abandoned by fortune itself. But she couldn¡¯t let anything happen to Max. As long as she

    wasn¡¯t dead, as long as she had a breath left in her, she had to get out and see what was really going

    on.

    ¨C burst of fun thay grabbed her throat. ¡°You think you¡¯re

    Chapter 468

    tough, huh? Well, make sure you scream loud, cuz we want to enjoy ourselves!¡±

    Brielle¡¯s face turned crimson from theck of air, but she didn¡¯t forget to throw a threat back at

    them.

    ¡°Choosing not to kill me outright suggests that someone behind you wants me alive. If you mess with

    me like this, aren¡¯t you afraid of what I might do to you once I¡¯m out? I¡¯ve crossed the Dorsey family,

    evenid one of their heirs. Who knows what I might do to you if I lose it?¡±

    Herugh was harmless, yet it sent chills down their spines.

    Suddenly, the door burst open, and a uniformed officer appeared at the threshold. ¡°What the hell are

    you two doing? Who gave you permission to take justice into your own hands?¡±

    The men jumped, releasing Brielle immediately, muttering, ¡°But we were told-

    The officer waved them off, his impatience clear. ¡°Told what? You don¡¯t even know which side will win,

    and here you are, eager to prove your loyalty. Do you want to end up like she said, targeted for

    revenge when she¡¯s ou? Let her go. Treat her well. Even a woman in chains sees further than you.

    Your lot¡¯s destined to be jailers for life.¡±

    The men dared not defy him, casting a resentful nce at Brielle as she arched an eyebrow, the corner

    of her mouth curling into a sly grin.

    ¡°Stillughing? Are you trying to provoke us? Is that it?!¡± Their fists clenched, ready to strike, but

    recalling the officer¡¯s words, they held back.

    Brielle closed her eyes, ignoring their vulgar tirades, and made her demands. ¡°I want a shower, I want a

    decent meal, and no funny business with my food. I need a softer bed; the current one¡¯s giving me

    aches.¡±

    ¡°Say that again?!¡± the men spat, enraged and ready tosh out.

 Chapter 469

    Chapter 469

    Brielle closed her eyes with a detached expression, a clear sign she had no intention of struggling. ¡°Go

    on, hit me. But once I¡¯m out of here, you¡¯ll be regretting you ever wanted that arm. Isn¡¯t the President of

    Dorsey International my secret lover? If he really forgets about me. well, I snagged him once, and I can

    do it again. Once I¡¯ve got him wrapped around my finger. you guys are toast.¡±

    Her brazenness bordered on shamelessness. Fighting with someone shameless only left your

    powerless. The two men were left speechless by her words, their faces turning red with frustration,

    feeling utterly humiliated.

    The man at the door in uniform cast a long look at her, then chuckled, ¡°Ms. Brielle, you do have

    guts.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Feeling that the anticipated punch hadn¡¯te, Brielle looked up and met the gaze of the uniformed

    man at the door. She was too calm, too rational, her gaze indifferent.

    The man in uniform raised an eyebrow and instructed the other two. ¡°Do as she says.¡±

    Hearing this, Brielle lowered her eyes. ¡°Should have done that in the first ce.¡±

    The two men by her side were seething with anger. ¡°Don¡¯t get too cocky. It¡¯s not certain you. can get

    out of here. If you push us too far, you won¡¯t even know what hit you.¡±

    Brielle looked up, a cold smile flickering across her face. ¡°That¡¯s why someone¡¯s in charge and you¡¯re

    not. With your wits, you¡¯re better off staying guards forever.¡±

    ¡°You!¡± They red at Brielle as if she were a monster. They were brothers who had been in this ce

    for years and had never encountered someone as tough as her.

    Grinding their teeth in silent rage, they held back, knowing all too well what it meant to deal with the

    President of Dorsey International ¨C the heir to the Dorsey fortune. If this bitch managed to charm her

    way out, they wouldn¡¯t just lose their jobs. They feared her vengeance would be tenfold.

    They knew better than to treat her like any other. The orders were clear: drive her mad. But with her

    wits about her, even if they tried to break her a hundred times, she would remain unshaken. The

    brothers weren¡¯t fools. They exchanged a look and decided to drop it.

    *Meanwhile, Brielle closed her eyes, deep in thought.

    In the hospital.

    Max¡¯s fingers lightly tapped on the keyboard, but after only a few emails, his head began to throb. He

    massaged his temples and turned to the doctor beside him. ¡°When will this headache go away?¡±

    ¡°Well, Max, it¡¯s hard to say. Maybe a month, maybe half a year. It depends on the case.¡±

    1/2

    11:54

    Max¡¯s fingers paused, his expression growing colder.

    He was in good shape, his chest wound was healing well, and Michael was surprised to see him dive

    back into work so quickly. It was both reassuring and remarkable. ¡°If the other Dorsey family members

    had half your sense, we wouldn¡¯t be in this mess,¡± Michael said as he got up. feelingpletely at

    ease. ¡°Max, you should rest more. You¡¯ve lost weight. No matter how busy work is, you need to take

    care of your health.¡±

    ¡°Father, how¡¯s Spencer?¡±

    As an elder, it was only right to show concern for the younger ones.

    ¡°That boy sulked for an afternoon when he found out his parents were sent away. Then, suddenly, he

    couldn¡¯t sit still and kept begging to be discharged. He¡¯s probably just restless.¡±

    Max nodded as if asking out of routine before smoothly changing the subject. ¡°Spencer is too

    impulsive; he can¡¯t keep this up. It¡¯s time for him to settle down and get married.¡±

    Michael agreed but hadn¡¯t considered any potential brides. ¡°Max, which family¡¯s daughter do you think

    would be suitable?¡±

    ¡°The Rond family, Sophia.¡±

    Michael frowned. Sophia?

    Tessa was the well¨Cknown daughter of the Rond family, but the other girls were less prominent.

    Spencer might not have been the most capable, but he was still a legitimate heir of the Dorsey family.

    ¡°Father, the Dorsey family doesn¡¯t need a political marriage to secure its status, but the public sees

    Spencer as vulnerable without the support of his parents. Marrying a favored daughter from another

    family could lead to resentment. We can¡¯t have another Everett incident. Sophial knows how to keep

    her thoughts to herself; she¡¯s secured her own ce while staying loyal to Tessa and strong¨Cwilled.

    That¡¯s exactly the kind of wife Spencer needs.¡±

    Michael was persuaded, or rather, he trusted his son¡¯s judgment implicitly.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll send a proposal to the Rond family as soon as I return. Once Spencer is out of the

    hospital, we¡¯ll arrange their wedding.¡±

 Chapter 470

    Chapter 470

    ¡°Sure.¡± Max¡¯s response was as nonchnt as ever, and he fell silent again.

    Michael heeded Alivia¡¯s advice and refrained from bringing up Brielle in Max¡¯s presence, wanting to

    avoid any chance of Max showing her leniency due to her talents. With work to attend to, Michael didn¡¯t

    n on lingering.

    Max was healing at a rate that would put any ordinary man to shame. An injury like his would¡¯ve been a

    death sentence for most. Not only had he dodged a potentially fatal collision, but here he was, ready to

    check out of the hospital after just three days.

    ¡°Where¡¯s my phone?¡± He directed the question at Michael, who had taken charge of the device. not

    wishing to disturb his recovery. But now that Max was up and about, there was no need to

    withhold it.

    ¡°It¡¯s in the lounge at the end of the hall.¡± As Michael¡¯s words settled, Alivia pushed through the door

    from outside.

    ¡°Alivia, go fetch Max¡¯s phone for him, will you?¡± Michael said.

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Alivia had initially stored the phone away, so it made sense for her to retrieve it now.

    A flicker of something crossed Alivia¡¯s face as she nodded slowly and stepped out of the room. She

    nced back inside the hospital room, where Max sat on the bed, his demeanor as icy as ever,

    unchanged from before the incident with Brielle.

    Content with what she saw, she pulled the phone from her bag. The phone had never made it to the

    lounge ¨C it had been with her all along. Aubree had called nearly a hundred times, and Alivia hadn¡¯t

    answered any, even cklisting her number.

    She had also deleted Brielle¡¯s WhatsApp andbed through all the photo albums. Max was never

    one for pictures, so the albums were empty, which reassured her that Brielle hadn¡¯t

    broken all of his rules.

    After blocking Brielle¡¯s number andpleting her tasks, Alivia returned to the hospital room with the

    phone in hand. ¡°Max, I¡¯ve been charging your phone for you the past few days. It should still be good to

    go.¡±

    Max took the phone, but he didn¡¯t rush to check anything.

    ¡°You sure you want to be discharged?¡± Michael pressed.

    ¡°Dad, I know what I¡¯m doing. There¡¯s an important meeting this afternoon.¡±

    Michael sighed, feeling both pride and frustration toward his youngest son. He wished others would

    step up like Max, yet also hoped Max would learn to take a break.

    Once Max made up his mind, there was no changing it. Michael arranged the discharge, and an hour

    later, Max was down at the Dorsey Tower, with Alivia in tow.

    Chapter 470

    Alivia was heading to Dorsey International, and Max had no reason to stop her.

    But waiting inside the Dorsey International lobby was a woman. With dark circles under her eyes,

    Aubree was nearly asleep on the couch. At the sight of Max, she sprung up reflexively.

    Aubree had been beside herself with worry these past days. She finally heard that Max was awake, but

    he hadn¡¯t answered her calls or even blocked her.

    Now, seeing him walk into Dorsey International with Alivia, Aubree wondered if Max was truly about to

    ditch Brielle. ¡°Max! You jerk! You¡¯re the worst! How could you even think about abandoning Brielle? Do

    you have any idea what Bri-¡±

    Brielle had lost a child.

    The thought brought tears to Aubree¡¯s eyes, and as she looked past Max to the poised Alivia, she

    clenched her teeth. ¡°Jerk! You are gonna end up in hell, just like that scumbag Andrew!¡±

    Max¡¯s brow furrowed for a split second. He nced her way but kept walking to the private.

    elevator.

    Aubree, chilled by that nce, stood frozen.

    Alivia lingered, offering Aubree a tender smile. ¡°Miss Aubree, Andrew was right not to fancy you. A

    crude woman like you could never catch his eye.¡±

    Aubree squinted, sizing up Alivia from head to toe. Dressed in Chanel, with a Patek Philippe on her

    wrist, Alivia looked both professional and gracious, a stark contrast to Aubree¡¯s sleep¨Cdeprived

    appearance.

    Aubree scoffed, ¡°No matter how pretty you package yourself, Ms. Alivia, Max still hasn¡¯t chosen you.

    You¡¯re still following him, and he hasn¡¯t even nced back, has he? You think you¡¯re so high and

    mighty, yet you haven¡¯t even touched his hand. Bri, though? She¡¯s had him, inside and out, more times

    than you can count.¡±

    ¡°You!¡± The warmth vanished from Alivia¡¯s face, reced by a cold, thin smile. ¡°Being used and tossed

    aside like trash is nothing to boast about. If you were any good, you¡¯d be with your friend instead of

    lurking around Dorsey International.¡±

    She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper meant only for them. ¡°And by the way. I made sure

    your friend got special attention in jail. She lost a child, didn¡¯t she? Since she¡¯s so keen on having one,

    maybe carrying the child of some inmate wouldn¡¯t be so bad, right?¡±

 Chapter 471

    Chapter 471

    Aubree¡¯s eyes flickered in disbelief as she gazed at Alivia. It was only now that she realized. beneath

    Alivia¡¯s gentle facade lurked a darkness so vile it almost made her gag.

    Alivia saw no reason to hide her true self in front of Brielle¡¯s friends. To her, their fear was an

    advantage. She let out a soft chuckle, delicately straightening Aubree¡¯s cor. ¡°Poor Briette¡¯s probably

    been tossed around like a rag doll by now. Even if she gets out, Max won¡¯t give her a second nce.

    Why else would he ignore your calls? He finds it repulsive. Miss Aubree, I guess I¡¯ll be heading up

    then.¡±

    Rooted to the spot, Aubree heard Alivia¡¯s smug voice trailing off. ¡°Even if you wanted to go see her. I

    doubt you could. Michael has used the Dorsey family¡¯s influence to seal that ce tight. Not even a fly

    could get in. Such a pity.¡±

    That bitch!

    Aubree trembled with rage, yet felt a profound sense of powerlessness.

    She had grown up in this world and knew too well the sway Alivia held among the elite. If Alivial wanted

    to make Brielle¡¯s life miserable, she could do it with a snap of her fingers.

    Adding the Dorsey family into the mix, and Max no longer caring about Brielle, who was there to save

    her friend?

    Desperate and furious, Aubree stormed out of Dorsey Tower, tears streaming down her face.

    Aubree rarely cried, not even when Andrew had tormented her to the brink of death. She was a rose

    with thorns, while Brielle was a verdant leaf touched by frost. Yet, both had been unlucky in love.

    Feeling helpless, Aubree stood on the sidewalk, wiping away her tears with a trembling hand. A sleek

    sports car pulled up in front of her, and the window rolled down to reveal Dustin¡¯s face.

    Dustin still had that stunning look ¨C eyes as charming as a spring breeze, a smile brimming with

    warmth. ¡°Aren¡¯t you Andrew¡¯s little sister? What¡¯s got you crying on the sidewalk, lost your way?¡±

    Ignoring his teasing. Aubree focused on the face that seemed like a savior, looking more. handsome

    than ever. Quickly wiping her eyes, she tapped on the door. ¡°Mr. Lynch.¡±

    Dustin wasn¡¯t one to leave ady crying on the street. He unlocked the car, and Aubree climbed in,

    sniffling. ¡°I always knew you were one of the good ones, Mr. Lynch. Bri¡¯s blind for not seeing it.¡±

    Dustin chuckled, pulling out a few tissues and handing them to her. ¡°Dry those tears. Are you looking

    for your brother?¡±

    The car started moving. Dustin¡¯s hands were steady on the wheel, his posture a mix ofposure and

    casual ease.

    Chapter 471

    ¡°That jerk Max is ditching Bri.¡± She said it deliberately, aiming to gauge Dustin¡¯s reaction. If he cared for

    Brielle, then he might just be the help sent from above.

    ¡°Whoal¡±

    The car stopped abruptly, Dustin turned, his face a picture of shock ¨C definitely not feigned. ¡°Has Max

    gone blind? He¡¯s really giving up on little Bri?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s eyes welled up again. ¡°Yeah, Alivia has even arranged for Bri to be tormented in jail. The

    Dorsey family is putting pressure on them so no one can visit. I¡¯m so worried about Bri.¡±

    ¡°Which jail?¡±

    ¡°The one down on South Road.¡±

    Aubree answered quickly, watching as Dustin picked up his phone, dialing a number without hesitation.

    ¡°Mr. King, it¡¯s me, Dustin.¡±

    ¡°Dustin? When you call, it¡¯s rarely good news. What do you need this time?¡±

    ¡°Actually, I just rushed back from abroad to toast to your promotion, Uncle. I¡¯ve got some fine wine in

    the car; I¡¯ll swing byter.¡±

    ¡°Cut the crap, Dustin. What¡¯s the real reason for your call?¡±

    ¡°The South Road jail. I need to see a friend, but I heard the Dorsey family¡¯s been leaning on it?¡±

    ¡°That jail, huh? It¡¯s been buzzingtely. Not just the Dorsey¡¯s, but the Riddle family has made some

    moves too. Who¡¯s this friend, Dustin? Your girlfriend?¡±

    ¡°Come on, you¡¯re the man in Beaconsfield. Surely, this isn¡¯t beyond you?¡±

    Dustin¡¯s face held a smile, but his eyes were serious. He wasn¡¯t up to speed with

    Beaconsfield¡¯s power ys but knew the Riddle family usually stayed out of such affairs. Why were

    they involved now?

    ¡°Don¡¯t tease me, kid. If you need to go, go now.¡±

    Dustin grinned, flooring the elerator, his hand firmly on the wheel.

    Thanks. And could you find out why the Riddle family¡¯s getting involved?¡±

    ¡°Just don¡¯t forget my wine.¡±

    Dustin agreed readily, hanging up and tossing his phone onto the back seat.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 472

    Chapter 472

    Aubree¡¯s tears had stopped, reced by a hint of surprise.

    The Dorsey and Riddle families were powerhouses, but Dustin had handled them with just a phone

    call. Weren¡¯t the Lynches part of the high society in North America? How did they have such clout in

    Beaconsfield?

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, can we go see Bri now?¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, I never noticed before how damn handsome you are.¡±

    He snorted, ¡°You¡¯re just realizing this now? One of you has got a thing for Andrew, the other for Max.

    You and Brielle really need to pair up and get your eyes checked.¡±

    Aubree decided to keep quiet.

    Fifteen minutester, the car pulled up to the prison entrance. The gates were already open, with a

    uniformed man waiting to receive them. The very same man they¡¯d seen earlier.

    Without a word, the uniformed man looked at Dustin, his eyshes fluttering downwards. ¡°Mr. Lynch,

    you can go in to see Ms. Brielle, but this youngdy¡­¡±

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    He nced at Aubree with a troubled expression. Impatient as ever, she tried to barge right in. Dustin

    held her back. ¡°You wait here. If anything happens to her, I¡¯ll turn this police station upside down, deal?¡±

    Aubree stopped in her tracks, never before had she seen Dustin so towering and impressive.

    Dustin gave the uniformed man a sidelong nce and a slight chuckle. ¡°Lead the way.¡±

    The man nodded and led them through the twists and turns of the prison, stopping finally at the door to

    Brielle¡¯s cell.

    Dustin didn¡¯t enter right away but gave the uniformed man a meaningful look. He was different from the

    other guards, seemingly of a higher rank.

    Dustin was raised in influential North American circles and was well¨Ctraveled. He was no stranger to

    domestic and international military bases, and moved in and out with ease.

    The way this officer walked, back straight and footsteps light, he was a professional. Such a man

    shouldn¡¯t be guarding a small¨Ctime prison, let alone be stationed outside Brielle¡¯s cell.

    Whose man was he?

    Dustin smiled as the game was getting more interesting. He leaned in closer to study the man¡¯s face.

    The guard stepped back, his hand subconsciously moving towards his belt. ¡°What are you trying to do,

    Mr. Lynch?¡±

    Dustin didn¡¯t answer his question. ¡°The Riddle family or the Dorsey family, whose side are you

    Chapter 472

    on?¡±

    The Lynch family had stood strong in North America for years, and every member was formidable.

    Dustin himself was honored by foreign royalty and at the helm of Infinity Brilliance as CEO, and was far

    from a frivolous fool.

    The guard stepped back, lowering his gaze. ¡°I¡¯m just a prison guard here, with a few men under my

    command. I¡¯m not affiliated with any family, as you specte.¡±

    Dustin stroked his chin, chuckling softly. ¡°If you¡¯re not with any family, then you must belong to

    someone. Who might that be?¡±

    Cursed in his mind, the guard dared not speak further. With Dustin¡¯s approach, the more you said, the

    more you erred.

    Seeing the guard¡¯s sealed lips, Dustin nced at the door. ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you going to open it?¡±

    Reluctantly, the guard took out his keys and unlocked the door. Dustin peeked inside to find Brielle

    sitting on a cot, looking as though she was about to nod off.

    Brielle thought it was just another meal delivery and didn¡¯t even open her eyes. That was until a hand

    hovered near her nose as if checking for breath.

    She furrowed her brows and looked up to see a face that shouldn¡¯t have been there. She might have

    thought it a hallucination, but even then, Dustin would be thest person she¡¯d imagine.

    Dustin waved a hand in front of her face. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, stunned to see me?¡±

    Brielle slid off the cot. ¡°Mr. Lynch?¡±

    Dustin raised an eyebrow, his lips curving slightly. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me. Someone asked me to check in on you

    and imed you were mistreated. But here you are, looking fine and dandy.¡± His gaze swept over her,

    ensuring she was unharmed, before taking a seat.

    ¡°Who asked you toe?¡±

    Dustin¡¯s eyes held a yful glint, ¡°Certainly not Max.¡±

    It had to be Aubree, then. Brielle lowered her gaze, biting her lip, feeling a sharp pain in her

    heart.

    Dustin surveyed the room. It was small, yes, but securing such a space in a prison was no small feat.

    He didn¡¯t know the details, but someone was protecting Brielle, and that uniformed man at the door

    was their agent.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, when you leave, tell Aubree I¡¯m alright.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re noting with me?¡±

    Dustin¡¯s brow wrinkled, a pang of pity striking him at the sight of her suffering. If Max couldn¡¯t protect

    her, then Dustin would take her out of the country. Once they were gone, the sky was the limit. She

    could do whatever she wanted.

    Chapter 4/2

    Brielle¡¯s face paled; a headache was throbbing. ¡°I can¡¯t leave. Even if I did, where would I go?¡±

 Chapter 473

    Chapter 473

    Michael had the power to throw her into that mess once: he could very well do it again. And if they

    found out she was MIA from her personal prison, who¡¯s to say what he¡¯d get up to next?

    The Dorsey n, the Barnes bunch, the Rond gang they were all eyeing her like a pack of wolves

    circling their prey. Maybe, just maybe, sticking around here was the safer bet.

    Dustin didn¡¯t press her for answers. After all, a girl who could rake in a cool billion at the ckjack

    tables in one night wasn¡¯t without resources. She had her reasons for staying put.

    ¡°Little Bri,¡± he said, his voice casual but firm. ¡°I¡¯ll leave my digits with that uniformed dude at the door. If

    you ever get cold feet or whatever, give me a ring. The Lynch turf ain¡¯t in Beaconsfield, but keeping a

    lady safe? That¡¯s a cakewalk for us.¡±

    He pondered for a second, then nonchntly ruffled her hair like she was a pet bunny or something.

    ¡°Besides, I kinda dig being your knight in shining armor, if¡­¡± he added, trailing off before he could

    finish the thought. A rare hint of mncholy flickered across his eyes.

    ¡°Anyway, if you smell trouble brewing, have that guy outside give me a shout. Can¡¯t quite peg who he¡¯s

    rolling with, but he seems to mean you no harm.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, thank you,¡± Brielle said, heartfelt gratitudecing her voice. Through all the time she¡¯d

    known Dustin, with his rep and all, he¡¯d been nothing but good to her. He had never crossed a line.

    There was no further hesitation from Dustin. With Aubree waiting at the door, he didn¡¯t want to give her

    the wrong idea by lingering. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m out. Remember, hit me up if things get too hot to handle.¡±

    Brielle felt a lump in her throat, her eyes misting over.

    At¨Cthe door, Dustin paused, then turned back and pulled her into a hug. Brielle stiffened, caught off

    guard, but he simply patted her back ¨C a gesture devoid of any untoward intent, perhaps a reaction to

    the bruises on her neck.

    It was brief, and the

    he was standing straight again. With any other guy. Brielle would¡¯ve fought back, even in her weakened

    state, like she had with Spencer. But with Dustin, it was different. There was this vibe of utter tranquility

    between them from the get¨Cgo.

    He was open with her, letting her know the kind of man he was. So straightforward it disarmed any

    need for guards.

    Dustin reached the door and slowly closed it behind him. The uniformed man seemed more on, edge,

    eyeing him like a hawk, muscles tensed as if ready to throw a punch at any second. The guy¡¯s hostility

    had ramped up a notch.

    Dustin raised an eyebrow, sensing something, and curved his lips into a half¨Csmile. He fished out a

    business card from his pocket and handed it over.

    ¡°My number, for little Bri.¡±

    1/2

    11:55

    The uniformed man stayed silent and didn¡¯t take it at first.

    ¡°What¡¯s up? Your boss doesn¡¯t want guys getting close to little Bri?¡± Dustin mused, his sharpness

    catching even the slightest hesitation.

    The man hurriedly took the card, lips pressed into a thin line, clearly itching to see Dustin off.

    Dustin wasn¡¯t fazed. He strolled out to where Aubree sat on a bench, anxiety written all over her

    face.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch Aubree bounced up and hurried over. ¡°How¡¯s Bri? Is she-

    Let¡¯s talk in the car.¡±

    With a tone as cool as the evening breeze, Dustin nced around and stepped outside, Aubree hot on

    his heels. Once the car door shut, she saw him slip into contemtion, his finger tapping the steering

    wheel rhythmically.

    ¡°Bri¡¯s holding up well. No need to worry.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s tension melted away, and her eyes reddened as she unclenched her fists. She felt a sour

    sting in her nose.

    ¡°Aubree, when you were at Dorsey International, did you see Max?¡±

    At the mention of Max, Aubree¡¯s expression soured. ¡°Yeah, I saw him. He and Alivia were all cozied up.

    Looks like they¡¯re tying the knot soon. Good for him. He finally shook Bri off his tail¡± Dustin lounged

    back, fingers still ying on the wheel. ¡°Really? How¡¯s Max doing? Didn¡¯t I hear he got banged up?¡±

    ¡°He seemed better than ever. Shame Ryan didn¡¯t finish the job.¡±

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Dustin squinted a smile. ¡°As long as he¡¯s doing fine. Little Bri seems to be worried sick for the guy. If he

    bit the dust, she¡¯d be a hundred times more miserable.¡±

    Aubree went silent, swallowed by sadness. Women oftencked the ruthlessness of men. Aubree

    despised Andrew, but the pain of hating him was nothingpared to the agony of him being gone

    from this world. No matter the hate, she wished he was still breathing.

    If only love had an off switch, to easily retract all feelings without a trace. If such a thing existed, she¡¯d

    trade the world for it.

 Chapter 474

    Chapter 474

    Inside the Dorsey Tower.

    Max had barely set foot on the top floor when he caught sight of a figure from behind. Had Spencer

    been there, he would have instantly recognized her. It was Sydney,

    Sydney¡¯s recent sartorial choices were a carbon copy of Brielle¡¯s minimalist chic. Her original style was

    bright and bubbly ¨C a drastic shift that sparked quite the buzz among her colleagues, But Sydney

    couldn¡¯t care less about the chatter. Catching a ulimpse of Max, a sh of delight swept through her

    eyes. It wasn¡¯t for nothing that she¡¯d been frequenting the top floor.

    After snagging a few million from Spencer, she had revamped her image. Even her wardrobe mimicked

    Brielle¡¯s. To an outsider unfamiliar with both Sydney and Brielle, Sydney¡¯s silhouette could¡¯ve easily

    been mistaken for Brielle¡¯s.

    Didn¡¯t Max and Spencer both have a penchant for such elegance? With her persistent presence,

    perhaps Mr. Dorsey might just take a shine to her.

    Sydney noticed Max¡¯s nce and curved her lips into a smile. However, Max merely spared her a

    fleeting look before emotionlessly stepping into his office.

    Sydney¡¯s face fell. What went wrong? Why didn¡¯t he linger on her a moment longer?

    These past few days, Spencer hadn¡¯t reached out to her either. She was on edge, worrying that things

    were slipping out of her control.

    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

    Her focus had drifted from her job, consumed by the thought of winning Spencer¡¯s attention and

    usurping Brielle in his and Mr. Dorsey¡¯s esteem. Sydney believed In her eventual triumph. Brielle hadn¡¯t

    been to the office in days who knew which man she had run off with this time? She was even pregnant,

    truly nothing but loose morals Incarnate.

    Sydney snorted dismissively and returned to her department in her tailored outfit.

    She keenly noticed fewer people engaging with her, aware of the whispers about her mimicking Brielle.

    Brielle¡¯s distinctive personal style was starkly different from Sydney¡¯s usual look.

    This abrupt change, coupled with her new role as Brielle¡¯s assistant, had tongues wagging, but she

    was oblivious to their stares. After all, she had hooked up with Spencer ¨C perhaps one day. She would

    even marry into the family.

    Sneaking into Brielle¡¯s office in her absence, Sydney would sit at the desk as if she was already

    slipping into Brielle¡¯s shoes. It was only a matter of time. Brielle, with her pregnant frame, couldn¡¯t

    possibly continue to entice Max.

    Upon entering his office, Max massaged his temples, the headache persisting. ¡°Patrick.¡±

    At his call, the ever¨Cready assistant approached.

    Chapter 474

    ¡°How¡¯s the investigation going?¡±

    ¡°Mr. President, we¡¯re nearly there.¡±

    Max leaned back, eyes half¨Cclosed, his aura cool and detached. Looking paler than usual, he was

    even more inscrutable, his thoughts a mystery.

    Patrick hesitated, ultimately holding his tongue.

    Minutester, Max¡¯s eyes opened as his phone rang. It was Michael. Assuming Max was already back

    at thepany, Michael naturally wanted to discuss the vacant position left by Brielle¡¯s absence,

    inevitably bringing her up.

    ¡°Max, with Brielle in jail, she can¡¯t continue as the director. It¡¯s time for Spencer to step back in. He¡¯s a

    Dorsey, after all. It¡¯s unseemly to have a woman overshadowing him like this.¡±

    Max, who had been flipping through documents, paused at Michael¡¯s words. ¡°I had Spencer step down

    not because of anything else but hisck ofpetence.¡±

    *Competence can be nurtured, but character ws? Those are marrow¨Cdeep.¡±

    *Father, you¡¯re saying I should just remove Brielle from the director position. Is that enough?¡±

    Michael had feared Max¡¯s reluctance, given that Brielle was his prot¨¦g¨¦. Michael even suspectec that

    there was something between them, so Max¡¯s quick agreement left Michael momentarily at a loss.

    ¡°Father?¡±

    Max called out, his voice still even¨Ckeeled. ¡°Did you ever look into why Brielle and Spencer

    came to blows?¡±

    His tone was unchanged even when speaking of Brielle as if she was merely a stranger.

    ¡°It¡¯s likely just some romantic tiff.¡±

    ¡°Have you considered, father, that keeping Brielle locked away might not be wise? The position of

    director at Dorsey International is coveted by many. It started with Spencer stepping down for Brielle to

    step up, and now it¡¯s reversed. Everyone is curious about the drama. And if Brielle dn¡¯t recurface

    coon they¡¯ll start suspecting us of foul y.¡±

 Chapter 475

    Chapter 475

    Michael never really pondered the implications of the situation; his mind was set on keeping things

    under wraps. Yet, he was well aware that some folks just couldn¡¯t keep their lips sealed. ¡°Max, what do

    you reckon we do? You can¡¯t bear to let Brielle go, can you?¡± Michael¡¯s tone. carried a hint of

    sternness. If Max hesitated, Michael was resolute about not letting Brielle off

    the hook.

    ¡°Dad, I¡¯m simply looking at the facts. Sure, we can remove Brielle from her position¨Cafter all, Dorsey

    International is our family¡¯s turf. But she¡¯s built a reputation in her department. Event fabricating a

    resignation letter might not stop the chatter. As for the mess with William and Sue, we¡¯ve already

    leaned on the police and gagged some of the press. If we keep this up, it¡¯ll only draw suspicion from

    the higher¨Cups. There¡¯s been a shake¨Cup in their ranks recently¨Cnew faces in, old ones out. The new

    broom sweeps clean, and the Dorsey family¡¯s reputation can¡¯t afford a single misstep.¡±

    Michael squinted, considering the recent shift in power and the truth in the saying about new officials

    making big changes. The debacle William stirred up had been a major

    embarrassment, and now, with Spencer¡¯s predicament, it was likely to grab unwanted attention.

    Max¡¯s words, though¨Cpurely objective and in the family¡¯s best interest¨Ccaused Michael ant instant

    headache.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t stripping Brielle of her title let her off easy? Thanks to her, Spencer ended up in the ER.¡±

    ¡°Since it¡¯s all about emotions, and with Spencer¡¯s wedding around the corner, consider that chapter

    closed. As for Brielle, she¡¯s nothing without her job. Cut her off from Dorsey International, and she¡¯s

    done for. That¡¯s a more bitter pill to swallow than mere confinement. She¡¯s a tough cookie, but it¡¯s the

    softest cuts that hurt the most.¡±

    A flicker of satisfaction crossed Michael¡¯s eyes, and his lips curled into a faint smile. ¡°Follow your n

    then. I¡¯ll have someone notify the police to hold her for two more days, then release her. As you said,

    once fired, we¡¯ll make sure she can¡¯t find work anywhere else: She¡¯ll have no choice but to leave the

    country.¡±

    ¡°Exactly my point, Father.¡±

    Michael sighed, immensely pleased with the strategy. Max always handled things without personal

    feelings, and his indifference toward Brielle reassured Michael.

    After hanging up, Max couldn¡¯t help but cough, the action stirring the chaos in his mind. Discharging

    himself from the hospital after only three days was pushing it.

    Patrick rushed over with a cup of warm water. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, maybe you should head back to the hospital

    for a bit more rest?¡±

    1/2

    11:55

    Chapter 475

    But Max shook his head, ignoring the water and closing hisptop. ¡°Move this afternoon¡¯s meeting up,

    and convert all meetings in the next three days to virtual.¡±

    Patrickplied without protest.

    Meanwhile, Alivia lingered on the top floor. She intended to visit Max¡¯s office but knew better than to

    interrupt him. Instead, she strolled through Dorsey Tower and made her way to Brielle¡¯s department.

    There, she spotted Sydney, dressed to the nines, just like Brielle. Alivia smirked internally. approaching

    Sydney and tapping on her desk.

    ¡°Hello there.¡±

    Sydney looked up, a sh of admiration passing through her eyes at the sight of Alivia. The media had

    been all abuzz about her, touting her as a golden girl, her achievements surpassing

    many men.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Sydney was contemptuous of such praise. In her opinion, a woman¡¯s ce was to keep a man happy

    in bed¨Cthat was all it took. Like with Spencer, Sydney made him happy, and he showered her with more

    money than she could ever earn on her own.

    However, facing Alivia, Sydney felt a sense of inferiority and quickly stood up. ¡°Ms. Alivia, hello. Are

    you looking for someone?¡±

    Alivia smiled gently. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m here to see you. Do you have a moment? I¡¯d like to have a word with

    you.

    A look of difort crossed Sydney¡¯s face, and she was genuinely clueless as to what Alivia might

    want to discuss. This was their first encounter, and Sydney didn¡¯t see any need for a

    chat.

    But this was Alivia, someone she dared not offend, and whom she knew she must treat with

    utmost care.

 Chapter 476

    Chapter 476

    ¡°Alright, how about we hit the coffee shop outside Dorsey Tower? It should be pretty quiet there now.¡±

    ¡°No need. It¡¯s the middle of the workday. I¡¯ll only take a few minutes of your time.

    Sydney breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Ms. Alivia, please pick a spot then.¡±

    With a gentle smile to the passersby, Alivia headed out first, her heels clicking against the floor. Sydney

    had no choice but to follow. She thought Alivia would lead her to the break room, but she was wrong.

    Instead, Alivia entered thedies¡® room.

    Reluctantly, Sydney followed.

    Alivia stood before the mirror, looking back at her. ¡°Lock the door.¡±

    Sydney felt like a maid, but sheplied.

    Once the door was locked, Alivia¡¯s smile grew wider. She gestured towards the stalls. ¡°Check if there¡¯s

    anyone inside.¡± Her caution was habitual.

    Sydney¡¯s face twisted in displeasure. She acknowledged Alivia¡¯s high status, but why should she be

    ordered around like some servant? It was infuriating.

    But despite her inner resistance, she didn¡¯t dare make a scene and started checking the stalls.

    Empty.

    ¡°There¡¯s no one here, Ms. Alivia.¡±

    The softness on Alivia¡¯s face faded away, reced by a piercing gaze that made Sydney¡¯s skin crawl.

    ¡°What do you know about Brielle? I won¡¯t tolerate a single lie.¡±

    The confrontational stance made Sydney nervous. ¡°Ms. Alivia, that¡¯s none of your business.¡±

    As soon as the words left her mouth, Alivia¡¯s hand flew up and pped her across the face. ¡°I don¡¯t

    appreciate defiance. Remember your ce. You¡¯re not even worthy to look me in the eye when you

    speak,¡± Alivia hissed.

    Sydney¡¯s lips bled from the blow. She stared at Alivia in disbelief, her body trembling with fear at the

    malice in Alivia¡¯s eyes.

    Alivia tilted her chin up, her eyes flickering with disdain. ¡°Answer my questions, and perhaps things will

    go smoother for you.¡±

    Sydney¡¯s lips quivered, too scared to meet her gaze.

    In front of peers, Alivia might have kept up appearances, but with Sydney? She wasn¡¯t worth a shred of

    kindness.

    Sydney¡¯s hand clenched at her side. Humiliated and powerless, she whispered, ¡°Brielle¡­ she¡¯s

    102

    11:55

    Chapter 476

    pregnant. Don¡¯t know who the father is.¡±

    ¡°Who else have you told?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Spencer. He asked me to keep an eye on Brielle. He¡¯s the only one who knows.¡±

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    A glint of satisfaction shed in Alivia¡¯s eyes. She patted Sydney¡¯s face mockingly. ¡°Change out of

    those hideous clothes. If I catch you in them again, I¡¯ll have someone waiting on your route to work to

    strip you clean.¡±

    Her smile was chilling.

    Sydney¡¯s legs gave out, and she crumpled to the floor.

    Alivia turned to the sink, washing her hands as if touching Sydney had soiled her.

    Sydney shook uncontrobly, biting back any protest.

    Alivia dried her hands and strode out, only to freeze at the sight of someone in the corridor. It¡¯s. Max.

    He shouldn¡¯t have been there. Her heart raced. How long had he been standing there?

    She had assumed thedies¡® room was a sanctuary, not expecting anyone to linger outside. If Max had

    been there from the start, he might have heard everything.

    Alivia clenched her fists, her eyes darting to the men¡¯s room where Andrew was emerging with a

    cigarette between his fingers. Seeing Alivia, he raised an eyebrow. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    Words failed¡¯her, panic overwhelming her as she scanned Max¡¯s expression.

    Max casually fiddled with his phone, frowning at Andrew. ¡°What took you so long?¡±

    Andrew gestured to his half¨Csmoked cigarette. ¡°Couldn¡¯t find a smoking area on this floor. And you, the

    big boss, don¡¯t know where it is either? But, wait, did I hear some argument, or was it just me?¡±

 Chapter 477

    Chapter 477

    Andrew hadn¡¯t meant to cause a stir when he popped over to see Max. Hearing that his buddy. was out

    of the hospital he just wanted to make sure everything was on the up and up.

    But as luck would have it. Max was caught up in ast¨Cminute meeting, and with the top¨Cfloor

    conference room snagged by another team, they had to settle for a space on this floor.

    Max ran into Andrew, who asked after his health, but Max barely had time to exchange pleasantries

    before Andrew had to duck out to the men¡¯s room to curb an Itch for a smoke. What Andrew hadn¡¯t

    banked on was running into Alivia there.

    Alivia was a bundle of nerves at Andrew¡¯s words, shaking like a leaf in a storm. All her life, she¡¯d never

    known such panic. It was the kind of dread you felt when you were about to be exposed, when that

    beautiful veil was lifted to reveal the writhing maggots beneath.

    And for her, the most terrifying part was that the one lifting the veil was her greatest love. That was a

    truth she couldn¡¯t face.

    Her fingertips quivered, her cheeks drained of color.

    Max, with a sense of impatience, just pocketed his phone and muttered. ¡°Didn¡¯t notice a thing.¡±

    Andrew was left doubting himself. Had he misheard?

    Alivia sighed with relief at Max¡¯s response. ¡°Right,¡± she thought. Her voice had been soft, and Max was

    absorbed in his phone, probably wrangling some work issue. He was so engrossed in his world. How

    could he notice anything amiss?

    ¡°Lucky break,¡± she mused. But she couldn¡¯t afford to be careless next time.

    Before she could fully rx, Sydney emerged from within.

    With a cheek sporting a vivid handprint, Sydney shrank at the sight of Alivia still lingering. Her face

    nched, and her instinct to beg for mercy was nearly overwhelming.

    But Alivia was quicker, feigning concern. ¡°Are you alright, dear? Did someone bully you?¡± She reached

    out to Sydney, who recoiled in fright.

    With her back against the wall, Sydney saw the icy look on Alivia¡¯s face and noted Max with another

    man. She realized Alivia was putting on an act, a sickening charade. Yet she couldn¡¯t call her out; she

    had to y along.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, just feeling a bit under the weather. I¡¯ll just rest a bit,¡± Sydney said, her voice barely above a

    whisper.

    Alivia¡¯s expression softened as she gently patted Sydney¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Take care of yourself. If you¡¯re

    facing any bullying at work, report it to your supervisor. Don¡¯t suffer in silence. Only then can you get

    the help you need.¡±

    Sydney shuddered involuntarily at Alivia¡¯s touch, as chilling as a serpent¡¯s hiss. Terrified, she

    1/2

    11:55

    murmured, ¡°Mr. Dorsey, Ms. Alivia, I¡¯ll head back to my desk now.¡±

    Without waiting for a response, Sydney bolted.

    Watching Sydney¡¯s retreat, Alivia¡¯s eyes were inscrutable. But as she turned back to Max, her face was

    all warm again. ¡°Max, sure you don¡¯t need more rest? You look rather pale.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±

    Max¡¯s tone was dismissive, and his phone rang, signaling the start of the meeting. Patrick was

    wondering where he was.

    Max nced at Andrew and said, ¡°Meeting will wrap up in half an hour.¡±

    Andrew nodded, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his voice casual, ¡°Okay. Kenzo is at Premier Pce

    already. I¡¯m just here to pick you up. You go do your stuff. I¡¯ll wait.¡±

    ¡°Oh. Looks like you and Alivia are in sync, both dropping by the office today. It¡¯ll be quite the scene if

    you guys don¡¯t tie the knot. Even Michael seems antsy. But he¡¯s off courting the Rond family today,

    trying to set up Spencer with Sophia. Go figure.¡±

    Max stepped ahead and replied with even more indifference, ¡°Dad wants someone to keep him in

    check.¡±

    ¡°So Spencer settles down, and you¡¯re next in line, huh?¡±

    ¡°Possibly.¡±

    Alivia¡¯s heart soared at his words. Was he agreeing to marriage? Her hands were sweaty with

    anticipation, and she couldn¡¯t help but fixate on Max¡¯s retreating figure.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Andrew, removing the cigarette from his mouth, grinned. ¡°Looks like your patience paid off, Ms. Alivia.

    Good thingse to those who wait.¡±

    Alivia¡¯s breath quickened, her lips curling into a smile. ¡°And how about your wedding with Tessa? Must

    be soon, right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, getting close. She¡¯s keen on meeting new peopletely and even brought up marriage.¡±

    At the mention of marriage, Andrew¡¯s mind wandered to Aubree, who kept calling him. His brow

    furrowed with annoyance.

 Chapter 478

    Chapter 478

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Aubree had been trying to reach him numerous timestely because of some issues with Brielle, but he

    hadn¡¯t picked up the phone even once.

    Still, he hadn¡¯t blocked her number.

    Honestly, if he wanted to avoid Aubree¡¯s calls, he could have just blocked her, but ever since they¡¯d

    been whatever it was they were, he¡¯d almost never blocked her number.

    The one time he did, he wanted to spend his birthday alone with Tessa. Poor Aubree got stuck at the

    restaurant and got caught in a torrential downpour and a traffic jam, all while clutching the birthday

    cake she¡¯d bought for him. She had called him twenty times. Eventually, he grew so irked and Tessa¡¯s

    mood was soured by the interruptions¨Cthat he blocked Aubree¡¯s number.

    That night, he slept with Tessa in his arms, only to find outter that Aubree had waited for him all night

    downstairs, holding that birthday cake. But Andrew wasn¡¯t moved by her gesture; he even thought it

    was all pointless.

    Because of that block, Aubree refused to let him touch her for half a year, and only then did he realize

    the gravity of his action. After he slept with her again and sweet¨Ctalked his way back into her good

    graces, he unblocked her.

    Since then, Andrew never blocked Aubree again, as if afraid she¡¯d really get angry.

    What would happen to Aubree if he married Tessa? He subconsciously shied away from the thought.

    Alivia¡¯s voice broke into his reverie. ¡°Andrew, did you know Max always had this woman named Brielle

    by his side?¡±

    Did these people know about Brielle and Max being together during her time abroad?

    Andrew chuckled, ¡°Ah, the canary you¡¯re talking about? A canary¡¯s just a canary. If it can¡¯t bring joy, it¡¯s

    only going to be tossed aside. Max hase to his senses upon waking up this time. hasn¡¯t he? He¡¯s

    ready to marry you now. What more do you want?¡±

    Alivia knew he had a point, but she still felt uneasy. ¡°Max doesn¡¯t talk about her because he had

    amnesia after the ident. I¡¯m worried that if he sees Brielle again, he¡¯ll-¡±

    Andrew was stunned. Amnesia? How had he not noticed?

    He thought Max hadn¡¯t mentioned Brielle simply because he wanted to marry Alivia in peace. deciding

    to cut ties with Brielle. But did Max have amnesia?

    ¡°Are you sure? He doesn¡¯t seem like he¡¯s lost his memory, though. He does sometimes rub his temples

    as if he¡¯s got a headache.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m certain.¡±

    1/2

    11:56

    Otherwise, why would he have shown no reaction when she deleted Brielle¡¯s contact from his phone?

    To the Max of today, Brielle never existed in his life, so of course, he wouldn¡¯t find it odd or question

    her.

    Aside from worrying about Max¡¯s health, Andrew didn¡¯t say much else. Forgetting Brielle was no big

    deal, especially for two people who were never meant to be together. Better forgotten, perhaps. ¡°Alivia,

    you should know you¡¯re the one best suited for Max. We¡¯ve all known each other since we were kids,

    and after all these years, everyone sees you two as the couple that should be married.¡±

    With that. Alivia finally felt at ease. Even if people found out about Brielle and Max, nobody supported

    them.

    Her lips curved into a smile as she started to chat with Andrew about other things.

    Meanwhile, Max had reached the conference room door, where Patrick, seeing him, let out at sigh of

    relief.

    Just as he was about to speak, Max coughed twice. His face was even paler, and he grasped at his

    chest.

    Patrick jumped. ¡°Let¡¯s switch the meeting to virtual. You can join from the Premier Pce online and

    have a doctor check you out. You¡¯re looking very pale.¡±

    Max wanted to refuse, but as he opened his mouth, he tasted blood. His brow furrowed, and taking the

    handkerchief Patrick offered, he wiped his mouth, noticing the specks of blood on the fabric.

    At this, Patrick didn¡¯t dare let him go into the meeting and hurriedly called a doctor. Max didn¡¯t resist

    any longer and was helped into the car.

    As he settled into the seat, Andrew opened the car door, his forehead beaded with sweat from anxiety.

    Seeing Max¡¯s calm demeanor just made him more frustrated.

    ¡°Patrick said you coughed up blood?¡±

    Max coughed again as soon as he finished speaking, faintly covering,his mouth. His handkerchief was

    stained with more blood.

    Andrew¡¯s voice dropped to a whisper, his face turning ashen¨Cpaler than Max¡¯s. ¡°Patrick, hurry, drive to

    the hospital.¡± If they dyed any longer. It could be a matter of life and death.

    Alivia stood outside the car, wanting to join them, but Max¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t turn to her. He closed his eyes

    instead.

    Andrew offered her a reassuring smile. ¡°Max is just being stubborn. He probably doesn¡¯t want you to

    see him like this. I¡¯ll take him to the hospital. You¡¯ve been caring for him a lottely. Better you go home

    and rest. You don¡¯t want to end up with dark circles under your eyes.¡±

    Concerned, Alivia looked at Max, who remained impassive. ¡°Alivia, go home.¡±

    And so, sheplied, leaving as instructed.

 Chapter 479

    Chapter 479

    The atmosphere in the car was as tense as a boardroom meeting gone wrong, and Andrew was itching

    for the sedan to make a beeline to the hospital already.

    But as the vehicle sprang to life, Max spoke up. ¡°Patrick, take us to the Premier Pce,¡± he

    commanded.

    Patrick, not one to cross Max, simply nodded.

    Andrew, incredulously whipping his head around, blurted out, ¡°Are you out of your mind? You¡¯re

    coughing up blood and want to go to the Premier Pce?!¡±

    ¡°Cough, cough, cough.¡±

    No sooner had Andrew finished his rant than Max started coughing again, hison

    turning a shade paler.

    Andrew mped his mouth shut, grinding his teeth in frustration, and finally let out a resigned sigh.

    Fine, the Premier Pce had its own private doctors, which was a heck of a lot better. than staying

    cooped up in the office working overtime.

    They reached the Premier Pce in no time, where a private physician was already waiting.

    Max stepped out of the car and was promptly whisked away for a thorough check¨Cup. The rest of the

    group in the living room wore grave expressions, dreading the doctor¡¯s verdict.

    The doctor was on edge, too, understanding that coughing up blood wasn¡¯t a trivial matter; any serious

    diagnosis could throw the Dorsey family into disarray.

    After the examination, the doctor breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°It¡¯s just acute stress,¡± he said. ¡°Rest up, and

    take a couple of days off from the office. Stay home and recuperate.¡±

    Max, with his eyes closed, didn¡¯t respond. Andrew and Kenzo exchanged nces, noticing Max¡¯s

    unusual vulnerability. Neither wanted to say anything that might agitate him further, especially after the

    doctor¡¯s diagnosis.

    Wesley, the butler, came in with a cup of calming tea and handed it carefully to Max. After a couple of

    sips, Max frowned. ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡±

    That was the signal for everyone to leave.

    Kenzo¡¯s eyebrows knitted together, noting theck of color in Max¡¯s lips. ¡°Are you sure your don¡¯t need

    the hospital? Who gets discharged in three days with injuries like yours? What¡¯s the rush?¡±

    Andrew chimed in with his agreement. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s head to the hospital now, Max. You look as pale as a

    ghost.¡±

    Max lifted his gaze, sweeping it over them, and then stood up, heading upstairs. ¡°I¡¯ll have Patrick see

    you off.¡±

    1/3

    11:56

    Andrew¡¯s mouth twitched with annoyance, but with Max¡¯s dismissal clear, Andrew couldn¡¯t glue himself

    to the spot and stay.

    ¡°Look at him! Feels even colder than before, doesn¡¯t he? Is all this because he forgot Brielle?¡±

    At the mention of Brielle, Kenzo¡¯s eyebrows shot up in surprise. ¡°Forgot Brielle?¡± he queried.

    Andrew, ever the chatterbox, scoffed, ¡°Your sister said so. Max woke up with amnesia, leaving Brielle in

    the dark. I reckon it¡¯s true; he¡¯s less human than ever.¡±

    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

    Both men turned their questioning gaze to Patrick, who was trailing behind.

    Patrick bowed respectfully, his answer watertight as ever. ¡°I am not at liberty to discuss Mr. Dorsey¡¯s

    matters.¡±

    Andrew snorted. After all these years, Max¡¯s assistant was still a closed book. No wonder Max trusted

    him.

    Knowing he¡¯d get nothing out of Patrick, Andrew hopped into his convertible, ready to speed away.

    ¡°Regardless of whether he forgot Brielle or not, it makes no difference to us. Patrick, just make sure he

    takes care of himself. If anything goes awry, Beaconsfield will have quite the stir.¡± Andrew said before

    leaving.

    Patrick¡¯s face remained respectful. ¡°Mr. Clements, rest assured, I will take good care of the CEO.¡±

    With a nod, Andrew drove off in his convertible.

    Kenzo stood for a moment, eyeing Patrick. Hewas the very image ofposure, neither too humble

    nor arrogant¨Ctruly Max¡¯s man.

    Kenzo chuckled to himself and got into his car, driving away.

    Patrick sought out Max, who had just finished showering, droplets of water trickling down from his hair.

    ¡°Have they left?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Max walked to the window. ¡°How much longer before everything is settled?¡±

    ¡°Two days at best. The paperwork isplex, but thewyers are pushing things along.¡±

    Hmm.¡®

    Max¡¯s tone was indifferent, but he couldn¡¯t help another bout of coughing.

    ¡°Sir, you should really rest these next few days,¡± Patrick urged. ¡°We have a lot riding on your well¨C

    being, and there¡¯s the impending alliance with the Rond family. A dinner between the families is in

    order.¡±

    Max nodded, then pressed a hand to his temple before lying down on the bed.

    Patrick turned off the light and quietly left the room.

    2/3

    11:56

    My Pex had suctively reaching out beside him, only to embrace empty air. Hist

    hast decat party, the taste of blood almost too much to bear.

    TAUSA, CONS?, CON

    A few coughs escaped him as he chiklishly stuffed a pillow into his arms, holding it tight as he drifted off

    to slee

 Chapter 480

    Chapter 480

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Two dayster, at the prison.

    Brielle was somewhat stunned when she was told she could leave. Lifting her gaze to the sunlight

    streaming through the prison gates, she involuntarily closed her eyes. It all felt so surreal; the light was

    so intense it almost brought tears to her eyes.

    The room she had been staying in was dimly lit, and having spent time in solitary, she hadn¡¯t been

    bathed in sunlight like this for ages.

    She awkwardly wiped her eyes as the man in uniform beside her returned her cell phone. ¡°Ms. Brielle,

    the Dorsey family has decided not to pursue the matter further, and here¡¯s your resignation letter.

    Someone asked me to give this to you.¡±

    Resignation letter? Rubbing her eyes, Brielle took the brief document and saw Max¡¯s signature at the

    bottom. It felt like a thousand needles piercing straight into her heart. Her face turned pale as she

    clutched the paper tightly.

    The uniformed man said nothing more and turned to re¨Center the building.

    Standing amidst the flood of light, Brielle could feel the warmth of the sun, yet she felt as if she were

    still in that dark cell, surrounded by shadow, and her mind aplete nk.

    She sat down, lost and bewildered, only to see a car slowly approach and stop beside her. The car

    door opened, revealing Aubree¡¯s face, alight with surprise. ¡°You¡¯re free! I couldn¡¯t believe it. when I got

    the call. I thought I was dreaming. How on earth did the Dorsey family let you off the hook?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s eyes still held a touch of bewilderment, but shetched onto the key point in Aubree¡¯s

    words.

    ¡°Who called you?¡±

    with the Dorsey family> <

    ¡°A stranger, using your phone, told me toe pick you up and said you were released. What¡¯s

    Why¡¯d they let you go so easily? I heard Spencer just got out of the hospital two days ago, and now

    he¡¯s apparently getting engaged to Sophia, of all people. Talk about a plot twist.¡±

    It felt to Brielle as if she had been away from Beaconsfield for ages,pletely out of touch with its

    current affairs.

    Spencer and Sophia? How did these two unrted people suddenly be a pair? Sophia was from

    her camp. She didn¡¯t know whether this was all a coincidence or if someone was orchestrating these

    events.

    Curious about the document in Brielle¡¯s hand, Aubree took it and started cursing up a storm upon

    seeing the signed resignation letter. ¡°That jerk! How could he be so heartless? You have his child and-¡±

    She stopped mid¨Csentence, her mouth snapping shut as she saw Brielle¡¯s eyes brim with tears.

    1/2

    11:56

    Chapter 480

    The difort was palpable.

    ¡°Bri, forget Dorsey International. We¡¯ll find you a job somewhere else. The sky¡¯s the limit, right? You

    don¡¯t need them to survive.¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t respond and was about to get into the car when another vehicle pulled up in front. of her.

    Spencer stepped out, his expression neither bright nor dejected. He simply looked Brielle. over and

    asked, ¡°Brielle, would you marry me?¡±

    Her face instantly darkened, disgust clear in her eyes.

    Spencer, expecting this reaction, continued, ¡°Even If you don¡¯t want me, Uncle Max won¡¯t choose you

    either. Did you know? Tonight, the Dorsey family is dining with the Barnes and the Rond families to

    discuss marriage. Uncle Max is getting hitched.¡±

    Brielle went pale, disbelief written all over her face. Her heart shattered, and her bones ground

    to dust.

    Spencer took pleasure in her pain, his own heart feeling a twisted sense of relief. Noticing the

    resignation letter in Brielle¡¯s hand, he smirked, ¡°You probably don¡¯t know, but Uncle Max. personally

    requested your resignation. In his eyes, you¡¯re now just a stranger who hurt the Dorsey family. He has

    a hematoma, resulting in memory loss¨Che¡¯s forgotten you. Even if you showed up on his doorstep, he

    wouldn¡¯t spare you a second nce.¡±

    After delivering his piece, he looked at her despondently. ¡°So, will you still choose him? If you marry

    me, I¡¯ll tell Grandfather right away. We¡¯ll put aside our past grievances and start over. You know,

    choosing me is your best option now.¡±

    ¡°Get lost,¡± Brielle said bluntly and got into Aubree¡¯s car.

    Aubree responded to Spencer with a resounding middle finger.

    Spencer stood still, chuckling at himself. He knewing here was masochistic, yet he couldn¡¯t help

    but want to see Brielle. He was a glutton for punishment.

    Inside the car, Aubree cautiously watched Brielle¡¯s expression. So Max had forgotten Brielle¨Ca

    dramatic turn of events that was actually ying out in real life.

    Swallowing hard, Aubree wasn¡¯t sure how to console her friend. Then, Brielle spoke up. ¡°Can we find

    out where these families are meeting tonight?¡±

 Chatper 481

    Chapter 481

    The car came to a sudden, jarring halt.

    Aubree turned her head to stare at Brielle, her brows knitting together in worry.

    ¡°Even if you did find out, what then? Do you think you can just show up on their doorstep? Didn¡¯t you

    hear what Spencer said? That¡¯s the Dorsey n, the Rond bunch, and the Barnes brigade meeting

    up. Any one of those families could squash you like a bug with a flick of their wrist. Are you really

    nning to beg Max to plead with him to remember you now? Bri, snap out of it. If he forgot you, it just

    proves he never loved you. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to erase you sopletely.¡±

    ¡°He just had an ident.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line, her trembling fingertips betraying her anxiety, ¡°I heard about it

    when I was locked away, but I don¡¯t believe it. I need to see for myself.¡± And these past few days, she

    felt she had braced herself for the truth.

    ¡°If he hasn¡¯t forgotten you, doesn¡¯t that make it even worse? He¡¯s about to marry Alivia. Bri, what the

    hell are you doing? Remember how you counseled me back then, or are you just dying to y the

    other woman? I¡¯m messed up enough for the both of us. Why are you so eager to join the club? Why

    put yourself through this?¡± Aubree was truly getting heated now.

    ¡°He promised me, he wouldn¡¯t marry Alivia.¡±

    A trace of sadness flickered through Aubree¡¯s eyes, reflecting the hopelessness of a woman in love.

    Once smitten, it was like nting a tree in your heart, nurturing it into a towering oak whose roots

    invaded every corner of your being. To rip it out was to tear at every inch of your heart, and god, did it

    hurt.

    Aubree knew this pain all too well, but her disillusionment with Andrew had reached saturation; even a

    flood wouldn¡¯t stir a ripple. She had grown numb to it.

    But Brielle was different. Or at least, Aubree hoped she was.

    ¡°Men¡¯s promises are worth jack, Bri. Let¡¯s just get the hell out of Beaconsfield,¡± she said, ready to m

    on the gas pedal, sparks of fury in her eyes. She knew all too well how empty those promises could be.

    They might¡¯ve felt genuine at the moment, but when they expired unfulfilled, they only served as bitter

    reminders of what could have been. It was better not to dwell on them, for the more you did, the more it

    hurt.

    ¡°If Max said he¡¯ll do something, he¡¯ll do it.¡± Brielle¡¯s voice was soft but firm, echoing in the car, ¡°And I

    believe he meant it. He gave me his rosary.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t Alivia have one just like it? Haven¡¯t you ever asked why she has one too? With your guts, how

    could you not be curious about its origin? You¡¯re afraid to ask because you fear the answer might not

    be what you want, right?¡±

    1/2

    13:20

    Chapter 481

    Aubree¡¯s words struck a nerve. Brielle¡¯s face instantly paled, and her lips pressed together.

    Aubree felt a twinge of cruelty for speaking so harshly, but she was already in too deep, and she

    definitely didn¡¯t want her best friend falling down the same hole.

    Max was the object of countless desires, but he didn¡¯t give any of them a second nce. How could he

    truly care for a woman of no standing?

    He had toyed with Brielle¡¯s heart so effortlessly, and when he was done, he discarded it just as easily.

    His attitude had always been one of disdain, the kind that itched at your pride.

    After saying her piece, Aubree thought Brielle would see reason. After all, when unsure of Max¡¯s

    feelings, the Brielle of old would guard her own heart well, never revealing a thing to

    anyone.

    But that was before she had been with Max. Not having been with him meant she had never fully seen

    herself. After all, one couldn¡¯t see their own reflection without something to bounce back against. It took

    colliding with a man like Max, so aloof from the world, for her to truly understand herself and realize

    what she longed for. Deep down, she yearned for someone to love her fiercely, to the end, to show her

    that love was as powerful as death.

    There were so many love stories in the world. There were even people who could spend a lifetime

    together without even knowing each other¡¯s names. She didn¡¯t want that with Max. She didn¡¯t want

    such a pitiful ending, no more meaningful than a farcical y.

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    She lowered hershes, a stubborn bite to her lip, and fell silent.

    Aubree took her back to Pearl Estate. Noticing her friend¡¯s weary state, she found her a set of pajamas.

    ¡°Take a good soak and get some rest. Once you¡¯re feeling better, we can talk about going abroad or

    whatever you want. The Dorsey family let you go, and with Max¡¯s reach, no otherpany will dare

    hire you.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s hand paused as she took the clothes, a faint attempt at a smile flickering at her lips. But she

    couldn¡¯t muster the expression no matter how hard she tried.

    Chapter 482

 Chatper 482

    Chapter 482

    Was this really the end?

    After losing an innocent child and being left scarred and bruised, Max was about to marry someone

    else a perfect ending for him, while she had been nothing more than a passerby in his eyes from the

    very beginning.

    Brielle¡¯s head was pounding with a headache that only seemed to fade when Aubree pushed her into

    the bathtub. In the warmth of the water, she felt like she wasing back to life, yet she made no other

    move and simply soaked in the hot embrace.

    Aubree stepped out of the bathroom and ordered somefort food for delivery, then sat waiting for

    Brielle. Her eyes nced at Brielle¡¯s phone on the counter, which had turned off automatically¨C

    probably hadn¡¯t been charged in days. She picked up the phone and plugged it in. After everything was

    set, she settled on the couch, waiting for Brielle to emerge.

    During that time, Andrew called. Aubree frowned upon seeing the shing name and dismissed the call

    without a second thought..

    Andrew dialed again. He wasn¡¯t as heartless as he seemed. After being rejected once, twice, by the

    third call, Aubree gave in.

    ¡°What do you want?¡±

    ¡°Brielle¡¯s out of jail?¡±

    Aubree let out a scoff, her lips curling with mockery, ¡°Yeah, no thanks to you, Mr. Big Shot.¡±

    Andrew seemed unaffected by her scorn; instead, he lounged back, one leg bent, d only in a

    bathrobe revealing his tanned skin in a way that could set pulses racing¨Cif anyone were there to see it.

    Drying his hair, he asked casually, ¡°Are you upset?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears. It was always this way with him¨Cp you, then dangle a carrot in

    front of you. And she was already softening without even receiving that carrot yet.

    That was the terrifying thing about love. It ate at you like ants on an elephant, leaving even Aubree

    disgusted by her own pitiful state.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s just your usual way. I¡¯m used to it.¡±

    Andrew paused, sensing her tone, and sighed. ¡°Aubree, how long are you nning to stay out this

    time? If you¡¯re going to forgive me eventually, why make a scene at all? Juste back. It¡¯s cold, and

    I¡¯m freezing alone in bed.¡±

    That was Andrew for you¨Cable to shrug off all of her heartache, regret, and sorrow with ease. But if

    Tessa so much as furrowed her brow, he¡¯d move heaven and earth to make her happy. That was the

    difference between love and indifference.

    Aubree wanted to say ¡®she¡¯d never return, but instead, she looked down. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Those words

    were probably the most hurtful thing she could muster.

    1/2

    13:20

    Chapter 48Z

    Andrew didn¡¯t push further. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you. I haven¡¯t changed the locks.¡±

    Aubree ended the call and slumped on the couch, staring nkly at the ceiling. She hadn¡¯t slept well

    since Brielle¡¯s incident. Now that Brielle was finally free, Aubree¡¯s tension was released, and fatigue

    washed over her from all sides. Yawning, she dozed off at the edge of the sofa.

    Brielle spent an hour in the bath, and the house was quiet when she emerged. Aubree was asleep on

    the couch, her body slouched awkwardly.

    The air conditioning was off, so Brielle turned it on. She did not want Aubree to catch a cold and

    fetched a nket to cover her.

    The food arrived. Brielle picked it up, noticing Aubree was still asleep. She had no appetite but warmed

    the food in pots anyway, so it¡¯d be ready when Aubree woke.

    As dusk approached, the sunset cast romantic shadows across the room. Brielle stood by the floor¨Cto¨C

    ceiling window for a while before slipping on a coat and ncing back at Aubree.

    Seeing her still asleep, Brielle let out a relieved sigh and tiptoed to the door, thinking she¡¯d just sneak a

    peek. If she saw it with her own eyes, she could give up, free from any lingering thoughts.

    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    And if she were rejected quietly, at least it wouldn¡¯t be too embarrassing¨CAubree wouldn¡¯t know or be

    there to judge her. With that thought, Brielle closed the door behind her.

    At the sound of the door shutting, Aubree¡¯s eyshes fluttered, and she sighed, pulling a pillow into her

    embrace. She decided to pretend she knew nothing. Sometimes, you don¡¯t hit the brakes until you

    crash into a wall.

    Brielle called Tiffanie for the address of the Dorsey family gathering. Tiffanie was quick to respond,

    sending the address directly to Brielle¡¯s phone, followed by a cautionary note. [A daring move, huh?

    Alivia¡¯s nning is tight tonight, intentionally setting the Barnes family gathering next door. Everyone

    knows what she¡¯s up to; Maxie¡¯s engagement to her is all but sealed. If you barge in now, it¡¯s suicide.

    You won¡¯tst a second against her.]

    After a pause, another message came. [Just so you know, Brielle, if you go down in there, no one¡¯s

    coming to pick up the pieces¨Cnot the Dorseys, the Ronds, or the Barnes. A flick of their fingers

    could crush you.]

    [I thought I was bold, but you¡¯re outright mad. Ah well, madness be damned. If you don¡¯t act, Maxie¡¯s

    truly gone for good.]

    Brielle gripped the steering wheel and floored the gas pedal.

 Chatper 483

    Chapter 483

    In the grand lobby of the hotel, the Dorsey n had just met up with the Rond folks.

    Truth be told, this wasn¡¯t a gathering of three families. After all, when you were discussing nuptials, it

    was not exactly a group huddle situation.

    The Dorseys and the Ronds had already nned an early meeting here, and the Barnes n

    happened to have booked the room next door, so all three ended up bumping into each other in the

    hallway.

    After exchanging pleasantries, the Dorseys and the Ronds headed to the adjacent private dining

    room.

    Alivia stood amidst the crowd, sneaking a nce at Max.

    Tonight¡¯s main event wasn¡¯t about Spencer and Sophia. It was about her and Max. She had everything

    nned down to a T. With Max having forgotten all about Brielle, this was the perfect opportunity to

    strike. The engagement date had to be set tonight.

    As for Spencer and Sophia, they were merely her backdrop. She was quite ustomed to using others

    as her stage setting. Besides, Spencer would stir the pot soon enough.

    Everything would unfold ording to n.

    Inside the dining room.

    Max was poker¨Cfaced, while Spencer and Sophia sat at a considerable distance from each other,

    hardly looking like a couple about to get engaged.

    Once the Dorsey party settled in, the Rond party followed suit. Spencer and Sophia were arranged

    to sit together. If he couldn¡¯t marry Brielle, then who he married didn¡¯t matter. It wouldn¡¯t stop him from

    pursuing her. With the elders present, he simply watched them clinking sses, eagerly anticipating

    the uing drama.

    Sacrificing his own trivial marriage to ensure Brielle and Max would never be, seemed like a fair trade

    to Spencer. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have obediently shown up tonight.

    Spencer¡¯s gaze involuntarily drifted to Max, who held a cup of tea between his fingers. As he was still

    nursing his wounds, no one urged him to drink.

    The affair with Ryan was known by few outside the families; it was said that Ryan was exiled for

    breaking the Dorsey¡¯s family rules. So, no one was aware of Max¡¯s injuries, but seeing him. with tea, no

    one came up to offer him a drink either.

    Max held his cup, his gaze suddenly lifting to meet Spencer¡¯s in mid¨Cair. Spencer stiffened, feeling

    ufortably transparent. He quickly averted his eyes, his expression turning pale as he looked away.

    The toasting went on for several rounds, both families appearing quite content. Tessa¡¯s father, Austin,

    stood up and respectfully toasted Michael.

    1/2

    13.30

    Chapter 483

    Half an hourter, the engagement date was set for the following Friday. The meal proceeded

    amicably, everything seeming to go smoothly.

    Meanwhile, next door, the atmosphere was equally lively, with all members of the Barnes family

    present.

    Alivia, sitting beside Kenzo, was the center of attention. Kenzo himself hadn¡¯t eaten much, quietly

    listening to the elders¡® conversation.

    Both Alivia and Kenzo shone brightly among their peers, whether from the side branches or the Barnes¡®

    core family. As a young woman, Alivia was especially the pride of her lineage. ustomed to being the

    belle of the ball, she wore a modest smile, basking in the

    adoration of everyone around her.

    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

    Others looked on with envy, many wishing they could trade ces with Alivia and experience

    the life she led.

    The mood was harmonious until someone broached the topic.

    ¡°Did you hear that the Dorseys and the Ronds are discussing Spencer and Sophia¡¯s engagement

    next door?¡±

    ¡°Spencer¡¯s nearly onto his second fianc¨¦e, yet Max still hasn¡¯t popped the question to Alivia. After all

    these years, there¡¯s been constant talk of their imminent engagement, but no sign of it yet.¡±

    ¡°Could it be that Max has no intention of marrying at all?¡±

    ¡°What about Alivia then?¡±

    The chatter grew louder. Some even boldly asked Alivia herself.

    ¡°Alivia, aren¡¯t they arranging Spencer¡¯s engagement next door? As the elder, why has Max dyed his

    engagement for so long? When are you two going to marry?¡±

    Alivia¡¯s face stiffened, but she quickly regained herposure. Now that Max hadpletely forgotten

    Brielle, it was time to schedule their own wedding.

    Her lips curved into a smile. ¡°It should be very soon, depending on how Max wants to arrange

    it.¡±

    ¡°How soon? You¡¯ve been saying that for years. Max has never acknowledged any fianc¨¦e; it¡¯s always

    been you chasing after him.¡±

    The speaker was a young college girl from one of the side branches, always overshadowed by Alivia

    and clearly resentful.

    ¡°If Max really liked you, he would¡¯ve proposed by now. It wouldn¡¯t be dragging on like this. I think he just

    doesn¡¯t want to marry you.¡±

    The warm atmosphere chilled in an instant. The outspoken girl realized she might have gone too far

    and pursed her lips.

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    13:20

    Chapter 483

    Thinking of Brielle¡¯s exit from the picture, Alivia smiled icily, confident. ¡°If Max isn¡¯t going to marry me,

    then who will he marry?¡±

 Chatper 484

    Chapter 484

    The girl was startled by Alivia¡¯s imposing presence, sweat beads quickly forming on her forehead.

    Having made a sarcastic remark towards Alivia in such a setting, she knew her days ahead would be

    anything but easy.

    A flicker of amusement crossed Alivia¡¯s eyes ¨C such impulsive fools were destined to be mere cannon

    fodder. She rose gracefully, cradling a cup of water in her hands. ¡°Grandpa, uncles, Max was injured

    recently and isn¡¯t in the best of health, so he¡¯s not really up for moving around much. He¡¯s only here

    tonight to support Michael, so he won¡¯t be joining in the toasts. He just messaged me toe over, so

    I¡¯ll go and take this cup of water to them. You all enjoy your meal,¡± she said with thoughtful

    consideration.

    Each word subtly hinted at her close rtionship with Max.

    A glint of satisfaction shone in Jose¡¯s eyes as he chuckled, ¡°You¡¯re not even married into the family yet,

    and already you¡¯re talking for them. Go ahead, and remind him to take it easy.¡± Given his close

    rtionship with Michael, Jose was well aware of Max¡¯s injury.

    After stepping out of the room, Alivia smiled and paused to send a message to Austin. She and Tessa

    were friends, or at least that was what it seemed to others. And Austin, being Tessa¡¯s father, had

    always shown his fondness for her in subtle ways.

    The Rond family, one of the four major families in Beaconsfield, owed much of their stability to the

    early support from the Clements family. Thanks to Andrew¡¯s friendship with both Max and Kenzo, the

    Ronds had indeed gained significant advantages.

    On the surface, they were on equal footing with the other families, but in reality, the Ronds were a

    step below the rest. Now, it was time to y this chess piece.

    After sending the message, Alivia walked back through the door.

    ¡°Grandpa Jaxon, Grandpa Michael, I¡¯m here on behalf of the elders to offer a toast to Spencer and

    Sophia,¡± she said, holding a ss of light wine with a beaming smile as she approached Sophia.

    ¡°Sophia, congrattions.¡±

    Sophia¡¯s lips twitched into a feigned look of delighted surprise. ¡°Thank you, Alivia.¡±

    Alivia¡¯s gaze then shifted to Spencer, who, understanding the cue, looked eager to jump in.

    Sure enough, Austin was the first to speak up. ¡°Ms. Alivia, you have be the head of the research

    institute at such a young age. I hear the location is set. Is the government going to back it up next?¡±

    Alivia¡¯s face showed a touch of modesty as she gracefully made her way to Max¡¯s side, replying to

    Austin¡¯s query.

    ¡°The government funding is just a part of it. The most significant contribution stilles from Infinity

    Brilliance. They¡¯ve invested billions to fully support the institute¡¯s growth. Talent

    13:21

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Chapter 484

    from our international branches will gradually be transferred here, and my mentor will be guiding me

    throughout.¡±

    Among the younger generation, who wouldn¡¯t want to cling to Alivia now? It was a golden ticket into the

    institute, anding out with its stamp was a matter of great prestige. The institute¡¯s value was

    internationally recognized, and even young people from other countries were vying for a chance to get

    in.

    As the two bantered, Michael listened with growing approval of Alivia. ¡°Alivia, once Max is healed up, I¡¯ll

    have hime over to ask for your hand,¡± he dered.

    A blush of demure femininity finally graced Alivia¡¯s cheeks as she nced down at Max. Max held his

    teacup, appearing indifferent, as if the surroundings had nothing to do with him.

    As the woman, Alivia was expected to show some reserve, so she turned to Austin.

    Austin immediately raised his ss. ¡°Michael, why not let the Dorsey family celebrate a double joy

    tonight?¡±

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    Chapter 485

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    Michael¡¯s eyes crinkled with mirth, the very idea tickling him pink. The ce was buzzing with energy,

    and since everyone from the inner circle was gathered, why not have Max pop next door and toast to

    the crowd? They could even hammer out the details of the wedding.

    With the three major families witnessing the union, they¡¯d be tied together, sailing on the same ship, so

    to speak.

    A glint of amusement shed through Alivia¡¯s eyes. With Max¡¯s memory a nk te, Michael fanning

    the mes, and the festive atmosphere, the odds were in her favor that he¡¯d

    say yes.

    After all, he had said before that he¡¯d marry her if there were no other contenders for his heart. And

    now, wasn¡¯t his heart free of any other shadows?

    Hope sparkled in her eyes as she looked at Max.

    Realizing perhaps he should consult Max first, Michael pped him on the shoulder. ¡°Max, what do you

    think? Spencer¡¯s already locked down his date, and you being the elder, it wouldn¡¯t make sense for him

    to beat you to the punch. I say you get engaged before him¨CSpencer¡¯s set for next Friday; how about

    we pencil you in for next Monday? We¡¯ve still got time to make an announcement.¡±

    Spencer, sitting nearby, practically glowed with excitement. If Max and Alivia got engaged, Brielle would

    be out of the picture for good.

    Alivia saw that the stage was set and spoke softly. ¡°Max, what about getting engaged next Monday? If

    you¡¯re not keen, we can pick another date. I won¡¯t pressure you¨CI¡¯ve waited all these years, and a little

    longer won¡¯t make a difference.¡±

    She let her deep affection show while letting Michael see just how much Max meant to her. With her

    stature and status, having waited all these years, there was no one more fitting for

    Max in the world than her.

    Her goal for the evening was to leverage Max¡¯s amnesia to rush the engagement. This way, it would be

    toote to change anything, even if he regained his memories. Max was a man of his word. Having

    made a promise in front of so many, he wouldn¡¯t back down or cause her any embarrassment.

    Alivia smiled as Spencer chimed in. ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re right. Uncle Max is my elder, so it¡¯s only proper

    for him to get engaged before me. It wouldn¡¯t sit right with me otherwise. Plus, we¡¯ve all seen how Ms.

    Alivia feels about Uncle Max over the years. I reckon there¡¯s no need to dy their engagement any

    further. That way, I can focus on my ns with Sophia.¡±

    Michael¡¯s excitement grew with each word. Max¡¯s marriage had been his greatest concern over the

    years. If the two could finally settle down, his heaviest burden would be lifted.

    With that, all eyes turned to Max, awaiting his response.

    13:21

    Chapter 485

    Max rubbed his temples, a look of quiet exasperation on his face, probably a headache brewing. Just

    as he was about to speak, the door to the private room swung open. Everyone expected members of

    the Barnes family to join, which would be perfect for exchanging toasts and fostering closer ties.

    But it wasn¡¯t a Barnes who entered¨Cit was Brielle. Behind her stood Patrick, his face a mix of frustration

    and resignation, as if he tried to stop her but failed.

    Brielle paused at the doorway, her gaze sweeping over each person in the room, finally resting on Max.

    Her voice was slow and resolute, ¡°He won¡¯t agree.¡±

 Chatper 486

    Chapter 486

    Alivia arched an eyebrow, at first thinking she must have seen wrong. Brielle was here?

    But of what use was her arrival? Max had long since forgotten her. Brielle¡¯s courageous venture here

    was nothing short of a self¨Cinflicted humiliation.

    A smirk yed at the corners of Alivia¡¯s lips as she feigned ignorance. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, who are you?¡±

    Given the recent media frenzy involving Dorsey International, everyone in the room knew Brielle. They

    had all heard something about it. But why was Brielle showing up at this critical juncture? And what did

    that statement mean? Those in the dark wore puzzled looks in their

    eyes.

    Max held a teacup in his hand, his gaze drifting past the crowd to settle on her. She stood alone, but

    her presence rivaled anyone in the room. With a slight smile on his lips, Max¡¯s fingertips grazed the rim

    of his cup, silently sanding it, wordless.

    Alivia, on the other hand, almostughed out loud. How foolish was Brielle to show up now?

    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

    The Dorsey and Rond ns upied the room, Max had lost his memory, and not a soul was on

    Brielle¡¯s side. Yet here she was, marching in alone, the epitome of foolishness, just like the expendable

    girl from moments before. It seemed Alivia wouldn¡¯t need to employ any more schemes; Brielle was

    about to be thoroughly ousted today.

    ¡°I remember now, I¡¯ve seen you at Dorsey International. You¡¯re Ms. Haywood, right? But hasn¡¯t Max

    already let you go? If you disagree with that decision, you might consider filing abor dispute. There¡¯s

    really no need to show up here now.¡±

    Brielle lifted her gaze, fixing Alivia with an unflinching stare. ¡°Ms. Alivia, my presence here has nothing

    to do with whether or not I¡¯m a director at Dorsey International. I¡¯m here strictly on a personal matter.

    Otherwise, my boyfriend might end up engaged to someone else.¡±

    The mirth in Alivia¡¯s eyes deepened, her disdain internal. Boyfriend? Was that what Brielle told herself?

    Sadly, Max had never seen her as a girlfriend, merely a fling to stave off loneliness, never a public

    affair. And here she was, shamelessly asserting they were an item. Howughable.

    So eager, so lowly.

    Alivia¡¯s lips twisted into a knowing smile. She was well aware of who Brielle was referring to, yet her

    gaze deliberately sought out Spencer.

    ¡°Spencer, is this your girlfriend?¡±

    Alivia and Spencer had already conspired about tonight¡¯s events, ostensibly for the Dorsey and

    Rond families but truly for her and Max. Their engagement was to be settled this evening, yet

    neither had anticipated Brielle¡¯s brazen arrival.

    In their eyes, Brielle was no different from an ant. An ant daring to show up uninvited was

    1/2

    13:21

    pter

    truly a death wish. It was a wonder who had given her the courage.

    Spencer quickly stood. ¡°Brielle, are you here for me?¡±

    Before she could reply, he turned to Michael. ¡®Grandpa, I¡¯m sorry. I should have handled this better.¡±

    With Spencer¡¯s admission and Brielle¡¯s earlier deration, the crowd was convinced she was there for

    Spencer. At that moment, Spencer even stood and approached Brielle. ¡°Bri, let¡¯s not make a scene. We

    can talk about this in private.¡±

    Spencer truly believed Brielle hade for him, especially since he had just asked her if she would

    marry him that morning. Now that Brielle had shown up so eagerly, wasn¡¯t it clear she was considering

    their rtionship?

    Spencer was ecstatic, thinking Brielle had finallye around. Max was bound to leave her sooner or

    later¨Cperhaps even tonight, as his engagement to Alivia was confirmed. Brielle was destined to be cast

    aside. Seeking refuge in his arms was her best choice.

    His gaze softened. Brielle hade all this way just to stop his engagement to Sophia. It seemed he¡¯d

    have to treat her better from now on. He even swore in his heart never to let her down again, to cut ties

    with other women and build a proper life with her.

    He reached out to take her hand, but Brielle walked right past him, heading straight for Max. ¡°My

    boyfriend is Max.

    Her tone was calm,posed, and resounding. She didn¡¯t look at anyone else. The mockery and

    disdain of others couldn¡¯t stir the waters of her resolve. She was here for Max, and only his opinion

    mattered.

    Brielle¡¯s affection was always simple and pure. Even if barriers of time and distance, storms and

    mountains stood between them, she would fight for what she wanted. She was confident enough to

    ovee any obstacle. But if he didn¡¯t return her feelings, she probably wouldn¡¯t even have the

    strength to take a step.

    If she didn¡¯t speak up tonight, she would lose her chance with Max forever. She had to try, to avoid a

    lifetime of regret.

    ¡°Have you lost your mind?¡±

    Spencer stood behind her, utterly baffled, as Brielle walked past him without hesitation to approach

    another. He was stunned.

 Chatper 487

    Chapter 487

    The moment Brielle dered Max as her boyfriend in front of the gathered crowd, it felt like a knife

    twisted in Spencer¡¯s heart, draining all color from his face.

    She had to be out of her mind, stirring up such drama. Didn¡¯t she realize the consequences of her

    words? Spencer doubted she could even leave this room tonight.

    Yet, after her bold im, Brielle strode up to Max, her gaze unwavering as she approached him. She

    lifted her wrist, revealing a rosary bracelet that gleamed against her skin for all to see. Even Michael¡¯s

    eyelids twitched at the sight.

    But Brielle didn¡¯t look at anyone else as she extended her wrist towards Max. ¡°You put this on me

    yourself. If you¡¯re truly set on getting engaged to her, then you take it off,¡± she said.

    If he did just that, she wouldn¡¯t say another word. She¡¯d walk out of here, spine straight, step by step,

    as if she¡¯d nevere tonight.

    Why should she feel ashamed? She had less to lose than anyone here ¨C less heritage, fewer

    connections. If she didn¡¯t even have the courage to speak up now, she¡¯d already lost in every possible

    way.

    Alivia¡¯s eyes shed coldly at the sight of the rosary. She had suspected that Max had given it to

    Brielle, but seeing it now still jarred her to the bone. Her heart sneered, but her face feigned surprise.

    ¡°My rosary went missing recently. It seems Ms. Brielle found it. But why ask Max about it now?¡±

    Her feigned confusion convinced everyone. Alivia had lost her rosary, and Max wouldn¡¯t give his rosary

    to just any woman. Brielle must have found it by chance, and now she was here, making a scene over

    a delusion.

    The eyes in the room shifted, a mosaic of changing expressions.

    Among the Rond family, some reveled in the drama while others enjoyed the spectacle. But on the

    Dorsey side, the faces were far moreplex. Michael coughed lightly. ¡°Well, if it¡¯s lost and found, it

    should be returned to its rightful owner. Alivia, be more careful next

    time. We wouldn¡¯t want someone to take advantage of the situation.¡±

    He then turned to Max. ¡°Max, you can discuss Ms. Brielle¡¯s dismissalter. For tonight, let¡¯s not mix

    business with pleasure. Patrick, would you escort Ms. Brielle out?¡±

    Alivia sneered. What could hurt more than your beloved cutting you deep? She wanted Brielle not just

    out of the picture but utterly humiliated.

    Alivia looked tenderly at her own bare wrist. ¡°Max, maybe you should take it off, just to be

    sure.¡±

    Max¡¯s breath hitched slightly at her words, his fingertips inching towards Brielle¡¯s wrist.

    Brielle¡¯s heart skipped, and she couldn¡¯t help but press her other hand over his cool, seemingly

    emotionless fingers.

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    13:21

    Chapter 487

    Was he really going to remove the rosary? To take it off himself and hand it to another

    ¨C

    woman would that be the perfect ending?

    Brielle¡¯s eyes lowered, the rims reddening despite her calm demeanor. ¡°Are you sure you want

    to take it?¡± Her voice was steady though, betraying no signs of weakness.

    Behind Brielle, Alivia¡¯s softughter filled the air. She didn¡¯t need to say a word; she had already won

    decisively. She had always been right to dismiss Brielle. The woman had foolishly shown up

    unprepared, her dignity at the mercy of others. It was no wonder she was looked down upon.

    Alivia thought people like Brielle deserved such ends. Her eyes twinkled with mirth. Her heart felt as

    light as a balloon, especially as Max¡¯s hand moved toward Brielle¡¯s wrist, her sense of triumph almost

    tangible.

    Finally, the end was near.

    She had been back in the country for less than two weeks, and without any effort on her part, Brielle

    was already on her way out. What could an orphan, abandoned by her parents since childhood,

    possibly stir up now?

    ¡°Max, take it off,¡± Alivia said softly, her voiceced with a smile.

    Spencer, watching from the sidelines, felt a surge of satisfaction. Brielle rejected him, and here she

    was, groveling before another man. She had no backbone. She deserved this!

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    Chapter 488

 Chatper 488

    Chapter 488

    All eyes turned to Max.

    Max had been keeping a low profile all evening as if he were uninterested in participating in the

    proceedings. It wasn¡¯t until this moment that he seemed toe to life, his fingertips. grazing the

    rosary beads he wore.

    Everyone thought he would remove the rosary without hesitation. Even Michael had started to speak

    up, ¡°Patrick, please escort thedy out. This is no ce for outsiders to cause a scene.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Brielle stood tall, her back straight. Even upon hearing Michael¡¯s words, she just stared steadily at Max.

    ¡°Max, think carefully. If you really¡­¡±

    Before she could finish, Max interrupted her, ¡°Dad, the night I went to the Dorsey family¡¯s ancestral

    home, I had intended to introduce her to you. It¡¯s not toote now.¡±

    This out¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cblue statement drew all eyes to him.

    His fingers still lingered on the rosary, gently caressing it, and then he leaned forward slightly,

    interlocking his fingers with Brielle¡¯s.

    Their fingers intertwined.

    ¡°This is my girlfriend, Brielle.¡± The statementnded heavily in the room as if it could burst

    eardrums.

    Alivia felt like she had been struck by lightning, and the thunder still hovered overhead.

    Girlfriend. Brielle.

    Each word was clear, but how could she not understand their meaning?

    All her smugness vanished. Her soul seemed to momentarily leave her body, repeatedly battered and

    kneaded. His words hit her heart, causing her bones to ache.

    She was so rigid, she didn¡¯t even know how to react. She could taste blood in her mouth. Now that Max

    had acknowledged his rtionship with Brielle, every word Alivia had spat out had turned into a p,

    leaving her battered and bruised.

    Thest trace of color drained from Alivia¡¯s face, still in shock.

    She couldn¡¯t even tell whether Max had never lost his memory or had just remembered everything

    upon seeing Brielle. Her heartbeat was thunderous, and she felt like she couldn¡¯t

    catch her breath.

    Embarrassment, anger she had never been so humiliated in all her life. All this had been given to her

    by the man she loved most.

    She tried to calm herself, but her trembling fingers betrayed the turmoil within.

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    13:21

    Chapter 488

    Brielle, that bitch!

    She wished she could crawl into a hole and disappear. Such humiliation was agonizing.

    The others in the room also thought they were hallucinating. How could they see Maz holding Brielle¡¯s

    hand and hear him call her his girlfriend?

    It was absurd. As absurd as a farce.

    Even Michael was briefly stunned, his mind racing. The night he went to the Dorsey family¡¯s old

    mansion? Wasn¡¯t that the night Max had his ident?

    Michael still didn¡¯t understand why Max had suddenly gone there that night, as he usually wouldn¡¯t

    return without a specific call from him. It turned out it was because of Brielle.

    Michael¡¯s presence wasmanding, and he wasn¡¯t flustered by Max¡¯s announcement. ¡°Max, there

    are some things that can be done in private; there¡¯s no need to bring them out into the open. Just like

    what your brothers do on the outside, I¡¯ve always turned a blind eye,¡± he implied.

    In other words, it was fine to keep a lover in the shadows, but don¡¯t unt it in front of him, or he

    wouldn¡¯t be polite.

    Max pushed the cup of tea towards Brielle. She really did need a cup of tea to calm her nerves. In fact,

    she had been prepared for the worst. It wouldn¡¯t have been surprising if these people toyed with her,

    and she even lost her life. But no matter how tragic the oue, it didn¡¯t matter. She would have been

    sad if Max had truly forgotten everything, leaving only her to remember in the days toe. How

    unfair.

    Thankfully.

    She picked up the tea, sweetness mixed with a tinge of sorrow in her heart. Max had never let her

    down. He was always the best.

    ¡°Dad, you should be happy. The Dorsey family will indeed have double happiness tonight. Spencer¡¯s

    marriage is settled, and mine is not far off. Next Monday is a good day. Let¡¯s set it then.¡±

    Was all this fuss about picking an engagement date for him and Brielle?

    Michael almostughed in exasperation but knew this was his son¡¯s way, direct enough to make one¡¯s

    blood boil. ¡°What about Alivia?¡±

    Michael mentioned Alivia, and all eyes turned to her.

    Alivia hung her head, even with her deep schemes and pride, as if even her arrogant spirit had bent.

    But this was not her most embarrassing moment. What was more humiliating was yet to

    <pe.

 Chatper 489

    Chapter 489

    ¡°I told her first thing in the morning that I had a thing for Brielle, and she wished me well.¡±

    The words fell from the lips of the man Alivia adored, and with them, he effortlessly cast her into the

    abyss. His tenderness for Brielle was matched only by his cold¨Cheartedness towards Alivia.

    Alivia felt as though countless daggers had pierced her heart. It turned out that Brielle wasn¡¯t the one

    being figuratively ughtered; it was her.

    She wanted tough and cry, her fingertips quivering more and more violently. Max was cruel, stripping

    her of her dignity without a second thought,ying down the red carpet for Brielle.

    Alivia¡¯s breath grew hot, her gaze bloodshot.

    Her mind thundered with the noise of her shattered pride. In her twenty¨Csomething years of life, she

    had never felt such humiliation. Those looks were like bone¨Cpicking knives, threatening to peel away

    the facade she had so carefully crafted. Her hand, hanging by her side, clenched so tightly that her

    nails dug into her palm, drawing blood.

    The thought of her earlier pretense, acting as if she didn¡¯t recognize Brielle, made her wonder whether

    she looked like a fool in Max¡¯s eyes? The truth hit her; it wasn¡¯t Brielle who was

    foolish. It was her.

    The beloved always had an air of invincibility, and that was the confidence that drove Brielle to show up

    tonight.

    Alivia might have truly lost her mind if not for thest shred of reason holding her together. She feared

    that if she stayed even a second longer, her tears would spill uncontrobly.

    She had never cried before and always believed that what she wanted, she would have, but she had

    never imagined her pride would be crushed by the man she loved, without the slightest mercy.

    At that moment, the door to the private room was knocked upon. Kenzo walked in, a smile gracing his

    face. ¡°The elders want Alivia to join them for a toast. Have you all finished your drinks? Sorry, Michael,

    Mr. Jaxon, Alivia had a couple too many next door. Perhaps she¡¯s spoken out of turn?¡±

    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

    He slowly approached Alivia, reaching out to touch her cheek. ¡°You¡¯re definitely drunk. Let me take you

    home.¡±

    After saying that, he turned to Brielle and Max. ¡°Brielle, Max, I¡¯m gonna take Alivia off your hands now.

    Don¡¯t take her words to heart. She actually did lose her rosary, and I guess seeing Brielle with it must

    have upset her after a few drinks.¡±

    Kenzo¡¯s intervention was his way of defusing the situation. If left unchecked, the night would end in

    difort for all, and perhaps even the Barnes family would be dragged into the fray.

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    13:21

    Chapter 489

    ming it on the alcohol was the best possible excuse.

    Supporting Alivia, Kenzo felt her whole body trembling, a sign of her struggle to contain her humiliation

    and rage. He sighed and gently patted her back, a gesture offort.

    With Kenzo¡¯s arrival, Brielle lowered her eyes. She knew all too well that this was Kenzo calling in a

    favor.

    Alivia was his sister, and he wouldn¡¯t stand by and watch her be disgraced. That¡¯s why he¡¯d said what

    he did, and Brielle, remembering the past injuries Kenzo sustained on her behalf, feltpelled to

    comply. Even though she resented Alivia, even though the jail incident had left her with a grudge, she

    couldn¡¯t kick up a fuss right now.

    She bit her lip, swallowing the words she wanted to say.

    Kenzo nodded in thanks and began to lead Alivia away, but at that moment, Michael spoke up. ¡°Max,

    you and Boatman take Alivia home. Tonight belongs to Spencer and Sophia. Let¡¯s not steal their

    thunder or give anyone a reason to gossip,¡±

    The patriarch proved his wisdom, not only avoiding confrontation but also expertly shifting the focus,

    preventing Max from saying anything further. Not forcing Brielle out and not tearing the couple apart

    publicly was the greatest concession Michael was willing to make.

 Chatper 490

    Chapter 490

    Max was keenly aware that if this continued, Brielle¡¯s situation would be dangerous once Michael

    turned his back. Max didn¡¯t refuse, slowly stood up, and gently took Brielle¡¯s hand, without any hint of

    shame. ¡°Brielle doesn¡¯t really know anyone here, and she¡¯s quite reserved. Dad, we¡¯re going to head

    out.¡±

    Reserved?

    Those in attendance nearly choked on their own disbelief. The girl who had the guts to walk in here

    solo, was reserved?

    But Michael just gave Austin a casual nce, his smile unfading. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s consider Spencer

    and Sophia¡¯s engagement settled. We¡¯ll send someone to arrange the venue.¡± It was a ssic

    deflection, shifting the spotlight back to the evening¡¯s protagonists.

    The others quickly jumped on the bandwagon, as if Brielle was but a brief interlude, quickly forgotten.

    But everyone knew that wasn¡¯t the case.

    Max had rejected a strategic alliance with the Barnes family, choosing instead Spencer¡¯s ex¨Cfianc¨¦e. A

    real¨Clife fairy tale!

    No matter how turbulent the thoughts of those present, they had no choice but to suppress them and

    see the y through to its end.

    The original leads of this drama, Spencer and Sophia, looked anything but the star¨Ccrossed lovers; one

    was as pale as a ghost, and the other wore a smile not reaching their eyes, neither sparing a nce for

    the other. They were preupied with their own thoughts.

    Meanwhile, Brielle and Max had already stepped out.

    Feeling the warmth of his fingers, Brielle walked as if on air, as though stepping on clouds of cotton

    candy. In truth, from the moment Max intertwined his fingers with hers, she was out of sorts. It wasn¡¯t

    until they left the banquet hall and encountered the Barnes siblings outside that her gaze flickered.

    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

    Alivia, clinging to Kenzo, her face a mask of contorted humiliation, felt the urge to bite down on the

    shoulder before her, hoping the pain would bring some rity.

    She had thought her n foolproof, yet it had be her most embarrassing moment. She tried to

    quell the shaking of her body, to no avail. Without turning, she knew that Brielle and Max were behind

    her. She had topose herself quickly, to figure out what to do next.

    She inevitably lost some of Max¡¯s favor, and now that Michael knew of Max¡¯s rtionship with Brielle,

    they would only be more conspicuous. Alivia would be theughing stock.

    Alivia trembled even more, struggling to contain her rage.

    Then, something happened that pushed her over the edge.

    A soft thud, like something hitting the wall, reached her ears. She looked up, her eyes

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    13:22

    Chapter 490

    bloodshot, but a hand covered her vision. It was her brother¡¯s.

    Kenzo¡¯s hand over Alivia¡¯s eyes spared her the sight of Max pinning Brielle against the wall by the

    banquet hall, kissing her with abandon.

    Passersby asionally strolled through the hallway. The Barnes family could emerge at any moment,

    and members of the Dorsey and Rond families might appear. But Max seemed oblivious to all, his

    hand cradling the back of Brielle¡¯s head, his lips iming hers, a siege of passion.

    Brielle, flushed and breathless, had lost her earlier poise. Now, shy and unsure, she cautiously ced

    her hands on his waist, timidly grasping the hem of his shirt like a child. They were the embodiment of

    every clich¨¦d couple.

    Alivia¡¯s eyes were covered, but she could still make out Max¡¯s movements through the gaps. Voiceless

    and strengthless, she wanted to scream, to tear them apart, but all she felt were tears streaming down

    her face.

    The elevator arrived, and she was guided into it, still blindfolded. Her world seemed to crumble, as Max

    kissed Brielle before her very eyes.

    It was a deep kiss.

    Alivia¡¯s tears fell harder, and her hatred numbed to the point of madness.

    Kenzo, his expression inscrutable, watched through the slowly closing elevator doors as Brielle¡¯s lips

    were tenderly captured. Her eyes were zed with desire, her cheeks flushed with a bloom of crimson,

    like a winter plum blossoming amidst the snow, so pure, yet so temptingly dangerous.

    What man could remain calm before such a sight?

    As the elevator doors closed, Kenzo averted his gaze, but the image of Brielle¡¯s expression lingered. It

    was an image that enticed one to tarnish and shatter.

 Chatper 491

    Chapter 491

    Brielle had a whirlwind of questions swirling in her head. Would Max have really gotten. engaged if she

    hadn¡¯t shown up? Did he truly suffer from amnesia?

    But at that moment, she couldn¡¯t muster a single word. Her thoughts were in disarray, utterly swept up

    by his advances.

    By the time she regained her bearings, she found herself being ushered into a secluded lounge at the

    end of the hallway.

    ¡°What are we¨Cmmph.¡±

    His familiar scent, his towering height, and even his gestures were all too known to her. It was as if

    fireworks were exploding in her mind, and she felt as though a predator was closing in from behind.

    ¡°Brielle, I don¡¯t want to think about anything else right now.¡±

    Max was Impassioned, the corners of his mouth turning up into a smile at the memory of her appearing

    at the door.

    Exnations could wait.

    The atmosphere and temperature collided, warping both space and time. Their deep kiss. ended.

    Max rested his forehead against her shoulder; Brielle was quite a bit shorter than him, so this gesture

    had him slightly hunched over, as if bowing in submission to the petite woman in his

    arms.

    Brielle could feel his intimidating warmth and blushed, realizing that now was not the time for questions.

    She turned her head slightly, silently consenting to his next move.

    With her acquiescence, Max seemed to have unleashed the contents of Pandora¡¯s box.

    Brielle bit her lip, her eyes rimmed red, feeling almost melted by his heat, breathless atst. There was

    no time to ponder the hows and whys, only the ceaseless burst of fireworks in her mind.

    Max was right there with her, not engaged to someone else, still tenderly kissing her. And that was

    more than enough. She felt an overwhelming flutter in her heart.

    Even the thought that members of the Dorsey, Barnes, and Rond families were close by added a

    thrilling mix of shame and excitement.

    The temperature in the room seemed to be nearing a boiling point, her body¡¯s moisture evaporating.

    Her cheeks were flushed, and she often felt like a fish dying of thirst, thrown onto the shore by a violent

    storm, only to be swept back into the sea by another wave. The sensation of almost drowning, then

    gasping for air, was maddening.

    12

    12:58

    Chapter 491

    She even wondered if the door might give way under the pressure.

    In her daze, his long fingers grasped her chin. Seeing her reflection in the door¡¯s polished surface,

    Brielle felt her toes curl. ¡°Max, if I hadn¡¯te, would you really have gone through with the

    engagement?¡±

    Max¡¯s chin rested on her shoulder, and he chuckled softly, ¡°No.¡± His tone waszy and satisfied, yet he

    didn¡¯t stop, turning his head to nt a kiss on her earlobe. It was like a miraculous chemical reaction.

    Who was it that said love was the most violent poison that unsettled the soul, that love signified an

    insatiable greed?

    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

    The intensity of this moment, the fulfillment, and the extraordinary reactions were like picking on the

    edge of an abyss, utterly oblivious to the peril.

    The fierce beast within Brielle¡¯s heart. The lover at her back.

    Brielle slowly closed her eyes, a fine sheen of sweat beading on her forehead.

    At seven in the morning, Brielle waspletely drained. She weakly tried to push Max away with her

    eyes closed.

    Max caught her hand, bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss. ¡°Tired?¡±

    Of course, she was exhausted; she couldn¡¯t even speak. Yet, she had so many questions. Her heart

    was aching with a bittersweetness that was both tart and sweet, but she was too weary to hold on any

    longer and slowly drifted off to sleep. Her body felt battered and bruised from head to toe, a patchwork

    of tenderness.

 Chatper 492

    Chapter 492

    Max¡¯s fingers lingered in her hair before he couldn¡¯t help but cough twice.

    Outside, Patrick heard the noise and gently knocked on the door. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, are you awake?¡±

    Patrick had kept watch all night. Now, hearing Max¡¯s voice and still concerned about the injuries on his

    body, he asked with a hint of worry.

    Max wrapped himself in a robe, casually tying a knot around his waist before opening the door.

    Patrick, carrying a first aid kit, didn¡¯t nce at Brielle, who was still on the bed, but walked over to the

    window and ced the kit beside the desk.

    After Max sat down, Patrick hurriedly checked the wound on his chest, noticing it had slightly reopened.

    He quickly took out the antiseptic, disinfected the wound, and rewrapped it with fresh bandages.

    Max remained silent, a gentle smile ying at the edges of his lips. Patrick knew Max was pleased,

    and his own furrowed brow rxed.

    While tending to Max¡¯s wounds, Patrick couldn¡¯t help but notice the nail marks on his chest, a

    testament to a passionate night. He felt genuinely happy for the couple, aware only he knew what Max

    had been through these past few days.

    ¡°I¡¯ve prepared Ms. Brielle¡¯s clothes; they¡¯re in the dresser, and also,¡± he said, suddenly feeling

    embarrassed, ¡°the medicines Ms. Brielle might need.¡±

    Max was no fool, especially after the previous night¡¯s indulgence, which he remembered all too well.

    The reminder made his ears flush with warmth. ¡°Got it.¡±

    After Patrick offered his reminder, he withdrew, closing the door behind him.

    Max felt invigorated and filled the bathtub with water, carefully carrying Brielle for a thorough wash.

    Brielle was so tired her eyelids trembled, but she couldn¡¯t fully wake up.

    Max found the ointment Patrick had prepared and applied it to her. Brielle, mistaking his intentions,

    pleaded in a pitiful tone, ¡°Can I rest a bit?¡±

    Max chuckled at her words, yfully stroking her nose with his fingertip. She frowned but said

    no more.

    After being carried back to bed, she didn¡¯t make another move, falling into a deep sleep. Without

    further ado, Maxy back down, carefully pulling her close, and drifted off to sleep. This time, it wasn¡¯t

    just a pillow he held; her presence softened his heart.

    Brielle slept for hours before she finally opened her eyes. By the time she woke up, the sun was high in

    the sky.

    Seeing his face so close, she thought she was dreaming. It took her a moment to remember seeking

    out Max the previous night, their wild encounter, and then sleeping till now.

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    Chapter 492

    Her waist was trapped in his strong embrace, immobilizing her.

    With a slight movement, Max awoke. ¡°Not going to sleep a bit more?¡±

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Considering her recent experiences, includingst night¡¯s events, Brielle couldn¡¯t fall back asleep. Her

    lips pressed tight. Now wasn¡¯t the time for rest.

    She noticed the bandages on Max¡¯s chest, and with a nervous jump, she got out of bed only to copse

    weakly to her knees. Max¡¯s hand caught her waist, pulling her back into his embrace. ¡°Careful.¡±

    Brielle settled back on the bed, staring fixedly at the scars on his chest, unable to resist. reaching out to

    touch them. He intercepted her hand. ¡°I¡¯ve already changed the dressing. Get dressed first.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s legs were weak. She truly didn¡¯t have the strength to stand and go to the dresser for her

    clothes.

    Max chuckled softly, getting up to fetch her clothes.

    Despite their numerous intimate moments, the sight of his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and his

    handsome features, still made Brielle blush. But she quickly regained herposure, feeling thatst

    night¡¯s actions had been somewhat impulsive.

    Would exposing their rtionship to the public eye affect him?

    She had been selfish in wanting to keep their affair secret, and now she was the first to reveal it

    selfishly.

    Max stood so high in the social circles of Beaconsfield. What would they think of him being entangled

    with his nephew¡¯s former fianc¨¦e?

 Chatper 493

    Chapter 493

    The buzz ofst night¡¯s festivities had faded, and now the stark light of reality was shining through the

    blinds. Brielle was pulled from her reverie by the jingle of a phone. It was Max¡¯s phone.

    Michael had seemed tight¨Clippedst night, deftly steering the conversation away from the elephant in

    the room, but Brielle knew that his silence didn¡¯t mean approval of their rtionship.

    What Michael would do next was anyone¡¯s guess.

    The phone lit up, and Max pressed the answer button, calling out, ¡°What¡¯s up, Kenzo?¡±

    Surprisingly, it wasn¡¯t Michael on the other end of the line, but Kenzo.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how the old fox was still full of tricks. Michael was ying the long

    game. After the mess ofst night, it was unsettling how Michael had yet to call and confront them. The

    calmer the sea, the more Brielle feared the storm lurking beneath.

    Kenzo¡¯s call was obviously about the previous night¡¯s drama. He had used drunkenness as an excuse

    to keep the situation from boiling over, but everyone who was there knew that Alivia wasn¡¯t drunk, and

    Max had t¨Cout rejected her.

    Kenzo¡¯s tone carried no hint of me, remaining as soothing as ever. ¡°Max, are you still with Brielle?¡±

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°My grandpa¡¯s bound to hear about this soon. He¡¯s always hoped for a union between our families. I¡¯ll

    try to talk to him. Is this your final decision, Max?¡±

    ¡°Kenzo, could you handle things with the Barnes family? Thanks.¡±

    No more words were needed. Kenzo understood Max¡¯s choice. A deep shadow passed through his

    eyes, followed by a light smile. ¡°Sure.¡±

    After hanging up, Kenzo surveyed the chaos in the room.

    Alivia was buried under the covers, not a single strand of her hair in sight. The room was a

    battleground of shattered objects, with traces of blood amidst the wreckage. Shards of mirror were

    scattered across the floor, and even the plush slippers were spattered with drops of red.

    ¡°Alivia,e on out and have something to eat,¡± Kenzo coaxed as he nudged her.

    She didn¡¯t respond. This was the first time in her life that she felt so out of control, wishing she could

    destroy everything. Every memory ofst night¡¯s events made her heart ache until she could hardly

    breathe. Her body felt crushed, her soul trembling.

    She had thought she was watching Brielle¡¯s downfall, only to be the butt of the joke herself. Was

    she still held in any esteem in Max¡¯s eyes?

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    Chapter 493

    Her eyshes fluttered fiercely, her voice hoarse. ¡°Kenzo, I¡¯m not hungry.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re just going to lie there? You heard the call. Max has chosen Brielle and ns to stick with her.

    Do you think he¡¯ll care about you if you keep degrading yourself like this?¡±

    Alivia¡¯s body began to tremble again, her eyes swollen from crying. The Alivia everyone knew was

    always the center of attention, never this disheveled.

    She bit her lip so hard, tasting blood. ¡°What should I do?¡±

    How could she turn the tables? How could she tear those two apart?

    Panic was setting in. Thinking of all she had done since Max regained his rity, all her so¨Ccalled

    clever moves were now her greatest embarrassment. If he had never forgotten, her actions must¡¯ve

    seemed so foolish and so insincere in his eyes.

    Kenzo sat down beside her bed. ¡°Alivia, you¡¯ve had an easy ride all your life. Is this little setback really

    going to beat you? I¡¯ve always told you Brielle isn¡¯t ordinary.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Alivia said, emerging from the covers. Her hair was a tangled mess, and her eyes

    were swollen nearly shut. Her cheeks were flushed from ack of air.

    ¡°I don¡¯t get how an orphan from the foster system, unwanted by all, is anything but ordinary. I thought I

    could crush her with a flick of my finger, and yet she¡¯s given me the biggest humiliation of my life. I can¡¯t

    ept it! I may not need to get back at her, but I want her to regret stepping into that loungest night!¡±

 Chatper 494

    Chapter 494

    Kenzo gently raised his hand and ced it on her head, soothingly stroking her hair. ¡°Max not liking

    you is not his fault, sweetheart. Matters of the heart can¡¯t be forced. Get up and grab some breakfast.

    Grandpa¡¯s been worried sick about you.¡±

    Alivia¡¯s return homest night was nothing short of a horror show, flinging stuff around from the living

    room all the way to the bedroom, her emotional outburst akin to a madwoman. To fall from grace

    overnight, from the belle of the ball to aughingstock, the stark contrast drove her to the brink of

    insanity.

    She cried, she raged, and her heart swelled with bitterness. Right, she couldn¡¯t keep spiraling down.

    She needed to act swiftly, take advantage of the fact that Brielle and Max hadn¡¯t tied the knot yet.

    No, it didn¡¯t matter whether they were married or not; she was determined to keep those two apart. The

    dignity she had lost, she would reim, little by little.

    As her finally regained herposure, Kenzo¡¯s lips curled into a smile. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you thinking

    straight. Now, head downstairs. Grandpa probably has an inkling about what¡¯s going on and might still

    be fuming at Max. Everyone thought you two would end up married, and I bet there are already rumors

    swirling. If you hide away, that¡¯s the real defeat.¡±

    Alivia quickly dabbed at her face, restoring herposure. She wouldn¡¯t let Brielle gloat for long!

    After sprucing herself up, she eyed her swollen eyes in the mirror and clenched her jaw, her fingernails

    digging into the edge of the washbasin.

    Stepping downstairs and catching sight of Jose seated in the living room, her steps faltered. her eyes

    brimming with tears.

    Jose was thumbing through a newspaper, ncing up at her with a kind tone. ¡°Time for breakfast.*

    Alivia pursed her lips and slowly took a seat at the dining table, methodically swallowing her food. She

    maintained her usual poise, though a storm was brewing within. At least on the surface, she seemed to

    have calmed downpletely, as ifst night¡¯s hysteria was but an

    illusion.

    Jose folded the newspaper and came to sit beside her. ¡°Thought things through?¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t lose. What Brielle¡¯s unting right now is just Max¡¯s favoritism. She has no family background

    and no connections in our circles. There¡¯s no way I could lose to someone like her.¡±

    Jose chuckled softly and patted her on the back. ¡°A man¡¯s favor for a woman is limited, my dear. As

    someone who¡¯s seen it all, let me tell you, young love peaks the moment it begins, and it¡¯s all downhill

    from there. No one can truly ovee the barriers of ss and upbringing. The education we receive,

    our worldviews, and even the way we perceive the world are all

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    12:58

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Chapter 494

    different. Their rtionship won¡¯tst. I¡¯ll call the Dorsey family in a bit. You think about whether you

    really want to go down this road.¡±

    ¡°Grandpa, once I make a choice, I stick with it. Max is my goal in this life, and I¡¯ll have him. I¡¯ve already

    thought of a way to strike back.¡±

    Jose looked at her approvingly. This was the treasured pearl of the Barnes family, resilient in the face

    of adversity, A single fall wasn¡¯t the end; what mattered was getting back up.

    Alivia had always had everything she wanted in life, and perhaps this humiliation would serve as a

    valuable lesson. Jose loved his granddaughter, and he knew that Max was at fault this time. As Max¡¯s

    senior, it was only right to call and inquire.

    The call to the Dorsey family was made shortly after.

    Michael was in his study, practicing calligraphy, the scent of ink lingering in the air. The chair beside

    him wasden with sheets of his practiced characters, a testament to a troubled mind seeking

    tranquility through the art.

    The butler knocked respectfully on the door. ¡°Sir, Mr. Jose is on the phone for you.¡±

    Michael¡¯s brush paused mid¨Cstroke. The inevitable had arrived. He set the brush down, and the butler

    handed him the phone.

    Michael pressed the answer button. On the other end, there was no usation in Jose¡¯s voice. The

    two were old friends, through and through.

    ¡°Michael, what¡¯s to be done about this mess? Alivia¡¯s been shaken up for a night, and you know how

    the Barnes family dotes on her. I¡¯m truly upset with Max.¡±

    Michael massaged his temples.

    ¡°I¡¯ve made it clear who I want for a daughter¨Cinw, and it¡¯s Alivia. That hasn¡¯t changed, and it won¡¯t

    change. The Dorsey family owes your family an exnation, and I won¡¯t allow my most outstanding

    son to be involved with an inappropriate woman. I¡¯ll find a way, but this can¡¯t be rushed. The more we

    push, the more Max will hide her away.¡±

    Michael knew his son well. The more they tried to separate them, the more it would strain their

    rtionship.

    ¡°Jose, the woman Max will marry is Alivia. The Dorsey family will make it up to her tenfold for any

    suffering she¡¯s endured, even a hundredfold. Max will, too.¡±

 Chatper 495

    Chapter 495

    Jose breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Michael epted Alivia as his daughter¨Cinw, Brielle would

    never gain the approval of the Dorsey family.

    Knowing Michael for years, Jose was well aware that this old man was far from calm. He was merely

    biding his time.

    With his fiery personality, Max couldn¡¯t be suppressed by mere tactics. Brielle needed to umte

    enough disappointment to leave of her own volition.

    The chasm between the two was too great; what passed for affection would be a deep. bitter

    bond. The further things progressed, the more unpredictable the dangers became.

    After hanging up the phone, Michael handed his mobile to the butler.

    The butler, noticing the fresh calligraphy spread across the chairs and table from the night before and

    that morning, knew Erik¡¯s mind was already in turmoil. It was only Michael¡¯s years of business acumen

    that kept him from flying into a rage.

    Considering the gravity of the situation, the butler marveled at Michael¡¯sposure and dreaded the

    thought of what his response might be when he finally took action. Then, remembering the figure still

    kneeling at the entrance, a flicker of uncertainty crossed the butler¡¯s face. ¡°Sir, Mr. Spencer has been

    kneeling at the doorstep for over twenty¨Cfour hours now.¡±

    Michael¡¯s brush paused, his temples throbbing with pain.

    ¡°And you haven¡¯t had breakfast yet, sir. Your health is important.¡± The butler¡¯s voice held a note of

    concern.

    Michael set aside his brush and took a warm towel to clean his fingers before making his way outside

    with the aid of his cane. There was Spencer, ashen¨Cfaced and unsteady, his forehead bruised from his

    steadfast vigil.

    Michael felt a stronger pulse at his temples ¨C one nuisance after another!

    ¡°Grandfather! Please don¡¯t let Uncle Max be with Brielle. She was my fianc¨¦e, and Uncle Max¡¯s

    dalliance with her will be the talk of Beaconsfield! If Brielle is to marry, it should be to me, Grandfather,

    I-¡±

    His plea was cut short as the cane came crashing down upon him. Spencer winced in pain but bit his

    lip, refusing to make a sound.

    ¡°Brielle has you all in a twist! You¡¯re determined to drive me to the grave. It was you who insisted on

    getting engaged to her when you were both so young, and it was you whoter called it off. If it weren¡¯t

    for you, would Brielle have ever met Max?!¡±

    This was precisely why Spencer felt such indignation. His knees ached from kneeling, and his blood felt

    like it had turned to ice.

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    Chapter 495

    ¡°I was the one who saw Brielle¡¯s shine first, and Uncle Max has no right to steal her away!¡±

    Michael swung his cane again, fury in his stroke. Tears welled up in Spencer¡¯s eyes, and he couldn¡¯t

    hold them back any longer.

    His pitiful state only fueled Michael¡¯s anger. ¡°You were outdone by a woman in business and are now in

    love, too? If you want to kneel, keep at it, and maybe it¡¯ll clear that lovesick fog in your head.¡±

    Spencer fell silent, his lips pressing together as tears continued to fall.

    Michael stepped past him and headed downstairs, calling for the butler to apany him on a walk.

    He needed to cool off and escape the sight of this weakling that infuriated him so. He had never been

    this way with Max, who had a calmness unlike others from a young age. Any anger thrown at Max

    would be met with a silent gaze, making the aggressor look more like a fool

    To deal with Max, Michael had to be colder and more ruthless. But with Spencer, his disappointing

    grandson, Michael sometimes wished he could end it all with a few good swings of his cane.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Spencer had been kneeling since the previous evening, his knees numb, his mind ame with the

    image of Max and Brielle hand in hand. Why should they be together so carefreely?

    Spencer continued his vigil into the afternoon, hungry and swollen, utterly disheveled. He heard

    footsteps behind him and thought Michael had returned, but turning his head, he saw William. William

    had been at the scenest night, too, but since Brielle showed up in the box, he had remained silent.

    Without saying a word or making a move, Michael had locked himself up all morning ¨C a clear sign of

    his disappointment in Max. Now, with his grandson still fixated on the Issue, Brielle was likely to

    be a thorn in his side.

    ¡°Spencer, kneeling won¡¯t change anything. Get up. Even if you faint here, your grandfather won¡¯t stop

    Max. Who in the Dorsey family could? If you want to break those two apart, you have to start with

    Brielle.¡±

    Spencer raised his hand, furiously wiping away his tears. The rough fabric stung his tender skin, but

    the pain only sharpened his resolve.

 Chatper 496

    Chapter 496

    Panic seized him, and fear knotted in his stomach. Spencer had known Brielle for over a decade, and

    the thought of her belonging wholly to someone else sent a sharp pain through his heart.

    Brielle¡¯s disdain for him was as clear as day, just as her fondness for Max was unmistakably apparent.

    It dawned on him that his affection had been one¨Csided all along. He had thought Brielle wasing to

    see himst night, and for a fleeting moment, he had envisioned a thousand ways to make her happy

    in the future. He had thought, perhaps naively, that he held some ce in her heart after all these

    years, considering how kind she used to be to him. But now, looking back, all he felt was regret and an

    unwillingness to let go.

    Spencer was desperate, a man grasping at straws. He slowly stood up, but his legs, numb from

    kneeling too long, gave way, and he was forced to kneel again.

    A smirk shed across William¡¯s eyes as he kindly offered a helping hand. ¡°Max reigns supreme in the

    Dorsey family; you can¡¯t touch him. But with your status, taking Brielle down should be easy. Didn¡¯t I

    teach you before? Destroy her career and her social circle, and she¡¯ll have no choice but to follow your

    lead.¡±

    Spencer¡¯s fingers clenched suddenly. If Brielle was destined to hate him, he might as well deepen that

    hatred. At least then, she would never forget him for as long as she lived! He wanted her to feel a stab

    of pain every time she thought of the name Spencer!

    A touch of madness crept onto Spencer¡¯s face. ¡°Uncle, I¡¯ve got it.¡±

    William raised an eyebrow, his eyes twinkling with amusement.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    All William had to do was sit back and watch the drama unfold. Sincest night, Max and Brielle had

    positioned themselves against the Dorsey and Barnes families, and all William had to do was fan the

    mes at the right moment. Max¡¯s greatest blunder was letting a woman cause such disappointment in

    his father.

    Both the Dorsey and Barnes families were restless, watching each other with bated breath. Yet, for

    Brielle and Max, life seemed tranquil.

    After breakfast, she wanted to ask Max about everything that had happened in recent days. Seeing the

    faint dark circles under his eyes, she guessed he hadn¡¯t had an easy time either. If he hadn¡¯t forgotten

    their memories, then he must have had a reason for his deliberate actions.

    Had her impulsive visit disrupted his own ns? With so many witnessesst night, the social. circles

    were probably buzzing about their affair now.

    Brielle lowered hershes, sitting on the bed. She couldn¡¯t help but lift her hand to wrap around Max¡¯s

    waist.

    Max was standing at the bedside, so this gesture only caused her head to rest against his side.

    17:59

    Brielle closed her eyes, silent. In everyone¡¯s eyes, Max had always been an untouchable idol. But now

    he was involved with his junior¡¯s former nc¨¦e and had forgone an alliance with the Barnes family. It

    was as if his pedestal was quaking, and his walls were about to crumble.

    People reveled in his high¨Cflying status and equally relished the prospect of his fall. She didn¡¯t know

    how many in Beaconsfield were waiting to see him stumble. At this moment, all she wanted was to

    grow stronger so that his reputation wouldn¡¯t suffer, and ensure he had no weaknesses.

    She was filled with a burning determination to call Mason right then and draft a few hundred. pages of

    proposals, but skyscrapers weren¡¯t built overnight. Without a solid foundation, such structures couldn¡¯t

    withstand even the slightest breeze.

    She looked at Max, and he was already gazing down at her. His eyshes were long, casting deep

    shadows over his eyelids.

    Brielle¡¯s heart melted. She had so many questions, but the fact that he had done everything for her was

    enough. Whether their future held moonlight or high altitudes, she was willing to stand. by him. Even if

    it meant crossing eighty¨Cone trials, she didn¡¯t want to let go of Max. This man was the kindest to her in

    all the world and asked for nothing in return.

    Their eyes met, and both, almost embarrassingly, looked away first. Despite their history, this was the

    first time they recognized each other clearly as partners, as boyfriend and girlfriend.

    From now on, they could walk out hand in hand without anyonebeling Brielle as Spencer¡¯s former

    fianc¨¦e. She was finally free of that tag. They could do all the things couples did ¨C watch movies, dine

    out, or even invite a few friends for a barbecue in the great outdoors. All these romantic experiences

    were something they had yet to cherish.

    Max felt a bit out of his depth. He had finally imed Brielle as his own, but what now? What was

    dating supposed to be like? He didn¡¯t really understand.

    Brielle let go of his waist. ¡°You never had amnesia?¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    ¡°Then why pretend to have it?¡±

    Amused, Max found their current situation somewhatical. They were now seated in the car, him in

    the backseat, Brielle facing him. Patrick, in the driver¡¯s seat, discreetly lowered the partition.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡±

    He had never imed to have lost his memory; it was merely everyone else¡¯s assumption.

 Chatper 497

    Chapter 497

    Max¡¯s first conscious sensation was the oppressive weight of anesthesia pinning him to the hospital

    bed, ghostly whispers of the world beyond teasing his ears, yet his body remained unresponsive. His

    father had been there, pocketing Max¡¯s cellphone and turning the hospital into a fortress so secure that

    even Patrick couldn¡¯t slip through to visit him on that first night.

    Speaking Brielle¡¯s name would¡¯ve been a death sentence, given Michael¡¯s resourcefulness. Mar was

    certain that if he¡¯d uttered her name upon waking, Michael would¡¯ve had Brielle thrown into the

    deepest, darkest cell before sunrise. Powerless and weak, Max had no choice but to bury his worries

    temporarily.

    Upon regaining some strength, he reached out to Patrick and meticulously orchestrated their next

    moves. Only after overhearing Alivia¡¯s phone conversation in the hospital corridor did he consciously

    decide to keep Brielle¡¯s name off his lips.

    Max was still reeling from near death, and couldn¡¯t quite parse the entirety of Alivia¡¯s chatter. Bits and

    pieces about Brielle, jail, and Jaired floated through his throbbing mind. When Alivia swept into his

    room, announcing Jaired¡¯s imminent return, Max¡¯s gaze was fixed outside the window, his brain aze

    with pain and suspicion.

    Why would Alivia bring up Brielle to Jaired? Max had been clear about his feelings for Brielle to Alivia

    long ago. If she was as refined andposed as she imed, she wouldn¡¯t gossip about Brielle in

    private.

    His concern grew, wondering if his pain wasn¡¯t clouding his judgment, conjuring delusions. After all, he

    had known Alivia for over a decade, and Kenzo had been a close friend for years. For now, his only

    move was to y it cool and send someone to protect Brielle in jail.

    ¡°So the guard in the uniform was your guy?¡± Brielle asked with a hopeful lilt in her voice.

    ¡°Yeah, I was worried someone might try to hurt you,¡± Max admitted.

    Brielle¡¯s lips curled into a sweet smile, her suspicions confirmed.She had always been sharp. Initially,

    she was rattled by the two guards, but had pieced together the uniformed man¡¯s cryptic message.

    ¡°When titans sh, the mortals suffer, and it¡¯s unclear who¡¯lle out on top.¡± Clearly, someone

    wanted her in trouble, yet someone else was safeguarding her. Two forces were colliding, and the

    victor remained uncertain.

    When Brielle had been led to believe Max had forgotten her, she felt a pang of despair. Yet, that subtle

    hint from the uniformed man had sparked a realization: someone powerful was protecting her. Who

    else in Beaconsfield could it be but Max?

    Aubree¡¯s only potential ally was the Clements family, who would never openly support her against their

    own interest. Despite her connections, Tiffanie was still under the Dorsey family¡¯s thumb, unlikely to

    make a bold move against her grandfather¡¯s wishes.

    That left Max, the beacon of hope for Brielle¡¯s release and the very reason she had the courage. to

    step into that VIP room alone. And now, Max¡¯s words were the affirmation she needed.

    49.60

    Her heart meltedpletely, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words. What could she possibly

    say that would equate to what Max had done for her? Her bravery seemed so small inparison.

    ¡°Max, where are we headed now?¡± she inquired, noting that the car¡¯s trajectory was neither towards

    Premier Pce nor Pearl Estate. Their rtionship had just been made public, and Max certainly had a

    plethora of issues to attend to, yet they were driving towards the outskirts. ¡°I¡¯m taking you somewhere

    special,¡± he replied with a touch of mystery.

    Brielle didn¡¯t press further. Instead, she pulled out her phone, which was peppered with missed. calls

    from Aubree, Tiffanie, and even Sophia. She opened Sophia¡¯s message first¨Cjust two words. [Brilliant,

    congrattions.] The ¡®Brilliant¡® was forst night¡¯s spectacle, and ¡®congrattions¡® for her rtionship

    with Max that was now out in the open. She replied with a simple [Thanks.]

    Next was Aubree¡¯s characteristically bold message. She had been ready to feign ignorance if Brielle

    failed, but she was genuinely surprised by her sess. (Andrew called me this morning. I could feel his

    anger through the phone. Finally, I¡¯ve turned the tables. We¡¯ll talk more about itter,] she wrote.

    Tiffanie¡¯s message, expectedly gossipy, was surprisingly serious. [Alivia has invited a bunch of society

    ladies for afternoon tea today. Brielle, be careful.]

    Brielle sighed. Alivia was quick to recover from the embarrassment of the previous night. already

    ying hostess to Beaconsfield¡¯s socialites. It was a clear signal that the game of high society chess

    was far from over.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

 Chatper 498

    Chapter 498

    Alivia had a poker face that could fool the best of them.

    If she were to make a list of people Alivia despised, Brielle would take the top spot without contest. Yet,

    the man Alivia couldn¡¯t have was warming the bed of her most hated rival. Instead of crumbling, Alivia

    managed to keep herposure and even made a dignified appearance. When people like her

    snapped, it was a sight to behold.

    Brielle lowered her gaze, tucking her phone away. She noticed the streets bustling with activity and

    leaned in closer to Max. ¡°Hey, Max, is it a holiday or something?¡±

    Max nced up from the papers in his hands, amused at her face almost pressed against the ss.

    ¡°Yeah, in three days, it¡¯s New Year¡¯s.¡±

    Their first New Year¡¯s together was always going to be special.

    A small smile curled at the corner of Brielle¡¯s lips, but she remained silent. When the car pulled up in

    front of a suburban mansion, Brielle looked puzzled. Where was this?

    Several people stood at the entrance, one of them being the uniformed man who had guarded her in

    jail. ¡°Boss.¡± The man called out, his eyesnding on Brielle as he nodded in greeting.

    Brielle picked up on the informal title. It wasn¡¯t Mr. Dorsey or the CEO, indicating a different power

    dynamic at y with Max.

    She followed him into the foyer, where two people were on their knees. They were the doctors from the

    clinic that had operated on her.

    Blindfolded and trembling, the doctors prostrated themselves upon hearing footsteps. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, we

    were sorry. We truly realize our mistake.¡±

    Brielle said nothing, her grip on Max¡¯s sleeve tightening, her face paling.

    Max knew. He knew about the baby. She lowered her eyes, feeling as though a de was twisting in

    her heart.

    The uniformed man offered Brielle a chair, his voice gentle. ¡°Ms. Brielle, please sit.

    After being up all night and suddenly confronted by these doctors, Brielle was indeed not in the best

    shape. She slowly sat down. The uniformed man¡¯s voice was so soft that only Brielle could

    hear him.

    The doctors were ignorant of the reason they were there, but they knew it was because of Brielle.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, we¡¯ll tell you everything. Please spare us.¡±

    They hadmitted too many misdeeds over the years, knowing retribution woulde, yet they

    hadn¡¯t expected it so soon.

    Max stood quietly for a moment, then ruffled Brielle¡¯s hair in aforting gesture, but his

    1/2

    12.59

    Chacher 498

    words were directed at the doctors. ¡°Repeat what you know.¡±

    The doctors shivered, spilling the beans almost immediately. ¡°Ms. Alivia and Mr. Spencer brought Ms.

    Brielle to our clinic, thinking she was pregnant, and Ms. Brielle believed it too. However, after

    examining her, we found she wasn¡¯t pregnant. Mr. Spencer suggested an appendectomy instead, and

    Ms. Alivia came up with a n to make Ms. Brielle believe she had lost a child. They thought it would

    hurt her and possibly affect her rtionship with you, Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    The doctors omitted the part where Alivia pinned everything on Martha, more out of ignorance about

    Martha than intent to deceive.

    As for Brielle, she was thunderstruck. Was she not pregnant? She couldn¡¯t believe her ears, thinking

    she was hallucinating.

    Her mind was nk, her fists clenched so tightly that marks were left on her palms. Had there never

    been a child at all? The revtion was too staggering, and she couldn¡¯te to terms with it

    immediately.

    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

    The doctors, shaking, continued. ¡°Ms. Brielle was heartbroken when she woke up. She barely ate over

    four days, surviving on glucose. Sometimes, I wavered, wondering whether to tell her the truth. But

    after years at the clinic, knowing so many secrets, we didn¡¯t dare. Mr. Dorsey, we are really sorry. Next

    time, if there¡¯s surgery for Ms. Brielle, we will personally call you.¡±

    Max gestured to the uniformed man, who understood and led the doctors out.

    Brielle sat stiffly in her chair, even as hands gently lifted her face. Max looked into her eyes, his voice

    calm. ¡°You weren¡¯t pregnant, so no need to be sad about it anymore.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s eyes widened, torn between tears andughter. She had nearly cried herself dry over those

    few days for a child that had never existed, only to be told it was all a ruse.

    Blinking back the sting in her eyes, she should have felt relieved, but a smile eluded her. So, had he

    been investigating these past few days? How did hee to suspect anything?

    Max seemed to anticipate her question and simply said, ¡°I overheard Alivia talking to your assistant.

 Chatper 499

    Chapter 499

    He still remembered the jolt of fear that had struck him then, so intense it made him spit blood in a fit of

    fury. Someone had dared to harm the child she carried within Brielle, the woman he adored and

    couldn¡¯t bear to see hurt. Max even wanted to make everyone involved pay a steep price, no matter

    who they were.

    But luckily, Brielle wasn¡¯t pregnant.

    If Alivia were here, she would be astounded to know that Max had overheard her and Sydney¡¯s

    conversation that day. He had pretended not to, but every move she had made since then had be

    a joke to him.

    Max frowned slightly, unwilling to dwell on that moment any longer. On one hand, he was shocked by

    Alivia¡¯s true nature; on the other, the thought of Brielle being pregnant had shaken him to the core. And

    he had been kept in the dark, clueless.

    Overwhelmed by anger, he could feel the taste of iron rising from his chest. Even now, his heart ached

    as if pricked by needles.

    ¡°If we ever have a child, let¡¯s have it. Don¡¯t worry too much,¡± he said, his voice low and reassuring. He

    could sweep away all of her worries.

    Brielle looked up at him, slowly wrapping her arms around his waist. ¡°Okay.¡±

    Max breathed a sigh of relief, saw her expression soften, and his lips curved into a smile.

    *Kenzo invited me to a wee¨Chome party for Jaired tomorrow night. Would youe with me?¡± he

    asked.

    Brielle did want to go. At this point, if he suggested they elope, she¡¯d nod without hesitation. But they

    had just humiliated the Barnes family the night before, and Kenzo had been there. Could he really let it

    slide?

    ¡°About Kenzo¡­¡±

    *Kenzo invited us, which means he¡¯se around. Besides, the guest of honor is Jaired. Kenzo is just

    organizing it, and Jaired is a Riddle. The Riddles have always held office. I¡¯ve known Jaired since we

    were kids. It¡¯s rare for him to be back in town.¡±

    Relieved, Brielle rxed. They had been on edge these past few days, and a chance to unwind was

    wee. The child matter turned out to be a misunderstanding, and Brielle felt a sense of relief.

    Max kissed her on the lips and said, ¡°I¡¯ll let Kenzo know that you¡¯ll attend in my girlfriend¡¯s name.¡±

    Previously, Kenzo had gone to great lengths to screen people, looking for individuals who were tight¨C

    lipped. But this time, there was no need for that. Even if others wanted to report orin, what

    difference would it make?

    1/2

    13-50-

    Chapter 499

    The biggest bombshell had already been dropped. As long as they didn¡¯t have a child, Michael could

    only choose to turn a blind eye before that happened.

    Max¡¯s words echoed in Brielle¡¯s mind, more enchanting than any sweet nothings in the world.

    In society, the criteria for selecting a partner have always revolved around three dimensions: physical

    attractiveness, personality, and control over social resources. It is often said that individuals who score

    high in all three aspects are scarcemodities at any given time. But someone like Max, who not

    only maxed out each aspect but even exceeded them, what kind of existence was he? Just the thought

    of having such a person as her boyfriend made Brielle¡¯s smile almost uncontroble.

    As they settled into the car, Max nced outside. ¡°Alivia, she-¡±

    Before he could finish, Brielle¡¯s phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number. She braced herself, expecting

    it might be Michael. But when she answered, Alivia¡¯s voice came through.

    ¡°Brielle.¡±

    Gone was the mockery from the night before. Now, Alivia sounded perfectlyposed. I¡¯ve arranged

    for afternoon tea with somedies from our circle. Would you care to join us?¡±

    Brielle frowned, almost suspecting she was hearing things.

    What was Alivia up to? Unclear of her intentions, Brielle held her ground.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Meanwhile, Alivia sat amidst the Beaconsfield socialites, each one keen to see Alivia¡¯s downfall after

    the previous night¡¯s events. But to their bewilderment, Alivia had just invited the other protagonist of the

    incident, Brielle, to tea. They had expected to see a disheveled Alivia, yet she looked poised and as

    regal as ever. She greeted them with her usual gentle demeanor.

    Thedies didn¡¯t dare provoke her. Regardless of the rumors, Alivia¡¯s position as the youngest head of

    the research institute meant that those who wanted to curry favor with her could fill Beaconsfield

    several times over.

    They sat in silence, exchanging nces, curious about what would unfold between Alivia and Brielle.

 Chatper 500

    Chapter 500

    Alivia signaled the maid to pour more coffee for one of the guests, her lips curling into a subtl smile.

    ¡°Brielle, aboutst night, I¡¯ll exin everything to Max personally. I sincerely invited your over, and if

    you¡¯re feeling uneasy, you can always check in with Max first.¡±

    ¡°Alivia, what are you scheming now?¡± Brielle¡¯s tone was indifferent, while Max, overhearing Alivia¡¯s

    name, frowned almost imperceptibly.

    Alivia didn¡¯t genuinely want to invite Brielle; it was merely a pretext to broach her next topic. ¡°If you

    don¡¯t join us for afternoon tea, perhaps you¡¯ll attend the wee¨Cback dinner tomorrow night. Jaired is

    a mutual friend of Max and me. My brother is organizing this dinner, and I was worried he might have

    overlooked to call you personally, so I thought I¡¯d extend the invite.¡±

    Brielle narrowed her eyes, about to respond, when Max snatched her phone away the call.

    and endo

    A flicker of annoyance crossed Alivia¡¯s eyes as she pretended the call was still ongoing. ¡°Well then,

    that¡¯s settled. Jaired is really looking forward to seeing you.¡±

    After hanging up, she lifted her cup and took a sip of her coffee.

    Finally, someone at the table couldn¡¯t contain their curiosity. ¡°Alivia, what exactly happenedst night?¡±

    Gracefully picking up a fork, Alivia speared a piece of cheesecake and took a bite. After her

    conversation with her grandfather that morning, she had summoned several estheticians to address the

    swelling on her face. Now, with her makeup meticulously applied, she looked no different than usual

    She had already nned her next moves.

    First, she needed to prevent the spread ofst night¡¯s debacle, ensuring she made a poised

    appearance before the others, and personally calling Brielle in their presence. Regardless of Brielle¡¯s

    reaction, it would make the socialites question whether they had the full story of the previous evening,

    thereby leaving Alivia with some dignity.

    The call to Brielle was not only to sow doubt among thedies but also a deration of war. Did Brielle

    think she had won so easilyst night? How naive!

    The moreposed Alivia acted, the more rattled Brielle would be.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Alivia¡¯s lips curved into a cold smile as she considered her second objective: to redeem herself in

    Max¡¯s eyes.

    Her image had surely taken a hit, but not beyond recovery, and she had already devised a n.

    Jaired¡¯s return was the perfect opportunity.

    Jaired was highly respected in their circle and a friend to Max. He was the key. If she could leverage

    Jaired effectively, she could regain the favor she had lost.

    do

    Chapter 500

    So, when asked about the previous night¡¯s events, she smiled and set down her silverware. ¡°It was just

    a misunderstanding. Everyone knows I had feelings for Max, but he made it clear he might be

    interested in someone else. I stepped back and wished them well. But it seems Brielle is unaware that

    Max has already discussed his rtionship with her to me, which led tost night¡¯s tension.¡±

    She told half¨Ctruths, leaving much unsaid.

    The socialites grasped the implication immediately. Brielle was nothing but a jealous woman who had

    deliberately caused trouble.

    ¡°Alivia, what status does Brielle have to deserve a call from you? If she doesn¡¯t show, good riddance. If

    she does, I fear her pauper¡¯s stench will keep us up at night.¡±

    ¡°Really, she was raised in an orphanage, has no parents, and was jilted by Spencer. I wonder what

    kind of siren¡¯s tricks she used to make Max dote on her so.¡±

    ¡°They say it¡¯s the work of a temptress, surely nothing decent. Have you heard of Tequ Sunset? Some

    girls there are trained to be very obedient. Someone¡¯s son tried it out recently and said it opened up a

    new world for him. Brielle probably came from a ce like that.¡±

    ¡°That means she¡¯s a call girl, then? Just lucky to have climbed up to Max. We won¡¯t ept such

    people. Let her be awkward and alone tomorrow night. Nobody should pay her any mind. She thinks

    she can enter our circle just by clinging to a man.¡±

    H

    The group¡¯s chatter grew louder as Alivia¡¯s smile widened subtly.

    That was also part of her aim today. If Brielle were attending tomorrow¡¯s dinner, Alivia would ensure

    she understood how difficult it was to enter their elite circle. Brielle might have been lifted by a man, but

    she would always need to hide under his protection.

    The very thing that had raised her to the skies could just as easily cast her into darkness.

 Chatper 501

    Chapter 501

    Brielle was oblivious to Alivia¡¯s scheming, her gaze resting on Max with a hint of amusement in her

    voice. ¡°What¡¯s up? I¡¯m actually curious about what she has to say.¡±

    ¡°Stay away from her.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s eyes rxed, realizing Max had seen through Alivia¡¯s facade. At least, if trouble arose, he

    wouldn¡¯t shield Alivia. That was enough for Brielle.

    She didn¡¯t bring up the prison incident; after all, what was done was done. Could she expect Max to go

    after Alivia? Max¡¯s actions the previous night had already shattered Alivia¡¯s pride.

    Of course, if Alivia continued to target Brielle, she wouldn¡¯t just stand by idly.

    She noticed the fatigue in Max¡¯s eyes, realizing he must have been relentlessly investigating since he

    woke up.

    ¡°Your injury¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±

    Max reclined in the leather seat, yfully touching her fingertips. ¡°Let¡¯s get you home to rest.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s lips curved into a smile. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    She was about to offer to massage his temples when he said, ¡°We should use protection in the future.¡±

    Even though Brielle¡¯s body wasn¡¯t naturally prone to conception, a pregnancy would only hurt her still¨C

    recovering health.

    Brielle didn¡¯t respond, just nodded slowly. Then she remembered her position had been stripped away.

    Was she no longer going to set foot in Dorsey International?

    A flicker of loss crossed her eyes, but before the emotion could take hold, she received a document

    from Patrick in the front seat. ¡°Ms. Brielle, this is from Mr. Dorsey for you.¡±

    Brielle was stunned. As she flipped through it, her expression changed dramatically. ¡°I can¡¯t

    ept this.¡±

    They had removed her from her position and offered her something far more valuable, so precious that

    the weight of the document seemed to press down upon her.

    Ten percent of Dorsey International¡¯s shares¨Cvalued in the billions¨Cmeant hundreds of millions for her.

    Max was giving her an empire that could only grow.

    A man who stood so tall yet chose to share his power must truly care for you.

    Max had never spoken the words ¡®I love you,¡® his most emotional admission being a surrender to

    dopamine, but every action of his proved his deep affection for her.

    Still, she couldn¡¯t take the ten percent. Max owned fifty¨Cone percent of Dorsey International, the

    1/2

    13:00

    absolute power holder. By offering her ten percent, he was giving others a chance to conspire against

    him. Should someone secretly amass more than forty¨Cone percent. Max would lose his seat at the

    head of the empire.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Brielle didn¡¯t need him to prove his love with Dorsey International shares.

    Seeing her own signature at the bottom, she realized the man in uniform at the prison had indeed given

    her a document. She had thought it routine and signed without a second thought, not knowing it was a

    share transfer.

    ¡°Max, I really can¡¯t ept this.¡±

    Her face was earnest as she pushed the document back, her gaze lifting to his. ¡°Give me some time,

    and I will work hard to meet you on equal ground.¡±

    Not by sharing his power but by her own merit.

    Max looked at her, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear with a tenderness reserved for her alone.

    ¡°I¡¯m willing to do this, but only for you, Brielle.¡±

 Chatper 502

    Chapter 502

    Brielle¡¯s heart swelled with emotion, a familiar warmth blooming in her chest. Only Max could stir her so

    deeply with just a few words.

    She had always detested how intimate rtionships could turnnguage into a weapon. It was the

    understanding of each other that could be twisted into a hurtful barb, but that wasn¡¯t any sort of skill. It

    was merely taking advantage of the other¡¯s open heart, their vulnerabilitiesid bare in trust, which

    shouldn¡¯t be used as a target for attack.

    Throughout the time she¡¯d known Max, he had never used words to wound her. He had enveloped her

    in a cocoon of safety, truly fulfilling his initial promise. Every word he uttered was with intent and was

    not tossed carelessly into the wind.

    Max studied her with earnest, trying to decipher the emotions swirling in her eyes. The thought of

    rejecting a gift worth billions would have seemed absurd to anyone else, but Brielle had done just that.

    The sensation that washed over him was hard to ce¨Cit was the first day of confirming their romantic

    rtionship, and his present was being returned.

    His mood soured, a brooding silence falling over him as he gathered the documents, cing them

    aside as if they were nothing more than scrap paper.

    ¡°Max, what would you like for a New Year¡¯s gift? How about a scarf? Hand¨Cknitted by yours truly,¡±

    Brielle ventured, hoping to lift his spirits with a skill from her past.

    In the orphanage, she¡¯d knitted scarves and mittens for the other kids to save money, honing her craft

    with dedication.

    A smile tugged at Max¡¯s lips, barely contained joy threatening to break through his usuallyposed

    demeanor. It seemed like he was charmed by the idea.

    That was all Brielle needed to hear to breathe a sigh of relief. ¡°Let¡¯s hit the mall now. You can pick out

    the yarn, and I¡¯ll aim to have it done by New Year¡¯s Day.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    With that, Patrick, who was sitting in the front seat, set the navigation for the nearest craft store.

    This was probably Max¡¯s first excursion to such a ce in years. His life was meticulously nned by

    assistants¨Cevery meal, every outfit, decided the day before. So when they entered the vast space of

    the shopping mall, he paused, momentarily overwhelmed.

    Brielle beelined for the yarn aisle, taking his hand. ¡°What color do you fancy?¡±

    Max considered his choice with the gravity of a major business deal. After a lengthy deliberation, he

    settled on a dignified grey. He looped the selected yarn with his finger and handed it to Brielle.

    1/2

    130

    Chapter 502

    She wasn¡¯t worried about picking the wrong color. Max had the kind of face that could make even the

    tackiest neon look regal. After bagging the yarn, Brielle¡¯s gaze drifted to a disy of slippers nearby,

    and she couldn¡¯t help but point them out. ¡°Look, couple¡¯s sets.¡±

    Indulging in a rare moment of whimsy, Max took the bag from her. ¡°Should we get them?¡±

    Without hesitation, Brielle grabbed a matching ck and white pair and tossed them into the

    cart.

    She rarely went shopping, and doing it together with Max was an even rarer treat. She simply grabbed

    anything that seemed practical, especially if it came in a his¨Cand¨Chers version.

    They shopped for items from head to toe until the carts were brimming. Realizing she might have

    gotten carried away, Brielle felt a tad embarrassed. But as if by magic, Patrick emerged, silently

    directing the staff to transfer their haul to the car.

    Once in the car, Brielle was too exhausted to lift a finger.

    When they returned to Premier Pce, Wesley was already waiting by the door, as if he knew. they¡¯d

    arrive together. ¡°Sir, Ms. Brielle.¡±

    Wesley directed the staff to unload the car and unpack the items.

    Suddenly, Brielle recalled the couple¡¯s theme of their purKenzos and felt a twinge of embarrassment

    with so many eyes on her. ¡°I¡¯ll help,¡± she offered, moving to tackle the unpacking herself, but Wesley

    stopped her.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, please, have a seat.¡±

    She settled on the couch, though not for long. Among the pile, she spotted several boxes of condoms,

    and her cheeks flushed with heat.

    Two staff members were still unwrapping items, Wesley was supervising, and even Patrick was

    bustling about, arranging their other purKenzos.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Brielle shot up from her seat, covering the boxes with her hands. She hadn¡¯t bought those; it must have

    been Max¡¯s doing.

    She turned to find Max, who was nonchntly perusing a document, unaffected by the unfolding

    scene. Who would have guessed that with his austere and distant demeanor, Max had slyly slipped a

    few boxes of condoms into their shopping just half an hour earlier?

 Chatper 503

    Chapter 503

    Brielle¡¯s cheeks burned with a rush of heat as she hastily snatched the box from the pile.

    ¡°I got this one. You guys take care of the rest,¡± she said, cutting off any potential response from the

    others as she quickly whisked the box away to the master bedroom.

    With the door securely locked behind her, the feverish tension that had gripped her began to dissipate

    as if she had narrowly escaped disaster. Tentatively, she touched her still¨Cflushed cheeks, rmed by

    their heat.

    In a flurry, she pulled out the contents of the box¨Ca few assorted items from the alleyway market¨Cand

    carefully stowed them into her bedside drawer.

    Her eyes couldn¡¯t help but dart to the assortment of item. Max did have a knack for shopping. A fresh

    wave of heat colored Brielle¡¯s face as she made sure there were no other bizarre surprises within the

    box. Breathing a sigh of relief, she felt as if she had narrowly avoided at social catastrophe in front of

    so many.

    When Brielle returned downstairs a half¨Chourter, Max was nowhere to be seen, so she decided to

    break out the yarn she had bought. After all, Christmas was just around the corner, and she had to

    work overtime to get her projects done in time.

    She nced out at the backyard where a lush greenhouse garden bloomed, a riot of color even in the

    dead of winter, tended to by a top¨Cnotch horticulturist.

    Settling down, Brielle turned to Wesley, who was nearby. ¡°Wesley, could you please pass me some

    paper and a pen?¡±

    Wesley obliged, a smile ying at the corners of his eyes as he saw the yarn by her side. He instructed

    the chef to prepare some pastries and coffee, setting them down on the table beside her.

    Brielle sketched the rough shape of a scarf on the paper, intending to embroider Max¡¯s name on one

    end. But considering his stature as a CEO, unting his name around his neck seemed a bit tacky.

    After revising several times and designing a variety of fonts, she finally scrapped them all in favor of

    drawing a delicate iris in the corner of the scarf. This small detail pleased her immensely, and she

    began to knit immediately.

    Meanwhile, Max had arrived at the nursing home after a call from Martha herself.

    ¡°Mother.¡±

    He entered to find Alivia spoon¨Cfeeding Martha some soup.

    Alivia¡¯s second task was to redeem her image in Max¡¯s heart. So, after parting ways with the others,

    she had rushed over.

    Martha was not in the best of health today. She could sense Alivia¡¯s mood was low, and after inquiring,

    she discovered the rtionship between Max and Brielle had be public.

    13:01

    Chapter 503

    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

    Martha felt uneasy, but knowing that even Michael had no sway over Max, she tried to contain her

    frustration for the time being.

    It had been a long while since she had seen Michael. They didn¡¯t resemble a couple as much as they

    did business partners.

    ¡°Max, you¡¯vee,¡± Martha said, easing a bit when she noticed Brielle wasn¡¯t with him.

    A doctor followed Max, needing to administer an injection to Martha, who had fainted that morning due

    to excessive emotion and had only recently regained consciousness.

    The side effects of the new medication were bing apparent, and every fainting spell was cause for

    rm, fearing it could be thest.

    Max sat on the other side of Martha¡¯s bed, expression neutral as he adjusted the nket over her. At

    this gesture, Martha¡¯s heart softened. ¡°You are always so busy with work. You visit me less often than

    Alivia does.¡±

    Max¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t meet Alivia¡¯s, who kept her eyes lowered; her body was tense with anticipation. But

    she couldn¡¯t avoid Max forever. She needed to act swiftly on her n.

    Martha¡¯s health was fragile, and any mishap due to Max and Brielle could change their rtionship.

    Would Max be able to remain at peace with Brielle then?

    It was unlikely.

    As Martha had said, a rtionship mired in guilt was an unbearable path to tread¨Cevery step was like a

    de to the leg, and every moment was torture.

    Alivia¡¯s lips curled into a cold smirk. If she could bear it a little longer, she could strike Brielle a fatal

    blow from which she¡¯d never recover. Every bit of patience now would pay off. She intended to

    dismantle their rtionship, bit by bit, until they were utterly apart.

    ¡°Mother, what caused the fainting?¡±

    Max had instructed everyone at the facility not to burden Martha with any external news. She needed

    peace to recover. Having just gone public with Brielle, Martha¡¯s fainting spell seemed more than just a

    coincidence to him.

    Martha massaged her forehead. ¡°Just a nightmare, I suppose. I keep feeling as though my time. is

    running short. I wish to see you more. If you and Alivia were to have a child¡­¡±

 Chatper 504

    Chapter 504

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Max could be honest with anyone about his rtionship with Brielle, but with Martha, it was a different

    story.

    Martha was on new medication, and the doctors had warned that she couldn¡¯t handle any shocks.

    Spilling the beans now could exacerbate her condition and render all their efforts futile.

    She looked pale, her grip on Alivia¡¯s hand gentle but firm. ¡°I called Alivia over to keep mepany,¡±

    she said, patting her hand. ¡°She asked if you¡¯d being by. Max. Have you two had a falling out?¡±

    Max frowned but kept his temper in check. ¡°You¡¯ve had your shot, Mom. You should rest.¡±

    Marthay in bed, her thoughts wandering. If things kept going this way, Brielle and Max might even

    have a child before she knew it. And she would never allow such an illegitimate child to exist.

    ¡°Max, promise me,¡± she said, her eyes betraying a hint of madness. ¡°My grandchild can only be born to

    Alivia. No one else is worthy.¡±

    Max saw her on the brink of an episode and gently patted her back. ¡°Mom, rest now. We¡¯ll talk about

    thister.¡±

    Martha was not easily cated, but the meds were overpowering, and drowsiness swept her. Her

    fingers still clung to a corner of Max¡¯s shirt.

    over

    Once she was asleep, Max looked up at Alivia, who appeared calm but was actually clutching her

    fingers tightly. The nail marks from the night before were still visible on her palm, throbbing with pain,

    but it was this pain that kept her alert.

    ¡°Max, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Alivia said, her eyes reddening as she looked up at him. ¡°Have my actionstely

    disgusted you?¡±

    Max remained silent, curious about what she was trying to convey.

    Alivia took a deep breath, her gaze earnest. ¡°I¡¯m not a good person. We¡¯ve grown

    grown up in this circle, knowing that if we want something, we fight for it. My goal since childhood was

    to marry you. So, for Brielle, who came out of nowhere, I can¡¯t wee her.¡±

    ¡°I heard she was pregnant, and you didn¡¯t even know about the child. This makes me despise her even

    more. To me, she¡¯s no different from those women trying to rise through social sses using their

    children. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been looking for ways to push her out, and I¡¯ve done some foolish things.¡±

    As she spoke, her voice choked up. ¡°We¡¯ve known each other for over a decade. I¡¯ve been chasing

    your shadow since we were kids. Even if I can¡¯t be with you, I¡¯ve always treated you like family. I

    believe Brielle isn¡¯t good enough for you, which is why I went to such lengths to drive her away. But

    now I understand that someone like you has never cared about status or

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    Chapter 504

    position. So, I want to apologize to you. If possible, I¡¯ll apologize to Brielle, too. I called her today. I

    don¡¯t know if she told you, but I invited her for afternoon tea, wanting to apologize in person, but she

    hung up on me.¡±

    Her eyes fell, her demeanor sincere. ¡°From now on, I will genuinely wish you the best, and I should try

    to move on myself. Jaired ising back soon, right? I promised to consider him, so you don¡¯t have to

    avoid me.¡±

    Her words were full of humility, and she expressed concern that Max might¡¯ve been making a mistake

    with Brielle and had resorted to unsavory tactics out of worry.

    As for Alivia calling Brielle, Max was right there when it happened, and he was the one who ended the

    call, so he knew Alivia wasn¡¯t lying. Whether she had really seen the light or was ying a calcted

    game, Max couldn¡¯t tell.

    Chapter 505

 Chatper 505

    Chapter 505

    Alivia¡¯s heart sneered beneath a facade of repentance, her strategy as cunning as ever. By painting

    herself as a hopeless admirer brought low, she diluted the severity of her mistakes.

    It was all because she liked him so much that she erred. It was only out of concern that she might¡¯ve

    fallen for the wrong guy that she went to extremes.

    She was ready to apologize, to make amends. Now, she was even trying to let him go and give it a shot

    with Jaired. After all she had done, what more could he ask for?

    Even Max had nothing to say at this point.

    Last night¡¯s vengeance had been dealt, the necessary words spoken. Now, faced with Alivia¡¯s earnest

    apology, if he were to remain stone¨Cfaced, he¡¯de off as the aggressor.

    A woman who erred from loving him too much, who had resolved to move on, deserved to have

    bygones be bygones.

    Alivia had predicted this oue, so when Max remained silent, she pressed on. ¡°About that rosary,

    mine really did go missing. When I saw Brielle wearing one on her wrist, and considering I never liked

    her, I jumped to conclusions. I can apologize to her for that, too.¡±

    Alivia produced a tastefully wrapped box from her purse and extended it towards him. ¡°Last night, my

    brother gave me a talking¨Cto and set me straight this morning. I wanted to meet Brielle in person to

    apologize, but she probably doesn¡¯t want to see me right now. Please, give her this gift for me. Max, I

    don¡¯t want Jaired to hear about any of this. I waited for you for years, and he¡¯s waited for me just as

    long. So, after I¡¯ve apologized to Brielle in person, can we pretend this never happened? Jaired¡¯s

    always been good to me; I don¡¯t want him to find out and lose face.¡±

    Max didn¡¯t reach for the gift box. Instead, he lifted a hand to massage his temple, his head throbbing

    asionally. His voice softened. ¡°No need for gifts. If you¡¯re willing to give it a go. with Jaired, then do it

    right.¡±

    A smile flickered on Alivia¡¯s face as she dabbed at her reddened eyes

    ¡°Last night was truly embarrassing, the most embarrassing night of my life. Thankfully, my brother woke

    me up. I¡¯ve let go of you now, and I hope our future encounters won¡¯t be awkward. Jaired and I will

    attend the party tomorrow night. My brother said we¡¯re treating it as a wee¨Cback party for Jaired.

    I¡¯m telling you in advance so you and Brielle don¡¯t feel obliged.¡±

    With the conversation steering towards Jaired¡¯s wee back party, how could Max not attend?

    Besides, he had already agreed to go with Brielle.

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    He stood up, his tone indifferent. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Jaired in a while, and Andrew and your brother are

    probably missing him too. I¡¯ll be there with Brielle.¡±

    Alivia sighed with relief. ¡°Great, I¡¯ll let him know. It¡¯s also the perfect chance to show him you¡¯re

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    13-01

    Chapter 505

    taken.¡±

    Her words were watertight, leaving Max with no retort. Just then, his phone rang. It was Brielle. He

    stepped out into the corridor to take the call.

    Alivia sat, watching his departing figure, a cold sneer crossing her features. This was her n. and it

    was working.

    And her deration to try things with Jaired was genuine. Jaired indulged her, willing to engage in her

    schemes. Once Jaired arrived in Beaconsfield, the real show would begin.

    She would never forgetst night¡¯s humiliation; it was etched into her very bones. And if she ever had

    to confront Brielle again, she would ensure it was a fatal blow.

    Fortunately, this episode was behind her.

    She breathed a sigh of relief, and then her gaze fell on Martha, venom shing in her eyes. If she

    couldn¡¯t have what she wanted, neither would Brielle. If it came down to it, she¡¯d use Martha to drive a

    wedge between them.

    They would never have peace.

    Never!

 Chatper 506

    Chapter 506

    Max had reached the end of the hallway when he pressed the answer button on his phone.

    ¡°Brielle?¡±

    ¡°Max, Wesley is wondering what kind of soup you¡¯d like. They¡¯re whipping something up in the kitchen

    right now.¡±

    Max chuckled and raised his hand to massage his forehead, easing the headache that was building

    there. ¡°That man¡¯s favorite pastime must be having the kitchen brew soups.¡±

    Brielleughed while her fingers danced with yarn and knitting needles. ¡°Seems like it. Every time I visit

    Premier Pce, Wesley has a pot of soup on the go.¡±

    No sooner had she finished her sentence than she heard Max cough twice. Her knitting paused. and

    she leaned her cheek closer to the phone on the table. ¡°You shoulde back soon. I¡¯m worried about

    your health.¡±

    Max had checked out of the hospital early, which was a stretch. The wounds had slightly reopened

    after he couldn¡¯t resist spending a night with Brielle.

    He had been on edge, and only now had he begun to rx, but trouble had red up at the rehab

    center. When a patient was pushed too hard, the body inevitably protested.

    Hearing no reply from him, Brielle feared the worst. She couldn¡¯t stay put any longer. ¡°Where are you?

    I¡¯lle pick you up.¡±

    The idea of a woman picking up a man brought an amused sparkle to Max¡¯s eyes. It was an intriguing

    reversal.

    ¡°I¡¯m still at the rehab center. If you¡¯reing to fetch me, then I¡¯ll wait for you.

    Sweet warmth flooded Brielle¡¯s heart, and she smiled. Just as she was about to set aside her knitting

    and head out, Max spoke again. ¡°Keep knitting that scarf, though. I want to wear it.¡±

    You couldn¡¯t have your cake.and eat it too.

    Brielle sat back down, only resuming her peaceful knitting after Max said he¡¯d get someone else to pick

    him up.

    And that someone else was Andrew.

    Andrew had been tuned into the grapevine gossip sincest night. He went from initial shock to a

    begrudging eptance, but that calm boiled over into a frenzy at the sight of Max. ¡°Max, what the heck

    happenedst night? Did you really unt your thing with Brielle in front of the old man?¡±

    Max was sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, coughing twice before closing his eyes lightly. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Andrew suddenly found himself at a loss for words, feeling stifled.

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    13:01

    Chapter Sub

    How had Max fallen for Brielle¡¯s charms? She seemed unremarkable, just a pretty face. Beyond that,

    what did she really have to offer? It all seemed ludicrous to Andrew, perhaps the most absurd situation

    he¡¯d encountered in years..

    He didn¡¯t know what to say, having always seen Brielle as nothing more than a canary. Now, this

    canary was settling in, and as someone who had never weed her, Andrew was definitely

    conflicted.

    And now, Aubree was still miffed with him over the whole Brielle fiasco. The

    thing was

    that Max and Brielle seemed to have gotten closer amidst the chaos, leaving Andrew feeling even more

    frustrated.

    Andrew¡¯s hands gripped the steering wheel as he changed the subject, ¡°By the way, Jaired¡¯s racked up

    some top honors in the military over the years. The Riddle family¡¯s patriarch is beaming with pride. With

    Jaired returning, it looks like he might take over the Riddle family reins.¡±

    Jaired had always been the most reckless and independent among them. Having angered his

    grandfather as a teenager, he was shipped off to the military. At his lowest, he reportedly went three

    days without a meal in the desert.

    The old man had the heart to treat his grandson with such tough love, refusing to let him return. Jaired,

    stubborn as a mule, held out and, against all odds, earned numerousmendations, climbing the

    ranks. Now, among the younger generation, Jaired¡¯s military standing was arguably the most secure.

    Max mentioned Jaired with a hint of a smile, ¡°The guy¡¯s got a spine of steel.¡±

    Andrew cracked a smile, too, noting the festive decorations outside. ¡°Are you bringing Brielle to the

    gathering?¡±

    It was a social event for their inner circle. Bringing Brielle would implicitly inform everyone of her status

    with him. And with a crowd expected, including progeny of officials and magnates with their partners,

    these social gatherings typically didn¡¯t wee mistresses or flings.

    ¡°If not Brielle, then who?¡± Max¡¯s tone was indifferent, a hint of pride flickering in his eyes as the car

    passed a disy window.

    ¡°Did Tessa ever knit you a scarf?¡±

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    The abrupt change in topic caught Andrew off guard for a moment.

 Chatper 507

    Chapter 507

    He paused for a few seconds before shaking his head subconsciously. ¡°No, why?¡±

    ¡°What about Aubree?¡±

    ¡°Aubree¡¯s got a fierce temper and isn¡¯t exactly the crafty type.¡±

    ¡°Right. Brielle said she¡¯s knitting me a scarf.¡±

    Andrew¡¯s feet almost slipped off the pedals, nearly mming the brakes in shock. As he turned

    incredulously to nce at Max, he noticed a faint smile ying at the corners of Max¡¯s usually Stoic

    face.

    Andrew was a rough¨Caround¨Cthe¨Cedges kind of guy, but even he sensed that this must¡¯ve been some

    sort of brag. He frowned deeply, his expression indescribable. He even wondered if Max had been

    switched out at some point because this behavior was just too oundish.

    Too sullen to speak, he drove in silence all the way until he dropped Max off. His mood remained

    clouded even when he was alone in his car.

    He pulled out his phone, tempted to call Aubree, but she had been avoiding himtely. If he wanted to

    see her, he¡¯d have to go to her ce.

    Aubree had bought a house a while back, but since she and Andrew had been in an on¨Cand¨Coff

    rtionship, she usually stayed over at his ce. Now, Andrew¡¯s home was filled with both of their

    belongings, from the entryway mat to the bed sheets, all of which Aubree had picked out. He had

    grown ustomed to his space being overrun by Aubree¡¯s things, and he didn¡¯t mind it one bit.

    Andrew parked outside Aubree¡¯s apartment building, idly tapping his fingers on the steering wheel as

    he waited to see when she would appear. He waited from afternoon till nightfall, patient as a panther

    lurking in the shadows for its prey.

    d in a coat, Aubree walked slowly back home, apanied by another taller and seemingly male

    figure.

    Andrew¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he hunched over the steering wheel: He rarely paid attention to Aubree¡¯s

    personal life, including her friends and social circles, but now, the sight of a strange man by her side

    sent a jolt through his spine.

    Aubree was surprised to find Andrew hade over on his own. Her high heel had broken earlier in

    the evening, and luckily, a neighbor from her building had given her a lift home. She thanked him and

    headed towards her building, but then she was suddenly pulled into a car before she could enter the

    lobby.

    She nearly screamed, and her mouth was quickly covered by a firm hand. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±

    Recognizing his voice, Aubree rxed, then immediately began to struggle in anger. ¡°What are you

    doing?¡±

    Chapter 507

    Andrew wrapped an arm around her, his hand already wandering. ¡°Who was that guy? Got yourself

    another man on the side?¡±

    Aubree scoffed, noticing several neighbors heading their way, If they caught on to themotion in the

    car, It would certainly lead to gossip, ¡°Let me go first.¡±

    But Andrew reclined the seat and pressed down on her, ruthlessly tearing at her clothes. Startled,

    Aubree saw the neighbors drawing closer and nearly pleaded as she grabbed Andrew¡¯s hand. ¡°Not like

    this, we¡¯ll be discovered.¡±

    However, Andrew always did as he pleased, brushing her hand aside and easily having his way. The

    car began to rock, and the approaching neighbors were visibly shocked by the sight of the trembling

    vehicle.

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Her room was just upstairs, and yet Andrew couldn¡¯t hold back, a tant act of indecency.

    Fuming, Aubree pounded on Andrew¡¯s chest, but he was much taller and overpowering. In a fit of rage,

    she bit down hard on his shoulder, tasting blood in her mouth.

    The pain was hardly a bother to Andrew. In fact, he intensified his movements, making the car shake

    even more violently. He didn¡¯t live here and couldn¡¯t care less what the neighbors thought of him. And

    so, he also dismissed how they might judge Aubree. That was none of his concern; all he wanted was

    the thrill of the moment.

    Aubree closed her eyes, not wanting to imagine what the homeowners¡® chat group would be saying

    later.

    Three hourster, Andrew finished, nting a kiss on her lips. ¡°Will youe back tomorrow night?¡±

    Aubree silently dressed, ignoring him. The car was heavy with the scent of their encounter, and tears

    threatened to spill from her eyes as she dressed.

    However, the dim light concealed them from Andrew¡¯s notice. Without a response from Aubree, he

    assumed she was still angry. Had he not satisfied her?

 Chatper 508

    Chapter 508

    When Andrew was with Aubree, his mind waspletely about sex.

    ¡°Jaired¡¯sing back tomorrow, and I¡¯m taking Tessa to his wee¨Cback party. No one will be home

    tomorrow. Oh, and the clothes I left on the couch are dirty. Remember to toss them in the washing

    machine for me, will you? I won¡¯t being home tonight. Got to help Tessa pack. She probably needs

    to bring some meds, too.¡± He rattled off his to¨Cdo list while fiddling with the buttons on his shirt.

    Aubree had just finished dressing and was already opening the car door.

    Andrew¡¯s brow furrowed with concern. ¡°Aubree, did you catch all that?¡±

    Without a word, she stepped out of the car. He reached out and pulled her back, only to be met with a

    sharp p across the face, leaving him stunned. Tasting blood on his lip, Andrew spat, ¡°What the hell,

    Aubree? You¡¯ve been on edge for days, and now this? Do you expect me to grovel at your feet forever?

    Can¡¯t we just call it quits while we¡¯re ahead?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s body trembled. She wanted to retort but instead just tightened her coat around her and

    walked into the lobby.

    Left alone in the car, Andrew was fuming and clueless about her sudden outburst. ¡°Damn it, that hurt,¡±

    he muttered, touching his cheek before consoling himself with the thought that at least he got what he

    wanted.

    Feeling angry and frustrated, Andrew floored the gas pedal, speeding away from the scene.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Clutching her coat, Aubree had barely reached the elevator when she heard a group of men. chuckling

    nearby.

    ¡°There she is, the talk of the town.¡±

    ¡°Desperate much? In the car right outside? Looks like she¡¯s selling more than just her time.¡±

    ¡°Hey, sweetheart, how much for a night? You¡¯re easy on the eyes, but is your price steep?¡±

    Aubree ignored them, and her fingers trembled as she frantically pressed the elevator button, but the

    men were already closing in, eyeing her up and down. Her low¨Ccut dress didn¡¯t help. revealing more

    than she intended.

    The men¡¯s excitement grew with the sight.

    ¡°Quite the professional, huh? Name your price. We¡¯ll take you for the night and pay triple.¡±

    ¡°You just got done in a car, so you won¡¯t mind us, will you?¡±

    ¡°C¡¯mon, we¡¯re all customers here, so drop the act.¡±

    They had been watching and had seen the car rocking. The building¡¯s chat group was already aze

    with gossip. The older residents were appalled by such openness, branding her with derogatory

    names. This was not a high¨Cend neighborhood and conservative views prevailed,

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    Chapter 508

    so one could imagine the current state of the chat group.

    When one of the men reached out to grab Aubree, she swatted his hand away with a forceful ¡°Back

    off!¡±

    That provoked them further. One grabbed her hair and mmed her against the wall. ¡°Stop ying

    hard to get! You were all over that guy in the car, and now you¡¯re acting all innocent with us?!¡±

    Aubree clung to her coat as the men shoved and berated her until the elevator arrived. She burst

    through them, racing to her apartment. The menughed, following her, kicking at her door, and cursing

    before finally departing.

    Copsing on the sofa, Aubree felt a stinging in her eyes. Her phone rang, and she quickly sat up at

    the sight of the shing name. ¡°Bri?¡±

    Brielle was still knitting a scarf. Realizing she hadn¡¯t responded to Aubree¡¯s text, she decided to call.

    When she heard Aubree¡¯s hoarse voice, Brielle frowned. ¡°Are you sick?¡±

    Aubree shook, not from illness but from shame and fear. Andrew always trampled on her dignity with

    such indifference. ¡°Just a bit of a cold, nothing serious. Anyway, tell me about you and Max. Are you

    two really together now?¡±

    Brielle smiled softly. ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s my boyfriend now.¡±

    ¡°And Michael? He didn¡¯t react at all?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s smile faded slightly. If Michael had reached out right after it happened, either to her or Max,

    she wouldn¡¯t feel so anxious. But sincest night, there had been no calls to Max or her, as if nothing

    had happened.

    That was the most terrifying part¨Cno one knew what he was thinking. He was like a shallowly buried

    landmine; you never knew when it might explode, leaving everyone on edge.

 Chatper 509

    Chapter 509

    Max and Brielle were now an item, out in the open for all to see. Yet, Brielle couldn¡¯t shake the feeling

    that her happiness, every minute and every second of it, was somehow stolen.

    After Brielle hung up the phone from exining the previous night¡¯s events, she stared nkly at the

    ball of yarn before her until a slender hand picked it up. Following the hand, her gaze met Max¡¯s.

    Max had wrapped up his work and, noticing the embryonic shape of a scarf in her hands, raised an

    eyebrow. ¡°Getting close to done?¡±

    Brielle chuckled. Knitting a scarf wasn¡¯t exactly a quick affair, and with tomorrow¡¯s dinner party, it would

    take even longer to finish it. She wanted to wear it before Christmas, but that would mean hustling.

    ¡°Not even close.¡±

    Max set the yarn down and sat on the nearby couch. ¡°Will I be able to wear it before Christmas?¡±

    ¡°Are you in a hurry?¡±

    Although she had promised it as a Christmas gift, Max seemed more eager than ever.

    Max nodded seriously. He was indeed anxious ¨C after all, he had already bragged about it, and if he

    didn¡¯t wear it soon, Andrew¡¯s sharp tongue wouldn¡¯t let him live it down.

    ¡°I¡¯ll try to finish it within three days.¡±

    So that night, when Max awoke at 2 a.m., he saw Brielle still working bymplight. He instantly

    regretted pushing her.

    ¡°Brielle, let¡¯s get some sleep.¡±

    Rubbing her sore eyes, Brielle was already on the brink of sleep. Hearing Max suggest sleep. she

    dropped her knitting, rolled into his arms, and was asleep in under a minute.

    Max found her exhaustion endearing. Expecting her to sleep in, he was surprised to find her up at

    dawn, knitting in the backyard.

    Standing on the second¨Cfloor balcony, he watched her silhouette against the greenhouse¡¯s vibrant

    flowers, finding the scene utterly enchanting.

    At noon, Jaired messaged the group, saying he had set off and would arrive in about three hours.

    Jaired¡¯s gaze was sharp, his looks clean¨Ccut and striking. Dressed in ck boots with perfectly tucked

    pants and a tall frame, his presence was like the onset of spring ¨C full of life and vigor.

    ncing at his phone, Jaired chuckled and surveyed the outside world. The driver in front didn¡¯t dare

    strike up a conversation. In their circle, Jaired was known for his fearless deeds, a

    1/2

    13:02

    Chapter 509

    hero among his peers.

    ¡°Why would Max fall for someone outside our usual crowd?¡± he mused, finding it perplexing.

    He tossed his phone aside. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll see what this Brielle is like soon enough.¡±

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Restless, Jaired tagged Max in the group. [Bring your girlfriend, ok?]

    Max seldom chatted, and Jaired was prepared for no reply. After sending the message, he tossed his

    phone aside again.

    The reception was at a hotel in the suburbs, half an hour¡¯s drive along a winding mountain road ¨C a

    world of wealth beyond imagination.

    Brielle sat in the car, cheeks flushed from the cold breeze through the cracked window. Max buttoned

    her coat up to the top. ¡°Button up, I don¡¯t want you to catch a cold.¡±

    She closed the window and smiled back at him. Just as she was about to speak, her phone rang ¨C it

    was Mason calling. Mason was unaware of her recent activities and rarely called, except forpany¨C

    rted matters.

    Brielle answered, hearing Mason¡¯s smug voice. ¡°Brielle, thepany¡¯s going public in the States today.

    Got anything to say?¡±

    Her heart skipped a beat. Her eyes narrowed at the news. Mason sure moved fast. Theirpany was

    going public.

    ¡°I heard Dorsey International let you go?¡±

    She nced at Max. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Mason paused, thenughed. ¡°Being fired might be a blessing in disguise.¡±

    Brielle hadn¡¯t told Max about her investment in thepany yet, and she didn¡¯t n to for the time

    being. It was her trump card ¨C she had a solid backup for whatever the future held.

    ¡°Any problems?¡±

    ¡°If I can¡¯t handle this with the money you¡¯ve given, I don¡¯t deserve to be your partner. Do you know how

    shocked I was by thatst ten billion? I even thought you were printing money behind our backs.¡±

    Brielle smiled, the casino funds were far more fluid than any money printer.

    ¡°Brielle, don¡¯t worry about the IPO. We¡¯re well¨Cfunded, and I¡¯ll take care of our first¨Cround investors.¡±

    ¡°I trust you. Just remember, the capital we bring in serves us, not controls us. We keep the control in

    the family.¡±

    Chapter 510

    I

 Chatper 510

    Chapter 510

    ¡°Rx, by the time webine our shares, we¡¯ll have well over sixty percent of the control in our

    hands. But there¡¯s something else I gotta mention ¨C you remember Book, right? He¡¯s been stirring the

    pot while we¡¯ve been gearing up to go public. There might be some market shes down the road.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s cross that bridge when wee to it,¡± Brielle said, her voice cool as ice. The IPO was just the

    beginning of their climb to the top; there was a long road ahead.

    After ending the call, she stared out the window, lost in thought, sparks of ambition flickering in her

    eyes. She couldn¡¯t help but check on Max. At the moment, Max had his Bluetooth earpiece in, busy in a

    conference call with the executives.

    Despite the injuries he carried, he was like an unceasing engine. His position was a testament to his

    extraordinary talent and hard work. She needed to be stronger to stand by his side.

    The hotel was aze with lights, and a barbecue grill had been set up outside, adding a festive air to

    the evening.

    Tessa was out of her element in such a gathering, stuck to Andrew like ivy to an oak. Her eyes darted

    around, always wary whenever theynded on any woman who rivaled her own beauty.

    She scanned the crowd and didn¡¯t spot Brielle, which brought a cold smirk to her lips. Would Brielle

    dare show up tonight?

    Just as she had that thought, a car pulled up in front of her. The door opened, and out stepped Max. He

    walked around to the passenger side and opened the door for Brielle.

    The moment Brielle showed her face, all eyes were drawn to her.

    Max having a girlfriend was no longer a secret, but this was the first time he¡¯d brought a date to such

    an event, and everyone was surprised.

    The sight of Brielle made Tessa¡¯s face darken, and she clutched Andrew¡¯s arm unconsciously.

    She¡¯d heard the rumors but never imagined Max would actually pick Brielle. Somehow, the thought that

    someone as lowly as Brielle could rise to the top, made her fear being reced by Aubree one day,

    especially since the two women were friends..

    When Andrew caught sight of Brielle, a sharp glint passed through his eyes before he greeted Max.

    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s head in.¡±

    Max nodded and reached for Brielle¡¯s hand, concerned she might be nervous. But Brielle was more at

    ease than he expected. ¡°Of course,¡± he thought, ¡°why would someone who dared to y high¨Cstakes

    poker be nervous about a few strangers?¡±

    Brielle walked beside him, noticing the path to the entrance was lined with a pool, an ice rink, and the

    open barbecue pits, leading up to the Starcatcher Tower. The Starcatcher Tower was a bungee jumping

    site so high it seemed one could pluck stars from the sky. She marveled inwardly at the extravagance

    of the rich.

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    Chapter 510

    Inside the hall, servants in ck and white uniforms were everywhere, and the tables wereden with

    pastries and drinks. It was just a casual get¨Ctogether, yet it had the air of a grand banquet. Unlike a

    formal event, the guests were dressed down, making those few in fancy attire seem out of ce.

    Brielle felt the weight of many gazes upon her. She caught the looks of curiosity and disdain. from the

    wealthy heirs and heiresses like spotlights attempting to reveal her every secret.

    She quickly nced around the room and saw the scions of the big four banks, the retail. princess, and

    the smartphone empire¡¯s young heir, intermingled with the current hotshots of the celebrity scene, likely

    apanying the young elites. The caliber of this gathering was on par with any of the major gs

    back home.

    Max seemed to sense her wonder and whispered an exnation. ¡°The Riddle family is pretty old¨C

    school, with a lineage steeped in military honor. Business and politics run in Jaired¡¯s family, and he¡¯s

    got a sterling rep ¨C a lot of friends.¡±

    Brielle knew of Jaired and the Riddle family; anyone in Max¡¯s orbit was no ordinary person.

    She reached out, lightly grasping the fabric of Max¡¯s sleeve. He thought she might¡¯ve been hungry and

    asked softly, ¡°Want something to eat?¡±

    There was a variety of snacks, and he knew she preferred the less sweet options. He was about to

    fetch some for her when Brielle shook her head gently. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡±

    Before she could say more, a pleasant male voice came from outside. ¡°Drop it, man. Thest time he

    left me in the desert for a week, I nearly turned into a mummy. You know how the old man is only

    interested in tough love.¡±

    ¨C

    Following that voice was Alivia¡¯s. ¡°Grandpa cares about you. Do you remember when you fainted as a

    kid? he was so worried he almost passed out, too. Both of you were rushed to the hospital.¡±

    The man chuckled. ¡°Alivia, you remember that? All that time I was away, you were on my mind.¡± ¡°You¡¯re

    so slick. You should¡¯ve stayed out there longer, as long as you didn¡¯t kick the bucket.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re heartless, you know? I worried about you the whole way back.¡±

    Their banter continued as they entered the hall.

 Chatper 511

    Chapter 511

    Jaired towered over Allvia, making her look almost delicate, like a damsel, by his side. His presence

    wasmanding. likely a result of his military background. He stood tall and straight as an oak, even

    in his all¨Cck attire. Yet, the dark hues didn¡¯t make him seem. brooding. Instead, he resembled a tree

    bursting through the earth, full of life and promise.

    As he weaved through the crowd, he greeted everyone with a warm smile, as if he knew them. all

    personally. Every now and then, he¡¯d turn to whisper something to Alivia, causing her to burst into

    laughter. Together, they were a striking pair.

    Jaired¡¯s gazended on Max, his eyes lighting up with recognition. ¡°Max,¡± he called out, striding over

    with a confident galt, and pping him on the shoulder. A wave of his masculine aura enveloped them.

    ¡°Been a while, eh, Max?¡±

    His attention quickly shifted to Brielle, sizing her up before his eyes darted back to Alivia as if drawing

    comparisons.

    Max nodded to him, his usual cool demeanor unfazed. Max stood with an effortless grace, his

    silhouette smooth and refined¨Ca stark contrast to Jaired¡¯s rugged charm.

    Brielle locked eyes with Alivia, offering a faint smile that effectively blocked Alivia¡¯s intended path.

    Alivia¡¯s smile faltered for a moment before she returned the nod, acknowledging the silent

    confrontation.

    The tension between the two women was palpable, and the surrounding onlookers, aware of Brielle¡¯s

    recent pairing with Max, were keen to witness the drama unfold. Rumors had it that Brielle had boldly

    imed Max right from under Michael¡¯s nose.

    Tonight, Brielle was undoubtedly the center of attention. The moment she stepped in, eyes¨Cboth overt

    and covert¨Cwere on her. Any disparaging remarks were kept at bay, for she was Max¡¯s girlfriend, the

    only one he¡¯d publicly acknowledged in years.

    Max¡¯s status was well¨Cknown; crossing Brielle in his presence was not just foolish¨Cit was suicidal

    The crowd watched with bated breath, expecting a showdown, but both women maintained a cool

    facade, like a battlefield devoid of smoke.

    Brielle was genuinely indifferent, whereas Alivia was only masking her turmoil. Her heart was seething,

    especially witnessing Max and Brielle so openly together. The humiliation of that night and her deep¨C

    seated love for Max was too intense to hide, her fingernails digging into her palm.

    Jaired, sensing her distress, gently touched her shoulder, subtly directing her away. ¡°Those heels

    weren¡¯t made for standing all night, Alivia. Let¡¯s find you a seat.¡±

    Alivia nced at him, a smile ying on her lips. ¡°You seem more attentive since you¡¯ve been away.

    1/2

    Chapter 511

    ¡°When have I ever been anything but?¡± he retorted. He then turned to Max. ¡°I¡¯ll take Alivia over

    there.¡±

    Max nodded, his gaze lingering on Brielle. ¡°Hungry? Should we grab a bite?¡±

    Brielle watched Jaired¡¯s retreating back. Was Jaired another suitor for Alivia? And one who seemed

    quite smitten at that.

    Holding Alivia steady, Jaired caught the flicker of resentment in her eyes and smiled. ¡°Why the rush? I

    promised I¡¯d be back to help you, didn¡¯t I? Whatever you want, I¡¯ll get it for you.¡±

    Alivia took a deep breath, quickly regaining herposure. ¡°Jaired, I knew I could count on you.¡±

    His lips curled in a smile, but he remained silent.

    After seating Alivia among the high societydies, Jaired was met with teasing remarks.

    ¡°Jaired, still carrying a torch for Miss Alivia, I see.¡±

    ¡°Careful, or your old man might ship you off again.¡±

    With Alivia settled, Jaired¡¯s eyes twinkled with humor. ¡°I¡¯vee back just to be around Alivia. Even if

    he sends me away, I¡¯d find a way back.¡±

    His voice carried, and those nearby overheard. His words gave Alivia a sense of validation. He was the

    sole heir to the Riddle estate, arguably the most prestigious lineage there, handsome and unyieldingly

    devoted to Alivia. Despite knowing her hearty elsewhere, he waited patiently.

    What was it about Alivia that drew such admiration?

    The women looked on with envy. On one hand, she had a childhood friend in Max, a brother like

    Kenzo, and now Jaired was relentlessly pursuing her. Calling her the darling of the heavens. seemed

    an understatement.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chatper 512

    Chapter 512

    Alivia¡¯s lips curved Into a sly smile as she reveled in the admiration that flowed her way. Every woman

    had her vanity, and Jaired¡¯s words had restored the dignity she felt she had lost that

    evening.

    Among those seated, several harbored resentment towards Alivia for her typically haughty demeanor.

    Now, witnessing Jaired¡¯s doting, almost groveling behavior, their grudges seemed to dete like a

    balloon. No one dared to cross the mighty Riddle family.

    Alivia sat tall and poised, remaining at the epicenter of the circle of societydies, basking in

    their envious stares.

    They all looked down on Brielle, thinking she was nothing more than a gold digger who hadtched

    onto a catch. Yet, they all envied her, for she seemed to have it all. With this thought, Alivia¡¯s spirits

    lifted.

    Tonight was Jaired¡¯s wee¨Cback party, but it was also a casual get¨Ctogether among friends, free

    from the usual pretense. The women chatted about wine, art, music, and travel.

    As the conversation grew animated and the mood was light, Brielle approached the group. The society

    ladies, who already held her in contempt, couldn¡¯t help but sneer. Did this woman really think they had

    epted her?

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Brielle hade near, searching for a seat, when Alivia stood up and took her hand with feigned

    closeness. ¡°Brielle, you might not know everyone here. Let me introduce you. This is the darling of

    Summit Enterprises, and thisdy is the director of CoreTech Innovations. Next to her is the heiress of

    Prestige Hardware,¡± said Alivia warmly, making the introductions before turning to the others. ¡°This is

    Max¡¯s girlfriend, Brielle. It¡¯s her first time here, so she might be a bit shy, but you¡¯ll all get to know her

    soon enough.¡±

    Alivia¡¯s face wore a smile, and beneath it, her mask of gentleness was firmly in ce.

    The introduceddies remained silent, their aloofness thickening the awkward air with a hint of tension.

    They refrained from causing trouble for Brielle out of respect for Max, but with him not. by her side,

    there was no need to feign politeness.

    Noticing theck of response, Alivia¡¯s smile sharpened. She had made it a point to highlight the

    prestigious positions of the women present while reducing Brielle to simply ¡®Max¡¯s girlfriend.¡±

    Briellecked a notable family background, was recently fired from Dorsey International, and didn¡¯t

    even have the title of director to her name anymore. Now, her identity was nothing more than Max¡¯s

    girlfriend¨Ca mere extension of a man.

    Triumph sparkled in Alivia¡¯s eyes as she expected Brielle to feel humiliated, maybe even mortified, but

    Brielle scanned the seated women with a confident gaze, nodding slightly as if surveying her domain,

    before taking a seat.

    Alivia¡¯s face darkened at her poise. Some of the otherdies were irked, too. Why should Brielle look at

    them that way, as if she were their equal?

    13:02

    do

    Chapter $12

    One of them smirked and spoke up in Italian. ¡°Alivia, why bother with her? Her presence is an insult to

    our status.¡±

    These women had been groomed in the finest institutions; speaking multiplenguages was second

    nature to them. The others were emboldened, knowing Brielle wouldn¡¯t understand, and that even if

    sheined to Max, she¡¯d have nothing to say.

    They joined in, still in Italian.

    ¡°She¡¯s nothing but a man¨Ceater. She¡¯ll be dumped sooner orter. I heard she was once a top student¨C

    so what? All her efforts can¡¯tpare to us.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t fathom why she sticks around Max. He¡¯s been elite since day one.¡±

    Alivia looked down, her lips curling into a smile, yet her face feigned sympathy for Brielle. ¡°Brielle, you

    probably don¡¯t understand, right? No worries, they¡¯re just weing you in Italian.¡±

    The mockingdiesughed, feeling superior as they watched Brielle.

    Brielle brushed Alivia¡¯s hand aside and chose a seat at the head of the table, responding in wless

    Italian, ¡°Thank you all for the warm wee, but since we¡¯re in Beaconsfield, let¡¯s not unt our poor

    language skills, shall we?¡±

    The faces of the mockingdies stiffened, and Alivia¡¯s expression flickered.

    Brielle leaned back, looking up at Alivia. ¡°Is such a wee customary in Italy?¡±

 Chatper 513

    Chapter 513

    Alivia felt the sting of the remark as if she¡¯d been pped across the face. Her chest heaved with

    barely contained emotion.

    The societydies who had just been showing off their Italian were now flushed with embarrassment.

    They had intended to make Brielle the butt of their joke, mocking her with anguage they thought she

    couldn¡¯t understand. To their chagrin, Brielle¡¯s Italian was even more fluent than theirs.

    The atmosphere turned awkward; the moment they had spoken, they had be the jesters of the

    evening.

    Brielle wasn¡¯t about to let Alivia off the hook. ¡°Ms. Alivia, don¡¯t you understand Italian?¡± she asked, her

    voice tinged with nonchnce.

    The question cornered Alivia. Admitting she understood meant she knew the other women were

    ridiculing her, when she told Brielle they weed her. iming ignorance would suggest that she was

    less cultured than Brielle, who had mastered thenguage. Having presented herself as gracious and

    friendly towards Brielle all evening, choosing the former would expose Alivia¡¯s duplicity to everyone.

    Suppressing the turmoil within, Alivia managed a strained smile. ¡°I really don¡¯t understand. Did they say

    something unpleasant?¡± Her gaze swept innocently over the other guests, while the instigators avoided

    her eyes, shifting ufortably.

    Barely holding back her rage, which felt like a taste of blood in her mouth, Alivia addressed the crowd.

    ¡°Brielle¡¯s not out often, and we rarely gather like this. This evening isn¡¯t just a wee party for Jaired;

    it¡¯s also the first time Brielle¡¯s been at a social event like this.¡±

    She looked at Tessa, who was ring daggers at Brielle. From the moment Tessa had seen Brielle, her

    mood had plummeted. Her eyes met Alivia¡¯s, and without words, they agreed that Brielle must be

    humiliated tonight.

    At Alivia¡¯s cue, Tessa rose, her face pale but flushed with excitement at the thought of Brielle¡¯s

    impending disgrace. Unaware that Alivia had easily manipted her emotions. Tessa was out of her

    depth against such cunning.

    She approached the grand piano and casually asked, ¡°Alivia, may I? I¡¯ve heard this is a collector¡¯s

    pride. I¡¯ve been practicing a piece recently, and seeing this piano makes me want to give it a go. Ms.

    Brielle, you wouldn¡¯t mind apanying me, would you?¡±

    Tessa, having been sheltered, must have honed other skills. She yed the piano beautifully and was

    sure Brielle, an orphaned girl whoter joined the Haywood family, couldn¡¯tpare. After all, would

    the Haywoods have ever provided her with a proper education?

    Nodding. Alivia said, ¡°Of course, this piano was indeed in a gallery before being brought here for a

    private concert.¡±

    Tessa¡¯s smile grew as she turned to Brielle. ¡°Ms. Brielle, you y, don¡¯t you? Since it¡¯s our first

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    13.02

    Chapter 513

    time at such a gathering, let¡¯s rx with some music.¡±

    Relieved, the otherdies were ready to settle scores.

    ¡°Right, it¡¯s just a casual get¨Ctogether among friends. If you¡¯re practicing, Brielle, why not join in?¡±

    ¡°Surely, you can y the piano? Our tutors were world¨Css.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t pick on her, guys. She probably doesn¡¯t even know the make of this piano.¡±

    As the chatter continued, Alivia finally found some sce in their words. She turned to Brielle, feigning

    kindness. ¡°If you¡¯re not up to it, I could assist Tessa. She loves ying, and now she¡¯s just inspired.¡±

    These women were born into privilege, well¨Cversed in the arts. They had always enjoyed the finest,

    which was their fortune, but it was wrong for them to trample on those less fortunate.

    Alivia, ever gentle, took hold of Brielle¡¯s arm. ¡°Brielle, it¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t y. I¡¯ll help Tessa.¡±

    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

    Chapter 514

 Chatper 514

    Chapter 514

    Her smile was as tender as a spring morning, but the words that slipped through those lips were as

    fake as a three¨Cdor bill.

    Brielle¡¯s silence spoke volumes, prompting a knowing nce between Alivia and Tessa, both

    shimmering with smug satisfaction. How could a woman who couldn¡¯t even y chopsticks on the

    piano have caught Max¡¯s eye? It seemed unfathomable. She could only hold someone¡¯s attention for

    so long before being tossed aside likest season¡¯s fashion.

    That was the collective thought buzzing around the room. A few snickers broke out among the crowd.

    However, Brielle stood up amidst theughter and piercing stares, exuding a calm that seemed to quiet

    the room. ¡°What can I do for you, Ms. Tessa?¡±

    When Brielle spoke, Tessa¡¯s brow furrowed into a frown, her voiceced with mockery. ¡°y a duet

    with me. Either we do a four¨Chand performance on the piano, or perhaps, Ms. Brielle, you¡¯d like to sing

    us a song instead?¡±

    The insinuation was clear. Was she insinuating that Brielle was some kind of entertainer, there to sing

    for her supper?

    If Brielle agreed to a four¨Chand duet, who knew what Tessa might y? If it turned out to be something

    Brielle didn¡¯t know, she¡¯d be caught in a trap, her embarrassment serving as the evening¡¯s

    entertainment.

    The onlookers were thrilled at the prospect of the drama unfolding, while the men continued to prattle

    on about stocks and bonds, oblivious to the brewing storm.

    Alivia chimed in with feigned concern, ¡°Brielle, if you¡¯re not up for it, there¡¯s no need to push

    yourself.¡±

    Tessa had taken her seat at the piano and started ying with unwavering confidence. Alivia was

    about to join Tessa for the duet, but Brielle had other ns. She stepped to the side and picked up a

    violin.

    As the bow caressed the strings, the music came alive.

    Brielle had foregone the piano duet, not wanting to give Tessa any more chances to trip her up.

    Instead, she chose the violin to apany Tessa¡¯s piano.

    The walls were lined with instruments. Alivia had mentioned an uing mini¨Cconcert for the next

    round of guests.

    The violin sang like a nightingale in the still of the night, its notes intertwining with the piano¡¯s melody,

    each enhancing the other.

    Tessa¡¯s face paled, herposure shaken. Alivia¡¯s expression also soured; her fingers curled into her

    palm, and her breath was caught in her chest.

    1/2

    13:02

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    The otherdies, who had been eagerly awaiting a spectacle, now wore strained smiles, at mixture of

    anger and frustration coloring their faces.

    The harmony between the instruments soon caught the attention of the entire room, drawing. the gaze

    of the businessmen away from their financial discussions.

    Tessa grew more frantic, her usual poise crumbling under the spotlight of the high society¡¯s gaze. Her

    fingers trembled, barely avoiding a catastrophic mistake.

    In contrast, Brielle stood poised, dressed in simple attire, her violin tucked under her chin. She exuded

    an aloof, detached air, her posture straight, seemingly untouched by the world around her. While

    Tessa¡¯s face betrayed her nerves, Brielle was the picture ofposure.

    Alivia fumed, her breath quickening, her face a mask of icy disdain. What was especially galling was

    the sight of the men, not far off, admiring Brielle¡¯s performance, and openly praising her violin skills.

    The duet was unexpectedly harmonious. Brielle¡¯s violin ying was so tender it seemed to embrace

    the world.

    Alivia could bear it no longer and shot Tessa a look. Understanding her cue. Tessa knew she couldn¡¯t

    let Brielle continue to shine. She changed the piece mid¨Cperformance, shifting the piano¡¯s melody to

    one at odds with the violin¡¯s current tune. If Brielle continued to y as before, it would sh horribly,

    ensuring her disgrace.

    A smirk crept back onto Alivia¡¯s face, and Tessa¡¯s focus returned, her ying smoother with renewed

    confidence.

    As they were about to exchange triumphant nces, the violin¡¯s tone shifted, matching the piano¡¯s new

    direction. What was once a gentle stream became a forceful torrent, as sharp as a dagger in a dark

    alley.

    Tessa¡¯splexion turned ghostly white. Her hands were shaking so much she could hardly keep up.

    As nerves overtook her, mistakes crept into her ying, and sweat beaded on her brow.

    Meanwhile, Brielle remained unppable, even quickening the tempo:

    Out of the corner of her eye, Tessa saw the men whispering among themselves, her fingers. trembling

    even more. In the end, Tessa stopped, her face drained of color as sweat dripped down her cheeks,

    staining the ivory keys.

 Chatper 515

    Chapter 515

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Brielle¡¯s violin solo continued to weave through the air, now even more enchanting without the

    apaniment of the piano. A sudden shift in the melody brought a more intense, somber aura to the

    hall.

    Alivia and Tessa bit their lips so hard they turned pale as sheets.

    Max stood amidst the crowd, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he watched Brielle y. Jaired,

    standing beside him, narrowed his eyes in thought, but everyone shared one notion: Brielle was utterly

    captivating. Herplexion and aura were gentle, yet the music she drew from her violin spilled out

    like quicksilver, sharp and piercing. It cut through the silence like a visitor from death itself.

    It was hard to imagine a woman possessed of such intensity.

    When thest note faded, Brielle lowered her violin and shed a coy smile at the socialites who

    looked on with grim expressions. ¡°Pardon my little performance.¡±

    Tessa remained seated at the piano, lips quivering, unable to utter a single coherent word. She wanted

    to faint right there and then, but that would only make her theughingstock of the evening. Her fists

    clenched, slick with sweat.

    Alivia also remained silent, her fingernails digging into her palms, wishing she could p Brielle¡¯s smug

    face.

    Such a show¨Coff.

    The silence hung heavy as the otherdies refrained from any further criticism of Brielle, but neither

    could they bring themselves topliment her, resulting in an awkward atmosphere. Then Jaired

    stepped in with a smile. ¡°There¡¯s a meteor shower at nine o¡¯clock tonight, and we¡¯ve got the best view

    right here. Why don¡¯t we all step outside and take a look? If we miss it, we¡¯ll have to wait another year.¡±

    His words presented a graceful exit for thedies. Unable to praise Brielle and eager to leave, they took

    the opportunity to watch the meteor shower as a convenient excuse.¡±

    The crowd rose, their faces a mix of relief and embarrassment.

    ¡°Oh yes, I almost forgot about the meteor shower.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s almost time, let¡¯s not dally.¡±

    One by one, they left the hall.

    Jaired nced at Alivia and couldn¡¯t resist cing aforting hand on her shoulder. Alivia trembled,

    her gaze catching Brielle approaching Max.

    Max set his wine ss on a passing waiter¡¯s tray and, with a brazen hand at the back of her head,

    pulled Brielle into a kiss.

    1/2

    Chapter 515

    Shock flitted across Brielle¡¯s eyes as she noticed the other men freeze, some even dropding their

    sses. Her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue, heart racing. Max kissed her in front of all these people.

    The blush on her cheeks deepened,

    The other men, already stunned by Max¡¯s public disy of affection, were left in disbelief.

    Max, who rarely attended such events and never with a date, was not only present but also kissing a

    woman. It seemed he was dering to all, this was his significant other, not some fleeting arm candy,

    but a genuine girlfriend.

    With the many eyes upon them, Max¡¯s kiss was brief and gentle. Their lips just touched. But even such

    a fleeting moment was fraught with intimacy, turning the cheeks of the socialites who witnessed it red

    with envy.

    Alivia¡¯s whole body shook, her heart was heavy with humiliation, and her eyes were red with unshed

    tears.

    Brielle, you bitch!

    Tessa, still seated at the piano, was pale as a ghost. Her music had faltered and failed to keep up with

    Brielle¡¯s performance. Her scalp tingled with rage, and she felt so weak with hatred that she nearly

    fainted.

    Seeing the couple¡¯s tant affection, Tessa clenched her fists in frustration. She longed to find Andrew

    for some sce, but Andrew was nowhere to be seen in the crowd. Did he think she was an

    embarrassment? Did he regret bringing her?

    Tessa¡¯s resentment soared, her gaze venomously fixed on Brielle.

    Max had already released Brielle, his hand sliding from her hair to pat her back. ¡°You yed

    beautifully.¡±

    He adored her confidence in public, the subtle menace in her music, and most of all, the way she

    blushed like a bunny when she faced him.

 Chatper 516

    Chapter 516

    How could someone be so changeable, making one¡¯s heart involuntarily soften?

    Brielle avoided the gazes of the others, feigning nonchnce as she nced outside. ¡°How about we

    go check out the meteor shower?¡±

    Max knew she was shy and chuckled softly, ¡°Yeah.¡± With that, his fingers continued their descent,

    entwining with hers.

    Brielle¡¯s mind thundered, and her ears turned crimson. She didn¡¯t notice Tessa, still seated as if frozen

    in ce.

    As the crowd began to move outside, Alivia approached Tessa. ¡°Andrew left the moment he saw you

    stop.¡±

    This revtion shattered thest bit of Tessa¡¯s dignity. It was all Brielle¡¯s fault! Everything was. Brielle¡¯s

    fault!

    After delivering the blow, Alivia whispered conspiratorially, ¡°She just stepped all over you and stole the

    spotlight.¡±

    ¡°That bitch! I won¡¯t let her get away with this!¡±

    Alivia smirked and said, ¡°Well, it¡¯s up to you now.¡±

    Tessa stood up abruptly and strode outside with determined steps.

    By now, Brielle had made her way outside. She noticed thedies¡® flushed faces and their awkward

    nces as she and Max walked out hand in hand.

    No one met her eyes, but among those looks. Briell

    into her back ¨C one from Alivia and one from Tessa.

    felt two particrly resentful stares boring

    Brielle ignored them, instead focusing on the sky above.

    She thought she¡¯d have a moment of peace, but her phone rang ¨C it was Mason. It could be about the

    company going public. She couldn¡¯t afford to be negligent, so she sought out a quiet spot to take the

    call.

    Heading towards the pool area to answer, Brielle heard footsteps behind her. Frowning, she turned and

    saw Tessa.

    Having not foundfort from Andrew and spurred on by Alivia¡¯s words, Tessa followed Brielle once

    she¡¯d left Max alone. The hatred in Tessa¡¯s eyes was palpable, boiling in her chest. She had to do

    something, or she¡¯d never sleep tonight!

    ¡°You¡¯re pathetic, thinking you can stay by Max¡¯s side like this? Just look at Aubree¡¯s fate to know yours.

    Both of you are birds of a feather, clinging to men who are to be engaged to others, vile and conniving.

    ¡°Aubree will never win Andrew¡¯s heart, and you won¡¯t win Max¡¯s. Men of their stature will never

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    13:03

    Chapter 516

    love girls like you. You¡¯re just toys to them, disposable dolls, and will be tossed aside when they¡¯re

    done!

    ¡°Brielle, don¡¯t be smug, you¡¯re nothing!¡±

    When people felt humiliated or inadequate, theyshed out to prove themselves right. Criticizing,

    ming, and berating others could quickly soothe their own difort.

    Tessa spewed a litany of venom, fueled by her resentment of being overshadowed by Brielle. She was

    nearly senseless with rage. How could a girl raised in an orphanage surpass her in music?

    This was the ultimate disgrace!

    ¡°Brielle, your face makes me sick and reminds me of Aubree ¨C hooking up with her so¨Ccalled brother.

    Both of you are ethically repugnant!¡± Tessa¡¯s eyes were aze with venom.

    Brielle knew Tessa was unhinged by the evening¡¯s events, having embarrassed herself at Tessa¡¯s first

    high¨Csociety gathering. How could a woman so ustomed to adoration ept such humiliation?

    Brielle looked up, pointing at her phone. ¡°Are you done? Because I need to take this call. And don¡¯t

    worry about me and Aubree. We¡¯ll both outlive you.¡±

    That hit Tessa where it hurt. This was thest straw, pushing Tessa over the edge.

    With a lunge forward, Tessa hissed, ¡°You think you¡¯ll live long? Then die now!¡±

    Brielle mocked Tessa¡¯s longevity, looking down on her ¨C Tessa wanted this bitch¡¯s life!

    Behind Brielle was the pool, with both shallow and deep ends ¨C thetter being quite deep, meant for

    diving.

    Brielle¡¯s phone flew from her grasp as she stumbled backward. A chill crossed her brow as she

    grabbed Tessa¡¯s clothing, and together, they plunged into the water.

 Chatper 517

    Chapter 517

    As the night sky lit up with a magnificent meteor shower, all eyes were drawn upward, entranced by the

    celestial spectacle. No one noticed the drama unfolding by the poolside except for Alivia and Jaired.

    Alivia¡¯s expression was icy as she watched the scene with a chilling indifference. Poor Tessa couldn¡¯t

    swim to save her life, and with Brielle¡¯s reckless move, it was very likely that Tessa could drown in the

    deep end.

    A smirk curled on Alivia¡¯s lips as Jaired¡¯s voice whispered in her ear. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to save her?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± she replied coolly. ¡°If Tessa has an ident because of Brielle, the Rond family won¡¯t let it

    slide. Neither will Andrew.¡±

    ¡°I thought Tessa was your friend?¡±

    ¡°Friends? Aren¡¯t they just tools to be used?¡±

    Her tone was flippant, and Jaired chuckled softly beside her. ¡°Alivia, you haven¡¯t changed a bit since

    the day I met you.¡±

    In front of Jaired, Alivia never felt the need to hide who she was. He knew her true nature, and it

    seemed the more wed she was, the more he was drawn to her. Only in his presence did she

    ever feel at ease.

    Meanwhile, Brielle choked on a gulp of water in the pool as she tried to surface. But Tessa, in her

    panic, clung to her desperately as if determined to drag them both down to the murky depths.

    Brielle was a strong swimmer, but Tessa¡¯s iling and kicking was weighing her down, and her breath

    was quickly knocked out of her. The water rushed in from all directions, and her chest tightened with

    difort.

    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

    Tessa kicked off Brielle, gasping for air as her head broke the surface. ¡°Just die already. Brielle!¡±

    Underfoot, Brielle struggled to see through the murky water. Tessa, wanting her dead more quickly,

    delivered a vicious kick.

    Seeing no other choice, Brielle grabbed Tessa¡¯s ankle and pulled her down. Tess? hadn¡¯t expected

    Brielle to fight back. Her face went pale as she began to sink rapidly. Her swimming skills were

    mediocre, and Brielle¡¯s interference left her unable to muster any strength.

    Tessa¡¯s lungs screamed for air, but she knew that if she gave in, she would truly die here. She clutched

    at Brielle¡¯s arm, refusing to let her swim upwards.

    If death were imminent, they would die together.

    Human strength in moments of desperation could be terrifying. Brielle felt Tessa¡¯s grip like a

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    15.02

    Chapter 517

    dead weight. They plunged deeper, bubbles rushing upwards.

    It was over. Brielle was going to die because of Tessa. She had imagined her death before, but never

    like this. Never so undignified.

    Suffocating, darkness, pain.

    The light from above grew distant as if countless hands were dragging her deeper. A cold sensation

    spread throughout her body as she closed her eyes.

    ¡°Ssh!¡±

    Someone had entered the water.

    Brielle had struggled too long. Even a second more felt impossible. Tessa, frail and unskilled, sank

    even lower.

    Brielle felt light¨Cheaded and in pain as something pierced her skin. Noise surrounded her. A warmth

    spread through her body, stinging her eyes.

    Voices reached her ears.

    ¡°When is she going to wake up?¡±

    ¡°Max, be patient.¡±

    ¡°Did you check the surveince? How did they end up in the water?¡±

    ¡°We checked. There¡¯s no coverage of that area¨Cit¡¯s a pool, and the hotel is private. They can¡¯t install

    cameras everywhere.¡±

    Max¡¯s face darkened as he saw Brielle¡¯s pale form on the hospital bed, a flicker of rage passing in his

    eyes.

    Jaired sat casually in a chair in the hospital room, toying with a cigarette he¡¯d pulled from nowhere.

    ¡°Brielle¡¯s fine now, isn¡¯t she? She¡¯s only sleeping because she was briefly deprived of oxygen. It¡¯s

    Tessa we should worry about. She¡¯s still in critical condition, and the Rond family would tear Brielle

    apart if they could.¡±

    If it weren¡¯t for Max¡¯s presence, Brielle would probably already be in pieces.

    A smirk crossed Jaired¡¯s face as he lounged in the chair, which seemed almost too small for his tall

    frame. His military posture was impable, his buzz cut sharp and imposing.

    He nced down, his lips curving into a smile. ¡°Imagine if Tessa doesn¡¯t make it. What then?¡± Max

    remained silent.

    Chapter 518

    Chapter 518

 Chatper 518

    Chapter 518

    Two hours had passed since the incident, and the hospital corridor outside was swarming with the

    Ronds. If Max hadn¡¯t been holding the fort in that hospital room, Brielle would have undoubtedly

    been drowned in a sea of vitriol from everyst one of them.

    Max sat down, picked up a cotton swab, dipped it in water, and gently moistened Brielle¡¯s lips. ¡°Brielle

    isn¡¯t the type to go looking for trouble,¡± he said with a casual detachment.

    Jaired raised an eyebrow, his gaze drifting to Brielle lying on the bed. He still couldn¡¯t figure it out¨Cwas

    Max genuinely devoted to Brielle? Feelings were fickle, after all. How long would Max¡¯s affectionst?

    He looked down, unable to resist lighting up a cigarette between his fingers, only to be chided, ¡°Take

    that outside. We¡¯re in a hospital.¡±

    Jaired¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment as he quickly stood up. ¡°Alright, alright, I won¡¯t smoke around

    your princess.¡±

    With long strides, he left the room.

    The atmosphere in the corridor was hushed, with the Ronds standing or sitting in wait. They merely

    nodded upon seeing Jaired emerge. He pocketed his cigarette, tossed it into a trash can, and pped

    Andrew on the shoulder. ¡°She¡¯ll pull through,¡± he assured him.

    No sooner had he spoken than the door to Brielle¡¯s room swung open, and Max stepped out. Upon

    seeing him, Andrew stiffened, his anger palpable as he grabbed Max by the cor. It was the first time

    their friendship had reached such a tense point in years. ¡°If anything happens, I won¡¯t let Brielle off the

    hook.¡±

    Max¡¯s cor wrinkled under Andrew¡¯s grip. He looked up, meeting Andrew¡¯s bloodshot eyes just before

    being shoved against the wall. ¡°Max, I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d throw away years of brotherhood for a girl,¡±

    Andrew spat out.

    Jaired was startled and quickly stepped between them. ¡°Hey, hey, let¡¯s talk this out. Tessa will be fine,

    Brielle too. We¡¯re all brothers. There¡¯s no need for this.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not my brother!¡± Andrew seethed, barely able to control his breathing. ¡°I¡¯m seen as nothing but

    yourckey! Apdog! Do I look like I need that? If I didn¡¯t consider you my brother. why would I put up

    with it? They¡¯re right about you, Max. You¡¯re an untouchable saint. If that¡¯s the case, then stay in your

    ivory tower! I¡¯m sick of being your shadow!¡±

    Jaired¡¯s expression darkened, his hand resting on Andrew¡¯s clenched fist. ¡°Andrew, you¡¯re heated. Cool

    It,¡± he urged.

    Andrew¡¯s eyes instantly reddened, and seeing Max¡¯s silent stoicism only fueled his rage.

    Damn it!

    In a swift motion, he threw a punch. It wasn¡¯t a heavy blow, holding back the force that years of

    friendship warranted. Max could have easily dodged but chose not to, and the punchnded

    12

    13:03

    Chacher $18

    squarely on his cheek, leaving a bruised mark on his skin.

    The other Ronds stood up in shock, but with the sons of the Dorsey and Clements families at odds,

    no one dared intervene¨Cthey all turned to Jaired in a silent plea for peace.

    Jaired was also taken aback by Andrew¡¯s gesture, especially seeing Max with a bruised face¨Ca rare

    sight. The nonchnt expression disappeared from his eyes, and the curve of his lips. gradually faded.

    This was trouble.

    Max continued to gaze at Andrew, calmly asking, ¡°Have you calmed down?¡±

    Andrew¡¯s hand, gripping Max¡¯s cor, began to tremble. Why wasn¡¯t he avoiding it?

    The two of them were of simr height, and the tense atmosphere between them almost ignited the

    space around them.

    Andrew¡¯s eyes turned crimson, like a wild beast, and suddenly he didn¡¯t know what to say.

    The room fell into silence until the emergency room doors swung open, and the doctor emerged,

    removing his mask. ¡°Ms. Tessa is stable, but she¡¯ll need to take care of her health from now on. She¡¯s

    always been frail, and the chill has taken a toll. She¡¯ll need time to recover.¡± With a sigh of relief,

    Andrew let go of Max and hurried towards Tessa¡¯s room.

    The Rond began to disperse. Who would have thought that Max would take a punch today? It was

    hardly believable.

    Soon, only Max and Jaired remained. Max touched his cheek gingerly, his brow furrowing slightly.

    Jaired felt a stifling frustration, his throat itching with tension. ¡°You didn¡¯t dodge that punch. It looks like

    you¡¯re trying to let the Ronds cool off, huh? Brielle caused Tessa¡¯s fall into the water, and even if it

    wasn¡¯t her fault, it started because of her. Now Andrew has hit you. If the Ronds keep making a

    fuss, it¡¯ll show they¡¯re petty. After all, Tessa¡¯s life isn¡¯t in danger. Businessmen are surely calctive,¡±

    he observed.

    Chapter 519This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

 Chatper 519

    Chapter 519

    Max was indeed nning Just that. Without surveince, the situation was stacking up against Brielle.

    He took a punch from Andrew, right under the watchful eyes of the Rond n, who saw it as taking

    one for Brielle. Should Jaxon stir up trouble for Brielle again, it would seem out of line. After all, Jaxon

    was an elder and his grand¨Cdaughter recently tied the knot with the Dorsey family. He had to y nice

    for appearances. As for the rest of the Rond folks, Max couldn¡¯t care less.

    Finally, Jaired pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and exhaled a perfect ring of smoke. ¡°Damn, are you ying

    tricks on me now?¡±

    Max ignored him, returning to the hospital room instead.

    Jaired, stuck outside, grew even more frustrated.

    Inside the room, Brielle¡¯s eyshes fluttered twice before her eyes slowly opened. She¡¯d just choked

    on water and recovered after a couple of stomach presses. Her current unconscious state was due to a

    lack of oxygen. Now she¡¯s awake, and it meant she could be discharged

    soon.

    Max let out a sigh of relief.

    Propping herself up in the hospital bed, Brielle nced around with furrowed brows. ¡°Did I pass out?

    How¡¯s Tessa doing?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s just been brought out of the ER.¡±

    Max handed her a cup of warm water and ced it before her.

    After a few sips, Brielle felt a heavy weight settle on her. Tessa¡¯s emergency room visit probably had

    the rest of the Ronds hating her guts. And Andrew, what would he do to her?

    Her lips pressed tight, but at that moment, there hadn¡¯t been time to think. Besides, Tessa had stirred

    up this whole mess by herself. Brielle would just have to roll with the punches.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯ll be okay,¡± Maxforted her, ncing outside at the dark sky,

    It was midnight; it was time to sleep. They could check out tomorrow morning: if she developed a fever

    in the middle of the night, it would be back to square one.

    ¡°Get some sleep, and in the morning, I¡¯ll ask the nurse if you can be discharged.¡°.

    After the ordeal, Brielle was indeed tired. Seeing Max still there, she scooted over to make room. ¡°Want

    to hop in and sleep too?¡±

    Max pointed to another bed in the room. ¡°There¡¯s one here.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s cheeks flushed red, and she awkwardly turned over, curling up to sleep. Soon, she felt the bed

    dip, and a gentle embrace drew her in. ¡°Don¡¯t do anything that dangerous again.¡±

    Brielle sighed. It wasn¡¯t as if she could just decide not to. Tessa¡¯s crazed state had been

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    13.03

    Chapter 519

    The next morning at 7 a.m.

    At the end of the hospital corridor, the room was still crowded, the atmosphere thick with silence.

    Andrew sat by the bed, watching as Tessa opened her eyes. Tessa felt a splitting headache and weakly

    gazed at the ceiling.

    The others became alert, and Andrew held her hand. ¡°Tessa, how are you feeling?¡±

    It took a while for Tessa to remember, then tears began to fall heavily.

    Andrew quickly grabbed some tissues to wipe her tears. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. What happened exactly? How did

    both you and Brielle end up in the water?¡±

    A shiver went through Tessa¡¯s heart, regretting her loss of reason at the time. ¡°Didn¡¯t you investigate?¡±

    ¡°I did. There was no surveince there.¡±

    Hearing ¡®no surveince,¡® a fleeting look of triumph crossed Tessa¡¯s eyes as the tears. continued.

    ¡°Brielle, she tried to kill me.¡±

    Her voice was weak, after being tormented so much. She now seemed like a rag doll, as if she might

    fall apart at a gentle tug.

    The rest of the Ronds clenched their fists in anger. Murder? That Brielle dared to murder Tessa!

    Andrew¡¯s face also turned grim, still grasping her hand. ¡°So Brielle tried to kill you and pushed you into

    the pool?¡±

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Tessa nodded. ¡°She said she wanted to clear the path for Aubree, that I was not going to live long in

    this world anyway, so she might as well help me on my way. Andrew, my head hurts so bad, I can¡¯t

    remember the rest.¡±

    Jaxon sat on the other side of the bed, silent until now. His eyes were tightly shut,shes. quivering in

    anger. Jaxon had always been the most approachable of the elders toward the rest of the Ronds,

    seldom showing anger. If he had a fault, it was his excessive doting on his granddaughter, Tessa.

    ¡°Tessa, what do you want Grandpa to do?¡±

    A glint of malice shed in Tessa¡¯s eyes. Thinking back on Brielle¡¯s violin still made her blood boil. If

    Brielle didn¡¯t suffer, she¡¯d never sleep soundly again.

    Chapter 520

 Chatper 520

    Chapter 520

    ¡°Grandpa, I want her toe and apologize to me first, and then get the heck out of Beaconsfield.¡±

    The thought of Max made Tessa¡¯s eyes flicker with uncertainty. Taking on the dispute would mean

    pitting the Ronds against the Dorseys, akin to a Pyrrhic victory.

    Tessa¡¯s gears turned, and she weighed her options. ¡°Grandpa, I know this is tough for you, but there¡¯s

    a simple way to handle this. Just leak the story about Brielle throwing herself at Max. online. Everyone

    thinks Max and Alivia are the golden couple. If Brielle jumps in and tries to steal him away, the inte

    willbel her a homewrecker. They¡¯ll think Max has lost his mind. And when Michael sees the online

    bacsh against Max and Brielle, he¡¯ll have to step in. After all, Max is usually wless, but now his

    personal life is under fire.¡±

    A recent mishap had sharpened Tessa¡¯s wits. She coughed and clung to Andrew¡¯s hand with a pitiful

    look, her face pale. ¡°Andrew, do you think I¡¯m being too cruel? Besides, this also involves Max.¡±

    Andrew¡¯s eyshes fluttered down as he thought about the punch he had impulsively thrown at Max,

    immediately regretting it and the words he¡¯d spewed in the heat of the moment. Now calm, he felt the

    sting of remorse.

    However, Tessa hade close to losing her life over this ordeal and couldn¡¯t stand idly by.

    If public criticism of Max would stir Michael into action, then he would surelye forward to drive

    Brielle away. It all depended on how deep Max¡¯s feelings for Brielle were. But one thing was certain:

    Brielle had to pay a price.

    He shook his head slowly. ¡°Go ahead with your n. Using public opinion will only tarnish Brielle¡¯s

    reputation. She was after your life, Tessa. You¡¯re being mercifulpared to her.¡±

    Tessa¡¯s eyes sparkled with mischief, her lips curling into a sly smile as she looked at Jaxon. ¡°Grandpa,

    let¡¯s turn the onlinemunity into our weapon.¡±

    Jaxon sighed and affectionately ruffled her hair. ¡°You¡¯ve been wronged this time, and I¡¯ll fully support

    you. But as for the Dorseys, we don¡¯t need to antagonize them over Brielle. You¡¯ve got a good n.¡±

    Tessa was brimming with triumph as she set the wheels in motion.

    Within an hour, the inte was abuzz with headlines about Alivia being usurped in love. The

    Ronds had yet to explicitly name Brielle in the media. They were biding their time, stirring the pot

    until the frenzy peaked. When Brielle¡¯s name was finally leaked, she would be the target of public

    scorn.

    Alivia was a goddess in the eyes of her fans, a childhood sweetheart who was deeply in love with Max.

    Who could possiblye between such a beloved pair?

    Predictably, the onlinemunity, catching just a whiff of the scandal, exploded with

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    13:03

    Chanter 5200

    spection.

    *Alivia? The same Alivia we all admire? Wasn¡¯t she and Mr. Dorsey on the verge of tying the knot?

    Who could possibly steal him away?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s got to be fake. Alivia is so remarkable. None of those floozies could hold a candle to her.¡±

    ¡°Spill the beans! We must find out who this bitch is.¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s trying to ruin a perfect rtionship with cheap tricks? She deserves a bolt from the blue! Let¡¯s

    find this woman!¡±

    With not just one but several media outlets broadcasting the story, the narrative couldn¡¯t be a mere

    rumor. These tforms knew something the public didn¡¯t.

    The online fervor soared as people spected the veracity of the reports. Some even took to Dorsey

    International¡¯s official website for answers. The crowd was in an uproar, ready to metaphorically take a

    knife to the woman who dared to interfere.

 Chapter 521

    Chapter 1557 No Matter the Price

    I still have some food my assistant gave me this morning. After a moment of contemtion, Eva asked,

    ¡°What would you like?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything.¡± Louie smiled as he answered. He would love to say he

    wanted her, but he figured she might get mad and kick him out of her house if he did that.

    She opened up her fridge. Let¡¯s see. We have some veggies here. It¡¯s a bitte, so I¡¯m not going to

    make anything impressive. I guess I¡¯ll just make some poached eggs for him. After making up her mind

    about what she was going to make, she grabbed the ingredients she needed out of the fridge. She then

    returned to her room and changed into casual attire beforeing back out. Louie was still working, so

    she entered the kitchen without saying anything.

    A momentter, he could hear the sounds of cookinging out of the kitchen, and a smile tugged his

    lips. I¡¯ve been dreaming of this. A gentle wife and a warm, fuzzy home. It¡¯s not exactly what I had in

    mind, but we have got to start somewhere.

    Inside the kitchen, Eva was putting her utmost attention into preparing some simple poached eggs for

    him. She also cracked some eggs into it to add some vor to it. With how famous she was getting,

    eating out was no longer an option for her. Most of the time, she would cook for herself; thanks to that,

    she was now a half-decent cook. Thus, Louie couldn¡¯t help but drool slightly at the tantalizing smell of

    the poached eggs she had made.

    She came back out and served the food on the table. He shut hisptop off and approached the table.

    ¡°Smells good,¡± he remarked as he took a whiff. ¡°Care to join me?¡±

    ¡°No thanks, I¡¯m on a diet.¡± She shook her head.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Why would you need a diet? You¡¯re not even fat.¡± A frown creased his forehead. I hold you every day,

    and I can tell you¡¯re not out of shape at all.

    ¡°Just eat,¡± she said. ¡°And you should go home after you¡¯re done eating.¡±

    Louie knew she wasn¡¯t trying to chase him off for real as he didn¡¯t sense any bite in her tone. I should

    finish the food first, he thought.

    Eva then headed for the bathroom to take a shower. He finished his poached eggs and did the dishes.

    By the time they were done, it was already 11.30PM.

    She stood on the balcony in her pajamas, uncorking a bottle of wine. Louie came in with a ss in his

    hand to join her. She stared into the distance, and suddenly, she asked, ¡°So, what are you going to do

    about your arranged marriage?¡±

    The question made him freeze for a few moments. He had wanted to hide it from her, but she still found

    out about it in the end.

    ¡°How did you know about this?¡±

    ¡°Julian told me. I asked him, so don¡¯t me the guy.¡± She frowned slightly as she continued, ¡°I know

    this is hard for you, so I reckon we should break up. It is the best solution.¡± This is for the best. He can

    marry the girl his family arranged for him, while I can go overseas once the contract is over.

    Louie held her hand firmly. ¡°Breaking up won¡¯t solve anything. I won¡¯t let that happen. You¡¯re not

    leaving.¡±

    ¡°Please, you don¡¯t have to do this.¡± She tried to pull her hand back, but he refused to let go. Instead, he

    pulled her into his embrace and rested his chin on her shoulder.

    ¡°Are you really going to leave me behind?¡±

    Eva stiffened up. That was the one question she had never spent time considering, but she knew she

    could never leave him.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to be together, no matter the price.¡± He looked at her lovingly. I won¡¯t let you run away

    again.

    Tears glistened in her eyes. ¡°But¡­ you¡¯ll have to pay a heavy price for that.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle this, don¡¯t worry. Then, we¡¯ll have a wedding. A formal announcement that you¡¯ll be my

    wife,¡± he promised. She looked at him, tears of happiness welling in her eyes. He leaned down to kiss

    her tears away. Then, he held her cheeks gently before pressing his lips against hers.

    Everything stopped for a few moments. Eva could feel him taking her ss away before he picked her

    up in a princess carry and headed inside.

    ¡­

    The Constantines were businesspeople relying on the operation of the malls to earn profits. However,

    their business had been slow as ofte, and their profits had been declining, so they had to use a

    trump card to solve their dilemma. They had to invoke their daughter¡¯s arranged marriage with a certain

    man.

 Chapter 522

    Chapter 522

    Aubree sensed Brielle¡¯s distraction and knew she had been browsing the news. She silently cursed

    herself for being a bbermouth; before this call, Brielle was likely oblivious to the online buzz.

    ¡°Bri, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re taking those trolls seriously? What do they know? They¡¯re just pping their

    gums. Forget about them. Christmas is just around the corner. How about we go out and do some

    holiday shopping to clear your mind?¡±

    Christmas was only two days away.

    Brielle was already downcast from having witnessed Max¡¯s injury, and the online news only fueled her

    anger. The masterminds behind this could only be Tessa or Alivia.

    Tessa and Alivia had been echoing each other at the hotelst night, clearly in cahoots. But Alivia was

    always poking at Tessa¡¯s tender spots, obviously using her as a pawn. With a personality like Tessa¡¯s,

    her arrogance was nothing more than a veil for fear¨Cfear of not measuring up, which drove her to trample

    over others. Alivia knew this all too well, making it easy to stir Tessa¡¯s hatred. This was most likely

    Tessa¡¯s doing, as Alivia excelled at sitting back and enjoying the show.

    Brielle was growing weary of these amateurish schemes. She had a n in mind but needed to

    exchange a few more words with Aubree first. ¡°Nah, Aubree, are you spending Christmas with the

    Clements family?¡±

    At the mention of the Clements family, Aubree¡¯s mood visibly darkened, and there was a long silence

    before she spoke. ¡°It¡¯s likely I won¡¯t be going back. They¡¯d probably prefer I stay as far away from

    Beaconsfield and Andrew as possible. If I showed up for Christmas, the Clements household would turn

    into a madhouse. Honestly, I¡¯ve never really had a home; I¡¯ve never felt

    warmth there.¡±

    Having known she was adopted from a young age, she¡¯d endured the scorn of the house staff, who took

    every chance to humiliate her when the Clements were away.

    A child who grew up in the shadow of shame, clung to Andrew for the only warmth she knew. Even

    though Andrew had be aplete jerk, leaving her battered and bruised, he had once been her

    solefort during her most vulnerable days.

    She couldn¡¯t let go of Andrew because she had never truly escaped those days of humiliation. No matter

    how tough she acted, she could feel the clothes still clinging to her. She needed Andrew; without him,

    she might not survive.

    Neither of them spoke again, and it was unclear who hung up first.

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Brielle¡¯s mood had soured further, especially with the Rond family¡¯s timing. She grabbed her phone

    and called Mason. ¡°Has the Rond family been up to anything abroad?¡±

    Mason stiffened at the question. ¡°Are you talking about the Ronds in Beaconsfield? They¡¯ve been

    scouting locations to build a medical facility. Coincidentally, we¡¯re eyeing the same spot.

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    15:26

    Chapter 522

    With thepany going public, we can¡¯t stay cramped in our old space. We need a grand office building.

    The first round of funding showered us with billions. We can¡¯t let that go to waste.¡±

    Brielle chuckled, a yful smile on her lips. ¡°Why would a tech firm like ours be interested in the same

    plot as a healthcare provider? Is there something special about thatnd?¡±

    Mason, impressed by Brielle¡¯s insight, responded, ¡°Indeed, the local government ns to boost the

    economy over the next five years. Buying thatnd now could mean a hundredfold increase in value.

    Where else could you find such an investment? Plus, I¡¯ve heard through the grapevine that the

    government ns to develop luxury homes nearby. If the Ronds establish their medical center there,

    not only will thend appreciate, but they¡¯ll also corner the market on affluent clients.¡±

    Brielle mused over the situation. ¡°Mason, let¡¯s not rush topete with the Ronds just yet. I¡¯ll inquire

    with some insiders. Foreign governments can be tricky and are always looking to squeeze money out of

    investors. Our intel might not be solid.¡±

    ¡°Brielle, you¡¯re bing more intriguing by the day. This is an international matter, and who could you

    possibly ask? And how can you be sure your information will be urate? Every investor has their eyes

    on that piece of meat.¡±

    A name shed in Brielle¡¯s mind: Dustin Lynch.

 Chapter 523

    Chapter 523

    Thanks to Tiffanie¡¯s educational talk, she knew Dustin was cozily in bed with royalty, so to speak. If there

    were any governmental moves afoot, Dustin would surely be in the know.

    ¡°Mason, wait for my word.¡±

    Mason trusted Brielle wholeheartedly, so he agreed without hesitation.

    Brielle took a deep breath, dug out Dustin¡¯s number, and dialed. The urgency in Mason¡¯s voice was

    palpable; the deal concerning that plot ofnd was reaching a critical juncture. She had to get in touch

    with Dustin as soon as possible.

    There¡¯s no answer.

    Brielle tried a second time. Still no answer.

    Rubbing her temples, she pondered for a moment before dialing onest time. Dustin¡¯s slightly husky

    voice came through, ¡°If you¡¯re not calling about something serious, then next time I¡¯m in Beaconsfield, I

    might just have to shanghai you into servitude as penance.¡±

    At the sound of his voice, Brielle knew exactly what Dustin had been up to. It was nighttime over there,

    and she realized with a start that she had interrupted his intimate moment, coughing awkwardly.

    Dustin haphazardly tied a belt around his waist, his bare chest marked with nail prints. ¡°Regretting your

    life choices? Want me to whisk you away overseas?¡± He had offered her this chance for regret when he

    left his number thest time they met in prison.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, I need to ask a favor of you.¡±

    Dustin chuckled, signaling for thedy in his bed to make herself scarce; the night¡¯s mood had clearly

    taken a turn. ¡°Brielle, you¡¯re not even blushing when you say that? No sweetener, just straight to

    business with me? You should ask around. A long queue of folks are dying for my help.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely, I know Mr. Lynch. You¡¯re quite the miracle worker, and mere mortals wouldn¡¯t dare to bother

    you.¡±

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Somehow, Dustin found this ttery incredibly satisfying. ¡°What do you need?¡±

    up

    ¡°The Rond family¡¯s recentnd interest¨CIs the government really nning to pump up local economy

    there over the next five years?¡±

    the

    The location of that plot ofnd popped into Dustin¡¯s mind, and he let out a softugh. ¡°You¡¯re crafty,

    coming to me.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, they say you¡¯re tight with the royal bunch, and even turned down a title once. That¡¯s quite the

    noble stance. I figured this small matter would certainly be clear to you, right?¡±

    No matter where a person stood, they couldn¡¯t escape the lure of ttery, unless they¡¯d taken

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    Chapter 523

    vows of asceticism.

    Dustin was actually hard to be buttered up, considering Infinity Brilliance¡¯s development was pretty much

    the heartbeat of the nation¡¯s economy. Anyone meeting him was all too eager to get on his good side.

    But the adtion he received was too crude¨Cmountains of gold, silver, and blond bombshells, all too

    tacky.

    Brielle¡¯s ttery, on the other hand, was ssy. He wouldn¡¯t admit to a hint of double standards, but

    somehow, tonight, Brielle¡¯s words seemed as sweet as honey.

    ¡°That piece ofnd locates by theke. The government¡¯s been trying to auction it off for a decade. The

    starting bid is a billion. After several failed attempts, if it bombs again, it¡¯s going to rot in their portfolio.

    You know we¡¯ve got tycoons at the helm here; they need the dough to stand up to the people. So, to line

    their pockets, they¡¯re spinning this yarn about boosting the economy there in five years. In reality, the

    development¡¯s happening in a different district. The auction¡¯s going to be an inside job. If you¡¯re keen, I

    can snag you an exclusive bid ticket.¡±

    This favor was monumental, involving a transaction in the billions. Brielle didn¡¯t dare ept it. She just

    wanted the Rond family to take the hit on their investment, losing a hefty sum.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, thanks for the intel. But I¡¯ll pass on the location of that other plot; I don¡¯t have the appetite for

    it.¡±

    After a few more well¨Ccedpliments, Brielle hung up the phone, ryed the information to Mason,

    and instructed him to feign interest in that doomed plot, to maliciously hike up the Rond family¡¯s bid,

    and to spread rumors that the government was dead¨Cset on developing the economy there.

    Mason responded with a string of praying emojis, a symbolic vigil for the impending misfortune of the

    Rond family.

    Chapter 524

 Chapter 524

    Chapter 524

    If thend really ended up with the Ronds, it was bound to go to seed in their hands. After all, there

    was nothing much around those parts these days.

    A glint of amusement flickered in Brielle¡¯s eyes. The Rond n had been spreading rumors about her

    back home, so she had her people spread some false tales of their own abroad. Turnabout was fair y.

    Having settled that score, Brielle felt a weight lift off her shoulders, and the online chatter no longer felt

    like a sting. She was determined to be the cherry on top of Max¡¯s world, not the so¨Ccalled blot on

    his reputation.

    Downstairs, Patrick stood before Max, his tone grave. ¡°Mr. President, the situation is as such: the online

    world is in an uproar. Do we need to take action?¡±

    The New Year was just around the corner, and they couldn¡¯t let these distractions spoil the festive mood.

    Max flicked through his tablet, skipping over the posts whereizensmbasted him. He was never

    bothered with the opinions of those at street level. But the jabs at Brielle? They struck a

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    nerve.

    ¡°Spread a rumor that Ms. Tessa¡¯s been chasing me down relentlessly,¡± he said.

    At these words, Patrick choked and coughed several times. Tessa, relentlessly pursuing the President?

    Was this a way to suggest that it was Tessa who had been the interloper?

    Since the woman¡¯s name hadn¡¯t yet been leaked online, the moment they dropped Tessa into the

    narrative, any prior orchestrated leaks would seem like a setup for the inevitable online bacsh against

    her. It was a masterstroke.

    Patrick chuckled, ¡°Alright.¡±

    Max looked down, returning his focus to the documents in hand. It couldn¡¯t have been Brielle stirring

    trouble that led to Tessa¡¯s fall into the water; it had to be Tessa¡¯s fault.

    He had allowed Andrew to punch him as a nod to their years of friendship, understanding Andrew¡¯s

    anger, and knowing Jaxon to be a good¨Cnatured elder. This was out of respect for them, not for Tessa. If

    the Rond n wanted to keep fussing, he¡¯d let them reap what they¡¯d

    sown.

    After a moment, Patrick cautiously inquired, ¡°It¡¯s almost time for the New Year, sir. Won¡¯t you be going

    out with Ms. Brielle to shop for holiday items?¡±

    Holiday shopping?

    Max looked puzzled. What was that?

    Seeing his expression, Patrick couldn¡¯t help but smile. He¡¯d never had to bother with such things growing

    up.

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    15.97

    Chapter 524

    ¡°It¡¯s about going out with Ms. Brielle to buy things for the celebration.¡±

    Just then, Max¡¯s phone rang. Both men¡¯s expressions darkened slightly when they saw the caller ID

    shing on the screen.

    Max frowned, assuming that news had spread to the Dorsey family, prompting the butler to call ¡°Max,¡±

    came the butler¡¯s respectful voice.

    ¡°Mr. Michael would like you to bring Ms. Brielle to the Dorsey family home on New Year¡¯s Eve.¡±

    The Dorseys wanted Brielle to visit.

    Max didn¡¯t think his father was ready to ept Brielle. Given the online furor, it was more likely that he

    was finally feeling the heat and had thought of a way to deal with them.

    ¡°Did father say anything else?¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t agree, he¡¯lle over himself.¡±

    That was a threat. If Michael came himself, there was no telling what he¡¯d do.

    Max¡¯s expression grew even sterner as he listened to the butler continue, ¡°It¡¯s just a visit. There¡¯s no

    need to be uneasy. Mr. Michael has seen the news, and now the distant branches of the Dorsey family

    are calling to ask about it. He¡¯s in a difficult position.¡±

    Dorsey International was vast, with many rtives. Max had been untouchable in recent years, and so

    the extended family had kept quiet. But if the main branch showed any sign of instability, the others

    would be restless.

    After hanging up, Max was about to delegate the matter to Patrick when he looked up and saw Brielle

    standing on the staircase. She must havee in while they were talking.

    Her eyes were clear. ¡°Do the Dorseys want me to visit?¡±

 Chapter 525

    Chapter 525

    Brielle could feel the buzz of Beaconsfield¡¯s social circles reverberating through the air, as Max¡¯s words

    and the rampant online chatter painted a clear picture of the town¡¯s current preupation. Michael was

    probably on tenterhooks by now.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    With a nod and a pat on the seat beside him, Max signaled for Brielle to sit down. ¡°So, you want me to

    head over to the Dorseys?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go. Is there anything I need to prepare?¡± Her agreement was swift and fearless, a portrait of

    courage.

    Max chuckled, ¡°No prep needed; just leave it all to me.¡±

    Michael, a titan in the business world, had been quiet since that tumultuous night at the hotel. Now, with

    him calling, it was anyone¡¯s guess what he had up his sleeve.

    Brielle, the junior in the game, had once kept up with Michael¡¯s business ventures. His ruthlessness and

    cold¨Cblooded strategies were on par with Max¡¯s, but even she had to admit that Max¡¯s vision and reach

    were broader and higher. That was why he had the audacity to make a name for himself on Wall Street

    at such a young age.

    Brielle was done hiding in his shadow, done letting him shield her from the storm and, at the same time,

    smother her from the sunlight. She had to face the music herself.

    The Dorsey International website was in a frenzy, bombarded with inquiries like never before. All

    because of the CEO¡¯s personal affairs, it had seen millions of hits in a single day. Everyone wanted to

    know who the shameless mistress was.

    Meanwhile, Tessa was still in the hospital, taking perverse pleasure in the unfolding news. The

    humiliation from the previous night was so intense that the mere mention of Brielle caused her physical

    pain.

    She was blissfully unaware of the karma swiftly making its way back to her. Therger the stir she

    caused now, the more exposed she would beter on.

    Just the thought of Brielle soon facing a public siege sent shivers of excitement through Tessa. She

    dialed Alivia, who always had a game n, possibly knowing exactly how to double down on Brielle¡¯s

    misery.

    Alivia picked up quickly, her voice dripping with feigned concern. ¡°God, I never thought Brielle had it in

    her. How are you holding up?¡±

    ¡°Much better, Alivia. You¡¯ve seen the news, right? Should I ieak Brielle¡¯s name now? Let everyone go

    after her?¡±

    A sly grin crossed Alivia¡¯s face. She would let the two of them duke it out while she reaped the

    benefits.

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    15:27

    Chapter 525

    ¡°Yes, and you should target not just Brielle, but also Aubree. Hit them both. That¡¯s how you really twist

    the knife. With your status, taking down an unwanted Clements foster child should be a breeze, right?¡±

    Tessa straightened up, her pride swelling. ¡°Of course. The Clements are all hoping I tie the knot with

    Andrew soon. And I¡¯ve subtly hinted at Aubree¡¯s little seduction game with her brother. They¡¯re already

    guarding against her, not even letting her through their doors. You know how much Andrew¡¯s mother

    adores me. Aubree¡¯s just an outcast now. She probably doesn¡¯t even know where she¡¯ll spend the

    holidays, just like her friend Brielle¨Cboth of them are orphaned strays!¡±

    Tessa felt she had to make up for the previous night¡¯s disgrace by stomping on Brielle at any opportunity.

    It was like treading water. Push it down, and you rise. In any social hierarchy, thosecking confidence

    often asserted their status by oppressing those they deemed inferior. Unwilling to admit her insecurities,

    Tessa was determined to crush Brielle underfoot, to erase the shame ofst night¡¯s debacle.

    ¡°Then go on, attack Brielle while you¡¯re at it, and take Aubree down too. It should be easy for you.¡±

    A triumphant gleam flickered in Tessa¡¯s eyes, her chest boiling with anticipation. ¡°Will do.¡±

    The door to her room swung open as soon as the call ended. It was Andrew, bringing her lunch. in a

    familiar lunch box¨Cwasn¡¯t that the one Aubree bought for Andrew? Her lips curled into a smile, and she

    couldn¡¯t resist teasing, ¡°You bought this lunch box yourself?¡±

    ¡°No, Aubree got it. She made this, too. I liked the look of it, so I brought it over for you to enjoy.¡± Such a

    brazen act was ssic Andrew.

    Tessa, barely able to contain her glee, urged him, ¡°Open it. Let me see.

    Andrew sat down and lifted the lid. Aubree¡¯s cooking skills were admittedly impressive.

    After snapping a few photos, Tessa ate her meal without further ado. ¡°Aubree¡¯s cooking is way better

    than our family chef¡¯s. Maybe she can cook for me every day while I¡¯m recovering. Someone¡¯s got to

    take care of me, and I¡¯m sick of the Rond family¡¯s chef¡¯s dishes.¡±

    If she was going to trample Aubree, she might as well use Andrew to do it, to ensure that Aubree couldn¡¯t

    rise again. She would leave her and that wretch Brielle out in the cold together. Andrew hesitated only for

    a moment before nodding. ¡°I¡¯ll ask her.¡±

 Chapter 526

    Chapter 526

    Aubree had just hung up with Brielle but decided she needed to check on her in person. She got herself

    together and made a beeline for Premier Pce.

    Premier Pce was Max¡¯s turf, and he had someonee out to meet her. It was probably because he

    was worried about Brielle feeling tense, with the visit to the Dorsey family¡¯s ancestral home only two days

    away. If Brielle needed to offload, being with her best friend might just do the trick.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t help but feel a rare sense of wee from Max. She was actually stepping foot in

    Premier Pce!

    As she walked, Aubree couldn¡¯t resist snapping pictures every few steps, until she spotted Max sitting in

    the courtyard with a coffee, rifling through some documents.

    ¡°Hey there, Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    Max¡¯s brow furrowed as he looked up.

    Aubree plopped down beside him with her usual candor. ¡°I got it all wrong about youst time with Bri¡¯s

    drama and never got around to apologizing in person. Thought you were just another trash can like

    Andrew, but it turns out you¡¯re not half bad.¡±

    She chuckled, sitting back and noticing the ¡®do not disturb¡® vibe rolling off Max, so she leaned back a bit

    more.

    ¡°But you¡¯ve gotta treasure Bri, Mr. Dorsey. Last time, you blew me off, and that snake Alivia gave me an

    earful. Oh, and she had the nerve to say something about making Brielle carry a criminal¡¯s baby. Can

    you believe that? She said if I werete, Brielle would¡¯ve been humiliated over and over. Do you see

    what I was dealing with? So when I gave you a piece of my mind, I wasn¡¯t wrong, was I? You better

    watch out for Alivia. Her smile gives me the heebie¨Cjeebies.¡±

    Aubree was unknowingly spilling beans that Max hadn¡¯t heard yet. Max¡¯s grip on his cup tightened, a chill

    spreading in his eyes, but Aubree was oblivious. She was still fuming about Alivia¡¯s words back at

    Dorsey International¡¯s lobby, itching to expose Alivia¡¯s true colors to the world.

    Max¡¯s hand twitched, the veins prominent, as he slowly set his cup down. ¡°What else did she say?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean ¡®what else?¡® Isn¡¯t that enough? Plus, I bumped into Mr. Lynch on my way out. I¡¯d

    have never seen Brielle if he hadn¡¯t pulled some strings. And speaking of which, you probably don¡¯t know

    about the call Dustin made, do you? Turns out the Riddle family was involved. Your buddy Jaired¡¯s been

    meddling too.¡±

    ¡°Bang!¡± Max¡¯s cup shattered in his palm, his face dark as a thundercloud.

    Aubree, startled by the sight of coffee mixed with blood in his hand, mped her mouth shut.

    She had never dealt with Max directly and had only spoken so boldly because of Brielle¡¯s

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    15.27

    Chapter 526

    connection to him. But now, with Max visibly enraged, she chickened out and stood up. ¡°Ha, I just

    remembered Bri needed me for something; she¡¯s feeling down and needs a bit of cheering up from me.

    I¡¯d better get going, Mr. Dorsey. We¡¯ll chat another time, yeah?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s heart was racing. She feared if she moved any slower, she might¡¯ve just ended up buried in the

    Premier Pce garden.

    After she left, Max¡¯s clenched fist rxed slightly. Patrick approached, witnessing the scene, his heart

    skipping a beat in rm. ¡°Mr. Max, this-¡± He quickly called Wesley over to clean up and wrap a bandage

    around Max¡¯s hand.

    After taking care of the mess, Max stood up and headed out.

    Meanwhile, Jaired was at Kenzo¡¯s ce, animatedly recounting the brawl between Max and Andrew.

    Kenzo had his eyes closed, lounging on the sofa, and flickered his eyelids upon hearing, ¡°Just like that, a

    punchnded right on Max¡¯s cheek. I couldn¡¯t stop it in time, and now, it¡¯s all messed up. No more

    brotherhood over a couple of dames.¡±

    Jaired caught a tossed orange slice with his mouth and crossed his legs leisurely. ¡°Kenzo, out of all of us,

    you¡¯re the most even¨Ctempered. Maybe you should step in and mediate? We grew up together. We

    shouldn¡¯t fall out over some women.¡±

    Before he finished, someone pushed the door open, and both men looked up to see Andrew, dressed in

    ck, stepping in.

    Jaired felt the awkwardness of being caught talking behind someone¡¯s back and set his orange down,

    sitting up straight.

    Andrew¡¯s face bore the mark of five fingers, looking rather disheveled. Kenzo and Jaired exchanged a

    nce ¨C Max, no matter how angry, wouldn¡¯t actually p someone, would he?

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Andrew took a seat, his arms folded, and his eyes shut in frustration.

    Jaired stood up hastily. ¡°Max went too far, man. He can¡¯t just go around pping people like some drama

    queen.¡±

 Chapter 527

    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¨Cas 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¨Cyear¨Cold Max the heir to the Dorsey fortune, everyone was

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    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¨Con, because his ¡°brotherhood¡± with Max was something

    he¡¯d instigated, challenging Max to duels,petitions, and one¨Csided 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.

 Chapter 528

    Chapter 528

    Andrew fell silent as his cell phone erupted with Tessa¡¯s trembling sobs. ¡°Andrew, have you seen what¡¯s

    all over the inte?¡±

    Andrew¡¯s brows furrowed. He knew Tessa had nned to spread rumors to nder Brielle and that the

    n had been a sess. But why was she crying now?

    Panic washed over Tessa, draining thest bit of color from her face as shey trembling in the hospital

    bed. After calling Alivia, she was about to leak Brielle¡¯s name to the press, hoping the public would

    crucify the bitch. But just ten minutes ago, every media outlet started reporting that Ms. Tessa had been

    hounding Max relentlessly.

    They identically mirrored the scheme she had used against Brielle. Not just one media outlet, but dozens

    were parroting the same story. So now, the one taking the heat was none other than Ms. Tessa herself.

    Already frail, Tessa had thought she¡¯d soon trample over Brielle, only to find herself trampled instead.

    She couldn¡¯t bear the blow. After several gasping breaths, her voice shook uncontrobly.

    ¡°Easy, tell me slowly. What¡¯s the news online?¡±

    ¡°Somebody¡­ somebody¡¯s saying I¡¯ve been harassing Max,¡± she wept.

    Tessa¡¯s teeth clenched with hatred. Who could be behind this? Was it Max? Had he stopped caring

    about his bond with Andrew altogether?

    Andrew¡¯s expression darkened. After hanging up, he checked the online news. At the top of the trending

    list was Ms. Tessa¡¯s name, with thement section aze with condemnation.

    ¡°She and Alivia were close, and because of her health, she rarely went out. But since Alivia left the

    country, she¡¯s been seen out more and more.¡±

    ¡°Disgusting. She¡¯s probably been exploiting her frailty to gain Max¡¯s sympathy while Alivia is away.¡±

    ¡°Home¨Cwrecker! Using her sickness to snag her best friend¡¯s man. If you ask me, she¡¯d be better off

    dead! Why waste the air if she¡¯s so unwell? Ugh, nothing but a sad, pitiful excuse for a woman!¡±

    Thements were harsh and seemed well¨Csubstantiated.

    Indeed, Tessa had rarely been seen before Alivia¡¯s departure, but afterward, she became a regr at

    various events.

    Only those in the know understood that Tessa was trying to secure her spot with Andrew, not Max, but

    the public wouldn¡¯t believe that. They wanted to drag the entire Rond family through the mud.

    Tessa was like a flower in a ss jar, well¨Cprotected within the Rond family fortress, and

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    Chapter 528

    adept at manipting its members to maintain her standing. But once the battlefield changed, her frailty

    and life experience became her Achilles heel.

    Andrew, hearing Tessa¡¯sbored breathing, hastily summoned the doctor and rushed to the hospital

    himself.

    Jaired and Kenzo nced at their phones and frowned upon seeing the news that had rapidly risen to

    infamy.

    Just recovering, Tessa was in turmoil again, likely headed back to the emergency room. Tessa¡¯s hands

    gripped the bedsheets beneath her, nails almost piercing her skin.

    It had to be Brielle! That bitch was emboldened by Max¡¯s favor and acting without any regard!

    Damn her!

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Tessa¡¯s scalp tingled with rage, and she longed to confront Brielle and tear her apart!

    Brielle had destroyed everything ¨C first causing her embarrassment within their circle and now on the

    inte, where everyone was shaming her for shamelessly soliciting sympathy with her ailments.

    Tessa was on the brink of madness. How could things have turned out like this?

    When Andrew arrived, Tessa was being wheeled back into emergency care. The doctors cited a severe

    panic attack with bouts of vomiting blood. Her frail body couldn¡¯t cope.

    Andrew¡¯s fist collided with the hospital wall, his features twisted in fury, but when he thought of Max, that

    fury melted into powerlessness. He couldn¡¯t fathom who else besides Max could orchestrate such a

    media frenzy. It seemed their brotherhood was nothing anymore.

    After Andrew left, Jaired and Kenzo sat in silence, sipping tea on the couch. They both knew who was

    behind it all; it looked like a showdown was imminent.

    Jaired¡¯s phone rang as he gazed into his teacup. He pressed the answer button and heard Max¡¯s voice.

    ¡°You remember where the boxing gym at your ce is?¡±

    Of course, Jaired knew. He had grown up loving to fight, mastering every weapon from des to bats,

    which led to him setting up a full¨Cscale boxing gym at his ce.

    ¡°Jaired, I¡¯m waiting for you here.¡±

 Chapter 529

    Chapter 529

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    After hanging up the call, Max strode out of the room with a sense of determination.

    Jaired rose from his seat, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile. ¡°Kenzo, fancy a trip down to my

    old boxing gym? Remember how we used to spar there all the time?¡±

    Upon hearing this, Kenzo had already stood up, but as Jaired continued, ¡°Max says he¡¯ll be waiting for

    me there. It¡¯s been ages since we¡¯ve had a good session.¡±

    Kenzo settled back into his chair, shaking his head. ¡°Nah, you betteryer up, though.¡±

    Jaired stretched out his long legs and waved a dismissive hand. A scar trailed from his brow to the edge

    of his ear ¨C a memento from a knife fight with some dangerous thugs ¨C adding to his rugged charm. ¡°You

    ever heard of someone training in a winter coat? Suit yourself. I¡¯m off,¡± Jaired quipped.

    Kenzo looked up slowly, eyes dark and mysterious, and offered a gentle smile. ¡°Sure.¡±

    Jaired frowned, feeling an eerie chill from that smile.

    When he arrived at his ce, the door to the sparring room was ajar. Excitement bubbled within Jaired.

    This was the spot where they¡¯d all sparred as kids, but since his grandfather had shipped him off to the

    military, his visits had be rare.

    He strolled in, slipping off his jacket and tossing it aside.

    The room was spacious, a good two hundred square meters, with its walls decorated with an arsenal of

    cold steel. Jaired approached one of the guns, quickly loading it. ¡°Max, check this out. The AK¨C107

    assault rifle, effective up to five hundred meters. A relic from the ¡®70s, took me ages to find all its parts.¡±

    He continued, polishing the barrel of a Remington sniper rifle. ¡°This beauty, a product of the ¡®80s, has an

    eight hundred meter range and a muzzle velocity of 853 meters per second. I don¡¯t even use this one on

    missions anymore. I¡¯ve switched to the 110. Last time I used this, I blew a terrorist¡¯s head clean off.¡±

    As he spoke, he nced over to Max, who was elegantly loading a Glock 17. The contrast between his

    fingers and the bullets was striking.

    Jaired was about to say those bullets were live, only to see Max fill the magazine and aim it right at him.

    Max¡¯s expression was calm, too calm for a joke.

    Jaired stood still.

    ¡°Bang!¡± The bullet whizzed past his ear, mirroring the curve of the scar. Smoke wafted from the gun¡¯s

    barrel as Max wiped it away without a flicker of emotion.

    ¡°Thetest Glock 17, with its dual recoil spring, has less kickback, safer too. I checked, and it has got

    three reliable safety features. It might even suit a woman. Shrink it down a bit, and I¡¯ll gift it to Brielle,¡±

    Max said, his tone even.

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    15:28

    Chapter 529

    If not for the ck mark on the wall behind him, nobody would have known he¡¯d fired.

    Jaired, still rooted to the spot, took a few seconds before replying. ¡°That model¡¯s in use everywhere but

    Austria. You sure you want to gift Brielle something so dangerous?¡±

    Max ejected the magazine and tossed it aside casually. ¡°Yeah, that way, If someone¡¯s foolish enough to

    trouble her, she can handle it herself. I¡¯ll handle the aftermath.¡±

    He weighed the unloaded gun, frowning. ¡°The fourth gen¡¯s still over six hundred grams. I need you to cut

    it down to four hundred. It shouldn¡¯t tire her out.¡±

    Jaired¡¯s temper red. His custom work was worth a fortune. How was Brielle, with no official status,

    deemed worthy of it?

    ¡°I won¡¯t do it. What if she turns the gun on you one day?¡±

    Max¡¯s reply was almost too casual. ¡°How do you not realize she might be aiming at you?¡± Max, in his

    rolled¨Cup shirt sleeves revealing his toned forearms, spoke as if it was a passing thought.

    Jaired rubbed his ear, still feeling the sting where the bullet had grazed. Damn, if that shot had hit him,

    he doubted Max would have felt a shred of guilt.

    So this was it: the sparring was a pretext; the real agenda was modifying a gun for Brielle.

    Max grabbed his jacket and handed the gun to Jaired. ¡°Four hundred grams, fifteen¨Cround mag, silver

    finish. I want it after the holidays.¡±

    Jaired weighed the bullets in his hand, no fool to Max¡¯s intentions, but, as neither of them called the other

    out, the pretense continued.

    ¡°Deal.¡±

    Max wasn¡¯t truly here to cause trouble over Brielle, which meant she wasn¡¯t all that important to him.

    Perhaps it was time to push the boundaries a little further.

 Chapter 530

    Chapter 530

    But it wasn¡¯t until muchter that Jaired woulde to understand the full extent of what Max had meant

    by his words that day.

    Time flew by, and the online chatter about Tessa hadn¡¯t died down. Even those within their social circle

    were starting to specte about what was really going on.

    After Tessa¡¯s rage hadnded her in the emergency room, she spent another restless night before she

    regained consciousness, still groggy and disoriented.

    The Rond n was in a state of utter chaos, ruing the decision to let Tessa confront Brielle on her

    own. If Brielle had been easy to handle, she wouldn¡¯t have ousted Alivia and secured her ce at Max¡¯s

    side.

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    As Tessa sluggishly came to, her eyes met the sterile white ceiling of the hospital room. When she

    recalled the news she¡¯d seen before losing consciousness, the bitter taste of bile rose in her throat, and

    she nearly spat blood in frustration. Her eyes were swollen from crying, her heart filled with indignation.

    After all her efforts, it seemed everything had backfired.

    Andrew gripped her hand, his brow furrowed with worry. ¡°I¡¯ve managed to suppress the news online, but

    still, I¡¯ll head over to the Rond estate to take care of you during this time,¡± he said.

    Tears resumed their path down Tessa¡¯s cheeks. Why did it always seem that every encounter with Brielle

    left her on the losing end? Despite Brielle¡¯sck of a significant background, how did she always manage

    to slip away unscathed?

    Hatred flooded Tessa¡¯s gaze, but the blow she¡¯d received served as a stark lesson¨Cher usual tactics

    would no longer suffice against Brielle. She had to bide her time, to devise a n that would strike

    directly at Brielle¡¯s heart.

    That afternoon, Tessa returned to the Rond estate, iming she needed half a month to recover from

    her ailment.

    Upon hearing of Tessa¡¯s discharge, Brielle was in the middle of knitting a scarf at Premier Pce. She

    had been aware of the online news, which was still a hot topic of public debate. With Andrew¡¯s assertive

    crackdown, the rumors appeared even more credible. After all, the public was like that¨Cthe more you

    tried to suppress them, the more they yearned to rise up in defiance.

    Although Tessa¡¯s name had vanished from the headlines, she remained a topic of conversation, with

    people secretly scheming to stir up trouble again.

    At the moment, however, Brielle paid little heed to these matters. She had already set Mason to work on

    a n that would funnel the uingnd auction toward the Rond estate. A cash loss of several

    billion would be a massive blow to any sessfulpany.

    All she had to do was wait for the news. Her primary concern now was her own affairs. What would

    Michael want to discuss when she visited the Dorsey family?

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    Chapter 530

    Her knitting pace slowed as she took a sip of coffee from the table, then resumed her work on the scarf,

    determined to finish it as a New Year¡¯s gift before the celebrations began.

    Fighting off sleepiness, Brielle spent the entire afternoon knitting.

    Come evening, she noticed several unmounted holiday decorations on the coffee table. The vi had

    none disyed, prompting her to ask Wesley about it.

    ¡°Why are these decorations here not put up?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, Mr. Max has never been one for these New Year customs. I bought them,¡± Wesley replied.

    It was such a significant asion, and yet Premier Pce remained unchanged. If it weren¡¯t for Brielle,

    the ce would be even more deste. A pang of sympathy hit her. Had Max never truly experienced

    what it meant to celebrate the New Year?

    Most of the time, he was alone abroad, guarding against assassination attempts since childhood, with no

    time to savor the simple joys of life.

    She picked up the decorations, her face breaking into a smile. ¡°Where¡¯s thedder? Let¡¯s get these up.¡±

    Wesley¡¯s eyes lit up. He had prepared for the New Year before, especially when Max was expected to

    return home for the holidays. But Max never did and spent time in hotels or at the office instead.

    Tonight, with Ms. Brielle present, surely Max woulde home.

    In a flurry of activity, they fetched adder and affixed the decorations to the walls. An hourter, the

    entire Premier Pce was aglow with gaudy reds and greens¨Ca stark contrast to the subdued elegance

    of the European¨Cstyle architecture.

    Brielleughed at the sight. It was tacky, yes, but it was also filled with the warmth of tradition. She

    continued to sit in the living room, knitting the scarf, awaiting Max¡¯s return for dinner. But by eight o¡¯clock

    in the evening, there was still no sign of him. Instead, Patrick called.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, Mr. Max is tied up with matters tonight and won¡¯t be returning,¡± he informed her. Brielle¡¯s joy

    was instantly doused with cold disappointment. Max had been incredibly busy these past few days,

    coming and going at all hours, his actions a mystery to all.

    With her visit to the Dorsey family¡¯s ancestral home looming on the next evening. Max¡¯s absence tonight

    unsettled her.

 Chapter 531

    Chapter 531

    telle nibbled at a sandwich, her fingers dancing through the yarn as she knitted a scarf into the wee

    hours of the morning. It wasn¡¯t until then that she finally drifted off into a fitful sleep. her dreams a

    tangled mix of Max and visions of him with other women.

    When she woke, it was already noon the next day, and Max still hadn¡¯t returned. After freshening up,

    she couldn¡¯t resist the urge to call him, but there was no answer on the other

    1. nd. Her heart hung suspended, heavy with worry. She tried Patrick next, but all he said was that

    they were a bit tied up.

    Restlessly. Brielle waited until six in the evening when Max¡¯s car finally pulled up to the front of Premier

    Pce. She hurried outside and opened the car door to find Max leaning back in his seat, his eyes

    closed, a picture of exhaustion but, thankfully, unharmed. She breathed a sigh of relief.

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Slipping into the car, she took his hand, intertwining their fingers firmly. Max¡¯s eyshes fluttered, and

    he turned to look at her, pulling her into an embrace. They rode in silence.

    Brielle wracked her brain, even wondering if she had done anything in the past couple of days. to upset

    him. After meticulously dissecting the recent events, she couldn¡¯t pinpoint anything. she might¡¯ve done

    wrong.

    Upon arriving at the Dorsey familt¡¯s old mansion, the butler was already waiting at the door. ¡°Sir, Ms.

    Brielle, Mr. Michael has been expecting you,¡± he announced.

    Brielle instantly gathered her wits, clutching Max¡¯s hand a little tighter.

    Only then did Max open his eyes, the redness in them evident. Seeing his state only. heightened her

    concern. What had Max been up to these past two days?

    Max looked down and tousled her hair. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t nerves she felt, just concern for him.,¡°I told you, I¡¯ve got to face this,¡± she murmured. She

    hadn¡¯t seen him in over a day and couldn¡¯t help herself; she tiptoed to wrap her arms around his neck.

    But Max stepped back, nodding towards the house. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside.¡±

    Brielle stood frozen for a moment, feeling as if a bucket of icy water had been poured over

    her heart.

    She looked up at him, searching his face for any sign of what was troubling him. But Max. remained

    untroubled.

    She forced a smile. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go in.¡±

    The butler watched the two approach and opened the door as they finally moved forward.

    Inside the stately Dorsey family ancestral home, Michael sat at the head of the room while others were

    seated on either side. As Brielle stepped in, she felt Spencer¡¯s piercing gaze upon her. He looked

    gaunt, as if he¡¯d lost a great deal of weight. His eyes were fixed on her

    Chart

    with a mad intensity.

    Seated on the couch were William, Victoria, Tiffanie, and a man she didn¡¯t recognize. Hel appeared to

    be in his forties, dressed in a sharp ck suit, hands folded across hist midsection, his expression

    somewhat indifferent. Victoria¡¯s hand rested on his arm, clearly trying to draw closer, but the man

    seemed to barely tolerate her touch, even frowning in distaste. Brielle guessed this man must¡¯ve been

    Everett.

    Aside from these familiar faces, there were others whose identities she didn¡¯t know¨Clikely elders from

    the broader family branches. Their eyes were all on her, and the distant rtives chuckled coldly,

    though they kept silent as it wasn¡¯t their ce to speak.

    This didn¡¯t feel like a family dinner; it felt more like Brielle was on trial.

    Michael gestured for the butler to prepare a seat for Brielle. The butler quickly pushed a single chair

    forward, indicating Max would have to sit elsewhere.

    Max frowned and looked towards Michael, who pointed to the couch. ¡°Max, sit over here,¡± he said,

    making no effort to hide his intention to separate them.

    Max stood still, about to object, but Michael¡¯s coldugh cut him short. ¡°What, you¡¯re not even prepared

    to face the Dorsey family?¡±

    Brielle gently tugged at Max¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Go ahead, I¡¯ll sit here,¡± she whispered.

    Causing a scene would not only be an affront to Michael but would also embolden the sideline family

    members.

    She quickly assessed the room. About a dozen rtives seemed to have gathered, indicating the

    incident at the private box had caused quite a stir.

    Max was the chosen heir of the Dorseys, and no member of the Dorsey family wanted to see him

    waste his potential on someone like Brielle.

    Almost all the elders who could make it were present. Though they were just from the side branches,

    they were influential in their own right, with many serving as CEOS inpanies under Dorsey

    International.

 Chapter 532

    Chapter 532

    The air was thick with tensiun Brielle felt like a convict being marched to the gallows, undergoing the

    ecrutinizing gaze of those around her

    She noticed Max hadn¡¯t approached yet, and whispered just loud enough for the two of them to hear

    ¡°Ta okay, Max. Trust me, I can handle this.¡±

    Max¡¯s lips tightened for a moment before he reluctantly took a seat on the couch.

    Spencer, sitting nearby, couldn¡¯t help but let a smirk of irony cross his face. He had thought Max was

    quite fond of Brielle, but it seemed that was all it was. When it came down to it, and the senior

    members of the Dorsey family gathered, Max didn¡¯t dare openly defend Brielle. It was pitiful,

    His gaze bore into Brielle, searching her face for a trace of fear. He couldn¡¯t let go, even now. Just

    looking at Brielle made his heart ache, an ache so severe it felt like death.

    His nostrils red with bitterness, his eyes red and hot with unshed tears. Every day, he pondered on

    how to break them apart, even fueling the fire online. He did everything within his power, only to push

    Brielle further away.

    Spencer clenched his fists tightly, his eyes never leaving Brielle as if he wished to devour her whole.

    Yet, Brielle didn¡¯t panic. She sat quietly, waiting for Michael¡¯s next words.

    Michael lifted his cup, his tone authoritative. ¡°Do you realize you have no right to cross this threshold?¡±

    At that, Max¡¯s expression darkened with defiance, ¡°Father.¡± His tone was firm.

    Michael raised an eyebrow, setting down his cup. ¡°I¡¯m just stating the facts. The chatter outside is far

    harsher than anything I might say. Or do you n to live in denial forever, ignoring the world¡¯s

    opinions?¡±

    He knew exactly where to strike. Michael¡¯s presence was powerful, not sharp, but it bore a tremendous

    weight.

    The rest of the Dorsey n nodded in agreement, clearly finding his point valid.

    The two calmest people in the room were Brielle and Everett. Brielle had the courage to face the

    situation, while Everett simply didn¡¯t care about the Dorsey family¡¯s affairs. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but

    scrutinize Brielle, sneering internally. He could already anticipate her downfall¨Ca mere female version

    of himself.

    Brielle sat up straight, her eyes clear upon hearing Michael¡¯s words. ¡°Michael, I¡¯ve always believed that

    caring too much about others¡® opinions turns you into their servant.¡±

    ¡°Your disregard doesn¡¯t make those opinions vanish. Max¡¯s reputation suffers because of you. If you

    feel no guilt, it proves you don¡¯t love him enough.¡±

    Michael¡¯s second punch hit Max hard. He spoke sparingly, but every word counted. To

    12

    15:13

    Chapter 532

    Michael, the young couple¡¯s love was like a teetering skyscraper. When it falls, those inside would

    perish, and he wouldn¡¯t allow his most promising son to be trapped within.

    The usation of insufficient love was designed to create a rift in Max¡¯s heart. He might¡¯ve been

    certain of his love for Brielle, but how sure was he of hers? Max trusted himself, but did

    he trust Brielle?

    In psychological warfare, Michael was as astute as Max. Without uttering a harsh word, every phrase

    was a needle to their hearts.

    In the face of absolute disparity, Brielle¡¯s efforts seemed futile. Her very existence threatened to harm

    Max. Michael intended to make this crystal clear to her.

    Brielle¡¯s hands tensed on herp, yet her gaze remained lucid. ¡°Michael, I won¡¯t deny your words. All I

    have to offer right now is my determination, which I¡¯m willing to risk. Max isn¡¯t a calcted choice for

    me; he¡¯s a conviction I pursue despite knowing better. Hecks nothing, and if he chose me, it¡¯s

    because I offer what he most desires¨Csincerity and loyalty. I will continue to give him my all,

    unreservedly.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s eloquence was no secret to Michael.

    Upon her finishing, Max¡¯s previously grim expression softened into a faint smile. Spencer, on the

    sidelines, felt an overwhelming urge to rise and strangle Brielle.

    A conviction pursued despite knowing better?

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    This was a colossal joke! What did Brielle know about love?

    Spencer felt as if he was in a trance, all his love and hate ready to explode. He was

    determined to avenge himself on Brielle. If he couldn¡¯t have her, he¡¯d ensure no one else

    could either.

    Chapter 593

 Chapter 533

    Chapter 533

    ¡°What a silver¨Ctongued devil you are!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, thisdy must¡¯ve pulled some shady tricks to catch Max¡¯s eye in the first ce.¡±

    ¡°Sweet talker. Would you have fallen for Max if he wasn¡¯t the CEO of Dorsey International?¡±

    The users were distant rtives, their eyes aze with indignation as they stared at

    Brielle.

    Brielle chuckled softly, a tinge of exasperation in her voice. ¡°What can I say? When I met him, he was

    already the CEO of Dorsey International.¡±

    Her retort was indisputable, and even Max looked down, his lips curving into a subtle smile.

    The rtive who had spoken was left speechless, huffing in frustration before turning to Michael.

    Michael was the picture ofposure, setting down his ss of bourbon. ¡°Brielle, now that you¡¯ve

    been let go by Dorsey International and otherpanies aren¡¯t willing to hire you, even if you have the

    talent, you¡¯ve got no stage to shine on. If you say you love Max, you¡¯ve got to show some real

    commitment.¡±

    He shifted the conversation away from personal feelings. Those who had once ruled the business

    world weren¡¯t to be trifled with by youngsters. From the moment Brielle and Max had entered, Michael

    had been plotting how to manipte the situation to his advantage.

    ¡°I

    Can offer you a chance, though. Ever heard of Ster Stage Entertainment? It¡¯s a subsidiary

    of Dorsey International that¡¯s been mismanaged since the new CEO took over three years ago. Dorsey

    International isn¡¯t too concerned with this little venture, but what if I were to make you the executive

    CEO there? Would that interest you?¡±

    Before Brielle could respond, the rtives were in an uproar. Sending Brielle to run anotherpany

    as the executive CEO? Why should she get such a lucky break?

    ¡°Michael, Brielle isn¡¯t one of us Dorsey folk. Is it really okay to hand her such a sweet deal on a silver

    tter? Surely we can¡¯t just do her favors because she¡¯s dating Max.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s an outsider, after all. Why should she get to be an executive CEO?¡±

    ¡°And she ims it¡¯s not about the Dorsey fortune, but I bet she¡¯s already scheming on how to carve up

    our family assets.¡±

    They dared not criticize Michael¡¯s decision too fiercely, instead casting gloomy nces at Brielle, as if

    she had stolen their piece of pie.

    But what nobody expected was for Max to outright reject the proposal. ¡°I disagree, Father.¡±

    Michael¡¯s expression remained impassive as he toyed with a piece of mint on his drink, ¡°If you

    disagree, then you¡¯re free to leave. There¡¯s no point in discussing this further. She¡¯ll never

    15.141

    Chapter 533

    enter our doors again with her head held high.¡±

    Max stood up, ready to pull Brielle away with him, but Brielle stayed put, her gaze steady on Michael.

    ¡°Michael, if I take the job as executive CEO of Ster Stage Entertainment, what level of sess doThis is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    you require before you¡¯re satisfied?¡±

    ¡°A fifty¨Cfold increase in performance.¡±

    He said it casually as if such a monumental increase was as light as a feather. Anyone familiar with

    finance knew that such a figure was a Herculean task, reserved only for the titans of business.

    ¡°Father!¡±

    Max¡¯s face grew cold, but Brielle continued, ¡°And if I achieve that, you won¡¯t stand in the way of me and

    Max anymore, correct?¡±

    Michael paused, peering at Brielle as if measuring her courage. ¡°You¡¯ve got guts, taking on Ster

    Stage Entertainment without even knowing the mess it¡¯s in,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Yes, I won¡¯t object.¡±

    A smile spread across Brielle¡¯s face. ¡°Then I ept.¡±

    ¡°Six months. If you don¡¯t deliver, you and Max are through.¡±

    ¡°Agreed.¡±

    As Brielle uttered that word, she felt Max tense beside her. He looked down at her, a flicker of hurt

    crossing his eyes.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t meet his gaze. ¡°Michael is a man of his word. I trust you¡¯ll keep your promise.¡± No

    sooner had she spoken than Max released her hand and strode towards the door, clearly

    infuriated.

    A smirk crossed Michael¡¯s face. Brielle was still too young. No matter how strong or confident she was,

    her readiness to ept the challenge so swiftly in Max¡¯s eyes tranted to taking their rtionship

    lightly. It suggested that she wasn¡¯t afraid to lose it, and that was precisely the problem.

    He had always said that once the seed of doubt was nted, it was only a matter of time. before it took

    root.

 Chapter 534

    Chapter 534

    When Michael spoke with much finality the others know better than to arque. After all, he was the

    leader of the family and Mac¡¯s father His word was low, and no one dared to defy hin So, they could

    only re at Brielle with even deeper resentment.

    The most agitated of them all was Spencer. He knew about Ster Stage Entertainment, was the

    company Ryan had taken over.

    Given its name, it was obviously an entertainmentpany filled with C¨Clist celebrities and hopefuls,

    none of whom had made a real name for themselves. Ryan had taken it over simply because it was full

    of pretty faces, and Spencer knew he had bedded more than a few of them.

    Ryan treated Ster Stage Entertainment like his personal yground, picking and choosing who to

    take to his hotel room when bored, and never truly nurturing the business. The wholepany was

    crooked from top to bottom.

    The women who were still there either couldn¡¯t leave because of binding contracts or had nowhere else

    to go. The male talent fared even worse. Thepany didn¡¯t even see them. as artists, using them for

    any odd job that came up, like dancing for a room full of seniors in some small town or performing at a

    local mall. Those performers had long since lost their pride and spark. Sending Brielle there was like

    sending her into the lion¡¯s den.

    With her finance background, Brielle didn¡¯t know the first thing about the entertainment industry.

    Michael giving her the reins of Ster Stage Entertainment seemed like an opportunity, but in reality, it

    was a set¨Cup for despair.

    A crookedpany, a spiritless roster, and someonepletely green to the entertainment scene

    what chance did she have, especially with the impossible goal of increasing thepany¡¯s

    performance fiftyfold in six months?

    Spencer¡¯s lips curled up in a cold smile.

    Another reason Grandpa had handed over thepany to Brielle was to stir up resentment among the

    Dorsey family¡¯s branches. Most of the extended family members present had not clue about the actual

    state of Ster Stage Entertainment. Dorsey International had hundreds of national and international

    subsidiaries, and no one could¡¯ve known the details of eachpany¡¯s performance. So, to the

    extended family, it looked like Brielle had taken control of apany from the Dorsey fortune.

    She didn¡¯t deserve it!

    What the extended family would do to Brielle was now a matter of her luck.

    Spencer¡¯s heart was racing with the thought that he could be of assistance to her if only she would ask.

    His gaze turned fervent, and he felt a famil

    arousal, just from seeing her face, hearing her name, and listening to her voice she was like a demon

    he couldn¡¯t exorcise. Brielle had be his obsession.

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    Chapter 534

    Brielle stood from her chair, nodded politely to everyone in the room, and followed Max out. The res

    that followed her were like knives at her back.

    Once outside, she saw that Max was gone, and his car with him. Her quick agreement had

    hurt him. She knew it.

    She took out her phone to call him when suddenly, someone grabbed her from behind. ¡°Brielle, if you

    ask me, I can help you. I know some people at Ster Stage Entertainment, and I can pull in some top

    stars from major entertainment firms in Beaconsfield,¡± Spencer¡¯s voice whispered hotly in her ear.

    Brielle¡¯s face turned dark, and she threw Spencer over her shoulder onto the ground.

    Spencery there, grimacing in pain, unable to get up.

    Brielle clenched her phone and stepped on his chest. Spencer coughed, almost spitting blood under

    her foot.

    Brielle stood over him, her gaze full of contempt and disgust. ¡°Are you sick? Spencer, ever since that

    disgusting thing you did, I¡¯ve felt nothing but revulsion towards you. Stay away

    from me.¡±

    A me seemed to light in Spencer¡¯s eyes as he stared at her.

    Her animated face and disdainful tone thrilled him, and he felt an almost uncontroble urge. He had

    realized toote that he liked Brielle loved her, even. He had turned to Lillian because Brielle was too

    aloof, too damaging to his pride.

    During the years of their engagement, she was kind to him, but it was a distant kindness. Not matter

    how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t see himself reflected in her eyes. His attraction turned to resentment,

    convincing himself not to care, and that¡¯s when he noticed Lillian¡¯s allure.

    Spencer swallowed hard, reaching for her leg. ¡°Brielle-¡±

    Brielle looked down and saw the bulge in his pants. She felt sick to her stomach, utterly disgusted. Was

    that all he ever thought about? She stomped on the offending area, causing Spencer to curl up, hisThis is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    face beaded with sweat.

    Cimpler 535

 Chapter 535

    Chapter 535

    ¡°You seriously make me sick.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s tone was indifferent, she didn¡¯t bother with a response as she headed towards the

    front door.

    Spencer was curled up on the ground like a squashed bug, clenching his teeth so hard from the pain

    he wanted to howl.

    When Tiffanie came out, all she saw was Spencer twisted up on the pavement. She jumped back,

    startled, and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    ¡°Get lost.¡± Spencer spat out the words, his fists clenched tight, and his eyes fiercely fixed on the

    direction Brielle had left. He was determined to get what he wanted.

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Tiffanie quickly moved forward and finally caught up with Brielle, not too far from the gate.

    ¡°Did you just chase Max off? Let me give you a lift back.¡±

    Brielle stood still, looking at the deserted street, her lips twitching into a wry smile. ¡°That would be

    great. Thanks.¡±

    Tiffanie sighed, ¡°Not to rag on you, but if I were Maxie, I¡¯d be pissed too. You agreed to something

    without even knowing what¡¯s going on at Ster Stage Entertainment. I seriously wonder if you even

    like Maxie. Did you see the look in his eyes? It was heartbreaking.¡±

    It was the first time Tiffanie had seen that kind of expression on Max¡¯s face, and it tugged at her

    heartstrings. For a moment, she even felt a bit resentful towards Brielle. If Max had fallen for any other

    woman, his life would¡¯ve been smooth sailing, but loving Brielle turned the whole world into an obstacle

    course. And Brielle¡¯s attitude didn¡¯t help either. Sometimes, Tiffanie felt Maxie deserved better.

    Tiffanie pulled the car around and gave Brielle a run¨Cdown of the situation at Ster Stage

    Entertainment.

    ¡°In a nutshell, it¡¯s a hot mess. You know Ryan¡¯s reputation; he always messed around, using Ster

    Stage as his yground. Eighty percent of those artists have been passed around to the bigwigs in

    Beaconsfield. No matter their gender, they¡¯re just currency in the hands of the rich. At Dorsey

    International, you handled mergers and acquisitions, but over there, it¡¯s all about schmoozing and

    politics. And increasing performance by fifty times in six months? Brielle, I have faith in you, but even I

    doubt you can pull that off.¡±

    And even if she did, who knew what her grandfather would do? Would he really stop interfering, or

    would he pull some other stunt?

    Brielle closed her eyes, leaning back in her seat. Her mind was on the festively decorated streets,

    thinking of the paired couplets andnterns, and the tacky fairy lights at Premier Pce.

    It was New Year¡¯s, their first together, and it was a total mess. Not even a ¡®Happy New Year¡®

    Carter 535

    was exchanged, and now he had disappeared for over twenty¨Cfour hours and walked out on

    her again.

    Brielle felt exhausted, yet she spoke with confidence, ¡°If I hadn¡¯t agreed, what do you think I¡¯d be facing

    tonight?¡±

    Tiffanie¡¯s grin on the steering wheel tightened, and she fell silent. Right, if Brielle hadn¡¯t agreed, would

    her grandfather have really let her walk away?

    Brielle watched the streetlights cast flickering shadows on her face through the window.

    ¡°Before I got here, I did some digging on Michael. He¡¯s got one up on Max ¨C during his time in charge,

    no one disappeared from the family, but under Michael¡¯s reign, many did, including the Dorsey¡¯s third in

    line, who¡¯s never returned to Beaconsfield. Who knows what really happened to him? Sure, Max drove

    people to ruin, but that was all in the finance game. You y, you risk losing. Michael, though, his

    methods were far more brutal; he could strip away humanity.¡±

    So, if he could be ruthless with his own kin, what more could Brielle expect? Her research had shown

    as much. People mellowed with age: Otherwise, Ryan would have been long gone from the Dorsey

    fold, not just sent away from Beaconsfield.

    Since Michael had summoned her, there had to be a conclusion: Eitherply with his demands within

    six months or refuse and be eliminated on the way back. She had not

    choice.

    Hearing her analysis sent a chill through Tiffanie, who suddenly found herself at a loss for words.

    Brielle continued. ¡°When I saw Everett sitting there, it felt like a warning from Michael. If I don¡¯t y by

    his rules, I¡¯m next.¡±

    Disbelief flickered in Tiffanie¡¯s eyes, and sweat beaded on her forehead as she grasped the true

    purpose of her grandfather inviting Everett. It wasn¡¯t acknowledgment but a stark example for Brielle of

    what happens to those who disobey.

    Silently potent, it struck at the core, draining the will to resist. There, Everett sat, silent as a tombstone,

    a haunting reminder to Brielle of whaty ahead if she strayed from the path.

 Chapter 536

    Chapter 536

    The threat was more direct than any spoken suppression could ever be

    Brielle sat silently in the car the tension palpable, while Tiffanie refrained from further

    conversation

    The car came to a halt outside the Premier Pce, and Brielle was the first to exit. She turned back,

    bending slightly to address Tiffanie still inside, ¡°I¡¯m going in then

    ¡°You sure Maxie¡¯s in the mood to see you now?¡±

    A bref pause flickered across Brielle¡¯s face. ¡°I have to exin things to him.

    Tiffanie pondered for a moment, then fished out a lollipop from the glovepartment and

    tossed it out

    Catching it deftly. Brielle heard her say, ¡°Alright, go exin.¡±

    Brielle stood still for a moment, slipping the lollipop into her bag. Only when the sound of the car driving

    away faded did she slowly make her way inside the Premier Pce.

    The festive lights were still hanging, the cheerful banners were still stered on the walls, and even the

    tacky, colorful fairy lights were twinkling as ever. But inside, it was eerily quiet.

    She rang the doorbell, and Wesley came to open the door. A nce around the hall revealed only

    Wesley. ¡°Max hasn¡¯te back yet?¡±

    Wesley shook his head, exhaling a weary sigh, ¡°He usually wouldn¡¯te back for the holidays¡­ I

    thought, with you here, he might-¡± He trailed off, the words left hanging.

    Brielle swapped her shoes at the entrance, heading towards the sofa while dialing Max¡¯s number. She

    was wearing the matching slippers they¡¯d bought together: hers white, his ck.

    The mechanical voicemail greeted her from the other end, no answer. She dialed again. It was as if

    she¡¯d keep calling until he picked up.

    Max stared at his continuously ringing phone, rubbing his temples. Hisputer was still on. and the

    executives were waiting for him to speak on an international conference call. All they heard was the

    incessant ring of his phone, and the CEO, staring at the device, silent.

    No one dared to interrupt; they waited in quiet anticipation. Finally, Max faced the screen. ¡°Let¡¯s

    postpone the meeting until after the New Year. Spend some quality time with your families.¡±

    The international executives couldn¡¯t help but feel that their CEO sounded forlorn when he said those

    words, but no one argued, quietly packing up their documents as Max shut down theputer.

    If he paused, his father¡¯s words echoed in his mind. ¡°That just proves you don¡¯t love her enough.¡±

    ner: 526

    Brielle¡¯s retort inevitably followed in his head. ¡°Max isn¡¯t a calcted choice for me, but a defiant act of

    certainty despite knowing better.¡±

    He touched the coffee next to him, now cold Drinking it now would certainly keep him awaketer, but

    perhaps the bitterness could stifle the tang of despair on his tongue.

    Did Brielle love him? Of course, he never doubted that.

    How much? That he wasn¡¯t sure of. How shallow was her love, that she agreed without hesitation to his

    father¡¯s proposition?

    Even though it was for them to be together, was she that confident in herself? What if she failed?

    It seemed she never considered the possibility or maybe didn¡¯t care about it. That was a blow to him.

    Watching her agree so readily, he was incredulous and shocked. His heart felt pierced.

    Love, it turned out, could wound so effortlessly, more than any physical injury he had endured.

    Brielle had opened the door to him loving someone, and he intended to walk that path with her to the

    bitter end. But now, he was uncertain. Brielle seemed to love him, but not to the point of being

    indispensable. It seemed her affection could easily shift to someone else, not necessarily Max, but any

    man.

    For Max, it was different. From the moment she appeared, he had this subtle premonition that she was

    the reason to turn everyone else away.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Max coughed, reaching for his coffee to drink, when the sound of a key in the lock halted his hand. In

    the dim light, he saw the figure at the door.

    The hope in his eyes slowly crumbled to ashes. It was Spencer.

    Spencer turned on the brightest light in the room, and there they were, one standing and one sitting,

    silently facing each other.

    This was Pearl Estate, where Brielle lived. Max didn¡¯t want to go to a hotel or any other residence, so

    when he left in a huff, he thought of her ce, infused with her presence. But now, another man had

    intruded on this space.

    Max¡¯s grip on his cup tightened instantly, while Spencer met his gaze without flinching. ¡°Just here to

    pick up a few things,¡± Spencer said.

    He hadn¡¯t expected to find Max here and was momentarily caught off guard. Then he regained

    composure, walked over to a drawer, and retrieved the watch he¡¯d intentionally left behind thest time

    he was there the same time he¡¯d helped Sydney whisk Brielle away. He had made a copy of Brielle¡¯s

    keys and left his watch as a deliberate token.

    He knew he would need it eventually. And now, the moment hade, and he was discovered by Max.

 Chapter 537

    Chapter 537

    Spencer sneered inwardly as he approached Pearl Entate, noticing the lights still on. He had suspected

    that Brielle wouldn¡¯t return tonight after she and Max left the Dorsey mansion, but to his surprise, it

    wasn¡¯t Brielle who greeted him inside¨Cit was Max himself, casually sitting on the couch

    Weighing his options, Spencer recalled the watch incident from before. Max raised an eyebrow as

    Spencer confidently retrieved his belongings from a drawer, clearly belonging to him. How did Spencer

    have a key to Brielle¡¯s ce, and why were his things there?

    ¡°Uncle Max, I¡¯ll leave you to it,¡± Spencer said, trying to mask the difort from the pain Brielle had

    inflicted earlier, which now oddly felt like a relief.

    He hoped this mix¨Cup would drive a wedge between them and pave the way for his own

    advance.

    Trying to gauge Max¡¯s reaction, Spencer only caught a glimpse before Max took a sip from his coffee

    mug, seemingly unbothered by his presence.

    Feeling a sting of humiliation but respecting the man¡¯s status, Spencer¡¯s fingers trembled as he closed

    the door behind him. Clutching the watch, he fought the urge to smash it against the wall, wary of

    making noise that Max might hear. Instead, he pressed the elevator button repeatedly, his frustration

    growing as the elevator seemed stuck mid¨Cfloor.

    Meanwhile, Brielle had arrived at the base of Pearl Estate. Impatient, she opted for the stairs, unaware

    that Max had already shut down hisputer, packed up, and left the apartment.

    When the elevator finally arrived, Max shared it with Spencer, who was sweating bullets and frantically

    hitting the close button.

    Max stood there, calm, his lean hand holding the sameptop bag Patrick usually carried. Spencer

    swallowed hard, feeling a knot in his throat when Max asked indifferently about his ns to join the

    company.

    The elevator reached the ground floor, and as Max passed by Spencer, he paused and asked,

    ¡°Nervous?¡±

    Spencer wanted to deny it, but the sweat trickling down his face betrayed him. He stayed silent as Max

    exited the building, his silhouette as stoic as an evergreen. Max handed theptop bag to Patrick, who

    had arrived to pick him up.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Max had remained indifferent to Spencer¡¯s provocations, taking his actions as trivial as a bad joke.

    Upstairs, Brielle stepped into her apartment and immediately sensed another¡¯s presence. Spotting the

    cold coffee on the coffee table, she rushed to the window and saw the familiar car driving away.

    Her heart pounded at the thought of Max turning to Pearl Estate in anger. Without dy, she

    Chapter 537

    dashed to the elevator, dialing Max¡¯s number.

    Max heard the ringtone and looked down silently. Patrick sensed the tension and suggested viewing

    the New Year¡¯s Eve fireworks with Ms. Brielle.

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen them already,¡± Max replied, reminiscing about a beautiful disy he had witnessed with her,

    one that couldn¡¯t be topped. But Patrick¡¯s mention of New Year¡¯s Eve struck a chord¨CBrielle had no

    one. Her parents rejected her, the Haywood family despised her, and her ex¨Chusband betrayed her. If

    he did the same, who would she turn to tonight?

    Max recalled Martha¡¯s words from years ago: when you love, you don¡¯t ask if it¡¯s worth it because love

    doesn¡¯t concern itself with worth.

    At the time, he didn¡¯t understand those foreign emotions or whom Martha referred to. But now, he was

    beginning to grasp the selflessness required, or rather, the art of concealing one¡¯s selfishness

    seamlessly.

    Leaning back, he instructed Patrick to head back to Premier Pce.

    Brielle stood at the

    s of Pearl Estate, alone. She took out her phone, and after realizing

    he wasn¡¯t answering her calls, she sent a message. [It¡¯s New Year¡¯s Eve, and I haven¡¯t had a bite to

    eat. I¡¯m about to starve myself into a stomachache.]

    Regardless, she thought, it¡¯s best to show vulnerability first.

 Chapter 538

    Chapter 538

    If sheined of a stomach ache, iming she wasn¡¯t feeling well, Max would never leave her to

    suffer alone. And she made sure to emphasize New Year¡¯s Eve, which would naturally remind him that

    she was all by herself.

    Brielle stood quietly waiting for his text, and sure enough, within three minutes, a message popped up.

    [Why aren¡¯t you eating?]

    He was finally willing to respond.

    When Brielle first got her hooks into him, she did it by being shameless. She had definitely messed up

    tonight, and if you messed up, you owned up to it and sweet¨Ctalked your way back into favor.

    Men and women were the same in that regard.

    [Yes, I deserve it. Don¡¯t be mad, okay? Ster Stage Entertainment is tough to handle, but I¡¯ve got you,

    right? With Mr. Dorsey on my side, how could I not seed?] A little ttery could extinguish even the

    greatest of rages.

    [Cut the crap.]

    Staring at the message, Brielle paused for a few seconds. Why did it feel like their roles had been

    reversed? Max was often easy to appease, but sometimes, he could be quite the challenge.

    [I came looking for you, which means the scarf I¡¯m knitting will have to wait. I could¡¯ve finished it

    tonight, watching the fireworks outside, snuggled up in your arms. How perfect would that have been?]

    After sending the message, she realized how brazen she had been when she first started hanging

    around Max.

    When no reply came within a minute, just as Brielle thought he wouldn¡¯t respond again, a new

    message arrived. [Thene back.]

    Clearly, he was at Premier Pce.

    Brielle breathed a sigh of relief, put down her phone, and headed towards where her car was parked.

    But as she looked up, she saw Spencer standing not too far away.

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    His gaze was still sticky and repulsive, enough to make her skin crawl. Her brow furrowed with

    undisguised disgust as she pretended not to see him and got into her car.

    Spencer just stood there, watching her go, struggling with his burgeoning obsession.

    Just as Brielle was about to close the car door, Spencer made his move, yanking it open. Brielle¡¯s

    expression darkened, her mood plummeting. ¡°Spencer, can¡¯t you take a hint?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m getting married.¡±

    ¡°And what¡¯s Hat got to do with me?¡±

    The disdain in her eyes was palpable as she pulled at her car dont, but Spencer clung on desperately

    ¡°Brielle, Uncle Max said you never really liked me to that true? His eyes. burning like branding irons

    seemed to scorch her skin. Brielle did not enjoy such gazes.

    ¡°Yes, what¡¯s there to like about you?¡±

    To question a man¡¯s worthiness was the ultimate insult

    Spencer writhed in pain, his eyes bloodshot as he red at her. So, this was what she truly thought

    He took a deep breath, his madness intensifying¨Cprobably stirred by the words she had spoken in front

    of his grandfather earlier.

    What a joke.

    She had known him for over a decade and never cared for him. She had met Max for less

    than two months, yet she dared to speak such words¨Chypocrisy!

    Women and their deception could be maddening!

    Brielle¡¯s mind was fixed on Max, who was waiting for her at Premier Pce. Her face bore an eager

    expression as she tried to drive away.

    Out of nowhere, Spencer produced a cloth and mped it over her nose. He hade to Pearl Estate

    tonight with the intent to abduct Brielle. Only, he ran into Max and received a veiled warning.

    Still, he had found her, the woman he both loved and despised.

    Brielle held her breath, inhaling only a whiff, but it was enough to make her head reel. Spencer pushed

    her into the passenger seat and took the driver¡¯s seat himself.

    ¡°Spencer, are you trying to kill me?¡±

    Tears instantly streamed down his face; he wasn¡¯t even sure what to do next.

    Killing Brielle? No, that would be more painful than taking his own life.

    He bit his lip hard and floored the gas pedal. ¡°Last time, because of you, I spent days in the ER, but

    you probably couldn¡¯t care less if I lived or died.¡±

    ¡°A man who tried to assault me? Yeah, his life or death really doesn¡¯t concern me.¡±

    With her eyes half¨Cclosed, Brielle tried to fight off the dizziness. Secretly, she reached for her phone

    and dialed Max¡¯s emergency number.

    ¡°Thinking of calling Uncle Max for help? It¡¯s no use, Brielle. I¡¯ve figured out how to deal with

    you.¡±

    He mmed the pedal to the metal with a maniacal grin.

 Chapter 539

    Chapter 539

    Bette chuckled lightly when she heard the wonds. ¡°Really now? What¡¯s your grand n to deal with

    me? Drag me out to some godforsaken ce and have your way with me before finishing me off?¡±

    Such low grade tactics hardly impressed her.

    ¡°Even if you kill me or vite me, my heart still belongs to Max. I love him so much, I¡¯d give up my life¡±

    Her voice was nonchnt as she watched thendscape whizzing by the window, a small smile curving

    her lips, ¡°I just realized how deeply I feel for him.¡±

    Spencer gripped the steering wheel tight, his palms slick with sweat. ¡°Is that so? Your love is quite

    noble¡±

    Madness filled his eyes, tears streamed down his face, but he seemed eerily calm now. A calm that

    was terrifying.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with him. If this guy wasn¡¯t part of the Dorsey n, the folks in

    Beaconsfield would have set him straight long ago. At the end of the day, Spencer had it too easy his

    whole life, which is why he turned out this way. After ruining the best thing he ever had, he started

    crying and making a fuss, thinking it would bring everything back, like an immature child.

    The car pulled up to an abandoned factory on the outskirts of town, and Brielle felt bone¨Cweary. She

    just slumped in her seat. ¡°Get on with whatever you¡¯re going to do. Tonight¡¯s New Year¡¯s Eve. I¡¯d like to

    get back in time to watch the fireworks with him.¡±

    Spencer¡¯s hands trembled as he opened the door, so weak that he struggled to muster the strength to

    move. He¡¯d never imagined that Brielle could be so heartless when she didn¡¯t love someone. His lips

    trembled, and suddenly, he didn¡¯t have the strength to get out of the car. All his ns, his madness,

    disappeared in an instant because of her words.

    He began to sob into the steering wheel, starting quietly and escting into loud wails, his shoulders

    shaking. Brielle lifted her eyelids, gave him a detached nce, and closed her eyes again. The car

    windows were down, and the outside wind kept blowing in, but nothing mattered against the backdrop

    of his grief.

    A man crying like this was beyond herprehension, but knowing it was Spencer, she sort of

    understood.

    Brielle sighed softly.

    At the sound of her sigh, Spencer felt a surge of pain. He suddenly looked up and, in a fit of despair,

    ripped open her blouse.

    Brielle didn¡¯t bother to struggle. The whole situation annoyed her, and she just wanted to cut him loose

    from her life. Their entanglement should have ended a decade ago.

    However, Spencer only managed to tear a few buttons before resting his head on her

    15:15 m)

    Chapter 534

    shoulder, sobbing as if his heart would break. His tears soaked her shoulder, and her

    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    irritation grew. She pushed him away, not caring if he continued to cry, and kicked him out of the car

    with one swift movement.

    Spencer tumbled out and rolled into a heap of weeds.

    Brielle, regaining some strength, saw him lying in the dirt and mud and felt a wave of difort. Her

    memories of the past were fading, but she remembered a Spencer who was fearless and proud, not

    the man weeping before her now.

    She shrugged off her tear¨Cstained jacket and threw it out the window.

    The scene had be almostical. He had brought her here, presumably with other intentions, but

    now he could do nothing but cry. She sat in the car; hey beneath it, unable to even lift his head.

    What could be more painful for Spencer? The hurt Brielle inflicted on him was worse than death. The

    words she spoke in the car shattered all his sanity. He felt as though he had died ande back to life

    countless times.

    Brielle should have wanted revenge for his na

    collusion with Alivia, which led her to believe she was pregnant, and for his relentless pursuit of her, but

    now, she couldn¡¯t muster the desire for vengeance. Perhaps letting him live like this was a hundred

    times worse than death.

    She had never been a merciful person. The thought of what might have happened if she¡¯d truly been

    pregnant made it impossible for her to feel pity for Spencer. So she closed the car door and said one

    last thing.

    ¡°Would you fall for a man who cries so hideously? If you weren¡¯t born into the Dorsey family, you¡¯d still

    be left in my dust, even when I came from an orphanage. Count yourself lucky to be a Dorsey. But it

    seems, even with that, you haven¡¯t managed to live like a man should.¡±

 Chapter 540

    Chapter 540

    Her voice was nonchnt as she stepped on the gas, and the car zoomed away. Spencer didn¡¯t chase

    after her, his tears falling harder as he bit down on his teeth, refusing to let his sobs be heard.

    ncing at the clothes she had discarded, he walked over with shaky legs, picked them up. and

    hugged them to his chest as he continued to cry.

    Brielle caught a glimpse of Spencer¡¯s silhouette in the rearview mirror and involuntarily hit the brakes.

    A minuteter, she looked up, letting the chilly breeze from outside whip across her face, stinging her

    cheeks, before she pressed down on the elerator again.

    Of all the Dorseys, Spencer was probably the luckiest. He had Faith¡¯s undying adoration, and after

    coming of age, Brielle, the ever¨Cdutiful fool, shielded him from harm. He never knew real cruelty, never

    knew despair, and that was why he couldn¡¯t handle even the slightest pain, which shaped his petnt

    nature.

    He could betray others, but heaven forbid they betray him. He could toy with people¡¯s feelings, but no

    one was allowed to y with his. He was still like a spoiled child, thinking anyone who wasn¡¯t on his

    side deserved to be destroyed.

    However, Max and Tiffanie, also of the Dorsey n, were different.

    Max was thrust in front of everyone at the tender age of ten by the ruthless Michael, and only he knew

    the hardships he faced.

    Tiffanie¡¯s very existence was a sin. Her mother, Victoria, detested her to the bone, while to Everett, she

    was the reason for his downfall.

    Out of all the Dorseys, Spencer had it the easiest. But as Brielle said, he certainly didn¡¯t live up to being

    a man.

    On her way back, Brielle¡¯s phone went off like mad, and a blinding light in the distance seemed to tear

    through the surrounding darkness.

    She squinted, pulling over to the side of the road, as the other vehicle did the same. It was

    Max¡¯s car.

    Max had tracked her down in a hurry, only to find her driving alone back to the city. ¡°Brielle?¡±

    Max frowned, hastening his step towards her. ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    He leaned in slightly, his hands resting on her shoulders, examining her.

    Brielle looked up and smiled at him. She wasn¡¯t too affected by the substances she¡¯d inhaled, but the

    cold air did sober her up a bit. She noticed several cars following Max¡¯s, and the passenger in the first

    car stepped out¨Cit was the man she had seen in prison.

    He stood at a distanc¨¦, nodding respectfully before turning his gaze away.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±

    15:15

    ¡°Who was it?¡±

    A sh of murderous intent crossed Max¡¯s eyes, his grip on her shoulders tightening. Brielle. knew he

    was worried, but thinking of Spencer still at the scene, weeping inconsbly, she lost any desire for

    revenge. Those few words had likely shattered his remaining pride and self¨Cesteem. Nothing could hurt

    Spencer more than that.

    it¡¯s no one. Let¡¯s go back. I¡¯m really hungry.¡±

    Max rxed, stroking her head gently. ¡°I¡¯m- The words ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± hung unspoken.

    Brielle didn¡¯t want to drive her car anymore; she was too drained, hungry and cold.

    Eventually, she saw an unfamiliar man drive her car away, while she settledfortably into Max¡¯s,

    using his leg as a pillow. As the car headed towards the city, she drowsily heard him ask. ¡°Have you

    decided what you¡¯re going to do with Ster Stage Entertainment?¡± He sounded genuinely concerned

    about her potential failure.

    Brielle found it amusing. ¡°Did Michael call you to say something?¡±

    Max averted his gaze, his demeanor turning cold once more as if bracing for another argument. ¡°Yeah,

    he forbade me from helping you.¡±

    Well, that made sense. If Max¡¯s capabilities were put to use, achieving fifty times the results would be a

    piece of cake for him. Michael naturally wouldn¡¯t allow Max to interfere or step foot in Ster Stage

    Entertainment.

    ¡°I have a n. I¡¯ve researched their situation, and it¡¯s quite thorny. I¡¯ll go to the office the day. after

    tomorrow to get a firsthand look at the talent.¡±

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Half a year was a tight deadline, and navigating the intricacies of personal rtionships.

    wasn¡¯t her strong suit.

    But with these six months, she could dream about what herpany might be. With a recent

    funding round bringing in fifty billion, given another six months, her worth might close in on a

    hundred billion. By then, as the new power yer in Beaconsfield, perhaps she¡¯d be worthy to stand by

    his side.

    She needed to grow, and fast.

    Meanwhile, back at the Dorsey estate, Michael had begun practicing his calligraphy in his study.

    The butler, after some thought, couldn¡¯t help but ask.

    ¡°If Ms. Brielle really does solve Ster Stage Entertainment¡¯s problems, are you sure you want her to

    join the Dorsey family?¡±

    A harsh streak crossed Michael¡¯s brow. ¡°If she¡¯s truly capable, then Ster Stage Entertainment will

    triple in size. I¡¯ll gift thepany to Alivia aspensation for her troubles.¡±

    The old fox knew how to y the game¨Cusing Brielle¡¯s hard¨Cearned sess to appease

    Chapter 540

    Alivia¡¯s grievances, thus satisfying both Alivia and the Barnes family.

 Chatper 541

    Chapter 541

    It seemed Michael never intended to let Brielle into the esteemed Dorsey family.

    If Brielle didn¡¯t agree to his terms tonight, Michael could freely go after her without restraint, since she

    would¡¯ve refused first.

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    If she agreed, it was a task doomed to fail from the start. Obsessed with achieving the impossible,

    Brielle would inevitably neglect Max¡¯s feelings. With their time together dwindling, conflicts would

    naturally arise.

    And in the end, even if Brielle managed to aplish this Herculean task, Ster Stage Entertainment

    would fall entirely into the hands of Alivia. Michael had made it clear he wouldn¡¯t let Alivia suffer, so

    anything Brielle fought tooth and nail for would just end up in Alivia¡¯s hands, easing the bitterness in her

    heart.

    The butler, listening from the sidelines, slowly lowered hisshes in contemtion of Michael¡¯s

    machinations, which certainly didn¡¯t end there.

    The six¨Cmonth timeline was, in fact, a countdown to Brielle¡¯s downfall. Michael would not allow a

    woman who climbed thedder through her looks to be by his most aplished son¡¯s side.

    Picking up a fountain pen, Michael wrote down a word on a piece of paper, then decisively crossed it

    out with two swift strokes.

    ¡°If she happens to get pregnant with Max¡¯s child during this ordeal, it¡¯ll be a double tragedy. I won¡¯t

    acknowledge her or the child. As for Max, I have my ways to deal with him.¡± His tone was casual, as if

    the lives of a woman and a child were no more than a disposable piece of

    paper.

    Once so proud, Everett had been broken and now meekly shadowed Victoria. His dignity was stripped

    to the point of reporting even the frequency of their sexual encounters, living like a mere tool.

    If this was Michael¡¯s approach with a man, how much more ruthless would he be with a woman trying

    to pull down his son?

    Concerned that Michael¡¯s tactics might lead to a fallout with Max, the butler ventured a word of caution.

    ¡°But, sir, considering Max¡¯s temperament-¡±

    ¡°I have an ace up my sleeve. Max couldn¡¯t possibly remain enamored with Brielle for more than six

    months.¡±

    No one knew what this ace was, but Michael¡¯s confidence seemed to indicate he was holding a winning

    hand. With that, the butler said no more.

    Meanwhile, at the other end of the city, in Premier Pce.

    Brielle and Max had just entered the grand hall. Wesley, with cheeks flushed with excitement, hurried

    over. ¡°Sir, Ms. Brielle, dinner will be ready in ten minutes.¡±

    15:15

    mapter 511

    Max released Brielle¡¯s hand and headed upstairs. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower¡± He felt the lingering

    scent of tobo on his clothes from smoking earlier that evening.

    Brielle nodded, smiling, and picked up the partially knitted scarf, continuing her work.

    Wesley, seeing the couple reconciled, quickly instructed the staff to finish hanging the decorations

    throughout Premier Pce. In a short time, the yard was adorned with dozens of fairy lights.

    Brielle looked around at the vibrant colors filling the yard, and her face lit up with joy. Who would have

    thought that one day, Premier Pce would look like this?

    Standing behind her, Wesley spoke with a touch of wonder in his voice. ¡°This is the first time Premier

    Pce has been filled with such life and color. Ms. Brielle, I am truly grateful for your presence in the

    master¡¯s life. You¡¯re his finest choice.¡±

    Because she¡¯d changed him.

    But Brielle thought that wasn¡¯t quite right; it wasn¡¯t that she was Max¡¯s best choice, but rather that the

    best man had chosen her.

    She headed upstairs, pushed open the bedroom door, and found Max, a towel wrapped. around his

    waist, emerging from the steamy bathroom. His tall frame was perfectly proportioned; droplets of water

    traced paths down his shoulders..

    However, amidst the mist, Brielle saw dark, purplish marks on his skin.

    Her heart skipped a beat, her mind racing back to the day she found lipstick on his shirt.

    cor. This was different, though. That could have been an ident, but how she

    exin these marks?

    Her spirits plummeted as she considered leaving before Max noticed her.

    could

    She needed to stay calm; Max wouldn¡¯t betray her. But what was really going on? No wonder he¡¯d

    been acting so strange at the Dorsey family gathering earlier that night when she tried to: get close.

    Brielle¡¯splexion paled as her thoughts spun out of control.

    Unaware of Brielle at the door, Max dried his hair and walked toward the bed. His back was also

    marred with bruises. Brielle felt as if she¡¯d been punched in the heart.

    Max tossed the towel aside and picked up the hairdryer, his peripheral vision finally catching sight of

    her. ¡°Brielle?¡±

    Her face was strained, but she managed a weak smile. ¡°Tonight¡¯s dinner is quite the feast. I heard the

    kitchen got a king crab shipped in from abroad first thing this morning. Just that one dish costs a

    fortune, and the crab is so huge they barely found a pot to fit it.¡±

    She was deliberately changing the subject, her gaze carefully avoiding his body.

    Chaple: 542

 Chatper 542

    Chapter 542

    Max still had the hairdryer in his hand when he noticed the troubled look on her face, causing a pang in

    his chest. He quickly set down the hairdryer and approached her. ¡°It¡¯s not what you.

    think.¡±

    His fingertips gently lifted her chin, tilting her face up as he softly exined. ¡°Andrew came locking for a

    fight.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s eyes narrowed instantly, and her sadness evaporated, reced by a surge of anger, Thest

    time he had a bruise on his cheek was from Andrew, and now Andrew had the nerve to get physical

    again. What was his deal?

    Seeing her expression returned to normal, Max breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°I let some info leak online.

    Tessa got so wound up she ended up back in the ER, and Andrew lost it.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that what she deserves?¡± Brielle¡¯s tone was bitter, her fists clenched tight.

    Max couldn¡¯t help but chuckle and handed her the hairdryer. ¡°Yeah, she had iting.¡±

    Brielle plugged the hairdryer into the socket, grabbed his hair with her left hand, and with the hairdryer

    in her right, she diligently went about drying his hair. ¡°You didn¡¯t fight back?¡±

    ¡°I did. He¡¯s probably still in the hospital.¡±

    ¡°Good for you.¡±

    Brielle felt a lot of her anger dissipate. ¡°Don¡¯t go easy on him. This mess isn¡¯t our fault. When Tessa

    and I fell into the water, she was the one who pushed me first while my guard was

    down.¡±

    ¡°I figured as much.¡±

    Max closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation of Brielle¡¯s fingers weaving through his hair. There was

    always a faint scent about her, permeating the air and seeping into his pores, impossible to ignore..

    Unable to resist, he wrapped his arms around her waist and slowly trailed his hands upward. Brielle

    squirmed as he found a ticklish spot, trying to suppress augh. ¡°Stop it.¡±

    ¡°You were mad at me just now, weren¡¯t you?¡± She must have misunderstood something again.

    Brielle quickly straightened up, feeling guilty. ¡°Then go ahead, touch.¡±

    Her hands continued drying his hair until it was almost done, but his next move left her frozen in ce.

    His fingers slipped under the hem of her shirt, and he looked up at her. ¡°Did he touch you?¡±

    It seemed he had guessed who had taken her away that evening. Brielle felt a heaviness in her heart,

    sensing that Max was more dangerous now than ever before. It was as if a positive answer would seal

    Spencer¡¯s fate. How would that be any different from Michael?

    15:15

    ¡°No, it¡¯s over between him and me

    ¡°But he¡¯s not giving up, is he7¡±

    He should be giving up now.¡±

    With his hair fully dry, she wrapped the hairdryer cord and ced it in the nearby storage box Max

    embraced her from behind, enveloping herpletely. ¡°Next time, I won¡¯t be so lenient

    with hum.

    Brielle sensed a lethal intent in his words.

    Was she supposed to urge Max not to act on it? No way. She was no saint. Ryan and William had been

    eyeing him like a piece of meat, waiting for a chance to take Max down, without hesitation. If she now

    asked Max to hold back, it was akin to cruelly defanging a tiger.

    She was selfish.

    ¡°Alright, then, don¡¯t hold back.¡±

    Max seemed surprised by her response, chuckled lightly, and buried his head into the nape of her

    neck. The warmth of his breath tickled Brielle, and she couldn¡¯t help but turn her head to dodge it.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go downstairs for dinner, that king crab is huge.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s eyes light up with anticipation. Max¡¯s heart softened, and he led her downstairs. Wesley had

    already started setting the table and couldn¡¯t hide the smile in his eyes when they arrived. ¡°Ms. Brielle,

    I¡¯ve decanted the wine. You and the gentleman can enjoy a ss tonight. There¡¯ll be fireworks to watch

    from upstairs, and it¡¯s supposed to snow.¡±

    Brielle realized Wesley really knew how to dial up the romance; he even prepared candles for the

    asion. She felt a touch embarrassed..

    With everything set by Wesley, he and the staff discreetly retreated.

    Brielle and Max had been together long enough, and though they had had sex numerous times, she

    still felt shy in front of him, especially since this was their first candlelit dinner.

    She sat down and sneakily nced at Max across the table. Max served her a bowl of soup. ¡°Aren¡¯t

    you hungry?¡±

    He was so gentle that it made Brielle feel as if she were already tipsy without even having a sip of wine.

    Just as she was about to speak, Max¡¯s cellphone rang.

    He frowned slightly, stood up, and walked to the side to answer. ¡°Mother.¡±

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Max, have you had dinner? If you¡¯re done, could youe and keep mepany?¡±

    ¡°Not yet.¡±

    ¡°Where are you having dinner? I called Michael, and he said you left a while ago. Why aren¡¯t you at

    home for the New Year¡¯s Eve dinner? There are many distant rtives there tonight,

    Chapter 542

    and you know what they¡¯re thinking.¡±

    ¡°If you had called there, then you should know that I had taken Brielle to meet the Dorsey family.¡±

    At that, Martha¡¯s expression darkened, a flicker of madness crossing her eyes. ¡°Now you¡¯repletely

    disregarding my health. Didn¡¯t the doctor say I can¡¯t handle stress?¡±

    Chapter 543

 Chatper 543

    Chapter 543

    ¡°I¡¯m just guessing you would¡¯ve heard about it, that¡¯s all.¡±

    Martha mped her mouth shut, her hand gripping the mug so tightly it nearly shattered. Of course,

    she was aware of Michael¡¯s request to Brielle, but she couldn¡¯t bear it.

    A sh of defiance crossed her eyes. ¡°Max, does it have to be her?¡±

    The defiance quickly faded, and her tone became indifferent. ¡°No matter what happens in the future,

    you¡¯ll always be with her, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    The call ended abruptly. Max nced at his phone before returning to the dinner table. His appetite had

    somewhat diminished, but he still offered Brielle a piece of crab. ¡°Here, eat up. You must be starving.¡±

    Brielle sensed his mood had darkened. She knew who had called and felt a twinge in her

    heart.

    No wonder even Tiffanie had been ming her tonight. Being with Max seemed to iste him from

    everyone else. She had nothing to begin with, so there was nothing for her to lose. This rtionship

    had always been a greater sacrifice for him from the start. She didn¡¯t even know what she could offer to

    make up for all that he had lost.

    She told herself that maybe Max didn¡¯t care much for kinship or friendship, but if he truly didn¡¯t care, he

    wouldn¡¯t have let Andrew punch him; if he didn¡¯t care, he wouldn¡¯t have made. such an effort to send

    Martha abroad and ensure she was well looked after.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t lie to herself; Max was quite emotionally reserved, but seemed even more emotionally

    impoverished because of her presence.

    The once vorful meal now tasted nd. She resolved to treat Max better, so well that she might

    compensate for everything he was missing. She had to be better for him. That was her

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    silent vow.

    After finishing their meal, they didn¡¯t bother going up to the roof to watch the night¡¯s fireworks. She

    picked up the unfinished scarf and continued knitting. Just as she said she would do when she texted

    him. She knitted in his arms.

    By therge floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, he held a book in one hand, the other resting gently on

    the back of her head.

    Brielle knitted a few stitches, nced at the cover, and knew what he was reading. It¡¯s a book. by

    Borges.

    Her hands paused for a moment as she watched him, his gaze lowered, reading intently. His long

    lashes cast a deep shadow over his eyelids, and his jawline was even more perfect in this light.

    She thought to herself that, no matter what the future held, she would always remember this moment.

    That night, they went to bed without making love, simply cuddling together as they

    ell asleep

    #she awoke, her phone was flooded with messages wishing her a Happy New Year. Some were from

    Mason, others from Aubree and Tiffanie.

    Mason had sent two messages¨Cone with New Year¡¯s greetings and another about the Rond family¡¯s

    dealings abroad.

    The Rond family was convinced. They were ready to drop a whopping twenty billion on that piece of

    land. Once the government¡¯s seal was on it, thend would be theirs.

    many had

    Brielle¡¯s lips curled into a smile. Cash flow was the lifeblood of apany, and gone bankrupt due to

    liquidity issues. That twenty billion would hit the Rond family where it hurt, keeping them from

    scheming against her.

    She was about to reply when Mason sent another message. The overseas process was much simpler

    than back home, and in about a week, thend¡¯s fate would be announced.

    Brielle replied with a single word, [Good.]

    She responded to the other New Year¡¯s wishes, but one message took her by surprise. It was from

    Kenzo, and it was just a picture of fireworks.

    Beaconsfield had a grand fireworks disy on New Year¡¯s Eve, a highlight for many each year. In

    Brielle¡¯s heart, she had already seen the most beautiful fireworks with Max, so the previous night¡¯s

    disy held no interest for her.

    Kenzo¡¯s picture was quite artistic, clearly taken from a well¨Cthought¨Cout angle. [Beautiful photo. Happy

    new year, Kenzo.]

    Kenzo didn¡¯t respond. Brielle figured the photo was likely sent to a group and didn¡¯t dwell on

    it

    Her peaceful days continued until she went to Dorsey International for thest time to hand over her

    duties, where she encountered Sydney dressed exactly like her. The rest of the department seemed

    surprised to see her back, their words stuck in their throats. And Sydney, clutching a pile of documents,

    nodded slightly at her before heading to the elevator. Sydney used to be lively, but now she affected an

    aloof demeanor.

    Once Sydney left, her colleagues started buzzing with gossip.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, you saw it, right? She¡¯s been copying youtely, from how you dress to the way you

    talk. And she¡¯s always hanging around the top floor.¡±

    ¡°She insists on delivering any documents that need to go up there.¡±

    ¡°Every outfit you¡¯ve worn, she¡¯s bought the same.¡±

    The feeling of being mimicked behind your back was downright ufortable, especially when the

    imitator kept showing up around Max.

 Chatper 544

    Chapter 544

    But Brielle was no longer the director, and it had been her who had initially promoted Sydney. Until the

    new director arrived, Sydney was the most influential person in the department.

    The new director was none other than Spencer, who was rumored to be canoodling with Sydney.

    Naturally, he wouldn¡¯t fire his own me.

    Brielle felt a knot of disgust in her stomach, but she had to hurry over to Ster Stage Entertainment to

    check on the situation. So, after offering some brief words offort to her colleagues, she prepared to

    leave the office.

    Just then, Sydney returned, her previous timidity and respect toward Brielle reced with .

    ¡°Brielle, I heard you got canned because you socked Mr. Dorsey. How could you be so dumb? You

    didn¡¯t seriously think that just because Mr. Dorsey fancied you, you could get away with murder, did

    you?¡±

    Sydney hadpletely changed her tune, and remembering the humiliation she suffered at the hands

    of Alivia, she felt sick. Alivia had been harsh because of Brielle, so naturally, Sydney directed her anger

    at Brielle.

    ¡°Brielle, have you finished handing over yourst project? If so, please make yourself scarce. We¡¯ve

    got work to do here, and there¡¯s no time to entertain the likes of you.¡± She emphasized the words ¡°the

    likes of you¡± with a sneer and turned toward her office.

    Brielle noticed that Sydney wasn¡¯t at her usual workstation but in the director¡¯s office instead. Her

    brows furrowed, her gazending on Sydney¡¯s back.

    Feeling Brielle¡¯s stare, Sydney¡¯s posture grew even more triumphant. ¡°You know, I should thank you for

    promoting me. Little did you know, Mr. Dorsey has been pursuing me. If you wouldn¡¯t mind, tell Mr.

    Dorsey to stop hounding me. And all those times he bothered you were only because you looked a bit

    like me. Don¡¯t go getting any wild ideas.¡±

    Sydney wasn¡¯t afraid of Brielle anymore

    after all, Brielle was no longer in charge.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°You badmouth me, yet you imitate me. Don¡¯t you find yourself

    contradictory? Deep down, you must really want to be me.¡± Her tone was indifferent as she passed a

    few documents to a colleague.

    Sydney was stung by the remark, her face darkening. It was one thing to imitate someone¡¯s style, quite

    another to have it pointed out so bluntly, and it felt like a blow to her pride. Her fists clenched, her

    breath quivering. Compared to Brielle¡¯s calm demeanor, she felt utterly defeated.

    A cold look passed through Sydney¡¯s eyes, and she thought of the possibility that Brielle might still be

    ensnaring the CEO. It made her stomach churn.

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    But it didn¡¯t matter. As long as she kept wearing these clothes and made frequent visits to the CEO¡¯s

    side, Max would soon forget Brielle and fall for her. After all, Brielle wouldn¡¯t be at Dorsey International

    anymore, and a fleeting fancy would fade with distance.

    Chapter 544

    Her lips curled into a smirk. ¡°Don¡¯t get toofortable, Brielle. You¡¯ll have your share of

    tears.¡±

    Brielle watched Sydney¡¯s overconfident departure and just chuckled to herself. ¡°Every time someone

    tells me that, they end up being the one with bad luck.¡±

    ¡°You!¡± Sydney couldn¡¯t outwit Brielle with words. Fuming, she stormed into her office and mmed the

    door shut.

    Shaking her head with a wry smile, Brielle finished up her paperwork and left Dorsey International. She

    didn¡¯t bother to plead her case to Max or ask him to fire Sydney.

    However, as she was getting into her car, she ran into Sydney¡¯s boyfriend ¨C the same one from before,

    dressed simply and waiting outside the building. He was probably there for Sydney, his lovestruck

    expression betraying no knowledge of her behind¨Cthe¨Cscenes machinations.

    Brielle had no interest in meddling in other people¡¯s dramas. She started her car and set the navigation

    for Ster Stage Entertainment.

    The entertainmentpany was a good hour¡¯s drive from Dorsey International and equally distant

    from Premier Pce.

    Michael¡¯s decision to ce her at Ster Stage Entertainment was clearly a strategic move. If she

    focused her energy on this newpany, meetings with Max would inevitably dwindle.

    On her drive over, Ster Stage Entertainment had already been notified of their iing new director.

    However, the atmosphere among the staffcked any sign of wee. Changing directors was a

    regr urrence, and the previous one, Ryan, had colluded with the higher¨Cups to exploit the talent

    even more. So the news of a new director only made the young employees more scared, fearing

    someone worse than Ryan might arrive.

    A boy in a baseball cap stood in front of a marble table while a portly man in his fifties sat in the office

    chair.

    The young man standing had a clean, refreshing aura, like a spring in a mountain brook. Even those

    ustomed to beauty couldn¡¯t help but be drawn to his presence.

 Chatper 545

    Chapter 545

    ¡°Ricardo, think it through, man. The boss has had his eye on you for ages. Ryan was keen on shipping

    you out before, but you wouldn¡¯t have it. Now that Ryan¡¯s gone, there¡¯s a new guy in charge, worse

    than Ryan ever was. Who knows what he¡¯ll do to you? If you don¡¯t listen to me this time, no one will

    cover for you when the new CEO shows up.¡±

    Ricardo¡¯s brow furrowed, and he sidestepped the hand reaching out to him. ¡°Director Keagan, keep it

    professional, please.¡±

    Keagan was livid. Ricardo was a looker, no doubt about it, and over the years, he had managed to

    break him in, or so he thought. Ricardo¡¯s little sister was sick at home, and in all three years, the

    company hadn¡¯t paid him a dime. Since joining Ster Stage Entertainment at sixteen, now at neen,

    he hadn¡¯t released a single work. Plenty of female executives, and some male ones, were all waiting

    for him to fold.

    But Ricardo was tough as nails.

    Keagan sneered, ¡°You¡¯ve got a twenty¨Cyear contract with us, with seventeen years left. By the time you

    walk out of here, you¡¯ll be thirty¨Cfive¨Cway past the prime age for an entertainer. Do you really want to

    keep this deadlock with me? If you defy me, all I¡¯ll need is a little pill, and once the new CEO arrives,

    you¡¯ll be in his bed before you know it.¡±

    Disgust flitted across Ricardo¡¯s eyes. His fist clenched by his side. He¡¯d been through this before,

    fending off those creeps, almost beating them senseless. After that, Keagan never tried to force him

    again.

    ¡°Director Keagan, do what you will. I can¡¯t control my fists, and I don¡¯t know what I¡¯ll do to that trash.

    With that, Ricardo flung the door open and strode out.

    Stepping out of the building, his eyes reddened, and his nose tingled with the beginnings of tears. He

    was only neen, after all. Three years¡® wages added up to less than ten grand, and he¡¯d been

    moonlighting just to keep his sister fed.

    He trusted the wrong people and signed a twenty¨Cyear contract, only for them to show their

    true colors.

    ncing at the news on the lobby TV, where Dorsey International was thriving, acquiring morend

    and making more money, Ricardo snorted. Ster Stage Entertainment was like a neglected piece of

    land that Dorsey International had forgotten. He¡¯d once thought his luck would change when someone

    from the Dorsey family took over. Instead, Ryan¡¯s tactics were as ruthless as the higher¨Cups, and many

    female artists had suffered.

    Max, the untouchable CEO of Dorsey International, seemed a world away from the grimy, twisted world

    of Ster Stage Entertainment.

    Ricardo¡¯s eyes welled up again. Perhaps he¡¯d been wrong to judge Max by his cover, for the wealthy

    were experts at dressing up rotten cores to look as splendid as Christmas trees.

    He walked on with determined steps.

    Chapter 545

    Brielle pushed open the revolving ss door and collided head¨Con with the young man. He was solid

    as steel, making her nose throb, and she pressed it, half¨Cexpecting blood

    Ricardo nced at her, recognizing her face from somewhere ¡®Sorry, are you okay?¡±

    Brielle frowned at him, feeling a heat in her eyes. Once the urge to cry subsided, she waved it off. I¡¯m

    fine¡±

    Ricardo, feeling guilty, insisted, ¡°Are you bleeding? Let me see.¡±

    As Brielle reluctantly lowered her hand, tears welled up, and Ricardo was at a loss for words. She was

    stunning. Ster Stage Entertainment had many female artists, but none were as beautiful as her. And

    her face seemed familiar, though he couldn¡¯t ce where he¡¯d seen it.

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    Brielle e gave him a once¨Cover. Clean¨Ccut, was he an artist? But his clothes were far from shy. Not

    just in, but bordering on shabby. His bleached jeans sported several patches, and his jacket wasn¡¯t

    nearly warm enough for the cold.

    ¡°Are you with Ster Stage Entertainment?¡± Her tone¨Cwas indifferent, back to normal.

    Ricardo¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment, a bit flustered, ¡°Sort of.¡±

    Brielle breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Good. Then, take me to management. I want to have a look

    around.¡±

    Ricardo was taken aback. Who was she, exactly?

 Chatper 546

    Chapter 546

    Although Ricardo was puzzled, he didn¡¯t let it show. After a moment of hesitation, he said,

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    Following behind Ricardo, Brielle entered the elevator. Just then, her phone rang; it was Max, his voice

    tender and soothing. ¡°Have you arrived?¡±

    Brielle smiled, Just got here, about to meet with the management team.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re unsure about anything, just ask me.¡±

    ¡°Will do. Focus on your work; don¡¯t worry about me.¡±

    After hanging up, Brielle watched the elevator numbers climb steadily.

    Through the reflective elevator walls, Ricardo observed her. She didn¡¯t seem like an artist; she had an

    air of authority about her.

    The elevator reached their floor, and Ricardo led Brielle to the partially open door of Keagan¡¯s office.

    The office door was ajar, and some rather embarrassing noises came from inside.

    Ricardo felt a wave of awkwardness and wished he could disappear into a crack in the floor. He

    nced at Brielle. ¡°Maybe we shoulde backter?¡±

    Brielle nced at her phone. It was ten in the morning, work hours. What on earth were the higher¨Cups

    doing? ¡°Is that Ster Stage Entertainment¡¯s top brass in there?¡±

    Ricardo nodded, ¡°The Director.¡±

    As the sounds from inside grew louder, Ricardo wished he could barge in and knock some sense into

    Keagan, that bastard.

    But he dared not. After all, Keagan was the Director of Ster Stage Entertainment, and Ricardo¡¯s

    power only extended to protecting himself. If he pushed Keagan too far, his sister could be a

    target.

    Before Ricardo could react further, Brielle kicked the door open with a loud bang.

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Keagan, who had someone pinned to the desk, was startled and instantly deted. He looked up to see

    Brielle, and his eyes lit up. Hastily zipping up his pants, he instructed the other woman to leave.

    The woman shivered, clutching her clothes as she scurried out.

    Ricardo was stunned and quickly pulled Brielle behind him. ¡°Director Keagan, apologies for

    interrupting. We¡¯ll be on our way now.¡±

    At neen, Ricardo stood nearly six feet tall, shielding Brielle almostpletely. But Keagan¡¯s

    lecherous gaze seemed to pierce right through Ricardo to settle on Brielle. ¡°Ricardo, bringing a new

    artist to sign? Not bad. Thepany didn¡¯t waste time training you¨Cbringing in fresh talent, too.¡±

    Chapter 546

    Keagan¡¯s smile was full of satisfaction as he stood up and approached Brielle.

    Ricardo stood his ground, ¡°Director Keagan, she¡¯s just lost.¡±

    A sharp glint crossed Keagan¡¯s eyes; it seemed he had been too lenient with Ricardo, who now dared

    to talk back. ¡°Thepany doesn¡¯t feed you for nothing. Move aside now, or I¡¯ll have otherse in

    and force¨Cfeed you some ¡®medicine. Then you can entertain our new CEO. Your sister¡¯s been sick for

    three years, right? Wonder if she¡¯s even still alive.¡±

    Rage shed in Ricardo¡¯s eyes, and he clenched his fists, ¡°Keagan, I¡¯ve tolerated you for too long.¡±

    Hearing his name spoken so boldly, Keagan raised his hand, but Brielle intercepted it. She stepped out

    from behind Ricardo, grabbed Keagan¡¯s iing hand, and threw it aside.

    Keagan was staggered by the force and stumbled back into his desk, his face instantly paling. ¡°You

    bitch! What do you think you¡¯re doing? I was being nice because you¡¯re pretty. If I call the security

    guards now, you won¡¯t get out of here in one piece!¡±

    Ricardo looked worriedly at Brielle. ¡°The guards here are professionally trained. I don¡¯t know what you

    came for today, but we should leave. I¡¯ll take you out the back door!¡±

    ¡°You trying to leave? Ricardo, do you want to forget about your twenty¨Cyear contract? I could sue you,

    and you¡¯d owe thepany thirty million. How would you pay for that? Once you¡¯re in jail, who will take

    care of your sister?¡±

    Ricardo felt a blockage in his chest, his legs rooted to the spot.

    A smug look crossed Keagan¡¯s face. ¡°If you know what¡¯s good for you, you¡¯ll bring that woman over to

    me. Such a pretty face, offering her to others would secure thepany¡¯s resources for the entire

    year.¡±

    Ricardo¡¯s fists tightened, loathing the man before him but feeling utterly powerless to stop him.

 Chatper 547

    Chapter 547

    However, Keagan hadn¡¯t anticipated that Brielle would actually approach him. His eyes sparkled with

    delight, and he shot Ricardo a smug look. ¡°The new blood gets it way more than you, sweetheart.

    Come here, stick with me, and I guarantee you¡¯ll live a life of luxury.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s lips pressed into a tight line, but instead of approaching him, she breezed past and plopped

    down in the director¡¯s chair behind him. Keagan was dumbstruck, frozen in ce.

    Ricardo, who¡¯d been watching Brielle, felt a pang of disappointment. She was beautiful, with an air of

    elegance about her. It seemed like she was about to give in to a guy like Keagan, which left Ricardo

    feeling like an outsider. He¡¯d even considered walking away, but when he saw where Brielle had seated

    herself, he paused.

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    Brielle¡¯s lips curled into a smile as she ced her documents on the desk. ¡°Here are my credentials. As

    of today, I¡¯m the President of Ster Stage Entertainment. We¡¯re having an executive meeting in thirty

    minutes. Anyone who¡¯ste is out on their ear.¡±

    Keagan thought he was hallucinating. His brow furrowed. ¡°What did you just say?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s eyes were sharp as razors, cutting through him. ¡°What, you need me to repeat myself?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Keagan¡¯s voice rose to a near shriek. Why would Dorsey International let some

    young woman take the reins?

    It couldn¡¯t be! This woman didn¡¯t even look twenty¨Cfive. There was no way she could be the new

    President.

    A sneer spread across his face as he reached out towards her. ¡°You must know you can¡¯t escape

    today, so you¡¯re ying pretend as our boss, huh? Well, you miscalcted. Even if Dorsey

    International were desperate, they¡¯d never let some green girl run the show. Ryan was thest person

    they sent, and he was from the Dorsey family. And you? Who do you think you are?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s brows knitted together in disgust, swatting away his hand. ¡°My name is Brielle. Beforeing

    here, I was the Director of Mergers and Acquisitions at Dorsey International. I¡¯ve facilitated dozens of

    acquisitions. So, you didn¡¯t even bother to find out whether the new appointee was a man or a

    woman?¡±

    Keagan stiffened, quickly booting up hisputer. When he saw the appointment letter, his. face

    drained of color, and his lips started to quiver.

    Brielle had no time for his disbelief. ¡°Set up the meeting. I want to meet each department head

    immediately.¡±

    Keagan stared at theputer screen as if he could bore a hole through it. No matter how many times

    he read it, it confirmed that a woman named Brielle was the iing President.

    His face turned oshen, his lips pursed tightly. Could this woman be some high¨Clevel executive¡¯s kept

    mistress from Dorsey International? With that thought, his gaze turned scornful toward Brielle. Was a

    mere lover acting high and mighty here? Once the others arrived, she¡¯d leam who really had the power

    at Ster Stage Entertainment! He snorted contemptuously and fired off an email to the other

    executives.

    Brielle surveyed the officeyout, which seemed to suit her just fine, and her smile. broadened ¡°Have

    someone disinfect everything in here. From now on, this is my office. And don¡¯t forget to change the

    namete on the door.¡±

    The nerve!

    Keagan clenched his fists. ¡°Even if you are the President, you have no right to take my office. I¡¯ve been

    here for over a decade.¡±

    ¡°Over a decade? Maybe it¡¯s time to retire and let the younger generation take over. Dorsey

    International is very disappointed with thepany¡¯s performance. It seems you¡¯re no longer fit for the

    position, Mr. Keagan.¡±

    ¡°You!¡±

    Brielle stood tall. ¡°You do realize, don¡¯t you? Any President sent by Dorsey International has veto

    power over everyone.¡±

    Keagan fell silent, a lump of frustration stuck in his chest, his lips trembling. After taking a deep breath,

    he conceded, ¡°Understood, Ms. Haywood. I¡¯ll have someone clean up immediately.¡±

    Remembering Keagan¡¯s earlier antics with a woman in the office, Brielle frowned. ¡°Make sure they

    disinfect every tile.¡±

    Keagan was livid. Once he figured out whose sugar baby Brielle was, he¡¯d make sure to give that man

    a piece of his mind.

    Fuming, he marched toward the door, casting an icy nce at Ricardo, who was still standing there. ¡°I

    thought she was some talent you brought in, but it turns out she¡¯s the big shot you¡¯vetched onto. Just

    you wait!¡±

 Chatper 548

    Chapter 548

    Ricardo was still trying to wrap his head around what had just happened when the office door mmed

    shut with a bang, jolting him back to reality.

    The new CEO? A woman, and so young? And stunningly beautiful at that.

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    His cheeks flushed with the thought, and he couldn¡¯t bring himself to look directly at Belle.

    Spread out on Brielle¡¯s desk was a pile of files, all about the talent at Ster Stage Entertainment. The

    deeper she dug, the more furrowed her brow became. So many talents. had been with thepany for

    five or six years withoutnding a single gig or

    even n sniffing paycheck. These weren¡¯t contracts; they were downright indentures.

    She wasn¡¯t exactly versed in the ins and outs of showbiz, but she knew enough to understand that

    these aspiring artists needed exposure. Yet, all the opportunities were hogged by those willing to y

    by the higher¨Cups¡® rules, most of whom were coerced intopromising their dignity due to the

    oppressive contracts.

    Massaging her temples, she suddenly remembered the young man standing at her door. ¡°What¡¯s your

    name?¡±

    Ricardo¡¯s face turned a deeper shade of red. At neen, being in the presence of such a stunning

    woman left him quite flustered. ¡°Ricardo.¡±

    ¡°An actor?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Been in any ys or films?¡±

    Ricardo cast his eyes down, a shadow of disappointment flickering through them. ¡°No.¡±

    Brielle quickly found Ricardo¡¯s file. He was barely neen, had signed with Ster Stage since he was

    sixteen, and did not have a single role to his name. The thought made her blood boil.

    She had heard thepany was shady, but this was beyond anything she had imagined. There were

    others in their twenties who had been with thepany for years with nothing to show for it.

    Taking a deep breath, she said, ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll make sure things start to change around here. While

    I¡¯m in charge, I¡¯ll see to it that we do better. I¡¯ll have finance increase the base sry for all talent. Let¡¯s

    say a minimum of seven thousand. If they¡¯re part of a TV series, they take home seventy percent of the

    earnings. I heard your sister¡¯s been unwell. How is she doing now?¡±

    She didn¡¯t look up at Ricardo as she spoke. Instead, she focused on the contracts in her hands. After a

    minute of silence, Brielle nced up, only to be taken aback.

    Ricardo was on the brink of tears, which soon began to cascade down his cheeks. Brielle had

    seen men cry before Spencer¡¯s recent sobbing had been particrly unsettling, event annoying. But

    Ricardo was so young, so innocent¨Clooking His tears were unexpectedly heart¨Cwrenching.

    She remembered her own days of poverty, too poor to afford a proper meal, but at least she had Mark

    to help her out. Apart from his sister, this young man seemed to be entirely alone in

    the world

    Just then, a video call from Max came through, catching Brielle off guard¨Cit was the first time she¡¯d

    seen him initiate a video chat.

    She quickly hit the answer button and saw Max, impably dressed as always, probably just out of a

    meeting. A hand, likely Patrick¡¯s, was tidying up documents beside him. He leaned back slightly, the

    sunlight streaming in from behind him.

    Before Brielle could evenpliment the scene, she heard the rapid footsteps of Ricardo approaching.

    He enveloped her in an unexpected hug. Caught off guard and unsure how to react to Ricardo¡¯s

    weeping embrace, she felt a strange maternal instinct kick in. Then she remembered Max was still on

    the line, and in a panic, she pushed Ricardo away.

    The call had already ended. Brielle hurried to send a message exining the situation, but Max beat

    her to it with a single, wry remark. [Looks like Ms. Haywood is having quite a time.] On the other end,

    Max had hung up the call, breathing heavily to keep from losing hisposure. He had taken extra

    care with his appearance before the call, a novelty for him, even requiring some guidance from Patrick.

    He hadn¡¯t expected to witness such a scene.

    The boy was young and full of life, and in apany like theirs, attractive young men were not in short

    supply. They were all too eager to throw themselves at her. She must¡¯ve been hrilled.

    The more

 Chatper 549

    Chapter 549

    ex thought about it. The more his mouth purkereri as if he had just bitten into a

    handful of nour lemons

    #took a Herculean effort not to swing by Ster Stage Entertainment outside of work ours He closed his

    eyes and regted his breathing in short, controtted bursts it¡¯s fine.¡± he thought. He was still Brielle¡¯s

    favorite, even if her fondness wasn¡¯t exactly profound.

    Patrick, observing Max¡¯s furrowed brow, couldn¡¯t help but interject. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, Mr. Michael called. He

    said that Spencer¡¯s wedding is set for two days from now, but you can¡¯t bring Ms. Belle along. If you do,

    you may as well not attend yourself¡±

    Michael¡¯s stance was crystal clear, he would not acknowledge Brielle as his daughter¨Cinw within the

    next six months. As for what happens after that, it would depend on Brielle¡¯s achievements.

    Currently, Brielle was tied up with the mess at Ster Stage Entertainment. If she wanted to make a

    name for herself, she¡¯d have to hustle, which meant spending even less time with Max. Max was a

    busy man, entangled in a web ofmitments. Throw in the overseas. acquisitions, and he was bound

    to be even busier than before. Any slight misunderstanding could be a thom in their rtionship.

    Max¡¯s eyes fluttered open. ¡°Then I¡¯m not going.¡±

    Patrick, surprised by Max¡¯s curt reply, paused before adding another piece of news. ¡°Ms. Martha has

    been calling repeatedly, insisting you meet with her today, no matter what.¡±

    It was undoubtedly about Brielle again. For the first time, Max felt the gnawing irritation. known as

    annoyance. ¡°Keep me updated on her condition,¡± he said, signaling he had no intention of visiting.

    Patrick hesitated, then nodded slowly. ¡°Alright.¡±

    After Patrick left, Max leaned back in his chair, his eyelids heavy with fatigue. He was well aware of his

    father¡¯s intentions: to exhaust him with pressure from all sides so that his feelings for Brielle would

    wane.

    To Michael, their affection seemed superficial, akin to amon cold that would vanish quietly without

    much intervention.

    Did Max even understand what love was? He didn¡¯t know.

    Michael knew his son better than anyone else. He had purposely thrown Brielle into the entertainment

    industry, a ce teeming with handsome men, convinced that she would eventually be seduced by

    beauty and power. Even if she was faithful to Max now, what about the future?

    With no clear vision of whaty ahead and faced with such a merciless reality, how much confidence

    could they possibly have?

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Max rubbed his temples, then heard his office door open. Someone walked in without

    knocking

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey.¡± Sydney mimicked Brielle¡¯s tone deliberately, her voice calm and steady. ¡°These are the

    documents you¡¯ll need for this afternoon.¡± She ced them on the desk, her gaze lingering greedily on

    Max.

    Max¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Out.

    Sydney nched, but her eyes still clung to him with a mixture of defiance and desire.

    Max didn¡¯t even nce at her, his attention fixed on the papers. Sydney clenched her teeth. ¡°Ms.

    Haywood stopped by the office this morning to wrap up her work. I thought Mr. Spencer would be

    returning, so I called him, but he didn¡¯t pick up. In my haste, I forgot to knock.¡±

    She kept her tone light, wearing a subtle fragrance that she hoped would appeal to him. The money

    she had siphoned from Spencer was enough for afortable life, but Alivia¡¯s arrival shattered all her

    pride. Money wasn¡¯t enough; power was essential. Someday, she would crush Alivia and her haughty

    demeanor.

    She had to win over Max. He liked her type, didn¡¯t he? She could y the part. As long as Brielle

    stayed away from Dorsey International, Max¡¯s attention would eventually turn to her.

    ¡°I said, out.¡± Max had no interest in deciphering her thoughts, unwilling to waste his time.

    Sydney took a deep breath, her smile strained. ¡°I¡¯ll leave right after I say this. I found something in Ms.

    Haywood¡¯s office, something I was going to toss, but then I thought I should bring it to you.¡±

    She pulled out a ck rosary, her voice earnest. ¡°I don¡¯t know if this belongs to Ms. Haywood or you,

    sir. The janitor almost threw it away, but luckily, I found it.¡±

    Max¡¯s pupils shrank, and his grip on the documents tightened..

 Chatper 550

    Chapter 550

    ¡® this isn¡¯t your doing, I¡¯m going to call Ms. Haywood toe back.¡±

    Max remained silent, his gaze fixed on the string of ck beads as if in a trance. The gift he had given

    her with such gravity was casually tossed in the office drawer, forgotten eve as

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    she walked away

    His voice sunk, heavy with unspoken emotion. ¡°Put it down, and leave.¡±

    Sydney caught the flicker of emotion in Max¡¯s stoic face, and her lips curved into a sly smile.

    ¡°By the way, when Ms. Haywood left today, she had a few words for me. She was the one who

    mentored me. She told me about Mr. Spencer bing the new director, and that he would like the

    outfit I¡¯m wearing now. There¡¯s been a lot of misunderstanding in the department about me, and people

    think I¡¯m intentionally copying Ms. Haywood. But I¡¯m not. I just wanted to catch Mr. Spencer¡¯s eye. Ms.

    Haywood is even willing to help me out. I¡¯ll have toe up to the executive floor regrly. I¡¯m not

    sure how you feel about Ms. Haywood since she hit Mr. Spencer. I¡¯m worried you might have some

    reservations about me as well, so I wanted to exin.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, I¡¯ll leave you now.¡±

    Her words were carefully crafted, leaving no room for doubt.

    Max¡¯s focus remained on the rosary, his brows knitted with aggravation. Today was probably the worst

    day he¡¯d had all year.

    Once the office door closed behind her, Sydney took a deep breath. The triumphant grin on her face

    said it all she had seeded. She ran her fingers through her hair and headed back to her department.

    Upon seeing the woman already waiting there, her smile faded, reced by a look of genuine worry.

    ¡°Ms. Alivia.¡±

    Alivia was seated in the director¡¯s chair, her eyes flickering with disdain as Sydney entered. ¡°How did

    things go with the task I assigned you?¡±

    Sydney loathed Alivia but was under her thumb.

    ¡°I repeated your instructions word for word, Ms. Alivia.¡±

    Alivia nodded. ¡°Good job. But I advise you not to get any funny ideas. You know I can crush you as

    easily as stepping on an ant.¡±

    Michael had already informed her that Brielle had been transferred to anotherpany with chaotic

    management that would divide her attention. And if Brielle seeded, thatpany would be

    part of Alivia¡¯s wedding gift. The thought of using Brielle¡¯s hard work as a wedding gift was indeed

    satisfying to Alivia.

    Michael had hinted it was a good time for some subtle sabotage.

    The humiliating memory of that night in the private room was clear in her mind; she couldn¡¯t

    §³§á§Ñ§â§ä§Ú 500

    afford another rash mistake. She needed to y it slow and steady.

    Last night, she had sought out Spencer, convincing him to sneak into Brielle¡¯s home at Pearl Estate to

    steal the rosary, but for some reason, Spencer seemed utterly defeated, a shell of

    his former self.

    Alivia had to expend a lot of energy to persuade him, and his current state was repulsive to her.

    Spencer reeked of smoke and alcohol. It was like he¡¯d crawled out of a dumpster. His appearance was

    unkempt, his eyes murky, mumbling, ¡°She won¡¯te back, never will. Nothing matters anymore.¡±

    As a former ally, Alivia knew exactly what this meant. Spencer had lost his will to fight, and had given

    up any hope of winning Brielle back ¨C a total waste, just as he had always been.

    ¨C

    Disgust shed in Alivia¡¯s eyes, but this ¡®waste¡® had done one useful thing he had managed to steal

    Brielle¡¯s rosary.

    Just as Michael had said, how strong could their love possibly be? The seeds of doubt were sown, and

    neither was the type to rify misunderstandings. Over time, this would lead to what psychologists call

    the ¡®broken windows theory. If one window broke and no one fixed it, soon enough, other windows

    would inexplicably shatter. One misunderstanding would. lead to another, and before you know it, when

    all windows would break, could they withstand the cold winds that blow through?

    Brielle was someone who, when in love, was bold and unabashed, and when she hated, she was

    decisive and ruthless, unwilling to suffer fools dly. On the other hand, Max was

    suffer fools gl ustomed to action rather than exnation.

    The smirk in Alivia¡¯s eyes deepened. She had to let Max find out that Brielle didn¡¯t value the rosary as

    he did. His treasure was trivial to her.

    There would be many more such instances toe, and it remained to be seen how much Max could

    endure.

 Chatper 551

    Chapter 551

    Alivia¡¯s smile deepened with every thought that danced through her mind. She was done getting her

    own hands dirty dealing with Brielle. Why bother when she could manipte others to do her dirty work

    as she had done with Tessa? She just had to sit back and reap the rewards

    Take Sydney, for instance. She was nothing more than a pawn in her game. No matter how much rage

    or frustration bubbled within Sydney, without Max¡¯s heart in her grasp, she was merely y in Alivia¡¯s

    hands.

    Alivia¡¯s gaze skated over Sydney¡¯s face with undisguised contempt. ¡°Keep looking at me with those

    eyes, and believe me, I can have someone gouge them out before you can even blink,¡±

    she hissed.

    Sydney shivered, fear creeping into her bones, and she quickly looked down. ¡°Ms. Alivia, I¡¯ve done as

    you asked. Can¡¯t you just let me be now?¡±

    Alivia stood up, patting Sydney¡¯s cheek condescendingly. ¡°Next time I tell you to jump, you ask, ¡®How

    high? Your little ns are transparent to me. This building is full of mirrors, Sydney. Take a long look at

    yourself. With that pitiful, sour expression, do you really think Max would spare you a second nce?¡±

    The scorn in Alivia¡¯s eyes was impossible to miss. Sydney clenched her teeth so hard her gums ached,

    her eyes reddening with suppressed anger. But she was helpless, forced to watch Alivia strut away with

    her designer bag, leaving her to stew in her own turmoil.

    Sydney¡¯s breathing was shaky as she swept the documents from her desk in a fit of rage. She had to

    stay calm. After all, getting Max to forget Brielle quickly was also in her best interest. Only then could

    she climb thedder.

    Upstairs, Max sat staring nkly at the ck rosary beads on his desk, memories of Brielle wearing

    them shing through his mind. He massaged his temples, the headache intensifying, and then his

    phone rang¨Cit was Brielle.

    The rosaryy beside the phone, a stark reminder that she hadn¡¯t taken it with her. He stood, reaching

    for the documents underneath, inadvertently sending the beads ttering to the floor. The sound of the

    phone and the beads mingled as he stooped to pick them up. wrapping them in a tissue.

    After rescheduling all his meetings online, he headed straight back to the Premier Pce. Upon arrival,

    he handed the rosary to Wesley. ¡°Sanitize it.¡±

    Sydney had touched it, and who knew who else had?

    Wesley knew the significance of the beads. Aware of his boss¡® preference for cleanliness, he quickly

    took the wrapped item and sanitized it thoroughly before returning it.

    Max then ced the rosary inside a box. He did not want to deal with the confrontation that would

    inevitablye from answering Brielle¡¯s call. Instead, he merely sent her a message.

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    15-17

    [Focus on your work for now.]

    Brielle received the text while sitting in a boardroom surrounded by the senior executives, many of

    whom had rushed in so hastily that their suits were wrinkled.

    Already in a foul mood, Brielle¡¯s face darkened further at the sight. ¡°The HR department will note the

    names of those absent and prepare their termination papers. I don¡¯t want to see them in thispany

    again.¡±

    it was the first time so many employees were going to be dismissed at once, many of whom were

    deeply entrenched in thepany. The HR head hesitated, knowing the implications.

    Brielle fixed him with an icy stare, ¡°What, we don¡¯t have recements ready for such argepany?

    If not, perhaps HR should start recruiting online now?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Haywood,¡± someone interjected, ¡°letting them go so abruptly will impact thepany.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s response was chilling as she tossed the document onto the marble table. ¡°Oh really? Please

    enlighten me, does ourpany¡¯s performance have any room to fall further?¡±

    The room fell silent, the intent behind Brielle¡¯s words clear as crystal. With no further room for decline,

    the fate of each employee rested solely on her current mood. After all, those seated around her held no

    shares, and the representatives sent by Dorsey International had

    veto power.

    Brielle¡¯s gaze swept across each face. ¡°I have an excellent memory. Until we have new hires, I expect

    to see these same faces. I¡¯m not interested in any excuses from those who failed to show up today.

    They¡¯ve had their chance. They just didn¡¯t seize it. One more word out of line, and you can hand over

    your seat to them and take their ce in leaving.¡°

 Chatper 552

    Chapter 552

    When Michael first brought Brielle into thepany, he surely didn¡¯t anticipate that she would have the

    guts to ruffle feathers the way she did.

    As Belle made her stance clear, the room filled with tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.

    Everyone present was fuming, but no one dared to speak up.

    Keagan felt like he was sitting on a bed of nails. Most of the people who hadn¡¯t shown up were at his

    own behest, a move meant to intimidate Brielle and put her in her ce. But she wasn¡¯t ying by the

    rules, boldly considering firing a whole slew of them!

    Did the higher¨Cups at Dorsey International have any inkling of her maverick moves? Damn it! Who in

    the upper echelons was she cozy with?

    ¡°You do realize, Ms. Haywood, that stirring the pot like this on your first day¨Cespecially firing so many¨C

    might not sit well with Dorsey International, right?¡± a voice dared to challenge.

    A sly smile yed on Brielle¡¯s lips as she thought of Max, still fuming. She would have to sweet¨Ctalk

    himter, but for now, she wanted to wrap things up quickly. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go ahead and let Dorsey

    International know? Their switchboard number is stered all over their website. Go on, make that call.

    See if anyone¡¯s interested in your sob story.¡±

    Her tone was casual as she stood up. ¡°Also, hand over all artist contracts for my review. Those over the

    hill will get a golden handshake and be shown the door. As for the up¨Canders, thepany will

    pull out all the stops to secure them a spot in showbiz. And the agents who¡¯ve been collecting

    paychecks without booking a single gig for three years? Dead weight¨CI don¡¯t need them. Fire them all.¡±

    Her words sent a palpable chill through the room; her presence alone felt as heavy as Mount

    Everest.

    ¡°And for those talents with potential, thepany won¡¯t be stingy. If I catch wind of anyone cutting

    deals behind my back, I won¡¯t be soft¨Chearted.¡± Pushing back her chair, her gaze swept over everyone

    present. ¡°You have one day to get this done. Anyone who can¡¯t cut it¨Cdon¡¯t let the door hit you on the

    way out.¡±

    Her decisiveness was reminiscent of someone else¨Cwhen Max first took the reins at Dorsey

    International, he cut the staff by half and shed numerous product lines. It was a case of out with the

    old to make way for the new.

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    As Brielle stepped out of the office, she saw Ricardo waiting for her, his eyes gleaming with admiration

    and excitement. Brielle found it amusing. ¡°You must have friends here. Go find out who¡¯s willing to stay

    and who¡¯s nning to leave. Thepany¡¯s about tond some resources, and we¡¯ll be investing them

    in those cut out for this industry.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, I want you to mentor me,¡± Ricardo blurted out, his head dropping, hands sped

    nervously behind his back. The forthrightness of youth shone through.

    Brielle was silent for a moment before responding, ¡°I¡¯ll find you an agent. I¡¯ve gotpany

    15-17

    Chapter 552

    matters to sort out for a day or two. Once the dust settles and the deals are done, you¡¯ll probably be on

    set.¡±

    Ricardo¡¯s eyes fell in disappointment. Brielle patted him on the shoulder. ¡°Act your heart out. Your sister

    needs you, doesn¡¯t she? Money flows fast in showbiz. Make your mark, and if you decide it¡¯s not for

    you, you¡¯re free to leave.¡±

    His eyes sparkled briefly before dimming again. ¡°I¡¯ll work hard to be a cash cow here.¡±

    Brielle wasn¡¯t particrly moved. After all, she figured she¡¯d only be running the show for six months.

    ¡°Sure thing,¡± she answered, dismissively pulling out her phone to call Max. As she dialed, she headed

    for the elevator.

    Ricardo followed her, seeking a chance to be of service. ¡°Ms. Haywood, let me escort your down.¡±

    ¡°No need.¡±

    His newfound courage deted like a punctured balloon as he stood still, ncing down at his patched

    jeans and faded jacket, his cheeks flushing red.

    Brielle¡¯s call to Max went unanswered, and although she saw the text he sent, she could tell he was still

    angry. She was about to text back an exnation when Mason¡¯s call came through. ¡°Brielle, we¡¯re

    about to scout locations and hold an internal online meeting with our team. Do you have ess to a

    computer?¡± Mason asked.

    Feeling drained but unable to ignore matters rted to her own business, Brielle mustered her energy.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll head back to my office now.¡±

    ¡°Great, I¡¯ll invite you to the meeting in ten minutes,¡± Mason confirmed.

    Returning to what used to be Keagan¡¯s office, Brielle found everything reced. The sign on the door

    now read ¡®President¡¯s Office,¡¯ and even theputer was a brand¨Cnew setup. Despite its

    shorings, it seemed thepany staff knew how to y to their audience.

 Chatper 553

    Chapter 553

    Brielle booted up herptop, and within moments, she was drawn into the virtual conference

    room

    Mason made a brief introduction of himself before turning the spotlight on Brielle. ¡°This is Brielle, the

    company¡¯s primary shareholder, and our silent partner¡±

    Apuse echoed through the digital space, a virtual gathering of the brightest minds from Wall Street

    and Silicon Valley. Typically, the financiers of Wall Street and the tech gurus of Silicon Valley didn¡¯t see

    eye to eye, but they had put aside their differences for this joint

    venture.

    Though weary, Brielle couldn¡¯t help but smile at the thought of these individuals potentially bing

    the new elite. ¡°Hello, everyone.¡±

    These were the early adopters who had followed Mason from the start. With Brielle¡¯s backing, the

    company had begun to turn a profit, its user base had doubled, and it had sessfully gone public.

    The room was buzzing with excitement and unwavering loyalty.

    Mason cleared his throat, signaling for some decorum. ¨C after all, it was their first time meeting with the

    silent partner, and they should at least show some maturity.

    ¨C

    The room fell silent as a city map appeared on the shared screen. Mason voiced his opinion first,

    followed by a cacophony of discussion, all waiting for Brielle to weigh in.

    Brielle paused for a few seconds before asking, ¡°Why not just in Silicon Valley?¡±

    Like Wall Street, Silicon Valley was a paradise for investors and a hell for the uninitiated, the promised

    land for tech talent.

    was global dominance, why. Most of the group hailed from Silicon Valley, and if the goal

    was global dominance, why not establish thepany at the heart of the tech world?

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Brielle knew thatnd in Silicon Valley wasn¡¯t just worth its weight in gold but probably in diamonds. ¡°I

    understand the concerns. Currently, we can¡¯t choose a central location in Silicon Valley. However, we

    can pick a spot close by with a view overlooking it. When thepany survives a few more rounds of

    funding and reaches a valuation of a hundred billion, I promise you, we¡¯ll move to the tallest building at

    the center of Silicon Valley.¡±

    That first meeting with Brielle had the young entrepreneurs¡® blood pumping. No young person didn¡¯t

    dream of making it big in Silicon Valley, but their current means were well short. However, with such a

    promise from the silent partner, it seemed she knew exactly what they needed. They wanted to make a

    name for themselves in Silicon Valley, just as Max had once

    done on Wall Street.

    Mason, too, became animated, pointing to a specific location on the map. ¡°I¡¯ve visited this spot, and

    from there, you can see the expanse of Silicon Valley. You all know the Father of Silicon Valley, right?

    This is where he started out.¡±

    Gordon Moore, revered by today¡¯s generation as the Father of Silicon Valley, was one of the founders

    of its culture.

    12

    15:18

    Chapter 553

    Hearing this, Brielle had an idea of Mason¡¯s n, which was shared by all the young people present.

    She tapped her fingertips lightly on the desk. ¡°Speaking of Gordon Moore, you must also know Noyce

    and Grove. They were called the trio of Silicon Valley giants. In an interview, they once said a

    competentpany needs a public face, a thinker, and a doer. I believe with Mason here, you¡¯ll be

    excellent doers and thinkers. As for the public face, I¡¯ll strive to fulfill that role. Let¡¯s work well together

    and live up to this era.¡±

    After the meeting, Mason sent her a message. [Not bad. You¡¯ve adapted to the role quickly.]

    Brielle chuckled, but thinking of Max, the taste of bitterness spread in her mouth.

    [Book is going to take action against us. If there are important decisions to be made, we¡¯ll continue to

    meet like this online. Take care of your own matters.] Mason didn¡¯t pry into Brielle¡¯s personal life and

    gave her space.

    Brielle replied with a single word, [Okay.]

    After replying, she stared at the darkptop screen, lost in thought. It was only her first day, and she

    was already entangled in so many issues that even finding the strength to exin things to Max felt

    daunting. She lightly massaged her temples before grabbing her car keys, nning to make a personal

    visit to Dorsey International.

    As soon as she reached the lobby, she saw Ricardo being blocked by Keagan. Keagan must have said

    something provocative, as Ricardo threw a punch, and then Keagan was shouting about calling the

    cops.

    Brielle¡¯s brow twitched in irritation as she strode over. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±

    Seeing Brielle approach, Keagan¡¯s arrogant demeanor diminished, but he still sneered, ¡°Just asking

    him to pay back his debt. He took out a high¨Cinterest loan with thepany. It¡¯s

    $300,000.¡±

    ¡°Keagan, don¡¯t push me! I clearly borrowed only $10,000, and I¡¯ve already paid back $100,000 in

    installments. What more do you want?!¡± Ricardo eximed.

    Keagan threw down a promissory note. ¡°You signed off on this interest rate yourself. What, thinking of

    backing out now? T

 Chatper 554

    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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    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    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¨Chearted 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.

 Chatper 555

    Chapter 555

    The chill emanating from Max¡¯s presence intensified, and the throb in his head grew more severe. He

    couldn¡¯t help but wonder if it was the aftermath of that car crash Pyan had orchestrated, the one that

    left his brain marred with a stubborn contusion. At the moment, all he could focus on was the pain that

    seemed almost unbearable.

    He tossed his phone aside, deciding to shut out the world and its barrage of information, craving

    nothing but a moment of brief respite.

    ¡°Patrick.¡± He called out again, and Patrick, already alert to his boss¡® sour mood, hurried through the

    door.

    ¡°Sir?¡±

    ¡°Do we have any sleeping pills? Hand me one, will you?¡±

    Patrick hesitated, a wave of memories bringing a bad taste to his mouth. ¡°Right away, sir. Are you in

    pain?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, the doc mentioned the clot hasn¡¯t cleared. No clue how long it will take.¡±

    ¡°Do you need me to get a doctor to check on you?¡±

    ¡°Later. I need to rest now.¡±

    With no choice but toply, Patrick fetched the sleeping pill and a cup of warm water. Leaving his

    phone in the study, Max headed to the master bedroom and sumbed to sleep.

    Patrick waited outside, pondering for a moment before deciding to call Brielle.

    At this time, Brielle had just left Ster Stage Entertainment. Caught in the rush hour traffic, her car

    crawled to a halt at a red light when her phone rang, shing an unfamiliar number.

    Frowning, she hesitated for a split second, truly not wanting to answer. After mentally bracing herself,

    she picked up to a woman¡¯s voice on the other end, one that carried the weight of years. ¡°Ms. Brielle,

    hello. I¡¯m the new director of Sunflower Children¡¯s Home. Today, a few children are set to be adopted,

    and the former director hoped you coulde by personally.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s intuition was spot on; there was indeed a pile of issues waiting for her. She honked the horn

    impatiently, her brows knitting together deeply.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle?¡±

    Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be there shortly. Am I needed to sign

    off in the former director¡¯s stead?¡±

    ¡°Yes, he said you¡¯re the only one he truly trusts.¡±

    With that, Brielle took the next turn, heading toward the new location of Sunflower Children¡¯s

    15:18

    Chapter 555

    Home.

    Having been the one to see off Mark, she felt a responsibility to be there for the children at this

    moment. However, the timing of it all seemed too coincidental, as if the universe conspired to keep her

    from Max.

    Her phone had run out of battery and shut down, leaving her in that modern¨Cday panic model that

    came with a dead cell. She hadn¡¯t even managed to send Max a soothing text. A mix of irritation and a

    strange sense of injustice began to bubble up within her.

    On her way to the orphanage, she tried topose herself, and it wasn¡¯t until she was greeted by the

    children¡¯s beaming faces that she felt somewhat at ease.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle.¡± The new director weed her at the doorway, showing utmost respect. ¡°These are the

    two kids who are getting adopted.¡±

    Brielle recognized a few familiar faces despite the change of address. The children saw her and

    cheerfully called out, ¡°Brielle!¡±

    ¡°Brielle, it¡¯s been so long since you visited.¡±

    ¡°Brielle, where did Mark go?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    She patiently answered their questions and assessed the two prospective families. Both appeared to

    be from stable, happy homes, and she confidently signed the paperwork.

    As the families took the children away, the remaining kids bid their farewells, and Brielle couldn¡¯t help

    but remember her own adoption by the Haywood family amidst simr blessings.

    ¡°It¡¯s him! He¡¯s here. Is heing to see us?!¡±

    ¡°Yay!¡±

    The children¡¯s excitement reignited as they dashed toward a young man stepping out of a

    taxi.

    Ricardo, too, seemed surprised to find her there, his eyes lighting up with delight. ¡°Ms. Haywood.¡±

    Brielle forced a smile. ¡°What brings you here?¡±

    Ricardo¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment, ¡°I and my sister were adopted from this ce. After you

    sorted out thepany¡¯s finances today, they paid me the back wages they owed. I wanted toe

    and see the kids.¡±

    What were the odds?

    He had brought along a myriad of gifts, bags brimming with goods. Brielle was about to leave but now

    feltpelled to help him. Ricardo was flustered by the offer. ¡°Ms. Haywood, please, I can manage

    ¡°I was also adopted from this ce.¡±

    15:18

    Chapter 555

    Her voice was t, but Ricardo¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, and he no longer resisted. ¡°Ms. Haywood,

    you look so young, nothing like¡­¡± Nothing like him, still exuding a whiff of poverty. Once released,

    three years¡® worth of wages amounted to a significant sum. Ricardo had spared no expense on food,

    clothing, and toys for the kids.

    And so, their act of kindness was captured in photos.

 Chatper 556

    Chapter 556

    Brielle greeted Ricardo and they stood amidst a gaggle of giggling children, with smiles. stered on

    their faces. Later, they moved and unpacked items together. All those

    photographended on Max¡¯s phone.

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    Max was out like a light, the sleeping pill having taken quick effect. Even in slumber, a ¡°light frown

    creased his forehead.

    Exhausted from helping unpack, Brielle could barely lift a finger. She hadn¡¯t eaten since noon and was

    now sprawled on the couch, panting with her eyes closed, devoid of any energy.

    Driving back to Premier Pce was out of the question at this point; she couldn¡¯t even muster the

    strength to stand up. She leaned back and sumbed to sleep right there on the

    couch

    Ricardo nced at the still¨Cexcited children, now ying with their new toys, and ced a finger to his

    lips in a hushing gesture. The children immediately caught on and quieted down

    ¡°Will Brielle catch a cold sleeping like that?¡±

    ¡°Ricardo, why don¡¯t you give her your jacket?¡±

    Instead of undressing, Ricardo found a soft throw nket and draped it over Brielle. It was as if

    cameras were always lurking around them, ready to snapshot any closeness between the two and

    send the images at lightning speed to Max. The innocent act of Ricardo covering Brielle with the

    nket while she was oblivious in her exhaustion seemed sweet and tender

    to an outsider.

    In her dreams, Brielle knitted a scarf snug in Max¡¯s embrace during the holidays while he read her

    poems by Borges, word by word. The corners of her lips curled into a smile as she shifted to a more

    comfortable position in his arms.

    When Max woke up, it was eight in the evening, and Brielle hadn¡¯t returned. She had said she¡¯de

    home every night, even if she visited thepany branch, instead of renting a ce nearby.

    Rubbing the center of his brow, Max was alerted by Patrick¡¯s voice at the door. ¡°Mr. Dorsey. are you

    awake? There¡¯s an emergency meeting needed for the international acquisition

    case.¡±

    After freshening up and donning a suit, Max opened the door.

    In his study, he saw his phone flooded with new pictures. With each swipe, his expression turned icier.

    In thest image, was Ricardo covering Brielle with the nket. Max¡¯s knuckles whitened, and the

    phone was hurled against the wall, shattering into pieces.

    The air turned heavy, bitingly cold.

    Michael¡¯s tactics, though unbing of his status, were devastatingly effective.

    Chapter 556

    Standing behind his boss, Patrick witnessed Max¡¯s fury for the first time. He¡¯d seen the photo, too, and

    besides being incredulous, he was stunned. Ms. Brielle rarely let a man get that close. No wonder Max

    was livid

    He wanted to ask if the meeting was still on, but seeing Max¡¯s dark mood, he tried to make himself as

    inconspicuous as possible.

    Max¡¯s lips pressed together, his voice icy, ¡°Patrick, call her.¡±

    Patrick¡¯s head hung even lower. ¡°I¡¯ve tried Ms. Brielle¡¯s phone, sir, but it¡¯s turned off.¡±

    Panic struck Max¡¯s heart like an arrow, even bordering on terror. Could Brielle actually be falling for

    someone else?

    He had known her for so long, yet she had never taken him to the orphanage, but now she had taken

    someone else.

    Was it because they were from the same world? Was he worried that his presence would pressure the

    kids? Either reason was unbearable.

    His breath turned hot as he lowered his gaze, a storm brewing in his eyes.

    In the past, he would have worried if something had happened to Brielle, if someone had set up those

    photos deliberately. However, theughter in her eyes couldn¡¯t lie¨Cit was a long¨Clost sense of ease and

    contentment.

    With him, she was always under pressure. Everyone was pushing her to reach higher, as if slowing

    down meant she wasn¡¯t worthy of him. So, she was always alert andposed. She had just spent

    one day with that young man, paid off his million¨Cdor debt, and taken him to the orphanage.

    Max had every reason to be jealous.

 Chatper 557

    Chapter 557

    ¡°Mr Dorsey, don¡¯t worry. Ms. Brielle is bound toe back tonight. Patrick¡¯s statement hung in the air

    as he fell silent, fully aware of how Michael¡¯s tactics went straight for the jugr.

    Indeed, Michael was the one who knew Max best, and thus, he knew exactly how to twist the knife to

    make it hurt the most. And Ms. Brielle wasn¡¯t answering her phone, leaving everyone clueless about

    what was going on with her.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Max¡¯s tone was indifferent as he opened hisptop, seemingly having gotten his emotions

    under control.

    Patrick had the housekeeper sweep up the fragments of the broken phone and equipped

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Max with a new one.

    The overseas acquisition had drained a lot of manpower and resources, and after a heavy initial

    promotional push, it required Max¡¯s personal touch on many decisions. He couldn¡¯t afford to drop the

    ball now, not with the hard work of several branches on the line for the past six months.

    After pinpointing several issues and reviewing the report onest time to ensure there were no

    mistakes, he dered the meeting adjourned.

    The meeting had stretched on for two hours. Later, Max left his study to sit on the sofa in the ground

    floor living room, quietly waiting for Brielle¡¯s return.

    First, it was the rosary, then the million¨Cdor issue, followed by her trip to the orphanage with

    someone else. Max wondered which issue Brielle would tackle first when she exined herself.

    As long as she exined, he couldn¡¯t bear to be angry with her. He had never wanted to be angry with

    her.

    Brielle woke up on the orphanage¡¯s sofa to see that it was already eleven o¡¯clock. She was suddenly

    anxious and quickly stood up..

    The kids had all gone to bed, and Ricardo was ying with his phone on another sofa, seemingly busy

    texting someone. When he saw her wake up, he put his phone away. ¡°Ms. Haywood, you¡¯re up? Are

    you hungry?¡±

    Brielle did feel hungry. She had been both tired and hungry before falling asleep. She was no longer

    tired, but her stomach was painfully empty. ¡°Ricardo, why haven¡¯t you gone home yet?¡± ¡°I was worried

    about you. So I thought I¡¯d wait until you were awake before leaving.¡±

    Brielle, usually oblivious to others¡® feelings, didn¡¯t think much of this neen¨Cyear¨Cold boy¡¯s concern

    for her. She got to her feet and saw that he had somehow produced a bowl of oatmeal. ¡°Ms. Haywood,

    have this before you go.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s toote. I need to get back, and someone¡¯s waiting for me at home.¡±

    at pad the Pud down and followed her can ¡°Abight. Til walk you for

    Streethe didnt really does an esppit, but it was hard to refuse the gesture (ince she was in her

    she saw Ricando standing by waiting for a nah But at this hour, finding a taxt near the piphanage was a

    fostes the didnt know how long he would wait there alone,

    As fidelle qhove away, she said tly. Til drop you off where there are more people so you can get a

    cab back. Sorry, I really have an emergency tonight. Someone¡¯s waiting for me at home

    ¡°Mi Haywood I don¡¯t need a ride. If someone¡¯s waiting for you, then you should get going¡±

    Ricardo¡¯s gaze was clear and innocent. Brielle, rubbing her temples, relented, ¡°Get in¡±

    He couldn¡¯t refuse and got into the car. When they reached a bustling crossroads, he spoke up. ¡°Ms.

    Haywood, you can drop me off here.¡±

    Bielle pulled over and advised him, ¡°Thepany will negotiate with production crews soon. Your new

    agent will handle it, so remember to keep fit and, now that you have a sry, get yourself some proper

    clothes. You¡¯ll need to meet some directors soon.¡±

    ¡°Got it, thanks.¡±

    Without further conversation, Brielle drove straight to Premier Pce. Her phone was beside

    her but had been off for a while.

    Halfway there, her stomach pain became unbearable, and her vision blurred with hunger. She pulled

    over, clutching her abdomen tightly.

    Once the cramping eased, she drove the rest of the way to Premier Pce. When she got out of the

    car, her fingers trembled, and a fine sweat broke out on her forehead. She felt. nauseous but couldn¡¯t

    vomit because her stomach was empty.

    She stood still for a moment, then slowly made her way inside. Premier Pce was quiet, the holiday

    decorations still up, except for the fairy lights that had been taken down.

    Brielle chuckled, unlocking the door. Inside, the great hall was dark and silent.

    Had Max gone to bed already?

 Chatper 558

    Chapter 558

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    She frowned as she flicked on the living room lights, her eyes settling on the silent figure lounging on

    the couch. An inexplicable twitch pinched at the center of her brows.

    ¡°Max?¡±

    Her voice camed across the room as she stepped out of her shoes at the entranceway and slowly

    approached. She was wearing her favorite pair of white slippers today, while Max¡¯s feet were adomed

    with his usual ck ones.

    With each step, Brielle felt the gnawing pain in her stomach grow more unbearable. Yet, she could

    sense the minutiae of emotions radiating from Max even the ends of his hair seemed to broadcast a

    message: he was sulking.

    She had told herself during thepany meeting earlier that day that she wanted to be the face of the

    operation ¨C the idea person, the talker, the one who wasn¡¯t afraid towork.

    A rtionship, she mused, was akin to starting a business together. Max was the hands¨Con type,

    ustomed to working and giving in silence. He hadn¡¯t believed in affection at first, but now that he

    did, he was at a loss about how to salvage or deepen it. He was always one to act more than speak,

    his negative emotions something he preferred to digest alone.

    In this partnership, Brielle still wanted to be the outward¨Cfacing one. If issues weren¡¯t immediately

    addressed, they festered into knots in Max¡¯s mind. Perhaps his fondness for her could overlook these

    knots, but if a bigger storm erupted one day, those knots would spread and strangle them both.

    Brielle sat down beside him and tentatively reached for his hand. Max pursed his lips, his anger still

    present, but he didn¡¯t pull away. He knew well enough that there was nothing between Brielle and that

    young man, and that it was all his father¡¯s maniption, but if one were to remain utterly rational in

    matters of the heart, it couldn¡¯t truly be love.

    Logically, he trusted Brielle, but emotionally, he needed to wallow in his jealousy.

    As she took his hand, she began to exin. ¡°That young man was Ricardo, and Ster Stage

    Entertainment has been exploiting him. They¡¯ve only paid him about ten grand over three years. I had

    Finance increase his base sry, and he probably got a bit too emotional. He¡¯s just a teenager; he

    couldn¡¯t control himself, really. I pushed him away immediately.¡±

    Max¡¯s dark eyes lightened slightly with relief, but the thought of that rosary, the million¨Cdor

    transaction, and theirst photo together at the orphanage were too ring to ignore. Her soft spot for

    Ricardo, borne out of shared experiences, was undeniable. Even her smile was too sharp, so sharp it

    caused him difort. And then there was the issue of herte return. If he forgave her too easily this

    time, would she take it as a license to stay out all night next time?

    ¡°A woman mustn¡¯t be spoiled,¡± Andrew had said.

    Chapter 558

    This time. Max resolved to teach Brielle a lesson, and he pulled his hand away with a cool,

    Get some rest.¡±

    His tone was indifferent, Inced with a chill that sent a shudder through Brielle. She couldrit help but

    follow him, although Max didn¡¯t look back at her. However, he smiled slightly when he caught a glimpse

    of her trailing behind him.

    Brielle¡¯s stomach was in knots, the pain almost unbearable now, but she knew how to handle

    Max.

    Persistence was key. Max was the type who could be worn down by a persistent partner, They needed

    to clear the air first, then slowly unravel the misunderstandings.

    Max headed to the study, intending to work overtime, and Brielle, despite her agony, followed close on

    his heels. Even when Max went to the master bedroom to retrieve a forgotten document, Brielle was

    right behind him.

    Realizing she still cared, Max¡¯s tone softened considerably. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to sleep?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s face was pale, and her voice strained as if the next word would be apanied by the

    torment of her stomach pain. Her fingertips trembled uncontrobly.

    She leaned closer to Max, resting her forehead against his back in a muffled voice. ¡°My stomach hurts.

    How can I sleep? If you ignore me any longer, I might just pass out, and then you¡¯ll be sorry.¡±

    Max felt a jolt in his heart, almost dropping the documents in his hand. Then he remembered thest

    time he was upset, and she had used the same excuse to reconcile. He felt something like

    disappointment. It seemed as if she didn¡¯t realize she had done anything

    wrong.

    urge

    He took a deep breath, fighting the to forgive her, determined to make her recognize her

    mistake.

    She came home sote, turned off her phone, used the same excuse as before, and visited the

    orphanage with someone else. He hadn¡¯t even been there himself, despite the fact that he had helped

    secure thend for the orphanage, owing a favor to the Hatfield family. Why should an outsider benefit

    from his efforts?

 Chatper 559

    Chapter 559

    He grabbed the paperwork and turned to leave the master bedroom.

    Brielle¡¯s arms wrapped around his waist. ¡°I really have a stomachache.¡±

    ¡°Brielle, enough.¡± Max shrugged off her hands, deliberately avoiding her gaze, knowing that one look

    would make him go soft. ¡°You tried this same trickst time.¡± With that, he walked straight out of the

    bedroom.

    Brielle wanted to follow, but a stabbing pain in her stomach anchored her to the spot. She quickly

    crouched down, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

    It wasn¡¯t that she med Max. If she put herself in Max¡¯s shoes and had seen Max hugging someone

    in a video, then going offline and returning home sote, she¡¯d be livid, too. Trust was one thing, but in

    matters of the heart, even saints could be petty. If Max didn¡¯t fuss over it, she would actually worry that

    he didn¡¯t care enough about her.

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    Brielle sighed, torn between thinking he was being ridiculous and acknowledging the genuine pain in

    her stomach.

    Oh, the irony. Was this her own ¡°boy who cried wolf¡± moment?

    She didn¡¯t have the strength to chase after him anymore, feeling like she might pass out at any

    moment. She buried her head in her knees and curled up by the side of the bed, trying to ease the

    agony.

    Love, oh, what an affliction it was, like a bitter, rusty needle. One slip, one prick, and it was unbearable.

    She couldn¡¯t help but sniffle, pushing back the heat of impending tears. The position only made her

    urge to cry more pronounced, so she slowly lifted her head from her knees, trying to look at the ceiling.

    Her gaze fell on the figure standing less than a meter away. Max was there, with a warm ss of water

    in one hand and antacids in the other.

    The tears she had been holding back now surged forth. She hadn¡¯t wanted to cry. It was like a child

    who fell; if no one was around, they could brush themselves off and get up, but the moment someone

    offeredfort, it was as though the sky was falling, and the pain became unbearable. In the end, it

    was just human nature.

    Max nced at her, then crouched down, his voice softeningpletely. ¡°Take the medicine first.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s crying was heart¨Cwrenching. She wasn¡¯t sobbing loudly but biting her lip as tears silently fell.

    Max cupped her chin, momentarily at a loss. He even forgot about a handkerchief and just awkwardly

    used his suit sleeve to dab at her tears, creating damp streaks on the dark, smooth fabric.

    1/2

    15:55

    Chapter 559

    He forced a few pills into her mouth and brought the ss to her lips. Brielle nced at him, then, with

    a hint of defiance, crunched the antacids and swallowed them dry,

    Max¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Aren¡¯t them bitter?¡±

    ¡°My heart¡¯s more bitter than this. Now you¡¯re worried?¡±

    His grip on the ss tightened, then rxed as he offered a truce. ¡°Have some water.¡±

    Brielle finally took the ss, washing away the bitterness in her mouth, Handing back the ss, she

    seized the opportunity to make a request. ¡°I want to eat.¡±

    Max resignedly took the ss. ¡°I¡¯ve asked the kitchen to prepare something.¡±

    He hadn¡¯t intended to leave but had gone to get her medicine and give orders for a meal. Brielle¡¯s tears

    kept streaming after realizing this.

    From morning to night, she was swamped with obligations that kept her from returning home. She

    didn¡¯t want to deal with any of it, but it was her responsibility, and she had to see it through.

    It was her fault for being so tired she fell asleep at the orphanage, but at the time, she couldn¡¯t even

    move her fingers.

    Max put down the ss and lifted her in his arms, removing her coat and cing her on the bed. ¡°How

    did you get a stomachache without eating?¡±

    Brielle felt a twinge of guilt. She¡¯d had a busy morning with back¨Cto¨Cback meetings at Ster Stage

    Entertainment and then reviewing newpany policies before tackling her ownpany¡¯s agenda.

    There had been no time for food.

    Seeing her evasive look, Max¡¯s anger red, and he stood up, ready to storm out.

 Chatper 560

    Chapter 560

    Brielle clutched at her stomach, wincing. ¡°Ugh, it hurts. Don¡¯t mind me, just go.¡±

    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Max¡¯s body tensed, a mix of frustration and helplessness washing over him. He closed his eyes, taking

    a moment to quell the anger, before resuming his seat at the edge of her bed. His hand reached out,

    resting gently on her abdomen, and he started to rub softly. ¡°Does this help a

    bit?¡±

    Brielle, whose spirits had already lifted, wasn¡¯t in as much difort as she let on. She had

    exaggerated a bit for effect, but now she quickly seized the chance to praise him. ¡°So much better.

    You¡¯re more useful than a doctor.¡±

    She sneaked a nce at his face, noting the stormy expression hadn¡¯t quite cleared, and pressed on.

    ¡°Max, you¡¯re such a sweetheart. I thought you¡¯d left, but you were actually getting medicine for me.

    You¡¯re so good to me. I¡¯ll work hard, and when I¡¯m richer than you, I¡¯ll take care of you. All the money

    will be yours¨CI¡¯ll keep just enough for my expenses.¡±

    Max¡¯s hand paused, a flicker of reaction in his eyes. Brielle hadn¡¯t realized it, but she had inadvertently

    addressed the issue of the million dors. She¡¯d only set aside a million for others, but for him, she was

    willing to leave almost everything. Max¡¯s expression softened noticeably. He found her ttery quite

    charming.

    Brielle kept a covert watch on his face, and seeing the dark cloud lift, she breathed easier and shifted

    slightly, pushing her luck a bit. ¡°And my back, could you¡­?¡±

    His fingers trailed to her lower back, sending a shiver through her. Lying there, she looked up at his

    face, her lips curving into a smile. ¡°Still mad at me?¡±

    Max looked down, his hands gentle despite his stubborn tone.

    ¡°You saw some marks on me and acted like the sky was falling. But when someone else holds you, I¡¯m

    not supposed to be mad? Brielle, don¡¯t be so hypocritical.¡±

    Brielle reached out from under the covers, tugging at his suit sleeve. ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I didn¡¯t expect him to

    pounce. I¡¯ll be more alert next time.¡±

    The issues with the orphanage and that rosary still stung like a thorn in Max¡¯s heart.

    Brielle ced her hand over his, their fingers interlocking. ¡°No onepares to you.¡±

    It sounded like something a yer would say. Yet, these simple words pleased him. He suppressed the

    faint bitterness in his heart, his gaze detached. ¡°The scarf.¡±

    He¡¯d been promised a scarf for Christmas, and it was still only half¨Cdone.

    Realizing what he meant, Brielle scrambled to get out of bed. ¡°I¡¯ll knit it now. Even if it kills me, I¡¯ll finish

    your scarf. Max, you better not stop me.¡±

    Amusement flickered in Max¡¯s eyes, and he decided not to dwell on the matter. He wrapped an arm

    around her waist, gently pushing her back onto the bed. ¡°Rest if you¡¯re in pain. No need to

    1/2

    15:55

    Chapter 560

    fuss right now.¡±

    Brielle nced at his face again, reassured by the smile in his eyes, and settled backfortably.

    ¡°Once I¡¯m better, knitting that scarf will be my top priority.¡±

    When Brielle wanted to charm someone, she was effortlessly effective. Max didn¡¯t want to admit how

    easily he was manipted by her simple stratagems.

    There was a knock at the door, and Wesley came in with a tray of chicken soup and oatmeal. ¡°Ms.

    Brielle, are you feeling any better? We saved some dinner for you, and it¡¯s been kept warm. Mr. Dorsey

    didn¡¯t eat either. He was waiting for you.¡±

    Brielle felt a pang of guilt. ¡°Wesley, I¡¯m sorry for the trouble. I¡¯ve kept you all up to cook sote.¡± Wesley

    set the tray down on a nearby cab, his tone deeply meaningful. ¡°You still should¡¯ve called, you

    know. Mr. Dorsey¡¯s stomach isn¡¯t great either; if he keeps this up, he¡¯ll have an attack himself.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my phone died on me. Right after the call from the orphanage, it just went off.¡±

    Knowing Max hadn¡¯t eaten either, Brielle felt even more concerned. She propped herself up and began

    to stir the oatmeal. ¡°Let¡¯s eat together.¡±

    Max shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m already full from anger.¡±

 Chatper 561

    Chapter 561

    Brielle quickly spooned a mouthful of warm oatmeal to him, ¡°Mr. Dorsey, you¡¯re really kind. I swear I

    won¡¯t do it again. No matter how busy I am, I¡¯ll make sure to call and update you on my whereabouts.

    Come on, eat up please.¡±

    Max had always known there was a cheeky streak in Brielle¨Chow else could she have ended up

    straddling his hips that first time they got together, daring to kiss him even after he woke up?

    But to the outside world, she was the epitome of cool poise, only ever letting her guard down with him.

    Only for him. He was special.

    With that thought, thest bit of his broodiness vanished. He took the bowl of oatmeal and spoon from

    her, bringing it to her lips instead, ¡°Thought you had a stomachache? You eat first.¡± Brielle was truly

    famished and felt the acid in her stomach, so she didn¡¯t put up a fight. She quickly ate half the bowl and

    followed it with the bowl of soup, finally feeling some warmth in her belly.

    Seeing her color improve, Max breathed a sigh of relief. When he¡¯de back and found her sitting

    alone on the floor, it had pained him like a needle to the heart.

    He took his time eating a modest portion of the oatmeal until he felt a slight fullness in his stomach,

    then had the dishes cleared away.

    Wesley, noticing Max¡¯s mood had lightened from the evening¡¯s gloom, let out a sigh of relief. Now,

    everyone could sleep peacefully.

    After resting on the bed for half an hour and feeling no more difort in her stomach, Brielle pulled

    Max towards the bathroom to freshen up. Once she was clean and back in bed, she had intended to do

    something more to cheer him up, but she was simply too exhausted. The few hours of sleep at the

    orphanage were not enough to erase the weariness from her body.

    As soon as her head hit the pillow and she caught Max¡¯s scent, her eyelids started to droop, and she

    couldn¡¯t resist wrapping her arms around his waist. ¡°Max, I¡¯m off to sleep,¡± she murmured, her voice

    heavy with tiredness.

    ¡°Mmm,¡± Max hummed, picking up a folder of acquisition documents to continue reading.

    The room was quiet, save for the soft sound of his fingers flipping through papers, and the dim light of

    the bedsidemp was the only illumination. Just as Max was about to turn the page, he felt a

    movement beside him, followed by a kiss on his lips.

    ¡°I¡¯m really off to sleep now.¡±

    A smile curled on his lips, suppressing the deepughter in his eyes, ¡°Sleep well.¡±

    Content that he was appeased, Brielle drifted off into a satisfied slumber.

    15:55

    Chapter 561

    Meanwhile, at the Rond family estate, Tessay in bed coughing while Alivia handed her a tissue.

    ¡°How did you get like this in just a few days?¡±

    Alivia knew the reason behind Tessa¡¯s condition: a recent fall into the water and a fainting spell due to

    online bacsh. Her generally fragile health had just begun to improve this year, only to rpse

    dramatically.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    A flicker of hatred passed through Tessa¡¯s eyes. In her dreams, she reyed the humiliating scene of

    her fumbling at the piano, an embarrassment she had never before experienced, now festering in her

    heart. ¡°It¡¯s all because of that bitch! If it weren¡¯t for her, I wouldn¡¯t be in this

    state.¡±

    Alivia¡¯s lips curved slightly. She could have continued to manipte Spencer, but he hadpletely

    lost his fighting spirit, bing a useless pawn. Sydney was unreliable, whose cunning wasn¡¯t deep

    enough and whose methods weren¡¯t ruthless enough. Tessa was now her primary chess piece.

    As for Martha, she was Alivia¡¯sst resort, not to be used unless absolutely necessary.

    ¡°Tessa, you need to rx. Brielle¡¯s days of glory won¡¯tst long.¡±

    Tessa coughed violently, unable to stand even the mention of Brielle¡¯s name¨Cjust hearing it made her

    feel like her chest was on fire. ¡°Alivia, I have this feeling that Max might be serious about her. You¡¯ve

    heard, haven¡¯t you? Brielle¡¯s now taken over anotherpany and is thriving.¡±

    Alivia¡¯s face was the picture of gentleness as she patted Tessa¡¯s back soothingly. ¡°Her dream of

    elevating herpany won¡¯t be so easy. My brother¡¯s in showbiz, and he knows all the top directors. If

    Brielle wants ess to resources, it¡¯ll have to be through my approval.¡±

 Chapter 562

    Chapter 562

    Alivia had connections that seemed to reach into every corner of the glittering world of Hollywood. Her

    brother, Kenzo, was the hottest screenwriter of the past few years, having penned scripts that were

    practically worth their weight in gold, Nearly every big¨Cname director in the industry had sought his

    coboration, making the Barnes family a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment circles.

    Naturally, that extensivework of contacts spilled into Alivia¡¯sp.

    Brielle, an orphan with no resources to speak of, managed to get a little bit of favor from May, but what

    else could she hope for?

    Alivia¡¯s eyes were filled with disdain as she said, ¡°I won¡¯t let those famous directors work with her.

    Consider it me getting back at her for you.¡±

    Her words sounded sweet but were self¨Cserving at their core,

    Tessa¡¯s expression remained sour. This was far from enough for her. She wanted to see Brielle

    trampled into the mud, wanted to plerce her heart so deeply that she¡¯d wish for death.

    ¡°Alivia, what can I do to make her suffer?¡± Tessa asked, her voice heavy with malice.

    Alivia patted her back soothingly while her words wove a web of temptation. ¡°Remember what I told

    youst time? If you can¡¯t beat Brielle directly, then hit her through someone else. Aubree is the perfect

    target. If something happened to her, Brielle would be devastated. She wouldn¡¯t be able to live in

    peace, ever. And you, my dear, can easily manipte Aubree, can¡¯t you?¡±

    A cold smirk appeared on Tessa¡¯s face, her hand balling into a fist at her side. ¡°Since my health started

    declining, Andrew has stayed at the Rond mansion and hasn¡¯t gone back. Aubree must be feeling

    the strain by now. You¡¯re right. I¡¯ll start by targeting Aubree. That will hurt Brielle the most, and Andrew

    won¡¯t do anything to me for it. After all, he and Aubree deserve what¡¯sing!¡±

    Inside, Aliviaughed triumphantly. Exactly, that was the n. Brielle¡¯s remaining friends would suffer

    because of her, and then what time would she have left to whisper sweet nothings with Max?

    ¡°Take care of yourself first, your health is important,¡± Alivia cooed.

    ¡°How can I rx? The gossip in the group chats, the insults flying on the inte ¨C I can barely step

    outside my door! I¡¯ve never been this humiliated. Everything I¡¯ve endured, Brielle will experience it too!¡±

    Tessa began to cough violently, nearly hacking up blood. Alivia quickly summoned the doctor, and the

    Rond mansion was thrown into disarray.

    After examining Tessa, the doctor advised, ¡°Ms. Tessa, you mustn¡¯t get worked up. Your emotional

    state is delicate; you need rest.¡±

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Tessa gripped her fists tightly, staring at the ceiling with bitter resentment.

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    Austin sighed wearily, and Jaxon furrowed his brows in concern. They all knew this mess was Brielle¡¯s

    doing, and not a soul in the Rond family had a shred of affection for her. They were all waiting for

    her to break up with Max so they could openly confront her. Without Max, she would be nothing.

    Austin held Tessa¡¯s hand. ¡°Calm down. Tessa. Brielle will get hereuppance in time.¡±

    Tessa took a deep breath, trying topose herself, then asked, ¡°Dad, where¡¯s Andrew?¡±

    ¡°He stepped out for a smoke when Alivia arrived. He¡¯s been up all night worrying about you, Don¡¯t

    make us worry, too.¡±

    Tessa felt slightly better, exchanging a knowing look with Alivia. She understood what she needed to

    do. To strike at Brielle¡¯s heart, she had to trample Aubree first.

    A twisted smile formed on her lips. ¡°I¡¯m feeling better. Call Andrew in and have someone escort Alivia

    home. It¡¯ste, and there¡¯s no need for her to worry about me anymore. I want to talk to Andrew alone.¡±

    Austin sighed, then patted Tessa¡¯s head. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll call him in.¡±

    When Andrew entered the room, it was empty of everyone else. He himself had spent a day in the

    clinic after another fight with Max. His waist and legs were still marked with bruises.

    ¡°How are you feeling. Tessa?¡±

    Seeing him, tears streamed down her face instantly. ¡°Andrew, am I going to die soon? It hurts so much,

    every single day.¡±

    Andrew¡¯s brow furrowed as he pulled her close. ¡°Just rest, it¡¯ll be okay.¡±

    She nestled into his embrace, her voice tinged with concern. ¡°You¡¯ve been away from home for so long.

    Won¡¯t the Clements family wonder?¡±

    Andrew¡¯s mind shed with Aubree¡¯s image, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing. Was it the longing from being

    apart that made his blood boil at the thought of her?

    ¡°They know I¡¯m here with you. Everyone¡¯s worried about you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for taking up so much of your time. But I only feel safe when you¡¯re here. Andrew, will

    you stay with me tonight?¡±

    Chapter 563

 Chapter 563

    Chapter 563

    Andrew¡¯s body tensed up. This was the moment he¡¯d been anticipating for so long. He and Tessa had

    known each other for years but had never shared a bed.

    He was a man, after all, with desires¨Cstrong ones at that. If hey beside Tessa, there was no telling

    what might happen. Tessa, though, was frail, and the doctors had warned him that in matters of

    physical intimacy, he couldn¡¯t just have his way.

    He was aware of his own vigor. Sometimes, even Aubree would struggle to keep up and asionally

    snap at him with a p. Tessa was far more delicate.

    He stood up and pointed to the couch beside them.

    ¡°I¡¯ll crash on the couch,¡± he said.

    Tessa, mindful of her own fragility and not wanting to overexert herself to the point of passing out¨C

    which would only benefit others¨Cnodded in agreement.

    In the middle of the night, Andrew awoke feeling like he was burning up, probably because he had

    thought of Aubree before bed. Now, he was missing her. He got up, stepped out onto the balcony, lit a

    cigarette, and started smoking as he gazed at the dimly lit surroundings.

    By the time he finished his cigarette, his restlessness had subsided somewhat. What was Aubree doing

    right now? She hadn¡¯t called himtely. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he closed his eyes, the corners

    tinged with a crimson hue as if poisoned by some exotic flower.

    Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around his waist from behind. Tessa embraced him from the back.

    ¡°Can¡¯t sleep, Andrew? Are you thinking of someone else?¡± she asked.

    Andrew stiffened, only then realizing the cigarette was nearly burning his fingers. He was indeed

    thinking of Aubree, but he would never admit it. Aubree was just afort for his lonely body, never

    meant to consume more of his time.

    Tessa¡¯s hands slipped under his shirt, resting against his solid chest. ¡°Is it because you can¡¯t get used

    to sharing a

    room with me?¡± she queried, her voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and slight hurt.

    Was it so unbearable for him to share a room with her when he had always slept in Aubree¡¯s bed

    before? That bitch!

    ¡°It¡¯s just insomnia; it happens to me sometimes,¡± he offered as an exnation.

    Tessa wanted to ask if he ever had insomnia when he was in Aubree¡¯s bed, but posing such a question

    seemed too cheap. It was one thing to know and quite another to confront it.

    ¡°I guess taking care of me these past days has worn you out. I¡¯m sorry, and I do hope to get better

    soon.¡± Tessa always presented herself with grace in front of Andrew. It was this demeanor that

    convinced Andrew she wouldn¡¯t stir trouble intentionally, which is why he believed her fall into the water

    was due to Brielle, leading him to punch Max.

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    ¡°Andrew, your mom called me a few days ago, talking about Aubree. She mentioned they¡¯re

    considering finding her a match, to get her married off. What do you think?¡± Her gaze fastened onto

    Andrew, a hint of urgency beneath her steady stare. She had a hunch that Andrew felt something

    special for Aubree, maybe more than just seeing her as a bed partner. Women had their intuitions

    about these things, and she needed rity for her peace of mind.

    Andrew¡¯s expression darkened instantly, a shadow falling across his features that seemed almost

    instinctual, as if something within had been crushed. His entire being was exuding a destructive aura.

    ¡°Did my mom say that herself?¡±

    Tessa¡¯s heart skipped a beat, her unease growing. ¡°Yes, she said Aubree¡¯s at the right age, and with so

    many eligible bachelors in Beaconsfield, it shouldn¡¯t be hard to find someone of equal social standing

    for a girl with her looks.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t agree to it.¡± The words came out without thought. By the time Andrew realized what he¡¯d said, it

    was already toote.

    Chapter 564

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    Chapter 564

    Andrew couldn¡¯t fathom why he disagreed. Perhaps it was just the thought of Aubree getting married,

    and giving another man those looks she had given him. It made him feel unbearable.

    Tessa¡¯s heart sankpletely. Just then, Andrew¡¯s phone started ringing. She beat him to it, noticing

    that the caller was Aubree.

    What a dramatic scene it was. One woman with whom he¡¯d shared passionate nights; the other,

    someone he¡¯d promised to look after for life. On this strange night, they were suddenly brought

    together.

    Tessa hit the answer button, and a strange man¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Hello, is this Aubree¡¯s brother?

    She¡¯s had a bit too much to drink. Could youe pick her up?¡±

    In this

    A sneer crossed Tessa¡¯s eyes. ¡°Why don¡¯t you send the address to another friend on her phone,

    named Brielle? She¡¯lle get her.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t disturb you further.¡±

    After ending the call, Tessa managed a smile, holding her emotions in check. ¡°Aubree¡¯s stered.

    You¡¯re not thinking of going now, are you? I¡¯ve already had the bartender contact Brielle. Andrew,

    tomorrow¡¯s your birthday. Are you nning to stay here or go celebrate with someone else?¡±

    Andrew¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, a flicker of guilt for an inexplicable moment of hesitation. ¡°I¡¯LL spend it

    out with you to ensure you¡¯re well. Didn¡¯t you love that m chowder at that restaurant? I¡¯ll book it just

    for us, just the two of us.¡®

    11

    Tessa breathed a sigh of relief. In the past, Andrew had only spent his birthdays with her. Maybe he

    didn¡¯t really like Aubree, and that was fine. Her lips curved into a small smile. ¡°Yeah, I knew it. You still

    like me best.¡±

    Andrew didn¡¯t speak; he just held her and gently patted her back.

    When Brielle¡¯s phone rang, she was already half¨Casleep, clinging tighter to Max. She heard the ring,

    rubbed her eyes, and saw Max taking her phone and talking to the person on the other end. ¡°Yeah, I

    got it. Someone will be there to pick her up.¡±

    After hanging up, Max met Brielle¡¯s gaze.

    ¡°Who was that?¡±

    ¡°Someone from the bar is calling to say Aubree¡¯s drunk at Tequ Sunset. Don¡¯t worry, the staff there

    are responsible.¡±

    At that, Brielle perked up. ¡°How did she end up drunk?¡±

    Max nced at the clock on the wall. ¡°It¡¯s past midnight. Today¡¯s Andrew¡¯s birthday, but Tessa¡¯s been

    unwelltely. I guess he hasn¡¯t been around much.¡±

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    Brielle felt a mix of annoyance and concern for Aubree, so she reluctantly got up and started dressing.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to check on her.¡±

    Max followed suit, and as Brielle watched him dress, warmth flooded her heart. She couldn¡¯t resist

    giving him a quick kiss. ¡°Are you driving me there? Don¡¯t you have a meeting early in the morning?¡±

    Patrick had mentioned before going to bed that his meetings would start at five and go until noon,

    dealing with a critical phase in an overseas acquisition. His schedule was about to be turned upside

    down.

    ¡°I can¡¯t leave you alone.¡±

    Brielle felt a wave of affection. How could Max be so wonderful? What kind of luck had she stumbled

    upon to have him in her life?

    Max grabbed his jacket, put it on, and noticed her daydreaming. His brow furrowed, ¡°Stomach still

    hurting?¡±

    ¡°No, let¡¯s go.¡±

    Max drove them quickly to Tequ Sunset. It had been ages since Brielle had been there. Inside, the

    dance floor was still crowded with young people.

    Under the dim lights, Aubree was sprawled over the bar. Brielle tapped her shoulder. ¡°Aubree?¡±

    Aubree tooked up, bleary¨Ceyed, and didn¡¯t recognize her.

    Brielle propped her up, ncing at Max. Max frowned, his face set as he grabbed Aubree¡¯s other side.

    Aubree recognized Max now, her lips trembling.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, I¡¯m so sorry to trouble you. Just take good care of Bri, don¡¯t worry about me.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, I always thought you were a good man, handsome, and rich.¡±

    ¡°You have to treat Bri well, for a lifetime.¡±N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

 Chapter 565

    Chapter 565

    When she mentioned ¡°a lifetime,¡± her voice caught, and she reached out, pulling Brielle¡¯s hand over

    and then Max¡¯s, stacking them together.

    Brielle raised a hand to massage her temples. How much had Aubree actually had to drink?

    ¡°You¡¯re stered. I¡¯ll drive you home.¡±

    Aubree looked up at her with a nod. ¡°Yeah, back to Andrew¡¯s ce. Dawn¡¯s breaking, and it¡¯s his

    birthday. I got ingredients to bake a cake.¡± Drunk as she was, she still remembered Andrew¡¯s birthday.

    Together, Brielle and Max supported her out of the bar.

    Max was unustomed to being so close to another woman, feeling utterly ufortable. After

    settling Aubree in the car, Max went to drive, noticing the scent of booze on his coat.

    Slumped against Brielle¡¯s shoulder, Aubree¡¯s face flushed. She mumbled incoherently, no one

    understood a word she said. Brielle was concerned Aubree might tumble to the floor with all her

    fidgeting, so one hand steadied Aubree¡¯s head.

    They pulled up to where Aubree lived, and Brielle fished out the keys to help her inside.

    The doorman furrowed his brows upon seeing Aubree. ¡°There she goes again,ing homete every

    night. She didn¡¯t even go home for the holidays and was always out drinking. I really don¡¯t know what

    her family taught her. A girl should have some self¨Crespect and self¨Clove. Last time, she was caught

    fooling around in a car right down there, and now the wholeplex

    knows about it.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s face darkened as her gaze fell upon the doorman. Max nced over as well. The doorman

    shivered, feeling the pressure, and dared not say another word.

    Brielle had been to Aubree¡¯s ce before, but Aubree hardly stayed there anymore. She was mostly at

    Andrew¡¯s ce. She hadn¡¯t expected Aubree to be alone during the holidays, and suddenly felt guilty

    for not calling more often.

    Once in the room, Aubree crashed on the couch and fell asleep.

    Brielle looked at Max, sharing a moment of helplessness. ¡°Max, why don¡¯t you wait for me downstairs?¡±

    The room was a mess with scattered bottles, jackets, and lingerie. It was unbearable to have him stand

    amidst the chaos. Max nodded and stepped out.

    Brielle gently wiped Aubree¡¯s face with a warm towel.

    Aubree opened her eyes and saw her, her eyes welling up. ¡°Bri, never fall in love with someone.¡± It had

    be her obsession. Loving the wrong person could be painful, but even loving the right one wasn¡¯t

    always sweet. Hatred and fear often stemmed from love.

    Sighing, Brielle cleaned Aubree¡¯s cheeks, neck, and fingers. Aubree seemed more sober now,

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    Chapter 303

    staring at the ceiling as silent tears fell.

    Brielle¡¯s heart ached at the sight, and then banging on the door jolted her ¨C more like smashing.

    *Heads up, Aubree! Open up. The boys are here to patronize your ¡®business!¡°¡±

    ¡°Out gallivanting all night again, huh? What, got picked up in a car again?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re trash. Can¡¯t keep still without a man for a day.¡±

    Since the incident with Andrew became neighborhood gossip, a few men woulde by her door each

    night to hurl abuse. The other neighbors knew, but the scandal was too big; they all assumed she was

    promiscuous. The women despised her. They thought their husband would be seduced by her, and

    would insult her on sight.

    Aubree was ostracized by the entire building, silent violence condoned by all. But she felt powerless,

    even unwilling to resist. The harsher they were, the more she mocked herself ¨C the price of loving

    someone.

    Had she done something wrong?

    Her mistake was harboring a crush on Andrew, giving in when he came onto her, and then. unable to

    let go, she ended up scorned like this.

    Hearing the insults, Brielle¡¯s temper red. She was about to storm out when she heard a thud against

    the wall outside. She quickly opened the door to see Max standing coolly in the hallway, his brow

    furrowed. ¡°Beat it.¡±

    The jeering men could barely stand from the pain, their lips quivering as they scurried away.

    Max¡¯s frown was prominent, and Brielle, sensing his mood, reached out to grasp his hand. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell

    you to wait downstairs?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s cold.¡±

    SON

    Brielle guessed he was worried about her and was about to invite him in the drafts in the hallway were

    even colder. But Max stood firm, pulling out his phone and dialing Andrew. Since their fight, this was

    the first time they had contacted each other.

 Chapter 566

    Chapter 566

    Andrew was still reeling from the unexpected call when Max¡¯s voice came through the line. ¡°Max?¡±

    Suspicion flickered through his mind. Could someone be ying a prank with Max¡¯s phone?

    ¡°Andrew, Aubree got stered.¡±

    Andrew pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling Tessa stir in his arms. He¡¯d thought he¡¯d awakened her

    and gently patted her back to soothe her.

    ¡°I¡¯m aware, but didn¡¯t Brielle go to look after her? Tessa is feeling under the weather, and I need to stay

    here and take care of her.¡±

    Tessa, now fully awake, snuggled closer. ¡°Who¡¯s calling?¡±

    ¡°Max.¡±

    Anger red in Tessa¡¯s eyes at the mention of Aubree¡¯s name. Why was Max calling about that tramp?

    She fumed internally, thinking it was high time to talk to Andrew¡¯s mum about marrying Aubree off and

    out of their lives.

    Max, picking up on Tessa¡¯s voice, understood the implications. It waste; they were obviously sharing

    a bed.

    ¡°If you¡¯re not fond of Aubree, I can arrange an overseas position for her. She can start fresh there,¡± Max

    suggested, his voice floating like mist.

    Andrew¡¯s reaction was instantaneous, leaping out of bed as if scalded. ¡°What do you mean?¡± His tone

    turned icy, his eyes zing with anger.

    But Max remained calm, unperturbed. ¡°She¡¯s alone here, and with Brielle so busy, there¡¯s no one to

    look after her. Abroad, she can meet new people and make new friends.¡±

    Andrew¡¯s temper red. ¡°Can you stop interfering? She¡¯s a Clements, for heaven¡¯s sake. Any move she

    makes needs parental approval. As her brother, I-¡±

    He cut himself off, painfully aware of the truth they both knew. Ever since that forbidden moment at

    eighteen, they were no longer just siblings.

    Max hung up, ignoring Andrew¡¯s rage.

    Andrew felt a fire within him, his temper boiling over. He grabbed his jacket, ready to storm out, but

    Tessa¡¯s arms wrapped around his waist, holding him back. ¡°Stay with me, please? Andrew, I don¡¯t want

    you to leave because of Aubree. Would you really abandon me over her? I thought I was the one who

    mattered most to you.¡±

    Andrew stiffened, his features a mask of conflict. Tessa¡¯s pleading eyes softened him. He pulled out his

    phone and fired off a message to Max. [Aubree stays in Beaconsfield. If you whisk her away without

    consent, this brotherhood is over.]

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    Max didn¡¯t bother checking the message, settling down to watch as Brielle continued to care for

    Aubree. He didn¡¯t want Brielle to overextend herself; she was already swamped. Now she had to deal

    with a friend¡¯s troubles, troubles caused by another man¡¯s actions.

    Brielle tucked Aubree in, worried she might retch again. She nced at Max, seated on the sofa, and

    sighed, ¡°I¡¯ll stay here tonight. You should head back. You have a meeting in a couple of hours. I¡¯ll head

    straight to Premier Pce to change, then head off to the office. I need to check on the reforms we

    implemented and discuss resources with the directors. Plus, we need to front some cash.¡±

    With thepany¡¯s finances in the red, she had to figure out how to engage with prominent directors.

    Max approached, cradling her face and nting a kiss. ¡°Don¡¯t stress about the corporate stuff.

    Whatever the oue, my father can¡¯t separate us.¡±

    Brielle chuckled at his defiance. It was heartwarming, but she wasmitted to doing her best,

    especially in front of the Dorsey family¡¯s extended kin. If she half¨Cassed it, they¡¯d say she didn¡¯t love

    Max enough. The truth was, she adored him. Every time she thought her love for him was profound, he

    did something to deepen it further¨Cas if her love for him was a bottomless pit.

    ¡°Max, I¡¯ll do my

    best.¡±

    In six months, she intended to turn heads.

    As Max was about to kiss her again, a hoarse voice interrupted. ¡°Have you no decency?¡±

    Aubree, who had apparently woken up, propped herself up and red at them as they were about to

    kiss, her face etched with disapproval.

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    Chapter 567

    she was here, suffering the wrath of a wicked hangover, and these two decided to unt their love while

    she was out cold. Where was their conscience?

    mping a hand over her mouth, she dashed for the bathroom and heaved a resounding ¡°ugh¡± into the

    toilet.

    Brielle arched an eyebrow. The timing of it all was a bit too perfect, as if Aubree was sickened by their

    disy of affection.

    Noticing Max¡¯s darkening expression, Brielle quickly softened her tone, ¡°Go back, I¡¯ll take care of her.

    She was alone over the holidays, and I¡¯m worried.¡±

    Once Max had left, Brielle grabbed a bottle of mineral water and headed for the bathroom.

    With reddened eyes from retching, Aubree caught sight of Brielle in the mirror and hastily turned on the

    faucet to rinse away the mess. Then, she brushed her teeth with earnestness.

    Once she was done, she covered her eyes with her hands. ¡°Bri, do I look terrible?¡±

    Brielle was at a loss for words. Everyone knew the unspoken moral standards, but once you were in

    the thick of it, was it really that simple to make the best decision? If emotions could be quantified and

    regted, then the world wouldn¡¯t be full of stories about love and loss.

    Besides, Aubree and Andrew had met first. Just when it came to matters of the heart, the concept of

    firste¨Cfirst¨Cserved was rarely applicable.

    ¡°You don¡¯t look terrible. Are you hungry? I can whip up some soup for you.¡±

    Aubree shook her head, took the water Brielle offered, and gulped it down before pursing her lips. ¡°Not

    hungry.¡±

    She rubbed her eyes, feeling like a burden to Brielle, and cracked a weak smile. ¡°It¡¯s sote, you

    should sleep. The guest room¡¯s always ready, and no one¡¯s used it.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s eyes caught the pile of mtonin on the shelf, her brow furrowing. ¡°Have you been having a lot

    of trouble sleeping?¡±

    Aubree quickly stashed the medication back into the cab, her movements a tad frantic. ¡°Not really,

    just keeping them on hand.¡±

    Brielle wouldn¡¯t stop Aubree from loving Andrew, but it pained her to see Aubree harming her health

    like this. ¡°Max called Andrew earlier, and he¡¯s with Tessa.¡±

    Aubree stiffened, her face turning ashen. Knowing it herself was one thing, but hearing it from someone

    else was another.

    She blinked her stinging eyes and mustered a faint smile. ¡°Yeah, I heard Tessa¡¯s been under the

    weather. Andrew¡¯s always treated her like she¡¯s made of ss. He¡¯s bound to be by her side.¡±

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    Chapter 567

    However, all those times Aubree was sick, Andrew never once stayed with her.

    Aubree was painfully aware that she was nothing more than a toy for him to y with when he felt

    lonely, Sometimes, he would toy with her as casually as one relieves themselves ¨C a zipper down, a

    zipper up, and it was over without ever asking how she felt, like that time outside her apartment

    building.

    Andrew had done this too many times to count, so much that Aubree couldn¡¯t even remember them all.

    She felt he had no respect for her, but she loved Andrew, and in love, she had already lost. Perhaps

    one day, he would remember her kindness, and maybe he would grow to love her. Aubree clung to that

    thought, those pathetic hopes that even she despised.

    Brielle watched Aubree try to hold back her tears, and her heart felt as if it had been pricked. Having

    known Aubree for years, Brielle had always thought of her as someone bold in love and fierce in hate.

    But after learning about her and Andrew, Brielle realized that all of Aubree¡¯s outward spines turned into

    soft needles in his presence.

    ¡°Aubree, I¡¯m sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have said that.¡±

    Brielle had intended to be cruel, to make Aubree see Andrew¡¯s coldness. But she forgot that Aubree

    had been at Andrew¡¯s beck and call for years and was well acquainted with that man¡¯s heartlessness.

    Aubree shook her head, words failing her as her heart ached too much to speak.

    Brielle knew Aubree probably wanted to be alone, ¡°I¡¯m going to bed. If you need to talk but don¡¯t want

    to say it to my face, you can text me.¡± Her phone was fully charged, ready for ate¨Cnight chat.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes welled up instantly. What she wanted most was to wish Andrew a happy birthday. But

    when it came to Andrew, Aubree could no longer utter a word, so she closed her eyes and fluttered her

    eyshes. ¡°Mm.¡±

    After Brielle retreated to the guest room, sleep eluded her. She was worried Aubree might do

    something drastic, perhaps take all those sleeping pills. So, at the slightest noise, she couldn¡¯t help but

    stand by the door to listen, fearing she might hear the thud of a body hitting the floor.

 Chapter 568

    Chapter 568

    Until the wee hours of six in the morning, the noise outside ceased, and Aubree must have finally

    settled down for some rest.

    Brielle let out a sigh of relief, rubbing her weary eyes, nning to catch another half hour of sleep on

    the bed.

    Awakening to the aroma of breakfast, she opened the door to find Aubree, apron¨Cd, setting thest

    dish on the table from the kitchen.

    There were still faint traces of redness around her eyes, likely concealed with foundation. Her

    emotions, her entire sense of loss and pain, also seemed to be masked beneath that foundation. This

    act of keeping up appearances was a tactic Aubree often employed.

    So, Brielle chose not to mentionst night¡¯s ordeal but instead asked, ¡°You¡¯re not working today?¡±

    Aubree untied the apron from her waist, grabbed a bowl, anddled some soup for Brielle.

    ¡°Got the axe three days ago, but I¡¯ve saved enough over the years to get by. It¡¯s just that without a Job,

    I feel kind of useless.¡±

    She had always revolved her life around Andrew that even her work hadn¡¯t amounted to much. To

    please Andrew, Aubree had mastered the art of cooking and never expected that, in the end, she¡¯d be

    cooking for Tessa. The mere thought made her heart ache.

    She had received a text from Max and knew that Brielle had been swampedtely, so she hurriedly

    pushed the conversation forward. ¡°I heard Michael¡¯s giving you a tough time, making you run an

    entertainmentpany?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°Brl, do you think I have what it takes to be a celebrity?¡±

    Brielle, about to sip her soup, paused at the question.

    Objectively, Aubree¡¯s looks could easily ce her in the top ten among the beauties of Beaconsfield.

    She had a striking presence that would dominate any photo she was in.

    Brielle pondered. She was now at the helm of an entertainmentpany, and Aubree was jobless. If

    Aubree broke into showbiz and made a name for herself, with the demanding schedule of a movie star

    and months spent on set, she¡¯d naturally spend less time on Andrew.

    Without something to upy her, Aubree would inevitably dwell on Andrew.

    Brielle felt this might be the best thing she could do for Aubree. So she nodded, ¡°Sure, send your

    resume over to Ster Stage Entertainment. I¡¯ll have you train with the new batch of actors. You¡¯ll get

    coaching on expression and fitness management. Thepany¡¯s undergoing some reforms, and I¡¯m

    pretty tied up at the moment. Are you sure you want to take this on?¡±

    1/2

    11.07

    Chapter 568

    ¡°Absolutely! Who wouldn¡¯t love to be famous? Plus, I want to be your cash cow. If thepany makes

    money, Michael will be over the moon.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s lips curved into a smile, returning to her soup.

    Aubree¡¯s cooking was impressive. Brielle knew who she had honed her skills for and refrained from

    complimenting her to avoid bringing up Andrew again.

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    After the meal, Brielle announced she was heading to the office. Once Aubree was alone, her smile

    faded, and she quietly moved to the kitchen to bake a birthday cake in solitude.

    As Brielle got into her car, she sent Max a message.

    (Still in a meeting?]

    [Yep.]

    Max replied promptly as if he had been waiting for her to reach out. She smiled again, but she didn¡¯t

    respond further, focusing on driving instead.

    Once she arrived at thepany and settled into her office, she was bombarded with an unending

    stream of tasks. She was so engrossed that messaging Max slipped her mind as she dealt with a

    dozen pressing emails..

    Come noon, Keagan walked in.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, HR has already handed out termination letters to those on their way out. Have you

    reviewed the contracts for the artists? Who¡¯s worth keeping?¡±

    ¡°Any of them willing to stay on their own ord?¡±

    Keagan shook his head, a hint of mockery in his eyes. Those folks had been itching for a release from

    Ster Stage Entertainment, and now, with the chance to break free, they¡¯d likely run faster than

    rabbits. Why would they choose to stay?

    There were some promising talents among them. If Brielle let them go, thepany would suffer a

    significant loss.

    With thepany struggling to secure resources due to financial deficits, there was no money to invest

    in scripts or connections to negotiate with directors. The morning had passed, and thepany hadn¡¯t

    secured a single screeny.

    Rubbing her temples, Brielle¡¯s voice was calm but firm. ¡°Bring in a few professional acting coaches to

    see who¡¯s got talent. Offer a generous contract to the gifted ones. Promise them a bigger cut of their

    earnings. As for the rest, we can provide severance if they want to leave.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, you might not know, but there¡¯s hardly any money left in finance. I do have a

    suggestion, however. Why not sell those artists in bulk to otherpanies? Several of them are quite

    talented, and otherpanies have been eyeing them for a while. We could make a good sum off

    each.¡±

 Chapter 569

    Chapter 569

    This kind of disgraceful practice was nothing new in the corporate world. Celebrities were just numbers

    to be crunched, and artists, with no rights to speak of, were merely pawns in the

    game.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. If there¡¯s nothing else, go ahead and do as I say,¡± Brielle said with a

    nonchnt tone. She pondered for a moment before slightly lifting her gaze. ¡°If thepany¡¯s coffers

    are dry, then let¡¯s withhold all the executives¡® Christmas bonuses this year. We¡¯ll save tens of millions

    that way. We can invest it in a new TV series, get a high¨Cprofile actor to lead, and cast our up¨Cand¨C

    coming talents in supporting roles. Problem solved, right?¡±

    ¡°Brielle, you¡¯ve gone too far! First, you cut down our staff, and now you want to take our Christmas

    bonuses too?!¡±

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    An executive¡¯s Christmas bonus could be in the millions, and many had been eagerly awaiting

    that moment.

    Brielle scoffed, her sharp edge rivaling that of Max. ¡°If you had actually contributed to thepany

    over the years, I might have reconsidered. The funds from Dorsey International have dwindled to nearly

    nothing for talent investment, and as for where the rest went, you¡¯re more aware of that than I am. If

    you don¡¯t like it, there¡¯s the door. In fact, I¡¯m not too pleased with the current leadership as is.¡±

    ¡°You!!¡± Keagan was livid, well aware that Brielle was ying her veto card, and couldn¡¯t care less about

    anyone¡¯s opinion.

    Damn her! Where did she get this audacity?

    He feared that if he said one more word, a resignation letter would really smack him right in the face.

    Hisplexion shifted from red to white, but eventually, he reined in his anger. ¡°Ms. Haywood, don¡¯t

    burn all your bridges. After all, we might cross paths in the future. Couldn¡¯t we still be friends?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s eyes, coldly clear, met his. ¡°I never nned on being friends with any of you.¡±

    Keagan was left speechless, trembling to the point he feared he might drop dead from rage right there.

    He turned on his heel and stormed out of the office, mming the door behind him with a resounding

    thud.

    Once he was out, the remaining executives quickly clustered around.

    ¡°What happened? Did she really say she¡¯s firing all those people?¡±

    ¡°This is insane! Who does that? If everyone leaves, she¡¯ll be thest one standing in thepany!¡±

    Keagan snorted, stirring up their resentment towards Brielle. ¡°Ms. Haywood said it¡¯s not enough to just

    fire people. All our Christmas bonuses are canceled, to be funneled into the TV series. If you¡¯re not on

    board, you might as well leave now.¡±

    1/2

    11:08

    ¡°What? Our Christmas bonuses?!¡± That was everyone¡¯s sweet slice of the ple she was messing with.

    ¡°How dare that¡­ that woman! Together, our bonuses must total over ten million. What gives her the

    right?¡±

    Keagan waved his hand resignedly. ¡°Someone must be backing her. Just do as she says, or we¡¯ll be

    the ones to suffer.¡±

    Keagan¡¯s shift in attitude was due to the task he had been burdened with. While his backers hadn¡¯t

    revealed their identities, their tone had made it clear he couldn¡¯t defy them. Besides, the money was

    good, too good to cut off his own cash flow. So, while he had ignited their rage, he had no personal

    stake in it and left them to their fury.

    After Keagan departed, the others were left seething.

    ¡°That little hussy probably seduced Keagan, too.¡±

    ¡°Remember how Keagan treasured his office? How did she just take over and make him move out

    without a fuss?¡±

    ¡°Bet she hooked up with him on her very first day. Wonder if the folks at Dorsey International know how

    ¡®charming¡® their little prot¨¦g¨¦ is.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go straight to Dorsey International andin! I¡¯ve got connections there. We could get an

    audience with Mr. Dorsey himself.¡±

    They quickly agreed that this was a solid n. Brielle thought she could wield her temporary power, but

    they¡¯d expose her actions to the higher¨Cups and reveal her true colors.

    Plus, once Mr. Dorsey learned she¡¯d secured her position at Ster Stage Entertainment only through

    the influence of other executives at Dorsey International, they were sure he¡¯d realize her true nature

    and be done with her.

    If her backer turned on her, Brielle might even lose her job. And once she was out, they would make

    her pay for all the indignities they had suffered.

    Oh, they¡¯d make sure she¡¯d regret crossing them.

 Chapter 570

    Chapter 570

    Brielle was oblivious to the undercurrents swirling amongst her colleagues as she plowed through the

    morning¡¯s stack of paperwork. By the time she¡¯d finished, her eyes were so sore and swollen it felt like

    they might start watering.

    Rubbing her eyes, she was contemting whether to call an impromptu meeting when her phone

    buzzed with a message from Max. [Lunch?]

    It was as if he had a sixth sense for her well¨Cbeing. His message was a gentle nudge reminding her not

    to skip meals lest her stomach issues re up again.

    A bittersweet feeling washed over Brielle as she quickly typed back a response. [On my way.]

    Max¡¯s eyes crinkled into a soft smile at her reply.

    He was seated in the boardroom, where the atmosphere had been tense, and the team members

    spoke with trepidation, seeing their CEO¡¯s stern expression. Yet, within less than two minutes, Max¡¯s

    demeanor shifted from stormy to sunny, and the room breathed a collective sigh of relief. One quick¨C

    thinking team member seized the moment to finish their report, and indeed, there were no objections

    from Max.

    As the meeting wrapped up, everyone felt as if they had been touched by a spring breeze. Their

    respect for the person who could lift the Max¡¯s spirits was growing. Could it be Ms. Alivia?

    Spective nces were exchanged. Perhaps Ms. Alivia was poised to be the CEO¡¯s wife

    soon.

    Despite rumors to the contrary on the inte, those within Dorsey International knew better. After all,

    Ms. Alivia had been involved inpany projects even while overseas, a testament to

    Max¡¯s trust in her.

    The day continued at a breakneck pace for Max, with back¨Cto¨Cback international acquisition meetings

    concluding at three in the afternoon.

    He massaged his temples as Patrick briefed him on the schedule. ¡°At four, you¡¯ve got golf with the CEO

    of the Serenity Group to discuss the new tourism project in Lynn County. Then, dinner at six with Mr.

    Hatfield. Their fragrance business is booming, and they¡¯re likely looking to coborate with Dorsey

    International on a limited edition line. Finally, at eight, we start bidding on the overseas acquisition,

    which will go on for three hours. Thepetition is fierce, with several local powerhouses in the mix.¡±

    Max¡¯s days were always full, but never before had he felt time was so scarce that even messaging

    Brielle had to be squeezed into the workday.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Sammuel¡¯s dinner ce?¡± Max inquired.

    ¡°Mr. Hatfield said you could choose the venue.¡±

    ¡°Then let¡¯s go with Bite and Sip Bistro.¡±

    Chapter 570

    Patrick rifled through his mental Rolodex. Having been around the block a few times, he couldn¡¯t recall

    ever hearing of Bite and Sip Bistro.

    Feeling a tad negligent for not knowing the CEO¡¯s chosen dining spot, Patrick whipped out his phone

    and searched. The address for Bite and Sip Bistro was just a stone¡¯s throw from Ster Stage

    Entertainment¡¯s headquarters. His lips twitched at the realization.

    It made sense why he was unaware. Bite and Sip Bistro was a fast¨Cfood joint.

    Max, a man known for his refined pte, was now opting for fast food just to steal a moment with Ms.

    Brielle amidst his hectic schedule. Was he really bringing Mr. Hatfield of the prestigious Hatfield family

    to a fast¨Cfood restaurant? The imagery was almost too bizarre to fathom.

    Still, Patrick didn¡¯t hesitate to secure the venue, arranging to rent out the entire bistro.

    The owner of Bite and Sip thought it was a joke when he heard someone wanted to book the ce for

    three hours for a whopping thirty thousand dors. Their daily turnover was about ten thousand dors,

    and that wasn¡¯t even pure profit once you factored in rent, wages, and other expenses. To them,

    anyone willing to drop thirty grand for a three¨Chour reservation must have a screw loose.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    ¡°If you keep this up, I¡¯m calling the cops,¡± the owner threatened after hanging up on Patrick, then

    instructed his staff to keep the fries and chicken drumsticksing.

    But then his bank ount pinged with the deposit. He had to double¨Ccheck his vision and the zeros on

    the screen before tremblingly dialing back.

    ¡°I apologize for my ignorance. We¡¯re closing up shop now. May I ask what you¡¯d like to eat? We don¡¯t

    just do fast food, you know. My fries are second to none,¡± he boasted, hoping to keep this lucrative

    customer happy.

 Chapter 571

    Chapter 571

    Hearing the cheer in the joint owner¡¯s voice, Patrick couldn¡¯t help but chuckle to himself. That guy must

    felt like he¡¯d truly hit the jackpot.

    ¡°No need for anything fancy. Just get a chef from the five¨Cstar hotel next door to whip up a ten¨Ccourse

    meal. As long as your diner is spotless, we¡¯re golden. My boss is a bit of a germaphobe.¡±

    ¡°Sure thing, chief. But are you sure you don¡¯t want a taste of my world¨Css fries?¡±

    ¡°Still pitching his fries,¡± Patrick thought. It was all about getting the cash and selling the product ¨C adults

    never settled for just one when they could have both.

    Patrick rubbed his forehead. ¡°Just do as I¡¯ve told you, alright?¡±

    Six o¡¯clock in the evening.

    Brielle had just wrapped up herst meeting. She¡¯d talked so much that her voice was starting to go

    hoarse. She took a sip of lemon water to soothe her throat and was about to dive back into the artists¡®

    profiles when her phone buzzed with a call from Max. ¡°Have you eaten yet?¡±

    Brielle had been swamped all afternoon; there was no chance for a meal break. Now that Max had

    reminded her, she realized she was actually starving. ¡°Not yet. I¡¯ve still got a few profiles to go through.¡±

    ¡°How long will you need?¡±

    ¡°Ten minutes.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for you at Bite and Sip Bistro, just around the corner from your office.¡±

    Brielle almost thought she¡¯d misheard. The Bite and Sip Bistro catered to the local office crowd with its

    convenience and speed, aiming to fill stomachs, not tantalize taste buds. Sure, the hygiene standards

    were eptable, but the ingredients were pretty run¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cmill¨Cafter all, a full meal only cost thirty

    bucks. They had to cut costs somewhere.

    Max, at the Bite and Sip Bistro?

    She stood up immediately. ¡°I¡¯ll be right down.¡±

    ¡°No rush. We¡¯ll wait for you.¡±

    We? Who else was with Max?

    Max hung up and set his phone aside.

    Sammuel sat across from him, his mind reeling since stepping into the Bite and Sip Bistro. Considering

    he and Max had no bad blood between them¨Cin fact, they¡¯d coborated on a property deal once¨Cit

    didn¡¯t seem like Max was trying to insult him with fast food. Sammuel could keep his cool. He¡¯d already

    picked up on the vibes between Max and Brielle and

    10:52

    Chapter 571

    couldn¡¯t resist gossiping, ¡°Was it Ms. Brielle?¡±

    The smile in Max¡¯s eyes deepened. ¡°She works at Ster Stage Entertainment.¡±

    Sammuel breathed a sigh of relief. So it was for Brielle that they were at Bite and Sip Bistro. Even the

    high¨Cand¨Cmighty ¡°The Priest¡± seemed toe down to earth for a woman.

    Why Brielle wasn¡¯t at Dorsey International was none of Sammuel¡¯s business. Both men had been in the

    game long enough to know when to probe and when to keep quiet.

    Meanwhile, Brielle was waiting for the elevator, which seemed to take forever during the rush hour. The

    private lift had been out of order since yesterday, and today, it was still not fixed, forcing her to use the

    regr staff elevator.

    She impatiently kept checking her phone for the time and was about to call Max to let him know she¡¯d

    bete when an irate female voice cut through the lobby. ¡°What the hell is so special about you?!¡±

    Brielle looked up to find the woman from Keagan¡¯s office the day before, likely someone who had been

    hooking up with Keagan for quite some time.

    The woman, probably in her mid¨Ctwenties, seethed with envy at the sight of Brielle. She heard rumors

    that this neer had suddenly be president, and she found it hard to believe. Now, she got the

    news of her own dismissal. She was a manager, after all, a position she¡¯d secured by hooking up with

    Keagan, and now it was all undone so easily by this¡­ this bitch.

    ¡°Damn it,¡± she thought, ¡°how could this happened!¡±N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

 Chapter 572

    Chapter 572

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s your deal, huh? Why does Keagan seem scared of you? Have you been coz 10 to the

    bigwigs at Dorsey International or something?¡±

    Having been fired, she had nothing left to lose. So what if Brieffe was the president? it was not like they

    could call the cops just because she hurled a few insults,

    Brielle frowned. The elevator had just arrived, and she really wasn¡¯t in the mood for this nonsense. She

    stepped towards the elevator, intending to leave the confrontation behind.

    The woman was having none of it. Clutching her purse, she swung it at Brielle with no small amount of

    venom. ¡°You little tramp! Ignoring me, huh? Don¡¯t think I¡¯m scared just because you¡¯ve charmed your

    way to the top. I no longer work under Dorsey International, so you can¡¯t touch me!

    Her purse was made of alligator leather, sharp at the edges. Brielle, in her hurry, could only raise her

    hand in defense. The sharp edge sliced a five¨Ccentimeter gash across Brielle¡¯s wrist. and blood flowed

    freely. The woman herself hadn¡¯t expected this turn of events and paled at the sight.

    Brielle was shocked that the purse nearly severed an artery. Her forehead throbbed with tension as

    bystanders began to take notice. Someone swiftly called for an ambnce. With this wound, Brielle

    was definitely hospital¨Cbound.

    With a steely gaze, Brielle looked at the panicked woman, her eyes sharp as knives.

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    Feeling the sting of Brielle¡¯s stare, the woman threw a wad of bills at her. ¡°What are you looking at?

    Here¡¯s enough cash for your hospital trip. And just so you know, you¡¯re not the only one with

    connections at Dorsey International. You¡¯ve heard of Mr. Dorsey, right? My friend is pretty tight with him

    and is his girlfriend. One word from me, and you¡¯re out on your ear.¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t be bothered with this brainless banter and instructed someone to call the

    police.

    Ricardo had already rushed over with a first¨Caid kit. The blood was too much; any deeper and it would

    have hit an artery. To the uninformed, it looked like a botched attempt at self¨Charm. ¡°Ms. Haywood, let¡¯s

    get you to the hospital.¡±

    This whole fiasco had Brielle seething. She¡¯d finally managed to schedule a dinner with Max. only to

    have it interrupted by some random woman.

    She nced at Keagan in the crowd, her voice dark. ¡°When the cops get here, show them the

    surveince footage. Assault and nder should be enough to lock her up for a while.¡±

    The woman¡¯s face went ashen, her lips quivering. ¡°Brielle, do you have to do this? I¡¯m so young, and

    jail would ruin my life. Are you trying to push me over the edge? I swear I¡¯ll jump off the Ster Stage

    Entertainment building right now! I¡¯ll have every media outlet ming you. Let them see what a

    second¨Crate person you really are!¡± The woman was driven to desperation, wishing she could strangle

    Brielle.

    1/2

    10:52

    Chapter 577

    Brielle let out a coldugh as Ricardo finished bandaging her wrist. ¡°Go ahead and jump. Just

    don¡¯tnd on anyone.¡±

    Brielle turned to Keagan. ¡°Director Keagan, I¡¯ll leave this to you,¡±

    The woman burst into tears, grabbing at Keagan¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Director Keagan, I don¡¯t want to go to jail.

    Please help me.¡±

    Keagan shook off her hand, his gaze lingering on Brielle and Ricardo as they entered the

    elevator.

    With her wrist bleeding, Brielle wouldn¡¯t be able to dine with Max. She tried to call him but noticed blood

    on her phone and felt a wave of nausea.

    Sensing her difort, Ricardo quickly wiped the phone clean with a tissue. ¡°Ms. Haywood, here¡¯s

    your phone. You need to get to the hospital right away; it can¡¯t wait.¡±

    Brielle took the phone, looking pale. ¡°I know, you don¡¯t have toe with me.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, I was going to visit my sister at the hospital anyway.¡± His eyes flickered with sadness,

    lashes casting a shadow over his youthful face.

    He was going to see his sister, and what could Brielle say to that?

    She tried calling Max, but the ambnce arrived before she could speak to him. The paramedic saw

    her wrist and ushered her into the vehicle. ¡°How deep is the cut? You need to be more careful. 1 heard

    it was done with a purse. Don¡¯t move your hand too much. Let¡¯s get you to the hospital to see if you

    need stitches.¡±

    Brielle handed her phone to the paramedic. ¡°Please call my boyfriend. He¡¯s waiting for me to have

    dinner with him. But don¡¯t tell him I¡¯m hurt. Just say I got pulled into ast¨Cminute meeting.¡±

    She didn¡¯t want to worry Max.

    The paramedic chuckled, ¡°Okay, this number, right? I¡¯ll call him right away.¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help but add, ¡°Just say you¡¯re my assistant, and I had to attend an emergency meeting.¡±

    The paramedic nodded, and the phone had already dialed through.

 Chapter 573

    Chapter 573

    At the Bite and Sip Bistro, Max and Samuel had been sitting for a while, discussing a

    coboration between theirpanies. Max¡¯s phone rang, and a faint smile shed across his eyes.

    As he answered the call, the smile slowly faded. ¡°Yeah, I know. Let her carry on with her

    y.¡± he said into the phone.

    Samuel could tell Max had just been stood up. Frankly, it was rather awkward to see Max in this

    situation, especially being ditched by a woman.

    Max hade all the way from Dorsey International, reserved the whole ce, and even arranged for

    a five¨Cstar hotel dinner, yet Brielle didn¡¯t show.

    But Max¡¯s tone remained casual as he reminded the caller. ¡°Make sure she has dinner tonight.¡± Before

    the doctor on the other end could reply, Max asked, ¡°Is that an ambnce I hear?¡± Max had sharp

    ears, and his gaze sharpened.

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    The doctor was taken aback, momentarily lost for words. After a brief pause, he quickly made an

    excuse. ¡°No, it¡¯s just a fire drill in the hallway. We have them twice a year, and today just happens to be

    the day.¡±

    Max frowned but didn¡¯t press further, merely insisting that Brielle should have her dinner.

    Once he hung up, Max looked down at the food in front of him. Samuel, the old fox, promptly chimed in,

    ¡°Is Ms. Brielle even busier than you? She doesn¡¯t seem to rely on you at all. I wonder why she¡¯s

    working so hard?¡±

    Samuel spected that Brielle didn¡¯t end up at Ster Stage Entertainment by chance. The

    entertainmentpany¡¯s business was quite different from that of Dorsey International, so it was very

    likely that Michael had found out about their rtionship and made some sort of bet with Brielle. His

    words were meant to remind Max that Brielle¡¯s hard work was all about being

    with him.

    Max¡¯s expression, which had cooled, brightened slightly at thement. With a mixture of

    helplessness and indulgence, he said, ¡°She¡¯s trying to make more money than me.¡±

    A smile yed at the corners of his eyes as he spoke.

    Samuelughed along. ¡°There aren¡¯t many women in Beaconsfield with Ms. Brielle¡¯s grand ambitions.¡±

    The atmosphere warmed, and Samuel smoothly transitioned back to the business discussion.

    Meanwhile, Brielle had arrived at the hospital, where she received five stitches for her wound and was

    advised to keep it dry.

    Brielle frowned at the wound. It would be too difficult not to let Max find out. If he knew she had been

    injured at Ster Stage Entertainment and forbade her from going there, she would inevitably sh with

    Michael.

    10:53

    Chant 573

    The doctor, seeing her worried expression, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.

    ¡°You are worried about your boyfriend, eh? He has a nice voice, and he really cares about you. He

    insisted that you eat on time. Quite perceptive, too, to recognize the sound of an ambnce so

    quickly,¡±

    Naturally. Brielle was pleased to hear someone praise her boyfriend and couldn¡¯t resist saying. ¡°He¡¯s

    the most perfect man I¡¯ve ever met.¡±

    After finishing the bandaging, the doctorughed again and teased, ¡°What¡¯s that old saying? Love is

    blind, and everyss is a beauty in the lover¡¯s eyes.¡±

    Brielle blushed a little, unustomed to the attention.

    Just as the doctor was about to add more, someone knocked on the door. ¡°There¡¯s someone next door

    who¡¯s had a heavy bleed from drinking too much. You need toe.¡±

    For some reason, Brielle¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she immediately thought of Aubree. She stood up

    quickly and went to the next room, only to find not Aubree but Spencer reeking of alcohol.

    Brielle felt a wave of bad luck, turned on her heel, and made to leave. Spencer caught sight of her and

    thought he was hallucinating. Tears streamed down his face instantly. ¡°Don¡¯t go, Brielle, please don¡¯t

    leave me,¡± he sobbed, the taste of blood in his mouth.

    The doctors couldn¡¯t restrain him, and he fell off the bed, clutching at Brielle¡¯s ankles. ¡°Just look at me.

    You won¡¯t even look at me in my dreams.¡±

    Brielle was baffled. How could someone who had once trampled over her, end up in such a state

    because of her? The me was too heavy for her to bear, so she quickly withdrew her foot, but

    Spencer gripped her tightly. ¡°What do I have to do? Just tell me. If youe back, I¡¯ll do anything.

    Please, Brielle, I really like you, no, I love you.¡±

 Chapter 574

    Chapter 574

    Just as Brielle was about to kick Spencer away, a woman¡¯s voice echoed from the doorway. ¡°Spencer,

    haven¡¯t you embarrassed yourself enough?¡±

    Startled, Brielle turned to see that it was none other than Victoria.

    With a nod to Brielle, Victoria signaled for the doctors to pull Spencer away. It took several doctors and

    a lot of effort to restrain Spencer on the bed and administer a sedative.

    Noticing the bandage on Brielle¡¯s wrist, Victoria frowned, ¡°What happened to you?¡±

    ¡°Just a little scratch from my purse.¡±

    Some purse essories can be sharp. Victoria had seen enough catfights to know women used the

    corners of their handbags to leave their opponents bloodied.

    ¡°Does Max know about this?¡±

    As Max¡¯s older sister, Victoria had never interfered with his rtionship with Brielle, which meant Brielle

    had no hard feelings towards her. But thinking of Tiffanie, Brielle felt less warmth towards Victoria. ¡°I

    haven¡¯t told him yet.¡±

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s for the best. If Max got involved, he wouldn¡¯t care who hurt you or what their background

    was. Mom always says he doesn¡¯t take after anyone in the Dorsey family. In some ways, he¡¯s the most

    reckless of us all.¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t quite understand what Victoria meant but remained quietly attentive.

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    Inside, the doctors had sedated Spencer and wheeled him into the ICU.

    Victoria tucked her shoulder¨Clength hair behind her ear, her expression indifferent. ¡°I don¡¯t oppose your

    rtionship with Max, but I hope you bring him positive energy, not negativity. You probably don¡¯t know,

    but as a child, he was so serious that mom had to consult numerous therapists and psychologists

    because he wouldn¡¯t smile.¡±

    Brielle was surprised; she had never heard about Max¡¯s childhood. She knew being groomed as the

    heir must have been tough, but she never realized that his life was challenging even before he was in

    the spotlight.

    Victoria¡¯s short hair framed her spotless skin, but a perpetual cloud of mncholy seemed to loom over

    her. ¡°Mom was strict with him, treating him as the sessor from the moment he was born. If he

    couldn¡¯t fulfill that role, given her state of mind, she might have done something drastic. So when Max

    couldn¡¯t smile and displeased Dad, Mom was devastated. He¡¯s been through hundreds of treatments to

    be the decisive person he is today. Only he knows what he¡¯s endured.¡±

    Turning to Brielle, Victoria¡¯s tone was calm but chilly. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t push him to be someone

    else.¡±

    Brielle frowned. Why would Victoria say that? She had never thought to push Max; all she

    Chapter 574

    wanted was to be good to him, topensate for all he¡¯d lost.

    ¡°Do you love Max?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s thoughts shattered at the question. Love? She could admit she liked Max a lot, but what was

    love? Growing up, no one had ever taught Brielle the meaning of the word.

    Seeing the confusion on Brielle¡¯s face, Victoria chuckled. ¡°Maybe you don¡¯t understand now, but when

    the timees to part ways, you will. Love is like that ¨C its depth unknown until separation.¡±

    But by then, understanding would be toote.

    Brielle was never deeply loved by anyone and had no idea how to begin to experience love. She

    believed in love, like the tragic passion Aubree had for Andrew or the destructive devotion Victoria had

    for Everett.

    But her feelings for Max? She couldn¡¯t think of the right words to describe them.

 Chapter 575

    Chapter 575

    Victoria felt she¡¯d said too much, even though she wasn¡¯t quite sure what she was trying to

    communicate.

    ¡°Max is my brother, whether we¡¯re close or not, and I don¡¯t want him getting hurt.¡± With those words,

    she slipped into the hospital room.

    Brielle stood there, overhearing Victoria instructing the doctor. ¡°He¡¯s been cooped up at home. drinking

    himself into oblivion. If I hadn¡¯t found him today, he¡¯d probably be dead. Please make sure there¡¯s

    always a nurse watching over him while he¡¯s admitted. I¡¯ll take care of the expenses.¡±

    Spencer¡¯s parents had long left Beaconsfield, and the only one in the Dorsey family who might still

    have had some concern for him was probably Victoria.

    Victoria had watched Spencer grow up; she knew about the night he spent on his knees in their

    ancestral home. That was why she had said those things to Brielle.

    Victoria knew all too well the kind of tricks her father could y. If a man as proud as Everett could be

    broken, then Brielle stood no chance. Brielle and Max were never going tost, especially not with

    Michael yet to truly exert his influence. Once he did, Brielle would lose her dignity just as Everett had.

    However, Victoria didn¡¯t regret a thing. At least she kept Everett by her side. That was where he¡¯d stay

    for the rest of his life.

    The Dorseys never really understood love. What they felt was more like possession. Like now, Victoria

    couldn¡¯t define her feelings for Everett. Was it love or something else? She simply couldn¡¯t bear to let

    go and decided why not keep him close and torment each other? Victoria lowered her eyes, knowing

    that unless Brielle werepletely unattached in this world, everything and everyone connected to herContent is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    would be a burden, a vulnerability. Victoria¡¯s father had used the woman Everett loved most to

    threaten him, and that woman was pregnant at the time. Everett had been searching for this woman for

    years, but how could he possibly seed with Michael¡¯s methods? If not for the child still being alive,

    Everett would¡¯vemit suicide by now.

    Victoria wanted to knock Everett off his pedestal and turn him into a ything she could manipte

    and desecrate. The love she couldn¡¯t have was returned to her in another form that satisfied her.

    Not a single Dorsey was normal, including her brother, Max, who simplycked emotional awareness

    and buried his feelings deeply.

    Some people¡¯s madness was external, others internal, and the world had always been that way. Back

    at the office, Brielle learned that the police had taken away the woman who hurt her. She

    Chapter 575

    couldn¡¯t find an excuse to exin her wrist injury to Max, so she said she would stay with Aubree

    another night. Upon hearing she¡¯d be with Aubree, Max didn¡¯t press any further,

    Brielle had a key to Aubree¡¯s ce, made long ago. As she inserted it into the tock, she heard

    footsteps from inside.

    Aubree opened the door, and her slight spark of hope vanished upon seeing Brielle,

    A quick nce inside showed that the previous night¡¯s mess of clothes and bottles had been cleaned

    up. The room was refreshed, and the table was neatlyden with delicious food, including a homemade

    birthday cake.

    Brielle knew who Aubree was waiting for, but that person probably wouldn¡¯t show up tonight.

    Feeling awkward, Aubree fiddled with the doorknob before mumbling. ¡°Caught in a sad scene again,

    huh? I knew he wouldn¡¯te.¡±

    Like a gambler addicted to hope, Aubree clung to the slim possibility until the bitter end.

    She quickly pulled Brielle inside. ¡°I made lots of goodies. Eat with me, or it¡¯ll all go to waste.¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t refuse. Aubree neededpany, even if it was just a silent presence.

    Midway through their meal, both their phones rang. Max was calling Brielle about an issue with Martha,

    who¡¯d had three episodes in one day. He needed to visit the sanatorium.

    Brielle stood up immediately, insisting on going with him. ¡°Aubree, Max¡¯s mom is in trouble. I¡¯m heading

    to the sanatorium.¡±

    Aubree nodded, not letting on who had called her.

    Brielle reached the sanatorium quickly. Several doctors were already restraining Martha when she

    arrived.

    Max, braving the chill of the night, stood by a window in the hallway, peering into the chaotic

    scene.

    A doctor approached Max, his tone sympathetic, ¡°Ms. Martha¡¯s been very unstabletely, and she¡¯s

    been calling for you. Deep down, she probably wants you by her side. However, your work keeps you

    busy. Visiting every two weeks isn¡¯t enough, and something about Beaconsfield is scaring her. That¡¯s

    why she¡¯s acting out.¡±

    Max rubbed his temple, then heard the doctor suggest, ¡°Max, if you can¡¯t be here often, maybe look

    into what happened to Ms. Martha back then. We need to understand why she¡¯s like this.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Brielle felt a knot tighten in her stomach, an ominous premonition creeping over her.

 Chapter 576

    Chapter 576

    Max¡¯s gaze was cast downward. His pale lips were pursed lightly, and his features were seemingly

    gentle yet edged with a sharp chill.

    Ever since his earliest memories, his mother had been strict with him, a level of strictness that would

    have seemed almost twisted in other households of Beaconsfield. But it was in his nature not to be

    bothered by it, and he never held any resentment towards Martha.

    Martha had utterly neglected her daughter Victoria, leaving Victoria to her own devices to the point that

    she hadn¡¯t once asked for Victoria to visit her at the sanatorium throughout the

    years.

    Victoria had indeed never visited.

    Martha cared about whether Max could secure his ce as the heir and Max himself. So, what had

    devastated her back then must have been rted to either of these concerns.

    When his father had pushed him into the heir¡¯s position at the age of ten, Martha¡¯s health began to

    decline, and Max wondered what hidden turmoil had beset her.

    Outsiders spected that Michael was too ruthless, intentionally sending Max, the youngest son, to his

    doom and causing Martha to copse under the strain.

    Max knew the truth was not so simple. He had people investigate covertly, but they unearthed nothing.

    ¡°Max, if you have the time, try to visit more often,¡± the doctor said after discussing the new medication¡¯s

    side effects and the urgency of stabilizing Martha¡¯s mood to avoid negating all previous efforts.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Max stood looking cold and mncholic and nodded slowly after hearing the words.

    Once the doctor had left, Brielle nced through the window at Martha, who had finally calmed down

    and was lying in bed, attended to by several caregivers.

    Brielle was curious if Alivia¡¯s weekly visits exacerbated Martha¡¯s condition, wondering if the news Alivia

    brought was part of the cause. Alivia had previously pinned the me for a lost child on Martha, and if

    stirring trouble between her and Max served Alivia¡¯s purpose, she would

    do it.

    Brielle also knew that telling Max about Alivia¡¯s potential maniptions wouldn¡¯t convince him right

    away. After all, Alivia had cared for Martha for many years, dutifully, even from abroad. If she intended

    to cause harm, she would have done so long ago.

    Max was aware of some of Alivia¡¯s true colors, but he likely never harbored a doubt regarding Martha.

    Moreover, Martha had once told Brielle that if she and Max ended up together, Martha would rather die.

    She tried to control Max¡¯s life, first by wanting him to be the Dorsey family¡¯s heir and then by

    hoping he¡¯d marry a woman the Dorsey family approved of.

    10:39

    Chapter 576

    Max opened a door and stepped inside. Martha was justing to, and upon seeing him, her mood

    became agitated. ¡°What are you doing here?! I¡¯d be better off dead than seeing you!¡±

    ¡°Mother,¡±

    Max called out, only to have Martha throw a bedside cup at him in rage. ¡°Why did you tell me over the

    phone that you¡¯re with Brielle? You clearly don¡¯t care about me at all, so there¡¯s no need for you to be

    here. Get out!¡±

    The cup shattered against the doorframe, and the fragments scattered like shrapnel, a sound like the

    beginning of war.

    ¡°Mother, you must take care of yourself.¡±

    ¡°Ha! As long as that bitch is on this earth, I¡¯ll never have peace.¡±

    Max¡¯s expression remained serene, like the cold light of a winter¡¯s day. He approached and sat down

    slowly by the bed. ¡°I¡¯d prefer you didn¡¯t speak of Brielle in such a way.¡±

    Martha¡¯s face twisted into a sneer, her gaze drifting out the window to catch a glimpse of Brielle¡¯s

    figure. She scoffed, ¡°Oh? That lowly hussy seduced you. If she¡¯s not a tramp, what is she? Keep her

    away from me. She makes me sick!¡±

    ¡°What would you have me do, Mother?¡±

    ¡°Break up with her!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not possible.¡± Max¡¯s reply was immediate and unwavering.

    Martha¡¯s gaze darkened, herugh cold. ¡°Then I might as well die.¡±

 Chapter 577

    Chapter 577

    Max¡¯s gaze rested on her with a calm that bordered on indifference as if devoid of any emotion. ¡°Mom,

    is it because I¡¯m the heir to the Dorsey family?¡± he asked quietly.

    Martha¡¯s lips tightened into a thin line, and she let out a derisive snort. ¡°Of course it is. What¡¯s the

    difference between Brielle and a beggar on the street? Are you with her to y the savior now?¡±

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I could always renounce my inheritance. Antonio¡¯s been back in Beaconsfield for a while, hasn¡¯t he?

    He could take over.¡±

    Antonio was William¡¯s son.

    Martha was suddenly at a loss for words, struggling to believe what she was hearing. He had been

    dered the sessor at just ten years old. He had navigated through tumultuous trials and had some

    close shaves just to get this prestigious position, and now he was ready to give it all up? It was sheer

    madness.

    In an instant, Martha felt as if her world was crumbling, a seething rage threatening to destroy

    everything in the room! But she could not act on it. Max¡¯s few words held her life¡¯s work in the bnce.

    Her fingertips trembled, and her lips were so tightly pressed together that they began to bleed, the

    metallic taste of blood filling her mouth.

    Brielle must not stay! She had to make that call now!

    Outside the door, not too far away, Brielle caught Martha¡¯s nce¨Ca look venomous as a viper¡¯s hiss,

    filled with loathsome poison, wishing her dead where she stood.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t hear what Max was saying, but it was clearly nothing to please Martha. As she stepped

    back, footsteps approached from behind. Turning, she saw Alivia.

    Noticing Brielle had not entered, Alivia¡¯s lips curled in scorn. ¡°Well, well, Brielle, showing some sense

    for once. You know Martha might have a fit seeing you. Hiding out here is probably for the best. After

    all, your ¡®rtionship¡® with Max is the kind that¡¯s best kept in the dark: Even if Max has defended you

    before, in Martha¡¯s eyes, you¡¯re just a ything for her son, disposable as yesterday¡¯s newspaper.¡±

    Alivia couldn¡¯t hide her smugness. She was alone with Brielle, so why should she?

    ¡°I can walk right in and chat with Martha while you can only silently watch through the window. That¡¯s

    the difference between you and me. And this is just the beginning, darling. You¡¯re in for a rough ride.¡±

    ¡°Are you done, Ms. Alivia?¡± Brielle interjected with a frosty re. ¡°If you don¡¯t go in to attend to her, you

    might miss your chance to see Max. Isn¡¯t that why you¡¯re here? To sneak a few more seconds with

    him? It¡¯s quite touching, that you care so much about my boyfriend.¡±

    Alivia¡¯s face flushed with anger and disgust. ¡°Do you actually believe you and Max willst

    1/2

    12:06

    Chapter 577

    forever?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s none of your concern.¡±

    Alivia let out a coldugh. Her lips twisted into a smirk as she stepped closer, her voice a whisper. ¡°You

    know, on one birthday, it was just me, my brother, and Max. We got drunk, and Max and I almost¡­ He

    kissed me, from my cheek all the way down to my corbone, confessing he liked me. That was the

    first time I saw him like that. But I didn¡¯t give in to him. You know how persuasive he can be when he

    wants a woman to fall for him, especially when he¡¯s drunk and says he likes you. So very charming.¡±

    She was deliberately using the story to nauseate Brielle. Alivia even pulled at her blouse, revealing an

    old bite mark on her shoulder¨Ca testament to the intensity of that long¨Cago moment.

 Chapter 578

    Chapter 578

    ¡°This ¡®little souvenir¡® is from Max, and if you don¡¯t believe me, go and ask him yourself. He and I

    connect on a soul level. You? You¡¯re just his fling, a sh in the pan. When you used those cheap tricks

    to snag him, you sealed the deal on a rtionship that¡¯s skin¨Cdeep at best. It¡¯s only a matter of time

    before he gets sick of you.¡±

    After Alivia spat out her venomous words, she wanted to bask in Brielle¡¯s breakdown, but Brielle was

    way tooposed, which made Alivia look like aplete fool. She couldn¡¯t believe Brielle didn¡¯t care

    at all. She must¡¯ve been pretending, right?

    Of course, what she had said was a lie. Max was always guarded around women, so how could he

    have let her get that close? She made up the whole thing, knowing Brielle wouldn¡¯t bother to check the

    story with Max. As long as it wasn¡¯t verified, it might as well be true.

    ¡°So, he kissed you?¡± Brielle chuckled lightly. ¡°I can¡¯t be bothered to verify whether that¡¯s true or not.

    And even if it is, what of it? Anything he hasn¡¯t done with you, he does with me every single night. But I

    don¡¯t parade it around because it¡¯s just another mundane detail.¡±

    Alivia¡¯s face turned ashen, her chest quivering with rage. She was utterly humiliated!

    But the fact was, Max and Brielle indeed has sex!

    Brielle even unbuttoned the top button of her blouse, revealing a dusting of pink marks underneath.

    ¡°Max bit you, Ms. Alivia? That must¡¯ve hurt. He wouldn¡¯t dream of being so rough with me.¡±

    Her words were a low blow. Brielle was repulsed by her own pettiness after saying it. But Alivia had

    asked for it, barging in like that while Brielle was in a foul mood, making herself a perfect target. She

    deserved it.

    Á¿

    The marks were faint pink, a testament to tenderness, to how cherished she was. In stark contrast to

    the bite, they were like countless ps across Alivia¡¯s face.

    Shaking with anger and not knowing how to respond, Alivia was snapped back to reality by Martha¡¯s

    voice from inside the room. ¡°Alivia, if you¡¯re here,e on in. Why waste time talking to nobodies?¡±

    Alivia, struggling to keep herposure and not fall apart on the spot, shot Brielle a hateful re, took

    a deep breath, and walked inside with a forced smile.

    Brielle stood still, overhearing Martha¡¯s voice again. ¡°Alivia, let me look at you; have you lost weight? I

    told the doctors not to worry you about my condition. You¡¯ve got your hands full with work. I hear the

    institute has started to ept applications?¡±

    ¡°Martha, no matter how busy I am, I¡¯ll always make time to see you.¡±

    Martha¡¯s face was all smiles, trying to dispel the gloom Max had brought her. She nced out the

    window, noting that Brielle was no longer there. ¡°Alivia, has someone been giving you trouble?¡±

    12.07

    Chapter 578

    Alivia didn¡¯t answer right away, instinctively turning to Max.

    Max stood unppable, his voice rich and deep. ¡°Brielle doesn¡¯t start fights.¡± The implication was clear:

    if you got bullied, you were asking for it.

    Having been humiliated by Brielle and now belittled by Max, Alivia¡¯s eyes reddened instantly.

    Martha was livid, nearly fainting with frustration. She took Alivia¡¯s hand and patted it reassuringly.

    ¡°Alivia, darling, I heard you asked the cook to prepare some soup. Why don¡¯t you check on it? Max and

    I need to finish our conversation. Remember, don¡¯t waste your time chatting with the riff¨Craff outside.¡±

    Alivia nodded, her eyes still red but her faceposed. ¡°Max, I¡¯ll step out.¡±

    Max gave a nomittal grunt, clearly not interested in further dialogue.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Alivia clenched her fists at her sides as she left, her eyes seething with resentment.

 Chapter 579

    Chapter 579

    Brielle had stealthily retreated fifty meters away from the window, the bone¨Cchilling breeze of the

    evening slicing through her skin and settling deep into her marrow. She pped her cheeks in an

    attempt to stay alert, a movement that sent a jolt of pain through her wrist.

    She had covered her wrist with her sleeve when she went to meet Max. It was winter, after all, and no

    one could spot the abnormality as long as she didn¡¯t take off her coat. However, her recent gesture had

    been a bit too vigorous, and the freshly stitched wound on her hand throbbed with pain.

    Thinking that Max would be a while longer, she slipped into the restroom down the hall. The restroom

    was spotlessly clean, and just as she rolled up her sleeve, footsteps echoed at the doorway it was

    Alivia.

    If she were Alivia, she wouldn¡¯t keep putting herself in a position to be humiliated. After all, Max didn¡¯t

    love Alivia, and that was Brielle¡¯s trump card.

    Alivia stood at the doorway, her arms crossed, her expression stormy. ¡°Martha sent me out and said

    she had something to discuss privately with Max. I¡¯ve got no idea what they¡¯re talking about or whether

    Max can hold out, considering Martha is, quite literally, betting her life on

    this.¡±

    Her gaze fell on Brielle¡¯s wrist, her eyebrows lifting slightly, ¡°Oh, did you get hurt? Max is really

    careless, not even noticing your injury. Aren¡¯t you two supposedly up close and personal every night?

    How could he overlook something like this? He isn¡¯t treating you like some sort of sex dall after the

    lights go out, is he?¡±Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    For the first time, Brielle realized just how spiteful Alivia could be. As perfect andposed as she

    seemed to others, that was how petty and terrible she was when it came to Brielle.

    Love could bring out the ugliest sides of a woman, not just in shes with a rival but also in those

    heart¨Cwrenching cries for a man.

    Brielle usually avoided such disgraceful situations. If someone didn¡¯t care for her, she wouldn¡¯t

    abandon her dignity to cling to them.

    ¡°Ms. Alivia, you seem so intrigued by my intimate life with Max. Perhaps you¡¯d like me to make a video

    for you next time?¡± Brielle quipped as she rolled up her sleeve, a smile on her face. However, seeing

    the blood¨Csoaked bandage, her brow creased ever so slightly, fearing the wound had reopened.

    As she was thinking about whether she should check into the hospitalter, she was startled by the

    sound of high heels approaching.

    ¡°You bitch!¡±

    Caught off guard, Alivia yanked Brielle¡¯s hand, submerged the injured wrist under the cold tap, and

    turned the water on full st. ¡°Deserved! Does it hurt, Brielle?¡±

    Chapter 579

    The tap water on the wound could easily lead to an infection. Brielle shoved Alivia away, the pain in her

    wrist sharp and excruciating.

    Alivia let out a soft chuckle, her eyes skimming with feigned innocence. ¡°Oops, my bad. That wasn¡¯t

    intentional.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s forehead beaded with sweat from the pain. The wound was deep and stitched, and now that

    the bandage was soaked, the blood was beginning to spread.

    Alivia flipped her hair. ¡°Looks like your wound is bleeding. Maybe you should take care of it yourself.¡±

    With that, she turned to leave.

    Brielle lowered her gaze, deliberately peeling off the bandage, her tone indifferent, ¡°Did I say your could

    leave?¡±

    Alivia¡¯s footsteps faltered, her sneer returning. ¡°Oh? And what do you n to do about it?¡±

    It was just the two of them in this ce. Even if Alivia hadmitted such an outrageous act, what of

    it? With Brielle¡¯s temperament, she surely wouldn¡¯t tattle to Max. That confidence emboldened Alivia to

    act.

    Brielle was a stubborn, independent woman. She tended to carry her burdens alone, much like Max.

    They were both attempting to navigate theplex process of love, a journey that could easily be

    thrown off course. With Michael¡¯s interference and Martha putting pressure on Max, while Brielle was

    caught up with thepany¡¯s business, it was the perfect opening for Alivia to seize her opportunity.

    She was certain Brielle wouldn¡¯t dare retaliate. After all, in all of Beaconsfield, no one dared cross her.

    She was Miss Barnes of the Barnes family.

    Brielle¡¯s eyes remained downcast, unwinding the bandage from her wrist coil by coil and discarding it,

    then lifted her gaze to meet Alivia¡¯s. The icy chill in her eyes was piercing, making Alivia feel

    ufortable all over.

    How could Brielle look at her with such eyes?! Alivia¡¯s brow furrowed. She usually looked at others in

    that way.

    ¡°Brielle, I¡¯d advise you to watch your gaze, or else I might just tear. that wound right open.¡±

 Chapter 580

    Chapter 580

    No sooner had the words left her lips than Brielle advanced, shoving her forcefully toward the sink.

    Alivia¡¯s face drained of color from the pain, her whole being trapped In a mix of shock and fear, ¡°Brielle!

    What do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡±

    Brielle had trained in Taekwondo and was a ck belt no less. Even with an injured hand, it didn¡¯t stop

    her from exerting force. Using her uninjured hand, she pressed Alivia¡¯s head under the faucet and

    turned on the cold tap. The shock of the cold water made Alivia want to scream, her mind filled with

    nothing but astonishment.

    ¡°Thanks, Ms. Alivia, for washing my hands. Tit for tat, I¡¯m just returning the favor with a hair wash- no

    thanks needed.¡±

    Alivia struggled furiously, but all her efforts were as futile as throwing stones into the ocean. She was

    the youngest head of research, a spoileddy of the Barnes family. Everyone else treated her with the

    utmost respect, and here was Brielle, daring to manhandle her into a sink.

    This damn bitch!

    No matter how angry she was, she couldn¡¯t break free from Brielle¡¯s grip. The cold was biting. In this

    weather, having her head doused in cold water leeched away all her strength.

    Before slowly letting go, Brielle cranked the water to full st, ensuring Alivia¡¯s entire head was

    submerged. Her wrist was still bleeding, the blood spreading in the water with a rusty taint.

    ¡°Ms. Alivia, an eye for an eye. How¡¯s that for a refreshing winter hair wash?¡± Brielle¡¯s tone was

    infuriatingly nonchnt. Releasing her grip, Brielle left promptly, avoiding any further madness from

    Alivia.

    The hallway had other servants. Alivia wouldn¡¯t dare chase after her, not wanting to tarnish her image

    as the Barnes family¡¯s treasured jewel.

    ¡°Ah!¡± Alivia¡¯s rage echoed from inside. Even in this furious state, she was concerned about being seen

    in such disarray, so she was both restrained and resentful.

    She red at Brielle¡¯s retreating back. Her fingertips curled so tightly that her nails nearly pierced her

    skin. She had never hated someone so much, wishing they would just disappear.

    She was determined to make Brielle pay the price! What right did this charity home upstart have to

    compare herself to her?

    Alivia sneezed, her lips turning a pale shade of purple from the chill. She wrapped her arms around

    herself, grinding her teeth in anger, tasting the metallic tang of blood.

    After leaving, Brielle received a message from Max, indicating he would be dyed and suggesting

    she head back home. With her wrist in that condition, she couldn¡¯t meet him anyway, so after sending a

    reply, she hailed a cab and headed for the hospital.

    The same doctor who had bandaged her earlier frowned upon seeing her return, especially since the

    bandage was gone and the wound appeared waterlogged. ¡°Young people these

    1/2

    12:23

    Chapter 580

    days¡­ don¡¯t you care about your bodies at all? Didn¡¯t your boyfriend see you were hurt?¡± the doctor

    chastised while rewrapping Brielle¡¯s wrist.

    Brielle winced, relieved to see the stitches were still intact.

    ¡°You must be careful not to get tetanus. That can be deadly,¡± the doctor warned.

    ¡°Sure, thanks, Doctor,¡± Brielle responded, feeling utterly drained.

    Noticing the weariness in her eyes, the doctor offered some unsolicited advice. ¡°Did you have a fight

    with your boyfriend?¡±

    ¡°No, we¡¯re just both really busy, and his family¡­ they don¡¯t exactly warm up to me.¡±

    That was putting it mildly. They detested her.

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    The doctor¡¯s expression softened with sympathy, unable to resist a little gossip. ¡°I have a colleague

    who had the same problem with her inws. They made her life miserable, and eventually, the love

    she had for her husband faded. They divorcedst year. Marriage isn¡¯t just about two people; it¡¯s about

    two families. If they don¡¯t like you now and you can¡¯t resolve the issues, it¡¯s better to break up sooner

    than sufferter.¡±

    After the doctor¡¯s words and a sigh, Brielle stood up slow

    Aks.¡± With that, she grabbed

    her purse and left.

    The doctor shook her head, turning to a nurse, ¡°Did I say something wrong?¡±

    ¡°No, but sometimes the young need to fall in love and get hurt to appreciate old wisdom.¡±

    Everyone knew that love without blessing was destined for hardship.

 Chapter 581

    Chapter 581

    Brielle wrapped her coat tighter around her as she stood outside the hospital, feeling as if the weight of

    the world was on her shoulders.

    Meanwhile, at the sanatorium, Alivia took a moment topose herself in the restroom. She stared

    into the mirror, and a cold smirk crossed her lips.

    She summoned a nurse into the room, asking about Max¡¯s whereabouts. Alivia had her people ced

    in the sanatorium, and Martha had weed them. They were fiercely loyal to her. This nurse was one

    of her insiders.

    Seeing Alivia¡¯s disheveled appearance, the nurse paled, rushing to fetch a bath towel.

    Alivia¡¯s tone was icy, ¡°Is Max still with Martha?¡±

    ¡°No, but he is staying here tonight. His assistant came to see him, and they¡¯re having a very important

    meeting. He made it clear we¡¯re not to disturb them. Ms. Alivia, are you alright? Let me take you to get

    changed. You¡¯re so cold; you¡¯ll catch a deadly cold if you¡¯re not careful.¡±

    Good, Max wasn¡¯t around.

    A sly smile curled at the corners of Alivia¡¯s mouth as she nced at the nurse. ¡°Keep your mouth shut

    about this. Don¡¯t tell Max.¡±

    The nurse quickly looked down, pretending she hadn¡¯t seen a thing.

    Alivia left the restroom and headed directly toward Martha¡¯s room. Martha was sitting up in bed, still

    fuming over Max¡¯s stubbornness, feeling a sharp pain in her chest. Taking in Alivia¡¯s wet hair and

    purple lips, she was about to jump out of bed with worry.

    ¡°Alivia! What on earth happened to you?¡±

    Alivia¡¯s shoulders shook, and her eyes reddened, tears silently falling.

    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.

    Martha¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°Max wouldn¡¯t do this. No matter how angry he is, he wouldn¡¯ty a

    hand on you. What really happened?¡±

    Alivia choked back a sob, wiping her tears. ¡°Martha, I¡¯m alright, don¡¯t worry, about me. I just

    came to see how you were.¡®

    Martha grabbed her hand and firmly made her sit down, retrieving a clean towel from her room and

    cing it on Alivia¡¯s head. ¡°Alivia, I¡¯ve watched you grow up, and I consider you like my own daughter.

    You can rest assured. You¡¯ll be the one to marry my son.¡±

    Hearing this, a gleam of triumph flickered in Alivia¡¯s eyes, though her voice sounded even more

    distressed. ¡°I know, but Max is fond of Brielle now. I won¡¯t force him.¡±

    ¡°Why not just make Brielle disappear from this world?¡± Martha¡¯s eyes were sharp, but her voice was

    soothing as she dried Alivia¡¯s hair. ¡°I won¡¯t let her stand in the way of you and Max. Who did this to

    you? Was it that bitch?¡±

    1/2

    12-23

    Alvia hesitated, then sighed heavily. ¡°It was her. I saw her outside just now. She probably thought I was

    here to see Max. I didn¡¯t expect her to be so strong. She pushed me against the washbasin, telling me

    to stay away from Max.¡±

    Martha was vid. She already despised Brielle, and now even more so. ¡°How could she treat Ike this!

    Sshe¡¯s nothing but an orphan from a charity home. She doesn¡¯t know her ce!¡±

    ¡°Martha, I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s not tell Max about this. Even if we did, he wouldn¡¯t do anything to Brielle. He

    would only think that I am making a fuss for no reason.¡±

    Alvia¡¯s eyes showed a well¨Ctimed hint of sorrow, eliciting Martha¡¯s sympathy. ¡°Go change your clothes.

    You¡¯re too honest for your own good, letting that bitch bully you. You¡¯ve been raised too well just like

    your brother. Both of you are too gentle.¡±

    Alivia¡¯s mother, Daisy, was renowned for her good temper and stunning beauty. Martha and Daisy were

    close friends for years, but since Martha had moved abroad, she had cut ties with everyone, not

    wanting her illness to be a source of pity.

    ¡°My mother often speaks of your health, Martha. Everyone hopes you get well soon.¡±

    Martha rubbed her temples, her expression mncholic as she looked at Alivia. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time

    since I¡¯ve seen Daisy. With my condition, I¡¯d rather not see anyone until I¡¯m better. Then I can catch up

    with them. But you¡­ Daisy has made you too soft, and that¡¯s why you¡¯re being bullied by someone like

    Brielle, who¡¯s nothing but a wild child from the charity home. No wonder she behaves so badly.¡±

    A deeper smile hid in Alivia¡¯s eyes as she bowed her head, remaining silent.

 Chapter 582

    Chapter 582

    Brielle had just returned to the grandeur of the Premier Pce, her presence igniting a spark in

    Wesley¡¯s eyes as he caught sight of her. ¡°Mr. Max mentioned earlier that you wouldn¡¯t be back tonight.

    Luckily, I had the kitchen whip up an extra dinner just in case. Ms. Brielle, have you had your meal yet?

    Both you and him have been burning the midnight oiltely. You¡¯ve got to take care of your health.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    Indeed, the recent ordeal had left her a shade paler than usual. But with her appetite eluding her, she

    politely declined Wesley¡¯s offer.

    Sensing her mood, Wesley couldn¡¯t help but inquire. ¡°If you¡¯re feeling down, perhaps a good book

    might lift your spirits? Or a stroll in the garden to admire the flowers? You¡¯ve been at the Premier

    Pce for a while now, but you¡¯ve hardly had the chance to explore. There¡¯s even a grand private

    cinema here, though Mr. Max never really uses it. He rarely watches movies.¡±

    Max was a man who seldom paused his relentless pace. His rare moments of leisure mostly involved

    catching up with a few friends or spending time alone with a book and a cup of coffee, asionally

    indulging in a fine ss of red wine.

    After dating Max, Brielle had never really shared much about his past. However, tonight, with Victoria

    and Alivia¡¯s reminders, her curiosity was piqued.

    ¡°Wesley, do you have any pictures of him as a kid?¡±

    Wesley paused, then shook his head with a hint of regret.

    ¡°He hardly left behind any childhood photos. No photographer enjoys snapping pictures of a kid who

    won¡¯t smile, and he himself was always resistant to the idea. The photo you see of him in the financial

    papers? They¡¯ve been recycling the same one for years. That¡¯s practically the only picture of him in

    existence.¡±

    Brielle felt a twinge of disappointment. She really wanted to know what Max had looked like as

    a child.

    Wesley¡¯s eyes twinkled with mirth, his lips curving into a smile. ¡°However, I¡¯d say he looked much the

    same as a kid¨Cjust a mini version of his current self. Chiseled like a sculpture, he had the air of a

    cherubic angel. There were plenty of youngdies who would sneak nces at him. Anyone who

    managed to exchange a few words with him would brag about it for days in their circles.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s heart softened at the thought, a vivid image forming in her mind. A pint¨Csized Max stood

    aloofly at the periphery of a bustling party, his icy gaze surveying the adults mingling with their clinking

    sses. Dressed in a tailor¨Cmade ck suit and seeming to exist in a realm of his own. Untouched by

    the surrounding revelry.

    The regret of not having shared in his past experiences was palpable.

    ¡°In truth, there wasn¡¯t much excitement in his younger days. Ms. Martha always had high hopes for

    him. As soon as he could walk, he was reciting ssics and poetry and even started

    12.24

    Chapter 582

    attending finance lectures at a tender age. When he wasn¡¯tpeting in contests around the world, he

    was on his way to one. He was busier than most adults in their circle, and he¡¯d often work himself to

    the brink of exhaustion, running fevers as high as a hundred and four degrees. Michael sometimes

    couldn¡¯t bear to watch Martha push him so hard, but perhaps it was her methods that shaped the man

    he is today.¡±

    Max¡¯s childhood had always been shadowed by Martha¡¯s presence. Now that Martha was using her

    own life as a bargaining chip, it was naturally distressing for him.

    Wesley watched Brielle fall into contemtion and instructed the kitchen to prepare a light. soothing

    soup. ¡°Ms. Brielle, you should rest after you finish your soup.¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t refuse. After sipping the warm broth, she washed up and settled into bed. Just as sleep

    was about to im her, Wesley¡¯s words echoed in her mind, and she couldn¡¯t resist. She reached for

    her phone and shot Max a message.

    [Is the meeting over yet?]

    (Yeah, just wrapping up some data with Patrick.]

    [Could you send me a picture of yourself?]

    Max froze as he read the message, a flush of warmth creeping up his ears. He rarely took photos, to

    the point of almost never. He had reused an old photograph for an interview with a leading international

    newspaper abroad. Being in front of a camera made him ufortable. unsure of what expression to

    wear.

    However, without hesitation, he handed his phone to Patrick.

    ¡°Patrick.¡±

    At the sound of his name, Patrick, engrossed in data, thought something was amiss and looked up in

    rm.

    ¡°Snap a photo for me.¡±

    Patrick¡¯s grip faltered, his pen streaking an unintended line across the paper. He gaped in disbelief,

    half¨Cconvinced he was hallucinating. ¡°Sir?¡±

    Max¡¯s face was a mask of calm, but under the brilliant overhead lights, the sharpness of his features

    seemed to soften. ¡°I said, take a picture of me.¡±

 Chapter 583

    Chapter 583

    Patrick certainly overheard thement, and while such an urrence might not have seemed out of

    the ordinary for someone else, it was utterly preposterous when it came to Max. Patrick been at Max¡¯s

    side for so many years, but he had never known Max to take a photo.

    That one time, years ago, it was only after the editor¨Cin¨Cchief of the financial report had practically

    begged on bended knees that Max had reluctantly agreed.

    After getting Max¡¯s phone, Patrick found the whole situation rather surreal. Yet, considering the CEO

    had recently made video calls, breaking the routine just this once didn¡¯t seem too oundish.

    In the camera lens, Max maintained his usual expression. His face was as if perennially kissed by frost,

    but Patrick could sense that frost was slowly thawing. After snapping a picture, he handed the phone

    back to Max.

    Max scrutinized the photo, and his brows knitted together. ¡°Does it look alright?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    Patrick nearly choked upon hearing that. If Max¡¯s face wasn¡¯t handsome, then no one on earth could

    im the title!

    How many men envied his looks, perhaps even more than they coveted his talent! There was even a

    time when a Hollywood heartthrob dered that he¡¯d undergo stic surgery in a heartbeat if any clinic

    could sculpt him into Max¡¯s likeness.

    ¡°Sir, it¡¯s perfect as is.¡±

    Patrick wasn¡¯t just buttering him up; as a man, he genuinely believed that face had no bad angles, up

    close or from afar.

    On the other end, Brielle regretted sending her message just minutes after it went out. Wesley had

    mentioned that Max disliked taking photos, yet she had made such a request, especially when he was

    already troubled with various matters ¨C it was rather thoughtless of her.

    As Max didn¡¯t reply immediately, she hurriedly began topose another message. [Actually, I was

    just kidding. You don¡¯t have to send one; how about I send you one of mine instead?]

    But just as she finished editing the message and before she could send it, her phone pinged. It was

    Max¡¯s photo, the same frosty visage but with an obvious attempt to amodate the

    camera.

    Brielle¡¯s fingers froze as if the gates to a sealed valley had been flung open, letting in an endless gale.

    She felt the gentlest of cherishing from the world, more precious than anything else.

    At a loss for words, her lips parted, but her eyes unexpectedly reddened. She quickly saved the photo,

    even creating a hidden folder for it. After all, this was probably the second photo of Max in existence,

    and it deserved to be treasured.

    1/2

    12:21

    Chapter 583

    As Max awaited her response, theck thereof had him frowning, wondering if the photo was indeed

    unttering. Just as he moved to type, Brielle¡¯s emoji blew in. It was a kiss emoji. This was the first time

    Brielle had sent such an emoji.

    Max pondered for a moment before turning to Patrick. ¡°Patrick.¡±

    Patrick was still reeling from the recent shock, his mind a jumble. At the sound of his name, he braced

    for another bombshell. ¡°Sir, what is it?¡±

    ¡°How do you take a screenshot?¡±

    Before Max met Brielle, his phone was used solely formunication. He¡¯d never unlocked any other

    functions.

    Patrick quickly leaned over his screen, pointing to Brielle¡¯s expression ¨C was Max really going to take a

    screenshot of this? He couldn¡¯t help but smile, Brielle probably was the only one who could make Max

    do such a thing. Swiftly, he pulled down the screen for him and pointed at a particr icon, ¡°Press here

    for a screenshot, and it¡¯ll automatically save to your gallery.¡±

    Max nodded and did as instructed, capturing the image.

    Patrick couldn¡¯t help but feel a touch envious, witnessing two romance novices navigate love. Even a

    workaholic like Max was getting into the game. Perhaps it was time Patrick found a girlfriend, too.

    Otherwise, all this sweetness was going to leave him feeling lonely.

    Max sent back a kiss emoji in reply. Brielleughed out loud upon seeing it, and without a second

    thought, she took her own screenshot.

    After exchanging goodnights, they both went about their evenings.

    Max was so wonderful, and Brielle would never waver in her decision to be with him. She had to grow

    up fast, within half a year ¨C no matter how exhausting, it didn¡¯t matter.

    After bidding goodnight, Max dove back into his work, eager to wrap up the overseas acquisition. He

    needed to catch a breath to increase the chances of him and Brielle seeing

    each other again.

 Chapter 584

    Chapter 584

    In the wee hours of the morning, around 3 a.m., the doctor came looking for Max with news that Martha

    had refused further medication.

    Max slowly lifted his head, his tone steady. ¡°Inject her with a sedative.¡±

    The doctor hesitated. ¡°But Ms. Martha is quite resistant. About sedatives, we need her consent.¡±

    ¡°Then slip the medication into her food. Make her sleep through it.¡±

    Reluctantly, the doctor nodded and passed the message to the rest of the staff.

    Since Alivia had her people in the sanatorium, she quickly learned of these developments. She hadn¡¯t

    expected Max to be so forceful, to actuallyce his mother¡¯s food with sleeping agents. A flicker of spite

    crossed her eyes, and her lips curled in a smirk.

    ¡°Tomorrow morning, when you¡¯re tending to Martha, let slip this little tidbit. But be discreet. Just pretend

    you¡¯re chatting and make sure she overhears.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Ms. Alivia. You can count on us to carry out the task.¡±

    After hanging up, Alivia snorted. This way, Max¡¯s trick would be useless. Martha would probably refuse

    to eat altogether, standing her ground against him.

    If Brielle had the nerve to treat her like this, she¡¯d better be prepared for the consequences.

    Alivia took a deep breath and sneezed, feeling the indelible humiliation in the bathroom imprinted in her

    mind..

    The next morning, Brielle arrived early at Ster Stage Entertainment.

    ¡ü

    No sooner had she settled into her office than Keagan, reveling in schadenfreude, said, ¡°Ms. Haywood,

    I heard that several executives made a beeline for Dorsey International this morning, probably to tattle.¡±

    Brielle looked up, a flicker of confusion in her eyes.

    Keagan raised an eyebrow. Despite his secret mission to monitor Brielle¡¯s every move, he couldn¡¯t help

    but feel a surge of irritation toward her, wishing for her swift downfall.

    Those execs had already made their way to Dorsey International. By now, they were likely standing in

    the CEO¡¯s office.

    His gaze on Brielle was tinged with sympathy. Brielle had someone in her corner at Dorsey

    International, but those guys went straight to Max, the CEO, which spelled trouble. Everyone knew Max

    was a hard man; if he got wind of Brielle¡¯s actions, she¡¯d be out on her ear.

    As Keagan eyed Brielle, greed shed in his gaze. Truth be told, he¡¯d been smitten with her looks from

    the get¨Cgo. He¡¯d been around the block in showbiz, but her face was the one that haunted him¨Cthe

    cool elegance of a lily, making one wonder what she¡¯d look like undone.

    1/2

    12:21

    Chapter 584

    If Brielle were to be fired, especially by the CEO of Dorsey International, the fallout would be immense.

    Her career prospects would dim, and then, with a little favor from him, perhaps she¡¯d be groveling for

    mercy under him¨Cwhat a delightful prospect.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, I reckon you¡¯ll be getting a call from Dorsey International any minute now, inviting you

    over in person. Of all the people they sent over, you¡¯re the only one they¡¯re hauling up to Dorsey Tower

    to face the music. Not sure if that¡¯s an honor or a curse.¡±

    He expected his words to unnerve Brielle, but she merely reached for some documents nearby. ¡°After

    the cuts to the year¨Cend bonus, how much capital can we free up?¡±

    Keagan¡¯s face stiffened, his frustration with her palpable. Just wait, you witch! That call from Dorsey

    International woulde any minute now.

    ¡°Thirty million.¡±

    ¡°Good. Reach out to our writers and directors. We¡¯re putting thirty million into production and slotting

    Ricardo in. Thepany needs a cash cow, a new A¨Clister. Ricardo has the looks and the charm.¡±

    Keagan scoffed, sizing up Brielle, wondering if she really thought she could get away with favoring one

    actor so tantly. He had thought her above such games, but it seemed she, too, yed the sugar¨C

    momma card.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, I fear you¡¯ll be disappointed. Thepany hasn¡¯t built any real connections over the

    years, and someone¡¯s been greasing palms¨Cnone of those directors will work with

    us.¡±

    Brielle looked up, her gaze direct. ¡°That is disappointing. Years have gone by, and not a single

    connection or talent has developed. Lucky for me, I¡¯ve found a promising new face.¡±

    She needed to get Aubree in ASAP. With her looks, she¡¯d be a sensation on exposure. Perhaps she

    and Ricardo would be Ster Stage Entertainment¡¯s top billers.

    Keagan¡¯s face went from white to red, a spectacle of emotion. Fuming, he turned to leave. As he

    reached for the door, Brielle¡¯s voice rang out again, ¡°Close the door gently, will you? Or next time, it

    won¡¯t just be out of the office.¡±

    This implied, of course, that it could mean out of Ster Stage Entertainment.

    Keagan gripped the doorknob tightly. Damn her! Where did this infuriating Brielle spring from?N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

 Chapter 585

    Chapter 585

    By the time he left, Brielle¡¯s gaze fell upon the pile of data sprawled across her desk. She had already

    arranged Aubree for the performance teacher.

    In the world of showbiz, even a pretty face could ignite a wildfire of fame. For now, she had decided to

    set aside her ns to focus on grooming other talents. After all, the sess of a single A¨Clister could

    propel apany to go public. As thepany flourished, so would the influx of resources, paving the

    way for others to shine.

    One star¡¯s rise could lift all those in their orbit. Her bets were ced on Aubree and Ricardo.

    A smile tugged at Brielle¡¯s lips as she envisioned nurturing her best friend into a top¨Ctier celebrity,

    sweeping her away from no¨Cgood men, and letting her star shine on the international stage. It felt like

    she had discovered her true calling within the walls of Ster Stage Entertainment.

    Her eyes sparkled with a radiant light, and she couldn¡¯t help but shoot a text to Aubree. [One day, I

    hope to walk you down the red carpet at the Oscars.]

    At that moment, Aubree had already arrived at Ster Stage Entertainment, forewarned by Brielle of

    the uing hectic schedule. Aubree was the kind of person who dove into action immediately, lest

    she found herself with too much idle time, with her thoughts drifting back to Andrew.

    She met with the performance coach, who was already singing her praises. ¡°So, you¡¯re Aubree, right?

    Have you studied acting before? You have excellent control over your micro¨Cexpressions, and there¡¯s a

    spark in your eyes, a captivating spirit. Who signed you?¡±

    Among the remaining artists, most had chosen to stay, captivated by the new CEO¡¯s promise of

    change. A woman, whose actions were assertive and decisive, had outsmarted all the executives.

    Could their moment in the spotlight be just around the corner?

    Aubree, eager to build hype for Brielle, couldn¡¯t help but puff up with pride. ¡°Of course, it was Ms.

    Haywood. She has promised we¡¯re going to Hollywood!¡±

    The pinnacle for local stars was to break into Hollywood, but even the most celebrated actresses in

    town often yed second fiddle to those titans.

    Once relegated to never seeing a script at Ster Stage Entertainment, they now had a woman telling

    them that Ms. Haywood¡¯s ambition was to take them to Hollywood. If word got out in the industry, they¡¯d

    likely be met withughter.

    Who was this woman called Brielle to make such bold ims? Yet, inexplicably, they believed her.

    Brielle¡¯s arrival at Ster Stage Entertainment was like a beam of light piercing through the dark,

    sincere and pure, banishing all shadows. Ster Stage Entertainment was vast, a yground for

    countless executives to live their hedonistic dreams. It was also tiny, too small to house even a sliver of

    their aspirations.

    1/2

    12:22

    Brielle had freed them from that cramped and gloomy corner. Perhaps they, too, could dream?

    Although Aubree hadn¡¯t made a ssh in her previous gigs, she had picked up a thing or two about the

    ways of the world from her time in the Industry, and she could tell the young hopefuls were on the brink

    of belief.

    ¡°If she could make such promises, then I would believe her.¡°.

    The others in the room chimed in with newfound fervor.

    ¡°Yeah, we believe in her. After Ms. Haywood arrived, the sleazy boss who harassed me got the boot.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s fierce and cut ties with so many. We¡¯re betting on her. One of us is bound to be an

    international sensation!¡±

    ¡°Enough talk. Let¡¯s get back to training with the coach.¡±

    The room was suddenly aze with passion.

    T

    Witnessing this scene, even the coach felt a lump in his throat. After years at Ster Stage

    Entertainment, drawing a meager sry and facing a parade of lifeless faces, this was the first time he

    saw hope and ambition in these young eyes. Could Brielle really lead them all to glory?

    Strangely, despite knowing little about her, he found himself believing in her too. She was Brielle, and

    she had dared where others hadn¡¯t.

    Hollywood was the goal, and perhaps that day wasn¡¯t so far off after all.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

 Chapter 586

    Chapter 586

    Brielle was blissfully unaware of the silent upheavals taking ce within the walls of Ster Stage

    Entertainment. She had tried reaching out to some high¨Cprofile directors, only to be met with a

    unanimous chorus of rejections.

    Next, she tried her luck with renowned screenwriters, but just like the directors, the moment they heard

    the name Ster Stage Entertainment, they wouldn¡¯t waste another breath. promptly hanging up the

    phone. It became clear to Brielle that Alivia must have tipped them off.

    Alivia¡¯s brother, Kenzo, was a top¨Ctier screenwriter, a veritable Midas of the domestic scene. Anything

    he penned was almost guaranteed to turn into a cultural phenomenon, dominating ratings. To

    coborate with him was a dream for many directors, who would go to great lengths for the opportunity.

    Thus, as Kenzo¡¯s sister, they most certainly owed her that courtesy.

    Offending a rtively unknown entity like Ster Stage Entertainment was just a small price to

    pay.

    Without a director or a script, even with talented actors at hand, Brielle was at a standstill. Rubbing her

    temples, she fixed her gaze on one particr name.

    This director had once bagged the coveted Best Director award, only to fall from grace when

    allegations of domestic violence surfaced. The awardsmittee even rescinded his trophy. The man

    in question was John. Brielle knew she had to meet him. If possible, she couldmission a tailor¨C

    made script for Aubree and Ricardo. It was a gamble, but since taking over Ster Stage

    Entertainment, every move had been a roll of the dice.

    She rose from her desk and strode out of the office, only to bump into Ricardo just outside her door.

    Perfect timing¨Cshe had wanted to take him along to meet John.

    ¡°Ricardo, do you know of John?¡±

    Ricardo looked rather sheepish, his youth evident at neen, as he stood quietly. ¡°Ms. Haywood, are

    you referring to John, the director? He had his moment with winning an award but fell out of grace due

    to the abuse and infidelity scandal. He¡¯s been cklisted by investors, and after losing a nasty divorce,

    he¡¯s left with nothing. I¡¯ve heard he¡¯s been haunting the fringes of the studio lots, hoping someone

    would give him a chance. But his reputation is in tatters.¡±

    ¡°I want to meet him.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, I happen to know where he lives.¡±

    Brielle was surprised. John had shunned all interviews, and with the incident five years behind him, it

    was unlikely anyone knew his whereabouts. How did Ricardoe to know about them? A flush crept

    over Ricardo¡¯s face as he muttered, ¡°I¡¯ve worked a lot of jobs. I delivered food to

    12:22

    Chapter 586

    his ce once. It¡¯s in a run¨Cdown neighborhood on the outskirts, hard to find. I¡¯ll have to take you

    there.¡±

    Brielle nodded, ¡°Alright, lead the way.¡±

    A flicker of something passed through Ricardo¡¯s eyes as they headed to the car, with him taking the

    driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Ms. Haywood, let me drive.¡±

    With a nod, Brielle settled in, no suspicion in her mind.

    The drive to the city outskirts took two hours,pounded by traffic, so it was four in the afternoon by

    the time they arrived. The road narrowed, marred by the ruts of heavy vehicles. Several times, Brielle

    nearly hit her head against the window frame due to the bumpy ride.

    At the entrance of a narrow alley, Ricardo pulled over. ¡°Ms. Haywood, this is it. We¡¯ll follow this alley

    straight down to where it forks and see John¡¯s ce. It¡¯s a one¨Cstory building with white walls stered

    with old ads. After you.¡±

    With a nod and a smile, Brielle said, ¡°Thanks for your help.¡±

    Ricardo, his demeanor still pure, nodded back, ¡°It¡¯s what I should do.¡±

    Brielle took the lead, walking slowly ahead. Even in daylight, the alley was dim, the setting sun casting

    long shadows only on the elevated parts.

    Beaconsfield was a city where opulence and squalor intertwined, a ce where sordid alleys shed

    with urban splendor¨Cboth heaven and hell.

    Ricardo silently drew a folding dagger from his sleeve, his gaze sharp, a faint smile touching his lips.

    He never missed his mark.

    ¡°Ricardo, how¡¯s your sister¡¯s health these days?¡± Brielle¡¯s question was sudden, perhaps seeking to

    ease the monotony of the walk with some conversation. ¡°What exactly is she suffering from? Has it

    been tough for you all these years?¡±

    Ricardo¡¯s hand paused, just a second away from ensuring Brielle¡¯s fate. This was a mission he had to

    complete.

    ¡°Ricardo, I¡¯m seeking out John to craft a script specifically for you and Aubree. I want to make you

    stars. A young man like you belongs in the spotlight.¡±

    Ricardo¡¯s movement halted, his eyes flickering. In the spotlight, huh?N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

 Chapter 587

    Chapter 587

    The folding dagger in his hand snapped back into its sheath as a smile bloomed across his face. ¡°Ms.

    Haywood, do you really think my day wille and I¡¯ll be a superstar?¡±

    Brielle stopped in her tracks and turned to face him, her gaze resolute. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I¡¯m

    going to try.¡±

    His three¨Chundredth mission in life had again ended in failure. Ricardo looked down, a hint of

    amusement flickering in his eyes. ¡°Hmm, I believe you, Ms. Haywood.¡±

    Brielle offered him a small smile in return. ¡°You should smile more, you know. When I first noticed you,

    your demeanor was elegant, yes, but too hollow. It felt like there was no soul. You know Max, the CEO

    of Dorsey International, right? You remind me of him.¡±

    He¡¯s perfect, so perfect itcked any warmth of life.

    ¡°How could Ipare myself to someone of Mr. Dorsey¡¯s stature.¡±

    Unbeknownst to Brielle, she had just been dancing on death¡¯s doorstep. She turned and continued

    walking forward, her tone lighthearted. ¡°There will be a chance. Everyone will know your name, they

    will like you, and they will idolize you.¡±

    Despite being cloaked in shadows herself, she still hoped to bring a sliver of light to others. Brielle,

    what an odd character.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, we¡¯re here.¡± Ricardo pointed ahead to a modest bungalow that, sure enough, was

    stered with ads all around, with garbage even spilling out at the entrance.

    A few olderdies were sitting on the side of the alley, rolling their eyes skyward at the sight of Brielle.

    ¡°Look at that, such a young girl getting into the game. Are jobs that hard to find out there?¡±

    ¡°Keep it down, will ya? I bet this slut¡¯s here to steal our business.¡±

    ¡°She must be looking for that drunk inside, huh?¡±

    Brielle frowned, momentarily confused by their words.

    Ricardo stood behind her, casting a nce at thedies. Their faces stiffened, turning pale with fear,

    and they quickly lowered their heads, falling silent. That look he gave them was terrifying as if the Grim

    Reaper himself had fixed his gaze upon them. They felt like reaching up and checking if their heads

    were still attached to their necks.

    Brielle ignored them and knocked on the door. A hoarse voice came from inside. ¡°It¡¯s open. Come on

    in. The delivery sure is slow today!¡±

    Brielle pushed the door open, half¨Cexpecting to find a mess to match the alley, but the inside was

    surprisingly tidy.

    There was a small bed, a window that framed the sky, and an array of scripts scattered across

    12:22

    Chapter 587

    the bedding.

    John¡¯s face was buried in a beard, and on the table were several opened bottles of the strongest kind

    of whiskeya.

    When he spotted two strangers enter, his forehead furrowed. ¡°You folks must have the wrong ce?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    Ricardo pulled up a chair for Brielle, who nodded her thanks and then settled down slowly. ¡°Mr. John,

    we¡¯vee to see you. I hear you¡¯ve been looking for investors?¡±

    John sized up Brielle from head to toe. Her clothes weren¡¯t high¨Cend, but they looked effortlessly

    comfortable on her. The rity in her eyes, like ss dipped in water, was oddly persuasive.

    ¡°Yes, but no one¡¯s willing to invest.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s gaze caught a wedding photo on the wall, the bride¡¯s face marred by several shes from a

    knife, a sight that made one¡¯s heart skip a beat. The hatred John held for the woman was evident.

    ¡°Mr. John, I¡¯ve seen the movie you directed before. It was good. But I want to know about the most

    controversial thing you¡¯ve been criticized for. Did you reallymit domestic violence and cheat?¡±

    If John¡¯s character were truly despicable, she would have never chosen to work with such a man. A

    person devoid of morals could at any time be a backstabbing de to their partner.

    Instantly, John¡¯s face twisted with rage, followed by a deep bitterness, as if he wanted to grab the knife

    beside him and carve a few more lines into the face of the woman in the photo. ¡°No, I neverid a hand

    on her.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the truth, then?¡±

    John closed his eyes, rubbing his temples as if he had aged years in a moment. ¡°She cheated on me. I

    caught her in the act. She¡¯s a top director back home and one of the few women in that position. She

    feared I would expose her infidelity and ruin her.career, so she used me of domestic violence. She

    conspired with herwyer to leave me with nothing. Everything I had worked for over the years¡­

    gone.¡±

    His voice grew hoarse, and his eyes dimmed. ¡°That bitch even carried someone else¡¯s child. If I hadn¡¯t

    caught them, I might have ended up raising the kid, none the wiser. I¡¯m here because of her! All her

    doing! Now she¡¯s still a top director, untouchable, while I¡¯m treated like vermin, scorned by everyone!¡±

    The injustice of it all was unbearable. His life had turned out to be more tragic and dramatic than any

    film.

    ab

 Chapter 588

    Chapter 588

    Brielle¡¯s face showed little emotion as she took in her surroundings. She had seen the dark underbelly

    of high society and was not shocked by the depths people could sink to. ¡°You can trust a person¡¯s

    heart.¡± she mused, ¡°but never their nature.¡±

    ¡°John, are these scripts strewn all over your bed, your work?¡±

    John¡¯s face was a map of decay, his eyes brimming with a forlorn hope as he nodded weakly. ¡°Yes,

    they¡¯re all part of a single script, penned by my prot¨¦g¨¦. He passed awayst year¡­ leukemia. I had

    no money for his treatment and couldn¡¯t borrow any. I begged my ex¨Cwife for help.¡±

    But the help he sought came at the price of his dignity. She demanded he kneel, promising financial aid

    if he did. John did kneel, only to be met with herughter and a hundred¨Cdor bill thrown at his face as

    a cruel joke. ¡°Can¡¯t believe you actually did it. I was just kidding! Here¡¯s something for your troubles. It

    probably won¡¯t even cover the cab fare. Consider it a token from me.¡±

    John was humiliated beyond words, but any thoughts of retaliation were futile, given the group of

    bodyguards that shadowed the woman.

    ¡°John, how could I possibly let you stand back up? No, you stay right there in that filthy, stinking hole

    you call home.¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t dwell on the turmoil in John¡¯s eyes. Instead, she picked up the script and began to read. It

    was a story of life at the bottom rung: a brother and sister struggling against a relentless fate, a stark

    and profound narrative.

    The script caught Brielle¡¯s attention immediately. It had a raw authenticity that outshone the convoluted

    plots that required exnations toprehend.

    ¡°Your prot¨¦g¨¦ had a real talent,¡± she said.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    John¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, his body shaking with silent sobs. The script was indeed a gem, filled

    with the solidarity of the downtrodden and the tragedies of the insignificant.

    ¡°John, would you like to bring this script to life? I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t want it to fall into the wrong

    hands. Tell me, how much investment would it take?¡±

    John looked up in disbelief, hope flickering in his eyes. Could it be possible someone still believed in

    his vision?

    ¡°I¡¯ve been studying this script for years. I know it inside out. I need twenty million, not inclusive of the

    stars¡® sries. You know how expensive A¨Clisters are; this might barely cover their fees.¡± Brielle¡¯s lips

    curled into a smile. ¡°I have no intention of hiring A¨Clisters. What about this young man to y the

    brother? And I already have someone in mind for the sister. If they don¡¯t meet your standards, you can

    rece them anytime. We have plenty of fresh talent at thepany.¡±

    Chapter 588

    John¡¯s excitement was palpable, but doubt soon clouded his eyes again. ¡°Will audiences still pay to see

    a movie of mine?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why we need to clear your name before the film¡¯s release. You focus on the script and the

    actors; leave the rest to me.¡± Brielle nced around the modest room. ¡°I¡¯m d to see such a clean

    space. It shows you¡¯ve been waiting for a chance. Now it¡¯s here, and I hope you seize it. Ricardo here

    is a great kid. I¡¯m sure he can y the brother and nail it.¡±

    John swallowed hard, his gaze settling on Ricardo before nodding in agreement. ¡°Okay, but I¡¯ll need to

    see him audition.¡±

    ¡°Alright then, John. Come with me to thepany. We¡¯ve got plenty of rooms where you can sleep. It¡¯s

    better than staying here.¡±

    John¡¯s hands trembled with emotion as he tried to fold his clothes, a futile effort as they remained

    disheveled.

    Ricardo stepped in to help. ¡°John, let me do that for you.¡±

    John offered him a shaky smile. ¡°I can manage. Just give me a moment.¡±

 Chapter 589

    Chapter 589

    Ricardo remained silent, standing quietly to the side.

    John really didn¡¯t have much to pack. Everything he owned wouldn¡¯t even fill a small suitcase. His gaze

    lingered on the wedding photo by his bed, perforated with holes, and he pursed his lips tightly. He¡¯d

    never imagined the day he would walk out of this ce.

    Seeing that John had finally mustered his courage, Brielle stood up. ¡°John, let mey it out straight for

    you. By joining Ster Stage Entertainment, you¡¯ll be an exclusive director under our banner. We¡¯ll

    back movie after movie for you, but the only condition is you give first dibs to actors from our own

    roster. Of course, I¡¯ll allow you to choose the ones you¡¯re most satisfied with. If none meet your

    standards, I won¡¯t stop you from looking elsewhere, but our talent must be your first port of call.¡±

    This requirement actually gave Johnplete freedom. At least it didn¡¯t limit him to choosing actors

    only from Ster Stage Entertainment.

    ¡°Alright, I agree.¡±

    Brielle then extended her hand. ¡°I¡¯m Brielle Haywood, the current president of Ster Stage

    Entertainment. This here is Ricardo, one of our signed actors without a major work to his name yet. I

    hope you¡¯ll guide him well in the future.¡±

    A tremor quivered through John¡¯s lips as he grasped her hand, his voice hoarse with emotion. ¡°Thank

    you, Ms. Haywood. This is a momentous day for me.¡±

    Yearster, when John would recall this moment, he¡¯d still feel a profound sense of gratitude. By then,

    he¡¯d have an Oscar for Best Director under his belt, a pioneer among filmmakers. He¡¯d always say the

    person he was most thankful to was Brielle, who pulled him out of the mire. She¡¯s his close friend, his

    confidant. Her timely help would be something he¡¯d remember for a

    lifetime.

    Walking out of the alley, John tried to memorize every detail of the ce. In truth, aside from a narrow

    passage and the moss climbing the walls, there was nothing much to remember. It was the most

    deste scene he¡¯d ever witnessed, yet it was etched in his heart.

    Perhaps this very experience drove him to focus on the underdogs in hister works, stirring a deep

    resonance in his audience. He captured the lives of the unknown, turning himself into a celebrated

    hero.

    The three of them stood by the car. Brielle heard Ricardo say, ¡°Ms. Haywood, I¡¯ve got some other

    matters to attend to, so I won¡¯t be heading back to the office just yet.¡±

    Brielle nodded, ready to take the driver¡¯s seat, but John stopped her. ¡°I¡¯ll drive.¡±

    Without objection, Brielle got into the car, and as they drove off, she caught a glimpse of Ricardo in the

    rearview mirror.

    Standing still, he slowly shrank into a tiny dot as the car drove away and around a bend,

    12:32

    Chapter 589

    disappearing from view.

    Ricardo looked up at the orange¨Chued sky, which seemed particrly beautiful against the backdrop of

    decay. The allure of standing in the sunlight was indeed a tempting thought.

    Footsteps approached from around the corner, and a man¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°Ricardo, this is your first

    failed mission, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Ricardo didn¡¯t turn around but instead looked at his palm. His hands were stained with blood, and he¡¯s

    a man burdened with sin. Could he truly stand in the spotlight?

    The man had stopped right behind Ricardo, chuckling coldly, ¡°So, the infamous Chameleon, the master

    of disguise, has a soft heart after all?¡±

    The clean aura around Ricardo shifted, bing ominously dark as if he were a man who had

    emerged from a mountain of corpses. ¡°So what? Whether I fail a mission or not is none of your

    business.¡±

    ¡°You better keep that backbone when you¡¯re facing the boss.¡±

    The mention of the boss caused Ricardo¡¯s expression to freeze. Then, a dagger slipped from his

    sleeve and flew towards the man. It grazed the man¡¯s cheek, leaving a thin line of blood before

    embedding itself in the mottled wall behind him.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    The man lifted a finger to his cheek, wiped off the blood, and tasted it.

    Salty, metallic, like the taste of rust.

    ¡°Had you done that just now, Brielle would be dead.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take my punishment on my own terms. Say one more word, and I¡¯ll kill you right here!¡±

    It seemed the man truly feared Ricardo as he kept silent.

    Ricardo¡¯s eyes seethed with murderous intent as he pulled the dagger from the wall, ster crumbling

    with it. He slid the dagger back into his sleeve. ¡°You¡¯ve dirtied my de.¡±

    The man was agitated. His chest was heaving as he spat out, ¡°Do you think Brielle would still believe

    you belong in the spotlight if she saw you like this? Give it up. How could a normal person ever pity a

    monster? Don¡¯t forget how your sister died. You were already deceived once. Do you really want to be

    fooled again?¡±

    Ricardoughed softly, his fangs bared. ¡°If she deceives me, I¡¯ll use this dagger to slice off her flesh

    piece by piece and feed it to the stray dogs on the streets.¡±

 Chapter 590

    Chapter 590

    The man fell silent. After all, this was hardly a shocking request to ¡°Chameleon,¡± the moniker that had

    been bestowed upon him due to his uncanny ability to slip into any persona without arousing suspicion.

    Ricardo was known for his knack for ying any part perfectly. His relentless drive stemmed from a

    desire to avoid the violent urges that consumed him if he didn¡¯t witness death regrly. Thus, he took

    on countless jobs, never once failing toplete his assignments.

    Psychologists had once analyzed Ricardo, branding him as inherently wicked and a natural¨Cborn

    pretender. They imed he could be anyone he wanted to be, provided the inclination was there. The

    task of eliminating Brielle should have been a breeze, especially since Ricardo had earned all of her

    trust.

    He could have easily thrown his dagger, ending Brielle¡¯s life and her presence in this world for good.

    Yet, the words Brielle spoke halted him in his tracks, words no one had ever dared to utter to him

    before.

    The man observing from a short distance arched an eyebrow at Ricardo¡¯s moment of contemtion. ¡°I

    bet the first time you got yed, they promised to stick by you, too, right? But after she witnessed your

    ruthlessness, she couldn¡¯t wait to scream for the cops. No matter how good you were to her, she saw

    you as nothing but a monster without a conscience. Brielle¡¯s no different. You¡¯re not seriously

    considering taking the fall for her, are you? With your skills, you could easily take her out at Ster

    Stage Entertainment without breaking a sweat.¡±

    The corner of Ricardo¡¯s eye twitched as if tainted with venom. ¡°The people I want dead don¡¯t live to see

    tomorrow. I try my hardest to ensure the ones I don¡¯t want to kill see the light of day.¡±

    The man snorted coldly, leaning against the wall before striding away, leaving behind a parting shot.

    ¡°Suit yourself, but if you fail, the boss won¡¯t be forgiving.¡±

    Once the man left, Ricardo¡¯s demeanor shifted again, reverting to that pure and unsullied character

    smitten with just a smile from Brielle.

    The Chameleon was so adept at his masquerade that he could even make himself forget who he really

    was. Now, he was Ricardo, the man who needed Brielle¡¯s hand to pull him out of the mire.

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    She¡¯d better be there to lend it. And she¡¯d better not let go. Otherwise¡­

    Brielle¡¯s car was already parked in the underground lot of Ster Stage Entertainment. Upon reaching

    her office floor, she summoned someone, arranging for John to be taken to a secluded, spacious room

    to rest. From now on, John could sleep at thepany, and the cafeteria would provide three square

    meals a day.

    John¡¯s face was too recognizable in the entertainment industry. Brielle worried that revealing him too

    soon could alert his wife, so it was best to keep him hidden until everything was ready.

    Chapter 590

    The person she called upon was a man of few words, often seen around this floor. While most of the

    executives had initially treated her with condescension, this man always respectfully addressed her as

    ¡°Ms. Haywood.¡±

    After leading John to his new quarters, Brielle instructed the man. ¡°This room has a private lounge,

    kitchen, and bedroom. From now on, it will be John¡¯s room. If he needs anything, you¡¯ll be the one to

    get it for him. Remember, don¡¯t mention John¡¯s presence here to anyone.¡±

    The man eagerly nodded, a spark of excitement in his eyes. Ms. Haywood had finally noticed him!

    ¡°I¡¯llplete the mission!¡±

    Unaware of his excitement, Brielle finished delegating the task and then turned to John. ¡°Do you find

    the room to your liking, John?¡±

    John had never imagined that such a space existed within the walls of Ster Stage Entertainment.

    Brielle chose not to delve into the origins of the room, alluding only to the fact that former executives

    who had been let go had been too indulgent withpany funds, creating several such suites for their

    entertainment.

    ¡°I¡¯m very satisfied,¡± John said, looking around the 80¨Csquare meter space, which was ample for

    one person.

    Brielle nodded, exining, ¡°I could go out and find you a ce, but as you know, we can¡¯t expose your

    face right now. If the media gets wind of it, people will know you¡¯re nning a movie, and we don¡¯t want

    to spook anyone prematurely. Here, you¡¯ll have someone to look after you.¡±

    John¡¯s eyes welled up with gratitude, at a loss for words on how to thank Brielle. All he could do was

    delve deeper into the script, thoroughly understand it, and stun everyone with his debut film!

    After settling John in, Brielle returned to her office. The man she had pointed to earlier followed her,

    prompting Brielle to ask if he needed something. ¡°Donny, is there something on your mind?¡±

    Donny was taken aback. Ms. Haywood knew his name? His lips trembled, struggling to form a coherent

    response. He was genuinely grateful to Brielle for restructuring Ster Stage Entertainment and giving

    him hope for a better future there.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, you know who I am?¡±

 Chapter 591

    Chapter 591

    Brielle flipped through the dossierid out before her, her voice carrying a casual nonchnce. ¡°Hmm,

    I¡¯ve done my homework on every single one of you. You¡¯re an agent, to be precise, the only one who

    hasn¡¯t thrown in the towel so far. You¡¯ve been grinding away, hustling for gigs forthe artists, but with the

    way things were at Ster Stage Entertainment, these past few years must have been rough, huh?¡±

    He struggled, only to blow after blow. It¡¯s like a stray dog begging for scraps from well¨Cdressed folks,

    knowing full well that a kick might be the next thinging, yet still, he had to try.

    ¡°Oh no, Ster Stage Entertainment was under the radar before. The fact that Dorsey International sent

    you over here makes me think from here on out, things are looking up.¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help but smile, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes. Why did he have so much faith in

    her? This feeling of being trusted was truly something else.

    She¡¯d thought Ster Stage Entertainment was rotten to the core, but there were still those like Donny,

    working tirelessly in the shadows, and there was Ricardo, determined not to be beaten.

    Brielle hade here just to tick a box on her to¨Cdo list, and now, she genuinely wanted to take these

    people to a grander stage.

    ¡°Donny, I¡¯m keeping you on as an agent. You¡¯ll manage my top two talents, Ricardo and my good friend

    Aubree. With the right packaging, their looks and charisma will surely make them stand out in this

    industry. Once our first movie earns critical acim, the offers wille rolling in. You better start

    prepping for their meteoric rise. You might have been twiddling your thumbs before, but soon you¡¯ll be

    running off your feet.¡±

    Donny¡¯s eyes lit up, and a grin spread across his face. ¡°Ms. Haywood, you can count on me. I¡¯m ready

    whenever you are.¡±

    Brielle shared his smile, about to add more when the office phone rang. She picked up the handset,

    and it was Patrick on the line. ¡°Ms. Brielle, Mr. Dorsey wants you to swing by Dorsey International

    pronto.¡± His voice was tinged with mirth.

    Brielle knew the snitches had yed their part. ¡°They really made it into Mr. Dorsey¡¯s office?¡±

    ¡°Yep, they¡¯re in there right now, cataloging your so¨Ccalled seven deadly sins.¡±

    Patrick¡¯s words weren¡¯t an exaggeration. At that moment, three of Ster Stage Entertainment¡¯s

    executives stood before Max¡¯s desk, their demeanor utterly subservient.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, this is the mess Brielle¡¯s caused at Ster Stage Entertainment in just a few days. She¡¯s

    admitted to it herself, iming she¡¯s been acting up because she¡¯s got bigwigs at Dorsey International

    backing her.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, Mr. Dorsey, if we let Brielle continue unchecked, Ster Stage Entertainment will crumble

    under her antics.¡±

    ¡°And we need to root out the high¨Cup shielding her. To think someone could be so taken with

    1/2

    12:17

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Chapter 591

    such a woman is a clear case of blind folly!¡±

    ¡°Yes! Blind folly!¡±

    As Patrick entered, that was the phrase that greeted him. He nced at the speakers, mentally praying

    for their safety.

    No wonder Ster Stage Entertainment had fallen so far with such clueless executives at the helm.

    They should have known better than to rail against someone with connections without first checking

    who¡¯s backing them. But there they were, standing before the very mountain, tearing into the person it

    sought to protect, utterly oblivious to their own impending doom.

    Max sat serenely in his chair, his featuresposed. The only giveaway was a slight twitch of his

    eyshes when used of being blind. He sat before a vast pane of ss, resembling a stark,

    monochromatic Greek sculpture, his presence captivating, his aura chilling.

    Patrick knew this meant trouble. The more incensed Max got, the quieter he became, not given to

    histrionics like others might be.

    After the executives had their say, smugness settled in as they bowed their heads, each harboring a

    smirk. They had heard Max instruct his assistant to summon Brielle immediately. Hah, would Brielle still

    hold her ground when facing the top brass?

    Completely unaware of their boss¡® ire, they exchanged looks and settled in to watch Brielle¡¯s fall from

    grace.

    They bet Brielle had no idea they¡¯d daree to Dorsey International, and that Max had even granted

    them an audience upon learning they were from Ster Stage Entertainment.

    One executive couldn¡¯t resist continuing. ¡°Furthermore, Brielle¡¯s been cozying up to some young

    upstarttely. She was likely two¨Ctiming her benefactor, making a fool out of him. Mr. Dorsey, you

    punishing Brielle now could save that oblivious benefactor of hers, who¡¯s also a part of Dorsey

    International¡¯s upper echelon. We can¡¯t let a woman blindside him.¡±

    Max¡¯s expression shifted subtly, his fingers toying with a sleek ck pen. The contrast of his pale skin

    against the dark pen seemed to underscore his refined nature.

 Chapter 592

    Chapter 592

    Brielle had just stepped out of her office when Donny heard that a call from Dorsey International had

    sent her rushing off. His heart instantly tightened with concern.

    At Ster Stage Entertainment. Brielle¡¯s moves had been bold, too bold perhaps, and it seemned the

    higher¨Cups couldn¡¯t stomach it any longer. They had finally taken their grievances to Dorsey

    International and sought out Mr. Dorsey himself.

    What good could possiblye of Brielle¡¯s meeting there?

    Worry was etched across Donny¡¯s face as he spoke up. ¡°Ms. Haywood, if you¡¯re no longer with Ster

    Stage Entertainment, please, you¡¯ve got to let me know where you¡¯re headed next. I¡¯ll follow you, I will.¡±

    His voice trailed off as his eyes dropped and his hands twisted together anxiously. ¡°Ms. Haywood,

    you¡¯ve got a real knack for looking out for your talent. Having you join Ster Stage Entertainment was

    a stroke of luck for us all. If all these changes you¡¯ve been making get you into hot water with Mr.

    Dorsey and his crowd, there¡¯s not much we can do, really. But we¡¯re willing to stick by you. You might

    not realize it, but the kids in the performance ss today were bursting with energy ¨C I¡¯ve never seen

    them so bold and alive. They¡¯re just twenty¨Cone on average, and they¡¯ve been living in the doldrums

    until now. Ms. Haywood, you mean a lot to us.¡± Donny was a man¡¯s man, not one for soppy words. Yet

    from his bodynguage, Brielle could tell how tense, even panicked, he was. She hadn¡¯t expected to

    make such an impact on someone. Her lips curled into a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. Don¡¯t you worry.¡±

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    She couldn¡¯t openly discuss her rtionship with Max, but having these people run to her boyfriend to

    snitch on her practically handed Max a weapon. Besides making him worry about her, there wasn¡¯t

    much else to it.

    1

    Ah, she had to appease him again. She sighed, and Donny, interpreting her expression as worry, grew

    even more agitated.

    Without further discussion, Brielle drove straight to Dorsey International. Even though it had been less

    than a week since she¡¯d left, returning felt different. She had left reluctantly after finally being

    recognized for her abilities and securing her ce. But Michael had ordered her to go, and she had to

    leave everything behind.

    Now, as she returned, her heart was filled with reflection rather than regret. Ster Stage Entertainment

    needed her more than Dorsey International. A group of eager people awaited her return, so she had to

    go back.

    She made her way to the top floor and entered Max¡¯s office without knocking. This brought immediate

    disapproval from the three executives of Ster Stage Entertainment.

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, just look at this woman¡¯sck of manners, barging in without even knocking. She must¡¯ve

    gotten toofortable doing as she pleases over at Ster Stage Entertainment, thinking no one can

    touch her!¡±

    Chapter 592

    ¡°She¡¯s been spoiled by the patrons over at Dorsey International, huh? I tell you, she doesn¡¯t respect

    you, Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    ¡°Exactly, Mr. Dorsey, you mustn¡¯t let this kind of person off the hook.¡±

    Brielle arched an eyebrow, meeting Max¡¯s gaze. He clearly wasn¡¯t happy. When he was upset, his eyes

    seemed shrouded in mist, dark and brooding.

    On the other hand, Patrick was trying his best to be inconspicuous, thinking these fools were digging

    their own graves with their stupidity. They had no clue how to read the room.

    But on second thought, it seemed that there wasn¡¯t much expression on Max¡¯s face anyway, which was

    probably why those people were especially arrogant.

    Seeing Brielle, Max slowly put down his pen. Brielle quickly offered a smile, ¡°Sorry, Mr. Dorsey, the

    traffic was a nightmare. Sorry to keep you waiting.¡±

    Max leaned back, resting a hand on his sleek, ck marble desk, ¡°Ms. Haywood, is there something

    you¡¯d like to say?¡±

    Innocence yed across Brielle¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what I¡¯ve done wrong?¡±

    Seeing her feign ignorance, the executives from Ster Stage Entertainment cursed in fury. ¡°Don¡¯t y

    dumb with us! Look at the mess you¡¯ve made over at Ster Stage Entertainment! So, now you¡¯ve

    come crawling to Mr. Dorsey, have you? Thought you were something special, but you¡¯re just another

    weathercock¡±

    ¡°Mr. Dorsey, everything we¡¯ve said is true. Brielle¡¯s misdeeds are too numerous to count! We hope you

    strip her of her position and kick her out of Ster Stage Entertainment!¡±

    ¡°Yeah! Kick her out of Ster Stage Entertainment!¡±

    The three continued their tirade, vilifying Brielle once more.

    Brielle found it amusing. She stepped closer,.standing by Max¡¯s side. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, I promise, I¡¯ve only

    done what¡¯s best for Ster Stage Entertainment¨Ccutting dead weight and saving on expenses. But

    now I see I haven¡¯t done enough. I made the mistake of keeping these few around. When I get back, I¡¯ll

    have HR send their resignation letters.

    The trio¡¯s angry faces froze, thinking they must have misheard. What was Brielle saying?

 Chapter 593

    Chapter 593

    She had such audacity in Mr. Dorsey¡¯s presence!

    It seemed like fate was on their side. They half¨Cexpected Brielle toe in here, all fire and brimstone,

    spitting out excuses with her sharp tongue that could probably convince Mr. Dorsey of her innocence.

    But, to everyone¡¯s surprise, Brielle didn¡¯t even attempt to spin a yarn in her defense, nor did she dial it

    back in front of Max.

    She was practically asking for trouble! Mr. Dorsey would surely kick her to the curb without a second

    thought!

    A smug smile began to creep across their faces, their eyes gleaming with anticipation of the impending

    drama. Looking up, they saw Brielle inching closer to Max, even daring to brush against him ever so

    lightly.

    She had the nerve to bump into the CEO of Dorsey International, the heir to the Dorsey empire, a man

    rumored to keep women at arm¡¯s length!

    Their faces lit up with twisted joy. Of all people, she chose to flirt with the big boss in in sight.

    Absolutely preposterous!

    Brielle paid no mind to their inner turmoil. After her gentle collision with Max, she softened her voice

    and asked, ¡°What do you think, Mr. Dorsey? Am I right?¡±

    Max was usually a cool customer, but as Brielle leaned in and covertly tugged at his sleeve for some

    support, a flicker of amusement passed through his eyes, his lips curving ever so slightly. ¡°You make a

    fair point,¡± he conceded.

    Brielle merely nced at the three stiff executives, who stood frozen, unable to process what they were

    witnessing, The ever¨Cstoic CEO was actually smiling. Sure, it was a faint smile, but his gaze on Brielle

    was undeniably tender.

    Impossible! This had to be some kind of trick!

    Then, true to his instinct, Max casually ced his hand on Brielle¡¯s waist, his touch light. ¡°You¡¯ve lost

    weight.¡±

    Brielle was tempted to roll her eyes internally as if they had been apart for ages. Holding back augh,

    she quipped, ¡°My bad. I should¡¯ve had a heartier lunch before meeting you, Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    Since the two had slipped into their flirtatious banter, Patrick approached the three senior staff

    members. ¡°Mr. Dorsey is tied up at the moment. Please, show yourselves out.¡±

    It dawned on the executives that Brielle was Mr. Dorsey¡¯s sugar baby. Brielle¡¯s backing was none other

    than Max himself!

    Max stared at her with sheer indulgence, making it crystal clear that no matter what the executives said

    today, he wouldn¡¯t punish Brielle. Instead, they had only dug themselves deeper into a hole.

    1/2

    12:18

    Chapter 593

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    They were doomed.

    After all their bluster, no wonder Max¡¯s assistant had been giving them those odd looks ¨C he must have

    thought they wereplete idiots!

    Stricken with regret, they hardly knew how to make their exit. Their legs felt like jelly, and their heads

    spun.

    Once outside, Patrick gave them a stern warning. ¡°Keep your mouths shut about Ms. Brielle and Mr.

    Dorsey. If word gets out to the rest of Ster Stage Entertainment, you can kiss your careers goodbye.

    And remember, Ms. Brielle isn¡¯t vindictive. If, from now on, you only act in the best interest of Ster

    Stage Entertainment, she might not hold a grudge. Don¡¯t paint her as petty. She¡¯s been doing

    everything for the good of thepany. You¡¯ve been blinded by self¨Cinterest, but she hasn¡¯t.¡±

    The executives were speechless, scared out of their wits.

    Afterying down thew, Patrick watched them shuffle into the elevator and the doors close behind

    them. He was about to return to the office, but considering the two inside, he decided to give them

    space.

    Mr. Dorset and Ms. Brielle hadn¡¯t had a proper moment together in ages, and with everyone busy the

    night before, snatching some time during work seemed like a good idea.

    Inside the office, Max had already swept Brielle into his arms and ced her on the desk. Brielle, taken

    aback, nced at the office door. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, what are you up to?¡±

    Max stared at her, his eyes like whirlpools drawing her in. ¡°You came on an empty stomach. I skipped

    lunch, too.¡±

    Her cheeks flushed instantly, and she yfully thumped his shoulder. ¡°Who taught you to flirt like that?¡±

    But Max didn¡¯t say another word; he simply leaned in and captured her lips in a kiss.

 Chapter 594

    Chapter 594

    Brielle was worried that Patrick might walk in on them at any moment. Such a scene could be quite

    shocking for the poor guy.

    Max¡¯s hand gently pressed against her waist, his voice a smooth baritone, ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted.¡±

    ¡°But what if Patrick-¡±

    ¡°Patrick wouldn¡¯t be so clueless.¡±

    That was all it took for Brielle¡¯s resolve to crumble, her head resting against his chest. Who would¡¯ve

    thought that the formidable Mr. Dorsey would flirt with a woman in his office, and in such a tender tone,

    no less?

    Her cheeks flushed. Her fiery confidence when challenging the executives earlier was nowhere to be

    found.

    Max¡¯s breathing became uneven as he swept her off her feet and carried her into the adjoining lounge.

    ¡°Max, are you really gonna¨Cmmph.¡± She couldn¡¯t get another word out. It seemed she had been

    leaving him dry too long¨Chere they were, getting reckless in the office.

    The couch in the lounge was soft, and Brielle didn¡¯t dare look at him. The orange sunset and clear blue

    sky were on full disy through the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows. On the sunlit floory scattered clothes

    and the unmistakable scent of sex.

    She should stop him, but shecked the strength to resist. They had both been so busytely that

    finding time during the day to be together like this was rare.

    ¡ü

    After a couple of hours of thoroughly mollifying the CEO, Brielle sensed he was still hungry for more,

    and she quickly got up from the couch. ¡°There¡¯s a ton of work waiting for me back at Ster Stage

    Entertainment.¡±

    Max watched her go, a light chuckle escaping him. Was he really that terrifying?

    ¡°Max, I¡¯ve gotta head out. There¡¯s a lot to do. And I¡¯m sure you¡¯re swamped, too. Did everything go

    alright with Marthast night?¡±

    Mentioning Martha dimmed theughter in Max¡¯s eyes. ¡°Business as usual.¡±

    They had to resort to sedatives to administer thatst injection. Afterward, they made sure her food

    wasced with drugs to lower her guard.

    Brielle breathed a sigh of relief; no trouble from Martha was good news. She nced back at him and

    found Max propped up against the pillows, the epitome of casual elegance. It wasn¡¯t the first time

    they¡¯d sex, yet Brielle still felt a flush of heat on her face.

    ¡°So, I¡¯m leaving?¡±

    40.00

    Chapter 594

    ¡®Til have Patrick drive you.¡±

    ¡°No need, I drove myself.¡±

    Max raised an eyebrow, his fingertip brushing his lips¨Ca clear invitation.

    Brielle thought to herself that this man was far from the saintly image of ¡°The Priest¡®. He was temptation

    personified.

    Taking a deep breath, she leaned in and quickly pecked his lips. ¡°I¡¯m really off now. I¡¯ve got my sights

    set on something big at Ster Stage Entertainment, and I¡¯m all fired up.¡±

    Max¡¯s eyes twinkled like shattered stars, his gaze trailing down her in a long, beautiful arc, chilly and

    aloof yet irresistibly inviting.

    Brielle stepped out of the office to bump into Sydney, who was there to deliver some documents.

    Sydney saw Brielle¡¯s glowing face. Even her lips looked more luscious. Brielle must have worn only a

    hint of lipstick earlier, but now, it was all gone¨Cclearly kissed away.

    Jealousy surged through Sydney. She wanted nothing more than to p that smug look off Brielle¡¯s

    face.

    That bitch! Hadn¡¯t she left thepany? Why was she here during working hours, trying to entice Mr.

    Dorsey?

    What a slut!

    Still emting Brielle¡¯s style, Sydney red at her, grinding her teeth angrily.

    Brielle didn¡¯t spare her a nce, heading straight for the private elevator.

    Sydney, who had taken the regr lift, couldn¡¯t help but wonder what right a former employee had to

    use the executive elevator.

    Bubbling with spite, she followed Brielle and couldn¡¯t resist taunting her. ¡°Brielle, you really are

    shameless,ing here during work hours to seduce Mr. Dorsey.¡±

    As the elevator doors slid open, Brielle stepped inside and said with a lightugh, ¡°You¡¯d love to seduce

    him during work, wouldn¡¯t you? But has he even nced your way? Your desperation is showing,

    Sydney. How¡¯s life in your department? Rough, I bet?¡±

    Sydney was a poor imitation of Brielle,cking in her capabilities. Most of what she did ended in

    disaster. And with Spencer not yet reporting in, her heavy¨Chanded approach to leadership had brewed

    discontent among her colleagues.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Brielle¡¯s words hit Sydney where it hurt most¨Cherck ofpetencepared to Brielle. With a

    venomous re at the closing elevator doors, Sydney felt a tingling rage at the top of her head.

 Chapter 595

    Chapter 595

    She had no worries; as long as Mr. Spencer showed up at thepany, her situation was bound to

    improve. After all, she was Mr. Spencer¡¯s girl, and Spencer would surely have her

    back.

    However, to everyone¡¯s surprise, it wasn¡¯t Spencer who got the director¡¯s chair, but William¡¯s son,

    Antonio.

    Spencer had been doing nothing but drowning his sorrows in booze, neglecting his work like it was a

    dirty shirt. Michael had given him a final deadline, but Spencer had ended up in the hospital just in time.

    Seizing the opportunity, William yed his cards right in front of Michael, and the position that should

    have been Spencer¡¯s ended up with his son.

    Now, William and his son were both in the corridors of power at Dorsey International, upying top

    positions. Ryan and his family were either kicked out of Beaconsfield or stripped of their duties,

    completely out of the game. As for Victoria, what storm could that lovesick woman possibly stir up?

    William¡¯s eyes twinkled with mirth, confident that Dorsey International would be theirs once Max was

    out of the picture.

    He looked at Michael earnestly. ¡°Dad, I think Spencer¡¯s still hung up on Brielle, and that¡¯s why he¡¯s in

    such distress. You know, Brielle¡¯s gotten mixed up with Max, and, well, if Max ends up like Spencer

    because of her, then Dorsey International might just-¡±

    ¡°Max won¡¯t.¡± Michael¡¯s tone was cool and ominous as he sat with a few cups of coffee before him.

    ¡°Spencer has had a silver spoon in his mouth since birth and can¡¯t handle adversity. But Max has had a

    different upbringing. The Dorsey family won¡¯t give Spencer another dime. If he wants to self¨Cdestruct,

    he¡¯ll have to fend for himself. And you tell Victoria that once the medical bills are paid, she¡¯s not to give

    Spencer anything else. Otherwise, I won¡¯t look out for Everett anymore.¡± Michael had made up his

    mind.

    William¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°I¡¯ll pass on the message. And about Max¡­¡± He was eager to drive a wedge

    between the two, especially since Michael was already thwarting Brielle and Max. If he could just add

    fuel to the fire, maybe even get Michael to take Brielle out of the equation, Max¡¯s fiery temper would

    surely not let things lie.

    ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re up to. Max doesn¡¯t need your meddling.¡± Michael¡¯s voice was

    heavy, and he sipped his coffee with deliberate calm. ¡°If you¡¯re as restless as your exiled brother, you¡¯ll

    meet the same fate.¡±

    William¡¯s face turned sour, but he managed to keep hisposure, barely. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m just concerned

    about Max. After all, he¡¯s my brother.¡±

    Family ties in the Dorsey family were a joke. In the face of immense profit, everything else was trivial.

    1/2

    10:21

    Chapter 595

    Michael¡¯s eyes glinted with resolve. ¡°Max is my son. I have ways to deal with him. No matter how far he

    goes or how high he flies, I still hold the strings.¡±

    William was taken aback, uncertain about Michael¡¯s implication. Did Michael have another ace up his

    sleeve?

    Michael had long ago stepped back from the Dorsey family¡¯s dealings, entrusting everything to Max.

    Max had managed the family¡¯s affairs impably from abroad, especially Dorsey International, which

    had soared under his leadership. Michael seemed to be out of the loop, but who knew if he had other

    forces at hismand?

    With Michael¡¯s extensive experience in the business world, such a statement forced William to be extra

    cautious.

    Michael¡¯s message was clear: if Max lost control, he had a way to handle him. So all William had to do

    was sit back, asionally stoke the mes, and avoid drawing their ire.

    ¡°Dad, I understand. I¡¯ll be on my way then.¡±

    After getting Michael¡¯s nod, William left the Dorsey family estate. Back at his own ce, a young man

    was waiting for him, his son, Antonio.

    Antonio, dressed in a sharp grey suit, meticulously cleaned his fingertips with a handkerchief, wiping

    away the bloodstains bit by bit. The servants in the vi kept their heads down, careful not to cross

    either of them.

    Both had tempers like a summer storm. One wrong word could get you fired¨Cor worse. To them, solving

    a problem was just a matter of money, even if it meant someone¡¯s life.

    ¡°Dad, did you secure it? Can I head over to Dorsey International now?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    ¡°Yep, your grandfather has handed you the position. As for that waste of space, Spencer, he¡¯ll soon be

    cut off from all his cards. Michael¡¯s made it clear: let him fend for himself from now

    on.¡±

    Antonio snorted with derision, taking a swig of red wine from the table. ¡°What skills does he have to

    fend for himself? All he¡¯s learned over the years is how to have affairs with women. He¡¯s nothing but a

 Chapter 596

    Chapter 596

    Antonio didn¡¯t have the dazzling looks like the other members of the Dorsey n; he was more of the

    delicate and slender type. However, he was in good health, his only w being an unnaturally sickly

    complexion that made him appear frail at first nce.

    ¡°Antonio, when you head to work, try to avoid butting heads with Max, okay? Michael¡¯s taking this very

    seriously this time, and he¡¯s got an ace up his sleeve. If you really tick him off, I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll end up in

    the same boat as Ryan and his family. For now, let¡¯s hold our horses, stick to our roles, and just watch

    how this showdown between the two powers unfolds¨Cwho wille out on top.¡±

    Antonio set down his beer bottle, a sharp glint crossing his eyes. He was curious to meet Brielle. Did

    she really possess such allure?

    Uncle Max was even willing to pass over Miss Alivia in favor of her. What was it about her? Was her

    charm in bed that remarkable, or was there some other hidden wealth or background?

    These folks were all about self¨Cinterest. Nobody believed in so¨Ccalled love. They were sure that unless

    there was something more valuable about Brielle, Max wouldn¡¯t have been interested.

    It seemed that a thorough investigation was in order.

    While William and Antonio were strategizing, Brielle had already returned to Ster Stage

    Entertainment.

    Donny had been pacing the floor with restless anxiety since her departure, and now that she was back,

    his eyes lit up. ¡°Ms. Haywood, you¡¯re back! Did Mr. Dorsey give you any trouble?¡± he asked eagerly.

    The thought of Max brought a rush of memories, including the husky sounds he made at the height of

    passion, causing Brielle¡¯s cheeks to blush involuntarily. Her eyes shimmered, hinting at vulnerability

    and stirring protective instincts.

    Donny¡¯s face went pale. ¡°Ms. Haywood, you weren¡¯t¡­ fired, were you?¡±

    Snapping back to reality, Brielle¡¯s lips curved into a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine. Mr. Dorsey is quite

    reasonable.¡±

    As she spoke, the few who had gone to Dorsey International to tattle came sidling over, unable to meet

    Brielle¡¯s gaze.

    Brielle raised an eyebrow, curious to see what they were up to now. If they had indeed conjured up

    more outrageous schemes, she wouldn¡¯t mind showing them the door alongside the others.

    One of them hung their head, their voice tinged with concern. ¡°Ms. Haywood, I¡¯m willing to donate my

    entire year¡¯s sry to thepany for script development.¡±

    ¡°Me too, Ms. Haywood.¡±

    ¡°We were blind to your abilities before, and we hope you can forgive our shortsightedness.¡±

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    Chapter 596

    Donny was taken aback to see such a disy of contrition from these usually difficult executives. They

    were known to be the sort who would swing whichever way the wind blew, always siding with the most

    influential party at the moment. These three, in particr, had a reputation for sticking together, which

    often made them a headache to deal with; even Keagan sometimes found them challenging.

    Now, here they were, making overtures to Brielle?

    Brielle arched an eyebrow. They were certainly quick to catch on.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    These were high¨Clevel execs under Dorsey International, raking in millions a month. Offering up a

    year¡¯s sry was a significant gesture of goodwill, especially considering their previous endeavors at

    Ster Stage Entertainment had been less than scrupulous.

    ¡°You¡¯re volunteering this, so don¡¯te crying tobor arbitrationter, iming I¡¯ve withheld wages,¡±

    she warned them.

    ¡°Of course not, Ms. Haywood! We¡¯re blessed that you¡¯d even consider our offer.¡±

    ¡°Yes. Ms. Haywood. Your youthful leadership at Ster Stage Entertainment is a stroke of luck for us

    all.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s lips twitched, sensing their true nature as weathercocks. She waved them off impatiently.

    ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t fire you. If you¡¯re willing to donate, I won¡¯t refuse. After all, a year¡¯s sry is a drop in

    the oceanpared to what you¡¯ve extorted from Ster Stage Entertainment in the past.¡±

    The menughed awkwardly, unable to muster a response.

    Donny watched in amazement, feeling like he was gaining insight into new realms of possibility. After

    the executives left, he turned to Brielle. ¡°Ms. Haywood, this is-¡±

    ¡°Perhaps they¡¯ve had a change of heart. Now go on, attend to your work.¡± With that, Brielle entered her

    office.

    Donny remained in the hallway, a surge of excitement welling up within him. Brielle hadn¡¯t been

    troubled by Mr. Dorsey, and it seemed that those executives hade off worse after lodging their

    comints. Clearly, Brielle had some clout at Dorsey International, which exined her bold reforms at

    Ster Stage Entertainment.

    Feeling more confident than ever, Donny was determined to work hard. Perhaps Ster Stage

    Entertainment was on the verge of a new era!

    Once in her office, Brielle leaned back in her chair, massaging her waist with a grimace. Those two

    hours might not have been Max¡¯s limit, but they had certainly pushed her to her own.

 Chapter 597

    Chapter 597

    Max knew they¡¯d both be mmed with work for a while. Even when he got back to the Premier Pce

    at night, he¡¯d be swamped with meetings. So that¡¯s why he was all about indulging to the max at

    lunchtime.

    He used to pause midway through his devouring just to catch her blushing, but today, he didn¡¯t stop,

    not even when she yfully protested. He just shushed her with a bite as if she was a juicy

    cheeseburger.

    Brielle rubbed her forehead, the other hand massaging her lower back. Maybe she should take up

    kickboxing again? Her stamina just wasn¡¯t keeping up.

    After work, Aubree texted that she¡¯d meet her downstairs. Fresh from her yoga ss, Aubree was the

    picture of vitality. ¡°I should¡¯ve joined Ster Stage Entertainment the minute you did. It¡¯s so much fun. I

    didn¡¯t drive today. Mind giving me a lift home?¡±

    Brielle nodded and slid into the driver¡¯s seat. They hadn¡¯t gone far when Brielle noticed a truck in the

    rearview mirror driving erratically. She thought she was seeing things and swerved slightly. The truck

    mimicked her move.

    If they collided with the big rigs¡­ The thought barely crossed her mind when the truck gunned its

    engine, barreling toward her.

    Brielle¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Aubree, buckle up tight.¡±

    Aubree had seen it, too. She quickly fastened her seatbelt and swallowed hard. ¡°Bri, we¡¯re not gonna

    die, are we?¡± Such a massive vehicle could tten them into pancakes.

    Brielle was about to reassure her when suddenly, a cement mixer truck came at them head¨Con. Caught

    between the two, they had nowhere to go.

    ¡°Ahhh!¡± Aubree couldn¡¯t help but scream.

    Brielle gritted her teeth and steered the car towards the bridge¡¯s edge. Below was ake. If they got out

    quick enough after the fall, they¡¯d survive. She knew Aubree was a strong swimmer.

    ¡°Windows down! We¡¯re going in!¡± shemanded before crashing through the barrier.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Aubree reacted fast, rolling down the window.

    Their car plunged off the bridge while the two trucks, unable to turn in time, smashed into each other. A

    chain¨Creaction pile¨Cup ensued, involving over twenty vehicles.

    ¡°Boom!¡±

    The sound of their car hitting the water was thunderous.

    Brielle wanted to reach for Aubree but saw her already holding her breath, signaling to head for the

    surface. They had inhaled deeply before the plunge, so they weren¡¯t in distress, but the winterke was

    too frigid.

    Chapter 597

    Brielle nodded, and they slowly swam upward.

    Breaking the surface, Brielle took a deep breath, wiping the water from her face. Aubree spat out a jet

    of water, looking like a fountain, then gasped, ¡°Holy smokes! That was wild! Did you see that truck? We

    were this close to getting hit! Your reaction time was insane! Look at the bridge. It¡¯s all smoke. Those

    idiots crashed into each other. Serves them right! They wanted us dead, but we¡¯re like cats with nine

    lives!¡±

    Hearing this, Brielle¡¯s lips twitched ¨C Aubree was truly one of a kind.

    ¡°Aubree, let¡¯s get to shore.¡±

    After a sneeze, Aubree nodded. They stripped off their heavy coats to avoid sinking from the weight

    and swam to safety.

    Once on shore, they sat, catching their breath, watching the chaos unfold on the bridge. Brielle knew

    those trucks were meant for her. If she hadn¡¯t reacted, she¡¯d be a goner by now.

    A cement mixer and a big rig were a death sentence for any sedan caught in between. Whoever

    nned this was dead set on her demise.

 Chapter 598

    Chapter 598

    Aubree and Brielle returned to Aubree¡¯s ce, shivering so hard their teeth were chattering.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t let Max find out about this; she had a hunch that the person behind the attempt on her

    life was either Michael or Martha. If Max ever got wind of it, there would be hell to pay.

    After warming up with hot showers, they each held a steaming cup of tea as they settled into the living

    room.

    The thermostat was cranked up to the max, and Aubree had even gone the extra mile by brewing some

    ginger tea, a home remedy bound to warm the bones.

    The initial adrenaline rush had faded, and the reality of the grave danger Brielle was in had set in ¨C

    someone was out to get her.

    They ced their mugs of ginger tea on the table. Aubree downed hers in one go before speaking up.

    ¡°Bri, who do you think is behind this?¡±

    Brielle shook her head. The list of people who wanted her dead was, unfortunately, long.

    Michael had given her six months, but there was no promise that he wouldn¡¯t strike during that time. As

    for Martha, after Max provoked herst night, he had mentioned to spike her food with sleeping pills,

    but what if someone at the nursing home had tipped her off and she wasn¡¯t really out cold?

    Nothing was certain.

    Aubree leaned back, staring at the ceiling with a wry smile ying on her lips. ¡°You know, Bri, I kind of

    dig this life of yours. Flirting with Max when you can, dodging murder attempts while running Ster

    Stage Entertainment. Ever think about how your potential keeps getting unlocked? I bet your folks were

    some big shots. With gics like yours, there¡¯s no way youe from an average Joe family. Have

    you ever thought about tracking down your birth parents? Maybe their clout outshines anyone in

    Beaconsfield, and they could shield you. Then we wouldn¡¯t have to give a damn about the Dorseys, the

    Ronds, or the Barneses.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s head was also still wrapped in a towel, and both their hair was drying off. Brielle couldn¡¯t help

    but chuckle as she sipped her ginger tea, feeling a little warmth return to her body.

    If her parents had loved her, they wouldn¡¯t have left her at an orphanage when she was so little. She

    wished she could believe they gave her up because they were broke ¨C at least then she couldfort

    herself with the fact that they had no choice. But if they were wealthy, powerful, and still abandoned

    her, it would mean they didn¡¯t want her. Her story was probably not too different from someone like

    Tiffanie¡¯s.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never thought about finding them. I¡¯m happy with my life as it is.¡±

    ¡°Bri, have you ever dreamed about your family?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s grip on her mug tightened suddenly. Of course, she¡¯d had dreams. As a child, when she

    11:43

    Chapter 598

    was hungry and cold, she¡¯d dream of her parentsing to take her home, wrapping her in a warm

    coat.

    When hunger led to hallucinations, she¡¯d see her mother appear. Then, when the Haywood family

    came along, she thought her dream hade true. She¡¯d tried her best to be likable, to excel at

    everything. It just seemed to make no difference. She was unwee in that home. and after the

    scandal involving Lillian and Spencer broke, she fully understood her ce.

    If that was what family was, she didn¡¯t need it. She could do just fine on her own.

    She did yearn for someone to love and care for her, but if they didn¡¯t love her back, she¡¯d keep her

    emotions in check.

    Now, she had no expectations of family. That was why the frequency of her dreams about them

    dwindled over the years, and recently, she hadn¡¯t dreamed of them at all.

    The Haywood family had shattered her illusions of family life. The reality was too harsh.

    ncing at the clock on the wall, Aubree suggested, ¡°I¡¯ll give Mr. Dorsey a call. Tell him I¡¯ve got

    business at Ster Stage Entertainment, and you¡¯re staying with me tonight.¡±

    Brielle nodded. Max and Patrick had both been swampedtely, with that overseas acquisition deal

    about to wrap up. They probably wouldn¡¯t have time to catch the evening news. Plus, her wrist needed

    a couple of days to heal properly.

    Brielle suspected Michael or Martha was behind the car ident, but what she didn¡¯t know was that

    someone else was involved ¨C someone she¡¯d never expected.

    Sydney sat in her room, glued to the news, pacing with cold sweat on her forehead. The n had

    failed. She had spent a million to take out Brielle. How could it not have worked?

    She thought her n was foolproof. After all, Brielle was cornered. Yet, somehow, Brielle had found a

    way out.

    Sydney was seething, swallowing hard as she reassured herself that her involvement was

    undetectable. Then, a gentle knock on her door.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Sydney, it¡¯s sote. Aren¡¯t youing to bed?¡± It was her boyfriend, Adrian.

    Hearing his voice only intensified her irritation. She was bound by years of obligation to Adrian¡¯s family,

    so she couldn¡¯t break up with him now without facing the scorn of her neighbors.

 Chapter 599

    Chapter 599

    Sydney¡¯s friends were all privy to her history with Adrian, and she knew that if they broke up and Adrian

    bbed about her infidelity, her reputation would be in tatters.

    Lately, she had been sleeping in a separate bed from Adrian. After getting a taste of what a guy like

    Spencer could offer, she found herself disinterested in her current boyfriend. Spencer could provide

    what Adrian, with his rigid ways, never could.

    As Sydney¡¯s mind raced, she considered how she might exploit Adrian. If hemitted a crime and

    ended up behind bars, she could seamlessly initiate a breakup. That way, no one could me her;

    Adrian would have brought it upon himself.

    With this thought, Sydney doused her eyes with artificial tears and rubbed them until they were red

    before she opened the door.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Adrian, seeing her in such a state, was consumed with concern. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, babe? Is something

    going wrong at work?¡±

    Sydney cast her eyes down, her voice raspy. ¡°Forget it, you can¡¯t help me.¡±

    ¡°How can I help if you won¡¯t tell me what¡¯s going on? Sydney, we¡¯re about to get married. I don¡¯t want

    you to be unhappy.¡±

    Sydney scoffed inwardly. Marry this poor sap? The money she had in her bank ount was more than

    Adrian could ever dream of earning!

    ¡°Adrian, you remember the scandal about my previous boss, right? I showed you the article. She was

    engaged to Spencer, but it was called off after ying the field. Now she¡¯s clinging to Spencer, and in a

    fit of anger, the Dorsey family booted her from Dorsey International. She¡¯s taking out all her frustrations

    on me. My colleagues are all against me. I feel like I can¡¯t go on.¡± Adrian felt a pang of pain. He

    remembered the woman he¡¯d met that night and thought she didn¡¯t seem that bad. But if Sydney was

    saying this, it must¡¯ve been true. ¡°Do all your coworkers believe her? She¡¯s not at Dorsey International

    anymore. Why are they targeting you?¡±

    ¡°They me me for Brielle¡¯s departure, iming I want to take her ce. But I never thought that. Now,

    I¡¯m scared to even go to the office. My desk and chair are always covered in foundation and lipstick.

    What should I do? I¡¯ve worked so hard to get to where I am,¡± Sydney sobbed.

    ¡°That¡¯s outrageous! Sydney, I¡¯ll go to the office tomorrow and sort this out!¡±

    ¡°Adrian, please, it¡¯s no use. She had connections at thepany. Standing up for me will only make

    things worse. Let me be!¡±

    With that, she rushed toward the window in her room. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep at night, and her face haunts me.

    Only if she¡¯s gone will I have peace. Let me go, Adrian! I want to end this!¡±

    Chapter 599

    Adrian grabbed her in panic, trembling with fear. ¡°Sydney, don¡¯t do anything stupid. If you want her

    dead, I¡¯ll help you.¡±

    A glint of triumph shed in Sydney¡¯s eyes, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. ¡°You¡¯re

    aware of Ster Stage Entertainment, right? She¡¯s now the president there, and apparently, she¡¯s

    thriving. How can she be better off while I suffer from the bullying she incited? Adrian, you¡¯ll help me,

    won¡¯t you? If you do, we can get married right away.¡±

    The idea of marriage was too tempting for Adrian. He had been dreaming of marrying Sydney for years

    and was deeply in love with her. Now, the woman he loved was being tortured by someone else.

    Sensing his hesitation, Sydney stepped one foot out the window. Adrian desperately pulled her back in.

    ¡°Sydney!¡±

    ¡°Adrian! Let go of me!¡±

    ¡°I promise you, I¡¯ll visit Ster Stage Entertainment tomorrow. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll do what you want.¡±

    Sydney finally felt relieved, her smile intensified.

    The next morning, Adrian woke up at six. He saw Sydney curled up in bed, and his heart ached. Could

    this ordeal have caused Sydney to be depressed?

    His brow furrowed, he reached out tofort her, but she flinched away. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! I¡¯m not

    Brielle, please don¡¯t.¡±

    Adrian flinched, and woke her up.

    Between sobs, Sydney recounted how she had been assaulted by a stranger because of Brielle. ¡°I was

    too scared to tell you, fearing I wasn¡¯t good enough for you. Yesterday, I ran into Brielle at Dorsey

    International. I felt so dirty, and she humiliated me for it.¡±

    Adrian felt as if he¡¯d been struck on the head with a hammer. The woman he loved had endured so

    much without his knowledge. Grinding his teeth, he grabbed his keys and stormed out the door!

 Chapter 600

    Chapter 600

    Brielle was up at the crack of dawn and joined Aubree on their way to Ster Stage Entertainment.

    They had both taken a dip in the riverst night, so today, Brielle bundled up in thickyers. Aubree,

    forever the fashionista, braved the chill in her usual stylish but scant attire.

    Worried about her catching a cold, Brielle couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°I¡¯ve got a spare jacket in my office. I

    heard it¡¯s going to drop even moree afternoon. Swing by and grab it if you¡¯re cold.¡± Aubree

    sneezed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±

    Her gaze caught the sight of a familiar car, and she arched an eyebrow. ¡°Doesn¡¯t Mr. Dorsey have

    work? Up and about at Ster Stage Entertainment to ambush someone this early?¡±

    Brielle chuckled, knowing Aubree was just teasing her. After exchanging pleasantries, she made her

    way to the car.

    Before she could speak, she was pulled into a cool embrace. Brielle found herself in the arms of

    someone who bore the telltale signs of a sleepless night, no doubt due to work. She wondered why he

    was here waiting for her.

    ¡°There¡¯s been a hup with the overseas acquisition, so I¡¯ll be temporarily living at the office. You

    should head home more often. I don¡¯t like you being out.¡±

    His tone was detached, and his lips grazed her neck with feather¨Clight kisses.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help but tilt her head back, amused. Was he really here just to give her this warning?

    She knew he likely hadn¡¯t returned to Premier Pce to restst night and felt a pang of sympathy.

    Before she could respond, a cool object was pressed into her hand. She looked down to see a custom¨C

    made, silver handgun ¨C lightweight and sleek, a perfect fit for her grip.

    ¡°I had Jaired tailor this for you. Keep it with you.¡±

    Surprise flickered in her eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯ll cover for you, always. Just promise me, no matter what, your lifees first.¡±

    She nodded, a mix of fondness and concern in her eyes. ¡°Thank Jaired for me.¡±

    Cool detachment flickered through Max¡¯s gaze as his fingers yed with her earlobe. ¡°It¡¯s the least he

    could do.¡±

    The gift was special, and her smile shone brightly, yet the unfinished scarf at home weighed on her

    conscience. She resolved to finish it tonight back at Premier Pce.

    She noticed the shadows beneath his eyes and kissed him gently on the lips. ¡°Even if you have to

    sleep at the office, remember to rest. I¡¯ll make sure Patrick keeps an eye on you.¡±

    Chapter 600

    As Max¡¯s frosty aura thawed, he chuckled, ¡°After this is over, let¡¯s go skiing.¡±

    She agreed, and, conscious of the conspicuous nature of his car, kept their conversation brief.

    As they parted, she kissed him again. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Dorsey, for the early morning visit and the gift.

    It¡¯s something I truly appreciate.¡±

    Her tease made his Adam¡¯s apple bob and his voice sounded husky, ¡°When I¡¯m done, could you take a

    few days off too?¡±

    The idea made her think of the previous night¡¯s ordeal, wondering if she could even get out of bed after

    such a break. However, seeing the hope in his eyes, she couldn¡¯t bear to refuse.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    As the car pulled away, Brielle¡¯s heart felt warm, dispelling the lingering chill fromst night¡¯s ident.

    Though Max hadn¡¯t said it, she knew he hade to see her, using the gift as a pretext. He wasn¡¯t one

    for derations of affection.

    It seemed he was going to be genuinely busy if he was seizing even these brief moments.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Max¡¯s phone rang soon after he left; it was the clinic reporting that Martha had detected something

    amiss with her food and had started a hunger strike.

    Max¡¯s expression hardened, a storm brewing in his gaze. ¡°Rece everyone at the clinic,¡± he

    commanded Patrick, his voice icy. It¡¯d been less than a day, and his mother had already gotten the

    news. Someone must have bbed.

    Patrick nodded, executing the order immediately. Through the rearview mirror, he could see Max¡¯s

    irritation and cautiously inquired, ¡°What about Ms. Martha?¡± If she insistes on this hunger strike, she

    wouldn¡¯tst three days before her health copsed.

    ¡°I¡¯ll order the doctors to take necessary measures.¡± Max sat in a silence as deep as the night, his eyes

    darkening.

    Patrick gripped the steering wheel tighter, wondering if Brielle truly was the one who could stand by

    Max for a lifetime. Love that battled against everything¨Chow long could itst? Even a saint would grow

    weary, wouldn¡¯t they?

 Chapter 601

    Chapter 601

    Brielle stepped into Ster Stage Entertainment and settled into her office before dialing the traffic

    police to inquire about the specifics ofst night¡¯s car ident. As a person involved, she had already

    been questioned just before she fell asleep the previous night.

    One driver had been drinking, the other high on drugs. Both were in a daze. That was the answer from

    the police and all they could find out for now. She had suspected as much from the beginning and

    wasn¡¯t surprised by the revtion.

    Come evening, Aubree popped into her office to borrow a coat. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold.

    It had indeed gotten chillier, and after a bracing swim in icy waters the day before, Brielle felt her

    resistance to the cold had significantly diminished. With several coats on standby in her office, she

    handed over her favorite one to Aubree. ¡°I told you toyer up when we left your ce.¡±

    As Aubree headed out, she turned back with a smug grin. ¡°My drama instructor praised me again

    today, but keeping up with all these expressions is exhausting. I feel like my face is going to freeze

    from all that smile. Anyway, Bri, I¡¯m heading home. You¡¯ll be back at Premier Pce tonight, right? I

    won¡¯t wait up.¡±

    Brielle nodded. She had to workte. She was working overtime until nine in the evening. Dragging her

    weary body out of Ster Stage Entertainment, she into Ricardo in the elevator.

    Ricardo¡¯s eyes were clear as crystal, pure and innocent. He stood in the elevator, and when he saw

    Brielle, a beautiful light flickered in his gaze. ¡°Ms. Haywood.¡±

    ¡°Ricardo? Why are you still here sote?¡±

    A shade of embarrassment colored Ricardo¡¯s cheeks. ¡°John is really pushing me on this brother role.

    I¡¯ve met his standards with a few scenes, but he insists I can do better. We¡¯re close to shooting, and

    I¡¯ve got to give it my all. By the way, I saw Aubree earlier; her acting is reallying along.¡±

    He said this with a smile, reflecting off the elevator¡¯s mirrored walls. ¡°Ms. Haywood, do you think

    Aubree and I will really make it?¡±

    ¡°Of course, you¡¯re both very talented.¡± Brielle reassured him but then worried about the pressure he

    might be under. ¡°Just perform naturally, and don¡¯t beat yourself up if this film doesn¡¯t make a ssh.

    You¡¯re new to this; keep your expectations realistic.¡±

    As the elevator reached the lobby, Brielle¡¯s phone buzzed with a video call from an unknown number.

    Her first instinct was to disconnect, but then a message followed. (Want to see what happened to your

    dear friend because of you?]

    Her heart skipped a beat, and her face darkened. On the video, Aubree was indeed tied up, hands and

    feet bound, surrounded by three men.

    Brielle turned pale with fury and stormed out. She hung up the video and was about to contact Patrick,

    but heard Ricardo next to her saying, ¡°I seem to know this ce. Ms. Haywood, do you

    1/2

    11:25

    Chapter 601

    want me to take you there?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s chest was trembling, but she was still trying her best to keep her sanity. ¡°Let¡¯s go

    now.¡±

    After getting on the car, she called Patrick, but no one answered. She then dialed Max¡¯s number, and

    no one answered still.

    The overseas acquisition was at a critical point. Everyone in the conference room had switched off their

    phones and was fixated on the fluctuating numbers on the big screen.

    Max felt a nagging unease but pushed it aside, knowing everyone was awaiting his direction.

    The night in Beaconsfield was far from peaceful, with undercurrents swirling ominously.

    Elsewhere, in the Rond household, Tessa instructed her associate. ¡°Work with our contact to get the

    full video tonight. Make sure there are no traces left. I don¡¯t want any backtracking.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Tessa, don¡¯t worry. Our crew is well¨Ctrained. They wouldn¡¯t spill secrets even under duress. Taking

    down Aubree is a simple task.¡±

    Tessa¡¯s eyes sparkled with malice, delighted by the unexpected turn of events with Aubree¡¯s capture.

    Her own operatives had even managed to coborate with the kidnappers. It was as if luck was on her

    side.

    Tonight, all she had to do was distract Andrew, and Aubree¡¯s life would be ruined.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    She heard that Brielle was also notified. If Brielle witnessed Aubree¡¯s downfall, it would also be a

    crushing blow to her. Two birds with one stone, removing the two women Tessa despised

    most!

    Her lips curled into a smile. When the sound of footsteps outside came from outside, she told her

    associate to leave.

    When Andrew entered, only Tessa was in the room. His phone, which Aubree had tried to use to call

    for help, was right there with Tessa, who had dismissed the call.

    Tessa took the next call and lied that Andrew wasn¡¯ting and had agreed to marry her, She then

    deleted all the messages.

    Sensing Tessa¡¯s good mood, Andrew approached her tenderly. ¡°Feeling better?¡±

    Tessa nodded with a bashful smile. ¡°You¡¯ve been here taking care of me; of course, I feel better,

    Andrew. You¡¯re wonderful.¡±

    Andrew felt a warmth in his heart and wrapped her in his embrace. Tessa looked up and captured his

    lips with hers.

 Chapter 602

    Chapter 602

    Andrew¡¯s body tensed, but then he responded to her passionately. The two of them were locked in an

    embrace on the bed, their kisses seemingly inseparable,

    However, he couldn¡¯t admit to himself that her lips didn¡¯t feel as right as Aubree¡¯s.

    Aubree. It had been ages since he had seen her. With that thought, Andrew¡¯s desire waned, and he

    gently pushed Tessa away. ¡°I think we should get the doctor to check on you again.¡±

    Tessa mistook his concern for fear of hurting her and felt a sweet warmth in her heart. ¡°Okay.¡±

    Meanwhile, Aubree was left hanging after a disconnected call and seemed to lose all will to live. Tied

    up, she stared nkly at the ceiling. Tears no longer flowed. Her gaze was fixed on nothingness.

    Adrian watched as three men began to unbuckle their belts, and with a camera set up, it seemed they

    were truly nning to rape Aubree.

    A frown creased his brow. Today had been a mistake. He mistook the person for Brielle because they

    wore the same coat Brielle had worn. He had attacked from behind without properly identifying his

    target.

    The security at Ster Stage Entertainment was tight, and he hadn¡¯t had time to check carefully. After

    all, this was his first timemitting such a crime.

    When he arrived here and found he¡¯d been followed, he realized that three men of unknown origin

    clearly shared a singr purpose.

    Adrian had intended to retaliate against Brielle, not drag an innocent woman into this mess. By the time

    he realized his mistake, it was toote. When he saw the men undressing, his expression darkened.

    ¡°What do you n to do with her?¡±

    The men, already unable to restrain themselves at the sight of Aubree¡¯s beauty, found Adrian¡¯s

    question amusing. ¡°What¡¯s this? You wanna join in? You¡¯ll have to wait your turn. After we¡¯ve had our

    fun, she¡¯s all yours.¡±

    Adrian, who had been sitting, stood up abruptly. ¡°Are you here to get back at Brielle, or are you here for

    this woman?¡±

    The leader smirked. ¡°We¡¯re helping you out, man. You saw us call Brielle. She¡¯ll be here soon. Didn¡¯t

    you say your girl got messed up because of Brielle? Well, here¡¯s your chance to get back at Brielle

    herself. As for her best friend, we¡¯ll take care of her.¡±

    Adrian nced at Aubree, bound at the wrists and ankles, and for some reason, perhaps struck by the

    despair on her face, he hesitated to agree. He had never been part of something like this. His

    confrontation at Ster Stage Entertainment had been a spur¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cmoment act.

    Now, seeing the menacing looks on these three men, he knew they were not to be trifled with.

    Moreover, even if Brielle deserved a dire fate, her best friend was innocent. He stepped

    forward, reaching to untie Aubree¡¯s restraints. ¡°Let¡¯s call it off. Save this for Brielle. This

    1/2

    11:25

    Chapter 602

    woman is innocent. As soon as Brielle arrives, we¡¯ll let her go.¡±N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    The men thought they were hearing a joke, but Adrian seemed serious. He bent over and earnestly

    began to release Aubree¡¯s legs. Before he could stand up, a heavy kicknded on his chest, sending

    him flying a meter away, coughing up blood.

    He looked up at the men, who seemed annoyed, disdain in their eyes. ¡°Looks like your little girlfriend

    got what she deserved. How could such a spineless boyfriend protect her. You better go check if she

    was forced or if she went willingly.¡±

    Adrian, already regretting his decision to bring Aubree into this, felt his face flush with rage and

    humiliation. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare talk about Sydney like that!¡±

    Sydney was the kindest girl he¡¯d ever met, and she¡¯d been with him through thick and thin over the

    years. They were about to get married, but because of Brielle, Sydney had suffered so much. He would

    never forgive Brielle.

    However, if he let these men treat Aubree this way, how would he be any different from the man who

    hurt Sydney?

    ¡°Cough, cough.¡± He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and slowly stood up from the ground.

    ¡°Like I said, if you treat Brielle like this, I won¡¯t stop you. But this woman is truly innocent.¡±

    ¡®Fuck! You asking for it?!¡±

    ¡®Lost your mojo? How about we take you out first?!¡±

 Chapter 603

    Chapter 603

    They didn¡¯t even care about their own lives, let alone the lives of others. They approached Adrian

    swiftly and began to beat him mercilessly with their fists and feet.

    Adrian, with no formalbat training, felt his ribs shatter under the onught.

    Aubree stirred at themotion, her lips twitching into a wry smile as she watched them turn on one of

    their own. She didn¡¯t speak; instead, she continued to stare at the ceiling, her mind echoing with

    Tessa¡¯s words about getting married.

    She clung to Andrew as herst hope, but his cellphone was with Tessa.

    Tears began to stream down Aubree¡¯s face, her whole body aching with a pain that seemed to

    prate her soul. It was odd. The men hadn¡¯t even touched her yet, but she felt tainted as if no

    shower could ever cleanse her. Perhaps she had been marked by an indelible stain since the age of

    eighteen.

    Adrian curled up on the ground, blood spilling continuously from his mouth. The men grabbed his hair

    and smashed his head against the wall, their voicesden with malice.

    ¡°Next time you want to y the hero, weigh your strength first. Screw you!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t actually kill him. We¡¯ve got to pin this mess on him.¡±

    ¡°Right, the beauty is right here. Let¡¯s make it quick.¡±

    ¡°Brielle is quite a looker, too. We could have a go with both of them. That would be the life.¡±

    Theirughter was lewd and unbridled.

    Adrian, hearing this, mustered thest of his strength and looked at Aubree, his heart pierced by the

    sight of her tears. Maybe Sydney had felt just as helpless.

    Somehow finding a burst of energy, he grabbed one of the men¡¯s legs. The man stumbled forward,

    enraged at Adrian¡¯s defiance, and kicked him squarely in the face. ¡°Fuck!¡±

    Adrian was sent flying andy motionless on the ground.

    The men approached Aubree and tore off her clothes in a brutal disy of savagery. One of them

    eagerly and impatiently mounted and pped her across the face.

    ¡°You¡¯re so easy! No wonder you could entice your own brother!¡±

    ¡°Did you enjoy it as much when he fucked you?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s pupils contracted sharply. Her lips were pressed tightly together, tasting blood in her mouth

    from the p. Her head was knocked askew, her cheek swelling visibly.

    Her face, which was quite lovely, angered the other men when they saw it being damaged. ¡°Just do it.

    Don¡¯t ruin the face,¡± one of them snapped.

    The man shrugged. ¡°Just a bit of fun.¡± he muttered, no longer hesitating. But Aubree, having

    11:38

    Chapter 683

    just had her legs freed, delivered a powerful knee to his groin. The man paled from the pain and red

    at her furiously.

    ¡°You bitch!¡±Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    He approached Aubree, prying her mouth open. ¡°I have many ways to make people suffer, and you

    don¡¯t want to experience them all,¡± he snarled.

    He grabbed a dagger from nearby, prying open Aubree¡¯s mouth and wrenching her teeth out.

    The pain was excruciating! Aubree¡¯s mouth filled with the taste of blood, a crimson flow that wouldn¡¯t

    stop.

    Tears and blood smeared her face, but she could hardly make a sound. She felt like a proud rose had

    been reduced to a crushed dirt by the roadside.

    Maybe she was never a rose; perhaps she had always been a wildflower, discarded and unwanted.

    The man seized her hair, holding her down, fucking her mouth without restraint. The camera nearby

    recorded every moment, capturing the gruesome scene in its entirety.

    The men¡¯sughter was carefree and loud as they reveled in their control over her body.

 Chapter 604

    Chapter 604

    Every fiber in her being was screaming in agony, from her heart down to the very pores on her skin¨C

    each one moring, howling with pain.

    A person grabbed a camera, zooming in closer, wiping the bloodstains from her chin, and intentionally

    gripping her jaw tightly. ¡°Come on, sweetheart, make it slutty. This video is a special show for your

    brother.¡±

    When Brielle and Ricardo¡¯s car roared onto the scene, what they saw was a tableau of violence. A man

    was on top of Aubree, thrusting wildly, while another was recording, capturing her every grimace and

    tear. There was also a man fastening his belt, clearly having finished his turn.

    Brielle¡¯s pupils shrank to pinpricks, and for a moment, she thought she might go blind with rage. Only

    the ragdoll¨Clike figure of Aubree was seared into her bloodshot vision.

    Kill them. Kill them all!

    Or not just kill them¨Cshe wanted to obliterate the entire world.

    The men, satisfied with their repulsive deeds, slowed their actions upon hearing the car, their faces full

    of smug pleasure.

    Brielle¡¯s hand slipped into her purse, her sanity slipping away. Ricardo, sitting beside her, sensed a

    lethal aura. His eyebrows raised slightly as he watched Brielle step out of the car.

    Ricardo didn¡¯t want to get involved but sighed deeply upon seeing the men zipping up and moving

    toward Brielle.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, what do you intend to do?¡±

    ¡°Kill them.¡± Brielle paused mid¨Cstride, her voice cold and almost numb with the overwhelming urge to

    eviscerate these beasts. ¡°I want to kill them.¡±

    Ricardo chuckled softly, approaching with feigned innocence in his eyes. ¡°You want tomit murder?

    That¡¯s against thew, you know.¡±

    Thew? What was that? She didn¡¯t even know anymore. The silver of the gun was already at her

    fingertips. She wanted their lives.

    The men, upon seeing her face, filled their eyes with glee.

    ¡°Another one to join the party. As we said, it¡¯s going to be a sister act.¡®

    ¡°Pity Aubree¡¯s already exhausted. She was quite the treat.¡±

    ¡°Aubree really is a dirty one, isn¡¯t she? She¡¯s still so eager after all those times with her brother.¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t hear their words¨Cmore urately, she couldn¡¯t hear anything. All she felt was a cold

    coursing through her veins, staring at them as if they were no more than bugs on the

    11.20

    Chapter 604

    sidewalk.

    Wouldn¡¯t it be alright to squash a couple of bugs? She smiled faintly, her movements smooth as she

    chambered a round.

    Ricardo was right by her side, witnessing every move she made. His dagger was at the ready, but he

    hesitated for a moment. Should he act? Or should he let Brielle do it and, by doing so, bind her to his

    world? Their hands would both be stained with blood and perhaps she wouldn¡¯t see him as a monster

    anymore.

    As he hesitated, the men were closing in. One of their faces triggered memories long suppressed in

    Ricardo¨Cscreams, cries, and a maelstrom of sounds tangling in his mind.

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    His sister, covered in blood, lied before his eyes.

    How ironic. He had been searching for years, never finding them, and yet they appeared at this

    moment. Was Brielle perhaps his lucky star?

    Ricardo chuckled, his hesitation gone. As Brielle¡¯s bullet was chambered, Ricardo had already moved¨C

    swiftly, cleanly. All he could see was darkness, an endless ck that seemed to stain his entire vision.

    His inner fury surged wildly. He didn¡¯t know how many times he had struck, only that it felt exhrating

    like never before. Each strike was non¨Cfatal yet left them all incapacitated.

    One second, these men were on top of the world; the next, they were writhing in agony.

    Ricardo felt good, so very good. After so many years, he had finally avenged his sister.

 Chapter 605

    Chapter 605

    By the time the chaos had subsided, the scene was beyond recognition, thick with the stench of blood.

    A few meny gasping for breath in pools of their own making.

    Ricardo gazed down at his dagger, its original color indistinguishable beneath the grime. He wiped his

    cheek with a finger, smearing the blood that had sttered on his face.

    The silence was deafening as if they were sealed in a vacuum.

    He nudged the man at his feet with indifference and turned around, reluctantly avoiding Brielle¡¯s gaz?,

    Her eyes were so beautiful. It would be a shame if they showed fear. He¡¯d hate to have to gouge them

    out.

    She was probably just like that other woman, terrified of him, regarding him with disbelief and revulsion.

    Pity. He had wanted Brielle to live a bit longer, but old enemies had a way of revealing one¡¯s true

    nature.

    His lips curled into a smile as he turned to look at Brielle.

    She stood a few meters away, blood slowly creeping toward the tips of her shoes. She stepped back,

    and Ricardo felt the gesture like a knife to his heart. So, the promise of sunlight was a lie after all. It

    was just a momentary fib he had foolishly believed.

    If that were the case, then nobody would be spared tonight. All must die.

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    His hand was already moving with the dagger when he saw Brielle step forward, pushing him aside and

    pulling the trigger. The man who was barely hanging on to life was now unmistakably dead.

    Frozen, Ricardo watched as Brielle approached the other two men, stepping on one¡¯s chest and firing

    from a position of authority.

    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±

    After three shots, the faint cries for help were silenced; they were all dead.

    Brielle tucked away the gun and turned to Aubree. Shey on the filthy, narrow bed motionless, her

    body covered in marks¨Cbitten, kissed, a chaotic map of abuse.

    Brielle looked on, her heart twisting in agony as she removed her clothing to cover Aubree.

    Aubree¡¯s pupils, previously dted, slowly focused, and she managed a weak smile. ¡°Bri¡­¡±

    Brielle bit her lip to keep from crying.

    ¡°Cough, cough, cough.¡± Aubree¡¯s cough brought up more blood.

    Tears rimmed Brielle¡¯s eyes as she picked up a tooth that had been knocked out of Aubree¡¯s mouth.

    Her hand trembled uncontrobly. The simple act of picking up the tooth was nearly impossible.

    Chapter 605

    She dared not recall in detail what had happened to Aubree in thest two hours. Wiping away her

    tears, Brielle took a deep breath and tried to clean the blood from the tooth against her clothing.

    Aubree watched silently, weakly, as Brielle fumbled and fretted over the blood¨Cstained tooth. It wouldn¡¯t

    come clean. Like her, it would never be clean again.

    Aubree should have been feeling sorry for herself, falling apart, but the sight of Brielle, now deprived of

    all strength, made her feel pain deeper than the abuse she¡¯d endured.

    ¡°Stop it.¡± She reached out to grab Brielle¡¯s hand.

    Brielle finally looked up, embracing Aubree and shaking with sobs. She clung desperately, as if

    releasing Aubree would make her vanish from this world.

    Aubree was in too much pain to speak, each breath searing through her. She wanted tofort Brielle,

    but she had no strength left. She could only offer a weak smile, wrap her arms around Brielle, and let

    her own tears fall.

    All the injustice and despair became silent as mournful tears soaked Brielle¡¯s clothes.

    Brielle was shaking with cold and fear. She wished it had been her who had suffered all this. She

    seethed with hatred for the mastermind behind this, for all those who used such acts to humiliate

    women.

    Brielle hated herself, too.

    Dark thoughts crossed Brielle¡¯s mind as she nced at the bodies on the floor. No need to guess¨C

    Tessa certainly sent them.

    Only Tessa would stoop to that level to use such cruelty on Aubree.

    Tessa. If she were here, Brielle would use that gun again without hesitation. But death was too good for

    Tessa. Brielle wanted that woman to lose everything, to pay dearly for today¡¯s actions. ¡°Aubree, she

    won¡¯t get away with this. I¡¯ll make her suffer, make her pay for everything you¡¯ve been through.¡±

    At that moment, Aubree cried out loud, clinging to Brielle.

 Chapter 606

    Chapter 606

    Aubree knew deep down it was Tessa. Only Tessa would do something like this to her, using such cruel

    tactics to destroy her life.

    She wept until her body was wracked with sobs, until exhaustion finally cradled her into Brielle¡¯s arms.

    Brielle held her close, her gaze drifting to a figure slumped in the corner. Was that Adrian? Sydney¡¯s

    boyfriend?

    If Adrian hadn¡¯t already passed out, the sight of Ricardo and Brielle¡¯s handiwork would have likely

    scared him to death.

    Ricardo stood amid a pool of blood, his back to Brielle, concealing his expression. His tongue peeked

    out, moistening his parched lips.

    The brutality from moments ago had vanished, reced by a tingling excitement. Brielle didn¡¯t recoil at

    his monstrous nature; instead, she had embraced her inner beast.

    He fought back augh, knowing he must restrain himself lest he reveal his true self. Brielle was too

    intriguing, too precious to let die. He wanted her to live on.

    Despite trembling with excitement, he turned around, feigning vulnerability. ¡°Ms. Haywood, what should

    I do? Did I just kill someone? Am I going to jail?¡±

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    Brielleforted him while holding Aubree close. ¡°I¡¯ll have someone take care of it.¡±

    Ricardo¡¯s eyes then settled on Aubree. She looked disheveled. Her clothing barely covered her, and

    red marks trailed from her mouth down to her chest.

    Ricardo offered his shirt, but Aubree, eyes shut and pale against Brielle, didn¡¯t take it. Ricardo realized

    his mistake his shirt was stained with the filth of those men. He quickly offered an apologetic smile.

    ¡°Sorry, Aubree, do you want me to carry you? Ms. Haywood probably can¡¯t manage. Let¡¯s get you to

    the hospital.¡±

    Aubree couldn¡¯t utter a word as if she had slipped away entirely.

    Ricardo hoisted her onto his back and made for the car outside.

    Brielle stood amidst the chaos, ncing at the broken window that framed the serene moonlight. A

    sardonic smile crossed her lips, her eyes bloodshot. It felt like a moment straight out of Hugo¡¯s

    depiction of a tragic world.

    The heart of man could cast infinite light or create boundless darkness. Light and dark intertwined,

    shing ¨C this was the world people longed for yet found utterly inescapable.

    It was truly a miserable world.

    She wiped her lips with a trembling finger, biting her tongue to maintainposure. Brielle had to be

    Aubree¡¯s pir, and she couldn¡¯t crumble.

    Chapter 606

    Taking a deep breath, she steadied her voice and dialed Patrick. He answered, still in the midst of a

    meeting. He had merely stepped out to retrieve essential documents.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle.¡±

    ¡°Patrick, I¡¯m sending you an address. I need you to clean up the scene. There¡¯s also someone alive

    here. Don¡¯t ask what happened just yet. I know you and Max are busy, so just tidy up and hide this

    person. I¡¯ll need to borrow some folks from youter.¡±

    Patrick¡¯s face tensed, his heartbeat racing. Brielle¡¯s tone was calm, but her words sent chills down his

    spine. ¡°Ms. Brielle, are you alright?¡±

    ¡°Patrick, I¡¯m taking Aubree to the hospital. I¡¯m fine. Please arrange everything, will you?¡±

    ¡°Alright, send me the address, and I¡¯ll have someone there promptly.¡±

    Brielle nodded and followed Ricardo and Aubree into the car. In the backseat, Aubree was truly asleep,

    curled up on the seat. Her position aggravated her wounds, and she whimpered in her sleep, calling

    out Andrew¡¯s name.

    Andrew awoke with a start from Tessa¡¯s bed, his chest aching fiercely. The bedroom TV buzzed with

    thetest news, but Tessa was nowhere in sight.

    Wrapped in a coat, Tessa was on the balcony, reviewing videos sent by her aplices. In the videos,

    Aubree was raped repeatedly.

    Tessa atmost burst into hystericalughter but didn¡¯t want to wake Andrew, so she turned on the TV for

    cover and stepped onto the balcony tough quietly.

    That slut! Finally, she got what she deserved!

    Aubree thought she could get away with seducing her own brother, did she? Bet she enjoyed being

    ravaged by those men.

    Tessa¡¯sughter filled the night, unaware that Andrew had risen from the bed.

    Clutching his chest, he listened to the news reporting on thetest scientific studies.

    ¡°Once particles be entangled, no matter the distance, they can instantly affect each other, and this

    connection doesn¡¯t fade with distance.¡±

    Suddenly irate, Andrew snatched the remote and hurled it at the TV, shattering the screen.

 Chapter 607

    Chapter 607

    On the balcony, Tessa finally heard themotion from the room. She quickly pocketed her phone.

    The video was her ace in the hole, not to be shared recklessly. It was to be kept safe.

    Whenever she felt down, she¡¯d watch it and enjoy how Aubree was defiled on the bed by several

    men.

    A smirk yed on her cheeks as she entered the bedroom. ¡°Sorry, I just couldn¡¯t sleep and ended up

    flipping on the TV. Did I wake you, Andrew?¡±

    Andrew didn¡¯t speak, feeling a bitter tang in his chest. The urge tosh out was strong. He rubbed his

    temples, his voice t. ¡°Turn off the TV.¡±

    For some reason, Tessa didn¡¯t dare provoke him now. He was having nightmares, perhaps? He

    seemed so grim, his pallor ghastly.

    She hurriedly shut off the TV and tiptoed to the bed, wrapping her arms around him. ¡°Let¡¯s just sleep.¡±

    Andrew, fighting a wave of nausea,y back down.

    At the hospital.

    Doctors surrounded Aubree, their expressions grim. Everyone knew what she had endured, but no one

    dared ask for details.

    After treating her wounds and assuring her that the missing tooth could be fixed, the doctors left the

    room.

    Brielle, standing by, fought back tears. She would have rather endured all this herself than see Aubree

    suffer so.

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    Aubree blinked her stinging eyes. Her body ached, and she was utterly speechless. Her throat felt like

    it was clogged.

    She gestured for Brielle to step out. She craved rest, to lie on this stark white bed until the end of time.

    Her voice was weak, and her body was drenched in sweat. Brielle stepped out to handle the hospital

    admission, leaving Aubree to her solitude.

    Once alone, Aubree rushed to the en¨Csuite bathroom to vomit. Her stomach burned as if on fire.

    Closing her eyes only brought back the vile words.

    The men were dead, gone for good, but the vition shadowed her still.

    Her stomach convulsed, spasming. Yet she called for no doctor, almost relishing the revolt of her body.

    It felt like breaking down, sinking into the mire, into the dark, where redemption was out of reach.

    When Brielle returned, she didn¡¯t enter the room right away. Aubree had asked for space, probably to

    process things on her own.

    Chapter 607

    Brielle blinked away the sting in her eyes and wandered to the opposite balcony. That was when she

    spotted Ricardo in the hallway. He looked shaken, undoubtedly by the events he¡¯d witnessed. After a

    moment¡¯s thought, Brielle offered him some candy from her pocket.

    Ricardo froze, staring at the colorful sweets in his palm, his face flushing. ¡°Ms. Haywood, I¡¯m not a kid

    anymore.¡±

    ¡°Take it. You¡¯ve been through a shock, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    Her voice was raw, her eyes red, a clear sign of her own struggle against immense pain. Still, she

    sought tofort him.

    Ricardo managed a weak smile. ¡°No. Ms. Haywood, am I going to jail?¡±

    ¡°No way, you¡¯re Ster Stage¡¯s golden boy. I won¡¯t let you go to jail.¡±

    Patrick¡¯s guys should be handling things by now. After tonight, no one would know what happened

    there.

    ¡°Ricardo, you¡¯ll be fine. Trust me.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I trust you.¡±

    A small smile tugged at Ricardo¡¯s lips. ¡°But Ms. Haywood, aren¡¯t you scared of me after what

    you saw?¡±

    He had to ask. What was going on inside Brielle¡¯s head? She was so different.

    ¡°You were just scared. If anyone should be afraid, you should be scared of me. After all, I¡¯m the one

    who ended a life.¡± She looked down at her fingertips. She could smell the smell of bloom clinging to

    them. Maybe she was never normal.

    Her gaze fell. ¡°Anyway, don¡¯t worry about what¡¯s next, Ricardo. Just y your part, and leave the rest

    to me.¡±

    ¡°Okay, Ms. Haywood. I¡¯ll y my part.¡±

    ¡°In your presence, I¡¯ll be the obedient and clean Ricardo,¡± He thought.

    Brielle nodded. ¡°You must be exhausted and frightened. Go rest.¡± .

    Ricardo grinned, revealing sharp canines. ¡°Alright.¡±

    He strolled out of the hospital in high spirits, when a man emerged from behind a tree nearby. ¡°You

    fooled her with such a poor act. I wonder if Brielle is naive or just missing a screw.¡±

 Chapter 608

    Chapter 608

    Ricardo arched an eyebrow. The undercurrent of violence that usually ran through his veins had ebbed

    away. He looked at the man before him, a hint of mirth twinkling in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m in a good mood

    tonight, so don¡¯t feel like killing you. Quit buzzing around like an annoying fly.¡±

    The man didn¡¯t speak, casually crossing his arms across his chest. After a long pause, he finally asked,

    ¡°What about the boss? He wants Brielle gone.¡±

    Ricardo looked up, his face the picture of innocence. ¡°So you go back and tell him I¡¯ve found a new

    ything.¡±

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Indeed, to Ricardo, everyone was merely a toy. He was intrigued by Brielle ¨C her emotions, her

    thoughts, and her entire being piqued his curiosity.

    Such an interesting toy couldn¡¯t just die. The world would be so dull without her.

    A violent glint flickered across the man¡¯s face. ¡°Do you understand the consequences of your

    words?¡±

    Ricardo squinted his eyes, his pale fingers twirling a dagger. ¡°When I tire of this new toy, I¡¯ll head back.¡±

    The implication was clear: try to stop me, and I won¡¯t hesitate to eliminate the obstacle right

    now.

    The man caught sight of the dagger, and his expression froze for a moment. Ricardo was the most

    ruthless of them all.

    His face could easily pass for that of a naive college kid to the outside world, but only those in his inner

    circle knew he was anything but. He could be anyone.

    The boss had said it himself: Ricardo was born for the kill. No technique, no weapon was beyond his

    mastery. He was the strongest and the freest. He killed simply because he enjoyed

    1. it.

    The man eventually fell silent, huffing with frustration, ¡°I¡¯ll report this to him, but you might not have

    many peaceful days ahead. Enjoy the calm while itsts.¡±

    Ricardo looked up and smiled, looking disarmingly sweet. ¡°I intend to have a st.¡±

    The man left in a huff, powerless and annoyed.

    Ricardo didn¡¯t usually talk so much. Tonight, his spirits were so high he even hummed a tune as he

    walked.

    Meanwhile, Brielle stood on the balcony upstairs, gazing at the Beaconsfield night without a word. The

    most luxurious city also harbored the filthiest secrets.

    She lowered her gaze and returned to Aubree¡¯s hospital room.

    Aubree was still in the bathroom. Through the closed door, Brielle heard the sounds of retching

    11.20

    Chapter 608

    and running water. She stood by the door, wanting to knock, but ultimately refrained.

    Her mouth agape, she wanted to speak but couldn¡¯t utter a word.

    Aubree emerged, locking eyes with her. Both faces flushed.

    ¡°Aubree, are you hungry?¡±

    Aubree shook her head, dragging her weary body back to bed with Brielle trailing behind her.

    The doctor¡¯s knock startled Aubree. Her whole body shivered a reflex from her current state.

    1

    Seeing her like this pained Brielle even more. She stepped out to speak with the doctor, who handed

    her a morning¨Cafter pill with an apologetic look. ¡°If she doesn¡¯t want a pregnancy, it¡¯s best to take this.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s pupils contracted, her fingers trembling.

    The doctor sighed, ¡°Other test results wille in gradually. We don¡¯t know whether those men were

    carrying diseases since we don¡¯t have their identities. So, besides the morning¨Cafter pill, Miss Aubree

    might need to take some prophctic meds.¡±

    Handing over several bottles of medication, the doctor added, ¡°Please, do your best to convince the

    patient. If you wish to report this to the police, the hospital will provide all necessary reports.¡±

    Once the doctor left, Brielle leaned against the wall, legs giving way. She slid down to the floor as tears

    fell. There was nothing more powerless than a woman facing such a vition. If the outside world

    found out, Aubree¡¯s life would be destroyed.

    Unbeknownst to Brielle at that moment, those men had already sent the video to Tessa.

    The door to the room,opened. Aubree came out and squatted in front of Brielle, swallowing the

    morning¨Cafter pill along with the other medications. She had heard the doctor¡¯s words and didn¡¯t want

    to carry the child of those beasts.

    ¡°Aubree,¡± Brielle murmured her name but couldn¡¯t say more.

    Aubree patted her shoulder, knelt down, and embraced her, voice choked with emotion. ¡°The man

    who¡¯s still alive is named Adrian. He intended to kidnap you tonight, but he took me by mistake. I

    overheard their conversation; it seems Adrian has a girlfriend who must have said something to him, so

    he harbors a deep hatred for you and decided on revenge. As for the others, I feel like they were

    initially after me and just happened to join forces with Adrian.¡±

    Despite trembling uncontrobly, Aubree tried her best to endure the pain. The incident had happened,

    and all she could do now was share everything she knew with Brielle.

    Brielle gripped her hand, trying to convey some strength, but Aubree¡¯s tears fell instantly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Bri,

    it hurts a bit. I can¡¯t control my tears.¡±

 Chapter 609

    Chapter 609

    As Brielle¡¯s nostrils red with heat, her eyes burned with unshed tears, and her breath steamed in the

    chilled air of the room. In the midst of her anguish, her mind was a whir of icy logic. ¡°Tessa despises

    you, and she loathes me too. By doing this, she¡¯s hit two birds with one stone,¡±

    Aubree¡¯s lips twitched into a mirthless smile. It had to be Tessa. No one else was capable of such

    malice.

    Tessa had hoarded Andrew¡¯s affection for far too long, and now, she couldn¡¯t hold back any longer¨Cshe

    had made her move. There was just an unexpected twist in the tale.

    Aubree began to shiver uncontrobly, sucking in a deep breath as she hoisted Brielle off the cold,

    unforgiving floor. ¡°Bri, I want Tessa to lose everything,¡± she whispered, her voice catching with emotion.

    ¡°But I¡¯m tired, so tired. I need to sleep, Bri. Just let me rest a while, will you?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s heart clenched in agony. She had failed to protect her best friend. She had promised to make

    her more likable, only to see her torn down.

    Tessa and the Rond family!

    Taking a deep breath, Brielle slowly patted Aubree¡¯s back. ¡°I¡¯ve figured out how to deal with the

    Ronds. Whatever she owes you, I¡¯ll make sure she pays it back a hundredfold.¡±

    Mason had done his part well, convincing the Ronds to splurge thirty billion on that plot ofnd. For

    apany to suddenly bleed thirty billion in cash was terrifying. A cash crisis like that could lead to

    bankruptcy. Even for Dorsey International, thirty billion was a hefty sum.

    The Ronds were already teetering on the edge, especially after their recentnd¨Cbuying spree.

    They must¡¯ve been stretched thin with bank loans and now was the time they were most vulnerable.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t wait any longer. Her fury was matched only by her icy calm.

    She had done nothing wrong by being with Max. Why did everyone resort to such filthy tactics against

    her, even targeting her friends?

    Tessa and Alivia. These two were like daggers constantly dangling over Brielle¡¯s head. She would start

    by taking down the Ronds.

    Her expression darkened, a storm brewing in her eyes as she pondered her next move.

    When she returned to Premier Pce, it waste. Wesley caught a glimpse of her somber face and

    wisely chose not to engage her in conversation.

    Brielle skipped dinner, went straight upstairs, and, after freshening up, stood by the bedroom window to

    dial Tessa¡¯s number. Two o¡¯clock in the morning was the perfect time to disrupt Tessa¡¯s sweet dreams.

    Tessa, still buzzing from the excitement of the video she had received, was too wired to sleep.

    1/2

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    12:52

    Chapter 609

    Thest thing she expected was a call from Brielle. Had the woman lost her mind, calling her in the

    middle of the night?

    ¡°Tessa,¡± Brielle called out, her voice light with a soft chuckle. ¡°Seems you¡¯re able to sleep just fine.¡±

    There was no bitterness in her tone, just a breezy detachment. Like Max, the angrier Brielle got, the

    calmer she became.

    Hearing this, a sh of triumph crossed Tessa¡¯s eyes. Was Brielle panicking? Desperate?

    Tessa¡¯s lips curled in smug satisfaction, but she wasn¡¯t foolish enough to spill everything. Instead, she

    taunted Brielle with the poise of a victor. ¡°Why would I be sleepless? I¡¯m sure you and Aubree are the

    ones tossing and turning tonight.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s grip on her phone tightened, then she chuckled again. ¡°As long as you admit it¡¯s you, that¡¯s all

    that matters. I wouldn¡¯t want to use the wrong person.¡±

    A shadow passed through Tessa¡¯s eyes. What did Brielle mean by that? Was she nning revenge?

    But how? Was she relying on Max?

    Max was like Andrew¡¯s brother, after all. He would never harm Tessa.

 Chapter 610

    Chapter 610

    ¡°Brielle, you must be talking in your sleep,¡± Tessa said with a smug chuckle, ¡°cause while you toss and

    turn, I¡¯m out like a light. Nighty¨Cnight.¡±

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    She hung up the phone with a sense of unprecedented satisfaction and a victorious exhale. Brielle had

    always acted so high and mighty, hadn¡¯t she? Now, here she was, calling in a panic in the dead of

    night. Tessa¡¯s smile widened at the thought. When the time was right, she¡¯d release that video and

    watch Brielle¡¯s world crumble.

    The decision hade easily to Tessa, especially after noticing Andrew¡¯s distracted air these past few

    days he had been with her. Women had a sixth sense about these things, and Tessa couldn¡¯t shake the

    feeling that Andrew¡¯s distraction had something to do with Aubree.

    The conversation she¡¯d had with Alivia only cemented her resolve. To break Brielle, Aubree had to be

    destroyed first. Alivia¡¯s words rang in Tessa¡¯s ears, spurring Tessa on to think of the operatives the

    Rond family had trained. They¡¯d make sure Aubree didn¡¯t stand a chance. ¡°Serves her right,¡± Tessa

    thought. Those two deserved each other¡¯s misery.

    Although Brielle thought she wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep, she surprisingly fell into a deep, restful slumber.

    However, she could feel a piercing gaze on her, causing her to frown in her sleep, and eventually, she

    couldn¡¯t help but open her eyes. There was Max, sitting at the edge of her bed, his eyes bloodshot and

    dark circles more pronounced than ever.

    Brielle¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she sat up quickly, noticing his crumpled suit jacket ¨C such a departure

    from his usual impable self. He always looked sharp, his suits perfectly pressed. Seeing him like

    this, worn out and disheveled, was entirely new to her.

    Max¡¯s bloodshot eyes blinked slowly, as if they were rusty gears that were finally beginning to turn. His

    whole being seemed to be that of a man who had been through the wringer.

    She knew Max had been briefed about the gruesome scene by Patrick, and she wondered what it had

    been like for him to sit there silently, watching over her. His work was demanding, and the news must

    have hit him hard.

    His voice was hoarse when he finally spoke. ¡°Are you hurt?¡±

    He had rushed back without a moment¡¯s hesitation. Without disturbing her sleep, he just watched her

    resting face.

    He¡¯d seen the photos from the scene, never imagining that Brielle would have to experience such a

    nightmare. Seeing her safe and sound before him, he blinked away the stinging in his eyes. ¡°Thank god

    you¡¯re not hurt,¡± he said, his voice rough with emotion.

    Brielle¡¯s heart clenched at the sound.

    He leaned his head gently against her shoulder, letting out a sigh of relief. ¡°What do you want to do?¡±

    Brielle tensed. He knew she would take action. No one could expect her to let whoever was

    Chapter 610

    behind this get away with it.

    ¡°Whatever you decide, I¡¯m with you. I¡¯ve got your back.¡± Then Max saw her wrist. The wound on her

    wrist was almost healed, but now it was bleeding profusely again, with even the stitches showing.

    He grabbed Brielle¡¯s other hand to check it, and sure enough, there were still traces of blood under her

    nails.

    His eyes immediately reddened. ¡°But don¡¯t hurt yourself.¡±

    He had spotted the wound on her wrist for a while, but had been holding back from asking. He gave her

    enough freedom to deal with what she wanted to do, but he hoped she would share those things with

    him.

    ¡°I¡¯m here for you.¡±

    Max¡¯s words were the most romantic she¡¯d ever heard. Her heart felt like it had been punched, tender

    and raw.

    Patrick¡¯s knock came from the door, his voice cautious ¨C this clearly wasn¡¯t his first attempt at

    summoning Max. ¡°Sir, the final board meeting has been going on for thirty minutes. They¡¯re waiting for

    you to speak.¡±

    Thest meeting with their business partners was crucial. If Max kept dying, the acquisition they¡¯d all

    but secured could fall through. Patrick was anxious. As much as he worried about Brielle¡¯s condition,

    his role as Max¡¯s assistant meant he was even more concerned about any potential damage to Max¡¯s

    career.

    Brielle picked up on Patrick¡¯s urgency and nudged Max. ¡°You better get to that meeting. We¡¯ll talk when

    you¡¯re done.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡± Max¡¯s voice was rasper as he nodded slowly. He sshed cold water on his face in the

    bathroom, donned a fresh suit, gave her a kiss on the forehead, and then strode out the door, ready to

    face the business world once again.

 Chapter 611

    Chapter 611

    Brielle shielded her eyes as she watched his retreating figure. She realized that her rtionship with

    Max had hit an unprecedented impasse.

    The car crash the day before yesterday might have been orchestrated by Max¡¯s kin, andst night¡¯s

    debacle was the Rond family¡¯s doing. It seemed like the whole world was against her.

    All because she was with Max.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    A fiery determination flickered in her eyes. If being with Max meant defying most of Beaconsfield, then

    so be it.

    After freshening up, she stepped out just in time to bump into Patrick. He nodded with respect. ¡°Ms.

    Brielle, I¡¯m relieved you¡¯re alright.¡±

    It was no wonder that the president had left everything and everyone behindst night to rush to

    Brielle¡¯s side and watch over her all night. The scene had been too horrific, and it was difficult to

    imagine anyone who had been through such an ordeal not being on the brink of madness.

    Patrick had half expected to find a woman teetering on the edge of copse, thinking Brielle might

    break down in tears when she saw Max. But when he followed Max back, he heard Wesley say Brielle

    had already fallen asleep.

    What woman could fall asleep so quickly after witnessing such horror? Patrick found himself admiring

    Brielle¡¯s strength while also pitying Max.

    For every ounce of sorrow Ms. Brielle felt, Max experienced it tenfold. If Ms. Brielle¡¯s heart was slightly

    bruised, Max¡¯s was probably already shattered.

    Perhaps it was the tragedy and greatness of this world that life rarely offered truth. Yet it was filled with

    so many forms of love.

    Absurdities ruled, but love was the savior. That was Max for you.

    Brielle didn¡¯t dwell on it much longer. Instead, she inquired about Adrian¡¯s whereabouts, as she had

    some questions for him.

    Patrick hesitated, then asked, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we wait for the president¡¯s meeting to end?¡±

    She couldn¡¯t wait another moment. She needed to act now, or else once she had a moment of calm,

    she¡¯d remember Aubree¡¯s despairing eyes, her body marred with marks, and that gruesome, bloodied

    tooth.

    Patrick was about to make arrangements to escort her when Max¡¯s voice echoed from the study. ¡°Don¡¯t

    go off on your own. Wait for me.¡±

    He had been listening to themotion outside all along.

    Chapter 611

    Brielle stiffened, thinking he was supposed to be in a meeting. Then she heard him continue to engage

    with the people on the other side of the camera, earning apuse.

    Patrick sighed somewhat helplessly. ¡°Ms. Brielle, since that¡¯s the case, please wait for Mr. Dorsey.

    Otherwise, I¡¯ll have a tough time exining things once the meeting is over.¡±

    Brielle nodded. With Max having said that, she naturally didn¡¯t dare to act on her own.

    Seizing the moment, Patrick suggested, ¡°Ms. Brielle, why don¡¯t you head downstairs for a meal?

    Wesley was worried you looked ill when you came backst night, and he¡¯s been brewing a nourishing

    soup for you since early this morning.¡±

    Wesley had a penchant for brewing soups.

    Feeling hollow inside, Brielle made her way downstairs. Wesley immediately instructed the kitchen to

    serve the soup. ¡°Ms. Brielle, please drink up. Were you illst night? You looked so pale. This soup will

    boost your health.¡±

    ¡°Wesley, I¡¯m sorry for worrying you. By the way, do we have any vitamins? Could I have a bottle?¡±

    Brielle asked.

    Curiosity flickered in Wesley¡¯s eyes. What did Ms. Brielle need vitamins for? But he didn¡¯t pry and

    quickly fetched a bottle of imported vitamins.

    Brielle tore off the packaging so no one could see what was inside. Her smiled slightly as she tucked

    the bottle into her purse and then leisurely began sipping her soup.

    By the time Max finished his meeting, an hour had passed. During that time, Brielle had Patrick arrange

    for someone to apprehend Sydney and bring her to Dorsey International, though Brielle made sure

    Sydney wasn¡¯t detained with Adrian.

 Chapter 612

    Chapter 612

    Sydney had yed a pivotal role in the drama unfolding between Aubree and Adrian. It was clear that

    she was the key to understanding the whole mess.

    Brielle hopped into her car and drove straight to the ce where the two were being held.

    Adrian was already awake, ring at her with such resentment that it seemed he would love nothing

    more than to tear her to pieces.

    Brielle chuckled, ¡°You know, I don¡¯t recall having any bad blood with you, so why don¡¯t you enlighten

    me on why you decided to pull that stuntst night?¡±

    No bad blood?

    A sneer crossed Adrian¡¯s face. Brielle had some nerve talking like that, or maybe she just didn¡¯t give a

    damn about the harm she had caused Sydney.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Brielle, whatever you did to hurt Sydney, I¡¯ll do the same to you. I¡¯ll make sure you pay back a

    hundredfold for every bit of suffering you caused her.¡±

    Brielle found it amusing, and she actuallyughed. ¡°I¡¯m curious, what exactly did she tell you? She was

    the one I brought up with my own hands at Dorsey International. Now she¡¯s throwing her weight around

    the department, and she¡¯s been hooking up with Spencer more times than I can count. She must have

    reaped quite a few benefits from Spencer. She should be thanking me, really. Oh, and that first night

    we met, wasn¡¯t she in Spencer¡¯s bed? She even gave you a call to spice things up. I felt sorry for you

    then, but you seem to be blindly devoted and ignoring the ring truth.¡±

    ¡°Shut up! How could you say that?!¡± Shock painted Adrian¡¯s face. Sydney couldn¡¯t be that kind of

    woman!

    Brielle raised an eyebrow. ¡°I brought Sydney along, too. It might be best to settle this face to face.¡±

    She nced at Max. ¡°I¡¯ll head over to where Sydney is.¡±

    Max nodded, sitting silently in the corner, his mood visibly somber. It was evident he was not in good

    spirits. Even with the recent win of an overseas acquisition, his mood had failed to lift.

    The wound on Brielle¡¯s wrist was like a thorn piercing his heart. He had hoped that the scar would heal

    over time, that maybe next time, she would learn toe clean and tell him what happened to her.

    However, Brielle¡¯s actions were like ripping open that wound again in the cruelest way possible. Max

    was no fool; he understood this was her way of saying that they would both go down if he tried to stop

    her. She would rather destroy everything than be stopped.

    She didn¡¯t say a word, but he understood all too well. It was like two wounded souls,ying bare their

    most fragmented pains to each other.

    12:39

    Brielle was ming him, and she was ming herself. If they had never been together, none of this

    would¡¯ve happened..

    Every time she saw Aubree, guilt would surge in her heart. How long could such a rtionship filled

    only with heavy remorse possiblyst?

    The previous night, while Max was sitting by Brielle¡¯s bedside, he had pondered what she might say

    upon waking up. Maybe she¡¯d suggest breaking up.

    The moment she opened her eyes, he indeed saw a flicker of doubt. Perhaps for a moment, she was

    truly tired of their rtionship.

    How could this be? After all, he hadn¡¯t done anything wrong, had he?

    Max closed his eyes, hisshes trembling.

    Brielle went to the room where Sydney was kept, apanied by the same uniformed man from

    before. He stood up slowly, giving her a nod as she entered.

    Upon her arrival, Sydney¡¯s pupils shrank with fear, thinking her misdeeds had been exposed. She had

    been so discreet. Alivia had assured her that Brielle would never suspect her and that

    she¡¯d think someone else was to me.

    Why had Brielle captured her so soon after the incident?

    Before meeting Brielle, Sydney had always been a quiet, well¨Cbehaved person. Though her heart

    harbored pettiness, she had hidden it well.

    She hadn¡¯t been through much, but after getting involved with Spencer, greed had taken root. She was

    terrified after being brought here, and she didn¡¯t dare meet Brielle¡¯s gaze.

    She hated Brielle so much¨Cher mockery and her sess with men¨Cit all made Sydney feel humiliated

    and envious.

    If Brielle didn¡¯t exist, Max would surely fancy Sydney, and Spencer would be wrapped around her

    finger. But it was that bitch who had stolen the attention of both men.

    Sydney clenched her teeth, convinced that Brielle wouldn¡¯t dare touch her, so she sneered. ¡°Brielle,

    you actually had the nerve to grab me? Do you realize this is illegal?¡±

    Brielle ignored her taunt and turned to the uniformed man instead. ¡°Pull out one of her teeth. You guys

    are good at this kind of thing, right?¡±

    Brielle had a feeling that this uniformed man and the three men fromst night were in the same line of

    work, and he had been trained by Max himself.

    Max had his secrets, but Brielle had no intention of delving deeper into them.

 Chapter 613

    Chapter 613

    The man in the uniform nodded and picked up a pair of pliers from the side, striding over to where

    Sydney stood.

    Sydney thought she must have misheard. Was he going to extract her teeth? It would be without any

    anesthesia also. Sydney¡¯s face instantly drained of color, and her body began to tremble uncontrobly.

    ¡°Brielle, you¡¯re not serious, are you? You do know this is illegal, right? I¡¯ll sue you for abuse! And

    uwful imprisonment!¡±

    Brielle had already closed her eyes, her mind flooded with the ordeal Aubree had gone through the

    night before. Just the thought of it made a storm of fury brew in her eyes.

    The uniformed man forcibly pried open Sydney¡¯s mouth, the pliers inching closer. Sydney was terrified

    and attempted to scream. She had never encountered such a disy of force in her life.

    Brielle meant business! She was truly set on tormenting her!

    Sydney¡¯s legs gave out, and she copsed to her knees. ¡°Whatever you want to know, I¡¯ll tell you! Just

    please don¡¯t do this to me!¡±

    So much for her bravado, it turned out Sydney was just a pushover.

    With a subtle gesture from Brielle, the uniformed man stepped aside. Sweat beaded on Sydney¡¯s

    forehead. She stared at Brielle as if she were a monster.

    How could Brielle be so calm about pulling someone¡¯s teeth? Brielle was nothing short of a devil! She

    should never have crossed a devil like Brielle.

    ¡°Brielle! You think you¡¯re untouchable because Mr. Dorsey likes you! But I see right through you! You

    don¡¯t care about him one bit! You¡¯re just after the power he wields!¡±

    A flicker of impatience crossed Brielle¡¯s eyes, but she continued along the lines Sydney had given her.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. My rtionship with Max is all about what he holds in his hands. He can be my tool ¨C my

    weapon. Like right now, if I wanted you gone, he¡¯d clean up the mess for me. That¡¯s all I care about ¨C

    Max¡¯s status. Whether he fancies me or I fancy him, it¡¯s irrelevant.¡±

    Max had just reached the door and was about to push it open, but he stopped dead at Brielle¡¯s words.

    His lips pursed, a storm brewing in his eyes.

    She really did harbor a grudge. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have said such things, even in anger. This

    grudge must¡¯ve been making her ufortable, hence the harsh words.

    Brielle herself was beginning to doubt their rtionship, albeit ever so slightly, and she didn¡¯t even

    realize it because she was too close to the situation.

    He didn¡¯t enter the room and instead turned back to the room where Adrian was being held,

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    12:39

    Chapter 613

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    missing the words Brielle spoke next.

    *Does that make you feel better now?¡± Brielle asked coolly, her eyes devoid of any mirth. ¡°Anyway, no

    one would believe that I¡¯m with him for him. I¡¯m curious, though, why is that?¡±

    Despite everything, there was more to Max than his power. He had an allure that went beyond that, but

    everyone seemed to think Brielle was only after his influence.

    The

    The uniformed man stood by the window. He had seen Max approach but didn¡¯t interrupt Brielle. After

    Brielle delivered her line, Max stiffened and then walked away. The man in the uniform gave a small

    knowing smile, thenposed himself once again.

    Brielle had no desire to engage further with Sydney. ¡°I ask, and you answer.¡±

    Sydney trembled, not daring to provoke Brielle any further, and averted her gaze.

    Brielle stood up and instructed the man, ¡°Take her to Adrian¡¯s room.

    He nodded and grabbed Sydney by the cor of her shirt.

    Brielle led the way to Adrian¡¯s room, where Max still sat on the windowsill, lost in thought as he gazed

    at the sunshine outside. Brielle was about to reveal another side of herself in front of him.

    Adrian, roughed up the night before, could barely sit upright and leaned against the wall. His face

    flushed with urgency when Sydney was brought in. ¡°Sydney!¡± he eximed.

    Sydney¡¯s eyes were filled with guilt. She couldn¡¯t bear to meet Adrian¡¯s gaze.

    Brielle took her seat again. ¡°Sydney, your boyfriend is here. You¡¯d better clear up all those lies you¡¯ve

    spread about me.¡±

    Sydney shuddered, recalling Brielle¡¯s methods, and dared not withhold anything. However, she had

    another card to y. She knelt down, pale as a ghost, and turned to Adrian. ¡°Adrian, I¡¯m sorry.

    Everything I told you was a lie. Brielle never bullied me, and I don¡¯t have depression. I¡¯m sorry for

    deceiving you.¡± Her sobs were pitiful, more so than when she faced the threat of a tooth extraction.

    This way, Adrian would only think Sydney was saying these things out of fear of Brielle.

 Chapter 614

    Chapter 614

    Adrian leaned heavily against the wall. His eyes narrowed into slits as he red at Brielle with venom.

    ¡°Brielle, what the hell did Sydney do to piss you off that you¡¯d go this far? You¡¯re downright evil!¡±

    A smirk flitted across Sydney¡¯s face. Adrian clearly thought Brielle was forcing her hand.

    Brielle ignored Adrian, casually tossed an unbranded health supplement from her bag, and curled her

    lips into a sneer.

    ¡°There¡¯s only room for one of you to walk away from this. Whoever manages to shove this poison down

    the other¡¯s throat first gets to live. Don¡¯t think for a second I¡¯m joking.¡±

    Adrian¡¯s pupils contracted sharply, his chest trembling with rage. ¡°No way! We¡¯re not falling for your sick

    games. I would never do that to Sydney, and she wouldn¡¯t do that to me-¡±

    His words were cut short as he saw Sydney snatch the bottle from the ground and slowly approach

    him. Adrian¡¯s face turned ashen, almost believing he was hallucinating.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    It was a trick! It had to be. There was no way Sydney would go for that bottle without a second thought.

    Sydney realized she might have been too obvious and could not meet Adrian¡¯s gaze. She grabbed the

    bottle out of fear that Adrian would get to it first. If he did, wouldn¡¯t she be the one

    to die?

    Brielle let out a light chuckle. ¡°You have five minutes. If you don¡¯t make a decision by then, I¡¯ll make

    one for you.¡±

    Sydney¡¯s eyes narrowed. Brielle had already shown a clear dislike for her. If the decision was left to

    Brielle, Sydney was certain she wouldn¡¯t survive. But if Adrian were to die, she could live. She wasn¡¯t

    worried about Brielle reneging on her word. After all, there were witnesses nearby.

    Despite feeling ruffled and humiliated by Brielle in front of Max, whom she had feelings for, the will to

    live was far more enticing. Clutching the bottle tightly, Sydney didn¡¯t hesitate to move

    closer to Adrian.

    Adrian braced himself but found hecked the strength to even shift his position. ¡°Sydney¡­¡±

    His injuries from the previous night, including several broken ribs, left him in excruciating pain,

    struggling to breathe. But Sydney¡¯s current choice was like a knife to his heart. If he hadn¡¯t seen it with

    his

    own eyes, he would never have believed it!

    Tears began to roll down his cheeks as he whispered, ¡°Sydney, am I dreaming this?¡±

    This had to be a nightmare. He wanted to fall back asleep and awaken to reality.

    Sydney was already standing before him, her voice cold and distant. ¡°Adrian, I have no choice. You

    love me, don¡¯t you? If you truly love me, you¡¯d die for me, right? I¡¯m so sorry, but I want to

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    12:40 A

    Chapter 614

    live.¡±

    Brielle, overhearing this pathetic exchange, felt the urge to vomit. Sydney was manipting a man¡¯s

    feelings to achieve her despicable ends, showing no hesitation in asking him to die for her. She had

    thought Sydney was just foolish, but it was clear now she was both foolish and

    vile.

    Adrian felt so weak he wanted tough. How did thingse to this?

    Brielle watched him with a hint of pity and finally spoke up. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, she and Spencer were

    a willing pair. She even called you to make things more ¡®entertaining,¡® and you wouldn¡¯t believe it. While

    you were out there working yourself to the bone, she was likely in Spencer¡¯s bed, earning more money

    than you¡¯ll ever see in your lifetime. But did she ever tell you?¡±

    Brielle stepped closer, snatched Sydney¡¯s phone, unlocked it with Sydney¡¯s face, and scrolled to the

    banking app messages.

    The sight of the bank bnce made Adrian¡¯s eyes widen with shock, blurring his vision as Brielle¡¯s

    words echoed in his mind. ¡°She pushed you to confront me. If you ended up in jail, she could easily

    dump you and be with Spencer, free from gossip. After all these years, it seems you never really knew

    her.¡±

    Adrian¡¯s teeth chattered with rage, his eyes bloodshot. He wanted to scream back at Brielle, to curse

    her, but the guilt in Sydney¡¯s eyes betrayed her.

    Everything Brielle said was true. It turned out that all along, he was the biggest fool of all.

    Howughable.

    Adrian wanted to cry but found that when one reached the depths of despair, tears wouldn¡¯te. He

    just felt pitiful.

    Sydney, firm and unyielding, forced his mouth open and poured the contents of the bottle down his

    throat.

    Now that Adrian knew the truth, she couldn¡¯t let him live. Adrian had to die.

 Chapter 615

    Chapter 615

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    Adrian gagged as his mouth was crammed full of pills. Sydney forced him to mp his jaw shut with

    fierce determination.

    He passed out cold. The injuries fromst night, coupled with today¡¯s ordeal, had pushed him to his

    limit.

    However, Sydney mistook this for the poison taking effect, her fingertips quivering as the medicine

    bottle slipped from her grasp. She copsed to her knees, her lips trembling uncontrobly.

    Brielle chuckled softly, ¡°You didn¡¯t hold back when you did the deed, so what¡¯s with the act now?¡±

    Sydney cast a nce at Max, who sat nonchntly by the window, seemingly detached from the whole

    affair, and couldn¡¯t help but speak up. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, is this the kind of woman you favor? Do you really

    know who she is beneath the mask?¡±

    A shaft of sunlight fell perfectly on Max¡¯s suit. Hearing this, his eyshes fluttered, but he ignored

    Sydney.

    He was fond of Brielle, regardless of her true nature. It was nobody else¡¯s business.

    But now, there were issues between them.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    A pang of pain shot through his heart, and his brows furrowed involuntarily.

    Unaware of his unease, Brielle stood up. ¡°You won¡¯t need toe to Dorsey International anymore. As

    for where else you want to go, no one will stop you. You¡¯re free to leave now.¡±

    A spark of hope lit up in Sydney¡¯s eyes. Could she really go? Was Brielle truly willing to let her off the

    hook? Sydney cautiously gauged Brielle¡¯s expression, which seemed sincere, so she threw caution to

    the wind and started running for the door.

    After sprinting a good distance, Sydney leaned against a wall to catch her breath. Max was still backing

    Brielle, so no one could touch her for now. Damn it!

    Sydney was seething with frustration, yet relieved she was still alive. She had to wait for the day Max

    would utterly discard Brielle.

    She now had plenty of money to live well. So what if she couldn¡¯t work at Dorsey International? She

    could buy a house right now. Adrian was as good as dead. She¡¯d just tell everyone that Adrian had run

    off with another woman, with all the me falling on him, while she walked away with a hefty sum and

    into Spencer¡¯s arms.

    If Max didn¡¯t want her, she might as well set her sights on Spencer.

    Triumph glinted in Sydney¡¯s eyes. Brielle would regret letting her go someday.

    Back in the room, Brielle nced at the uniformed man. ¡°Bring him around.¡±

    The man nodded, fetched a bucket of water, and doused Adrian¡¯s face with it.

    Adrian jolted awake and saw Brielle¡¯s face and then his surroundings. A cold light shed in his eyes

    when he noticed the absence of Sydney.

    ¡°Stop looking. She¡¯s gone. The moment she felt safe, she didn¡¯t hesitate to leave.¡±

    1/2

    13.10

    Chapter 615

    Adrian¡¯s lips pressed into a tight line as he knelt before Brielle despite the excruciating pain in his body.

    Brielle raised an eyebrow. ¡°Adrian, if you really died, Sydney would probably nder you even in death.

    Are you content with that? I can give you a chance¡±

    A yful glint danced in her eyes. ¡°If you leave now, you can still catch her. If you really want revenge,

    strike when she¡¯s at her most triumphant. What do you say?¡±

    Blood trickled from the corner of Adrian¡¯s mouth, but he seemed oblivious to the pain, respectfully

    averting his gaze. ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever you ask of me just to stay alive, Ms. Brielle¡±

    He would never let Sydney get away!

    ¡°I won¡¯t kill you. You just need to pursue what you most desire¡±

    What would a man who had just faced utter despair and had been poisoned by the woman he loved do

    in his rage? She was quite looking forward to it.

    ¡°You may go.¡± Her tone was nonchnt, and though she had little taste for such deceit, the incident

    with Aubree had hit her hard. From the moment she got involved with Maz, she knew her life would

    never be peaceful again. Every step was like walking on the edge of a knife, cautious and fragile. A

    return to a calm life was no longer possible.

    After everything, she finally turned to Max. He straightened his suit, rising slowly with a distant

    expression,posed and unruffled,

    ¡°Max, if I move against the Rond family, what will you do?¡±

    Unexpectedly, Max reached out, grasped her chin, and studied her face intently, ¡°I won¡¯t stop you.¡±

    ¡°But if you¡¯re considering breaking up with me, don¡¯t me me for not fulfilling any of your desires

    anymore,¡± he thought,

 Chapter 616

    Chapter 616

    She lowered her gaze. The thought of Aubree in the hospital sent a sharp pain through her chest. It felt as though her muscles were being ground to dust, and thousands of needles pierced her body.

    Taking a deep breath, Brielle looked at him calmly. "Let''s go. Back home."

    Max remained motionless, as he often did, standing in the quietest spot where the fewest people gathered, indifferently watching a world that seemed unrted to him. He stood tall and elegant, his dark pupils reflecting Brielle''s silhouette for a few seconds before he slowly approached her.

    They got into the car with Patrick at the wheel. They had barely driven a hundred meters when Brielle spotted Sydney on the phone.

    Relief washed over Sydney''s face as she recounted a fabricated story to her family, a smug smile ying on her lips. "Yeah, he ran off with some girl. I don''t know what happened. No need to make a scene at their ce. I''m fine. I''ll adjust and get back to work. Mom, don''t worry. I''ve saved enough money to start my own little shop. And I''ve got a new guy who''s really into me. As for Adrian, that loser, I''ll forget him soon enough."

    Brielle''s car passed Sydney, who was absorbed in her tale and didn''t notice.

    Brielle watched silently through the side mirror as Adrian stood behind Sydney with a stone in hand and threw it hard at her. Sydney fell, and Adrian, still unsatisfied, choked her.

    "Bitch!"

    The fury of a normally gentle person was lethal.

    The scene continued to y out in the rearview mirror, but Brielle''s eyes remained calm. No pity rose within her for these people. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

    She turned away, noticed Max watching her, and smiled. It was a clean, bright smile, her eyes reflecting light. But Max knew it wasn''t external light but the fire burning within Brielle. He couldn''t help but want to reach for her hand. If she desired, he would level any obstacle for her. But the Brielle of now would surely reject him. Aubree''s ordeal had awakened the deepest, wildest part of her. She wanted vengeance and to drag Tessa through the mud.

    As badly as Aubree had fallen, Brielle would make the other suffer tenfold. Even if Michael stood in her way now, she wouldn''t hesitate to pull the trigger.

    Max understood even more clearly that if he dared to intervene, Brielle would cast him aside as if he were trash. Human instinct is a curious thing, inexplicably sensing the minutiae.

    Like a dormant volcano with cracks already forming, slowly spreading, and widening bit by bit, the fire in her eyes was raging, waiting for her to extinguish it herself.

    A sudden pain gripped Max''s heart as if he were being choked. Of course, he had always hoped for Brielle''s growth and knew that Beaconsfield couldn''t contain her, but he never wished for her to be forced into growth like this.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    His heart felt as if thorny vines were piercing it, bleeding profusely,

    Brielle''s life was filled with solitary years, so Aubree''s friendship was paramount. It was 50 important that Brielle would risk her own destruction.

    They were back at Premier Pce, and Brielle hadn''t said a word to him. Max felt his importance waning, a realization that pained him. He coughed softly, hisplexion turning pale, but Brielle didn''t look back. Instead, she took a serious call, giving instructions.

    Max felt his body growing colder. His lips were pressed tight as he watched Brielle ascend the stairs, enter the master bedroom, and close the door.

    Patrick stood behind him, unsure. "Sir, what should we do?"

    Ms. Brielle seemed angry with everyone, hell-bent on doing something." Should we stop her or support her?"

    Max settled on a nearby sofa, blinking away the stinging in his eyes. He hadn''t slept all night and had been in meetings all morning. Now his eyes were unbearably sore. His clothes were thin, and he truly felt cold, his body burning with fever.

    "Sir, you look unwell. Should we call a doctor?"

    "No need," Max replied curtly, his brow furrowed. "Don''t stop her."

    Patrick nodded, pausing to think, "So we don''t stop Ms. Brielle no matter what? Right now, she seems to despise Ms. Tessa."

    Max closed his eyes. He had already contacted the hospital and was aware of what Aubree had suffered. Brielle''s anger was imaginable. Anyone who blocked her path would be her adversary.

 Chapter 617

    Chapter 617

    ¡°If Mr. Clements makes a move on Ms. Brielle, what then? You know how protective he is of Ms. Tessa.

    He never wants her to face the slightest hardship.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t see Brielleing out on the losing end.¡±

    Even if she faced Andrew, she might not lose. Brielle wasn¡¯t the kind to sh head¨Con without thinking;

    she had a knack for finding people¡¯s Achilles¡® heel and exploiting it.

    What was Andrew¡¯s Achilles¡® heel? Perhaps even Andrew himself didn¡¯t know that his vulnerability

    wasn¡¯t limited to Tessa.

    Patrick fell silent and then stood off to the side quietly.

    Max coughed a few times and raised a hand to his forehead, which seemed feverish. He closed his

    eyes again for a moment and spoke with a hoarse voice, ¡°Let¡¯s wrap up the unfinished meetings in the

    next couple of days.¡±

    ¡°Sir, you can¡¯t keep this up. It¡¯ll take its toll on your health.¡±

    Of course, Max was aware of his deteriorating condition. He almost wished he would pass out if only to

    garner a speck of Brielle¡¯s attention.

    He pressed a hand to his temple and muttered, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I want to conclude all the remaining overseas

    conferences, including the domestic ones, as soon as possible.¡±

    Unable to sway him, Patrick reluctantly reached out to the overseas contacts to reschedule the

    remaining meetings as soon as possible.

    Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Brielle continued her conversation with Mason, who updated her.

    ¡°The Rond family¡¯snd purchase has been approved. The government has made the

    announcement. They were in such a rush to offload that plot that it hit the papers in less than a month.

    The Ronds are celebrating as we speak, Brielle. What¡¯s our next move?¡±

    A sly smile curled on Brielle¡¯s lips. The news in the papers meant the Rond family¡¯s whopping three

    hundred million had already been wired abroad. Regret was pointless now. The money was gone.

    Thirty billion for a worthless plot ofnd was enough to weigh them down. With such a blow to their

    cash flow, none of the Ronds would sleep well tonight.

    ¡°Mason, there¡¯s nothing more for you to do. The Rond folks will get the news soon enough.¡± The

    Rond family was on cloud nine, having snagged the most coveted piece of real estate abroad. This

    deal had been orchestrated by Tessa herself, currently the most pivotal figure in the Rond

    household. Such a significant move naturally required her blessing.

    Now, assisted by Sophia, Tessa was settling down gracefully in the center of the grand hall. The other

    Ronds were busy buttering her up.

    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    12:01

    Chapter 6

    ¡°Indeed, we¡¯ve plunged thirty billion into this venture, but we might just recoup a hundred billon in the

    coming years. It¡¯s a savvy investment.¡±

    Tessa¡¯s lips curled up in pride. After trampling over kubree and taking down Brielle, she feed a massive

    professional win and felt positively ted.

    She cleared her throat, ncing at Andrew beside her. ¡°What do you think, Andrew?

    Andrew seemed a million miles away, feeling stifled ever since being startled aviake the night before.

    With his chiseled features and amanding presence, his mood could overshadow everyone in the

    room. Right now, his silence was making tessa nervous. ¡°Andrew, what¡¯s on your mind?¡±

    He looked up, his voice gravelly. ¡°What did you say?¡±

    Unaware of his distraction, Tessa patiently recounted her recent overseas triumph.

    ¡°Well done,¡± he said, a smile touching his lips. However, he felt removed from the festivis, if only his

    body was present and his mind was elsewhere.

    Austin caught the dynamic between them. He knew how Andrew had been taking care of Tessa in the

    Rond family and had a thought.

    ¡°Since we¡¯re all here, why don¡¯t you and Andrew tie the knot?¡±

    ¡°Exactly. You two have known each other for years, and Tessa, you¡¯re on the mend.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s pay a visit to the Clements today and settle everything once and for all.¡±

    Tessa¡¯s smug smile broadened. If Andrew dared to refuse, she¡¯d leak Aubree¡¯s video online, leaving

    her nowhere to hide.

    The crowd began to buzz with talk.

    ¡°Sophia¡¯s already got her marriage license with Spencer. As the elder sister, it¡¯s your turn to make a

    move.¡±

    ¡°Right; how often does the younger sister marry before the older one?¡±

    Sophia, catching the remark, shed a scornful look. Her marriage to Spencer was a sham at best.

    Now an outcast from the Dorsey family, he couldn¡¯t even support himself.

    Michael felt guilty and transferred all of Spencer¡¯s properties into her name. She¡¯d never run out of

    money, but the life arranged by the Ronds still rankled her.

    The murmurs grew louder as if a visit to the Clements to discuss wedding ns was imminent. All eyes

    turned to Andrew. Tessa clung to his arm, her eyes filled with hope.

 Chapter 618

    Chapter 618

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Andrew felt a sense of unease that he couldn¡¯t shake. Everything around him was unsettling, yet he

    had promised to marry Tessa. Hadn¡¯t this been his pursuit all these years? What was he hesitating for

    now?

    Just as he was about to say yes, a chorus of ringtones erupted among the members of the Rond

    family.

    Austin, upon answering his call, nearly leaped out of his chair. ¡°What did you say?!¡± After a few more

    words from the other end, his face turned ashen.

    Tessa watched him, a premonition of dread creeping into her heart.

    ¡°Dad, what¡¯s going on?¡± Austin¡¯splexion went ghostly pale and seemed on the verge of copse.

    The faces of the other Ronds who had received calls were equally grim. The government abroad

    had just announced a new five¨Cyear n that didn¡¯t include thend they had purchased. They had

    been duped, thirty billion down the drain.

    Fewpanies could withstand the loss of thirty billion in cash flow. Even a top¨Ctier conglomerate like

    Dorsey International would have to convene an emergency meeting. So, naturally, everyone looked as

    if they were attending a funeral, their gazes turning toward Tessa.

    Realizing that something had happened and that Andrew must not find out, Tessa kept her smile taut,

    still holding Andrew¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Andrew, I¡¯m feeling much better now. You should check on your parents. I¡¯ll pay them a visit soon.¡±

    Interrupting the marriage ns seemed to relieve Andrew. He nodded, kissed her cheek, exchanged a

    few words with the others, and took his leave..

    As soon as he was gone, the mood at the scene plummeted.

    Tessa¡¯s eyes narrowed in anger as she saw the mourning faces around her. ¡°What the hell

    happened?!¡±

    Austin approached her, his voice hoarse with emotion. ¡°Thend we spent thirty billion on overseas is

    worthless. The government has no ns for it.

    #1

    ¡°How could this happen?!¡± Tessa stood up so quickly she nearly fainted from fury.

    The Rond family had spent the past six months acquiringnd for healthcare

    1/2

    12:08

    Chapter 618

    expansion. This thirty billion was thergest liquid assets they could muster. If they couldn¡¯t recoup the

    funds, all their other projects would copse. Material suppliers and contractors wouldn¡¯t get paid and

    would refuse to cooperate, grinding

    construction on all theirnds to a halt. It was a severe crisis, one that could spell the life or death of

    the Rond family.

    Tessa¡¯s face drained of color as she began to cough violently. ¡°How could this be? Didn¡¯t the

    government promise to develop that area within five years?¡±

    The rest of the Ronds, still stunned by the news, sighed deeply. ¡°We may have fallen for a

    government trick, and various other powers have been inting the price. What should have cost us

    twenty billion ended up draining ourst penny. What do we do now?¡±

    Without cash, thepany would have to turn to the banks for a lifeline. But banks weren¡¯t charitable

    organizations; the interest alone could be crippling.

    Moreover, in their eagerness to expand, they¡¯d already borrowed heavily. Many banks had extended

    their maximum credit and were now likely to refuse further loans.

    Tessa, panic¨Cstricken, felt the sweat bead on her forehead as she dug her nails into her palms,

    overwhelmed by anxiety. If the Rond family fell, she would no longer be respected by others; she

    would be theughingstock of many.

    The humiliation she felt while ying the piano that night returned in full force, making her feel sick to

    her stomach. No, she couldn¡¯t let the Rond family copse. She had toe up with a solution fast.

    Before she could take any action, however, the Ronds received urgent calls from the banks.

    Bankers were always quick to sniff out trouble. They had heard about the overseas debacle and were

    now probing to see just how crucial that thirty billion was to the Rond family. If it was vital enough to

    be a matter of life and death, then the Ronds would have to settle their debts sooner rather than

    later.

 Chapter 619

    Chapter 619

    The faces of the Rond n were ashen, a ghostly parade of worry that only lifted when they all

    turned to Tessa after a series of tense calls with the bank.

    ¡°What do we do now, Tess?¡± they asked, their voices tinged with a dread that

    mirrored the pallor of their skin.

    The family was in deep, with other ventures already sucking dry their resources, and hundreds of

    billions more needed to keep the wheels turning. If this one project didn¡¯t pay off, the financial blow

    could be catastrophic for the Ronds.

    Tessa¡¯s lips quivered as she slumped in her chair, the weight of the world on her shoulders. Austin

    quickly stepped forward, giving her a reassuring pat on the back. ¡°Look, it¡¯s not the end of the road. If

    you and Andrew tie the knot, we can ride the Clements¡® coattails for a fundraising round. With the two

    families united, those venture capitalists will be falling over themselves and throwing money our way. A

    few hundred billion? We¡¯ll have it in no time.¡±

    The thought of it made Tessa¡¯s head throb with pain. She was the linchpin, and she knew it.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Her father was right; the banks were getting wind of their troubles and had started their probing calls.

    They wouldn¡¯t lend any more to plug the gaping financial abyss, and loan sharks were out of the

    question¨Cwithpound interest, the debt would skyrocket to an unpayable sum.

    The Rond family¡¯s worth might be in the hundreds of billions, but that was all tied up in projects

    and illiquid assets. Market valuation was just smoke and mirrors; cash flow was the lifeblood of their

    empire.

    Without it, their hundred¨Cbillion¨Cdor enterprise was like a towering skyscraper with its foundation

    blocks being pulled out one by one, ready to copse.

    The only way out was Austin¡¯s n¨Cto marry into the Clements family and keep the Ronds afloat.

    And they couldn¡¯t breathe a word of this to the Clements. If they caught even a whiff of the Ronds¡®

    financial desperation, would they still want this union?

    In a high¨Csociety ce like Beaconsfield, where family names were currency, it was all about the

    interests. Once you stripped away the pleasantries, you were left with cold, hard transactions. Without

    her status, even speaking to Andrew would be a struggle.

    1/3

    12:08

    Chapter 619

    She had to marry Andrew and fast. A wedding would smooth the path to fundraising, keeping the

    Ronds troubles at bay.

    With a deep breath in and a smile stered on her face, Tessa reassured them, ¡°No need to panic.

    Everyone knows Andrew wants to marry me. I¡¯ll just drop by the Clements¡® home, chat with his parents,

    and we¡¯ll set a date. Once the news is out, Dad, you, and the uncles can start the fundraising in secret.

    We¡¯ll get the money.¡±

    Austin¡¯s features softened with relief as he gave Tess another supportive pat. ¡°Tess, we¡¯re all counting

    on you now.¡±

    Tessa lifted her head high, the de facto leader of this worried pack. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dad. It¡¯s as good as

    done. Andrew¡¯s been eager to marry me. We¡¯ll set the date for next week, and the Rond family will

    be free from any threat.¡±

    Sophia was eavesdropping on every word. She had been in cahoots with Mason and was brought into

    the fold by Brielle herself. The offer had been too tempting to refuse. Joining now meant a ce at the

    core of thepany.

    The Ronds, William¨Call would soon be beneath her.

    She trusted Brielle, so when Mason revealed the n, excitement, and anxiety warred within her.

    Excitement for the Ronds¡® impending doom and anxiety for what could go wrong in Mason and

    Brielle¡¯s scheme.

    If the government did indeed develop that piece ofnd, and if the information Brielle received was

    incorrect, what should they do? The Rond family was unaware of this information, so where did

    Brielle herself obtain it from?

    But, ever the rock, Mason simply said, ¡°Trust her.¡±

    Sophia had chosen to work with Brielle for exactly that reason¨CBrielle¡¯s uncanny ability to inspire

    confidence.

    As Sophia watched the Ronds¡® troubled faces, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of schadenfreude.

    Without even trying, Brielle had backed them into a corner, and proud Tessa was ready to barter her

    marriage to save them.

    Sophia wasted no time rying the Ronds¡® n to marry into the Clements family

    to Brielle.

    Brielle, unsurprised, knew this was the Ronds¡® only shot at survival. Andrew would probably be

    willing to marry Tessa. With this, Brielle¡¯s gaze darkened.

    The Clements were in the jewelry trade, and if Brielle wanted to keep Andrew too busy

    to help the Ronds, she¡¯d need Dustin¡¯s help. But reaching out to Dustin always

    2/3

    12:09

    Chapter 619.

    seemed to be a plea for assistance, and that made her feel uneasy.

    After a minute¡¯s hesitation, she dialed his number.

    Dustin picked up quickly. A cigarette was casually perched between his fingers as he

    leaned out of his car window, gazing at the opulent scene before him.

    He glittered in his solitude with a golden sheen as though he reveled in a world papered with opulence

    and dazzle.

    ÄÃ

 Chapter 620

    Chapter 619

    The faces of the Rond n were ashen, a ghostly parade of worry that only lifted when they all

    turned to Tessa after a series of tense calls with the bank.

    ¡°What do we do now, Tess?¡± they asked, their voices tinged with a dread that

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    mirrored the pallor of their skin.

    The family was in deep, with other ventures already sucking dry their resources, and hundreds of

    billions more needed to keep the wheels turning. If this one project didn¡¯t pay off, the financial blow

    could be catastrophic for the Ronds.

    Tessa¡¯s lips quivered as she slumped in her chair, the weight of the world on her shoulders. Austin

    quickly stepped forward, giving her a reassuring pat on the back. ¡°Look, it¡¯s not the end of the road. If

    you and Andrew tie the knot, we can ride the Clements¡® coattails for a fundraising round. With the two

    families united, those venture capitalists will be falling over themselves and throwing money our way. A

    few hundred billion? We¡¯ll have it in no time.¡±

    The thought of it made Tessa¡¯s head throb with pain. She was the linchpin, and she knew it.

    Her father was right; the banks were getting wind of their troubles and had started their probing calls.

    They wouldn¡¯t lend any more to plug the gaping financial abyss, and loan sharks were out of the

    question¨Cwithpound interest, the debt would skyrocket to an unpayable sum.

    The Rond family¡¯s worth might be in the hundreds of billions, but that was all tied up in projects

    and illiquid assets. Market valuation was just smoke and mirrors; cash flow was the lifeblood of their

    empire.

    Without it, their hundred¨Cbillion¨Cdor enterprise was like a towering skyscraper with its foundation

    blocks being pulled out one by one, ready to copse.

    The only way out was Austin¡¯s n¨Cto marry into the Clements family and keep the Ronds afloat.

    And they couldn¡¯t breathe a word of this to the Clements. If they caught even a whiff of the Ronds¡®

    financial desperation, would they still want this union?

    In a high¨Csociety ce like Beaconsfield, where family names were currency, it was all about the

    interests. Once you stripped away the pleasantries, you were left with cold, hard transactions. Without

    her status, even speaking to Andrew would be a struggle.

    1/3

    12:08

    Chapter 619

    She had to marry Andrew and fast. A wedding would smooth the path to fundraising, keeping the

    Ronds troubles at bay.

    With a deep breath in and a smile stered on her face, Tessa reassured them, ¡°No need to panic.

    Everyone knows Andrew wants to marry me. I¡¯ll just drop by the Clements¡® home, chat with his parents,

    and we¡¯ll set a date. Once the news is out, Dad, you, and the uncles can start the fundraising in secret.

    We¡¯ll get the money.¡±

    Austin¡¯s features softened with relief as he gave Tess another supportive pat. ¡°Tess, we¡¯re all counting

    on you now.¡±

    Tessa lifted her head high, the de facto leader of this worried pack. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dad. It¡¯s as good as

    done. Andrew¡¯s been eager to marry me. We¡¯ll set the date for next week, and the Rond family will

    be free from any threat.¡±

    Sophia was eavesdropping on every word. She had been in cahoots with Mason and was brought into

    the fold by Brielle herself. The offer had been too tempting to refuse. Joining now meant a ce at the

    core of thepany.

    The Ronds, William¨Call would soon be beneath her.

    She trusted Brielle, so when Mason revealed the n, excitement, and anxiety warred within her.

    Excitement for the Ronds¡® impending doom and anxiety for what could go wrong in Mason and

    Brielle¡¯s scheme.

    If the government did indeed develop that piece ofnd, and if the information Brielle received was

    incorrect, what should they do? The Rond family was unaware of this information, so where did

    Brielle herself obtain it from?

    But, ever the rock, Mason simply said, ¡°Trust her.¡±

    Sophia had chosen to work with Brielle for exactly that reason¨CBrielle¡¯s uncanny ability to inspire

    confidence.

    As Sophia watched the Ronds¡® troubled faces, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of schadenfreude.

    Without even trying, Brielle had backed them into a corner, and proud Tessa was ready to barter her

    marriage to save them.

    Sophia wasted no time rying the Ronds¡® n to marry into the Clements family

    to Brielle.

    Brielle, unsurprised, knew this was the Ronds¡® only shot at survival. Andrew would probably be

    willing to marry Tessa. With this, Brielle¡¯s gaze darkened.

    The Clements were in the jewelry trade, and if Brielle wanted to keep Andrew too busy

    to help the Ronds, she¡¯d need Dustin¡¯s help. But reaching out to Dustin always

    2/3

    12:09

    Chapter 619.

    seemed to be a plea for assistance, and that made her feel uneasy.

    After a minute¡¯s hesitation, she dialed his number.

    Dustin picked up quickly. A cigarette was casually perched between his fingers as he

    leaned out of his car window, gazing at the opulent scene before him.

    He glittered in his solitude with a golden sheen as though he reveled in a world papered with opulence

    and dazzle.

    ÄÃ

 Chapter 621

    Chapter 621

    Brielle was a great listener, sometimes an excellent one when the moment called for it. Last night, she

    had been wrapped in the embrace of such a deep sleep. It felt like she was under some kind of

    enchantment, dreaming away in the softfort of her bed.

    Aubree had gone through a rough patch, something that should have left Brielle tossing and turning

    with insomnia, steeped in sorrow. Yet upon waking, Brielle felt energized, her body buzzing with

    strength as if some guardian angel had watched over her through the night.

    She grew more determined to stand up for Aubree and make sure everyone responsible paid a steep

    price.

    ¡°My grandma¡¯s getting on in years,¡± Dustin began with a wry smile at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Last

    night, she woke up all of a sudden and told us she¡¯d been to visit my sister.¡±

    ¡°Over two decades ago, my sister got left behind by ident when my parents were fleeing from some

    bad blood back home. It¡¯s been a thorn in my mom¡¯s side ever since, a regret that my grandma carries

    with her. Their health has been declining, day after day. Mom can put on a brave face, but grandma,

    well, age has made her heart heavy. She gets so mncholy thinking about it. It¡¯s taken a toll on her.

    We even built a quaint little chapel on the Lynch family estate. She¡¯s been praying there for my aunt¡¯s

    safety ever since. Lately, she¡¯s been bedridden, hardly awake. We¡¯ve been searching for my sister, but

    there¡¯s been a lot of resistance, especially once word got out. Various powers that be are trying to stop

    us.¡±

    Dustin¡¯s long fingers spun his ss, his eyshes casting shadows on his cheeks. ¡°We¡¯ve never found

    her. Last night, after my grandma woke from one of her deep sleep, she told us she¡¯d been to see my

    aunt in a grand house somewhere. But her sight isn¡¯t what it used to be, and he couldn¡¯t tell where it

    was. She said my sister wasn¡¯t happy, that her new family wasn¡¯t treating her well, and that we must

    find her. We¡¯re scared it might be my grandma¡¯sst hurrah, you know? The doctor said she had a

    year, but at this rate, she might not make it that long. Grandma¡¯s always been fiercely independent. If it

    weren¡¯t for my aunt going missing, she wouldn¡¯t be in this state.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, maybe your grandma did indeed visit your sister in person.¡± Brielle looked at the ss in

    front of her, feeling a tug at her heartstrings. After all, she had never experienced what they call family

    ties. ¡°Souls are eternal, and love transcends time and space. They just haven¡¯t realized it yet.¡±

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    1/3

    12:09

    Chapter 621

    Eternal souls. Love that crosses the

    Dustin savored those words, a faint smile tracing his lips. ¡°I hope

    Brielle couldn¡¯t bring herself to ask Dustin for help. Instead, she poured him another drink.

    The meal started with a somber atmosphere but gradually became more rxed.

    Brielle never got drunk in public. Even when she met with business partners, she¡¯d carefully monitor

    her intake, but tonight, her conversation with Dustin flowed more freely.

    They both drank a bit more than usual and by the end, their eyes were zed with the haze of alcohol.

    As closing time approached, the waiter fretted over the two tipsy patrons slumped over the table. The

    bill was not yet settled.

    Just as she pondered whether to wake one of them, a hand extended a card. ¡°Check, please.¡±

    The waiter followed the hand to a face that took his breath away. Her cheeks flushed as he hurriedly

    processed the payment.

    The two had polished off three bottles of the strongest liquor.

    ¡°Sir, your totales to twenty¨Cseven thousand. It¡¯s been taken care of. Please keep your card safe.¡±

    Max pocketed the card and approached Brielle while Patrick stood by Dustin.

    Max scooped Brielle up in his arms and instructed Patrick, ¡°Take him to the hotel.¡±

    After all, Dustin was the president of Infinity Brilliance, and he had lent a hand during Max¡¯s feigned

    amnesia episode.

    Max¡¯s expression was grim, and truth be told, he wanted to leave Dustin out on the street, preferably to

    be run over a hundred times. That would suit his mood.

    Why did Brielle have to dine with Dustin? Was there something Dustin could offer that he couldn¡¯t?

    Swallowing the bitterness, he cradled Brielle in his arms.

    Both of them had indeed indulged too much in the drink, and their clothes were reeking of alcohol.

    Max hadn¡¯t exploded in anger, knowing Brielle had been bottling up her emotions all day.

    Chapter 621

    The alcohol, the rambling conversations with Dustin, pouring their hearts out in a drunken stupor, it

    probably helped ease her mind just a bit. So even though Max arrived early, nearly choking on

    jealousy, he didn¡¯t barge in to stop them.

 Chapter 622

    Chapter 622

    Brielle needed an outlet, but she hadn¡¯t chosen Max.

    Max settled her into the car, fastening the seatbelt with a click that sounded likemitment. Her eyes,

    clouded with confusion from the alcohol, fluttered open and met his. For a moment, she thought she

    was dreaming.

    Trying to bnce her woozy frame, she leaned in for a kiss, but Max deftly ced a hand in front of her

    lips. The scent of liquor was overwhelming.

    Brielle blinked and, resigning to the barrier, pressed her lips to his palm instead.

    That simple act sent a ticklish sensation coursing through Max, a feeling that burrowed into his pores

    and settled deep within him. He withdrew his hand, hiding it behind his back as if to capture that

    fleeting moment forever.

    Slumped in her seat, Brielle seemed on the edge of slumber. But then, a warm kiss brushed her lips.

    ¡°This one¡¯s on the house,¡± he said, his voice a casual note as he secured the seatbelt properly and

    stood up to leave.

    Brielle caught him. Her mind was a foggy swirl, and her eyes gathered a misty haze. ¡°Where¡¯s Mr.

    Lynch?¡±

    Max stiffened, a cocktail of irritation and annoyance brewing inside him. He gripped her chin and, with

    the sleeve of his suit, wiped her lips, erasing the kiss as if it never happened.

    She was drunk and still thinking of someone else.

    His touch was too rough, and Brielle¡¯s lips felt raw. A frown creased her brow, and she murmured,

    ¡°Ouch.¡±

    Softening his grip, Max stormed off to the driver¡¯s seat.

    Patrick had left to drop off Dustin, leaving Max to drive. The ride was anything but peaceful, with

    Brielle¡¯s hands wandering and her head bobbing close to him. Max tried to contain his temper, but the

    thought of her being alone with Dustin soured his mood.

    Once back at Premier Pce, he carried her straight to the master bedroom.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    After filling the bathtub, he stripped Brielle down without ceremony and ced her in the water. Drunk

    as she was, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and she showed no signs of waking.

    1/2

    Chapter 622

    Max watched her peaceful face, the petty jealousy ebbing away. He leaned in for a kiss but was met

    with resistance and a sudden rush of nausea from Brielle.

    She vomited, the contents unpleasantly adorning Max¡¯s suit pants.

    His frustration was palpable, but he simply massaged his temples in resignation.

    Even in her inebriated state, Brielle managed a polite smile and a slurred, ¡°Sorry.¡±

    ¡°Sorry? Mr. Dorsey?¡± she said, her wordsced with alcohol.

    Sober, she called him Max. Drunk, he was Mr. Dorsey.

    Max¡¯s expression darkened. He showered and changed into his pajamas, then, with unpracticed

    hands, began to wash her hair. His clumsy movements drew winces. ¡°Gentle,¡± she protested.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never done this before, so deal with it,¡± Max snapped back.

    Brielle¡¯s mind was a blur, and she suggested, ¡°Maybe you need more practice.¡±

    Max¡¯s pride stung; he just barely managed not to scowl. ¡°Duly noted, Ms. Haywood.¡±

    Brielle mumbled an acknowledgment before falling back into a deep sleep.

    Max rinsed her hair and bathed her with care before moving her to a lounge chair. Taking up the

    hairdryer, he resigned himself to the task at hand.

    Wesley entered with a hangover remedy and couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the sight. Max was always so

    sharp, but around Ms. Brielle, he was all tender edges.

    Wesley ced the remedy down and hesitated before asking, ¡°Sir, you haven¡¯t eaten either. Shall I

    prepare something?¡±

    Before Max could reply, Brielle stirred and opened her eyes, still disoriented by her unexpected return

    to Premier Pce.

    Hearing Wesley¡¯s concern, she interjected with a simple request. ¡°Soup.¡±

    Wesley looked to Max, who continued drying Brielle¡¯s hair and went with the flow. ¡°Bring a bowl of

    soup,¡± Max said.

 Chapter 623

    Chapter 623

    Wesley¡¯s face lit up with a smile as he saw the relief in Max¡¯s demeanor. The man had been run ragged

    these past few days, scarcely taking time to eat a proper meal If he kept going like that, Wesley feared

    an ulcer was on the horizon.

    Fortunately, Max was finally showing some appetite.

    When Wesley brought over the chicken soup, Max had already stowed away the hairdryer.

    He gently tapped Brielle¡¯s cheek. ¡°Weren¡¯t you going to have some soup?¡±

    Brielle frowned, slowly opening her eyes to a drowsy world, and mumbled, ¡°It¡¯s for you; don¡¯t forget to

    eat.¡±

    Max stiffened, a softness melting his irritation. He knew all too well that Aubree¡¯s situation had be

    a knot in Brielle¡¯s heart.

    So many people were trying to stand in their way, and her friend had been hurt because of it. Her heart

    wasn¡¯t made of stone. Subconsciously, she wanted to distance herself from him.

    Max consoled himself¨Cit didn¡¯t matter, as long as she hadn¡¯t thought about giving

    1. up.

    After finishing the soup and brushing his teeth, Max was about to settle into bed when he received a

    call from the sanatorium.

    Irritation flickered across his face as he stepped onto the balcony and epted the

    call.

    ¡°Max, Ms. Martha is resisting fiercely. Unless we administer other medications, sedatives alone are

    insufficient, and they¡¯re harming her health,¡± the voice on the

    other end said.

    Ever since Martha suspected her food had been tampered with, she had been in a constant state of

    agitation. Even the doctor¡¯s stricter measures only brought temporary relief. Once the effects wore off,

    Martha would refuse food altogether.

    ¡°Max, maybe you shoulde and talk to Ms. Martha in person. After all, you¡¯re family.¡±

    Max¡¯s expression softened with a touch of resignation. His hand was resting on Brielle¡¯s head, giving it

    a gentle rub before sighing. ¡°I¡¯ll be there in an hour.¡±

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Chapter 623

    The doctor seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. ¡°That¡¯s good, Max. If this carries on, it¡¯s tough for us too.¡±

    After all, Martha¡¯s status was unique, and if something went seriously wrong, no one wanted to bear

    the responsibility.

    Max set the rm for an hourter, then climbed into bed, pulling Brielle close as he drifted off to sleep.

    By the time Brielle awoke, Max was gone. The hangover had her head pounding, and her stomach felt

    hollow. She nced around, realizing she was at Premier Pce and her clothes had been changed.

    After freshening up, she called Dustin, who was also nursing a hangover.

    Brielle surmised that Max must have brought her back.

    She checked the study but found no sign of Max, so she settled there herself. However, as she saw the

    media frenzy, her face darkened.

    The Clements and the Rond families were discussing a marriage alliance. The photos showed the

    two families meeting, smiling and joyful.

    Brielle found it ironic¨CAubree was still in the hospital, and the Clements seemed to have forgotten her

    existence. They were even discussing Andrew¡¯s marriage, and hadn¡¯t considered bringing Aubree

    back.

    Brielle¡¯s lips pressed tightly together as she watched a video of reporters interviewing Tessa, asking

    about the impending good news.

    Tessa beamed, her lips curving up at the corners. ¡°Yes, Andrew and I grew up together. It was only a

    matter of time.¡±

    Tessa¡¯s sweet smile at the mention of childhood sweethearts made Brielle want to smash the screen.

    She grabbed her car keys and headed straight for the hospital.

    Aubree was still admitted, and Brielle had previously instructed the hospital to block all external news

    and hide all information about Aubree¡¯s stay.

    When she arrived, Aubree was staring out the window at the blue sky, white clouds, and distant

    skyscrapers.

    Brielle saw Aubree¡¯s silhouette and felt a prickling heat behind her eyes. Her throat felt choked, and

    after steeling herself, she finally spoke. ¡°Aubree, how about we go on a vacation? It¡¯s the perfect

    season for skiing.¡±

    Aubree turned slowly, like an old machine being cranked to life. In just a day, she had

    2/3

    12:10

    Chapter 623

    be more gaunt, her cheeks hollowed.

    Seeing her like this made Brielle¡¯s heart ache.

    Aubree¡¯s lips were cracked and bloodied¨Ca stark contrast to her usual morous self, who would never

    allow herself to be caught looking less than perfect, even when drunk at home.

    ¡°Bri, I¡¯ve read John¡¯s script, and filming is starting soon. He¡¯s happy with me and Ricardo. We¡¯re going

    to shoot in seclusion, right? I want to y this role. Please, let me do it?¡±

    She needed to leave something behind in this world. She didn¡¯t want to reach life¡¯s final moment, only

    to realize she had never truly lived.

 Chapter 624

    Chapter 624

    Aubree approached slowly and wrapped her arms around Brielle. ¡°They say acting is living a different

    life, and right now, if you asked me to shoot a tearjerker, I could burst into tears this second. John¡¯s a

    great director, and working with him beats hanging around a hospital any day.¡±

    Brielle closed her eyes, mustering all her strength to keep from shaking. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll fill John in on

    everything.¡±

    Aubree wanted tough, but the cracks on her lips would split open with even the slightest smile,

    leaving her mouth stained with blood.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Brielle thought Aubree would ask about Andrew, but she didn¡¯t. She just talked about wanting to act.

    So, Brielle didn¡¯t press the issue. Instead, she quickly got in touch with John and Ricardo. As for the

    rest ¨C the crew and the staff ¨C they were all willing volunteers from Ster Stage Entertainment.

    The film required a lockdown. Everyone except John had to hand in their cell phones, and they all

    signed NDAs promising not to breathe a word of the project until the film¡¯s release.

    The controversial John, and Aubree, needed a ce that was utterly quiet and safe.

    Brielle worked fast, and by dusk, she had Aubree and Ricardo on their way. A caravan of cars left the

    bustle of the city behind, heading for a quaint town on the outskirts to start filming.

    A movie could take two to three months to shoot, during which no one would hassle Aubree with

    gossip.

    Brielle breathed a sigh of relief, then pulled out her phone, which was still buzzing with news about the

    Clements and the Rond families. They were due to meet that evening at the Harmony Haven Hotel.

    Looking at the address, Brielle¡¯s lips curled into a cold smirk. Going by her gut, she should take the gun

    Max had given her and send that cheating couple straight to hell. But that¡¯d be letting them off too easy.

    She wanted to n carefully, to ensure Tessa and Andrew lived in agony for the rest of their lives.

    Tessa cared about her social standing and Andrew¡¯s affection. Did Andrew care about Aubree even the

    slightest bit? If he did, he was already losing. Brielle would turn that sliver of care into a sword and

    plunge it into his heart.

    Her eyes churned with emotion as she took a deep breath to calm the storm within. She would make

    Andrew realize what he had missed, what he had lost.

    She dialed Patrick and instructed him to spread the news about the Rond family¡¯s 30¨Cbillion deficit,

    making sure it overshadowed the wedding news. The Rond family wanted to use the merger as a

    smokescreen for fundraising ¨C wishful thinking.

    After setting this in motion, Brielle opened her chat with Sophia. Thest messages were from

    1/2

    12.05

    before she visited Dustin.

    Grem Sophia¡¯s years by Tessa¡¯s side, she must¡¯ve known some dirt on the Rond family.

    As the Rond family was about to be thrust into a media storm, Brielle nned to hit them

    with more scandals.

    Sophia provided just a name, Zaiden.

    Briele quickly looked up Zaiden ¨C Tessa¡¯s cousin, a respected oncologist at Beaconsfield¡¯s top hospital

    Sophia¡¯s hint meant she had heard something incriminating about Zaiden within the Rond family.

    Brielle raised an eyebrow and had someone dig into Zaiden¡¯s past. Feedback came swiftly, Zaiden had

    been reported by patients within the hospital, but with the Rond family¡¯s clout,

    no action was taken.

    Brielle gathered the whistle¨Cblowers, nning to expose Zaiden in a live stream that would coincide

    with the news of the Rond family¡¯s financial woes.

    The stream initially had a meager audience, but with a little investment, viewership soared to millions,

    and the Rond family was none the wiser.

    Meanwhile, at the Harmony Haven Hotel

    Members of both the Clements and Rond families trickled in. Everyone had their own lives and

    businesses, so their arrivals were staggered. Among those yet to arrive were Tessa and

    Andrew.

    Andrew sat in a sleek ck car, his fingers clutching his phone, staring at Aubree¡¯s text from the

    evening. [So tired. Let¡¯s end this.]

    ith it, a ne was delivered by courier, the same one that had made Aubree happy for nights on

    end.

 Chapter 625

    Chapter 625

    The ne was a one¨Cof¨Ca¨Ckind piece, the only thoughtful gift Aubree had ever received from him.

    Usually, it was just cash, with instructions to go out and buy whatever she fancied.

    Hidden within the intricate design of the ne were their names, subtly engraved. He couldn¡¯t quite

    exin why he¡¯d done it at the time; he just thought it might bring a smile to Aubree¡¯s face.

    But now, Aubree had returned the gift, and in such an impersonal manner, via a delivery guy, no less.

    It wasn¡¯t just about the ne¡¯s worth, which was in the millions. The fact that Aubree had entrusted

    such a valuable item to aplete stranger, not to mention the insultingly cheap. delivery fee, seemed

    to mock the sentiment with which he¡¯d given it.

    Andrew stared at the text message for a long time, wondering how long it would take for Aubree to cool

    off this time.

    Even at her angriest, she had never spoken of ending things with him. And this time, he was at a loss

    to understand what had set her off.

    Fuming, Andrew tossed the ne onto the passenger seat just as Tessa walked in. She opened the

    car door and immediately spotted the ne, a flicker of delight crossing her face.

    ¡°Andrew, is this for me?¡± she asked, her voice sugary with hope.

    Deep down, she knew it belonged to Aubree. She¡¯d seen it around Aubree¡¯s neck before, and Aubree

    was wearing it when those thugs had raped her.

    Tessa¡¯s smile never wavered as she picked up the ne. ¡°It¡¯s gorgeous, and it must have cost a

    pretty penny. I¡¯ll treasure it. Thank you, Andrew.¡±

    She leaned in and pecked his cheek, making him stiffen involuntarily. His instinct was to say it wasn¡¯t

    meant for her but was Aubree¡¯s, but he saw Tessa¡¯s joy and hesitated. Besides, Tessa had already

    sniffed out his affair with Aubree, and bursting her bubble now would only make things awkward.

    It was just a ne, after all. If Tessa wanted it, she could have it. He¡¯d simply buy another for

    Aubree. The names were engraved so discreetly that Tessa would never notice.

    His response was nomittal, his hands resting casually on the steering wheel. ¡°If you like it, wear

    it,¡± he said tly.

    Victory shone in Tessa¡¯s eyes. For her, it was a trophy, a reminder of Aubree¡¯s defeat and how she had

    been broken in body and spirit.

    ¡°I love it. Let¡¯s hit the road. We¡¯ve got to get to the venue. They¡¯re about to set the wedding date,

    Andrew. I¡¯m so happy. This is what I¡¯ve dreamed of for years.¡±

    12.05

    Chapter 625

    Andrew was momentarily lost in thought, then nodded and flipped on the car radio.

    Breaking news red through the speakers. ¡°The Rond family is currently facing a capital deficit of

    thirty billion, and with wedding talks underway, it seems Austin has cleverly courted venture capitalists,

    looking to raise the exact amount needed. It appears this engagement is nothing more than a warm¨Cup

    for a massive fundraising campaign.¡±

    The smile vanished from Tessa¡¯s face as the words echoed in the car. Even Andrew¡¯s brow furrowed.

    His phone buzzed ¨C it was his mother, Marissa.

    ¡°Andrew, did you hear about the Rond¡¯s financial troubles? I know we all wanted you and Tessa to

    marry, but the Ronds have stepped out of line here. We haven¡¯t even started to discuss a date, and

    Austin¡¯s already tipping off venture capitalists for a thirty billion raise. It¡¯s like they¡¯re using our family

    name as a billboard for funding.¡±

    The Clements had always been supportive of the Ronds, but being yed like this was too much to

    swallow. The Clements were now facing the Rond¡¯s smugcency and felt like they¡¯d

    swallowed a fly.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 626

    Chapter 626

    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    ¡°Hey, Andrew, what¡¯s your take on this? You know I listen to you. As long as you drop this thing with

    Aubree, I¡¯m behind you all the way. But if you¡¯re thinking of bailing out the Ronds with thirty billion¨C

    come on, think about your family. That kind of cash, even for us, it¡¯s a stretch.¡±

    The Clements could cough up the money, sure, but it would definitely put a dent in their own affairs.

    And why should they? The Ronds made their move against them first, and they weren¡¯t even tied by

    marriage yet. Why should they shell out a fortune to help those ingrates? They all yed in the same

    sandbox. They knew what¡¯s up.

    Marissa¡¯s expression was grim as she gave him another piece of her mind. ¡°I want you to marry her,

    just to keep your fling with Aubree under wraps. We don¡¯t need that kind of gossip. We didn¡¯t even tell

    Aubree about your engagement, and she spent this Christmas alone. We took her in and did our part.

    It¡¯s high time we find her a decent match, or your secret will be out sooner orter.¡±

    ¡°Mom, Aubree¡¯s still young.¡±

    ¡°Young? If she hadn¡¯t been on birth control all these years, who knows how many kids she¡¯d have

    popped out by now. You can fool others, Andrew, but don¡¯t forget who caught you two. If it weren¡¯t for

    your dad taking pity on her, she wouldn¡¯t be living this good life.¡±

    Andrew fell silent, his grip on his phone tightening.

    He had almost forgotten about the wedding discussions at tonight¡¯s dinner. But hearing Marissa speak

    about Aubree made him ufortable.

    Sure, Aubree was Daddy¡¯s little princess, and she didn¡¯t have the temper of a spoilt brat¨Cjust a bit more

    fiery than most. She was obedient in the sheets and always willing to y along.

    Andrew never felt like Aubree owed the Clements anything. It was his dad¡¯s choice to take her in, and if

    you took someone in, you were responsible for them, right?

    ¡°Andrew, the bottom line is, are you really going to marry Tessa? If yes, are we truly going to cover this

    massive debt?¡±

    Andrew¡¯s mind was a whirlwind. Catching a glimpse of Tessa¡¯s pale face, his heart softened. ¡°Tessa¡¯s

    right here. We¡¯ll talk when we get there.¡±

    After hanging up, he tossed his phone aside and turned to Tessa. ¡°Did you know about the Rond¡¯s

    debt crisis beforehand?¡±

    It was a rhetorical question. Tessa was the Rond¡¯s linchpin; nothing went without her say¨Cso. So,

    naturally, Austin¡¯s moves to use the marriage to the Clements as a chance for a bailout were at her

    behest.

    Panic shed across Tessa¡¯s face as she clutched his hand, ¡°Andrew, I didn¡¯t want this. But if the

    Ronds go under, I fear I won¡¯t be worthy of you,¡± she coughed. Her body was still weak

    1/2

    12:05

    from her recent illness; her face turned deathly pale.

    Andrew patted her back gently. ¡°Tessa, I¡¯m not ming you.¡±

    Tears welled up in her eyes as she buried her face in his shoulder,forted that Andrew would

    always be there for her. ¡°Andrew, when I heard about the thirty billion going down the drain, I was

    scared. You know how this world works. It¡¯s all about climbing up or being stepped down. If the

    Ronds fall and I cling to you, everyone will think I¡¯m out of my league.¡±

    With tears streaming down her face, she continued, ¡°I¡¯m already frail, and without my family¡¯s status,

    won¡¯t I be theughingstock when we¡¯re seen together?¡±

    Seeing her tears, Andrew¡¯s heart instinctively softened, his tone gentle. ¡°The rest of the Clements might

    take issue, but make sure you exin yourself well when we arrive. As for the debt, I¡¯ll think of

    something.¡±

    A glimmer of hope shone in Tessa¡¯s eyes, a sweet smile gracing her lips. ¡°Thank you, Andrew. I knew

    you were the best.¡±

    Andrew didn¡¯t respond, his hands steady on the steering wheel, eyes fixed on the road ahead.

    Who would have guessed that Tessa, seemingly so frail, had sent a message to Brielle just a minute

    ago?

    Attached was a photo¨Ca ne.

    [Wasn¡¯t this what Aubree was wearingst time? Now Andrew has given it to me. Sorry for taking your

    friend¡¯s trinket.]

    Her message was dripping with malice.

    Tessa was still smarted from being bested by Brielle at the piano that day. Now, with a chance to get

    back at her, she wouldn¡¯t let it slip by. Trampling on Aubree was the perfect way to twist the knife in

    Brielle¡¯s side, to make her suffer.

    This tactic was Alivia¡¯s brainchild, and it worked like a charm.

 Chapter 627

    Chapter 627

    In a corner unseen by Andrew, Tessa¡¯s lips curled into a smug grin.

    The car pulled up in front of the Harmony Haven Hotel, and as Tessa got out and steadied herself on

    her feet, she noticed another vehicle parked nearby. The door swung open, and out stepped Brielle.

    That had to be Max¡¯s car, judging by the vanity te with its string of identical numbers and the

    unmistakable silhouette of a Bentley.

    Tessa caught sight of her and was about to strut over and have a good go at her, but remembering

    Andrew was still around, she figured she had to y it cool for a bit longer. So, without a word, she

    simply unted the ne around her throat, arching an eyebrow at Brielle in a silent challenge.

    The provocation was clear.

    What Tessa hadn¡¯t expected was for Brielle to stride forward, grab the ne, and yank it off with

    such force that Tessa felt like her neck might snap. Her face registered utter disbelief. ¡°Brielle?! What

    the hell are you doing?¡±

    Before the words had fully left her mouth, Brielle¡¯s hand was in the air and then came the sharp crack

    of a p.

    ¡°Smack!¡±

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Tessa¡¯s cheek instantly swelled, the force of the p nearly sending her to the ground, the taste of iron

    flooding her mouth.

    The ne now dangled from Brielle¡¯s fingers, wrapped in a tissue. Her expression was dark as a

    storm cloud. ¡°Tessa, did you ever think you were worthy of wearing this?¡± Brielle snapped.

    Tessa clutched her cheek, her heart pounding. Onlookers were gathering around them. The Harmony

    Haven Hotel wasn¡¯t your average star¨Crated establishment. Much like the exclusive Tequ Sunset

    club, it was members¨Conly and essible with a card, so journalists were strictly off¨Climits. The

    Rond and Clements families had chosen this ce for their dinner, as much a statement of status

    as anything else.

    Tessa had sent that message to Brielle just to rile her up, to knock her down a peg. She hadn¡¯t

    anticipated Brielle to actually show up, corner her, and p her without a second thought.

    How dare she?

    That bitch, how dare she?!

    However, Tessa was too frail to retaliate. Her eyes were red with rage, but she could not utter a single

    word.

    Brielle tucked the ne into her purse and, watching Tessa¡¯s weakened face, pulled her close for

    another p, this time not stopping until ten more hadnded. With full force, Tessa¡¯s face was so

    swollen it was unrecognizable, blood trickling from her mouth.

    Chapter 627

    Andrew parked and approached the scene, his scalp tingling with anger at the sight.

    ¡°Brielle!¡± He strode forward, grabbing her arm, his brow knotted with fury. ¡°Brielle, have you lost your

    mind?!¡±

    But Brielle bitched free and, with a swift motion, pped him across the face as well. ¡°Get lost!¡±

    Andrew¡¯s head snapped to the side, and as he felt the sting on his cheek, he wondered if this was

    some sick dream. Once the shock passed, a vicious light crossed his eyes, and he raised his hand to

    grab Brielle¡¯s throat.

    No one, except for the cheeky Aubree, had ever dared toy a hand on him like that. Was Brielle high

    tonight to have the audacity to do this to him?

    However, before his hand could reach her throat, another intercepted him. Max pulled Brielle into his

    arms, shielding her and blocking Andrew¡¯s hand with his own, his gaze as calm as it wasmanding.

    Andrew¡¯s eyes narrowed, the din of Tessa¡¯s hysterical crying and the gasps of the onlookers only

    intensifying the moment.

    Everything pointed to a point of no return.

    With a coldugh, Andrew¡¯s eyes gleamed with malice. ¡°Max, step aside.¡± Tonight, he would end

    Brielle, that treacherous bitch.

 Chapter 628

    Chapter 628

    Max nced at Tessa, who was on the verge of passing out, his voice soft yet firm. ¡°I think you¡¯d better

    get her to the hospital.¡±

    But Andrewshed out with a kick towards Max, his face contorted with rage. No one dared to p him

    and get away with it. Tonight, Brielle had to pay with her life.

    Max dodged the kick and pulled Brielle behind him for protection.

    Meanwhile, Patrick, still in the Bentley, witnessed the scene and quickly directed his people to disperse

    the gathering crowd.

    The onlookers were shrewd enough to know when to stay out of the way. This was a sh between

    two powerful families, and knowing too much was a recipe for trouble.

    Soon, only a handful of them remained, and an eerie silence enveloped the area.

    Brielle chuckled and locked eyes with Andrew. ¡°Andrew, Aubree has left Beaconsfield. You probably

    won¡¯t be able to find her again.¡±

    All of Andrew¡¯s fury seemed to dete like a punctured balloon, the red in his eyes intensifying. ¡°What

    did you say?¡±

    Brielle raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh, it seems she didn¡¯t tell you. She¡¯s leaving Beaconsfield for good.¡±

    Andrew felt as if a thunderbolt had struck his head, and he strode toward Brielle with

    determination. ¡°Say that again!¡±

    Max stood between them, trying to keep the peace.

    A confrontation seemed inevitable, but just then, members of the Rond and Clements families

    arrived on the scene. Both families were scared witless, especially at the sight of Andrew and Max

    squared off, with Tessa standing to one side, her face bruised and looking like she might faint at any

    moment.

    ¡°Andrew! What on earth is going on?!¡± Marissa was the first to speak up, rushing to Andrew¡¯s side to

    restrain him.

    Andrew shook off Marissa¡¯s hand with a fierce re fixed on Brielle. ¡°Brielle, do you know something?¡±

    His voice was dark and menacing, his whole being ame with anger.

    How could Aubree think of leaving Beaconsfield? It was impossible. Sure, she had thrown tantrums in

    the past, but at most, she¡¯d find somewhere to stay for a few days before returning to his side, sweet

    and docile as ever.

    The furthest she had ever gone during one of her fits was abroad, and that was because he had gotten

    engaged to Tessa. But she hade back, and she was aspliant in bed as she had always been.

    07.07

    This time, she was surely just ying up again.

    Andrew was already livid that Aubree had handed over the ne carelessly to some random

    delivery guy, sending it to him with a cheap express delivery fee. And now, hearing Brielle talk like this,

    he felt a fire raging in his chest, threatening to consume him!

    Brielle didn¡¯t answer him, her gaze drifting past him and settling on Tessa with a nonchnt tone. ¡°The

    Rond family is in the hole for thirty billion. They hope to sneak in some financing. with this marriage.

    Tessa hasn¡¯t even married you yet, and she¡¯s already stirring others to contact venture capital firms,

    trying to drum up sponsorship for the Ronds. Ms. Tessa may look delicate, but her mind is sharp as

    a tack.¡±

    Compared to Tessa¡¯s disheveled state, Brielle was the picture of poise, her eyes sweeping over the

    Clements family members with a slight smile. ¡°Before even joining the family, she¡¯s thinking about using

    the Clements name to make a profit. I¡¯ve heard that the Ronds¡® business sess owed a lot to the

    Clements¡® support in the past. Some people,¡± Brielle said, her smile thin, ¡°are never satisfied, and are

    always biting off more than they can chew.¡±

    The Ronds were seething. Brielle had already upstaged them once during the negotiations about

    Sophia¡¯s marriage with the Dorsey family. And now, as they were about to discuss matrimonial ties with

    the Clements, here she was again.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    What in the world was this woman after?

    Austin stepped forward, ready to unleash his anger on Brielle. But then he remembered that Max had

    openly admitted that Brielle was his girlfriend at the lounge. Insulting Brielle in front of him was

    tantamount to a death wish.

    However, they couldn¡¯t let Brielle get away with trampling over them like this. Where would the

    Rond family¡¯s pride go?

    ¡°Brielle, you better stop spouting nonsense right here!¡± he barked.

    Just then, amotion broke out in the distance. A wave of angry shouts filled the air, and soon, a

    crowd of hundreds of people surged forward, overwhelming the guards.

    What was happening?

 Chapter 629

    Chapter 629

    ¡°The Ronds! Get out of Beaconsfield!¡±

    ¡°The Rond Hospital is corrupt! Zaiden has blood on his hands!¡±

    ¡°Ronds, go to hell! Justice will be served!¡±

    The crowd had encircled the

    embers of the Rond and the Clements families, hurling rotten

    eggs with such precision it was clear they had practice.

    Just moments ago, a group of cancer patients¡® family members had gone public with a damning

    usation against Zaiden. The details were horrifying..

    Despite Zaiden¡¯s errors, the Ronds were shamelessly covering for him. Finding no recourse through

    official channels, themon folk seized the moment to expose Zaiden¡¯s misdeeds as the Rond

    family¡¯s scandal erupted.

    The live stream had exploded, and the recorded video detailing the tearful testimonials of suffering

    families had gone viral.

    ¡°My granddad was seventy. He was diagnosed withte¨Cstage liver cancer with metastasis. There was

    no hope for treatment, they said. But Zaiden promised a cure if we sold our house and pulled together

    over a million dors for top¨Cnotch medical care. We spent every penny, and then my granddad

    passed. They have no medical ethics. We demand justice from the public!¡±

    ¡°I overheard Zaiden telling doctors to cycle cancer patients through surgery, chemotherapy, and

    radiation. They milked money from each department until there was nothing left, then left them to

    alternative medicine to die. My spouse had early¨Cstage lung cancer and suffered this torture for three

    months before passing. The Ronds have blood on their hands! I have recordings of Zaiden. I

    demand ountability!¡±

    ¡°The Rond Hospital saves no one! It only harms. We demand justice!¡±

    The ten¨Cminute video spread like wildfire online, and coupled with Zaiden¡¯s own incriminating audio, it

    was the nail in the coffin for the Ronds.

    Public outrage was immense. Education, healthcare, andw are society¡¯s pirs. As long as education

    remained fair, there was hope for the underprivileged to rise. With ethical healthcare, life was

    respected. If thew upheld justice, societal ills would be minimized. When these pirs crumbled,

    society would descend into hell.

    Zaiden¡¯s actions trampled on the dignity of ordinary people, exploiting desperate families in their

    darkest hours. The Ronds¡®plicity still allowed him to climb the ranks within the hospital.

    Appalling!

    The crowd now swarming the scene was fueled by righteous anger after watching the video. News of

    the Ronds¡® impending marriage with the Clements had spread, and now the protesters had tracked

    them down to the Harmony Haven Hotel.

    07:07

    The hotel security was overwhelmed, and the Ronds were pelted with rotten eggs and spoiled

    lettuce. In a desperate attempt to protect Tessa, Andrew was also a mess, reeking of decay.

    Though initially bystanders, the Clements were now tainted by association and used of collusion.

    ¡°A despicable lot, all deserving of hell!¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t value our lives! To hell with you!¡±

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Tessa felt the world crumbling around her, and her cheeks stung not just from the physical blows but

    from the chaos of it all. She looked into the angry faces; In their eyes, she saw the desire to tear her

    apart.

    What had happened? What had gone wrong?

    She couldn¡¯t think straight. The Ronds were finished.

    Everything was ruined.

    The Clements, already on edge that evening, were now smeared with the fallout from the Rond

    debacle and were fuming.

    Marissa¡¯s expensive dress was ruined with vile egg slime, and she was close to vomiting with disgust

    as she pointed an using finger at the Ronds. ¡°This engagement is off! My son will have no more

    dealings with the Ronds!¡±

    The Clements left the scene in disgust.

    Before she left. Marissa turned to Andrew, who was still shielding Tessa and said angrily, ¡°Come with

    me, son. Look at the mess the Ronds have made. What a disgrace!¡±

    Tears streamed down Tessa¡¯s face as she clung to Andrew, herst lifeline. ¡°Don¡¯t leave. Andrew.

    Please don¡¯t go.¡±

    Seeing her in such a state, Andrew draped his jacket over her and escorted her to the Clements¡®

    car.

 Chapter 630

    Chapter 630

    The rest of the Ronds were hemmed in by an irate crowd, unable to make their way out.

    Marissa caught sight of Tessa and felt her blood boiling. ¡°What a mess!¡± she spat, her face a mask of

    displeasure.

    Tessa, for her part, felt as if the sky hade crashing down. She clung desperately to Andrew. Her

    body was on the verge of copse. She should have passed out, and she cursed her lucidity, all too

    aware that the Ronds were teetering on the brink of ruin.

    It wasn¡¯t just the loss of hundreds of millions in capital¨Cit was their reputation on the line!

    Tears streamed down her face, and she couldn¡¯t fathom how things hade to this.

    The radio droned on with reporters¡® live updates and public opinion of the Ronds sinking to rock

    bottom. The Ronds¡® shares had halved in less than two hours, and billions in market value had

    evaporated.

    Tessa was a wreck, clutching Andrew like a lifeline, too afraid to show her pain and vulnerability lest

    she draw the ire of the other Clements in the car.

    Her teeth bit into her lip so hard she tasted blood. Her eyes were bloodshot as if she might faint at any

    moment. Still, she was too aware. Tears were falling nonstop, and her lips were raw with wounds.

    Andrew took her back to the Clements¡® home, and after they both showered, Tessa sat on his bed

    weeping. ¡°Andrew, what do we do? Is this the end for us? Who did this? Who could have-¡±

    She was torn between crying and fear, terrified of losing Andrew, too. What would she do if even he

    turned his back on her?

    Her family couldn¡¯t be saved, not even if the Clements were willing to donate thirty billion. The

    Ronds were beyond salvation.

    Andrew reached for a towel to wipe her hair, knowing full well that this was the result of the Ronds¡®

    own inaction. Zaiden¡¯s mistakes were forever etched in shame, and now the public loathed the

    Ronds to the bone. Come morning, their stocks would likely plummet to a halt.

    The Ronds¡® name would probably be stricken in the annals of Beaconsfield¡¯s elite.

    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    Apany that crossed the public¡¯s red line was not one to rise again. By nightfall, the government

    would probably send police to thoroughly investigate the Ronds¡® hospitals.

    Andrew reached out, intending tofort Tessa. She trembled in his arms, never having imagined the

    Ronds¡® fall, especially not at such a dizzying pace.

    All she had left was Andrew. She had to hold on to him. This thought spurred her to action. She pulled

    Andrew¡¯s cor down and kissed him.

    Somehow, she found the strength to push him onto the bed, climbing on top herself. ¡°Andrew,

    -12-00

    Chapter 630

    you won¡¯t abandon me, right? Will you still marry me?¡±

    Before Andrew could react, Tessa was ready to undress.

    Breathless, Andrew pushed her away. ¡°Tessa, calm down for a second.¡±

    ¡°How can I calm down? The Ronds are gone, Marissa is disgusted with me, the other Clements

    have turned against me, and I¡¯ve lost everything. You¡¯re all I have, Andrew. Please don¡¯t leave me,

    okay?¡±

    Once, she had held her head high, expecting Andrew to woo her, but now, she couldn¡¯t afford to be

    proud. If Andrew would marry her, she¡¯d do anything he asked.

    If she couldn¡¯t be the respected Ms. Rond, at least she¡¯d be the wife of the Clements Corporation¡¯s

    CEO. She couldn¡¯t bear the thought of life among the lower sses, of facing disdain wherever she

    went.

    She had to marry Andrew.

    ¡°Please, I¡¯ll have your child, Andrew. Please, just say yes,¡± she begged, her voice hoarse with tears.

    She had thought she had it all¨Clove, career, a bountiful life¨Conly for it to be cruelly snatched away.

    Everything was over.

    Trembling, she undid her clothes, baring herself, her eyes pleading with Andrew.

 Chapter 631

    Chapter 631

    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    Andrew¡¯s brows knotted as he swallowed hard, Brielle¡¯s words racing through his mind.

    Aubree had left Beaconsfield. The thought brought on a wave of irritability.

    He stood up, grabbed a nightgown from nearby, and helped Tessa into it. ¡°Just rest up, okay? Take a

    moment to chill.¡±

    ¡°Are you ditching me because the Ronds are going down? You can stay. Andrew, please¡­¡±

    ¡°Enough!¡± Andrew¡¯s voice took on a stern edge, and then he sighed, ¡°I¡¯ve never thought that way. It¡¯s

    just¡­ with the way you are right now, we¡¯re not in the right headspace for¡­ this. You need to chill. I

    need to get some air.¡±

    With that, he strode out the door.

    Marissa was already waiting outside, relieved to see him emerge. ¡°I was half expecting you to spend

    the night with her, Andrew. Listen, we¡¯ve got the inside scoop ¨C the Ronds are finished. The big

    guns have been sent in to dig deep, and Zaiden¡¯s fate is sealed. The cover¨Cup by the Ronds is fact.

    By morning, their stock is going to tank, and the government will freeze their assets. Don¡¯t go spouting

    any nonsense about marrying Tessa now. She¡¯s not the one for you.¡±

    Marissa didn¡¯t bother to lower her voice, so Tessa heard every word from inside. Tessa¡¯s body shook

    with spasms of pain, and she ran to the bathroom, vomiting blood.

    She couldn¡¯t let things end like this. What would she be without Andrew in her world? Her only y

    now was to force Andrew¡¯s hand in marriage.

    Gazing into the mirror, her face hollow, she looked like a ghost of herself.

    Tears started anew, fueling her hatred for Brielle. Was this all Brielle¡¯s doing?

    That bitch!

    Tessa wanted to release the video she held, to let all of Beaconsfield see, to make Brielle suffer! But

    the timing wasn¡¯t right. Aubree was, in name, part of the Clements family. If the video implicated them,

    Tessa would lose everything.

    She had to use the video to make Andrew marry her.

    Meanwhile, outside Harmony Haven Hotel, Brielle stood apart from the angry crowd, watching the

    remnants of the Rond family face public condemnation. Her expression was calm, a faint smirk on

    her lips.

    She looked up at Max and let out a sigh. ¡°The Ronds won¡¯tst long now. Let¡¯s head back.¡± Max

    ruffled her hair lightly, ¡°What¡¯s next? Were you hoping Dustin would pull some strings in the Clements¡®

    business dealings?¡± He had his suspicions, but this didn¡¯t require Dustin¡¯s help. ¡°Yes, but I¡¯ve changed

    my mind. Aubree won¡¯t be back for two months, and I want Andrew to

    12:00

    Chapter 631

    fully understand his own heart by then.¡±

    It was always easier to see the truth from the outside. Andrew, the coward, deliberately overlooked

    Aubree and was unwilling to acknowledge their rtionship, fearing the judgment of others.

    He was born into the spotlight, the anointed heir of the Clements, so his life was a smooth sail. How

    could he allow a stain on his life, especially one so scandalous? If his and Aubree¡¯s rtionship came

    to light, it would shame the entire Clements family.

    Nobody could predict how the public would react. The Clements Corporation might suffer, and people

    would question the true motive behind Aubree¡¯s adoption. The idea of a child bride was an anathema,

    and for a family with a century of history, holding onto such archaic notions would invite scorn.

    So Andrew hooked up with Aubree but refused to acknowledge it.

    Tessa became his perfect alibi. As childhood sweethearts, Tessa was so dependent on him, and they

    were seen as a match made in heaven.

    With Tessa, he remained the untouchable heir of the Clements family, the CEO of Clements

    Corporation.

    What was this charade?

    Andrew lived his orderly life, filling his voids with Aubree whenever he was bored, but since his arrival,

    Aubree had spent every moment loving him, only living in the spare moments.

    Did he truly deserve her?

 Chapter 632

    Chapter 632

    Brielle closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

    The Rond family had faced theireuppance, and as for Andrew, his woulde in due time. All

    she needed to do was wait quietly,

    When she returned to Premier Pce, her mood lifted considerably. The image of the Rond n

    smeared with trash brought a smirk to her face.

    She had just settled on the couch when Max handed her a ss of water. After a few sips. feeling

    rather chipper, she decided to dig out that scarf she¡¯d been knitting and continued her work by the bay

    window.

    Max watched her mood improve and silently breathed a sigh of relief but couldn¡¯t suppress a cough.

    Wesley knew he had been running a fever since the night before. ¡°Sir, maybe we should call the doctor.

    Your temperature is very high, and if it hits 104 degrees, we¡¯ll have real trouble,¡± Wesley suggested, his

    concern merging with Max¡¯s timely cough, finally pulling Brielle¡¯s attention toward them.

    Brielle looked at Max and, indeed, noticed his pallor. She set the scarf aside and saw Patricke

    downstairs with a stack of papers. ¡°Sir, thest meeting is about to start, and it¡¯s going tost about an

    hour. Once this is over, we should be clear of the overseas issues for a while.¡±

    At that moment, Brielle was by Max, reaching out to check his forehead. Feeling the scorching heat,

    her expression changed instantly. She hadn¡¯t noticed Max¡¯s fever earlier, being out of sorts herself, so

    she quickly asked Wesley, ¡°Wesley, do we have any fever reducer here? Bring some over, will you?¡±

    Then, turning to Patrick, she asked, ¡°Can¡¯t we postpone the meeting?¡±

    Patrick looked troubled.

    Max patted Brielle¡¯s hand, his voice rough with the hint of a cold, ¡°It¡¯s okay, don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just

    an hour.¡±

    Brielle frowned. ¡°You have a high fever.¡±

    Max wanted to say that he had worked sick countless times before, and it was nothing new.

    Brielle¡¯s grudges needed time to dissolve. The fall of the Rond family was just the start. Andrew still

    needed a slow grind to intensify the pain. She was one to hold fast to her vendettas, now only slightly

    satisfied.

    Max understood her evasion and would bear the brief heartache. He coughed again, and his eyelids

    looked heavily fatigued. Patrick sighed, ¡°Mr. Dorsey was called to the sanatorium against night and

    didn¡¯t rest at all.¡±

    Brielle felt a pang of sympathy, but the sanatorium was indeed an issue. Martha was, after all,

    12:00

    Chapter 632

    Max¡¯s birth mother, and he couldn¡¯t ignore her.

    She ced her hands on his temples, easing his difort with the coolness of her fingertips. Max

    closed his eyes in relief.

    Wesley had found some fever reducer, and Brielle brought it to Max¡¯s lips. ¡°Take this.¡±

    Maxplied, swallowing the medicine, but heard Patrick¡¯s urgency. ¡°Sir, the meeting starts in ten

    minutes.¡±

    Max didn¡¯t dally any longer. ¡°I¡¯m fine. You¡¯ve been downtely, so just rest here.¡±

    The meeting couldn¡¯t be postponed, so Brielle only nodded. She picked up the unfinished scarf and sat

    close to knit while Max turned on hisptop¡¯s microphone and conversed fluently with the other party.

    Brielle focused intently on her knitting. The scarf had taken quite a bit of time in fits and starts, but

    thankfully, it would be finished tonight. At the end of the scarf, she knitted two irises, and as she tied off

    thest stitch, Max concluded his meeting.

    Brielle then wrapped the scarf around his neck. If they waited any longer, spring would be upon them.

    A spark of warmth lit Max¡¯s eyes as he chuckled, ¡°Can I wear it tomorrow?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s cheeks flushed, and seeing his pallor from illness and fatigue, she felt a wave of concern.

    ¡°Yeah, you should wash up and head to bed tonight.¡±

    Meanwhile, at the Clements household, Tessa red at her reflection with fury.

    Brielle! It had to be Brielle!!

    Her teeth were practically bleeding with hatred. Her cheeks throbbed with pain, and her tears fell in

    heavy droplets. She vowed to live until the day Max cast Brielle aside, to repay every humiliation she

    suffered tonight upon Brielle.

    ¡°Cough, cough.¡±

    Blood stained Tessa¡¯s mouth. With every thought, her hatred deepened.

    Her face was swollen, her sneer sinister and dreadful.

    The video was her trump card. She had to marry Andrew with it as leverage. Once married to Andrew,

    she would still be the illustriousdy.

    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    The Rond family had fallen, but she could be thedy of the Clements household!

 Chapter 633

    Chapter 633

    She called in the housekeeper, requesting some ointment to reduce the swelling. However, Marissa

    overheard Tessa, and a wave of difort washed over her.

    The Ronds had brought them such embarrassment this evening, and now here was Tessa, in the

    Clement household, ordering their staff around as though she owned the ce.

    Marissa¡¯s fondness for Tessa, which had once been considerable, had now turned to disdain. After all

    even the best of rtionships couldn¡¯t survive two destructive blows, especially not on the same night¨C

    one exploiting the Clements and the other dragging them down with her.

    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    Fuming and aware that Andrew had stepped out for a smoke and was not in the vi. Marissa marched

    straight to his bedroom. ¡°So, after the havoc the Ronds have wreaked tonight, you¡¯ve not even

    uttered an apology?¡±

    If this had happened before. Tessa would have apologized immediately. But she had just overheard

    Marissa¡¯s conversation with Andrew and knew that Marissa was displeased with her and unwilling to

    allow her marriage to Andrew.

    The disdain in Marissa¡¯s eyes as she looked at Tessa¡¯s swollen face was unmistakable. ¡°You and

    Andrew will not be getting married. Forget about it. Each and every one of the Ronds is crafty, and

    now that you¡¯re under scrutiny, we cannot afford to be associated with you at such a

    delicate time.*

    Tessa tasted the blood in her mouth and was surprised she hadn¡¯t passed out yet. Now, she had

    managed to offend the rest of the Clements n, and Andrew was the only person she needed to

    secure. She had to have sex with Andrew as soon as possible and, better yet, bear his child. That way,

    her position in the Clement household would be secure.

    ¡®Marissa, I didn¡¯t want any of this to happen tonight. We have been framed, and you saw that woman

    with Max, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    A smirk of sarcasm crossed Marissa¡¯s face¨Cdid Tessa take her for a fool?

    ¡°Zaiden has been skimming off the top for years, long before Brielle ever came into the picture at

    Beaconsfield. And now you¡¯re trying to pin everything on her. It¡¯s no wonder your family protect Zaiden,

    it seems you still can¡¯t see your own faults. Leave now. We have no room for

    you.¡±

    Tessa felt as if she were about to crumble. In the span of one night, she had lost everything. even

    Marissa¡¯s affection. She wanted to cry, but she knew tears would be useless now. Since she couldn¡¯t

    salvage Marissa¡¯s favor, she might as well make a ruthless deal.

    ¡°Marissa, I have a video I want you to see.¡±

    Marissa looked visibly irritated. She didn¡¯t want to watch any video at that moment; she just wanted this

    woman to leave.

    With a detached tone, Tessa ordered the housekeeper. ¡°Leave us.¡±

    Chapter 633

    Incredulous, Marissa scoffed, ¡°Tessa, I¡¯ve watched you grow up. When did you be so

    shameless?¡±

    Tessa felt a pang of heartache, and the taste of blood threatened to rise in her throat again, but she

    forced it down. She couldn¡¯t falter now. The state of the Rond family was uncertain, and they were

    waiting for her to clean up the mess.

    With the Ronds now a target, there was no going back. Her only refuge was to remain with the

    Clements.

    Once the housekeeper had left, Tessa pulled up the incriminating video on her phone and positioned it

    in front of Marissa. ¡°Marissa, what do you think the impact would be on you if this video got out?¡±

    ¡°You see, it¡¯s Aubree caught up with three men, and they mention Andrew too. If this leaks, the

    Clements will suffer, especially since the public still sees us as closely linked. At a time like this, when

    we¡¯re under the microscope¡­ I¡¯m not asking for much, Marissa. I just want to marry Andrew.

    ¡°If I marry Andrew, this video will never see the light of day.¡±

    Marissa¡¯s face drained of color at the sight of Aubree being assaulted by the men, their vulgar

    comments interspersed throughout the footage. Turning to Tessa, she demanded, ¡°Where did you get

    this video?¡±

    It was disturbingly clear and targeted.

    Even if she didn¡¯t care for Aubree, the girl had been under her care for years. Indeed, Marissa didn¡¯t

    like Aubree¡¯s rtionship with Andrew, but she was considering the Clements¡® reputation. She could

    tell Aubree genuinely cared for Andrew, but they were siblings in name, and Aubree had been with the

    Clements since she was a child. If the Clements werebeled as keeping a child bride, everything

    would be ruined.

    Aubree¡¯s actions were all consensual. All Marissa could do was groom Aubree and marry her off to a

    suitable family. The Clements had never skimped on her.

    Trembling with rage, Marissa struck Tessa across the face. ¡°You bitch! I underestimated you!¡±

    The p was forceful. Tessa copsed onto the bed, coughing up blood.

 Chapter 634

    Chapter 634

    ¡°Did you have someone go after her?¡± Marissa¡¯s voice was icy, her body quivering with barely

    contained rage. She thought she was dealing with a naive and innocent youngdy, but Tessa turned

    out to be a vile wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing!

    If she had known Tessa¡¯s true colors earlier, she would have told Andrew to stay the hell away from

    that tramp!

    Tessa was in pain all over, feeling like she had been dragged through the mud this evening, She

    clenched her teeth, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, and let out a bitter chuckle.

    ¡°Marissa, you do realize the consequences of that video, right? I¡¯m getting married to Andrew one way

    or another, and I hope you can make arrangements. He wants to marry me, too.¡±

    She was like a piece of disgusting gum, desperately sticking to Andrew. Marissa saw through her

    intentions, stepped forward, and pped her again. ¡°That p was for Aubree. Despite that degrading

    video, she¡¯s still ady who¡¯s been nurtured by the Clements family for years. Once Andrew dumps

    you, you¡¯ll be nothing but a no¨Cname, washed¨Cup has¨Cbeen. As long as the Clements family stands,

    we¡¯ll protect Aubree. The Rond family is done for, and you¡¯re even. worse off than Aubree is! Fine,

    you want to marry Andrew, I¡¯ll let you. But if that video gets out, you better be ready to face the

    Clements family¡¯s wrath.¡±

    Another tooth flew from Tessa¡¯s mouth, and her heart was in so much pain that she became numb,

    unable to shed a single tear. Blood kept trickling from her mouth as she coughed repeatedly.

    Marissa sneered, ¡°That video better not reach Andrew¡¯s eyes. Even if he¡¯s over Aubree, they¡¯ve got

    over two decades of history. Do you really think he¡¯ll let you off the hook for causing all this?¡±

    Tessa shrank back, silent, her heart overflowing with resentment, cursing Brielle, cursing Aubree. They

    were the reason she had fallen so low.

    Marissa took a deep breath. ¡°Keep that video hidden, Tessa. I¡¯m telling you seriously, my husband has

    always been fond of Aubree. The day that video surfaces, he won¡¯t hesitate to turn you into a pariah.

    Don¡¯t believe me? Just wait and see. You think marrying into the Clements family will give you peace?

    Don¡¯t count on a single day of tranquility!¡±

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    The more she thought about it, the angrier Marissa got, grabbing Tessa¡¯s hair and pping her hard

    across the face. ¡°Brielle was right to p you tonight. With skin as thick as yours and a heart as

    poisonous, you probably can¡¯t even feel the pain. Just stay put right here.¡±

    Tessa trembled from head to toe, not daring to utter a word of protest. She was in so much pain she

    couldn¡¯t even breathe, feeling like she was suffocating.

    After Marissa left, Tessa shakily got off the bed, kneeling on the floor, spitting out more blood mixed

    with two of her teeth. Her nails were all broken, her palms bloody.

    Even if Marissa hated her, what did it matter? As long as Andrew loved her, that was all she

    Chapter 634

    needed.

    She thought she couldn¡¯t cry anymore, but the tears suddenly began to fall in big drops. She trembled,

    trying to pick up her teeth but couldn¡¯t.

    ¡°Cough, cough, cough.¡±

    After spitting out some more blood, she staggered to her feet, wanting to find a maid to clean up the

    room.

    The maid looked at her with a sneer of disgust. ¡°Clean up yourself. Madam has instructed us not to

    take orders from you anymore. Do you really think you¡¯re still the spoiled Ms. Tessa, huh? Pfft!¡±

    Tessa stiffened, in so much pain it felt like she might die. She had to get Andrew back

    immediately. Andrew would pity her. As long as he loved her, she could have the good life she craved.

 Chapter 635

    Chapter 635

    She fumbled with her phone, her fingers shaking so badly that she couldn¡¯t dial a single digit. Tears

    welled up, mixing with the blood she hastily wiped from the corner of her mouth.

    The whole world seemed to be conspiring against her!

    With gritted teeth, Tessa copsed onto the bed and sumbed to a fitful sleep.

    That night, Andrew didn¡¯te home.

    The next morning at seven, government officials arrived at the hospital where Zaiden was working to

    conduct an inspection.

    By nine, Zaiden was escorted to the police station.

    At ten, the Rond family¡¯s stocks hit rock bottom, and the media went into a frenzy covering Zaiden¡¯s

    scandal.

    The atrocities that Zaiden hadmitted were beyond repulsive, igniting public outrage like wildfire,

    with people practically itching to mete out medieval justice on the Ronds.

    With the official news reports detailing Zaiden¡¯s misdeeds in stark ck and white, more victims¡®

    families started speaking out on social media tforms. The Rond family¡¯s reputation tanked, and

    they became the city¡¯s pariahs.

    It was clear to all: the Rond family was beyond salvation.

    At this crucial juncture, Tessa, who had always been at the core of the Rond family, was nowhere to

    be reached. The Ronds were desperate for her help, but Tessa had effectively vanished.

    They thought of seeking her out at the Clements residence, but given the bad blood between the two

    families, the Clements t¨Cout refused to arrange a meeting.

    In this moment of crisis, Tessa wasn¡¯t just being condemned by the public; in the eyes of the Rond

    family, she was a cowardly traitor.

    Brielle watched the news unfold online with a serene expression and a slight smirk ying on her lips.

    A bit of her frustration dissipated, but clearly, this wasn¡¯t the ending Tessa deserved.

    Closing herptop, she knew that no one could save the Ronds now. Andrew might protect Tessa

    temporarily, but once he found out what she had done, his self¨Cloathing would only intensify. Death by

    a thousand cuts was far more painful than a swift execution.

    Tessa was utterly alone now, clinging to Andrew as her lifeline. And if Andrew, her straw of salvation,

    chose to abandon her, it would be Tessa¡¯s personal hell.

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    Brielle would let the despicable pair torment each other, and she didn¡¯t even need to lift a finger.

    Breathing a sigh of relief, Brielle turned her back on the so¨Ccalled Rond and Clements

    1/3

    10:52

    Chapter 635

    drama, focusing instead on Ster Stage Entertainment¡¯s portfolio.

    That morning, Max had deliberately skipped his usual visit to Dorsey International and ignored the

    Rond family¡¯s debacle, leisurely finishing breakfast with Brielle. Just as he was about to suggest a

    stroll around the upscale Premier Pce, his phone rang¨Can urgent call from the nursing home.

    His brows knit together, and hisplexion soured instantly. The calls from the nursing home had

    escted from once every three days to three times a day,

    Martha was endlessly inventing new ways to make trouble, hell¨Cbent on challenging Max. Caught

    between Brielle, Martha, and a recently concluded overseas acquisition, Max felt he hadn¡¯t had a

    moment¡¯s peace.

    He was running a feverst night and now, he had zero desire to take this call, but the phone persisted

    as if it would keep ringing until he answered.

    Seeing the fatigue in his eyes, Brielle¡¯s heart ached. Yet, this was the harsh reality they had to face.

    She had been preupied with the Rond family crisis, and now, she was reminded of the rocky

    path they still had to tread.

    Max eventually headed to the nursing home, while Brielle spent some time at home reviewing

    documents before heading to Ster Stage Entertainment.

    There was no immediate rush, at least not until Aubree returned in two months. She just needed to

    handle her current tasks well.

    Ster Stage Entertainment was in the early stages of producing its first movie, and there was still a lot

    to be done. The remaining funds needed to be allocated to hiring more coaches to ensure that the

    artists willing to stay with Ster Stage would receive ample training. Before they could shine, they

    needed to be in top form.

    Brielle stayed at Ster Stage Entertainment until evening. She also took a call from John, who

    reported that everything was going smoothly abroad and that Aubree and Ricardo were proving to be

    exceptionally talented.

    A warmth flickered in Brielle¡¯s eyes. After a moment¡¯s thought, she reminded John, ¡°John, Aubree¡¯s my

    friend. If there¡¯s anything off about her, you let me know right away.¡±

    John readily agreed.

    After workingte, Brielle drove off, remembering the potted nts Aubree had been nurturing in her

    house. She decided to stop by and water them but was dismayed to find Aubree¡¯s door defaced with

    malicious graffiti¨Cvile insults likely scrawled by troublemaking neighbors during Aubree¡¯s absence.

    A frown creased Brielle¡¯s forehead. She called John, suggesting he ask Aubree if she wanted to sell

    the house.

    John passed the phone to Aubree, who was resting, and he waited.

    Chapter 635

    Aubree fell silent for a minute upon hearing the suggestion to sell. Brielle knew Aubree was struggling

    to let go.

 Chapter 636

    Chapter 636

    Aubree had never moved from this ce because it held a myriad of memories with Andrew.

    Well maybe not all of them were happy memories.

    Every time Andrew got stered, when work got under his skin, and he felt like he was about to lose it,

    he¡¯de over to her ce. They¡¯d go at it like rabbits as If, by doing so, they could forget everything

    else in the world. They were in their roaring twenties, brimming with energy that seemed endless, and it

    all got channeled into their passionate escapades.

    A sharp pang of pain hit Aubree¡¯s chest, but it was quickly drowned out by the echoes of those men¡¯s

    insults in her head. Her stomach churned with nausea, and unable to hold it back, she doubled over

    and vomited.

    Brielle jumped, rmed, ¡°Aubree, are you okay?¡±

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    After rinsing her mouth with water Ricardo handed her, Aubree replied with a pale face. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just

    skipped dinner and felt a bit queasy. If you think we should sell the ce, let¡¯s do it. I need a fresh start

    anyway. The neighbors there¡­ they¡¯re not exactly part of my fan club.¡±

    Brielle looked at the graffiti that marred the walls and the door- ¡®whore,¡® ¡®slut,¡® and ¡®tramp¡®¨Cthe hurtful

    words were scrawled endlessly by both men and women.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll call the real estate agent tonight.¡±

    After hanging up, Brielle knew Aubree was probably still in the dark about the scandal rocking the

    Rond family. She didn¡¯t n on spilling the beans. If Aubree wanted to focus on her acting, so be it.

    The agent Brielle contacted was efficient. Coupled with a hefty price drop, a buyer was found almost

    immediately.

    The paperwork was sorted out the same evening, Aubree¡¯s belongings were moved out, and the keys

    were handed over. The house was sold in less than three hours using a special expedited

    process.

    Meanwhile, the Clements family was in the throes of a heated debate. The Rond family¡¯s reputation

    was in tatters,but Tessa was still living with the Clements.

    Was Andrew really going to seize this moment to marry her? It was utter madness!

    Marissa sat amongst the family, silent throughout. Her quietness surprised everyone. She was the one

    who valued the family¡¯s reputation most. Why was she mute now when their name was at risk?

    Marissa¡¯s expression was impassive as she sipped her water.

    Andrew had roughed it outst night in the vi next door, not sharing a bed with Tessa. So, he didn¡¯t

    know that she¡¯d also spent a night on the floor.

    Today, his phone had been bombarded by reporters and calls for emergency meetings. He

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    11:23

    Chapter 636

    hadn¡¯t stopped all day and hadn¡¯t seen Tessa, only instructing the house staff to take good care of her.

    As soon as he arrived home, he was whisked into a family meeting, looking visibly irked.

    Marissa set down her cup. ¡°Andrew, if you care for Tessa, then marry her. She has no one else but you

    now, right?¡±

    The family was stunned, and even Andrew was taken aback. Marissa, of all people, was supporting his

    marriage to Tessa despite the Rond scandal.

    Andrew¡¯s brow furrowed as he tried to read something, anything, on Marissa¡¯s stoic face. But she was

    unusually somber tonight, only querying the familywyer beside her.

    ¡°By the way, I have five percent of the Clements Corporation shares that I want to transfer. Can you

    arrange the paperwork for me?¡±

    Was Marissa thinking of transferring her shares to Tessa? Had she lost her mind?

    Surprise flickered across Andrew¡¯s face. ¡°Mom, I know you like Tessa.¡±

    Just then, Tessa descended the stairs. She had worked hard to reduce the swelling on her cheeks.

    Though still reddened, she looked far better than the previous night¡¯s disarray.

    Hearing from the staff that Andrew had returned, she hurried down, tears streaming down her face.

    ¡°Andrew.¡±

    He hadn¡¯t been home all night, and she had endured plenty of cold shoulders here. -Marissa despised

    her, and every servant in the house looked down upon her. Tessa couldn¡¯t stand it here. She yearned

    for a life with Andrew, just the two of them.

    Seeing her fragile form, Andrew¡¯s heart softened. Only when Tessa reached his side did he grasp her

    hand. ¡°My mom¡¯s going to transfer five percent of thepany shares to you. Say ¡®thank you,¡® will

    you?¡±

 Chapter 637

    Chapter 637

    Tessa¡¯s eyes flickered with shock¨Ca whole five percent of the Clements family stock?!

    The Clements were among the top three most influential familles in Beaconsfield, Five percent

    represented a fortune in the billions, How could Marissa part with such wealth?

    But if Andrew said it was so, it had to be true,

    A smile forced its way onto her face while internally, she scoffed, Once she married Andrew, everything

    the Clements owned would be hers. No matter how much Marissa despised her, she¡¯d have to cough

    up those shares.

    Just as Tessa was about to muster a thank you, Marissa¡¯s voice cut through, ¡°I¡¯d rather throw those

    shares to a beggar on the street than give them to you,¡±

    Tessa was shaking with fury, her eyes so red and raw it seemed she had shed all her tears, She gritted

    her teeth with such fierce anger, it was like she was ready to grind them to dust.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    ¡°Andrew, you can marry her if you wish, but she cannot have a thing from the Clements estate,

    especially not the shares. As for your own money, do what you will, but don¡¯t forget that the Clements

    fortune belongs to the entire family. It¡¯s only because you¡¯re an only child that we trust and support

    you.¡±

    Besides, Marissa had the right to hold onto more shares back in the day, but out of disdain, she settled

    for five percent. Now, whom she decided to give them to was her prerogative,

    Tessa felt like she was on the verge of spitting blood.

    Damn it all!

    Her palm was smeared with blood from clenching so hard, but she held onto Andrew as if holding onto

    a lifeline. Andrew felt her shiver and patted her back in an attempt tofort her.

    Tessa¡¯s face was ashen as she lifted it to Marissa. ¡°I don¡¯t need the Clements stock. I just want

    to be married to Andrew.¡±

    Marissa snorted with a coldugh. ¡°Fine, get married. I won¡¯t object.¡±

    Humiliated, Tessa recalled the indignities from the night before. Her dignity had been trampled over and

    over. She had to ept it.

    Andrew was furious, yet he couldn¡¯tsh out at Marissa. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m taking Tessa to my ce.¡±

    Marissa shrugged, ¡°Whatever, I don¡¯t really want to see her anyway. I¡¯ll handle the wedding

    arrangements. Now take her and go.¡±

    Tessa avoided looking at anyone, gripping Andrew¡¯s hand tightly. He led her out, buckling her into the

    car seat.

    In the car, Tessa began to cry, her lips bitten bloody. ¡°Andrew, let¡¯s do it. We¡¯re getting married soon. I¡¯ll

    come to your ce tonight, and we can¡­ you know, be together, okay?¡±

    1/2

    11:247

    Andrew¡¯s expression darkened. He looked down at her face, gave her a reassuring kiss, then moved to

    the driver¡¯s seat. In truth, he was reluctant to take Tessa to his current residence. He¡¯s confused by his

    own resistance and thus felt irritable.

    Over the years, Andrew had built a reputation for his shrewd business tactics, managing to hold his

    own against veterans like Max. Moreover, Andrew had been scandal¨Cfree and devotedly courted

    Tessa, a fact that had be a sort of urban legend in their social circles.

    Driving in silence, Andrew answered a call from Jaired at a stoplight, whose tone was teasing. ¡°What¡¯s

    going on, man? I heard you and Tessa got a beatdown from Brielle. That¡¯s gotta be fake, right?¡±

    No one would believe such a thing without seeing it with their own eyes. With the Rond family

    drama at its peak, Jaired¡¯s curiosity got the better of him, prompting the call.

    Andrew was known for his quick temper, so it was hard to imagine anyone daring to cross him, not

    even Brielle with Max¡¯s backing.

    Andrew¡¯s eyes narrowed, his tall frame entuated by a ck trench coat. He opened the car window

    with a cigarette agitatedly pinched between his fingers.

    ¡°She¡¯s digging his own grave,¡± Andrew¡¯s voice was icy, his anger at the p still simmering, plotting a

    time when he¡¯d get back at Brielle.

 Chapter 638

    Chapter 638

    Jaired casually swung his legs onto the coffee table, a faint glint of mischief passing through his eyes.

    ¡°Max is her shield. I you touch her, you can kiss our friendship goodbye for good.¡±

    Andrew¡¯s eyes wereced with sarcasm and spite. ¡°I don¡¯t care about that. Even if Max goes ballistic,

    do you think he¡¯d actually off me for messing with Brielle? Before that happens, I¡¯ll make sure Brielle¡¯s

    the one who¡¯s done for.¡±

    It was clear he had had it with Brielle.

    Chuckling lightly, Jaired loosened his tie. ¡°What¡¯s the real deal with the Rond family mess? Didn¡¯t¨C

    you dig into it? How did it suddenly blow up in the media like that? Don¡¯t tell me Brielle is behind this?*

    Andrew had never considered pinning the situation on Brielle. If she had that kind of savvy, she

    wouldn¡¯t have gone straight to Harmony Haven Hotel to p Tessa. She must have been out of options

    to resort to such drastic measures. He never considered that Brielle¡¯s appearance at Harmony Haven

    Hotel was entirely because of the picture of the ne Tessa had sent.

    ¡°Do you really think she¡¯s capable of that?¡±

    Jaired squinted, rolling up his sleeves to his elbows. Unlike those pampered rich guys, his tan skin, still

    gleaming from a recent workout, radiated robust, masculine energy. A handkerchief hung loosely

    around his neck, which he used to absentmindedly wipe away sweat, his whole demeanor exuding an

    aura of raw vitality. He had been on the team for years, so his muscles tensed with each movement.

    ¡°Andrew, if she didn¡¯t have the chops, how did she manage to bewitch Max? The guy¡¯s been living like

    a monk, for heaven¡¯s sake. Before Brielle, I bet not even a female mosquito got close to him.¡±

    Jaired had been curious about Brielle even before he returned to Beaconsfield. First Alivia, then Tessa,

    and now the Rond family¨Cthere was every reason to suspect her involvement.

    Andrew fell silent, his expression darkening with intensity. If it really was Brielle, then it was time to

    settle both old and new scores.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Jaired sensed the hatred was sufficiently stoked, so he ended the call. After a refreshing shower, he

    walked out, headed to the liquor cab, and took a swig of the finest whiskey.

    The Rond family¡¯s predicament had him concerned, and he had already done some digging.

    Zaiden¡¯s misdeeds were indeed factual and not fabricated, or else the higher¨Cups wouldn¡¯t have acted

    so swiftly. But the tens of billions lost by the Rond family overseas seemed engineered. The initial

    bid for thatnd was only twenty billion, but out of nowhere, severalpanies joined the fray, driving

    the price up to thirty billion.

    Jaired, having spent years on the military, didn¡¯t have the reach to extend his influence internationally,

    and with the Riddle family¡¯s unique status, traveling abroad was a bureaucratic nightmare.

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    11-24

    He managed to uncover that the Rond family¡¯s overseas business was sabotaged, but it didn¡¯t

    seem rted to Brielle. Even with all her cunning, how could she possibly extend her

    reach so far?

    So he deliberately tossed the problem to Andrew, whose family¡¯s influence was more fable overseas.

    Surely, they could unearth something. Whether or not it had anything to

    do with Brielle would soon be revealed.

    A sharp glint flickered in Jaired¡¯s eyes. If Brielle was involved, then her motives for being around Max

    deserved scrutiny.

    Meanwhile, after hanging up with Jaired, Andrew¡¯splexion soured. He was itching to confront

    Brielle, to give her a taste of her own medicine.

    That p had left a mark he couldn¡¯t ignore, not to mention Brielle¡¯s audacity in pping Tessa right

    before his eyes.

    If Max didn¡¯t care about their friendship, why should he?

    Tessa¡¯s crying from the passenger seat grated on his nerves. Softening his tone after hanging up the

    phone, he tried tofort her. ¡°Stop crying. I won¡¯t let Brielle off the hook. As for my mom, you know

    how she is. You remember how harshly she spoke to Aubree.¡±

    In a sudden move, Tessa leaned over and kissed him fiercely.

 Chapter 639

    Chapter 639

    Andrew¡¯s gaze darkened. He could have returned her kiss, taken care of everything right there in the

    car, and torn her apart. But his body was cold, and no matter how Tessa teased him, he wasn¡¯t in the

    mood.

    The traffic light had turned green, so he pushed her away. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to my ce, and we¡¯ll get

    married.¡±

    Joy lit up Tessa¡¯s face, and her lips quivered as she nodded through tears. This was perfect. Andrew

    was willing to marry her. If she could just get pregnant quickly, Andrew would be wrapped around her

    finger for good.

    Aubree had ultimately lost. That tramp had been fucked by countless men. What did her wealth matter

    now?

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    When it came to love, Aubree had lostpletely!

    Tessa cried andughed. Although the Rond family had fallen, her marriage to Andrew would make

    Brielle and Aubree suffer. A thousand times more than the agony she was

    currently feeling!

    There were no servants at Andrew¡¯s ce, as it was usually just him and Aubree. Thinking of Aubree,

    his grip on the steering wheel involuntarily tightened, and he parked the car in the driveway with a

    heavy heart.

    The lights were on in the room. Andrew¡¯s heart skipped a beat uncontrobly.

    Just like the countless nights before, he¡¯d return to find Aubree waiting for him with the lights on. Upon

    opening the door, he¡¯d see her dozing off on the couch, her head bobbing.

    He had refrained from contacting Aubree, believing she woulde back as she always had. There

    was no need for sweet talk before, was there?

    A trace of scorn flickered in his eyes. Sure enough, Aubree had returned. It seemed Brielle¡¯s words

    were just to scare him.

    Tonight was perfect since Tessa was with him, too. When the two women met, he would tell Aubree to

    get lost.

    She returned the ne, causing him frustration. Now it was his turn for revenge, to give her

    a taste of her own medicine.

    He pulled out the car keys and didn¡¯t even bother to check on Tessa, striding towards the door and

    ringing the bell.

    He intentionally didn¡¯t use his key, waiting for Aubree to open the door. However, after a full minute,

    there was no movement inside. Andrew felt his patience waning, tapping the door impatiently.

    ¡°Aubree!¡± He called out, but still no response.

    1/2

    10:46

    Chapter 639

    What on earth was she doing?

    Meanwhile, Tessa sat in the car, hearing Andrew call out that name. She felt a chill run through her

    veins, her lips trembling uncontrobly. She couldn¡¯t cry; her whole body ached as if her muscles and

    bones were being crushed.

    Andrew had forgotten he had brought Tessa home. After knocking for a while with no answer, his

    expression darkened. Tonight, he would fuck her good!

    He took out his key and opened the door to the room.

    The room was a mess, not from a burry, but from things he had left in a hurry to take care of Tessa.

    They were still scattered on the floor, untouched.

    His brow furrowed as he marched towards the bedroom with an icy tone. ¡°Aubree, what the hell are you

    doing? Don¡¯t you see the mess on the floor? Why haven¡¯t you picked it up?¡±

    His voice was harsh. He kicked aside the clothes in his path and flung open the bedroom door.

    The bedroom was clean, the air fresh. His heart inexplicably trembled as he flipped the light switch.

    Only then did he see the bedroom clearly¨Capart from the furniture, it was empty.

    Almost in disbelief, Andrew walked to the curtains and yanked them open.

    Nothing.

    He then moved to the closet, opening its doors.

 Chapter 640

    Chapter 640

    The closet was a shared space between him and Aubree, split down the middle¨Cor at least. that was

    the theory. The reality was Aubree, ever the fashionista, had imed the lion¡¯s share for her endless

    wardrobe. She could go a whole year without wearing the same outfit twice¨Cfrom the freshness of

    spring to the cold of winter, every single day.

    Seeing the closet as it was, the anger in his eyes softened. Aubree hadn¡¯t taken her clothes, which

    meant, despite storming off in a huff, she¡¯d likely be back within a week. He exhaled a sigh of relief,

    closed the closet door, and made his way back to the living room.

    Meanwhile, Tessa had arrived at the entrance and caught sight of the his¨Cand¨Chers slippers on the

    rack. Her heart ached anew, nearly causing her to cough up blood from the emotional wound.

    It seemed only then that Andrew realized he hadn¡¯te home to an empty house tonight. ¡°Come on

    in, Tessa, the wind¡¯s biting out there,¡± he said, his voice a little awkward.

    He grabbed a broom and began sweeping up the broken shards on the floor, clumsily gathering the

    dirty clothes from the couch and tossing them into the washing machine. But the thing was, the

    machine was Aubree¡¯s domain. He hadn¡¯t the faintest idea how to operate it. What in the world were

    these round buttons and blinking lights all about?

    His brows knitted in frustration, turning the machine this way and that, eventually caving and pulling out

    his phone to call Aubree. If she picked up, he was ready to let her have it. Why be so dramatic and

    leave without doing theundry, cleaning up, leaving him to deal with the

    aftermath?

    But Aubree didn¡¯t answer, and a wave of unexined loss washed over him.N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    Shivering, Tessa reached out from behind him and pressed the buttons on the washing machine. It

    whirred to life, the lights came on, and the drum began to spin. She said nothing, her face pale, her

    heart feeling as though it had been torn open, bleeding out endlessly.

    Andrew seemed to remember the presence of another soul in the house and muttered a distracted

    ¡°Thanks.¡±

    The word was like a thousand needles to Tessa¡¯s chest, the pain so intense she could barely breathe.

    ¡°No need for that between us, Andrew,¡± she whispered.

    He stared nkly for a moment before snapping back to the present. He was fond of Tessa, but out of

    concern for her health, they had kept things uplicated¨Caside from the asional kiss, nothing

    more.

    Aubree was the one whoundered his shirts, socks, and trousers. She was the one who cooked his

    meals. Even in bed, they fit together with aforting familiarity.

    To Andrew, Aubree was like an ever¨Cburning light in the darkness, initially too ring but now painfully

    missed once extinguished. Even with Tessa there, the room felt toorge, too empty.

    1/2

    10:46

    Chapter 640

    Tessa wrapped her arms around him, her voice a plea, ¡°Can we take a shower together? Please?¡±

    From the moment she¡¯d entered the room, she felt a strong sense of rejection. Everything here was

    tainted with Aubree¡¯s shadow, and she desperately wanted to erase it.

    ¡°We¡¯re getting married soon, Andrew. Your mom said she¡¯d handle the wedding arrangements,¡± she

    tried to remind him, her voice trembling with urgency.

    They had to get married; failure wasn¡¯t an option. Andrew had always said he wanted to marry her. If

    not, what would she do?

    Andrew looked down at her hands wandering over his chest. In this room filled with the essence of

    Aubree, he felt a sudden, overwhelming urge to flee.

    He grabbed the keys from the table. ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere else tonight. I have another ce with staff

    that will look after you. Here, you¡¯ll be all alone.¡±

    Tessa¡¯s eyes widened, and she could no longer hold back. She fainted.

    ¡°Tessa!¡± Andrew cried out, panic¨Cstricken, as he rushed her to the hospital.

 Chapter 641

    Chapter 641

    Brielle learned that Tessa had been hospitalized the next morning, and a smirk tinged her eyes. Tessa

    had always been as fragile as a porcin doll, seemingly on the verge of fainting at any moment. After

    all the recent setbacks, it was a wonder she hadn¡¯t copsed sooner. Brielle half¨Cexpected her to have

    been rushed to the hospital, coughing up blood long before now.

    She had inquired about Tessa at the hospital and learned that her condition was more serious than

    ever before. Word was Tessa had been taken to the emergency room in the middle of the night and

    hadn¡¯t been released yet.

    Tessa had to gamble on who truly held Andrew¡¯s heart if she wanted to cling to him as her lifeline.

    After freshening up, Brielle descended the stairs just in time to see Max donning his new scarf. To

    complement it, he had deliberately chosen an overcoat in a matching shade. It was rare to see Max out

    of a suit, so when Brielle caught sight of him in this ensemble, her step faltered, and her cheeks flushed

    with color.

    In a suit, he seemed untouchable, distant, but in an overcoat, he exuded a gentle warmth. The scarf

    was looped just once, showing off the Adam¡¯s apple, and the iris detailed at the end wasn¡¯t too

    conspicuous ¨C one had to look closely to discern its type.

    Brielle had always known that Max was strikingly handsome, and despite the countless times they had

    hung out, she still found herself dazzled by him every morning. Now, with a slight change in his attire,

    she found her cheeks heating uncontrobly.

    She feignedposure as she approached the breakfast table and noted that he had finished his meal

    and was getting ready to leave. As he passed by her, he paused behind her and leaned in to ask,

    ¡°Does it look good?¡±

    The answer inside Brielle¡¯s heart was a resounding yes. She had never seen anyone more attractive

    than Max. But outwardly, she casually picked up a ss of milk from the table and took a sip. ¡°It¡¯s

    alright, I guess.¡±

    Max nced down, noticing the blush on her earlobes, and smiled.

    Patrick called from the doorway, hurrying him along. Max left her with a simple reminder, ¡°Make

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    sure to eat well.¡±

    Brielle nodded, waiting for him to leave before allowing her tense body to rx. It wasn¡¯t that she

    couldn¡¯t resist the temptation; he probably would have that effect on any woman. Upon seeing Max,

    any woman would have to restrain herself from letting out an excited squeal.

    The glimpse of him in the morning uplifted her spirits, and she felt as if a fluttering butterfly with wings

    of vibrant crimson hovered before her eyes.

    It wasn¡¯t until she pulled into the Ster Stage Entertainment lot that her smile began to fade. In the

    rearview mirror, she noticed the car that had been following hering to a halt. She had been aware

    of it for a while, assuming it was another executive from Ster Stage

    1/

    10:46

    Entertainment, but when she saw who stepped out, Brielle raised an eyebrow and opened her car door.

    Andrew, his face clouded with fury, strode directly toward her, Brielle didn¡¯t back away but instead

    casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked up at him with aposed smile. ¡°Mr.

    Clements, not at the hospital with Tessa but here blocking my way? How unusual.¡±

    ¡°Who gave you permission to sell Aubree¡¯s house?!¡± Andrew¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as he grabbed

    Brielle by the throat. ¡°Brielle, don¡¯t think that just because Max is protecting you, I wouldn¡¯t darey a

    hand on you. That p you gave mest time is enough for you to pay with your liffe a hundred times

    over.¡±

    Brielle had always been aware of Andrew¡¯s bad temper and his tendency to act without regard for the

    consequences. As her oxygen was cut off, her face turned an angry red, but her eyes still held a look of

    disdain. ¡°Do you really think I could have sold the house without the owner¡¯s permission?¡±

    Andrew¡¯s pupils contracted sharply, and his grip on her throat turned into a tight hold on her wrist,

    pulling her toward his car. He had never been gentle with other women, and Brielle felt her wrist might

    snap from his forceful tug.

    The car doors locked, trapping Brielle inside. Her expression turned cold. ¡°Andrew, what do you

    think you¡¯re doing?¡±

    Andrew¡¯s chest heaved with suppressed rage as he gripped the steering wheel. ¡°Take me to

    Aubree.¡±

 Chapter 642

    Chapter 642

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help but smirk, a sarcastic curve ying at the corners of her lips. ¡°Sorry about that. I¡¯ve

    no clue where Aubree¡¯s at,¡± she said, her voice tinged with irony.

    No sooner had the words left her mouth than the gas pedal was mmed down hard. She hadn¡¯t even

    had time to buckle her seatbelt before she was nearly thrown backward.

    Andrew was fuming, and today, he was driving a two¨Cseater sports car that could go from zero to sixty

    in a heartbeat. As he floored it, the world outside the windows became nothing but a blur.

    The speed was so intense it gave her a feeling of extreme weightlessness. Her scream was like stuck

    in her throat, unable to escape or be swallowed.

    Brielle had never experienced anything like it. All she could hear was the roar of the engine. Everything

    else was lost to her. Time and space seemed to be in reverse, her recent meal pressing ufortably

    against her stomach, making her feel nauseous, but the cold sweat breaking out on her back made it

    impossible to vomit.

    Andrew was torturing her on purpose, perhaps because she had sold Aubree¡¯s house or maybe

    because of the p she had given himst time. He was always one to hold a grudge, and she was

    sure he was looking for a chance to get back at her for that p.

    Brielle¡¯s face grew colder, but she maintained herposure. ¡°Andrew, are you trying to get us both

    killed?¡±

    ¡°Do you really think you¡¯re worth dying with me?¡± His tone was cool, his muscles tense, as he pushed

    the gas pedal to the floor again.

    Once the speed picked up, he mmed on the brakes. Even with her seatbelt fastened, Brielle felt her

    stomach churn with each jolt.

    ¡°Tell me where Aubree is, Brielle, and I¡¯ll let you go,¡± Andrew demanded again.

    Aubree wasn¡¯t answering her phone, so the only person who might know her whereabouts was Brielle.

    The thought that Brielle had sold Aubree¡¯s house without his permission sent Andrew into a panic. It

    was as if he was about to lose something vital.

    Brielle gripped the safety belt, closing her eyes to ease the dizziness. ¡°Aren¡¯t you about to marry

    Tessa?¡±

    With a sneer, Andrew sped up the car again. ¡°My marriage to Tessa won¡¯t affect what Aubree and I

    have. Tessa¡¯s not in good health.¡±

    Brielle found it both funny and bitterly ironic. So, he truly believed Aubree was just Tessa¡¯s recement

    when he needed to relieve himself?

    She closed her eyes, her face growing pale. The car continued at this insane speed until they were far

    outside the city.

    1/2

    11:13

    Chapter 642

    ¡°The moment you tell me where Aubree is, I¡¯ll let you go,¡± he said, pulling out his phone for her

    to see.

    Brielle saw the shing name. Max was calling, but Andrew didn¡¯t answer. He simply switched the

    phone to airne mode. His phone had anti¨Csurveince technology, so no one could track

    him.

    She knew he meant it. There was nothing Andrew wouldn¡¯t do, even if it meant killing her.

    ¡°You sure you want to y this game, Andrew? Tessa¡¯s probably still in the ER, and if she doesn¡¯t see

    you soon, who knows what kind of scene she¡¯ll make?¡±

    Her voice was calm, and her expression remainedposed even as the adrenaline from the high¨C

    speed drive lingered.

    Tessa was indeed still in surgery, and the situation was especially dire.

    Andrew just remembered he had left something at Aubree¡¯s ce. It had been days since he¡¯d seen

    her, so he decided to check her ce. What greeted him was a stranger ¨C a man he didn¡¯t recognize. A

    flurry of thoughts and a surge of anger overwhelmed him, like a knife slicing through his body.

    Was Aubree keeping other men on the side? How dare she?

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    He shoved the man aside, storming into the bedroom. The woman inside screamed, shaking with fear.

    It wasn¡¯t Aubree. Relief washed over Andrew, but before he could process it, the police were called,

    and he spent his morning at the station. It was only then he learned the house had been sold.

    That house was once his refuge afterte nights at work, where he would go to find Aubree. That was

    years ago, when he was hooked on Aubree¡¯s presence. The sounds of the wind, thunder, and rain

    outside, him pressing down on her inside ¨C it was a satisfaction like no other. In his mind, Aubree was

    always there, waiting for him. He never imagined the house would be sold one day.

 Chapter 643

    Chapter 643

    Andrew thought it was time to snuff out Brielle¡¯s life. He never dwelled on consequences¨Chis own

    satisfaction was paramount.

    He could even disregard that she belonged to Max. So what? To cross him was to court death.

    However, a nagging feeling told him that killing Brielle would provoke more than a p from Aubree.

    His hands gripped the steering wheel with a wild edge, and his brows knitted in fierce determination.

    ¡°Brielle, my business with Aubree is none of your concern. She¡¯s well aware that I n to marry Tessa.

    My heart has always been with Tessa.¡±

    *Andrew, did Aubree not tell you? The moment you marry Tessa, she¡¯ll step out of the picture. She¡¯s

    just getting an early start. Your wedding ising up soon, right? Tessa¡¯s relying on you more than

    ever. If you don¡¯t marry her, think of how pitiful she¡¯ll be.¡±

    Her face was lit up with a smile as the sunlight kissed one cheek.

    Suddenly, a chilling thought struck Andrew. Brielle wasn¡¯t looking forward to his marriage with Tessa;

    she was anticipating pushing him and Tessa into a living hell.

    That grave called marriage seemed to beckon him and Tessa to a point of no return.

    But why?

    He had never liked Brielle. He despised her even because he knew all too well how she had climbed

    the socialdder to Max¡¯s side through less¨Cthan¨Chonorable means. He had always looked down on

    such women, much like his disdain for Aubree.

    Women were all the same in his eyes. They either used their bodies to get ahead or threw around their

    beauty to seduce men.

    He¡¯d admit his treatment of Aubree over the years was far from kind. For him, she was nothing more

    than a convenient bed partner. She was a call away when he needed her, worth a stack of cash he

    would leave behind after using her. Everything was clean and uplicated.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Deep down, Andrew sensed that Aubree wanted more than this arrangement. And yet, all he could

    offer was just that.

    He was the heir to the Clements family and the CEO of Clements Corporation. He could hardly

    announce to the world his affair with his sister in all but blood. The moment that news leaked, Clements

    Corporation¡¯s shares would plummet.

    He¡¯d trampled Aubree¡¯s genuine feelings until they were numb, never caring for her pain. So what was

    he so angry and conflicted about now?

    He floored the elerator, continuing to torment Brielle. Pain began gnawing at Brielle¡¯s stomach, her

    difort growing.

    Behind them, several cars were in pursuit. She recognized one¨Cit was Max¡¯s. He had arrived

    But Andrew dicht stee, cushing the pedal to the metal His car was a custom sports car with the

    advantage of speed maintaining a tenuous distance between them.

    ¡°Andrew, are you pericing because Aubree wants to end things with you? You¡¯re even redecting

    Tessa¡¯s well¨Ccerg. It seems you¡¯re not that fond of Tessa after all.¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Andrew was turious, his breath uneven. He took a sharp turn, only to confront a roadwork

    sign ahead.

    The sports car¡¯s speed left no time for reaction, and the vehicle barreled past the sign. In a salt¨Csecond

    decision. Andrew varked the steering wheel narrowly avoiding a collision with an oing trud

    The car mmed into a roadside tree, crumpling the hood. Shards of the shattered windshield pierced

    Andrew¡¯s chest, while Brielle suffered only a minor cut to her arm.

    He breathed a sigh of relet, cong the car door open. Before he could react. Max had him by the cor,

    landing a heavy punch on his face.

    Andrew¡¯s teeth nearly rattled loose with the blow.

    Brielle, with only a scratch, ocened the now¨Cbroken car door and stepped out, clutching her injured

    arm. Wax saw the red on her limb and delivered a kick to Andrew¡¯s chest.

    an

    Sumounding drivers red stocked, all taking out their phones to capture the scene.

    Jaired and Patrick who were following close behind, sensed trouble. Patrick reached Brielle first,

    draping his jacket over her head. ¡°Ms. Brielle. please get in our car.¡±

    She nodded, aware that this scene would cause an uproar if it went viral.

    ss was embedded in Andrew¡¯s chest, and Max¡¯s punches had him teetering on the edge of

    Ife

    Jaired attempted to stop Max his expression grave. ¡°Brielle¡¯s fine, but Andrew¡¯s badly hurt. Do you

    went to kill him?¡±

    Max¡¯s expression was icy, but thoughts of Brielle made him stride back to his car.

    Jaired helbed Andrew off the ground, sighing at the smartphones poking out of car windows, knowing it

    was toote to stop the spread.

    ¡°Can you walk?¡± He supported Andrew, who clutched at his chest, each breath a stab of pain. Jaired

    ushered him into his car, urgently instructing the driver to head for the hospital. The ss shard

    couldn¡¯t wait. If Andrew died, all of Beaconsfield would be thrown into chaos.

 Chapter 644

    Chapter 644

    The ident had already been captured on camera by passing motorists.

    Max and Andrew¡¯s faces were familiar to anyone who flipped through the business section of the daily

    paper. They were celebrities in their own right, with Maxmanding even more attention than

    Hollywood¡¯s leading men.

    However, before the video could go viral, it was forcefully suppressed. It was pulled from the inte

    and remained unseen by the general public.

    Meanwhile, within the elite circles, rumors were spreading like wildfire.

    Max and Andrew hade to blows. It was not just a scuffle¨Cit was a brutal fight to the bitter end.

    At that moment, Brielle was sitting in Max¡¯s car, noticing the bloodstains on his knuckles beneath the

    coat he¡¯d worn since morning. She quickly reached for the first aid kit stashed under the seat.

    A chill seemed to radiate from Max, so Patrick tactfully lowered the privacy screen.

    Brielle knew that her and Andrew¡¯s near¨Cmiss with the truck had shaken Max. It had scared her, too, to

    the point where she thought she and Andrew might¡¯ve actually died.

    She took out the first aid kit and gently cleaned the blood from his knuckles with a cotton swab. He just

    had a scratch from the ss, thankfully not too deep. As she was about to blow on the wound, Max

    took the swab and started to remove her jacket.

    ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± he said, his voice icy.

    Brielle shivered. ¡°I¡¯m really okay, it doesn¡¯t hurt.¡±

    Although it was a minor cut, it was still bleeding. It hadn¡¯t hurt at first, but under Max¡¯s intense gaze,

    she became acutely aware of the pain.

    The car pulled up at the hospital, with Jaired¡¯s vehicle not far behind. There was no interaction between

    them.

    Max led Brielle to the ER without so much as a sideways nce.

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    Her arm throbbed, her stomach ached, and the violent car surge left her head buzzing.

    ¡°A mild concussion, nothing serious. The cut just needs to be disinfected,¡± the doctor said after a brief

    examination.

    After treating Brielle¡¯s wound and warning her to keep it dry, the doctor was ready to send her on her

    way, but Max insisted she stay at the hospital for observation for a couple of days, concerned about

    potentialplications from the concussion. Brielle had no choice but to

    agree.

    Meanwhile, in the operating room down the hall, the surgeons had sessfully removed the

    11:13

    Chapter 044

    ss shards from Andrew¡¯s chest.

    Lucky guy.¡± they remarked with ¡°If it had been just a tad off, it would¡¯ve pierced his heart.

    Indeed, he was lucky.

    a sigh of relief.

    When Andrew regained consciousness, he was surrounded by the Clements family members, all

    wearing grim expressions. It was obvious to everyone that this brawl with Max was serious. Both sides

    definitely needed to sit down and hash it out. Andrew¡¯s injury wasn¡¯t exactly a scratch, while Max

    appeared to be in the pink of health. No matter which way you cut it, Andrew seemed to have drawn

    the short end of the stick.

    The chatter from Andrew¡¯s rtives was giving him a headache. ¡°I need to rest,¡± he grumbled.

    Marissa ushered the others out, leaving them alone.

    ¡°Is Tessa here?¡± he asked once they¡¯d left.

    Marissa¡¯s expression soured. ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s here. Crying to see you and causing a scene.¡±

    Andrew, annoyed by her sardonic tone, chided her. ¡°Mom, you used to be so good to her. Why the

    sudden change?¡±

    Before Marissa could reply, the door swung open, and Tessa appeared, looking pitiful with swollen

    eyes. ¡°Andrew,¡± she gasped, clutching his hand as if it took all her strength.

    Her reaction was genuine. She was devastated remembering how Andrew had instinctively protected

    Aubree, the woman she loathed.

    ¡°Stop crying,¡± Andrew said, his frown deepening.

    Marissa, tired of their melodrama, got up to leave. ¡°The wedding is set for next week. Your grandfather

    and Michael are already dealing with the situation between you and Max. We need a bigger story to

    distract the public. It¡¯s the perfect time to announce your marriage. The Rond family¡¯s reputation

    might be shaky, but our PR will spin you as the devoted fianc¨¦. It¡¯ll shield us from bacsh. Get ready.¡±

    She paused, turning to Tessa with a pointed look. ¡°I¡¯ve kept my word. Make sure you keep yours.¡±

    Tessa¡¯s grip tightened, feeling faint from frustration and anger. She began to cough, dabbing her mouth

    with a tissue that quickly spotted with blood. Her body was too frail, and she was far from epting it.

    She made sure Andrew saw the blood, her voice tinged with desperation. ¡°Andrew, do you agree?

    Shall we get married next week? Marissa is about to release the news. Is that okay?¡±

 Chapter 645

    Chapter 645

    Andrew¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he eyed the stark red ink on the pristine tissue. He squinted, almost

    wishing Max would knock him out cold so he wouldn¡¯t have to face such a dilemma.

    And something about Marissa¡¯s demeanor seemed off. If she was so repulsed, why hadn¡¯t she put a

    stop to this wedding? Wasn¡¯t she always so concerned about the Clements family¡¯s reputation?

    Andrew just couldn¡¯t figure it out. Moreover, he couldn¡¯t find any excuse to turn down Tessa. Wasn¡¯t this

    marriage what he had been aiming for all along?

    He dropped his gaze, trying to ignore the twinge of pain in his heart. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Ecstasy flitted across Tessa¡¯s eyes as she pressed her pale lips together. ¡°I¡¯ll cooperate with the doctor

    and get well soon, Andrew. How about we go pick out a wedding dress in a few days?¡±

    Andrew¡¯s irritation grew, but then he thought, if he were to get married, Aubree mighte back, right?

    With a firm answer from Andrew, Tessa left the hospital room on cloud nine. As she passed by Brielle¡¯s

    room, she paused, tempted to go in and gloat. However, before she could step in, the sight of the man

    standing by the window sucked the bravado right out of her.

    She thought about retreating, but it was toote. Brielle had seen her, and so had Max, his brow

    furrowed.

    Tessa¡¯s face paled even further. ¡°Andrew and I are getting married next week. We¡¯ll send you an

    invitation.¡±

    Her words weren¡¯t meant for Brielle¨Cthey were aimed at Max.

    ¡°Max, you¡¯lle, won¡¯t you?¡±

    Max¡¯s expression darkened. He was about to speak when Brielle cut in. ¡°How do you know the

    wedding will even happen? Do you know why Andrew got hurt? He was pushing me for Aubree¡¯s

    whereabouts, He¡¯s hunting her down like a rabid dog. I doubt he truly wants to marry you.¡±

    Tessa¡¯s carefully crafted fa?ade shattered, her face twisting as she stared at Brielle.

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    Brielle remained serene, her eyes untroubled. Tessa knew that if she stayed, she¡¯d be the one losing

    her cool. She was going to marry Andrew anyway. Brielle¡¯s words must¡¯ve been out of desperation.

    That bitch could see just how blissful she and Andrew would be. Tessa scoffed and turned on her heel.

    Once she was gone, Brielle pressed her lips together and fell silent. Max closed the door, shutting out

    any further unpleasantness.

    Brielle¡¯s phone rang¨CIt was John.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, we thought we¡¯d be here for two months for the shoot, but there are only a few usable

    locations. I¡¯ve thought it over, and I¡¯d rather shoot at my old stomping ground. You¡¯ve been there. It¡¯s

    the perfect mix of cityscape and back alleys, a stark contrast. As for the small¨Ctown scenes, we¡¯ve got

    a few segments that work, so I¡¯m here asking for permission to head back tomorrow.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s heart skipped. This development caught her off guard, her irritation ring, but she couldn¡¯t

    really force John to stay.

    Rubbing her temples, she sighed. ¡°Have the phones been distributed yet?¡±

    They all had signed NDAS, and their phones were confiscated.

    ¡°Not yet. We¡¯ll hand them out after the shoot.¡±

    Brielle was about to breathe a sigh of relief when John¡¯s tone shifted. ¡°However, Miss Aubree took her

    phone. I didn¡¯t stop her. You said she¡¯s a friend, and she assured me

    she¡¯d fulfill her duties.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s heart sank. No smile could be coaxed forth now, and she simply agreed to their

    return.

    Max¡¯s phone buzzed too¨Cit was Michael.

    The mess he and Andrew had created needed a solution. Otherwise, the entire social

    circle would think the families were at odds.

    ¡°Max,e back for a bit.¡±

    At the Dorsey family estate, not only Dorsey folks were present, but Clements elders too. Both parties

    had been negotiating politely for over ten minutes.

    Michael had made concessions, and they decided to announce a big joint venture after the Clements

    family released news of the wedding. This would quell any rumors of a rift. between the families.

    The Dorsey and Clements families had too much shared history to resort to public mud¨Cslinging.

    In less than twenty minutes, the talks concluded. The butler courteously escorted the Clements guests

    out, only to return to find Michael smashing a ss in anger.

    ¡°Damn fool!¡±

    In all the years, Michael had used those words for others in the Dorsey n but never for Max. Now,

    his chest heaved with fury, a testament to his rage.

    The butler hurried over with a sedative, only to have it pped away.

    Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

 Chapter 646

    Chapter 646

    In the hospital, Brielle watched as Max¡¯s expression darkened after he took a call. She suspected it had

    something to do with the Dorsey and Clements families.

    The incident had been witnessed by too many, and although Michael had managed to suppress the

    news, the word had definitely spread within their circles. The bad publicity meant the two families would

    have to sit down and hash things out.

    ¡°Max, maybe keep your hands to yourself next time.¡±

    Those punches he had thrown at Andrew had even hurt her to watch. Andrew hadn¡¯t been knocked out

    by the ss shards but had nearly been floored by Max¡¯s fists. Though, if she was being honest, it had

    felt pretty satisfying. After all, she had long wanted to give Andrew a piece of her mind.

    Tessa¡¯s audacity to treat Aubree that way was a direct result of Andrew¡¯s years of indulgence. Why

    could he still live so carefree?

    Max sat at the edge of her hospital bed with a light chuckle, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±

    How could it be nothing? Michael already wasn¡¯t fond of her, and now he probably detested her

    completely.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going back to the Dorseys?¡±

    ¡°No need. Whatever they had to discuss, they¡¯ve surely sorted it out by now.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to stay in the hospital.¡±

    Brielle tugged gently at his shirt, looking up at him, ¡°I¡¯m really okay. Can we just go home. tonight?¡±

    Just the thought of Andrew and Tessa being in the same hospital made her feel nauseated.

    Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

    2

    Max remained unmoved, sitting by her bedside, ¡°We¡¯ll leave in the morning.¡±

    That was as much of apromise as he was willing to make. Brielle sighed, resigned, ¡°Okay.¡±

    Meanwhile, Tessa was fighting the urge to vomit blood in another room. She reyed the video of

    Aubree, finding relief as she watched her pitiful state and tears. She had promised Marissa not to leak

    the video, but she hadn¡¯t said anything about not sending it directly to Aubree herself.

    Did Aubree know she was being filmed? Did she know the video was now in Tessa¡¯s hands? If she

    didn¡¯t, the video would probably drive her insane.

    Tessa¡¯s mood lifted, her lips curving into a smile as she felt less pain in her body. She tapped on

    Aubree¡¯s contact and sent the video. [Bitch, look at how all these men fucked you. And just so you

    know, Andrew and I are getting married soon.]

    After sending that, still feeling unsatisfied, she sent another message. [Oh, and your probably don¡¯t

    know, but today, Andrew nearly killed Brielle.]

    Having sent those messages, Tessa finally felt a bit of relief from the pent¨Cup rage.

    Coughing and clutching her chest, shey back on the bed, exhausted from the recent turmoil. All she

    needed was for Andrew to marry her. Then, she could survive anything.

    She closed her eyes.

    Elsewhere, Aubree and her crew were packing up for the night. They were about to shoot thest

    scene, where she had to embrace Ricardo.

    In this movie, they were siblings living at the bottom of society. The word ¡®siblings¡® instantly reminded

    her of her rtionship with Andrew, making her stomach churn.

    Ricardo noticed her difort and patted her back. ¡°Aubree, you need a break?¡±

    Aubree didn¡¯t feel the usual aversion towards Ricardo, probably because he had seen her at her worst.

    There was no need to pretend.

    She shook her head, pushing through thest scene before stepping away to vomit out of sight. She

    had lost count of how many times she had thrown up recently. The presence of strange men triggered

    her body to react.

    Ricardo came over with a bottle of water and handed it to her as he noticed her significant weight loss.

    ¡°We¡¯re heading back to Beaconsfield tomorrow, Aubree. Maybe you should see a therapist.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay

    Aubree rinsed her mouth and wiped her tears, then her phone buzzed. Only she and John had phones

    on set. The rest were turned in.

    She picked up the phone and saw Tessa¡¯s messages. As she watched the video, reliving the ordeal,

    the men¡¯s insults, her own terror, she thought she¡¯d scream or be too sick to sleep.

    But she was calm..

    Ricardo leaned in to peek and frowned. He didn¡¯t like the catty drama between women. He reached for

    her phone to delete the video.

    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Aubree said, her voice hoarse. She closed her eyes and opened the second message, feeling

    anger ignite within her.

    Taking a deep breath, she dialed Brielle¡¯s number. Was Brielle hurt because of Andrew?

 Chapter 647

    Chapter 647

    Brielle wasn¡¯t at all surprised when her phone lit up with Aubree¡¯s name. Thest thing she wanted was

    for Aubree to bring up Andrew and Tessa¡¯s wedding.

    ¡°Bri, are you hurt?¡±

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    Brielle was taken aback. She hadn¡¯t told anyone about her injury, and it wasn¡¯t circting online. How

    did Aubree find out?

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡®Did Andrew do it?¡±

    Brielle really wanted to downy it, to say it was just a minor concussion, something a couple of days¡®

    rest could fix. But suddenly, she felt a pang of cunning. She didn¡¯t want to exin. Maybe this would

    push Aubree to distance herself from Andrew. Between her safety and her love for Andrew, Aubree

    would surely choose the former..

    ¡°Yeah, Aubree, youing back?¡±

    The turmoil in Aubree¡¯s eyes roiled like a stormy sea upon hearing Brielle¡¯s confirmation. She wished

    she could teleport back to Beaconsfield.

    Those assholes!

    Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Aubree replied, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll be back by morning to see you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be at the Premier Pce tomorrow. You focus on your shoot. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡±

    After a few more exchanges, Brielle hung up, still concerned about Aubree¡¯s mental state. With the

    news of Andrew¡¯s marriage spreading online, Aubree likely knew about it, but she showed no reaction.

    Brielle breathed a sigh of relief. She put down the phone just as the bathroom door in the private

    hospital room swung open, and Max emerged. The room was a luxury suite,plete with a small

    kitchte but only one bed.

    Brielle noticed Max¡¯s phone had been ringing off the hook, but he hadn¡¯t picked up once. His hair was

    damp as he sat on the edge of the bed.

    It waste, eleven at night, time to sleep, but thoughts of Aubree¡¯s return kept Brielle awake. Plus,

    Michael had been pressuring Max to return to the family estate, adding to her restlessness.

    She snuggled into bed beside him, finding sce in his arms, and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Is Michael

    trying to rece you because of the fight?¡± As the heir to the Dorsey family, his public outburst was a

    disgrace. Worrying about both Aubree and Max made Brielle feel like her heart was being fried.

    Max, In his pajamas, patted her back soothingly. ¡°I hold fifty¨Cone percent of Dorsey International¡¯s

    shares. No one can rece me.¡±

    But Brielle¡¯s unease persisted, sensing Michael had something up his sleeve.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Sleep,¡± Max murmured, kissing her forehead.

    Brielle¡¯s anxiety was amplified, and she suddenly propped herself up on hisp. ¡°Max, you¡¯re not going

    to break up with me, are you?¡±

    Max¡¯s voice turned hoarse. They¡¯d been too busy for sextely, and her move had ignited a fire within

    him. He closed his eyes, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing. ¡°No, I¡¯ll go to the estate tomorrow and have a talk

    with my father.¡±

    Relieved, Brielley back down on his chest. ¡°I can¡¯t think of what Michael would do to you, so I¡¯m

    worried.¡±

    Darkness flickered in Max¡¯s eyes, his fingertips tracing her waist. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Finally feeling sleepy, Brielle slid down beside him, her worries easing. She thought they¡¯d return to

    Premier Pce together the next day, but when she awoke, Max was gone.

    Patrick was waiting to take her back.

    When she arrived in Premier Pce, she tried to call Max, but he didn¡¯t answer.

    Sensing her concern, Patrick offered her a book. ¡°Ms. Brielle, the CEO will be back soon.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s mind wasn¡¯t on reading. Then her phone rang. Aubree had arrived in Beaconsfield. Their crew

    had taken up residence in the same run¨Cdown neighborhood John used to live in. They had rented

    several clean, spacious rooms.

    She texted Max about visiting Aubree, but he didn¡¯t look at his vibrating phone.

    In front of Max was his father, practicing his calligraphy in silence, a priceless painting hanging behind.

    The study, crafted from solid wood and furnished with Michael¡¯s favorite pearwood chairs, was filled

    with the faint scent of coffee.

    Neither spoke, a silent contest of patience.

    Seasoned in life¡¯s battles, Michael continued to write with a steady, forceful hand, as ruthless as his

    business tactics. Brielle had been right. Under Michael, the Dorsey family had seen many

    disappearances. He was the most ruthless of them all.

    Max might have been sharp in business, but he had never turned his hands against his

    own family. In certain situations, Michael might have lost his conscience, and Max simply disdained

    petty fights.

 Chapter 648

    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¨Ccold. ¡°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 ¨C 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.

    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    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.

 Chapter 649

    Chapter 649

    Patrick furrowed his brow as he noticed the shift in thepany¡¯s staff¨Cfrom their initial coldness to a

    growing eptance of her, and now, to outright praise. It unsettled him.

    Max¡¯s phone rang shortly after. It was a call from his former mentor at Harvard, who mentioned the new

    secretary. She was the professor¡¯s goddaughter, Annie.

    Max had been well¨Clooked after by the professor during his time at Harvard, so he didn¡¯t decline the

    implied request. Max had thought Michael¡¯s move to be a minor y, but it turned out to be a significant

    one¨CAnnie was his professor¡¯s goddaughter.

    Rubbing his temples, Max recognized this as a hot potato he didn¡¯t want to handle.

    Annie knocked and entered, cing the documents on the desk. ¡°Hello.¡±

    There was a respectful tone in her voice, her gaze demure, ¡°These are from my godfather. I just got

    back to the States this morning and have already met with Michael. I didn¡¯t expect to be ced here,

    but it came up in conversation with my godfather.¡±

    Her tone was casual, her every move exuding the essence of Brielle.

    Max tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, not responding. Initially, he had intended to assign Annie

    some minor tasks to keep her away from his office. However, the professor requested that Max allow

    Annie to gain experience under him as she intended to teach at Harvard and take over his position.

    She hadpleted her Master¡¯s degree, and this was her first doctoral project¨Ca test of her abilities.

    Max pieced together Annie¡¯s background between the lines of the professor¡¯s words. She had been

    abandoned by her parents as a child, and was taken in by the professor. He had supported her

    education and living expenses all the way to university. He had not only adopted her as his daughter

    but had also made her his prot¨¦g¨¦e.

    Neither spoke for a moment.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to feel pressured,¡± Annie finally said. ¡°My godfather sent me to learn from you and to

    complete my doctoral project. If it inconveniences you, I¡¯ll let him know myself.¡±

    ¡°It won¡¯t be a hassle. Your workstation is outside. If you have any questions, feel free to ask others.¡±

    Max¡¯s face remained expressionless, his demeanor cool and detached.

    Annie paused, then nodded, ¡°Thank you.¡± With that, she turned and left.

    Patrick walked in just as she exited, their shoulders nearly brushing. The resemnce¨Cher featur¨¦s,

    poise, and aura¨Cwere too simr to Ms. Brielle¡¯s.

    Shutting the office door behind him, Patrick approached Max, shuffling through some files, hesitating to

    speak. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, do you think we should tell Ms. Brielle about this?¡±

    1/2

    Annie¡¯s arrival was too coincidental. Michael¡¯s directive, coupled with the personal entreaty from Max¡¯s

    former Harvard mentor, meant that Max couldn¡¯t simply send Annie away on some pretext.

    ¡°No need.¡± Max didn¡¯t see the need to discuss such matters. There was only one Brielle.

    Brielle had nned to visit Aubree today. She was passing by Dorsey International and hadn¡¯t intended

    to go in, but a message from a former colleague caught her attention.

    (One Sydney was reced by another, even more high¨Cprofile Sydney¨CMs. Haywood, when are you

    coming back?]

    A higher¨Cprofile Sydney? Brielle¡¯s brow creased, and then she received a photo from her colleague.

    The woman in the photo was backlit, her face obscured. If Brielle didn¡¯t know better, she¡¯d think it was a

    candid shot of herself.

    [She has already cozied up to the top brass, sharingughs with Patrick. Apparently, she¡¯s the

    goddaughter of Mr. Dorsey¡¯s mentor from Harvard. Her tactics are something else. The execs can¡¯t

    stop singing her praises.]

    No woman liked to see someone who looked like her near her boyfriend.

    Brielle felt her premonition hade true. Michael had indeed prepared a major y. It wasn¡¯t an

    immediate assault on her rtionship with Max but a more subtle approach. But if she reacted now,

    rushing to Dorsey International to investigate, she¡¯d be conceding defeat without a fight.

    Brielle guessed that Michael had deliberately ced this woman in Dorsey International, likely having

    already made arrangements with Alivia. After all, Alivia was the Dorsey family¡¯s favored daughter¨Cin¨C

    law candidate. Michael had promised Alivia benefits before. and likely offered more this time to keep

    her happy.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Alivia had to do nothing now but sweetly ept Michael¡¯s ns, curry favor with Martha, and watch as

    Brielle and Annie battled it out. If Brielle and Max¡¯s rtionship suffered because of Annie, Alivia would

    reap the benefits of their strife.

    Brielle¡¯s rational mind prevailed, but she couldn¡¯t help feeling a surge of irritation.

 Chapter 650

    Chapter 650

    She felt the wound on her arm twinge again. It had been hastily bandaged, but the news she received

    first thing in the morning soured her mood. Still, she didn¡¯t head into Dorsey International, opting

    instead to call Max.

    At that moment, Max was in the middle of a meeting, with Annie and Patrick standing just behind him.

    One was an assistant and the other a secretary. Both were there to keep a pulse on his schedule.

    When Brielle¡¯s personalized ringtone sounded, the frost in Max¡¯s brows softened, a hint of warmth

    flickering in his eyes. He gestured for a pause in the meeting and stepped out onto a small balcony with

    his phone in hand.

    The executives refrained from gossip, instead whispering among themselves about the current project.

    Annie nced curiously at Max¡¯s retreating figure, unable to resist asking Patrick, ¡°Who¡¯s Max on the

    phone with?¡±

    Patrick¡¯s expression remained unchanged, his response strictly professional, ¡°It¡¯s the Mr. Dorsey¡¯s

    girlfriend.¡±

    He didn¡¯t know whether Michael had given Annie any special assignments or if she was just that good

    at ying her role so far, she hadn¡¯t slipped up

    ¡°Max has a girlfriend now?¡± Surprise flickered in Annie¡¯s eyes, followed by a light chuckle, ¡°That

    exins it.¡±

    Max was only away for a few minutes. When he returned, his face was once again a mask of

    indifference, and he signaled for the executives to continue their reports.

    Annie saw Max reach for a document and moved forward respectfully to help him. Max had never

    interacted with Patrick in such a manner during a meeting, so he was taken aback when her hand

    brushed against his. Their hands met awkwardly as both reached for the same paper.

    Annie quickly withdrew her hand. ¡°I apologize, Max. I was out of line.¡±

    If it had been any other woman, such close contact with Max would have surely elicited excitement. But

    Annie¡¯s reaction was calm, an idental touch, nothing more.

    Annie and Brielle were too simr. Even the other executives at the table were momentarily taken

    aback. This new assistant bore an uncanny resemnce to Brielle.

    Max¡¯s expression darkened, feeling as if the skin Annie touched was now tainted. In the silence, a

    disinfectant wipe was offered to him. Annie¡¯s demeanor was still respectful. ¡°I¡¯ve heard you¡¯re a bit of a

    germaphobe, Max. I¡¯m sorry for that, and I¡¯ll be more careful

    next time.¡±

    With her apology so inly stated, what could Max say In response? He frowned but didn¡¯t take the

    wipe, instead allowing the executives to continue their report.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    When he didn¡¯t ept it, Annie tossed the disinfectant wipe into the nearby trash can and resumed her

    position behind him.

    After the meeting, Max retreated to his office and meticulously cleaned his hands with disinfectant

    wipes.

    Patrick watched from the side, feeling a bit queasy himself. But the truth was, Annie hadn¡¯t done

    anything wrong, so there was no ground for reprimand. She was simply performing her secretarial

    duties with due diligence.

    As Max almost scrubbed his hand raw, Patrick cautiously interjected, ¡°The project team is waiting for

    the afternoon files. They need your signature.¡±

    Max paused his cleaning and opened the nearby folder with a heavy brow. Once he finished reviewing

    the documents, the HR Director walked in to report on this quarter¡¯s personnel movements. But as

    soon as he opened the door, the chill inside made him. shiver. With no choice but to enter, he braced

    himself and stepped in.

    The HR Director was among the first to know about Max and Brielle¡¯s rtionship, often seizing

    opportunities to sing Brielle¡¯s praises in front of Max. As someone skilled in interpersonal dealings, his

    insights were sharper than a sieve.

    He caught sight of the iris flower at theChapter 641 end of the scarf around Max¡¯s neck and quickly

    offered a smile, asking, ¡°Where did you get that scarf? My wife tasked me with buying her a scarf as a

    gift, but she hasn¡¯t been pleased with any of my choices. Do you know if the women¡¯s version of your

    scarf is also sold?¡±

    Patrick overheard from the side and thought to himself, ¡°Clever as always, old fox!¡±

    Sure enough, the gloomy cloud on Max¡¯s face broke, a smile shining through. ¡°They don¡¯t

    sell these in stores.¡±

    His voice was filled with tenderness. He had the scarf washed and cared for daily. With spring on the

    horizon, it seemed he would be wearing it for some time toe.

    ¡°So someone made it for you? They must be quite the craftsperson.¡±

    With a subtle turn of phrase, the HR Director steered thepliment back to Brielle.

 Chapter 651

    Chapter 651

    The somber mood that had enveloped the office dissipated in an instant, reced by a warmth akin to

    an early spring day in March.

    Max looked up, catching the gaze of the senior executive who had just walked in. The HR Director

    started to detail the tasks ahead with businesslike precision. Once the official matters were wrapped

    up, heplimented the scarf again. Thepliment lingered in the air as he left, leaving behind an

    ambiance as balmy as a spring breeze.

    Patrick had been standing right beside Max the whole time, silently taking mental notes of the cunning

    the old fox wielded. It was no wonder this man had managed to keep his seat as Director for so long.

    Even at an age where most were considering retirement, Max hadn¡¯t suggested he step down.

    Beyond his evident skill, the man was truly a master of diplomacy and charm.

    Patrick breathed a sigh of relief. Regardless of the events, Max was in good spirits now, and the

    morning¡¯s oppressive atmosphere, which had nearly crushed him, had lifted. He had been on the verge

    of calling Brielle for backup, but remembering Max¡¯s directive to keep this issue from her, he decided

    against it. Little did he know, Brielle¡¯s former colleague had already filled her in on the situation.

    At the moment, Brielle was feeling anything but cheerful as she drove to the neighborhood where John

    had lived. She made her way down the alley and up to John¡¯s residence.

    The crew was already hard at work, but Aubree was nowhere to be seen. She quickly sought out John

    to inquire about Aubree¡¯s whereabouts

    ¡°Aubree¡¯s not scheduled on set today, so I told her to rest up at the hotel,¡± John exined. ¡°We¡¯ve just

    got back, and the ce needs a good clean. She hasn¡¯t been feeling welltely, and I didn¡¯t want to

    force her to stay here. Seems like shees from a well¨Coff family. She booked a room at the hotel.

    Ricardo¡¯s looking after her now.¡±

    Neither of the lead actors were needed on set that day. Aubree had intended toe and observe, but

    memories of that horrible night in Beaconsfield had resurfaced unbidden, leaving her pale and

    nauseous all morning.

    John had been on the verge of calling an ambnce when Ricardo intervened, insisting he¡¯d take

    Aubree to the hotel to rest.

    John, a seasoned director, knew the entertainment industry was a tumultuous sea, but Ricardo seemed

    too pristine, hardly the type to take advantage of someone vulnerable. Given that Aubree appeared

    comfortable with Ricardo, John didn¡¯t press the issue and let them be with a wave of his hand.

    Brielle hurriedly dialed Ricardo, but his phoney on the table in the hotel bathroom, vibrating silently

    alongside Aubree¡¯s phone. Aubree retched over the sink.

    Aubree, maybe I should call a therapist for you,¡± Ricardo suggested with a frown.

    ¡°No!¡± Aubree protested, her face ashen, her stomach in knots. She had tried to forget that night, but it

    was impossible. Returning to Beaconsfield had made her unwell, and she struggled against the waves

    of nausea.

    Both Ricardo and Aubree¡¯s phones were unanswered, leaving Brielle worried. Even thought she was

    confident that Aubree would be safe with Ricardo by her side, she couldn¡¯t help but fret about Andrew,

    that mad dog on the lookout for Aubree. If he learned where Aubree was staying, chaos would

    undoubtedly ensue.

    In a dark wish, Brielle hoped Andrew¡¯s wounds would be infected, leaving him too weak to cause

    any trouble.N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    Back in the hotel room, Aubree sat slumped on the edge of the bathtub, her face a pallid. mask of

    difort. Ricardo squatted before her, his gaze intense and earnest. Suddenly, he made an

    unexpected offer. ¡°Aubree, should I take care of Tessa for you?¡± he asked seriously.

    Aubree thought he was joking and chuckled weakly.

    But Ricardo was dead serious, his usual fee for such a task forgotten. ¡°Do you want me to, Aubree?¡±

    His clean¨Ccut demeanor made his casual mention of murder all the more jarring, yet somehow not out

    of ce. He was reminiscent of a figure from Greek mythology, the youth who died clutching a

    narcissus flower, destined to be radiant yet tainted by shadows.

    This mythological character was well¨Cliked because his innocence was genuine, as was his

    ruthlessness. He could be anyone in the world but could never truly be himself.

    Aubree closed her eyes, the acid sting of tears eased by his unsettling proposition. She had booked a

    suite in the hotel, a spacious sanctuary from her turmoil. Clutching her stomach, she moved to the

    couch and copsed into it, her face as white as linen.

    Ricardo pondered for a moment before digging out some antacids and fetching a ss of water, setting

    them beside her.

    Aubree didn¡¯t particrly enjoy Ricardo¡¯spany, especially after he and Brielle had identally

    witnessed her in thatpromising situation. His presence was too pristine. The cleaner he seemed,

    the dirtier she felt about herself. Her shame seeped into her bones, a stain no amount of scrubbing

    could remove.

    Her eyes reddened, and she covered them with her hand.

    Ricardo called for some takeout. ¡°Have some soup. It¡¯ll help settle your stomach,¡± he said as he busied

    himself with the curtains, letting the sunlight flood the room. He sat near the window, absently twirling a

    fruit knife between his fingers, his silhouette framed by the light.

    2/3

    Chapter 651

    Aubree¡¯s face was still an unhealthy shade of white. She watched the glinting de dance through his

    nimble movements and couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow at the incongruous sight.

 Chapter 652

    Chapter 652

    Ricardo¡¯s skin was a healthy, creamy white, like the most pristine and outstanding teenager you¡¯d

    bump into on a college campus, someone who just naturally stood out from the crowd.

    Noticing Aubree looking at him, he paused his movements and shed her a smile. ¡°Does your

    stomach still hurt?¡±

    Aubree felt a bit better, and as her phone started ringing, she tried to reach for it. Shecked enough

    strength, slid off the couch, and hit her head on the coffee table, wincing at the sharp pain.

    Ricardo got up and came over to help her back up. Dazed from the bump, Aubree looked up at him

    with blurry eyes.

    It was at that moment that the room¡¯s door swung open. Andrew stood there, nked by the hotel

    manager. His pupils shrank as he took in the sight of the two tangled on the couch. ¡°What the hell are

    you doing?¡±

    Aubree stiffened, the dizziness in her head vanished instantly, leaving her heart feeling like it had been

    shed open. Her face drained of itsst bit of color.

    As if he hadn¡¯t heard a thing, Ricardo continued to help her up and guided her back to the couch.

    The lobby manager outside witnessed the awkward scene and quickly made his escape. He wasn¡¯t

    blind. He could tell this was a lover¡¯s quarrel gone wrong.

    Andrew was radiating fury, his chest aching and tingling as if thousands of insects were biting him. The

    pain was so intense he couldn¡¯t even think straight.

    How could this happen?

    He had been searching for Aubree for days, and upon learning that her information had shown up at a

    Dorsey International hotel, he came straight from the hospital. He thought Aubree woulde to find

    him as soon as she returned to Beaconsfield.

    They hadn¡¯t had sex for a while; she must have missed him. She always couldn¡¯t stay away from him. It

    must have been the same this time. She knew Andrew was getting married and hurried back.

    Andrew couldn¡¯t contain his excitement on his way here, but he had never expected to open the door to

    this scene. Aubree was pinned down by a young guy, staring at him with a dazed and willing

    expression. It was clear as day ¨C a picture of mutual desire.

    Andrew¡¯s heart felt like it had been pierced, panic and rage coursing through him uncontrobly. He

    strode forward and yanked Ricardo away.

    ¡°Aubree!¡± Andrew¡¯s grip tightened in her hair, his eyes red with anger. ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡±

    12

    12:09

    How could she stay with another man behind his back!

    This bitch!

    Andrew felt a humiliation like never before, a foreign emotion that pricked his entire being.

    He wanted to strangle her right there. But before he couldy a hand on her, his cheek. stung from a

    blow.

    Aubree was barely able to stand. She trembled and red at him as if he was some kind. of natural

    disaster.

    Andrew touched his cheek, puzzled. It didn¡¯t hurt, but he

    heart was in sharp pain. He couldn¡¯t understand this feeling, only that Aubree¡¯s actions had infuriated

    him.

    Exactly, Aubree found another man behind his back, and he caught her red¨Chanded. Had she been

    hooking up with someone else for thest two days? His tongue licked at his cheek, tasting the

    bitterness of blood, and he let out a coldugh.

    Aubree was shaking all over, retreating from his approach, backing away like a cornered animal.

    Help. She wanted to flee from here, to go anywhere but where Andrew was.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Tears welled up and spilled over as she looked at Ricardo as if pleading for rescue.

    Andrew noticed her gaze had shifted from him, his heart skipping a beat. Uncontrobly, almost

    panicking, he reached out for her.

    ¡°Aubree, you-¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡±

    Aubree backed away, falling clumsily to the floor. The water from the coffee table spilled over her chest,

    but she was oblivious to it and just kept retreating further, wanting to get as far from Andrew as

    possible.

    Andrew stood frozen as if struck by a spell. He had never felt this way before. It was as if he¡¯d been

    pped a dozen times or like a giant hand had clutched his heart.

    He realized something was wrong with him, as he shouldn¡¯t have been that angry. It was, just Aubree

    with another man. Wasn¡¯t he tired of her anyway?

    However, he felt as if his bones were being crushed, the pain making his eyes redden.

 Chapter 653

    Chapter 653

    Aubree was like a wounded animal, desperately distancing herself from Andrew, clutching at Ricardo¡¯s

    jeans as if begging for refuge. Her reason had fled, and all she sought was a ce to hide.

    Ricardo was indifferent to the tangled mess between the two. In fact, he should have relished their

    agony. He was far from a savior. However, he crouched down, grabbed a tissue from a nearby table,

    and gently wiped the tears from Aubree¡¯s cheeks.

    Her tears were relentless, like a broken faucet that couldn¡¯t be turned off. Ricardo frowned, looking at

    Andrew. He was about to speak, but Aubree wrapped her arms around his waist and buried herself into

    his embrace.

    Ricardo¡¯s expression darkened instantly, the switchde in his sleeve twitching with anticipation. This

    was ufortable.

    Suppressing the urge tosh out, he took a deep breath and offered Andrew a mocking smile, but to

    Andrew, that smile was a challenge. Thest shred of Andrew¡¯sposure vanished, and in a rage, he

    grabbed Aubree¡¯s hair and pinned her down on the couch.

    ¡°Aubree, have you lost your damn mind?!¡± he bellowed. ¡°Are you freaking crazy?!¡±

    She had thrown herself at another man right in front of him.

    Aubree¡¯s head hit the couch hard, dizziness swirling within her, and nausea rising up again.

    Andrew¡¯s next words hit her like a stun gun. ¡°You¡¯re so desperate, huh? Will anyone do? How slutty can

    you

    be?¡±

    Aubree bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. She had no energy to struggle, just like that day.

    After fighting back, all that remained was numbness.

    The buttons on her blouse were torn open, and Andrew¡¯s teeth sunk into her skin. ¡°You¡¯ve been mine

    for years. How could you go to someone else? It¡¯s disgusting, isn¡¯t it?!¡±

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    Suddenly, a ss bottle shattered over Andrew¡¯s head. Ricardo had let go of the bottle, now looking

    with a furrowed brow as blood streamed from Andrew¡¯s scalp.

    Andrew stiffened, nearly passing out from the pain. Regardless, he managed to kiss Aubree forcefully.

    Aubree didn¡¯t respond with a smile as she used to. Instead, she just cried harder.

    Minutes dragged by and the pain coursing through Andrew¡¯s body remained relentless. How he

    yearned for the sce he once found in her passionate cries, calling out his name uncontrobly.

    Whenever she did, the pain would ebbed away, if only a little.

    He closed his eyes, releasing her mouth. ¡°Tell your lover to get lost!¡±

    Ricardo stood behind them, a headache brewing. He truly believed Andrew had a death wish, Was a

    woman¡¯s allure worth all this fuss? After that hit, Andrew must¡¯ve not been thinking straight, but he was

    still forcing kisses on Aubree.

    Ricardo pulled out his phone, saw a call from Brielle, and breathed a sigh of relief. He approached

    Andrew and grabbed his cor, ready to throw a punch.

    This guy was really a pain.

    Andrew was no slouch himself, and even with injuries, he managed to exchange blows with Ricardo

    amidst the chaos of the room.

    Ricardo¡¯s arm was grazed, drawing blood.

    Chapter 653

    Aubreey on the couch. Her eyes finally moved as she saw Andrew reaching for the switchde,

    aiming for Ricardo¡¯s shoulder. Stimted by something unknown, Aubree grabbed the broken bottle

    neck Ricardo had dropped and stabbed Andrew¡¯s palm.

    Andrew¡¯s face turned pale, staring at her in disbelief. His head buzzed, his heart aching, struggling to

    breathe.

    He watched as Aubree trembled, checked Ricardo¡¯s shoulder, and asked if he was okay in a hoarse

    voice.

    ¡°She must be blind,¡± he thought. How could she not see that he was hurt, too?

    Andrew felt heat behind his eyes. He resisted the urge to copse and just stared unblinkingly at

    Aubree.

    Aubree was helping Ricardo, who seemed unharmed, to sit down beside her.

    Ricardo was surprised Aubree had acted. Given Andrew¡¯s weakened state, Ricardo could have dodged

    Andrew¡¯s blow. However, a smile crossed Ricardo¡¯s face, his inherent mischief aroused.

    Staring at Aubree, he feigned weakness, ¡°Aubree, I¡¯m scared.¡± After the words, he shed Andrew a

    taunting smile.

    Andrew trembled with rage, his mind strangely clear amidst the pain. He vividly felt the sharp agony

    throughout his body and his eyes growing hot.

    Aubree was tending to a man she hardly knew, leaving Andrew in the cold. He bit his lip, eyes growing

    hotter, and managed to say hoarsely, ¡°Aubree, are you blind? Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m more hurt?¡±

    The pain was too much. The Aubree before him was no longer the Aubree he knew. The Aubree of

    before would tremble at the sight of his blood, anxiously inquiring about the injury, not turning a cold

    shoulder as she did now.

 Chapter 654

    Chapter 654

    Andrew¡¯s chest heaved with a violent rhythm, and he felt a dampness on his cheeks. He lifted a hand

    to touch it, but couldn¡¯t quite identify the sensation. His hands were covered in blood, so he assumed it

    was blood on his face as well.

    Only Ricardo could see clearly, It was tears. Was Andrew crying?

    Andrew seemed oblivious to it. His nose tingled, his lips pursed and unpursed, but noplete

    sentence woulde out. The pain was so intense he felt like doubling over, yet he resisted. He didn¡¯t

    want to show any signs of weakness in front of Aubree.

    His palm, shed and still bleeding, turned hisplexion pater by the second. In the silence, he

    heard Aubree¡¯s clear voice cut through.¡°Just leave.*

    The pain was so acute it had be numbness. He just stared at Aubree, and it took what seemed

    like an eternity before he managed to utter a single question. ¡°Are you¡­ Are you possessed or

    something?¡±

    That cruelty couldn¡¯t be Aubree¡¯s.

    He turned to leave, each step an agony, his fingertips trembling uncontrobly. As he reached the door,

    Aubree still said nothing to stop him from leaving. His heart ached even more. He rounded theer

    and couldn¡¯t help but want to crouch down.

    The nervous hotel manager, witnessing Andrew¡¯s bloodied state, dialed 911 in a panic. ¡°Mr. Clements,

    are you alright? Please, don¡¯t scare me.¡±

    The concern from a stranger amplified the pain tenfold, a hundred fold. He must have been in a

    nightmare.

    He wished so dearly to awaken from it. Come on, wake up.

    When Brielle arrived at the hotel room, she was greeted by a scene of chaos.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Aubree was huddled on the couch, legs pulled up to her chest, while the cleaning staff summoned by

    Ricardo were tidying the room. The bloodstains and the trash emitted a mixed, nauseating, metallic

    odor.

    Brielle was taken aback. She first checked on Aubree, who was unharmed. After ensuring that Ricardo

    was fine, too, she let out a sigh of relief and slumped down beside them.

    ¡°What happened?¡±

    Hearing Brielle¡¯s voice seemed to anchor Aubree back to reality, and a surge of emotions she¡¯d held

    back broke free. She clung to Brielle and sobbed.

    Brielle continuously rubbed Aubree¡¯s back, feeling her heart sink. Ricardo hadn¡¯t provided details over

    the phone, only that Aubree was in trouble. Now, hearing Aubree¡¯s heartbreaking cries, Brielle deduced

    Andrew must havee by.

    Irritation surged within her, a part of her wishing she could confront Andrew and end it all.

    Aubree was exhausted, both mentally and physically drained. After crying in Brielle¡¯s arms for a while,

    she fell into an uncontroble sleep.

    Brielle draped a nket over her and turned to Ricardo. ¡°What did Andrew do?¡±

    Ricardo frowned, struggling to exin. Finally, he admitted, ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like he did much, but he¡¯s

    hurt.¡±

    There was a lot of blood, but it seemed unlikely he would die. The guy was built tough, after all.

    Brielle, still feeling scared, rubbed her temples. ¡°Ricardo, thank you.¡±

    He was taken aback, having felt like he hadn¡¯t really done anything. ¡°Ms. Haywood, don¡¯t mention it. I

    was

    1/2

    11:33

    just an observer.

    His tone was nonchnt, though realizing hisment might¡¯ve been inappropriate, he added, ¡°The

    atmosphere between those two¡­ it¡¯s odd, as if they¡¯re from different worlds.¡±

    Whatever Ricardo did, he was just a bystander looking on. To Ricardo, everything in this world was like

    a y, unable to stir his emotions.

    Remembering the moment Aubree embraced him, his ears inexplicably reddened. ¡°Aubree seemed

    really distraught, Ms. Haywood. Maybe we should call a psychologist, a woman, considering she¡¯s

    repelled by men right now. Though, she didn¡¯t seem to reject me.¡±

    This surprised him, but Brielle knew why and felt an even deeper ache.

    The blood stench in the room seemed inescapable, so she had them move to another suite.

    Meanwhile, at the hospital, several doctors bustled about, tending to Andrew¡¯s wounds. His head was

    wrapped in gauze, as were his hands.

    Andrew sat motionless in his hospital room, unresponsive even when the bandages pulled at his

    injuries.

    The doctors hadn¡¯t administered any anesthesia, yet he hadn¡¯t made a sound throughout, which made

    them marvel at his endurance. Andrew truly felt no pain. He just stared nkly at one spot until the

    doctors left. Only then did he quietly lie down.

    It was all a dream. He would sleep it off, and everything would be better.

 Chapter 655

    Chapter 655

    Andrew was destined for a restless night. No sooner had his head touched the pillow than Tessa¡¯s sobs

    pierced the silence outside. She burst into his room, her face turning ghostly pale at the sight of the

    bandages wrapped around his palm and head. Tears cascaded uncontrobly down her cheeks.

    ¡°Andrew, who did this to you? Oh my god, your injuries look terrible. She clutched at Andrew¡¯s

    uninjured hand, her tears plopping heavily onto the back of it.

    Andrew seemed numb, and his fingertips only stirred after a long pause as a frown creased his

    forehead. ¡°Tessa, stop crying, please.¡±

    Tessa¡¯s sobs didn¡¯t cease. ¡°Was it Aubree? Her voice was hoarse, and she watched Andrew freeze

    before he denied it. ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t¡±

    Panic seized Tessa, rendering her speechless. Why did her mind immediately leap to Aubree?

    The same had happened when Aubree had pped him, and he¡¯d dismissed it, iming he¡¯d walked

    into something.

    Tessa knew Andrew too well, he was not one to let offenses slide. When Brielle had pped him, he¡¯d

    wanted tosh out, to make her pay dearly, Only Aubree seemed to have the power to make Andrew

    swallow his pride and endure any hurt in silence without uttering a word about revenge.

    A sense of dread overwhelmed Tessa, her heart pounding wildly as if she wanted to scream, to

    confront him with the burning question.

    Did he love Aubree?! Had he ever truly cared for Tessa at all? Why was it always Aubree causing

    turmoil in his life when he¡¯d always tried to win Tessa over?

    Tessa felt a mix of hatred and fear as she carefully kissed his palm. ¡°Andrew, you¡¯re still going to marry

    me, right?¡±

    Andrew¡¯s eyes remained closed, silent. He desperately wanted to escape into sleep, to wake from this

    nightmare. Tessa¡¯s weeping, however, robbed him of any peace. It took a half¨Chour before he opened

    his eyes irritably. ¡°Enough, Tessa.¡±

    She looked up at him, her eyes bloodshot. ¡°Andrew, I love you. We¡¯ll be together, get married, and

    have kids.¡±

    ¡°Uh¨Chuh,¡±

    A tidal wave of emotion swelled in Andrew¡¯s eyes. One moment, he was numb with shock. The next, he

    was wracked with pain so fierce he felt like doubling over to catch his breath.

    This was no dream. Aubree really had struck him because of another man. She had betrayed him!

    The logic that had long since vanished was slowly returning. He sat up, feeling a sharp pain in his

    palm. Fury prickled through him. The shock had been too great before to properly punish Aubree.

    Hisshes drooped in a mix of resentment and pain. Hadn¡¯t she imed to love him? Hadn¡¯t Aubree

    always

    said she adored him?

    Deep down, he¡¯d always known of Aubree¡¯s affection and just chose to ignore it. He¡¯d let her orbit him

    like a lovesick fool, asking him night after night if he harbored even the slightest affection for her.

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    Of course, he didn¡¯t care for her. She was nothing more than a convenience, and he¡¯d always been

    clear about that. So, without a hint of guilt, he¡¯d let Aubree wait on him for years while he always spent

    his birthdays with Tessa instead.

    Indeed, he¡¯d never celebrated Aubree¡¯s birthday with her, which, inconveniently, was just days apart

    from

    11:34

    Tessa¡¯s

    Andrew¡¯s mind shed back to the cruelest thing he¡¯d ever done ¨C ordering a birthday cake on

    Aubree¡¯s day, only to have the card bear Tessa¡¯s name. He had realized his mistake only when Aubree

    opened it. He had unconsciously instructed the bakery to write Tessa¡¯s name, since he had never

    ordered a cake for Aubree. The air had been thick with awkwardness that evening, yet Aubree had let

    him fuck her. She seemed to have no boundaries with him as if she were spineless in his presence.

    A buzzing filled Andrew¡¯s head. Could that pretty boy make her happy? If she sought a new thrill,

    shouldn¡¯t she air for someone on his level?

    Unaware, Andrew was just jealous ¨C so jealous his eyes reddened.

    ¡°She¡¯lle back,¡± he thought. ¡°Just like before.¡±

 Chapter 656

    Chapter 656

    had intended to spend the night at the hotel to keep Aubreepany, but she was politely turned

    After a brief meltdown, It seemed like Aubree had collected herself. She just momentarily lost control

    because she had run into Andrew unexpectedly and without preparation.

    Aubree gathered herposure, announcing that she would stay with the other crew members. Brielle

    wanted to persuade her otherwise. After all, Aubree was ady of privil¨¨ge, unustomed to modest

    lodgings, But Brielle¡¯s words fell on deaf ears, and she could only ask Ricardo to keep a closer eye on

    Aubree.

    Once Brielle had seen them settled, she met up with John. A cigarette dangled between John¡¯s fingers,

    his face alight with joy. ¡°Ms. Haywood, rest assured, they¡¯re both immensely talented. Aubree even

    slimmed down significantly to better fit the image of the character she¡¯s ying. She was too glowing

    before, too rosy and healthy.¡±

    Brielle chose not to mention that Aubree¡¯s weight loss hadn¡¯t been intentional for the role.

    ¡°How soon till we wrap up?¡± she asked.

    John¡¯s face beamed with confidence at the question. ¡°In a month and a half. I thought Aubree and

    Ricardo, being new to the game, would need considerable time to gel. But ever since we¡¯ve started

    shooting, every scene has been sheer perfection. I haven¡¯te across actors of such natural talent

    before, Ms. Haywood. You have quite the eye.¡±

    John was almost nostalgic as he spoke, the cigarette burning down to his fingers unheeded.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t your ex¨Cwife named Amelia?¡± Brielle interjected. She had done her homework. Amelia, the

    hottest female director in the biz, had garnered a wave of sympathy and a following after news of

    John¡¯s domestic abuse had surfaced. Now, she was thriving in show business.

    At the mention of Amelia, the smile vanished from John¡¯s face, reced by a dark scowl. Just the

    thought of that woman made his heart feel like it was being gnawed on by countless insects. His fingers

    trembled so much that he didn¡¯t even feel the burn of the cigarette on his skin.

    Brielle plucked the cigarette from his hand and tossed it into a nearby trash can. ¡°Just focus on making

    a great film. I¡¯ll handle the rest,¡± she reassured him.

    John¡¯s breath shook with emotion as he watched Brielle, eventually patting her shoulder. With a raspy

    he said, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    voice,

    ¡°John, that¡¯s what I promised from the start, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    John cast his eyes downward. Falling from the pinnacle of sess to being an outcast had given him a

    firsthand taste of the world¡¯s fickleness. Every time he saw Aubree and Ricardo on screen, he half

    expected to wake up to the same old struggle, staring at a wedding photo on the wall and letting his

    bitterness ferment in solitude. He was determined to create a masterpiece as a token of gratitude to

    Brielle.

    As he was thinking this, his phone rang. Brielle saw his expression flip the moment he caught sight of

    the unfamiliar number shing on the screen. John knew the digits all too well; they were seared into

    his memory, impossible to forget.

    Brielle got it immediately. It was Amelia, John¡¯s estranged ex¨Cwife.

    ¡°John, take the call.¡± Her voice was a balm, and after quivering lips and a long pause, John finally

    closed his eyes and answered.

    Amelia¡¯s polished voice came through. ¡°John, I hear you¡¯re shooting a film again?¡±

    1/2

    11:34

    Despite John¡¯s fall to the slums, living in cramped quarters, Amelia could never shake her und tabs on

    him at every turn.

    Her informants had ryed that John seemed to be busy with a substantial crew, apparently shooting a

    film. But the location had been rented out entirely and was now off¨Climits. Her spies couldn¡¯t get in

    anymore. Surprise filled Amelia¡¯s eyes. Who at this point would invest in John¡¯s films and risk being

    drowned in the vitriol ofizens?

    Across from Amelia sat the impable Kenzo, a script lying beside him. Clearly, Amelia was

    discussing a coboration.

    Kenzo gazed out the window with indifference, his coffee gone cold. They had been talking for a while,

    and their conversation was nearly at an end. Many directors coveted the script at Kenzo¡¯s side, but as

    the most aplished female director at the moment, Amelia was the perfect fit for this script that

    centered on female empowerment. Hence, she had arranged to meet with Kenzo.

    It was notoriously difficult to get an appointment with Kenzo. Amelia had tried for half a year before

    finally securing a meeting today. If she hadn¡¯t connected to Kenzo through Beaconsfield College, he

    probably wouldn¡¯t have given her the time of day.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    However, out of expectation, Kenzo had gently, yet firmly, turned her down.

    I 2

    At this stage in her career, it was rare for a screenwriter to refuse Amelia¡¯s advances. She was nearly

    forty but well¨Cmaintained and beautiful. The world tended to be kind to beautiful women.

 Chapter 657

    Chapter 657

    Getting shot down by Kenzo really lit a fire under her. Then she heard through the grapevine that John

    was still scrapping by and couldn¡¯t help but dial his number.

    John¡¯s voice was cool, ¡®Yes, I¡¯ve found someone willing to invest in mypany.¡±

    Amelia let out a scoff, surprised that John now seemed to handle her call without losing his cool. It

    seemed that the boss of the newpany had given him a solid confidence boost.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m all eyes. I mean, you¡¯re my ex¨Chusband. Even though your past deeds were quite

    scandalous, it wouldn¡¯t be a total waste of our marriage if you¡¯re willing to pick yourself up.¡±

    Hearing her hypocritical words made John feel sick to his stomach. After all those years together, he

    never really saw through her until she showed her true colors. The domestic abuse allegations stuck

    after the divorce. She transferred all the funds to her ount, and he was cleaned out, leaving his

    reputation in

    tatters.

    And there she was, climbing over him, even taking over thework he had built.

    How could he ept that?

    His eyes reddened, but looking up into Brielle¡¯s serene gaze, he found his resolve again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I

    won¡¯t disappoint you. As for you, I bet you won¡¯t sleep a wink tonight.¡± With that, he hung up.

    Amelia clenched her teeth in anger. Where was he getting his confidence?

    She grabbed her purse. She needed to find out who was backing John.

    She turned to Kenzo with a polite smile. ¡°Mr. Kenzo, I hope you¡¯ll reconsider me for the role. A woman

    understands a woman best, and I believe I can truly capture the essence of the script.¡±

    Kenzo¡¯s pale fingertips stirred his coffee absently. ¡°Was that call to John?¡±

    Kenzo, being somewhat of a figure in the entertainment circle, was well aware of Amelia and John¡¯s

    notorious split.

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    After Amelia downyed John¡¯s worth, she smirked. ¡°Somepany¡¯s backing his movie. I wonder

    who¡¯d dare provoke the wrath of the inte. That film will tank. No one will touch it.¡±

    Kenzo¡¯s face remained gentle, though his stirring slowed a bit. ¡°Ster Stage Entertainment, ever heard

    of

    it?¡±

    5 5 5 2 2 2 2 0 2 2 28 0 38 3 2 2 Fa

    Amelia paused. She had heard of them, but weren¡¯t they nearly bankrupt a few years back? They were

    saved only by a mysterious benefactor¡¯s funds. Despite being around for years, they had no

    noteworthy talent.

    The worst part was Ster Stage Entertainment¡¯s terrible reputation. Executives from otherpanies

    had recently been picking ¡®pets¡® from them. The ¡®pets¡® meant Ster Stage Entertainment¡¯s female

    artists.

    John must¡¯ve been desperate. His stubborn pride had sunk so low as to work with such a notorious

    Amelia sneered inwardly. It was high time to pay a visit to Ster Stage Entertainment. ¡°Mr. Kenzo, how

    do you know about this? I thought you weren¡¯t interested in showbiz.¡±

    Kenzo just smiled, cing down his spoon. ¡°I¡¯m not interested.¡± But that didn¡¯t mean he never was.

    already found someone you like, I hope we can coborate another time.¡±

    Thanks for the info. If you¡¯r

    Amelia left politely after paying the bill.

    Kenzo sat a while longer, noticing people snapping photos of him. His brow furrowed slightly.

    11:34

    Chap

    A group of starstruck girls nearby whispered excitedly about his looks and charm as they admired their

    photos.

    The calm in Kenzo¡¯s eyes faded as he read a message on his phone, smiled softly, and left.

    When Brielle returned to Ster Stage Entertainment, she found Donny pacing anxiously outside her

    office.- ¡°Ms. Haywood!¡± Donny looked relieved to see her. ¡°Ms. Haywood, you¡¯ve got to see what¡¯s

    trending online!¡± Brielle¡¯s expression turned curious as she checked her phone. In just a short time,

    Amelia and John had be hot topics.

    Amelia had posted a photo of Ster Stage Entertainment¡¯s entrance on social media with a caption.

    [Ster Stage Entertainment backs John¡¯s film. Wonder if it¡¯s about domestic abuse?]

    That single line dragged up the sordid past of her divorce due to alleged abuse, sparking discussions

    about Ster Stage Entertainment.

    Amelia, a well¨Cknown director with a knack for creating stars, had set the inte aze. Her usual

    coborators retweeted, and the topic soared to the top of the trending list.

    The publicshed out at John again, and Ster Stage Entertainment¡¯s skeletons tumbled out of the

    closet, including usations of mistreatment, withholding sries, crushing young dreams, and more.

    In no time at all, reporters swarmed the entrance to Ster Stage Entertainment¡¯s offices.

 Chapter 658

    Chapter 658

    by was pacing the room like a caged animal, clearly at his wit¡¯s end. ¡°Ms. Haywood, what are we gonna

    Ster Stage Entertainment was in the dumps after being smeared left and right in the media; its

    reputation

    tamished as a forgotten silver heirloom. And now they were tangled up with the notoriously shady John.

    The whole crew took a verbal beating that could strip paint.

    Donny thought Brielle would be equally frazzled ¨C after all, their movie was still in production, and with

    a reputation as sour as spoiled milk, who in their right mind would pony up for a theater ticket?

    But Brielle just nced at thetest barrage of bad press. ¡°Tell the PR folks to spread the word that

    Ster Stage Entertainment is under new management. We¡¯ve done a full housecleaning. If there¡¯s any

    muck to rake, it should be flung at those execs who¡¯ve been shown the door.¡± She wasn¡¯t about to carry

    the can for someone else¡¯s dirty work.

    ¡°But will people buy that?¡± Donny asked, skepticism wrinkling his brow.

    Brielle¡¯s smile was a thin slice of cunning. ¡°Just have HR release all the staff changes. That¡¯ll speak for

    itself.¡±

    A lightbulb went off in Donny¡¯s head ¨C why hadn¡¯t he thought of that? With about half of Ster Stage

    Entertainment¡¯s staff handed their walking papers, it was as obvious as a billboard that a major shake¨C

    up was underway. He wasted no time getting the PR department to broadcast the HR movements.

    The public, in the midst of their bashing frenzy, was suddenly gobsmacked by the chart of personnel

    changes, especially since the reasons listed were all ¡°terminated¡± ¨C not a voluntary walk¨Coff, but a

    forced exit.

    The PR department, usually as silent as a mime, was finally handed a task and was so eager they

    might as well have been glued to their chairs around the clock. The team was buzzing with a rare

    excitement. They had been benchwarmers for years and were finally called to y.

    The PR manager, with a flourish, rallied the troops. ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting years for a moment like this.

    Let¡¯s show some gumption!¡±

    At hismand, the whole department willingly burned the midnight oil. When they wrapped up, they

    were each buzzing with energy, itching for another round in the online fray,

    Brielle hadn¡¯t been at the helm long, but the atmosphere at Ster Stage Entertainment had already

    shifted dramatically.

    The old, unspoken rules of the game, the injustice had everyone feeling powerless against it and

    swallowing their grievances. But times had changed under Brielle¡¯s watch. She had an opinion box

    installed in the lobby of the main building. Any senior staff caught misbehaving could be anonymously

    reported with evidence, and she would deal with it the next day. This decree led to another round of

    dismissals.

    The PR department was in perfect sync with Brielle¡¯s actions, updating thetest staff movements on

    the public tform as soon as another head rolled.

    The inte onlookers, initially smirking at the drama, started to grow curious about this enigmatic

    CEO.

    ¡°Whoever has the guts for such sweeping reforms must have some serious clout.¡±

    ¡°With so many firings, Ster Stage Entertainment¡¯s stocks are nosediving. Are they really okay? I get

    they want to improve, but isn¡¯t this a bit drastic?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all for show. I bet this CEO is no saint.¡±

    11:34

    ¡°Pit I think this so¨Ccalled CEO is just trying to save their own skink

    Those remaining at Ster Stage Entertainment were almost universally won over by Brielle¡¯s tactics.

    wouldn¡¯t want a boss who focused on getting things done? Who didn¡¯t want a more promising job,

    better pay, and benefits? What self¨Crespecting adult wasn¡¯t sick of the cutthroat office politics?

    So the PR department, finally dusting off their social media ounts, pped back at the criticism,

    ¡°Our CEO is fantastic, a real gem of a person. Only those still with Ster Stage Entertainment know

    her worth. Perhaps the peanut gallery should refrain from specting about what they don¡¯t

    understand.¡±

    The post garnered support from thepany¡¯s loyalists, with hopeful artists retweeting en masse.

    ¡°Our CEO is a great leader. I have faith in her.¡±

    ¡°Right on! If I were a guy, I¡¯d marry her!¡±

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, my hero!¡±

    As more and more of these once¨Cdormant artists took to social media, verified with their own official

    tags and Ster Stage Entertainment prefixes, the tide of public opinion began to shift. Those who had

    been jeering were suddenly silenced as the online battle turned.

    Before turning in for the night, Brielle¡¯s heart warmed at the sight of thesements. She considered

    joining the social media fray herself when a pair of arms encircled her. Her phone was gently taken

    away, and as her nightgown¡¯s sash slipped, she let out a suppressed gasp.

    Looking up, she met his stormy gaze, and her heart skipped a beat, her resolve melting away.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Max¡¯s movements were rough, a stark contrast to the polished gentleman the world saw. Brielle

    blushed, reaching up to encircle his neck, but was interrupted by the ring of Max¡¯s phone. His brow

    furrowed in rare irritation, a shadow of annoyance flickering across his face.

 Chapter 659

    Chapter 659

    Brielle watched as he ignored the persistent ringing of his cell phone, silencing it again amidst the

    nearly suffocating kisses between them. Finally, she reached for the phone herself.

    It was an unknown number. Taking a deep breath, she pushed him away, worried that she might be

    keeping him from something important.

    After pressing the answer button, she held the phone to his ear. Max shot her an annoyed nce

    before hearing Annie¡¯s voice on the line. ¡°Hey, Max.¡±

    Brielle caught the female voice, her eyebrows arching in curiosity.

    Max¡¯s hair was tousled, and he wrapped his robe around him as he walked over to the window. ¡°What¡¯s

    up?¡±

    His voice, rough with lust, came out unintentionally seductive.

    Annie paused, then said casually, ¡°I received a file this evening that¡¯s missing a crucial piece of

    evidence. I called Patrick, and he said the material is in your office. But you¡¯ve always said your office

    is off¨Climits without your permission, so that¡¯s why I¡¯m calling you now. Can I go in?¡±

    Considering the professor had specifically asked Max to provide tasks that would assist Annie with her

    PhD research, he had no reason to refuse her request for materials.

    ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Is it in the drawer on your left or your right?¡±

    ¡°On the right.¡±

    Annie opened the cab and immediately spotted the document she needed. ¡°Got it, thanks. Sorry for

    disturbing you thiste.¡±

    Before she could finish, a thunderous sound came from outside the office, like arge pane of ss

    being smashed. This was followed by a startled cry from Annie.

    Max¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Annie?¡±

    There was no response, and the call had been abruptly disconnected.

    The room¡¯s previously charged atmosphere vanished in an instant. Max made a call to the building¡¯s

    security, instructing them to check the top floor, and began dressing in a dark, heavy coat.

    Brielle quickly changed as well. ¡°What¡¯s happening? I¡¯ming with you.¡±

    ¡°You should get some sleep. You have an early day at thepany tomorrow.¡±

    But sleep was thest thing on Brielle¡¯s mind at that moment.

    Realizing he couldn¡¯t dissuade her, Max reluctantly agreed, and together they headed to Dorsey.

    International.

    The security team called to inform him they hadn¡¯t seen Annie. Max¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Check the top

    floor¡¯s surveince.¡±

    Only a couple of night¨Cshift workers in the surveince room, who hastily scanned the footage, only to

    find images of Annie leaving the CEO¡¯s office in a panic, followed by a cell phone being hurled against

    a wall, shattering on impact.

    ¡°Work with the police. Find her!¡±

    Max¡¯s voice was icy as his team scurried to trace Annie¡¯sst known whereabouts. It was clear that the

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Intruder at Dorsey International hade prepared, evading all cameras from the start and even

    employing a top¨Ctier hacker to disable the surrounding cameras in a split second.

    This was no ordinary kidnapping.

    Max quickly reached out to the professor. The professor was elderly and had been retired for several

    years, but upon hearing his goddaughter was in trouble, he insisted on catching the first flight over.

    Brielle stood aside, feeling the chill of the drafty corridor. She heard Max soothing the professor while

    the old man on the other end seemed agitated.

    It took half an hour for Max to promise that he would find Annie. As he ended the call, looking utterly

    exhausted, Brielle saw him rub his temples, directing his staff to scour every street corner. They didn¡¯t

    return to Premier Pce and waited at Dorsey International for news.

    During this tense wait, Michael called, quietly asking if Max had orchestrated all this to sideline Annie.

    Max¡¯s gaze turned frosty. ¡°Father, she¡¯s my mentor¡¯s goddaughter. I would never stoop to such lows.¡±

    ¡°Once Anniepletes her doctoral thesis, she¡¯ll be eligible to teach at the university. You know how

    important she is to them. I entrusted her to you; you¡¯re responsible for her safety.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been negligent.¡±

    He hung up as dawn broke, and his phone rang again¨Cthis time with news of Annie¡¯s whereabouts.

    Max stood, and noticing Brielle beside him, he tenderly tousled her hair. ¡°You go handle your stuff,

    sweetheart.¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help but worry. Max had just finished an overseas acquisition, been tangled in the

    Clements family affairs, and now had this situation with Annie. How much could he take? He had been

    running a fever just days before. Was Michael intentionally pushing Max to the edge?

    Since they¡¯d agreed to that six¨Cmonth arrangement, their time together had dwindled. They were

    constantly interrupted by various obligations, leaving them both exhausted and without a peaceful meal

    together.

    Was it all worth it?

    Max kissed her lips, lightening the mood until a hint of color returned to her cheeks, and then chuckled

    softly. ¡°Come home early tonight. I¡¯ll make us dinner.¡±

 Chapter 660

    Chapter 660

    Even the so¨Ccalled grabbing a bite was something she squeezed into her hectic schedule.

    Brielle nodded, theck of sleep evident in the faint shadows under her eyes.

    Max watched her swallow, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing as he pinned her against the wall outside the

    elevator. He kissed her for several long minutes before striding away.

    With a sense of loss, Brielle¡¯sshes drooped. As she lifted her hand to wipe her lips, she looked up to

    find several colleagues from the executive floor staring in shock not far away.

    Oh, crap.

    Not only were her colleagues from the top floor there but so were several executives from Dorsey

    International. Everyone seemed rooted to the spot, unable to move.

    They must have exited the elevator in the wrong ce¨Chow else could they have caught Max and

    Brielle kissing?

    The usually stoic Max had one arm around her waist, the other cupping the back of her head, looking

    like he hadn¡¯t had enough of the kiss. His usual aura of unapproachability seemed to have dissipated

    somewhat. He even bent slightly to whisper something to Brielle.

    Her face turned beet red. She had forgotten the time. It was Dorsey International¡¯s office hours, and

    though it was still early, her top¨Cfloor colleagues were always diligent and the earliest to arrive.

    FCI I= F F 3N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    The scene had clearly stunned everyone; they were frozen in ce, unable to snap out of it even after

    several minutes had passed.

    The man hugging and kissing a woman couldn¡¯t possibly be their CEO. And the woman, smiling as she

    wiped her lips, calmly greeting them¨Cthat couldn¡¯t possibly be the same Brielle who had been a director

    at Dorsey International.

    Were their eyes ying tricks on them, or had the world gone mad? Wasn¡¯t Brielle Mr. Dorsey¡¯s

    nephew¡¯s ex¨Cfianc¨¦e?

    Brielle calmly stepped into the private elevator, and only once the doors closed did she slump against

    the elevator wall, boneless.

    Well, it was over.

    Sure enough, no sooner had she left Dorsey International than thepany¡¯s staff chat exploded with

    a photo of Brielle and Max kissing. Although it was just a blurry silhouette, the morning sun¡¯s golden

    light, the clouds outside the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, and the titanium¨Cwhite overhead lights all made

    the photo breathtakingly beautiful.

    What drew the eye most was their CEO pulling someone into his embrace, and his whole dignified and

    fierce demeanor seemed to dissipate.

    The photo was only circted internally at Dorsey International. Nobody was indiscreet enough to leak

    it to the media.

    When Brielle arrived at Ster Stage Entertainment, she was still burning up. It was her first time being

    caught red¨Chanded by so many people. Though she managed to greet others, she wished she could

    just crawl into a hole!

    Donny walked in just as she was about to leave. ¡°Ms. Haywood, where are you off to?¡±

    ¡°Discussing a new script.¡±

    1/2

    Donny was surprised. Were there still screenwriters willing to sell their scripts to them? Ster Stage

    Entertainment was slowly improving its reputation, but everyone was still taking a wait¨Cand¨Csee

    approach.

    The ce Brielle was heading to was off the beaten path, an area she remembered was nearly set for

    demolition years ago. There were a few famous local eateries there. She had eaten at one during her

    college days, and the memory was fresh in her mind,

    ¡°Kenzo.¡± She called out as she entered, seeing Kenzo sitting at the far end.

    The eatery was in a remote location, akin to the alleys in the slums, twisting and turning. If not for her

    good memory, she probably would have gotten lost.

    It was a corridor¨Cstyle eatery with private rooms on either side. The corridor¡¯s end led to other

    restaurants or hotels, a real hodgepodge.

    When Brielle first came here, it was with ssmates who said Kenzo had personally rmended it,

    insisting that they try it. At the time, she thought it was a joke, a way to im a connection with Kenzo.

    It was only after seeing the message from Kenzo today that she realized he was serious.

    ¡°How¡¯s it going at Ster Stage Entertainment? I saw the trending topics. The staff seem to trust you.¡±

    Brielle shed her coat, revealing a loose¨Cfitting, grey cropped sweater. The room was sufficiently

    heated, and she didn¡¯t feel cold at all.

    The owner had already served up some dishes, all homely fare.

    ¡°Are you really willing to sell that script to me?¡± she asked, still somewhat incredulous after reading

    Kenzo¡¯s text. After all, his scripts were priceless.

    Anything with Kenzo¡¯s name guaranteed a box office hit and critical acim. Even a TV drama

    adaptation could be the year¡¯s champion in ratings.

    ¡°It¡¯s just a script,¡± Kenzo said, his tone gentle as he poured her some fruit wine.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Brielle sat cross¨Clegged and smiled at the familiar dishes on the table. ¡°The menu here seems to be

    the same as always. I came here once with ssmates and thought it would be demolished by now. I

    never expected this ce to still be here.

 Chapter 661

    Chapter 661

    She took a sip of the fruit wine, and her eyes sparkled. ¡°Is this the house special, brewed by the owner

    himself?¡±

    Kenzo raised an eyebrow, observing her fingertips resting on the ss. The cozy warmth of the room,

    combined with the pleasure of a favored drink, left her content as a cat curled up in a sunbeam.

    She was pristine and poised. Persian cats were known for their standoffish nature, after all.

    *Sure, join me for dinner and the script is yours.¡±

    Brielle blinked, hastily setting down her ss. ¡°I can¡¯t just ept that. I¡¯ll pay you whatever the highest

    bid from the otherpanies was. I know you¡¯re not hurting for money, but taking this script for nothing

    wouldn¡¯t sit right with me. I¡¯d feel awkwarding to you for business again.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s always a next time for business, but my terms might change by then,¡± Kenzo¡¯s gaze drifted to

    her fingertips lying gently on the edge of the table. She probably wasn¡¯t used to being in such close

    quarters with men. Initially tense, her fingers were tight, but after a bit of wine and their long

    acquaintance, she had rxed. Her fingertips lightly touched the table, her face adorned with a smile.

    ¡°You¡¯re not here on behalf of your sister, are you? Like, asking me to break up with Max or something?¡±

    Kenzo chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischievous amusement. ¡°Do I seem like that kind of guy to

    you?¡±

    ¡°Not really, but Alivia has always been the apple of your eyes. If she asked, you¡¯d probably say yes.¡±

    Everyone in the Barnes family did seem to revolve around their little princess.

    ¡°Alivia did give me a task, but it wasn¡¯t to use the script to get you to dump Max.¡±

    ¡°What is it then?¡± Brielle was puzzled. The wine was so delicious she couldn¡¯t help but indulge in a few

    more sses.

    ¡°To seduce you.¡±

    She choked on her drink, coughing so hard her face turned crimson, and tears nearly spilled from her

    eyes.

    Herplexion was glowing, her hair neatly tucked behind her ears with a few stray strands framing

    her face. Now her ear tips were reddened from the coughing, her eyes shimmered like ake at

    sunrise, and even her fingertips had taken on a pink hue.

    Brielle figured Alivia must have lost her mind. Why couldn¡¯t she just be happy with whatever Michael

    arranged? Why send her own brother to seduce someone?

    Hearing those words from Kenzo sent a shock through Brielle as intense as when her colleagues

    caught her kissing Max that morning. To make matters more awkward, her sweater was now damp with

    spilled wine, its scent enveloping her.

    ¡°Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.¡±

    She ced her ss on the table and opened the door of the private booth, heading down the hall to

    the restroom she remembered well.

    Just as she was about to enter, she caught sight of a man resembling Max passing by on the other

    side. Her steps faltered. Max was supposed to be finding Annie, so what was he doing here?

    Almost on autopilot, Brielle followed, watching as Max entered another booth. Whether it was the

    wine¡¯s aftereffect or her vision blurring, she couldn¡¯t be sure. Peering through the slim gap between the

    booth¡¯s door and its small window, she saw Max sitting on the center¨Cmost couch, Annie nestled

    against his shoulder, their voices murmuring within.

    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    Chapter oo

    The reason she was sure it was Annie was because of the photos her colleagues had shown her

    earlier. The woman¡¯s outfit was identical to the one in the photos.

    Brielle¡¯s breath hitched, and she instinctively wanted to flee, but she heard a man¡¯s sneeringugh from

    inside. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, you sure know how to live it up,ing to a ce like this for a dame. You rejected

    all those women I sent you way back when and even mocked me for it. And now, look who¡¯s fallen for

    the charms of love.¡±

    Max¡¯s hand rested on Annie¡¯s head, his tone nonchnt. ¡°Murray, times change.¡±

    Murray¡¯s eyes lingered on Annie, who indeed possessed a certain allure. It seemed Max hadn¡¯t lost out

    this time. ¡°I hear Miss Annie has secured a teaching position at Harvard. No wonder you¡¯re so

    protective. But then, I¡¯ve also heard that Miss Annie isn¡¯t your real preference, Mr. Dorsey. Or is that girl

    just a stand¨Cin for someone else?¡±

    Annie, leaning into Max¡¯s embrace, responded coldly to that insinuation. Standing outside, Brielle could

    almost imagine it was her voice that she heard. ¡°I¡¯ve known Max for over a decade: That woman looks

    a bit like me, but that¡¯s the only reason he fell for her so easily. I don¡¯t mind his fleeting affair.¡±

    Murray suddenly let out augh, raising his wine ss in a toast. ¡°Well then, if you¡¯re done with the

    lady, do you mind if I make my move?¡±

    ¡°Be my guest.¡±

    Max¡¯s gaze remained fixated on Annie as if Brielle were nothing more than a ything he had tired of.

    Brielle stepped back, bumping into a wall of a person. Turning around, she realized it was Kenzo. Just

    as Kenzo opened his mouth to speak, she covered it quickly with her hand and whisked him away from

    the

    scene.

    Chapter 661

    The reason she was sure it was Annie was because of the photos her colleagues had shown her

    earlier. The woman¡¯s outfit was identical to the one in the photos.

    Brielle¡¯s breath hitched, and she instinctively wanted to flee, but she heard a man¡¯s sneeringugh from

    inside. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, you sure know how to live it up,ing to a ce like this for a dame. You rejected

    all those women I sent you way back when and even mocked me for it. And now, look who¡¯s fallen for

    the charms of love.¡±

    Max¡¯s hand rested on Annie¡¯s head, his tone nonchnt. ¡°Murray, times change.¡±

    Murray¡¯s eyes lingered on Annie, who indeed possessed a certain allure. It seemed Max hadn¡¯t lost out

    this time. ¡°I hear Miss Annie has secured a teaching position at Harvard. No wonder you¡¯re so

    protective. But then, I¡¯ve also heard that Miss Annie isn¡¯t your real preference, Mr. Dorsey. Or is that girl

    just a stand¨Cin for someone else?¡±

    Annie, leaning into Max¡¯s embrace, responded coldly to that insinuation. Standing outside, Brielle could

    almost imagine it was her voice that she heard. ¡°I¡¯ve known Max for over a decade. That woman looks

    a bit like me, but that¡¯s the only reason he fell for her so easily. I don¡¯t mind his fleeting affair.¡±

    Murray suddenly let out augh, raising his wine ss in a toast. ¡°Well then, if you¡¯re done with the

    lady, do you mind if I make my move?¡±

    ¡°Be my guest.¡±

    Max¡¯s gaze remained fixated on Annie as if Brielle were nothing more than a ything he had tired of.

    Brielle stepped back, bumping into a wall of a person. Turning around, she realized it was Kenzo. Just

    as Kenzo opened his mouth to speak, she covered it quickly with her hand and whisked him away from

    the

 Chapter 662

    Chapter 662

    Kenzo awatted her hand away and dabbed at his lips with the tips of his fingers. It was then that Brielle

    realized she had overstepped, and she quickly apologized. ¡°Sorry, Kenzo Kenzo¡¯s face remained

    serene as he brought a hand to his temple. ¡°I noticed you hadn¡¯t shown up. so i came to check on you.

    You look a bit pale. Have you been drinking too much?¡±

    ¡°I just had a few sses of fruit wine. I¡¯m not that far gone.¡±

    They returned to the private room, and the scent of alcohol still clung to Brielle. She had forgotten why

    she had visited the restroom, and her mind felt hazy,

    Kenzo nced at her sweater, still damp with the spilled wine. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to dry it off?¡±

    Brielle looked up, her thoughts slow to catch up. When she realized what he meant, she quickly waved

    him off with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡±

    She took a seat and chatted with Kenzo about the script for a while, took a few more drinks, and then

    began to stare nkly at the spread on the table, not touching a bite.

    Kenzo picked up some food with the serving utensils and offered it to her. ¡°Not hungry?¡±

    It was only then that Brielle felt a hint of rity return. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was the effect of the wine or

    the heat in the room, but her palms were sweaty, and she felt an indefinable ache¨Ceverything felt off.

    Kenzo thought she might be drunk, but when they discussed the script, she was articte and sharp,

    not showing any signs of inebriation. She finished the entire bottle of fruit wine by herself.

    Kenzo watched her, then, with downcast eyes, said softly, ¡°You should eat something first.¡±

    Brielle managed a foggy smile. ¡°Yeah, thanks, Kenzo.¡±

    She was as delicate as a kitten when she ate, taking small, careful bites and chewing slowly so as not

    to spill anything on her clothes.

    After a small bowl, she couldn¡¯t eat anymore, although she did seem to favor the fruit

    wine.

    ¡°If you like it, I¡¯ll ask the owner to pack a few bottles for you to take home.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Kenzo. That would be great.¡±

    ¡°Brielle, you¡¯re drunk.¡±

    Maybe so.

    Kenzo chuckled, setting down his wine ss and watching her as she rested her head on the table,

    revealing a small profile. Her cheeks and ears were flushed, her eyshes long¨Cshe appeared so soft

    and vulnerable.

    She¡¯s not at all like the director of Dorsey International, the president of Ster Stage Entertainment.

    Her usual icy demeanor was gone.

    Kenzo walked over to her and bent down to take a closer look, speaking softly. ¡°Brielle?¡±

    She didn¡¯t stir.

    Kenzo called the owner to settle the tab and asked for a bottle of fruit wine before helping

    Brielle out.

    As they left the private room, Kenzo spotted Annie sauntering down the hallway. A frown creased his

    brow.

    Annie stuck out her tongue yfully, hands sped behind her back, exuding an air of girlish naivety.

    The man known as Murray followed her, feeling embarrassed by her behavior.

    ¡°Miss Annie, Max is your friend, after all. You got an imposer and stirred up trouble between him and

    Brielle. If he finds out, I¡¯m afraid¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, stop worrying. It¡¯s just a bit of fun. Everyone says I look like Brielle, and it bothers

    me.¡±

    She pouted, her demeanor entirely different from her usual coolposure, clearly an

    act.

    ¡°And I have to imitate her every day, which is so exhausting. I can¡¯t smile, carry sweets, or even see

    Ricardo¨CI haven¡¯t seen him in years.¡±

    Murray, previously threatened by Ricardo, scoffed at her words. ¡°Ricardo doesn¡¯t listen to our boss. If

    you visit him, he¡¯s likely to give you a piece of his mind.¡±

    A spark of mischief shed in Annie¡¯s eyes. ¡°Ricardo¡¯s more fun; I like him best!¡±

    Annie pped her hands, the thrill of adventure sparkling within her. She wasn¡¯t worried about Brielle

    overhearing her. Brielle was too drunk to make sense of anything.

    And what if Brielle knew? Annie might just intentionally reveal her intentions, ying with her prey

    before going in for the kill.

    Alivia¡¯s fifty million wasn¡¯t easy to earn, but this game was more entertaining than murder. She nned

    to visit thepany tomorrow and see Max¡¯s reaction.

    As for Kenzo, he was not one for idle chatter. Alivia had always said her brother was the best at

    keeping secrets in the world.

    2/3

    11:13

    Chapter 662

    Murray looked apologetically at Kenzo and bowed respectfully. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the youngdy is spoiled. I¡¯ll

    take her away now.¡±

    As Annie walked away, she warned Murray incessantly, ¡°I said I wanted to stay here longer. My

    godfather has agreed, so stop following me. He said I could go back after finishing my doctoral thesis.¡±

    ¡°But the boss said¡­¡®

    Annie stopped, and her gaze darkened. ¡°Do you know why I like Ricardo? Because he¡¯s obedient and

    doesn¡¯t try to be clever. You don¡¯t like Brielle¡¯s face, and you rashly ordered Ricardo to kill her,

    pretending it was Godfather¡¯smand. You¡¯re getting too bold.¡±

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Murray immediately knelt down, head bowed. ¡°It¡¯s because you said you didn¡¯t like someone looking

    too much like you.¡±

    ¡°Why not just change her face? It doesn¡¯t necessarily have to cost her life. Her face is a bit annoying.¡±

 Chapter 663

    Chapter 663

    The back and forth between the two peoplepletely disregarded Brielle as a human being. It was as

    if she was just some stray cat or dog, easily dismissed.

    Annie took the candy from Murray¡¯s hand, and her expression finally softened a bit. ¡°Aw,e en, I¡¯m

    not mad at you. Don¡¯t let my poker face scare you off. Let¡¯s get a move on. The defense we set up is

    nothingpared to what Max can do. If he catches us cking off because we¡¯re goofing around,

    we¡¯re toast.¡±

    Murray nodded, respectfully falling in step behind her,

    The long corridor grew quiet in an instant, the lively warmth from the party room spilling out from the

    ajar door. Brielle felt suffocated and slowly pushed Kenzo away, leaning against the wall to catch her

    breath. She had no idea what she looked like. Her neck was craned slightly, her face flushed with a

    rosy tint.

    The image of Max pinning her against the wall outside that room, his lips on hers, flickered through

    Kenzo¡¯s mind like a movie stuck on rey.

    He frowned, looking away, ¡°Can you walk?¡±

    Brielle heard someone asking her a question, and there was a slight shimmer in her eyes.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Alright, you¡¯re on your own then.¡±

    66

    He didn¡¯t touch her again. Holding his drink, he just stood by her side.

    ¡°Sorry for the trouble.¡±

    Even drunk, Brielle wasn¡¯t one to cause a scene. She steadied herself against the wall and began to

    walk out.

    Kenzo took her phone and dialed Max, but before the call could connect, a figure appeared at the end

    of the hallway, sweeping Brielle into a tight embrace.

    Max, taking in the scent of alcohol on her, felt a twitch in his brow.

    Kenzo stepped out from the shadows, handing over a fruit wine bottle and a script. ¡°I was just about to

    call you, and here you are.¡±

    Max took them, his frown deepening at the sight of the bottle, so Kenzo exined quickly, ¡°She asked

    for it and imed it was tasty.¡±

    Max massaged his forehead, resisting the urge to pinch Brielle¡¯s cheek.

    Brielle winced at the pinch, instinctively trying to pull away.

    ¡°Brielle?¡± Max called out, lifting her in his arms and heading straight out.

    Chapter 663

    The back and forth between the two peoplepletely disregarded Brielle as a human being. It was as

    if she was just some stray cat or dog, easily dismissed.

    Annie took the candy from Murray¡¯s hand, and her expression finally softened a bit. ¡±e on, I¡¯m not

    mad at you. Don¡¯t let my poker face scare you off. Let¡¯s get a move on. The defense we set up is

    nothingpared to what Max can do. If he catches us cking off because we¡¯re goofing around,

    we¡¯re toast.¡±

    Murray nodded, respectfully falling in step behind her.

    The long corridor grew quiet in an instant, the lively warmth from the party room spilling out from the

    ajar door. Brielle felt suffocated and slowly pushed Kenzo away, leaning against the wall to catch her

    breath. She had no idea what she looked like. Her neck was craned slightly, her face flushed with a

    rosy tint.

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    The image of Max pinning her against the wall outside that room, his lips on hers, flickered through

    Kenzo¡¯s mind like a movie stuck on rey.

    He frowned, looking away. ¡°Can you walk?¡±

    Brielle heard someone asking her a question, and there was a slight shimmer in her eyes.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Alright, you¡¯re on your own then.¡±

    He didn¡¯t touch her again. Holding his drink, he just stood by her side.

    ¡°Sorry for the trouble.¡±

    Even drunk, Brielle wasn¡¯t one to cause a scene. She steadied herself against the wall and began to

    walk out.

    Kenzo took her phone and dialed Max, but before the call could connect, a figure appeared at the end

    of the hallway, sweeping Brielle into a tight embrace.

    Max, taking in the scent of alcohol on her, felt a twitch in his brow.

    Kenzo stepped out from the shadows, handing over a fruit wine bottle and a script. ¡°I was just about to

    call you, and here you are.¡±

    Max took them, his frown deepening at the sight of the bottle, so Kenzo exined quickly, ¡°She asked

    for it and imed it was tasty.¡±

    Max massaged his forehead, resisting the urge to pinch Brielle¡¯s cheek.

    Brielle winced at the pinch, instinctively trying to pull away.

    ¡°Brielle?¡± Max called out, lifting her in his arms and heading straight out.

    11.13

    Kenzo lingered for a moment before following them out. He saw Max leaning Brielle against the car.

    ¡°What¡¯s got into you, drinking like this, Brielle?¡±

    Her arms looped around his neck, a smile ying on her lips as her slender legs began to encircle his

    waist. Max¡¯s breathing became ragged, his lips pressing against the nape of her neck, grateful for the

    docility that came with her inebriation.

    Brielle, breathless from his kisses, rested her chin on his shoulder, her vision blurring just enough to

    see a vague figure in the distance. But she was too tired, her mind a nk te.

    Max bundled her into the car, his voice husky with restraint. ¡°Stay still. We¡¯re going home

    to rest.¡±

    Brielle settled onto hisp, and amidst the car¡¯s jostling, she drifted to sleep.

    Back in the small diner, a man behind a mask picked up a ss left on the table. Brielle¡¯s lipstick wasn¡¯t

    one for bold colors. She never wore bright red and always stuck to nude shades with just a hint of soft

    pink. So, the ss bore a faint mark.

    The masked man pressed his lips against that imprint, his eyes churning with emotion. He wanted to

    ruin her, to see her sink in the mire of chaos and fall. He wanted to taint her so thoroughly that even the

    marrow in her bones turned ck. Those legs wrapped around someone else were an eyesore indeed.

    In the dimly lit car, Brielle turned over, feeling restless. The word ¡°understudy¡± floated through her mind,

    followed by a sense of being ignited by rage.

    She bit her lip, overwhelmed by a deep sense of frustration.

 Chapter 664

    Chapter 664

    Max patted her cheek gently, grabbing a moist towelette from the car to clean the tips of her fingers.

    It was cold. Brielle¡¯s fingers recoiled.

    When the car finally pulled up to the nearest hotel, Max ordered Patrick to ensure Annie was taken to

    the hospital while he carried Brielle into a room. This was the second time she¡¯d gotten stered. If he

    didn¡¯t intervene, any Tom, Dick, or Harry could¡¯ve ended up sharing a drink with her.

    As soon as they entered the room, Brielle felt herself pressed down onto the bed. She couldn¡¯t breathe

    and struggled to push the weight off.

    This time, Max was serious. Her chin was grasped firmly, and there was no escaping the deep kiss.

    It wasn¡¯t until dawn that Max finally released her. Brielle, exhausted, had long since passed out, her

    body bruised and battered.

    Theforter was pulled up to her chest, the room¡¯s heater was cranked up high, and beads of sweat

    moistened the strands of hair on her forehead. Brielle was too tired to

    open her eyes, but she vaguely felt her hands tied and a blindfold over her eyes.

    ¡°No more,¡± she murmured, pushing away and opening her eyes. The blindfold obscured her vision,

    making everything unclear.

    Halfway through the night¡¯s drinking, her consciousness had blurred. Kenzo hadn¡¯t warned her the

    liquor would hit so hard,

    What else did she remember? Right, she remembered seeing Max with his new secretary.

    ¡°Mmm.¡±

    She felt someone behind her, and a cold sweat broke out over her body as she struggled to remove the

    blindfold. This wasn¡¯t the Premier Pce; everything felt unfamiliar.

    Max watched her struggle, then flipped her over and pinned her chin for another kiss.

    Brielle¡¯s struggles intensified. The moment Max untied the necktie from her wrists, she yanked off the

    blindfold. Seeing the person in front of her clearly, her face flushed with

    anger.

    Bastard!

    Max didn¡¯t give her a chance to retaliate. He was already dressed, hisposure restored, knotting the

    tie he¡¯d used on her hands around his neck.

    He was such a jerk!

    Hello wanted to curae put loud but found her throat was hoarse,

    she¡¯d pleaded the night before. There was a deep bite mark on Max¡¯s corbone that she

    She¡¯d begged him, and he hadn¡¯t yielded. In her haze, she¡¯d bitten him hard

    Did it ever necur to you that if i hadn¡¯te for you, you¡¯d be carried off to a hotel room by someone

    else after getting drunk?¡± Max nced at her as he adjusted his tie, then moved to leave the room.

    ¡°Wait.¡± Brielle got out of bed, but her legs gave out, and she dropped to her knees. She qursed him

    again in her heart.

    Max intended for her to learn a lesson, not to be truly angry with her. He hesitated when he saw her

    kneel and her knees redden. After all, he¡¯d teased her all night and had just deliberately frightened her.

    Leaving now would be no better than acting like an jerk.

    He closed the door, returned to the bedside, and tried to lift her. Brielle was furious and tried to push

    him away, but her control slipped, and her hand identally pped Max¡¯s cheek.

    The sound was sharp in the tense air, and silence followed.

    It wa

    intentional.

    The p stung her heart more than his face. It felt like a vice grip on her chest, leaving her breathless.

    Es

    She quickly dressed, grabbed her purse, and fled the hotel like a fugitive. Once in the taxi, she stared

    at her hand for a moment.

    She rubbed her forehead, regretting the p. Her mind was too cluttered for exnations to sound

    anything but weak.

    Suddenly, her phone rang. It was Kenzo checking if her head hurt.

    Instead of returning to the Premier Pce, Brielle went home. She had to nurse her hangover. Her

    stomach churned until she sipped some hot water.

    ¡°No headache, just tired.¡±

    ¡°Tired?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, her face flushed, with marks creeping down her neck.

    She looked away/quickly.

    After exchanging pleasantries, she hung up and sshed her face with cold water.

    She and Kenzo had known each other a while, and she had let her guard down. One ss of that fruit

    wine was enough to muddle her, yet she¡¯d had a whole bottle. By the end of their meeting, her memory

    was fragmented.

    2/3

    11:14

    No wonder Max was angry. It was the second time she¡¯d gotten drunk in a short period And she¡¯d

    pped him. Even though it was light, it still counted.

    The TV continued to re news about Andrew¡¯s impending marriage to Tessa The media had

    sensationalized the childhood sweethearts¡® story, with four days left until the

    wedding.

    Brielle felt agitated and was about to change the channel when another story caught her eye. Infinity

    Brilliance¡¯s research institute was recruiting from top schools, and they¡¯d just unveiled their new dean.

    Alivia¡¯s face sparked a media frenzy as she was hailed a national treasure. Beautiful,

    educated, well¨Cconnected, andpetent, she was the kind of woman who turned heads everywhere.

    Confident and poised, Alivia addressed the media with warmth and assurance.

 Chapter 665

    Chapter 665

    Brielle¡¯s aches melted away in an instant as she watched Alivia dominate the entire TV screen with her

    poised presence.

    This was the official broadcaster, and getting an interview slot here took some real clout.

    Inevitably, the gossip mills churned once more, specting about Alivia¡¯s rtionship with Max. Brielle

    couldn¡¯t care less. With a flick of her wrist, she turned the television off.

    She was in a bit of a fugitive state of mind, avoiding thoughts of Max, and instead headed to Ster

    Stage Entertainment. Upon arrival, someone was already waiting in the lobby¨CJohn¡¯s ex¨Cwife, Amelia.

    Amelia had bided her time before showing up at Ster Stage Entertainment, which showed she had

    some patience.

    Brielle was clutching the script Kenzo had passed to her, and Amelia¡¯s eyes narrowed at the sight of

    that familiar cover.

    ¡°Kenzo¡¯s working with Ster Stage Entertainment now?¡± Disbelief tinged her voice as she sized up

    Brielle.

    Having been through the wringer with Max the night before, Brielle still had a glow in her eyes that

    could be misconstrued.

    Amelia bit back her frustration, ¡°Were you with Mr. Kenzost night?¡± She had parted ways with Kenzo

    just the previous evening, and at that time, he hadn¡¯t found a partner yet. Yet here was his script, in

    Brielle¡¯s hands overnight.

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Wasn¡¯t Kenzo supposed to be indifferent to women?

    Too manypanies had tried to seduce him with beauty before. After all, a script by Kenzo was

    synonymous with untold riches and rave reviews. But every woman sent his way had been turned

    away. Eventually, some tried a different tactic, sending attractive men instead, but to no avail.

    With Brielle looking the way she did, it was hard not to jump to conclusions.

    Amelia had never taken Brielle seriously, who was just the CEO of some nearly bankrupt outfit.

    Ster Stage Entertainment¡¯s cash flow was probably less than her personal bank ount. What kind

    of benefits could this CEO reap?

    She sneered, ¡°I¡¯m Amelia, a director. Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Haywood. I¡¯ve heard much about you.¡±

    Her lips said ¡®pleasure, but her refusal to offer a handshake spoke volumes of contempt.

    Brielle hadn¡¯t expected to be cornered as soon as she stepped into the lobby. She couldn¡¯t

    17/3

    be bothered to engage. ¡°If you have a proposition to discuss, Ms. Amelia, you can coordinate with the

    receptionist. I¡¯ll schedule a time.¡±

    Amelia¡¯s eyes narrowed sharply, almost disbelieving what she heard. How was the CEO of some

    crumblingpany busier than her? Amelia had turned down several invitations toe to Ster

    Stage Entertainment!

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, I believe Ster Stage Entertainment¡¯s stocks are nearly depleted. Thispany might

    not even exist tomorrow, so there¡¯s no need for such airs.¡±

    Still fuming from the morning¡¯s events, Brielle looked up, her patience worn thin. ¡°Ms. Amelia, you

    needn¡¯t worry about Ster Stage Entertainment. Even if you¡¯re done, Ster Stage Entertainment

    won¡¯t be. I¡¯m busy. Good day.¡±

    ¡°You!¡±

    Amelia was so angry she took a few steps to follow but was stopped by security.

    Watching Brielle¡¯s retreating figure, Amelia nearlyughed in rage. Did Brielle even know who she

    was? She was the most sought¨Cafter female director!

    Fuming, Amelia took out her phone and fired off a post on her social media. [Ster Stage

    Entertainment¡¯s CEO is indeed young and attractive, quite the strategist. She¡¯s got my ex¨Chusband

    tamed perfectly.]

    The post insulted two people. It insinuated that Brielle and John had an inappropriate rtionship and

    suggested that Brielle¡¯s sess was solely due to her looks.

    The sight of Brielle¡¯s face made Amelia¡¯s jealousy boiling over. Despite her efforts at self¨Ccare, age was

    an undeniable factor. No amount of cosmetic surgery could hide the traces of time in her eyes.

    Envious that Kenzo had rejected her and instead seemed involved with Brielle, she was livid.

    The women of Beaconsfield desired two men above all. One was Max, the reclusive CEO of Dorsey

    International, who was rarely seen in public. His photos in financial papers were reused for years, and

    he seldom gave interviews.

    The other was Kenzo, with a background simr to Max¡¯s. One was ice, the other water. Max was

    unapproachable, but Kenzo had to make public appearances as a celebrated scriptwriter, giving others

    a chance to interact with him.

    Before meeting Kenzo, Amelia hadn¡¯t ruled out the possibility of something happening between them.

    She had her fair share of liaisons with male artists, some of whom were attracted to a mature woman

    like her.

    But Kenzo had high standards and hadn¡¯t given her a second nce. He must have thought she was

    too old, preferring someone like Brielle.

    Unable to bear being outdone in youth, Amelia was itching tosh out at Brielle in more

    2/3

    09:29

    posts, but as a public figure, she had to restrain herself.

    Brielle had just settled into her office when Aubree¡¯s call came through. Aubree must have just finished

    shooting and had seen the trending topic. She was livid. ¡°What¡¯s with that old hag targeting you? Did

    you see what she posted? Utterly despicable!¡±

    Brielle hadn¡¯t heard Aubree vent like this in a long time. It warmed her heart, and she sighed.

 Chapter 666

    Chapter 666

    Aubree sensed something off¨Ckilter with her emotions. ¡°Bri, it¡¯s been ages since we hit up a bar. How

    about we swing by Tequ Sunset tonight?¡±

    She couldn¡¯t keep feeling nauseous at the mere sight of men. She needed to snap out of it, pronto. And

    where better to find a crowd of men than at Tequ Sunset?

    Brielle was taken aback. She remembered Ricardo¡¯s words ¨C Aubree couldn¡¯t stand being around men

    right now, except for Ricardo, that is.

    Brielle, still nursing a hangover fromst night, knew she couldn¡¯t indulge in drinks again so soon. But

    apanying Aubree for a night out, just to sit and chat, that she could do. ¡°Bri, Mr. Lynch will be

    there too.¡±

    Dustin was in town?

    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.

    Remembering the research institute being mentioned in the news, Brielle wasn¡¯t surprised. Dustin was

    always on the move, flitting from one ce to another.

    After hanging up, Brielle thought to notify Max. As someone still reeling fromst night¡¯s binge, thest

    thing she needed was Max getting wind of her bar ns¨Che¡¯d be livid.

    However, the scene she witnessed the previous night weighed on her, and the words exchanged still

    felt murky in her mind. Was Max the kind of guy to pull a bait¨Cand¨Cswitch with a stand¨Cin? Would he

    have given her that rosary if he was truly smitten with Annie?

    There had to be pieces of the puzzle she was missing.

    Brielle hurried through her work at Ster Stage Entertainment and headed home, intent on digging out

    the rosary. She wasn¡¯t sure what to say by way of apology. Theirst misunderstanding had her

    seeking him out, rosary in tow. Maybe wearing it now would help cool his temper. Perhaps she should

    wear it constantly from here on out.

    But after turning her room inside out, the rosary was nowhere to be found. She was certain she¡¯d left it

    at home. How could it just vanish?

    Her face clouded over as she dialed the property management¡¯s number to request a review of the

    surveince footage. Without knowing the exact date it went missing, the property management was

    less than helpful. ¡°Ms. Brielle, maybe you should just report it to the police or, better yet, install a

    camera in your ce from now on.¡±

    Without a timeframe, the task was too daunting, and it was not within the scope of their

    services.

    Deted, Brielle mulled over the significance of the missing rosary. What would she say if Max

    suddenly asked her to wear it one day?

    She considered the mimunication fromst night and this morning¡¯s p. Now the rosary was also

    missing¨Chow would she mend these rifts?

    She rubbed her temples and nced at the clock. Time was ticking, so she rushed off to Tequ

    Sunset.

    As she was about to get out of the car, she spotted a familiar vehicle in the distance¨CMax¡¯s. Max,

    apanied by Patrick and Annie, was shaking hands with a man in his forties. They acknowledged

    each other with a nod and proceeded inside.

    Brielle sat dazed in the car for a few minutes before her window was rapped on. ¡°Bri,

    what¡¯s got you spaced out?¡±

    It was Dustin¡¯s voice. He was fresh from some formal event and opened the car door. ¡°Did you hear

    me?¡±

    Brielle caught the metallic scent of blood. Was Dustin injured? But in his formal attire, it seemed he had

    juste from a social function.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, are you hurt?¡±

    Dustin grunted, and a sheen of sweat glistened on his forehead. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just a scratch.¡±

    The look on his face told Brielle it was anything but minor. And yet, here he was at the bar. ¡°I¡¯ll take you

    to the hospital.¡±

    ¡°Aubree is waiting inside. I saw some pretty boy with her¨Cis she switching things up?¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t want to delve into Aubree¡¯s troubles, but Dustin added, ¡°That pretty boy looks familiar.

    Can¡¯t ce where I¡¯ve seen him before.¡±

    ¡°Ricardo¡¯s done a lot of odd jobs before and has a memorable face. You¡¯ve probably crossed paths.¡±

    Dustin leaned back, trying to steady his breathing. ¡°Let¡¯s

    go

    inside.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡±

    Dustin was stubborn, so Brielle didn¡¯t press further.

    Inside Aubree¡¯s private booth, several young, attractiveds were lounging about. Brielle¡¯s steps

    faltered as she saw Aubree reach out to touch one of the boys¡® shoulders.

    A vein on Brielle¡¯s forehead throbbed. ¡°Aubree? What are you doing?¡±

    Ricardo looked up, deadpan. ¡°Desensitization test.¡±

    Clear enough, Aubree wasn¡¯t quite there yet. Only Ricardo¡¯s presence was tolerable.

    Dustin settled on the opposite couch, eyeing the pretty boys with a squint, his gaze finally

    resting on Ricardo. Was it really just a case of d¨¦j¨¤ vu from a public sighting?

    Feeling Dustin¡¯s scrutiny, Ricardo just sat there innocently, like a neer to the scene.

    Aubree¡¯s expression soured as she withdrew her hand, thewhelming urge to hurl receding. She

    gestured for the malepanions to leave. But one, not ready to give up, brushed her hand, evidently

    hopeful to stick around.

 Chapter 667

    Chapter 667

    Aubree¡¯s face turned ashen in an instant. She hurriedly pushed open the doors of the private booth and

    made her way to the restroom in the hallway, where she leaned over the sink and began to vomit until

    her eyes reddened.

    The guy hadn¡¯t expected such a reaction and felt a flush of embarrassment that only subsided when

    Brielle produced a credit card aspensation, prompting the

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    disgruntled group to leave willingly.

    The booth was thick with the scent of alcohol and perfume, yet Ricardo¡¯s senses honed in on the

    faintest trace of blood amidst it all. He nced toward Dustin, whose silhouette was obscured by the

    shadows, revealing only a hand clutching an unlit cigarette¨Ca concession to the enclosed space and

    the presence of ady.

    Brielle made to stand and check on Aubree, but Ricardo held her back. ¡°Ms. Haywood, let

    her be for a moment.¡±

    Aubree had braced herself for tonight¡¯s ordeal yet still found herself overwhelmed. She¡¯s probably

    feeling upset right now.

    Reluctantly, Brielle sat back down.

    Dustin hade tonight to inquire about the Sunflower Children¡¯s Home, having heard that Brielle had

    grown up there. Their investigation had led them only as far as that orphanage before hitting a dead

    end. The trail was deliberately erased.

    The Lynch family had spent years mingling in North American high society, rubbing shoulders with the

    offspring of the wealthy and influential and securing their top¨Ctier status. Yet, their domestic influence

    paled inparison to the old¨Cmoney dynasties.

    Dustin had already partnered with the Clements family, but even they could only dig up leads pertaining

    to the orphanage.

    Tonight Dustin had learned that Brielle had undergone a DNA test, which had ruled out the possibility of

    her being the missing sister in Dustin¡¯s family.

    The orphanage¡¯s records were iplete. They were historically managed by the enigmatic director

    Mark, and a fire had destroyed much of the documentation. The new director of the Sunflower

    Children¡¯s Home was clueless about past procedures, and Mark had vanished without a trace.mThe

    mystery deepened.

    Dustin¡¯s questions weren¡¯t limited to the orphanage. He was also interested in Mark. Investigations into

    Mark painted him as an unremarkable retiree, divorced, and out of the spotlight.

    Dustin hadn¡¯t initially suspected anything amiss about Mark until the Clements family¡¯s inquiry into his

    ex¨Cwife hit a dead end. A divorce was one thing, but herplete disappearance was another. Either

    she had gone off¨Cgrid to a ce where no digital

    1/2

    09:30

    footprint was required, or someone had meticulously altered both Mark and his ex¨Cwife¡¯s

    identities.

    The one person who had frequent interactions with Mark was none other than Brielle. Dustin couldn¡¯t

    fathom the coincidence, even warming to the thought of it.

    Noting Brielle¡¯s distraction, Dustin chose not to broach the subject but instead presented her with gift

    boxes. ¡°Bri, this is for you.¡±

    Brielle, pulled from her reverie by his words, focused on the gift boxes before her.

    Not one, but two.

    Dustin was a gentleman. He would never leave ady giftless, especially when meeting two. If Aubree

    were present, she wouldn¡¯t feel slighted.

    ¡°Go on, open it.¡±

    Dustin had given many gifts before, but presenting something to Brielle felt different, special somehow.

    Brielle unwrapped the gift to reveal a diamond that nearly blinded her with its brilliance. ¡°Mr. Lynch?¡±

    The diamond was easily worth millions, its purity unmatched, and its cut was the work of a master.

    Infinity Brilliance, the global diamond authority, would never offer anything but the exquisite.

    ¡°It¡¯s too valuable, I can¡¯t ept this.¡±

    ¡°Keep it. Aubree has one, too.¡±

    Dustin¡¯s tone was nonchnt, the unlit cigarette still between his fingers. Brielle felt less inclined to

    refuse and resolved to return the favor with a gift of her own at some point. ¡°Alright, thank you, Mr.

    Lynch.¡±

    Dustin chuckled, his eyes twinkling. ¡°We¡¯ve got bigger ones at home. If you ever travel abroad with me,

    you can toss these away.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s lips twitched in a half¨Csmile. The world of the wealthy was beyond her imagination. ¡°I heard

    Infinity Brilliance owns a private jet decked out in diamonds?¡± She had read about it in the news, finding

    it outrageous, but with the way Dustin casually spoke about diamonds, it seemed usible.

    ¡°Yeah, grandma always said girls love sparkly things. She wanted to use that jet to pick up my sister

    when she finally came home. But, it¡¯s never been used.¡±

    His sister was still missing.

 Chapter 668

    Chapter 668

    Brielle found herself envying a stranger for the first time in her life.

    Had the little princess not been lost, she would have grown up adored by many. She would have had a

    doting grandmother, loving parents, and a brother who always kept her in his thoughts.

    But s, fate can be cruel.

    Aubree was still in the restroom, leaning against the corridor wall, fresh from throwing up in front of the

    mirror. She had rinsed her mouth but still felt terrible. It was like a fire was burning in her stomach, and

    countless ants were crawling over her body.

    She was about to leave when she overheard a familiar female voice. ¡°Andrew, maybe we . should head

    back. Your wound hasn¡¯t healed, and I¡¯m really worried about you.¡±

    It was Tessa¡¯s voice.

    Andrew had already removed the bandage on his head, requiring only five stitches. He insisted on not

    wearing a bandage, so the doctor took it off. His hand was more seriously injured, and the doctor had

    even removed a piece of ss from it.

    Andrew had insisted oning here for drinks, and Tessa, fearing for his safety, had followed him

    every step of the way, her voice tinged with tears. ¡°Andrew, how about we go try on wedding dresses

    tomorrow?¡±

    Andrew was leaning against the wall, smoking. At the mention of wedding dresses, he paused, his

    fingertips still. He stood nearly six¨Cfoot¨Cthree, and even the male models passing by couldn¡¯t match his

    charm.

    Annoyed by Tessa¡¯s suggestion, he pushed open the door to a private booth and went in.

    Tessa sniffled, worried that her makeup would run after crying. She decided to step into the nearby

    restroom, but the sight of the person inside made her pupils shrink.

    Aubree!

    Aubree raised an eyebrow and let out a coldugh. It was as if that smile provoked Tessa, whose anger

    ring up instantly. ¡°What are youughing at? Didn¡¯t you hear? Andrew and I are going to pick out a

    wedding dress. Our wedding is just days away, and you¡¯re certainly wee to attend.¡±

    Tessa thought about the video, her eyes gleaming with triumph. ¡°Oh, by the way, I forgot to ask

    you, how does it feel to be gang¨Cbanged? You saw the video, right? You were crying so pitifully. I didn¡¯t

    realize you were so slutty. Here you are at the bar again, looking for men. It seemsst time¡¯spany

    wasn¡¯t enough for you. Do you need me to arrange some more for you?¡±

    As soon as Tessa finished her taunt, Aubree pushed her, using her foot, not her hand.

    1/2

    Tessa fell onto the corridor floor, her face turning pale. Aubree stepped on her hand,

    grinding it fiercely. When Tessa cried out in pain, the sensation of ants crawling vanished from Aubree¡¯s

    skin.

    Ah!!

    ¡°Aubree! I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± Tessa yelled in fury, but Aubree had already started throwing punches

    and kicks.

    Andrew came out, seeing a crowd had gathered. Tessa was on the ground, receiving kick after kick

    from Aubree, with footprints marking her cheeks and chest.

    ¡°Aubree!¡± Andrew shouted, pulling her away.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Tessa, sobbing pitifully, looked up at him and slowly stood, nestling into his embrace. With Tessa¡¯s

    build, she was not one to win a fight.

    Aubree, having vented, felt her stomach wasn¡¯t so painful anymore. She didn¡¯t nce at Andrew but

    turned to leave.

    Andrew¡¯s scalp was tingling with anger. He tried to grab her, but Tessa held him tightly. ¡°Andrew, it hurts

    so much.¡± Tessa was truly in pain, finding it difficult even to breathe.

    Andrew¡¯s expression chilled. He swept her up and carried her into his private booth. ¡°Jaired, keep an

    eye on her for me.¡±

    No sooner had he spoken than he turned to chase after Aubree. ¡°Aubree!¡± He caught her at the corner.

    Aubree no longer seemed afraid of him as before, just disgusted. Even the touch of his fingertip was

    revolting to her.

    Andrew pulled her into his arms and into the men¡¯s restroom, barking, ¡°Everyone out!¡± The men inside

    were startled. They quickly made themselves scarce once they recognized him.

    With the door shut, the space became sealed. Andrew trapped Aubree against the door, one foot

    wedging hers in ce and one hand pinning her arms behind her, rendering her immobile.

    Aubree was restrained, her face going pale. Andrew¡¯s free hand grasped her chin, but the action

    caused his wounded hand to throb with pain. He didn¡¯t care and kissed her fiercely. Aubree shook all

    over, biting down on his tongue, drawing blood from both their mouths, but Andrew didn¡¯t stop, hungrily

    devouring her lips like a man possessed.

 Chapter 669

    Chapter 669

    Aubree felt like she was about to hurl, stars bursting in front of her eyes. His lips entangled with hers,

    leaving her gasping for air. The intense battle slowly morphed into a grinding friction.

    Andrew¡¯s forehead rested against hers, and as the image of that pretty boy from the other day shed

    in his mind, a surge of anger swelled in his chest. With one swift motion, he ripped open her blouse, but

    the bitemark on Aubree¡¯s shoulder caught his attention.

    He had never left such a mark on her before, and in that instant, it felt as if his pupils were about to

    explode. ¡°Who did this?! Aubree, who left this mark?!¡±

    He was like a furious lion, and with his height advantage, he scooped her up and seated

    her on the bathroom counter.

    Aubree kicked out in panic, but his question drained all the strength from her body.

    Who left it? How absurd. Wasn¡¯t that a question he should be asking Tessa?

    Aubree had no energy left to argue, meeting Andrew¡¯s bloodshot gaze with a weak smile. That smile

    seemed to stab right into Andrew¡¯s heart, and he desperately wanted to p her.

    This whore had been defiled. She had actually slept with someone else. The thought of her casting that

    hazy, seductive look beneath another man filled Andrew with a burning rage, and he grabbed her hair.

    ¡°Are you that cheap? Are you that desperate for a man?!¡±

    Thest vestiges of color drained from Aubree¡¯s face, his words echoing Tessa¡¯s usations. She was

    on the verge of tears yet stubbornly held on. ¡°Yes.¡±

    Andrew¡¯s breath trembled, and in a swift motion, he hoisted her over his shoulder and marched into a

    private booth. Soon, several men entered the booth, offering their ¡®special services.¡¯ For the right price,

    they would follow a woman back to her ce or directly to a hotel upstairs.

    ¡°Aubree, I never realized just how desperate you were,¡± Andrew sneered. ¡°If you need a man that

    badly, I can find one for you. Why did you have to go outside and pick up such sleazeballs? They¡¯re not

    even clean.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s eyes widened with fear at the sight of the strangers in the booth, wanting to shrink back. But

    Andrew held her tight. ¡°They look pretty good, don¡¯t they? As good as that pretty boy. If you like, I can

    let them have you right now. How about that?¡±

    Aubree trembled, unable to utter a word.

    Andrew¡¯s heart was scorched with rage when he saw her tremble. He gestured to one of the servers.

    ¡°You,e here, kiss her.¡±

    The man hesitated, saw Aubree¡¯s pitiful, tear¨Cstreaked face, and felt a twinge of

    1/2

    Swallowing nervously, the man cautiously stepped forward, reaching out to touch Aubree¡¯s cheek.

    Aubree reacted as though stung, tears streaming down her face as she desperately tried to recoil.

    Andrew just grabbed her ankle, pulling her back, and sneered, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You said you were

    desperate, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    Aubree was beyond words, shaking uncontrobly. The man reluctantly followed Andrew¡¯s orders,

    pinched Aubree¡¯s chin, and moved in to kiss her.

    Aubree turned her head away, her nails digging deeply into the sofa, struggling to push him away. She

    bent over, wanting to vomit, but nothing came out. She wished she could vomit her very heart out!

    She wanted nothing more.

    Seeing her reaction, Andrew felt an unbearable prickling sensation. He barked, ¡°Get out.¡±

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    The man had only put on a show. It was clear that Andrew was only trying to scare Aubree. At

    Andrew¡¯smand, the man quickly let go.

    Andrew pulled Aubree into his embrace, his grip on her chin unrelenting as he continued to kiss her.

    Aubree could no longer struggle, the pain spreading from her heart indescribable. What did she even

    love about Andrew?

    She loved the way he stood by her, his valor, his looks, and his role as her savior. She loved the thrill

    he brought into her life, all the poetic moments they shared.

    She thought being with Andrew would lead her to the ultimate paradise, but she was pushed into the

    deepest hell. She thought love could mend her regrets, but ironically, love itself created more.

    The man who had always shone brightly in her heart, fierce and wild, suddenly became

    unrecognizable, scarred beyond belief. This realization made her wish she could just die.

    Andrew felt her stop struggling, and his expression softened. His heart unexpectedly warmed.

    He didn¡¯t understand himself. He should have been disgusted with Aubree, tainted with the touch of

    another man. But as his anger faded, what remained was an aching tenderness.

    He pulled her closer, his lips finding the mark on her shoulder, kissing it ever so gently.

 Chapter 670

    Chapter 670

    He¡¯d leave marks on Aubree too, but they were the kind of marks you suck into the skin¨Cthey¡¯d fade in

    a few days, not like these bloody ones that screamed of a wound. He had never torn into her with such

    fury. What was it about the pretty boy that she liked so much?

    Aubree huddled up, her skin broke out in goosebumps, and her tears soaked her clothes. She wanted

    to p him, but her hand felt like it was made of lead:

    The jerk had built her a fairy tale, only to shatter it mercilessly. Her sincerity was a joke to be trampled

    on. Her affection became trash, the kind you step on andin about it being underfoot.

    She couldn¡¯t even muster the strength to push him away. She was no match for Andrew when it came

    to brute force. Her teeth chattered as she felt an arm wrap tightly around her waist and press her down

    onto the couch.

    Andrew¡¯s head was buried in the crook of her neck, his voice hoarse. ¡°What happened to you?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s pupils shrank slightly, her emotions a mix ofughter and tears. It was always like this. A p

    followed by some sweet words, and she¡¯d been domesticated toply.

    She felt sick to her heart, yet her body couldn¡¯t resist Andrew. She wanted him to treat her like before,

    to hold her tight and ravish her with mad desire.

    Pathetic.

    This body was tamed and no longer her own. She was utterly powerless before him.

    Why was she the only one stuck in hell? Why were Andrew and Tessa still doing fine, nning a

    wedding, and stepping over her to pluck the fruits of love?

    It just wasn¡¯t fair.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Andrew¡¯s kisses trailed down her neck, his breathing growing ragged, his voice tight with clenched

    teeth, ¡°Break up with that pretty boy!¡± Then,e back to him.

    0 = 40 A? AE IS

    A pang shot through Aubree¡¯s heart, and she gave a wan smile. ¡°Are you sick or something?¡±

    Andrew felt a dry, stabbing sensation spreading from his heart to his limbs. ¡°Aubree, I¡¯m not disgusted

    by you. You should be grateful.¡±

    He let go of her and patted her face gently. ¡°Does he know you¡¯ve been in my bed for

    years?¡±

    Aubree slowly got up from the couch, feeling a flicker of energy return. ¡°I¡¯ve been with you for so long,

    and that makes me the one who¡¯s tainted, right?¡±

    11.40

    You say that one more time?!¡± Andrew¡¯s eyes fared with anger again. You think I¡¯m dirty?

    Aubree was his first, and he had indeed relished the experience of unlocking doors to new worlds. But

    marrying Tessa was non¨Cnegotiable. They both knew that from the start. He couldn¡¯t fathom Aubree¡¯s

    sudden change of heart.

    Tve only ever been with you. How many have you been with? What right do you have to

    call me dirty

    Aubree was buttoning up her shirt, fighting the urge to cry. ¡°Four.¡±

    Andrew thought he had misheard, his eyshes fluttering in disbelief.

    Aubree just looked straight at him, a lightugh escaping her. ¡°Four. I am dirty, so don¡¯t touch me

    again.¡±

    Andrew stood up abruptly and pped her across the face. The blow turned Aubree¡¯s cheek aside. It

    didn¡¯t hurt. It seemed no matter what he did to her, she couldn¡¯t feel the pain anymore, just a dead

    numbness

    ¡°Slut!¡± That was all Andrew left her with before he stormed out.

    Aubree sat in the empty lounge, the silence enveloping her, punctuated only by her breathing and the

    ¡°drip¨Cdrop¡± of tears hitting the floor.

    Outside the lounge, Andrew punched a wall, his breathing erratic with fury. Blood coated his knuckles,

    reopening old wounds.

    Passersby watched fearfully, but no one dared to stop and ask what was wrong.

    Andrew rubbed his reddened eyes, feeling their sting one moment and his nose tingle the

    next

    Everything was off.

    Returning to the lounge, he found Jaired still holding onto Tessa, who sat on the couch, crying silently.

    Jaired, seeing Andrew return, felt like his head was about to explode. ¡°You¡¯re finally back, man. She¡¯s

    been crying so much, she¡¯s nearly flooded the ce.¡±

 Chapter 671

    Chapter 671

    Tessa flung herself into Andrew¡¯s arms the moment she saw him, her voice tinged with urgency.

    ¡°Andrew, let¡¯s go home. I don¡¯t want to stay here anymore.¡±

    She had been truly terrified, afraid that Andrew would vanish again, afraid he would take Aubree

    upstairs to some sleazy hotel room. Thankfully, he came back.

    Jaired was nursing a ss of whiskey, his eyes scanning the empty space behind Andrew as he asked,

    ¡°Where¡¯s your sister? Didn¡¯t Tessa say you were chatting with her?¡±

    A tremor of rage quaked through Andrew¡¯s chest, his frustration threatening to break free. He yanked

    Tessa close and stormed out of the VIP lounge without a word.

    Tessa tasted blood in her mouth, a bitter reminder of how quickly Andrew could discard her whenever

    Aubree was around. He left her alone and spent what felt like an eternity with her rival. What had they

    talked about?

    Her teeth chattered with rage. Ever since the downfall of the Rond family, she had been too scared

    to contact anyone else. Andrew was her only sanctuary from being outcast by their social circle.

    She was haunted by nightmares where Andrew chose Aubree, who pities her with those sympathetic

    and patronizing eyes.

    Tessa forced back the metallic taste of blood. She wouldn¡¯t allow that scenario to y out, not even in

    death. She would be with Andrew no matter what.

    Tonight was the night. Once they got home, she¡¯d make sure to take their rtionship to the next level.

    Then Andrew would never leave her. After all, she was untouched, while Aubree was nothing but a

    cast¨Coff, someone people slept with and discarded! Andrew would surely choose Tessa.

    With that thought, Tessa masked her resentment with weakness, nestling vulnerably into

    Andrew¡¯s embrace.

    Andrew watched their reflection in the elevator¡¯s polished metal walls. The shadows of his rage,

    jealousy, and anger seemed to tear at each other, burning inside him.

    Four.

    He scoffed. They had been apart less than a month, and she had already been with three other men.

    The thought disgusted him. He would never touch Aubree again.

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    He took a deep breath but could feel his hand, the one holding Tessa, trembling with unrestrained fury.

    Every muscle in his body tensed.

    Tessa, wrapped in his arms, felt the storm of emotions raging within him. She bit down hard, holding

    him even tighter. Just one more night, and she would sleep with Andrew.

    11:41

    Back in the lounge.

    Jaired, feeling lost, turned to Kenzo, who appeared nonchnt on the couch, ¡°Did I say something

    wrong?¡±

    Cradling a ss of bourbon, Kenzo shook his head slowly, prompting Jaired¡¯s curiosity. ¡°Did you see

    Andrew¡¯s head wound? I heard he ripped off the bandages and came straight here. His hands were

    stained with blood, too. I¡¯m worried he might¡¯ve run into Max, and they fought again.¡±

    Kenzo showed no concern. His jacket was discarded nearby, revealing a camel¨Ccolored sweater. He¡¯d

    beenpletely indifferent, even as Tessa wept and wailed within these walls, not offering a single

    word of sce.

    He was like a lone rose, untouched by the chaos around him. His tall, lean figure lounged on the sofa,

    exuding azy, gentle vibe.

    Next to him, Jaired looked like a thorn, all rough edges and tension.

    Jaired propped his head on his hand. ¡°Kenzo, you seem curious about nothing. I¡¯m talking about

    Andrew being back in the hospital and his injuries looking worse. Aren¡¯t you the least bit curious if Max

    was behind it? Andrew stormed out of the hospital tonight and must¡¯ve been furious. That must¡¯ve

    opened his wound again, right?¡±

    Of the four, Jaired considered himself to be quiteposed. But no one could outdo Kenzo¡¯s stoicism.

    Different from Max¡¯s coldness, Kenzo was just smoldering.

    Kenzo offered a wry smile, his hands idle. ¡°Did you invite Max?¡±

    ¡°No, but I saw his car. He must be somewhere around here tonight.¡±

    E OY Y Y Y Y E

    Kenzo leaned back, his tone mild. ¡°Andrew got hit by Aubree. If Max hadid a hand on him, the whole

    town would¡¯ve known by now.¡±

    Just like their public brawls, Andrew wasn¡¯t the type to let things slide. His silence meant it was Aubree

    who had struck.

    Jaired chuckled, scratching at his buzz cut, about toment when Max pushed through the door. He

    wasn¡¯t in his usual suit but wore a different colored coat paired with a matching scarf

    Jaired let out a ¡°damn¡± so loud he nearly sprang from the sofa. He rubbed his eyes, making sure he

    wasn¡¯t seeing things. Max, the guy who seemed to be born in a suit, was actually dressed down, and

    Jaired was visibly shocked.

    Kenzo¡¯s reaction was muted, his gaze resting on the scarf. Under the dim light, the pattern was hard to

    discern, but it¡¯s clear that the hands that crafted that scarf were skilled, and

    the pattern woven into it was exquisite.

 Chapter 672

    Chapter 672

    Kenzo¡¯s gaze lingered for a moment before he looked away.

    Max was sitting next to Jaired, who couldn¡¯t resist the urge to fiddle with the scarf around Max¡¯s neck.

    ¡°Have I ever seen you wear one of these things before?¡±

    Jaired¡¯s hand hadn¡¯t even reached out before Max swatted it away. Another crisis had just been

    averted, and Jaired could feel the tension in the air as if another bomb was about to go off.

    Max was in a foul mood, and it was as if a chilling aura surrounded him. Jaired felt as though he might

    be cut by the icicles emanating from Max and instinctively retracted his hand, his fingers curling up

    slightly.

    ¡°What¡¯s with you guys tonight, all acting like you¡¯re on edge? Just now, Andrew was outside going off at

    his sister, then came in looking like he was ready tomit murder, and you¡¯re not far off from that

    state either.¡±

    Max took off his coat, carefully cing his scarf on top of it with a deliberate gesture. Beneath the coat,

    he wore a suit, clearly having just finished some business negotiation. He casually unfastened his

    cufflinks and tossed them onto the couch.

    Jaired was tempted to ask about the deal Max had been working on, but sensing his bad mood, he

    decided against asking and getting an earful.

    Jaired¡¯s phone rang. He pressed the answer button, and his brain exploded with urgency. It was Tessa

    again. He grabbed Max. ¡°To the parking lot! Something¡¯s happened to

    Andrew!¡±

    Max¡¯s eyshes fluttered. He had known Andrew for years, and despite their differences, they never

    completely cut ties. Hearing that Andrew was in trouble, he followed Jaired to the parking lot without

    hesitation.

    From a distance, they could hear Tessa¡¯s piercing screams and the sounds of a brawl. As Max and

    Jaired approached, they saw Andrew in the center of a scene with a dozen thugs on the ground, all

    groaning in pain.

    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    Andrew¡¯s palms were dripping with blood, but he seemed oblivious to the pain.

    These men had tried to harass Tessa.

    It was Tessa who had called Jaired, worried that Andrew, in his current state, wouldn¡¯t be able to

    handle the thugs, who were skilled and ruthless, regardless of consequences.

    The underground parking lot, connected to several entertainment venues, was a notorious hangout for

    troublemakers.

    Jaired¡¯s scalp tingled with tension as he rushed forward and gave a final kick to one of the thugs. ¡°Get

    lost! All of you, get lost! Are you blind or what?!¡±

    11:41

    The thugs hadn¡¯t expected to meet such resistance and scrambled away.

    Both Jaired and Max could tell that Andrew was barely holding on. He had just been discharged from

    the hospital, his body still healing from injuries, and now he had taken down so many people. He was

    likely to pass out at any moment.

    Sure enough, once the thugs had fled, a sweat broke out on Andrew¡¯s forehead, his eyes bloodshot as

    he tried to light a cigarette, hands shaking, but before he could get it lit, the cigarette was snatched

    away. He looked up, ready tosh out, only to find Max standing there. His irritation red. ¡°What are

    you doing here?¡±

    Max tossed the cigarette into a nearby trash can, his brow furrowed in disapproval. ¡°Looking for more

    trouble?¡±

    Andrew couldn¡¯t help butugh bitterly, reaching out to grab Max¡¯s cor. Max nced at the blood on

    Andrew¡¯s hand with disdain and kicked him away. Andrewnded with a thud on the hood of a car

    behind him.

    Damn Max and his high horse!

    Jaired nced at Tessa, still teary¨Ceyed, and couldn¡¯t suppress a chuckle. ¡°You two are getting married

    in a few days, and the news is already out. Do you want your bride to walk down the aisle with swollen

    eyes? Doesn¡¯t Tessa have health issues? With your constant brawling, she¡¯ll end up back in the

    hospital worried sick about you.¡±

    Andrew¡¯s sense of reason returned, and he fell silent.

    in

    The parking lot grew quiet. Tessa walked over and hugged him tightly. Guilt welled up Andrew¡¯s heart.

    Tessa was infinitely better than Aubree. At least she didn¡¯t aggravate him. He got to his feet and

    nced at the security cameras, then called the police to have the thugs locked up for a few days.

    Jaired noticed Andrew¡¯s bleeding hands and sighed. ¡°Do you need to go to the hospital?¡±

    Andrew was already getting into his car. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll take Tessa home. You guys go up and have a

    drink. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡±

    Jaired and Max stood still, noticing the bloodstains on the steering wheel, both with furrowed brows.

    But the car had already driven off.

    Jaired turned to see Kenzo, his fingers pinching a cigarette, standing at a distance. He couldn¡¯t help but

    throw an arm around Kenzo¡¯s shoulders. ¡°You¡¯re the calmest one of us. Even Maxnded a kick on

    Andrew.¡±

    Kenzo rarely smoked, but now he snuffed out his cigarette. ¡°Are we going back up?¡±

    No one felt like drinking anymore, but their belongings were still in the private room. When they

    returned to the room, Max¡¯s expression darkened immediately. His coat, scarf, and cufflinks were all

    missing. Jaired¡¯s phone and Kenzo¡¯s coat had vanished as well.

    Chapter 672

    Jaired burst intoughter out of sheer frustration, his teeth bared in anger.

    ¡°This is Tequ Sunset, isn¡¯t it? How could someone have the nerve to steal here? They must be

    looking for trouble.¡±

 Chapter 673

    Chapter 673

    The manager of Tequ Sunset was contacted, and he scrambled to pull up the surveince footage.

    However, there were no cameras inside the private suites, so all they could see was a shadowy figure

    entering a suite and leaving with a bag in hand.

    The manager felt a chill run down his spine and cursed under his breath. How could this slick thief steal

    from three VIPS in one go?

    Tequ Sunset might require membership for entry, but they allowed all members to bring their male

    and femalepanions. Considering this ce was a veritable gold mine, it¡¯s no surprise it¡¯s caught

    the eye of top¨Clevel thieves in the past. Loss is not a new concept here. But losing clothes? That¡¯s

    unheard of. And to top it off, we¡¯re not talking about any average clothing item, we¡¯re talking about a

    tiny, hand¨Cknitted scarf.

    Jaired was almost ready to write it off as bad luck, but Max¡¯s icy voice came through, ¡°Find them.¡± That

    meant they were going to chase this down to the end.

    Jaired was puzzled. Thieves bold enough to target Tequ Sunset typically had strong anti¨Csurveince

    skills. If something were lost, the lounge would usually reimburse the original price, and no one would

    bother pursuing the matter, but Max seemed to take a particr interest in this.

    ¡°Max, your coat, scarf, and cufflinks, all together, are worth what, a few million?¡± Jaired tried to reason.

    A cold glint passed through Max¡¯s eyes as he insisted to the manager, ¡°Find them.¡±

    The manager jumped, feeling as if a mountain was crushing down on his head, and quickly

    acknowledged the order. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Max, we¡¯ll notify all the staff right away.¡±

    Max¡¯s eyshes fell. He was silent for a moment before he spoke in a hoarse whisper, ¡°I don¡¯t care

    about the rest. Get the scarf back to me.¡±

    The manager bowed even lower, assuming the scarf was studded with hundreds of diamonds or some

    other rare collectible. He wasted no time in alerting the staff to find it.

    Brielle¡¯s suite was notified that an important guest had lost a valuable collectible. They were asked to

    remain in their rooms to avoid any misunderstanding. Brielle¡¯s eyebrow arched at themotion

    Tequ Sunset was making. This important guest must¡¯ve been quite significant.

    Aubree still hadn¡¯t returned/Brielle frowned and was about to call when Dustin stood up, taking a gift

    box from the side.

    ¡°Bri, I¡¯m stepping out for a smoke, and while I¡¯m at it, I¡¯ll bring your friend back. With your status, you

    should stay here with him,¡± Dustin offered.

    As the CEO of Infinity Brilliance, Dustin could wander around without raising suspicion of

    1/2

    12.36

    being a thief, but Brielle¡¯s status might not afford her the same luxury, especially since the missing item

    was a top¨Ctier collectible, supposedly priceless. She couldn¡¯t afford to cross swords with Tequ

    Sunset just yet.

    Dustin grabbed the gift box, a cigarette between his fingers, and stepped out. He intended to find a

    smoking area, but as he passed by the suite at the end of the hallway, he spied through the small

    window in the door and saw Aubree sitting alone. Raising an eyebrow, he opened the door and walked

    in.

    The suite was dimly lit, and he heard the sound of sobbing.

    Dustin¡¯s initial teasing words caught in his throat as he sat down beside her. ¡°Hiding out here to lick

    your wounds? Or did you run into your heartbreaker and get wounded by a few harsh words?¡±

    He hit the nail on the head, noticing Aubree¡¯s stiff, trembling posture. Dustin¡¯s eyes narrowed, recalling

    Ricardo¡¯s mention of a desensitization test. Was Aubree always this fearful of men?

    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    When Andrew had pushed her towards him before, she had managed to kiss him withposure,

    hadn¡¯t she? What on earth had happened in such a short time?

    ¡°Bri¡¯s worried about you. Let¡¯s go back.¡±

    Aubree was barely able to stand, but then she saw a gift box ced before her. ¡°Maybe a gift will cheer

    you up?¡±

    Aubree looked down, wiping the tears from her face, and rasped, ¡°Thanks, Mr. Lynch, but you should

    take it back.¡±

    Dustin raised an eyebrow and opened the gift box. Inside was a giant diamond, just like the one he¡¯d

    given to Brielle. He was honestly just tossing these things around like ¨C ythings.

    ¡°Seriously? Is there a woman out there who could refuse a diamond?¡± His words were genuine.

    Usually, such gifts brought joy, screams, and a night of passion with his

    Aubree broke intoughter at his words,but as sheughed, her face turned pale once more. The

    diamond was pristine and pure, and she felt undeserving.

    She thought someone like her was only fit to receive wildflowers as gifts.

 Chapter 674

    Chapter 674

    She lowered her eyes and pushed the gift box across the table. ¡°Thanks, Mr. Lynch, but! don¡¯t have

    any use for this.¡±

    Rising to her feet, a wave of dizziness swirled through her head, nearly sending her crashing to the

    ground. Dustin caught her, his instinct to call Brielle, but Aubree stopped him, ¡°Don¡¯t bother Bri with

    this. Let¡¯s not add to her troubles.¡±

    As she spoke, a sour sting pricked the tip of her nose, and tears threatened to fall once

    more.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything wrong, and I just don¡¯t understand why things turned out this way. Maybe I

    was too greedy and always believed that if I just waited, he would notice me. That when he got tired, he

    woulde back.¡±

    Maybe Andrew wasn¡¯t tired yet and still had the energy to tangle with her, but she had grown weary

    first. She really didn¡¯t want to see Andrew again. His words were like poison, and she refused to endure

    his cutting remarks any longer.

    Aubree pushed away the hand Dustin offered, her tone self¨Cdeprecating, ¡°Mr. Lynch, I¡¯ll be able to walk

    on my own. There¡¯s no need to dirty your hands.¡±

    Dustin stood still, his eyes losing their luster at her words. ¡°I¡¯ll call Bri. I won¡¯t mention you¡¯re upset and

    just say that I¡¯m seeing you home.¡±

    In her current state, Aubree might copse halfway and get took advantage of.

    ¡°Thanks, Mr. Lynch.¡± Aubree leaned against the nearby wall, covering her face with her hands, her

    whole being exuding utter defeat.

    When Brielle got the call, she was ready to leave, but just then, the door to the private room swung

    open, revealing an employee from Tequ Sunset.

    First, with utmost politeness, they exined the situation. Tonight¡¯s drinks were on the house, but they

    needed to conduct a thorough search of the VIP room because a guest had lost something very

    valuable.

    The clientele of Tequ Sunset were usually rich or famous, and this incident tonight was bound to

    offend many. Topel Tequ Sunset to risk such offense in search of an item indicated its immense

    value.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Brielle wasn¡¯t offended by the intrusion. After the search was over, they brought in a bottle of wine

    worth tens of thousands aspensation.

    Staring at the bottle on the coffee table, Brielle chuckled. ¡°Ricardo, who lost their stuff? They¡¯re making

    such a fuss. What did they lose, the royal seal?¡±

    Tequ Sunset wasping drinks for every private room and even providing a bottle of expensive

    wine aspensation. The loss must be in the millions. Yet Tequ Sunset¡¯s

    12:36

    staff carried out their task without flinching, clearly under the orders of some very

    Important guest.

    Brielle¡¯s room had been searched, and they were free to go. Brielle was at Tequ Sunset to

    apany Aubree. With her gone, there was no reason to stay. She handed the bottle to Ricardo.

    ¡°Take it home and enjoy.¡±

    Ricardo was stunned. ¡°Is it okay to take this?¡±

    Seeing his surprised expression, Brielle sighed. This kid probably hadn¡¯t been to such ces before

    nor sipped such fine wine. ¡°This is worth a pretty penny. It¡¯d be a waste not to drink it. Take it. There¡¯s

    no rule against taking the drinks home.¡±

    Ricardo nodded, and a genuine smile was on his face. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Haywood.¡±

    His smile was pure, and it lifted Brielle¡¯s spirits. She ruffled his hair affectionately ¨C he was like a little

    brother to her.

    Following the staff¡¯s directions, they made their way to the first floor. As Brielle was about to get into her

    car, she caught a glimpse of Max¡¯s new secretary. She was wrapped in a scarf and busy on a phone

    call. ¡°I don¡¯t want to stay here as a secretary either. I¡¯ll find a way back soon and exin everything to

    Max. He doesn¡¯t want me to leave for now, and I don¡¯t know why, but I will handle it as quickly as I can.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s gaze fixed on the scarf around Annie¡¯s neck. She knew it well because she had knitted it

    herself. Even the iris at the end of the scarf was identical to the one she had

    made for Max.

    Max had given away the scarf she had made.

    A chill settled in Brielle¡¯s eyes as she watched the woman get into a car, her voice light and airy,

    seemingly unaware of Brielle¡¯s presence.

    Brielle stood motionless, feeling the night¡¯s chill creeping up from the soles of her feet, spreading coldly

    to the crown of her head.

    She hoped she was mistaken.

 Chapter 675

    Chapter 675

    Ricardo stood behind her, watching as she seemed lost in thought. He couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Ms.

    Haywood, are you worried about something you saw online?¡±

    Brielle shook her head, herplexion a bit off. ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. You don¡¯t have to. Someone¡¯sing for me.¡±

    With no choice but to feignposure, Brielle shed him a weak smile. ¡°Alright, then I¡¯m off.¡±

    Ricardo nodded at her, cradling the bottle of wine in his arms as if it were a precious treasure.

    After Brielle left, the car that Annie had been sitting in mysteriously reappeared, pulling up in front of

    Ricardo. As soon as Ricardo got in, Annie engulfed him in a bear hug. ¡°Ricky, I¡¯ve missed you so

    much!¡±

    He gently pushed her away, his brow furrowed in annoyance. ¡°Miss Annie, what do you want with that

    scarf?¡±

    Annie took off the scarf, ced it aside, and let out a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m on a little mission, which is way more

    fun than offing someone. Ricky, why are you hanging around Brielle?¡±

    Wrapping an arm around his, her eyes sparkled with excitement. ¡°How about we go out and have some

    fun?¡±

    Ricardo stared at her face, scrutinizing it for a long while. ¡°It¡¯s been ten years, Miss Annie. You and Ms.

    Haywood could be twins.¡±

    Annoyed by the repeatedparison, Annie waved it off. ¡°Forget about her. It¡¯s because of this face

    that I could strike a deal with Michael. Ricky, your skills are as sharp as ever. There¡¯s no mission you

    can¡¯tplete, no prize you can¡¯t nab. Heh.¡±

    Resting against the car seat, Ricardo frowned impatiently. Annie was just as noisy as a child, and that

    hadn¡¯t changed.

    Noticing his silence, Annie stopped talking and carefully tugged at his sleeve. Ricardo just held the

    wine bottle, and ignored her.

    Annie sighed and pulled out candy from her purse, popping it into her mouth.

    ¡°You¡¯re still like a kid, Miss Annie.¡±

    Her face lit up when he finally spoke. ¡°Why are you with Brielle? Come with me instead.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯lle back when I¡¯m bored.¡± He stepped out of the car, still holding the wine bottle. Annie was

    reluctant to let him go and tried to follow him, but Ricardo pushed her back. She put the window down,

    her eyes pleading. ¡°Ricky, if I take care of Brielle for you, will youe back then?¡±

    1/2

    12:36

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Murray was driving the car and tensed up, wary of Ricardo¡¯s potential reaction. But Ricardo just stood

    there, his tone casual. ¡°Are you trying to take my toy?¡±

    Annie¡¯s face darkened. She settled back into her seat, her eyes downturned in disappointment. ¡°I get it.

    I¡¯ll wait for you.¡±

    After the window closed, Murray consoled her, ¡°Miss, he¡¯s always been like that. Don¡¯t be

    sad.

    Annie crossed her arms, gazing outside with a heavy look. ncing at the scarf, she grabbed it in a fit

    of anger and tore it apart before setting it on fire with a lighter. The car filled with mes, but neither of

    them seemed to care. When the fire grewrger, Murray stopped the car amidst the gasps of

    bystanders.

    Annie seemed amused. ¡°This is fun.¡±

    ¡°Miss, I¡¯m d you had fun, but let¡¯s go before we draw Max¡¯s attention. Michael wouldn¡¯t want you to

    reveal your true nature so soon. Better to be careful.¡±

    Annie pouted. ¡°I hate Brielle. One day, I¡¯ll get rid of her!¡±

    ¡°Miss, when Ricky¡¯s done with her, I¡¯ll deliver her to you as a pet.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the best.¡±

    Their conversation was always so chillingly straightforward, referring to Brielle as nothing more than a

    ything.

    Meanwhile, Brielle¡¯s car was parked in the courtyard of the Premier Pce.

    Wesley heard the engine and stepped outside, and his face lit up at the sight of her. ¡°Ms. Brielle.¡±

    She looked a bit pale but managed a smile.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, I¡¯ve made some soup.¡±

    ¡°Wesley, it¡¯s not necessary. I¡¯m just tired and want to sleep.¡±

    Wesley sighed, instructing someone to bring her a soothing ss of warm milk.

    Brielle retreated to her bedroom, lying in bed, haunted by the scenes she¡¯d witnessedst night and the

    scarf from this evening. She tried tofort herself, believing it was all her imagination, just drunken

    hallucinations. She resolved to ask Max directly when he returned.

    But then she had lost the rosary, and her lips twisted into a bitter smile.

    She waited until 3 a.m., dark circles forming under her eyes, but Max never came. A chill swept over

    her body, and she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of dread.

 Chapter 676

    Chapter 676

    At six in the morning, she left the Premier Pce and made her way to Ster Stage Entertainment.

    There were paparazzi camped out at the entrance of Ster Stage Entertainment. Catching sight of her,

    they shouldered their cameras and moved in.

    ¡°Brielle, word has it you¡¯re the new head honcho at Ster Stage Entertainment. How¡¯d yound the top

    spot?¡±

    ¡°Is it true you¡¯ve got a little something¨Csomething going on with Director John?¡±

    ¡°Did you know Director Amelia sted you on social mediast night?¡±

    This was Brielle¡¯s first close¨Cup with the entertainment industry¡¯s hounds, and she was out of her

    comfort zone. Despite running on no sleep and with a head full of clutter, she faced these questions

    with a stoic expression, addressing the cameras. ¡°Director Amelia might want to keep her phone lines

    clear because she¡¯ll soon be receiving a subpoena for spreading rumors. I¡¯d advise some caution in her

    statements as she is a public figure.¡±

    With that, she pushed past the microphones and headed inside.

    ¡°Brielle, cut the act! You¡¯ve been trending before! When you were a director at Dorsey International,

    rumors swirled that you climbed thedder by cozying up to a string of men, and that¡¯s why you got

    demoted to Ster Stage Entertainment.¡±

    Brielle stopped in her tracks and turned to face the male reporter who had spoken. He had a weaselly

    look about him, the type who thrived on stirring the pot.

    ¡°Who says I cozied up to a bunch of men? Got any proof?¡± She crossed her arms, her

    brow firm with confidence.

    ¡°Or is it because of my looks that people think that¡¯s the only way I could ge? to where I am? My track

    record at Dorsey International is crystal clear. Since I started there, I¡¯ve handled at least thirty major

    mergers and acquisitions involving billions of dors. I¡¯ve been at the top of the performance reviews

    every year. As for cozying up to men, do you care to give specifics? Or do you mean to say that an

    attractive andpetent woman can only have gotten ahead on her looks?¡±

    Brielle deftly shifted the focus, turning the question into an issue of gender bias, which immediately

    stirred the female reporters.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t there a report that said she aced her college entrance exams and was top of her ss at

    Beaconsfield College?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, and she represented Dorsey International at international auctions abroad while she was

    still quite young, rubbing shoulders with the North American moguls. Everyone saw that live broadcast.

    She was quite self¨Cassured.¡±

    The female reporters exchanged nces, their demeanor softening.

    11:37

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, are you really going to sue Amelia?¡±

    By now, Brielle had entered the lobby and nced at her phone. ¡°Sorry, folks, if you¡¯re

    looking for an interview, please schedule a time. I¡¯m not a celebrity. I¡¯ve got a

    meeting to attend. Any other questions can be directed to our PR department, who will arrange a press

    conference. Also, I¡¯ve just secured a coboration with Mr. Kenzo, and Ster Stage Entertainment is

    looking to bring even better content to our audience soon, so stay tuned.¡±

    The mere mention of Kenzo made the crowd seem as though they¡¯d been struck dumb. Ster Stage

    had snagged the rights to a Kenzo script?

    That was unbelievable. Countlesspanies had been shut out trying to coborate with Kenzo, who

    penned no more than two scripts a year. Histest project had been fiercely coveted. Yet, Ster Stage

    Entertainment had quietly secured the rights.

    Brielle offered a warm smile, her aloof aura melting away. ¡°See you next time.¡±

    Those who¡¯de with an agenda to smear her felt a sudden warmth at her smile. Everyone loved to

    see cute girls.

    By the time they snapped out of it, Brielle was already ascending in the elevator. As the elevator doors

    closed, the smile faded from Brielle¡¯s face, and she listened in silence to the sound of its ascent.

    As soon as she reached the top floor, she received a call from Mason. Thepany, Book, had thrown

    down the gauntlet. They had toe up with a counterstrategy this month.

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    Brielle felt a wave of irritation. ¡°I¡¯m aware. Book¡¯s project is being spear who probably wants to take a

    big bite out of us with a major news sto they¡¯re stirring up trouble.¡±

    nded by William,

 Chapter 677

    Chapter 677

    ¡°Hey Brielle, are you tight with the folks over at Dorsey International?¡±

    Mason, a tech wiz through and through, didn¡¯t bother with online gossip and was even less interested

    in Brielle¡¯s personal life. He¡¯d only reach out to Brielle for work¨Crted matters, spending most of his

    time at thepany¡¯s overseas branches.

    ¡°Yeah, send thetest updates to myputer, and let¡¯s set up a meeting forter.¡±

    Mason didn¡¯t hang up, and Brielle thought he had something more to say. He then asked, ¡°How¡¯s

    Tiffanie doing? Is she busy?¡±

    Brielle paused, ¡°When¡¯s thest time you saw her?¡±

    Mason¡¯s face turned a shade of crimson, and he awkwardly ruffled his hair. ¡°Well, she came over to see

    me, and, uh, after we¡­ you know¡­ she left. That was about ten days ago.¡±

    His stammering made it clear that he found the topic rather embarrassing. Brielle fell silent. She had

    never disclosed the rtionship between the two, and now it was even harder to speak up.

    Mason took a deep breath, ready to face the embarrassment. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I did something wrong.

    She¡¯s not been answering my callstely. Could you call her and check. in when you¡¯re free?¡±

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll check up on her.¡± After hanging up, Brielle rubbed her temples and walked into her office,

    feeling exhausted. She called Donny in and set herself up with an online public ount, listing her

    position as President of Ster Stage Entertainment.

    The ount was quickly approved, and most artists from Ster Stage Entertainment followed her

    promptly.

    Brielle found Amelia¡¯s tweet, which tantly criticized her for herck of decurum. She retweeted it with

    ament. [Don¡¯t delete this. Wait for the court summons.]

    The night before, Brielle hadn¡¯t paid any mind to the news online or checked her phone. She was

    preupied with the memory of Annie wearing the scarf and the fact that Max hadn¡¯te home,

    leaving her feeling anxious and unsettled.

    And now, she had to deal with a challenge from her opponent so early in the morning. Her features

    sharpened with determination, and she took the opportunity to arrange a meeting with Tiffanie to

    discuss both Amelia and Mason.

    Once Brielle¡¯s ount was verified and she retweeted Amelia¡¯s post, she instantly drew the attention of

    many online users.

    ¡°Is that the real Brielle? This a new ount, right?¡±

    11:38

    Chapter 677

    ¡°That¡¯s a verified tag: the CEO of Ster Stage Entertainment. The media was hounding her earlier, so

    it must be her.¡±

    ¡°Talk about bold. Amelia¡¯s fans are gonna have a field day with this.¡±

    Indeed, Brielle wasmbasted by the public. Firstly, she wasn¡¯t a celebrity with a massive fanbase, and

    the artists from Ster Stage Entertainment who followed her didn¡¯t pack much punch. Secondly,

    Amelia was well¨Cconnected with numerous stars whose fans numbered in the millions. So, Brielle¡¯s

    blunt response led to her trending online amid a barrage of insults.

    After posting, Brielle let herwyers handle the legal side of things and moved on.

    By noon, Tiffanie showed up, still sporting her trendy look,plete with sleeve tattoos. Chewing gum,

    she looked around Brielle¡¯s office andmented, ¡°This ce is way less fancy than Dorsey

    International.¡±

    Brielle put down her pen and asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you taking Mason¡¯s calls?¡±

    Tiffanie stopped her chewing for a moment, sensing a tone in Brielle¡¯s voice that eerily resembled

    Maxie¡¯s. It must¡¯ve been her imagination.

    ¡°It¡¯s just, once you¡¯ve had your fun, the thrill¡¯s gone.¡±

    What a heartbreaker!

    ¡°I hear you¡¯re nning to push Aubree into showbiz. How about me?¡± Tiffanie seemed to have brushed

    off Mason as she eagerly awaited Brielle¡¯s opinion.

    Brielle took a moment before frowning. ¡°Are you ying with his feelings?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s too serious. It¡¯s boring.¡± Tiffanie looked down. She was slightly afraid of people who

    were too earnest.

    ¡°Tiffanie,¡± Brielle called her out, ¡°not everyone is an Everett or Victoria.¡±

    But Tiffanie steered clear of that topic, shifting the conversation. ¡°You didn¡¯t call me here just for this,

    did you? Is it about that Amelia thing? I have friends who know her. She¡¯s quite the party animal for her

    age. She was in a friend¡¯s VIP room and took home two guys in one night.¡±

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Brielle rubbed her forehead, allowing Tiffanie to dodge the Mason issue. ¡°Got any proof?¡±

    Tiffanie leaned in, her smile growing. ¡°Maxie¡¯s been downtely, and I didn¡¯t get a chance to shake him

    down for some cash. You¡¯re gonna help me out, right?¡±

 Chapter 678

    Chapter 678

    Max¡¯s name made the strained smile on Brielle¡¯s face faded. She picked up a check. ¡°I¡¯m not rolling in

    cash like he is¨Cthere¡¯s only ten million here.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s plenty.¡± With a flick of her wrist, Tiffanie toyed with the USB drive in her hand, her expression

    cocky. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, that old hag¡¯s news will blow up the trending searches. soon enough.¡±

    She referred to Amelia as an ¡°old hag,¡± though in truth, Amelia was quite well¨Cpreserved and was the

    only female director of note who had won awards. She had her fair share of aspiring male actors willing

    to hook up with her to advance their careers.

    As John had once revealed, it was Amelia¡¯s promiscuity that was her downfall. When John caught her

    red¨Chanded, she worried he would go public with the news, so she preemptively concocted a story of

    John being abusive and unfaithful, casting herself entirely as the victim.

    Over the years, Amelia had crafted a sessful public persona. Society had a soft spot for strong,

    independent women. In the public eye, Amelia was a woman who had been dealt a bad hand in love,

    but had risen from the ashes of her divorce to carve out her own sessful path. She¡¯d even be

    a vocal advocate for women¡¯s issues on social media, preaching about financial independence,

    independent thought, education, and more. She¡¯d even boldly imed that she was done with men for

    life.

    If Amelia hadn¡¯t built up a public image of fearing men, then the video wouldn¡¯t have fazed her. As a

    single, wealthy woman, a fling with a handsome man would have been merely a private indiscretion.

    But she had built this image, and was iming to be done with men while secretly calling in not one but

    two male escorts for the night. It was the height of hypocrisy.

    Brielle knew she could trust Tiffanie with this matter, as she had connect. n all sorts of ces and

    always managed to unearth something surprising.

    As Tiffanie stood to leave, Brielle couldn¡¯t help but think of Mason and gave her a gentle reminder.

    ¡°Mason¡¯s serious about you.¡±

    Mason was a tech geek who had spent most of his life buried in books and technology, hardly ever

    interacting with women. A naive soul like him was no match for Tiffanie¡¯s charms, and he¡¯d fallen for

    her quickly. But Tiffanie¡¯s upbringing had been so different from Mason¡¯s that she couldn¡¯t bring herself

    to trust men, let alone believe in love. The more serious Mason got, the more Tiffanie pulled away.

    Aplex look flickered in Tiffanie¡¯s eyes, and she pulled out a cigarette, lighting it up right there.

    ¡°Brielle, don¡¯t worry about me and Mason,¡± she said.

    Brielle knew Tiffanie smoked. Her form was practiced and effortless¨Ca clear sign of years of habit.

    1/2

    11:38

    I¡¯m off then. By the afternoon, Amelia¡¯s scandal will be all over the news. Later.

    Tiffanie¡¯s cigarette wasn¡¯t the harsh kind. It had a sweet, fruity aroma. She took a few puffs and then

    tossed it in the trash. Brielle shook her head resignedly.

    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    After finishing up with Ster Stage Entertainment¡¯s paperwork, she called over Donny and handed him

    Kenzo¡¯s script. ¡°Take a look at this, and pick out some suitable actors from Ster Stage. Remember,

    they have to be a good fit. This is a solid script, and we can¡¯t afford any casting mistakes.¡±

    Donny¡¯s hands trembled with excitement, his eyes even misting over. This was Kenzo¡¯s work. Anyone

    in showbiz knew his name. His scripts were typically reserved for top¨Ctier directors, and now Donny

    had the chance to handle one, maybe even cast one of his talents in it. This was no pie in the sky¨Cit

    was the whole bakery!

    ¡°But Ms. Haywood,¡± Donny interjected. ¡°John¡¯s tied up with his own projects. Who¡¯s going to direct this

    one?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Doesn¡¯t Ster Stage have any directors?¡±

    ¡°There are a few, but they¡¯re a bit¡­ peculiar. Still, with Kenzo¡¯s script, I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll want to take

    charge. It¡¯s just that they might not be too keen on casting a neer as the lead.¡±

    After all, a movie¡¯s cast was a guarantee of its box office potential. John¡¯s situation was unique. He had

    to work with two neers.

    Brielle massaged her temples. ¡°Just make sure I review the performance of whoevernds the lead

    role.¡±

    Donny¡¯s face lit up. ¡°I¡¯ll go talk to the director right now!¡±

    After wrapping up her morning tasks, Brielle found herself with some downtime, idly checking her

    phone. The busyness of Ster Stage had filled her thoughts, but now, the scarf incident lingered in her

    mind. After much deliberation, she decided to visit Dorsey International at lunch.

    Meanwhile, at Tequ Sunset¡­

    The staff were pale, avoiding nces with the icy figure within. Max sat quietly in the VIP lounge with

    an unconscious Jaired beside him. Kenzo had already left for the day.

 Chapter 679

    Chapter 679

    A scarf had led to an all¨Cnight manhunt, but the thief might as well have vanished into thin air. Despite

    turning every private lounge Inside out, there was no trace to be found. Moreover, there was a

    concurrent cyber attack on the surrounding security systems. This job was so slick it had to be the work

    of someone on the international most¨Cwanted list.

    The staff couldn¡¯t fathom what was so special about Mr. Dorsey¡¯s scarf that warranted such a massive

    uproar from the thieves. Could it possibly bear the secrets of Dorsey International¡¯s business

    strategies?

    Everyone was baffled and on edge.

    Max had been sitting on that couch all night, his eyes now half¨Cclosed, his thoughts a mystery to all.

    The rest of the room remained silent, not daring to speak.

    ¡°Go on. Get out,¡± he said, his voice barely above a whisper, likely having given up on the scarf.

    Those present felt a wave of relief wash over them as they shuffled out of the lounge, their bodies

    heavy with exhaustion.

    Themotion stirred Jaired, who had been dozing off to the side. He stretchednguidly and rubbed

    the sleep from his eyes. ¡°Did you find it?¡± His voice was still rough with sleep.

    Max was irritated and yanked at the tie around his neck, his usually impableposure now visibly

    disturbed.

    ¡°No.¡±

    Jaired was now fully awake. ¡°It¡¯s just a scarf, right? Why all this fuss? You must¡¯ve lost at least a

    hundred million just shooing away the guestsst night. What kind of scarf costs that much? I heard the

    staff gossiping about it being covered in Dorsey International¡¯s business secrets.¡±

    Jaired was jesting, of course, knowing full well that no trade secrets would be woven into a scarf. But

    he was just as curious about what made this particr scarf so valuable.

    Max was in a foul mood. He had taken such care of that scarf, having it cleaned and maintained daily,

    never expecting it to disappear after just a week of wear. His lips pressed into a thin line, but his

    expression softened slightly at the thought. ¡°Brielle made it.¡±

    Jaired thought he¡¯d misheard and froze, then dug a finger into his ear. ¡°Say that again?¡±

    A loss of a hundred million, alienating numerous guests, and having the staff at Tequ Sunset scour

    the ce all night all came down to a scarf that was hand¨Cknitted by Brielle.

    Wasn¡¯t it just an ordinary scarf?

    Jaired was in disbelief! He wanted to curse out loud but didn¡¯t know where to direct his anger, so he

    managed to blurt out, ¡°Damn! Love is a real piece of work!¡±

    Life seemed to be one foolish move after another, and love was a folly chased by two fools.

    Utterly pointless.

    After his outburst, Jaired kicked a table, regretting the wasted night in the lounge. Kenzo was right to

    have left early. He was likely enjoying a good night¡¯s sleep by now.

    Max said nothing, feeling the weight of several restless days, and as the lounge quieted down, he

    leaned back on the sofa and fell asleep.

    Patrick entered, intending to report on a charred car that had been found with the remains of the scarf

    inside. Barely anything was left of it, unrecognizable from its original form. It might have been better if it

    hadn¡¯t been found at all.

    The previous night¡¯s citywide electrical issues and surveince interference meant no footage captured

    the thief¡¯s exit. Clearly, whoever was behind this had a strong motive, but Patrick couldn¡¯t puzzle out

    what they truly intended to steal. Was the scarf just a secondary prize, and had they stolen something

    far more valuable from someone else?

    Seeing Max asleep, Patrick thought of exiting quietly but heard a hoarse voice ask, ¡°Did you find it?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it went up in mes with the car. Just a pile of ash left. It¡¯s no use to anyone now.¡± Patrick

    thought Max had been sleeping, but he

    was wide awake.

    ¡°Hmm.¡± Max grunted, a pang of tightness/spreading across his chest.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you go up to the penthouse suite to rest, sir?¡±

    Rest was thest thing on Max¡¯s mind, as there was an unexined silent treatment between him and

    Brielle, and now the missing scarf was left unounted for.

    ¡°Did you track the hacker fromst night?¡± Which faction was it?

    ¡°We did, but they set up a dummy ID. We almost had them in less than ten seconds, but they retreated

    fast. All we know is they were in Beaconsfield.¡±

    10:18

    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    Keep digging:

    Will do

    Max rose, an Icy aura enveloping him. Patrick followed, unsure of his next move. Once in the car, he

    meant to inquire further but instead

    noted how Max leaned back, his neck arching slightly to reveal a stark Adam¡¯s apple.

    He looked aloof and unreachable, yet now tinged with a hint of destion.

 Chapter 680

    Chapter 680

    Patrick¡¯s heart soured inexplicably as he thought about the possibility of a spat between the CEO and

    Ms. Brielle. Thest thing he wanted was for them to be at odds.

    Even in sleep, Max¡¯s brow was furrowed as if worries gued his dreams.

    Patrick was supposed to drive to

    to Dorsey International, given that Max was a workaholic and would most likely want to head to the

    office at this hour. But seeing the dark circles under Max¡¯s eyes, Patrick took the liberty of steering the

    car towards Premier Pce instead.

    Max was tall, and even though the car was spacious, it still seemed a snug fit for him as he dozed off.

    ¡°Sir, you should hit the hay on a proper bed,¡± Patrick suggested.

    Max slowly opened his eyes to the sight of Premier Pce, said nothing, and got out of the car.

    Wesley approached, ready to mention Ms. Brielle¡¯s visit the previous evening. But noticing the chill

    surrounding Max and catching warning shake of the head from Patrick behind him, he promptly shut his

    mouth, sensing trouble.

    Max went straight to his room, took a shower, and theny down to rest. It was probably the first time

    since taking the helm at Dorsey International that he skipped a workday to sleep in the bedroom during

    broad daylight.

    The bed still held Brielle¡¯s scent, as if she had justid there the night before. Though exhausted, Max¡¯s

    sleep was elusive as her scent tickled his nose, making his eyshes flutter.

    He got up and went back into the bathroom, showering in cold water for an hour. It was winter, and the

    cold water was a stark awakening for his senses.

    After the shower, he didn¡¯t leave the room but instead pondered when he might fall ill.

    Max¡¯s constitution was robust. Sespite a recent fever and a relentless work schedule, two hours under

    cold water didn¡¯t seem to induce sickness. His already paleplexion looked even worse. His aura

    was so icy it seemed it couldnce those around him.

    Meanwhile, Brielle had arrived at the top floor of Dorsey International. Stepping out of the elevator, she

    encountered Annie carrying a stack of papers. Annie did not recognize her and merely nodded politely.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    For Brielle, stepping onto the top floor required a bit of courage, especially after the office had buzzed

    about herst encounter with

    Max.

    From the moment she entered Dorsey International, everyone, even the receptionist, recognized her

    face. As she entered the top floor, her colleagues cast curious nces. Those who had been slouching

    quickly straightened up as if the CEO¡¯s wife was inspecting them.

    Oblivious to these subtleties, Brielle was about to enter Max¡¯s office when she saw Annie step in ahead

    of her.

    Annie ced a cup of coffee on Max¡¯s desk and began arranging his papers. On seeing Brielle,

    surprise flickered through Annie¡¯s eyes. ¡°Are you here for Mr. Dorsey? He¡¯s taking a nap and asked not

    to be disturbed,¡± Annie said while continu to tidy the desk.

    Brielle watched Annie¡¯s practiced motions as she opened Max¡¯s drawers. This prompted Brielle to say,

    his drawers.¡± Even Patrick needed permission before delving into them.

    esn¡¯t like others touching

    Annie looked up with a smile. ¡°I asked him, and he allowed me to. That¡¯s why I¡¯m doing it.¡±

    Brielle felt a wave of difort, as anyone might when speaking to someone who looked so much like

    themselves. Although strictly speaking, Annie¡¯s face only bore a fifty percent resemnce to Brielle¡¯s.

    ?? ?? ? ?? ? ?? ? ?

    As Brielle stood by the desk, she watched Annie continue to clean. Her fingertips were tense as if she

    were caressing a lover¡¯s body.

    Annie, noting Brielle¡¯s continued presence, got irritated slightly. ¡°Do you need me to wake Mr. Dorsey?

    He didn¡¯t sleepst night and has just nowid down.¡±

    Her words implied that Max was in the resting room.

    Annie¡¯s tone held no provocation. She was simply doing what a secretary should, leaving Brielle unable

    to act as she might with prying journalist.

    Brielle wanted to say she¡¯d wait, but just then, the cleaningdy entered, apparently ready to disinfect

    Max¡¯s office. Max had a mild case of germaphobia, and his office was routinely disinfected every other

    day. Under these circumstances, Brielle couldn¡¯t stay and had to step out.

    Annie followed her and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°I don¡¯t mean to offend, but may I ask about your

    rtionship with Max? You and I sort of

    resemble each other.¡±

 Chapter 681

    Chapter 681

    Just a few words seemed enough to let Brielle¡¯s imagination fill in all the remaining details, but Brielle

    was exceptionally cautious and serious when it came to matters involving Max. She wouldn¡¯t suspect

    him into the proverbial lion¡¯s den without hard evidence.

    She also opted not to contact him over the phone because she understood all too well that when two

    people were in love and at odds, even the slightest disturbance could set the other off.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Even the pause between breaths, hesitation could easily be misconstrued. Hurt could be easily inflicted

    through a screen, so it was always better to ask questions face¨Cto¨Cface.

    ¡°I¡¯m his girlfriend.¡±

    After Brielle said this, she saw a sh of oddness cross Annie¡¯s eyes. ¡°Max has a girlfriend?¡±

    Brielle couldn¡¯t tell whether Annie was acting or genuinely unaware of her presence in Max¡¯s life. Since

    she didn¡¯t feel any hostility from Annie, she didn¡¯t rebut every word with relentless counter¨Carguments.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Annie looked down, a smile in her eyes, but her words carried a hint of confusion. ¡°How could he have

    a girlfriend?¡±

    Realizing the inappropriateness of herment, she quickly looked up. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean anything

    against you. It¡¯s just that my godfather never mentioned Max having a girlfriend.¡±

    Brielle kept a smile on her face, her tone even. ¡°Well, now you know.¡±

    ¡°The scarfst night¡­¡±

    Annie paused for a few seconds before tentatively continuing, ¡°Did you knit the scarf Max wore?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Brielle had no intention of lying. She was curious to see what Annie really wanted to say.

    ¡°I¡¯ll bring it back to you this afternoon. I didn¡¯t know it was your handiwork.¡± Annie bowed slightly, a

    sincere gesture.

    ¡°No need. I gave it to Max, so it¡¯s his to do with as he pleases.¡± Brielle¡¯s tone remained steady as she

    reached the private elevator.

    Annie pressed the elevator button for her. ¡°When Max wakes up, I¡¯ll let him know you were here.¡±

    *Thanks.¡±

    Brielle stepped into the elevator. Her brow furrowed only when the doors began to close.

    In the hallway near the emergency exit, Annie couldn¡¯t suppress augh, tugging at her own face. She

    was acting more and more like Brielle.

    Max was not actually in the resting room, but she was certain Brielle wouldn¡¯t check. And even if she

    did, Annie had a hundred ways to clear her name. She licked her lips with the tip of her tongue.

    Initially, Annie was reluctant to take on this task. After all, she had genuinely earned her teaching pos

    youngest female professor. She had no desire to y house with these people.

    + Harvard and was the

    Her life was full of thrills and excitement. She never considered others. She even found Alivia¡¯s

    hypocrisy somewhat distasteful.

    But after agreeing to cooperate, the thrill of acting in front of everyone was exhrating. She nned to

    work hard to drive a wedge between the couple, to drive Ricardo away from Brielle, so that she could

    treat Brielle like a pet.

    Annie¡¯s treatment to pets were exceptionally cruel. She would pluck the feathers from a parrot that

    prided itself or feed a noble Persian cat rotten dead rats instead of kibble.

    Pets were nothing more than cheap tools to satisfy her whims. She never saw Brielle as a person.

    Brielle didn¡¯t leave Dorsey Tower immediately. She knew how exhausted Max had beentely. She

    stopped by a nearby hotel to pick up a

    what¡¯s up hearty chicken soup, intending to deliver it herself. But just before stepping into the elevator,

    she got a call from Dustin. ¡°Bri, with your friend? She was crying her eyes out all night like it was the

    end of the world, and now she¡¯s all perky, ready to shoot a film. Is she bipr or what?¡±

    Before Brielle could respond, Aubree retorted in the background. ¡°Mr. Lynch, could you not diagnose

    someone with bipr disorder to their face, please?¡±

    Aubree¡¯s voice was hoarse, barely audible, indicating she had indeed cried most of the night. Brielle felt

    a tightness in her chest. With only three days left to Andrew and Tessa¡¯s wedding, many had received

    their invitations, and knowing Tessa, she¡¯d likely send one to Aubree, too.

    After ending the call, Dustin sent a message. [I¡¯m not being an rmist, but she¡¯s really not okay. You

    better keep a close eye on her these next few days.]

    He sent a message to prevent Aubree from eavesdropping.

    [Bri

    she was calling out for Andrew all night long.]

 Chapter 682

    Chapter 682

    Brielle¡¯s chest ached with numb pain. Worry gnawed at her Insides at the thought of Andrew, that jerk,

    getting married soon. She feared Aubree might do something foolish out of despair. So she hurriedly

    left the soup she was carrying on Max¡¯s office desk, and dashed off to Aubree¡¯s shoot.

    The set was closed off, but most of the crew were staff from Ster Stage Entertainment who

    recognized her, allowing her easy ess.

    She spotted Aubree acting opposite Ricardo, but her gaze drifted towards Dustin. He stood with his

    arms folded, an odd fit against the dingy backdrop of the set. Yet, even in such rough surroundings, his

    presence hinted at a man born to wield power.

    ¡°Bri.

    Dustin arched an eyebrow, smiling at her with his charming, flirtatious eyes.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, did you take Aubree homest night?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s your friend, isn¡¯t she? I wouldn¡¯t neglect her. After I dropped her off, she cried all night, clutching

    her face. Just look at her eyes.¡±

    Indeed, Brielle could see the puffiness in Aubree¡¯s eyes, but it happened to fit the role she was

    ying¨Ca girl tormented and forlorn¨Cso it wasn¡¯t out of ce.

    Dustin stepped closer to Brielle, his voice low enough for only the two of them to hear. ¡°Desensitization

    tests? What¡¯s that about?¡±

    Brielle opened her mouth, but naturally, she couldn¡¯t spill Aubree¡¯s secrets. The more people who

    knew, the more danger Aubree would be in.

    Dustin wasn¡¯t one to pry excessively. Seeing Brielle¡¯s silence, he understood there must¡¯ve been a

    reason. ¡°I¡¯ve got things to handleter, but I dropped byst night because I had a few questions for

    you. Let¡¯s sit for a bit.¡±

    Unsure of Dustin¡¯s questions, Brielle joined him on a pair of chairs set aside on the set.

    ¡°Bri, do you know Mark?¡±

    Surprise flickered across her face. Of course, she knew him. ¡°He¡¯s the head of Sunflower Children¡¯s

    Home, the man who raised me until I was brought back to the Haywood family at age ten.¡±

    She noticed Dustin¡¯s demeanor shift from teasing to serious as she spoke. ¡°I had someone check into

    him. He¡¯s divorced now, a retiree.¡±

    ¡°Yes, he has a kind heart.¡±

    ¡°Not to hide anything from you, Bri, but I¡¯ve mentioned before that my sister went missing back home.

    Thetest lead we have involves Sunflower Children¡¯s Home. It might be inurate, but there are

    many doubts surrounding the home. Our people haven¡¯t been able to locate Mark¡¯s residence, and

    even his ex¨Cwife has vanished.¡±

    Brielle felt bombarded with too much information, momentarily stunned. After a minute to process, she

    recalled a past mix¨Cup.

    Mark had called her once, iming that a top¨Ctier family had lost their little princess, who was possibly

    amongst a group of girls from the home. Brielle and Lillian had both been candidates for a DNA test.

    1/2

    15

    the results revealed an as the daughter of the Haywood family, while Brielle was an orphan with

    ording to Mark someone had abandoned Brielle at the orphanage¡¯s doorstep, nearly frozen to

    death. Mark had sent a fortune to save her, which led to his wife leaving him. So, as an adult, Brielle

    kept in touch with Mark and treated him like family.

    She never expected the so¨Ccalled top¨Ctier family to be the family behind Infinity Brilliance¨Cwhat a twist

    of

    ¡°Mr. Lynch I was womed for Mark¡¯s safety, so I had him relocated far from Beaconsfield. I can give you

    a contact number. Hopefully, you can find your sister soon.¡±

    Dustin looked at her, a soft chuckle escaping him. ¡°Alright.¡±

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    He handed off the number to his people, mentioned other leads to follow up on, and promptly left.

    Brielle watched his retreating figure, envying the princess who was always being sought after by her

    samity. She herself was like an unwanted weed sprung from nowhere.

    Meanwhile, at Dorsey Intemational, shortly after Brielle left, Max arrived at his office. He hadn¡¯t rested

    long at Premier Pce and had taken several cold showers to stay sharp. His skin was still icy to the

    touch, his expression as if frosted over.

    Entering his office, he saw the soup on his desk

    Annie came in with a cup of coffee, spotting him, and hastily offered, ¡°Max, I noticed you¡¯ve been

    working hard, so I got you some soup from the hotel. It¡¯s the chef¡¯s special. You look a bit pale. Give it a

    try.¡±

 Chapter 683

    Chapter 683

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Max wouldn¡¯t touch anything prepared by another woman, so he gently pushed it aside. ¡°No thanks,

    just focus on your tasks at hand¡±

    Annie picked up the soup with a nod. ¡°Shall I take this and offer it to someone else? Here¡¯s your

    coffee.¡±

    ¡°Coffee¡¯s handled by Patrick.¡± His voice was indifferent as he settled into the leather office chair and

    booted up hisputer.

    Annie didn¡¯t press any further, carrying the coffee and soup out of the office. She had be well¨C

    acquainted with the top brass by now. Back at her desk, she slid the bowl of soup towards her

    neighboring colleague.

    ¡°Max girl whipped this up. He didn¡¯t want it. Have at it, will ya? My stomach¡¯s off this morning; can¡¯t

    stomach a sip.¡±

    With that photo of Brielle and Max¡¯s kiss making the rounds, Annie¡¯s colleague definitely knew about

    Brielle. Brielle had be something of a celebrity within Dorsey International. Thepany chat had

    been buzzing for days.

    When Max was still remotely handling business from abroad, he was held in near¨Cmythical regard. In

    the flesh, he was practically untouchable. His interest was strictly on work and nothing else. Who would

    have guessed he¡¯d nt one on an employee right there against the office wall?

    The memory alone was enough to set hearts racing. It wasn¡¯t them Mr. Dorsey kissed, but witnessing it

    felt like a whirlwind, sending shivers down their spines.

    Mr. Dorsey clearly fancied Ms. Brielle, but why did he turn down her homemade soup?

    Annie¡¯s decision to offer the soup to this particr colleague was no coincidence. She knew the

    woman loved a juicy bit of gossip, especially about the higher¨Cups. True to form, the woman lifted the

    lid, snapped a photo, and flung it into the group chat with hundreds of employees. [Can you believe my

    luck? Sipping on soup made by the boss futuredy herself.]

    A wave of question marks flooded the chat, and the colleague, unable to keep a secret, spilled the

    beans. [Ms. Brielle made it for the boss, but he passed it off to Annie. She said she wasn¡¯t feeling it and

    gave it to me, hehe.]

    When the M&A folks in the chat saw this, one, feeling a touch irked, forwarded the screenshot to

    Brielle.

    Brielle was on set with Aubree at the time. She pursed her lips upon seeing it.

    Her colleagues seemed miffed, chattering nonstop. [What¡¯s this about Annie not having an appetite

    Haywood, everything okay with you and the boss?]

    Brielle lifted her hand and massaged her forehead, without making a reply. She genuinely didn¡¯t know

    what

    to say.

    Furthermore, she was unclear of Annie¡¯s intentions. All she saw was that Annie portrayed herself

    impably. However, seeing Annie by Max¡¯s side, exhibiting a temperament and appearance strikingly

    simr to her own, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of unease stir within her heart.

    Silence fell briefly in the staff chat before the sleuths began to theorize.

    [They must go way back. Could Mr. Dorsey be with Brielle because of her and Annie¡¯s simr looks?]

    1/2

    15:11

    Chapter 683

    The conjecture set the rumor mill spinning Just as the conversation was picking up steam, the chat was

    abruptly disbanded, leaving everyone¡¯smends hanging and unanswered

    The admin had dissolved the group.

    Patrick, sening the matter settled, handed Max his phone. ¡°Sir, all taken care of¡±

    Max was in the midst of a video conference, his demeanor icy, his face frosted over. He finished up in

    silence and then looked up. ¡°Is Brielle still at Ster Stage Entertainment?¡±

    Patrick nodded, ¡°Seems like it.¡±

    Max reached for his coat, ready to take the initiative, but after a few steps, a shadow crossed his eyes

    Brielle had fled after that idental p and had not sent a message or called since. From his

    perspective, it hardly seemed right to chase after her. If Brielle cared even a bit, she wouldn¡¯t be so

    coldly

    indifferent.

    A restlessness flickered across his features. Whether psychological or not, he felt a fever brewing.

    ¡°Patrick¡± He called out, and Patrick was at his heels in an instant. ¡°Tell Brielle I¡¯m working sick. Wouldn¡¯t

    listen to anyone who tried to stop me.

    2/2

 Chapter 684

    Chapter 684

    Patrick¡¯s lips tightened, suppressing theughter in his eyes. ¡°Sure thing, I''ll let Ms. Brielle know right

    away,¡±

    Max returned to his seat, his long, lush eyshes casting a shadow over his dark eyes, betraying a hint of barely visible hurt.

    Brielle was waiting for Aubree to wrap up for the day. She noticed that Aubree had paused while the makeup artist touched up

    her makeup, so she ced her handbag on the table and stepped forward to help:N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Aubree¡¯s eyes were indeed swollen. Brielle sighed as she looked at Aubree¡¯s reflection in the mirror. ¡°Cried a bit, huh?¡±

    Today''s scene happened to be a tearjerker, so the swollen eyes didn¡¯t hinder the schedule.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t muster a word. Her throat was too sore, and she pitifully pointed to it. Brielle stepped out to fetch a cup of water

    for her. With the makeup artist present, Brielle refrained from offering advice, simply stating, ¡°How long do you n to cry over

    him? You gonna keep this up forever?¡±

    Just the mention of his name and the sight of his face was enough to bring on the tears. What was the point of a love that could

    only lead to breakdowns?

    To Aubree, Andrew represented disappointment, embarrassment, and a void of darkness. Once upon a time, she would¡¯ve

    broken all her pride for Andrew¡¯s love. But what about now?

    It didn¡¯t take long for the touch-up, and sensing they needed privacy, the makeup artist tactfully stepped out. The door had

    barely clicked shut when Brielle let out a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m worried you''ll do something foolish.¡± From childhood, the people around her

    always seemed to be leaving. It felt like only Aubree had stayed by her side all this time. Sometimes, Brielle even wondered if

    she was cursed with some fate of solitude.

    Aubree rubbed her eyes, her voice hoarse and heavy with sorrow. ¡°I got their wedding invitationst night. They''re getting

    married in three days.¡±

    Asharp look crossed Brielle¡¯s eyes. Tessa had not missed her chance to capitalize on the situation.

    ¡°Bri, I¡¯m thinking of getting revenge.¡±

    After a sip of water, Aubree¡¯s voice became clearer, her eyes churning with something fierce.

    Brielle frowned, knowing all too well that Aubree was spineless in front of Andrew. How would she seek revenge with her swollen

    eyes and frail body?

    ¡°Bri, you¡¯ve done enough. The Rond family¡¯s down. Let¡¯s not bother with Tessa anymore I''ll de. her myself.¡± Aubree¡¯s grip on

    the cup tightened, her eyes icy.

    True love was trampled underfoot until numbness took over, while insincerity was what got people desired.

    Brielle didn¡¯t know what Aubree was nning. She only wanted Aubree to be alive. Whatever happened, Brielle would stand by

    her.

    With Aubree¡¯s affirmation, Brielle got into her car, ready to leave the set. As she started the engine, she nearly hit a crew

    member, mming on the brakes in rm. ¡°Are you okay?¡± She opened the car door,

    1/2

    15:11

    Chapter 604

    stepping out to check on him, only to see the man wearing a hat, his hands covered in scars. The box he was carrying had

    fallen, spilling various parts needed on set

    Was be an employee?

    Brielle bent down, noticing his twisted ankle as he struggled to walk She quickly tried to help pick up the

    parts

    ¡°| got this!¡± The man¡¯s voice cut through. He was trying to hide his identity, but Brielle recognized him

    It''s Spencer.

    His face was pale and flushed, frantic to gather the parts back into the box, but his injuries to his foot and hand made him

    stumble and fall. His hat tumbled off. There he was, sprawled unexpectedly at Brielle¡¯s feet. His cheek bore a wound, likely from

    a fight, and a bandage adorned his forehead.

    The once high¡ªand¡ªmighty rich guy now seemed lower than amonborer.

    Brielle wanted to speak but didn¡¯t know what to say

    Spencer''s lips were tightly pressed,

    his eyes red with the struggle to pick

    up his things. Brielle could guess he

    a XY\

    was still prideful and was.audiding

 Chapter 685

    Chapter 685

    After thelle Boished speaking, she watched as he picked up his hot from the ground and ced it on

    his head this loup was more pronounced as he started to leave.

    Youre not seekingpensation, but if anything else goes wrong with your foot, don¡¯te crying to

    me she called after him.

    Spencet paused, feeling pain searing through his whole body, and tears suddenly sprang to his eyes as

    he but his lips hand. ¡°Get lost i don¡¯t want your money, he spat out bitterly.

    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    tuelle was taken aback by his prideful outburst. If that was how he wanted it, then she wouldn¡¯t insist on

    INIVING

    Not far from where held started walking off, Spencer¡¯s pain became too much, and he sat down on the

    corb His ankle was swollen, and other injuries were beginning to throb.

    Sweat beaded on his forehead, and as he saw Brielle¡¯s car turn down a side road, his eyes reddened

    with emotion. It only he hadn¡¯t gotten involved with Lillian and had realized from the start that it was

    Brielle he liked, he might not have made so many foolish mistakes.

    It was toote to have regrets now.

    Just like she had said once, if he wasn¡¯t a Dorsey scion, he probably would never have been able to be

    in her orbit. She had climbed her way to the top, bing the CEO of Ster Stage Entertainment,

    swiftly reorganizing thepany¡¯s corrupt core, andmanding respect from everyone.

    Such a radiant figure should have been his wife.

    Spencer¡¯s tears flowed more freely as he wiped them away awkwardly, gathered the strength to pick up

    his case, and headed into the studio.

    Meanwhile, Brielle¡¯s car was at a crossroads. She nced at her phone¨Cno messages, no missed

    calls. Her heart felt empty as she waited for the green light, then decisively drove towards Dorsey

    International. He should be awake by now, right?

    All she wanted was ten minutes to talk, particrly about the situation with Annie.

    In the rearview mirror, Brielle caught a glimpse of Spencer¡¯s hobbling figure, and her expression

    darkened. She had to admit that Michael Dorsey yed hardball, ousting Spencer from the family

    without a penny to his name. Even with his grandson injured like that, Michael didn¡¯t bother to check in,

    seemingly content to let Spencer fend for himself.

    Brielle knew this wasn¡¯t her fight, but it left a chill in her heart all the same. If Michael could be th

    ruthless with Spencer, he wouldn¡¯t spare Max either when the day Max wouldpletely disappoi

    really came.

    Brielle gripped the steering wheel tightly. She didn¡¯t realize that the atmosphere at Dorsey

    International¡¯s top floor was one of brooding silence.

    Patrick had tried calling her several times, but each attempt was met with a disconnection. It wasn¡¯t that

    no one answered. The calls were intentionally cut off.

    He sneaked a nce at Max, murmuring cautiously, ¡°Perhaps Ms. Brielle is just preupied.¡±

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    Chapter 685

    Max¡¯s lips were pressed into a thin line, and his eyes eventually revealed a trace of scorn. Was she too

    busy to take a single phone call?

    Amidst the silence, Patrick¡¯s phone rang. His face brightened, hoping it was Brielle. Instead, it was from

    the sanitorium. He dared not meet Max¡¯s gaze as he answered the call. After a brief conversation with

    the doctor, Patrick hung up.

    Max could no longer sit still and stood up to leave. Patrick hurriedly followed, not daring to ask where

    they were going

    Max¡¯s presence was chilling, his usual warmth fading back into the persona of the impassive CEO of

    Dorsey International.

    Desperate to break the ice, Patrick sought another topic. ¡°Sir, we¡¯ve located the hacker who attacked

    the Beaconsfieldwork. He¡¯s been on the World Cyber Center¡¯s wanted list for a while. He¡¯s

    notorious forunching attacks overseas and is listed as a top enemy. But no one knows what he looks

    like. Ever since his first offense, he¡¯s never slipped up. Remember the data chaos on Wall Street? That

    was his doing. His identity is always changing; no one can pin him down.¡±

    In an age where the inte reigned supreme, a top hacker could orchestrate events from behind a

    screen, never needing to show his face. For years, he had stayed well¨Chidden. Perhaps he was even

    close by, yet nobody knew he was a wanted fugitive.

    Patrick talked at length, only to notice Max staring out the window, lost in thought, his hair hanging

    forlornly.

    The golden boy of Infinity Brilliance had a luster to his sadness, but Max¡¯s was quiet and colorless. His

    gaze was fixed on the outside world, lost in his thoughts.

    Patrick suddenly regretted the conversation, feeling a sour twist in his heart. Maybe, he thought, the

    CEO shouldn¡¯t be with Brielle..

    Ms. Brielle just wasn¡¯t the right match for him.

 Chapter 686

    Chapter 686

    Brielle tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for the traffic light to turn green, her fingers racing over

    her smartphone to text Max quickly. She was concerned he might¡¯ve knocked off early from work, and

    she wanted him to hang tight until she got there.

    The rush hour was in full swing, with the streets choked by cars, turning what should have been a

    fifteen¨Cminute drive into a half¨Chour crawl. The message sent notification popped up, and she gripped

    the steering wheel tighter. Her mouth felt dry, as if she¡¯d stuffed it with cotton balls.

    Both she and Max were trying so hard to reach out to each other, to clear the air, but it was like the

    signals between them were jammed.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Murray¡¯s hands flew over hisptop keys, his cheeks flushing as he caught a whiff of perfume from the

    woman standing behind him. He tried to keep hisposure as he spoke. ¡°Miss, as you can see from

    the data here, hacking into Brielle¡¯s phone was a piece of cake. Someone had already nted a Trojan

    horse in her system, which made my job a walk in the park.¡±

    Annie was munching on a piece of candy, and the sweet scent wafted into Murray¡¯s nose due to their

    proximity. Without bothering to gauge his reaction, she perked up at his exnation, throwing her arms

    around his neck in excitement.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that just perfect? Who¡¯s the genius who nted that thing in Brielle¡¯s phone? That¡¯s why you

    pulled this off with such ease. They can¡¯t contact each other now, so I guess the misunderstanding just

    got bigger.¡±

    ¡°In theory, yes, but we can¡¯t rush things,¡± Murray cautioned, his face turning a deeper shade of red as

    Annie clung to him.

    ¡°Murray, you¡¯re a star. Picking you up was the best decision I ever made. You¡¯re way more useful than

    Ricardo. He only knows how to brawl and shoot.¡±

    Her praise made Murray¡¯s eyes light up. He was about to return the embrace and wrap his arms

    around her waist when she added, ¡°But Ricardo is still my favorite.¡±

    His enthusiasm deted, and his eyes fell. His voice grew husky with disappointment. ¡°Miss, what¡¯s our

    next move?¡±

    Annie circled his neck from behind, her gaze fixed on the iprehensible data on the screen. ¡°We¡¯ll

    just y it cool for now. They can¡¯tmunicate, the misunderstandings are piling up, and with me

    cozying up to Max, they¡¯re bound to break up soon. Though Max doesn¡¯t seem like the type to say, ¡°it¡¯s

    over, so I¡¯ll have to push Brielle to be the one to call it quits.¡±

    Annie finished her thought with a soft shake of Murray¡¯s neck. ¡°Pretty smart, huh?¡±

    Murray looked down, his voice rough. ¡°You¡¯re always the smartest, Miss.¡±

    Annie released him and began to rant about Alivia with disdain. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying they¡¯re all so

    boring. It¡¯s just a breakup. Why make it soplicated? They¡¯re all useless.¡±

    Annie, who shared a passing resemnce to Brielle, sat on a lofty window seat, chewing her gum, a

    look of confusion in her eyes. ¡°Murray, do you think I could go ahead and seduce Max? He¡¯s quite the

    looker, and it wouldn¡¯t be a loss for me, right?¡±

    No one could ever get a bead on Annie¡¯s moods. She was fickle. Her affections changed as quickly as

    her

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    Chapter 686

    whims. But when it came to Ricardo, she was consistently drawn to his ruthless streak

    Murray¡¯s body shuddered at her words. He slowly approached her, knelt on one knee, and took her

    delicate foot in his hands, pressing it to his chest. ¡°Do you want this now, Miss?¡±

    Her smile stiffened, and her foot brushed against his chest as she considered ¡°Let¡¯s role¨Cy then. You

    be Max, and I¡¯ll be Brielle. How about that?¡±

    Murray bowed his head, kissing the top of her foot with reverence, and murmured. ¡°As you wish.¡±

    Half an hourter, Brielle¡¯s car pulled into the Dorsey International parking lot. She reached the top

    floor and found Max absent. Even Patrick was nowhere to be seen.

    The ce was still buzzing with people working overtime, but ever since the staff chat had been

    disbanded, everyone knew to keep tight¨Clipped. When they saw Brielle, they remained silent.

    With no one in sight and calls going unanswered, Brielle¡¯s irritation spread like wildfire.

    Dorsey International was a dead end, so she had no choice but to retreat to her car. However, her

    license te had somehow made it onto the inte, and now Amelia¡¯s fans had surrounded her.

    Amelia, with her carefully crafted public image, had a substantial following. People encircled Brielle,

    their faces inmed with righteous indignation.

    ¡°Apologize to Amelia! Don¡¯t think your title as President of Ster Stage Entertainment gives you any

    right to act out! We all know Ster Stage Entertainment is just a sinking ship!¡±

    ¡°Director Amelia has worked so hard to get where she is, and you, as a fellow woman, have insulted

    her!¡±

    ¡°Brielle! Make a public apology!¡±

    Brielle was caught in the middle of the crowd. Her expression turned icy

    Had she insulted Amelia? It seemed Amelia was stirring up a storm online again.

    2

 Chapter 687

    Chapter 687

    As Amelia¡¯s fans swarmed around Brielle, lurking journalists were also in hot pursuit. Brielle¡¯s license

    te had been leaked online long ago, and in this age of information, there were few secrets left. The

    route to Dorsey International had been a gauntlet of seemingly endless traffic, with countless eyes

    peering from behind steering wheels, tracking her every move. Now that Brielle was alone, the more

    zealous followers saw their chance to confront her. They were practically frothing at the mouth with the

    opportunity to tear

    her to pieces.

    Brielle wondered what Amelia had posted online to set off such extreme behavior among her

    supporters. She was unable to get to her car, no she had no choice but to retront back into the lobby of

    Dorsey International. Security at Dorsey International was tight, and they weren¡¯t about to let this mob

    inside.

    As she sat in the lobby, a receptionist quickly brought over a cup of coffee. Brielle murmured thanks as

    she watched the fans outside lose their minds, arguing with the security guards.

    She rubbed her temples and finally took a moment to check out Amelia¡¯stest post. The post was

    almostughable.

    Amelia had yed her cards right, releasing her own depression diagnosis and several photos of

    alleged domestic abuse.

    John hadn¡¯t abused her, so those photos must have been staged with makeup ¨C a smear campaign,

    in and simple. Brielle hadn¡¯t pegged Amelia for having such cunning.

    Amelia was now woman scorned and depressed, standing strong after divorce who wouldn¡¯t

    sympathize with that?

    Amelia knew the entertainment industry and how to y the media like a fiddle. In this era, public

    opinion was a powerful current, sweeping people along in its tide, ready to strike at whomever it was

    directed against. Amelia had mastered the art of killing with a borrowed knife.

    Amelia¡¯stest post didn¡¯t outright name Brielle, but the insinuation was clear at the end.

    [Since my divorce, I¡¯ve been trying to escape the shadows of that time. I thought John would disappear

    from my world, but he¡¯s back. I¡¯ll continue my treatment, and you don¡¯t have to worry. Through my

    personal experience, I want to advise all single women out there not to get too close to men and not

    pity them. Instead, let¡¯s focus on bettering ourselves, or we¡¯ll just end up jealous and fighting over a

    man who¡¯s not worth it during our best years.]

    The post was somehow a hit online. The final sentence was a jab at Brielle, suggesting she was

    causing trouble over jealousy about John.

    The outrage on the inte was palpable they wanted nothing more than to confront B her.

    throttle

    Brielle¡¯s car was now out of the question, and she could only watch as the fans attacked it like lunatics.

    She reported the incident with practiced ease, confident that the surveince cameras would reveal the

    culprits who would be footing the bill for damages.

    She took a mask from the receptionist, slipped out through a side exit, and hailed a cab. But as the taxi

    wove through the streets, she found herself unsure of her destination.

    The driver nced in the rearview mirror and asked, ¡°Miss, where are you headed?¡±

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    N

    Chapter way

    Belle was about to say the Premier Pce, but something made her pause, a bitter taste forming at the

    thought the had a meeting with Mason that evening to discuss Book, and heading to Premier Pce

    would just mean being shackled to herputer again.

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    Robben her thed eyes, she made her decision. ¡°Pearl Estate, please.¡±

    As she looked at the angry crowd outside, her eyes momentarily clouded with doubt before a chill

    passed through them, the tested Tiffanie to hold off on any action.

    ane replied quickly. Why? Amelia¡¯s already sed her fans on you. If one of them gets extreme, you

    could get hurt)

    et the media stom rage brew a bit longer. The wilder the fans get now, the more devastated they¡¯ll be

    when the truthes out. The woman they idolize ims to shun men and stand strong but actually

    looks for malepany every other night. Let¡¯s wall two more days. The media frenzy will peak, and

    then release the video. Amelia will fall hard.]

    Meanwhile, Amelia sat in a private caf¨¦ across from the long¨Cabsent Alivia. Alivia stirred her coffee

    gently, a picture of delicate grace.

    Amelia was almost obsequious in her politeness. ¡°Ms. Alivia, look, the inte is tearing Brielle apart. I

    heard her car got wrecked, too,¡±

    Alivia didn¡¯t need to lift a finger against Brielle. Ultimately, Michael had promised that no matter what

    Brielle achieved, she would never be a part of the Dorsey family.

    Michael had shared a secret with her, one that was enough to keep her content to watch from the

    sidelines. With Annie still pushing hard, all Alivia had to do was stir the pot a little more, and Brielle

    would crumble under the pressure.

 Chapter 688

    Chapter 688

    Alivia¡¯s face was a canvas of smiles as the corners of her mouth curled up.

    ¡°Amelia, that move of yours was quite clever, but I really can¡¯t call the shots on the script. Once my

    brother sells it, there¡¯s no turning back For now, you¡¯ve got to take down Brielle, hit Ster Stage

    Entertainment where it hurts, and stall their production. Once the script is back in my brother¡¯s hands,

    then you¡¯ll your chance. Alivia said with a wink.

    Amelia managed to meet Kenzo by leveraging her connection with Alivia. As the youngest head of the

    research institute, Alivia¡¯s value had skyrocketed. Securing an audience with her was no simple task.

    Amelia considered herself incredibly lucky. With a simple ask through a friend, Alivia had agreed to pull

    strings for her

    ¡°Now that you¡¯ve spoken, I won¡¯t ck off where Brielle is concerned,¡± Amelin dered with venom.

    ¡°And to think she¡¯s hooked with my ex¨Chusband, the shamelessness of it all!¡±

    The mirth in Alivia¡¯s eyes intensified as she set down her spoon. ¡°Right. Once the script is back with

    Kenzo, I¡¯ll convince him to sell it to you.¡±

    Amelia had her sights set on Kenzo¡¯s script, convinced it was a surefire award¨Cwinner and a golden

    ticket for her own prestige. So, when she learned that Ster Stage Entertainment had snapped up the

    script, her blood had boiled.

    ¡°But Ms. Alivia, you¡¯ll have to watch out for Brielle. She¡¯s a loose cannon. I¡¯m worried she might seduce

    Kenzo. Why else would he sell the script to her?¡±

    Amelia had expected Alivia to panic at her words. Instead, Alivia¡¯s response was soft and soothing.

    ¡°How could she ever be worthy of my brother? I¡¯ve only encouraged him to lead her on a bit. If he can

    make her fall for him and then coldly cast her aside, that would be sweet revenge for me. My brother

    has always been protective of me. He would never let such a woman tarnish the Barnes family name.¡±

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Amelia felt relieved. She figured if Kenzo truly fancied Brielle, she wouldn¡¯t have the guys to target

    Ster Stage Entertainment anymore.

    Brielle¡¯sck of solid backing was her downfall. Her only im to fame was as Spencer¡¯s cast¨Coff

    fianc¨¦e. She had not even crossed the threshold of the Dorsey family home before being tossed aside.

    Amelia smirked at the thought. No matter how pretty the package was, without connections, Brielle was

    a ything in the entertainment world. John must have been desperate to partner with someone like

    her.

    Inwardly scoffing, Amelia wished John would remain in his dark corner forever. If John cone, she¡¯d

    make sure he and his allies were dragged through the mud.

    ¡°ay in his

    After parting ways with Alivia, Amelia¡¯s steps were light with triumph. The more the intembasted

    Brielle, the lighter her heart felt.

    Brielle had been so defiant, Amelia had anticipated a counterattack. Yet, silence was all she got. Brielle

    was probably waiting for the storm to pass.

    Amelia wouldn¡¯t grant her that peace. The quieter Brielle became, the more Amelia encouraged online

    trolls to provoke her. Soon, Brielle¡¯s social media was flooded with thousands ofments.

    ¡°Thought you were tough? Now, ying the shrinking turtle, are we?¡±

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    Chapter 688

    A valedictorian? Are you sure you didn¡¯t cheat your way to the top?¡±

    ¡°Shame on you for bullying another woman suffering from depression. I¡¯m disgusted. Maybe we should

    call Beaconsfield College and have them revoke your diploma. They must feel disgraced to im you

    as

    an alumna.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s quiet was a stark contrast to the online furor. After a meeting with Mason, she crafted a

    detailed action n and sent it his way.

    Marveling at her thoroughness, Mason couldn¡¯t help but exim, ¡°Teaming up with you was the best.

    decision of my life.¡±

    Brielle was drained. She had meticulously analyzed their entry strategy into the market and identified

    points of a counterattack,

    Mason and his team of tech experts trusted her implicitly. They urged her to rest the moment they

    received her n, noticing how weary she was. Gone was Brielle¡¯s usual vivacity. She only spoke up

    when it was necessary to correct a misstep. The meeting¡¯s usual ease had evaporated.

    Afterward, Mason took a moment to check in on Brielle¡¯s personal life. ¡°Are you going through a

    breakup?¡± he asked, noting the resemnce to his own pre¨Cbreakup demeanor.

    2/2

 Chapter 689

    Chapter 689

    But Mason just couldn¡¯t fathom why Tiffanie could be no heartiens un to not even pick up the phone.

    Was she giving him the silent treatment before breaking it off for good? Or had he disappointed her on

    bed?

    It was a touchy subject that he wouldn¡¯t dare ask Belle to probe into, He¡¯d have to wait until he could

    ask Tiffanie face¨Cto¨Cface.

    Brielle, upon hearing this, zoned out for a moment, She wasn¡¯t exactly heartbroken, but the feeling

    gnawing at her was ufortably close.

    The texts she¡¯d sent to Max had all vanished into the ether, and the one she¡¯d sent out two hours ago,

    as n feeler, still hadn¡¯t been answered.

    Brielle had really believed that Max liked her, but his current evasion was making her unexpectedly.

    nervous. Moreover, that scarf she¡¯d seen on Annie only added to her swirling thoughts.

    If only Max would give her some kind of sign, she¡¯d be bold enough to fight for him a little harder. But if

    he truly saw her as just a stand¨Cin, she doubted she¡¯d even have the strength to take another step.

    ¡°Brielle, you should really get some rest,¡± Mason advised, noting her pallor. ¡°If there¡¯s any news on

    Book, I¡¯ll let you know right away.¡±

    Brielle mustered a weak smile. ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll rest up in a bit.¡± Though once they¡¯d hung up, she did little

    more than sit on the couch, lost in thought.

    As the sky outside darkened, and she watched the city lights flicker to life, a familiar loneliness crept

    over her. She was reminded of the holiday decorations at Premier Pce, the fairy lights that had

    adorned the ce, and the wreath on the door that had brought a sudden sting to her nose.

    Just out of a soothing shower, Max, too, was gazing at the shimmering city lights, his mind a whirlpool

    of thoughts. A lit cigarette dangled loosely from his fingers, the fiery ember nearing bare skin, but he

    seemed blissfully lost in the distant radiance, unaware of the encroaching burn.

    He rarely smoked, only when he was feeling particrly restless. As he lifted his eyes in the midst of

    the hazy smoke, a flicker of emotion crossed his face, and he closed his eyes halfway in a chilling

    calm.

    Patrick entered and stood respectfully behind him. ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve spoken with Beaconsfield College. They¡¯ll

    release Ms. Brielle¡¯s exam details to the public tomorrow,¡± Patrick announced.

    Max¡¯s eyelids twitched, and he acknowledged the news with a detached ¡°Hmm,¡±

    Patrick opened his mouth as if to say something more but thought better of it. A hundred words from

    him couldn¡¯t measure up to a single word from Ms. Brielle. But the problem was, Ms. Br

    Iking

    After multiple calls, she¡¯d hung up each one with a cold finality. She had the energy to confront her fans

    but couldn¡¯t spare a single text message.

    Patrick stood silently for a few more minutes before turning to leave, only to hear Max¡¯s voice. ¡°Patrick,

    do you think she wants to break up with me?¡±

    Max had never been in love before, but he knew this much: indifference often heralded the end. This

    realization made his lips tighten. His expression was as cold as ice.

    The cigarette burned to his fingers, finally snapping him back to reality as he stubbed it out in the

    ashtray.

    When he had decided to be with Brielle, the thought of breaking up had never crossed his mind. In his

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    Chapter 689.

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    mind, being in love meant it was forever.

    Patrick was at a loss for words, feeling for the first time that Max didn¡¯t deserve this. So he bowed his

    head, still pectful as ever. ¡°Sir, love doesn¡¯t alwaysst a lifetime with the same person. Sometimes,

    you start off thinking it¡¯s right, but as you go along, you realize it¡¯s not. You keep going until you find the

    night one.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t that Brielle was not good, nor was Max.

    Everyone had a gap in their heart like a void letting in the chill of the soul. And that was why people

    desperately sought another heart to fit perfectly into that space.

    Even if Ms. Brielle was as perfect as the sun is round, the jagged, mismatched shape of the hole in

    Max¡¯s heart might mean she just couldn¡¯t fill it. It was simply a matter ofpatibility.

    ¡°I see,¡± Max replied softly, his voice dissipating into the breeze. But from his tone, Patrick could tell he

    was deeply confused. The Dorsey family had never taught Max how to love or how to sustain a

    rtionship, so he was at a loss.

    Love had been endlessly depicted by poets throughout history, seemingly amounting to nothing

    extraordinary in the end..

    ¡°Sir, I believe when you really like someone, you can¡¯t bear the thought of them getting hurt.¡±

    If Ms. Brielle could make Max feel this lost, then perhaps she didn¡¯t like him enough. There was

    subtlety in Patrick¡¯s words, though he didn¡¯t spell it out.

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 Chapter 690

    Chapter 690

    His long eyshes quivered once more as he bent his hond to light a second cigarette. Through the

    hazy smoke, Patrick heard him say. ¡°But I don¡¯t want us to part ways.¡±

    The sense of loss Max fell now seemed trivialpared to the devastation of parting with her. He was

    a businessman, after all, and when it came to choices, he always knew how to pick the most suitable

    one.

    Patrick was speechless, silent for a few seconds before blurting out, ¡°Have you fallen for Ms. Brielle?¡±

    Max ticked the ash from his cigarette with a nonchnt gesture that seemed both casual and

    seductive. ¡°I probably don¡¯t know that¡­ thing¡±

    He said ¡®probably¡® not definitely!

    He never admitted to loving Brielle.

    Affection was like a storm brewing in the heart. It often made it easy for him to embrace someone, But

    love seemed clich¨¦, like a chemical reaction following reproduction. It felt dizzying at the start and then

    faded away, leaving nothing but a trail of failed marriages.

    None of the Dorseys¡® marriages were happy. Didn¡¯t Victoria love Everett? Didn¡¯t Faith love Ryan? That

    was how cheap and selfish love was.

    ¡°I just like having Brielle around, it¡¯s like¡­

    Max couldn¡¯t think of a goodparison. He initially thought of saying it was like having a v

    well¨Cbehaved pet, butparing Brielle to a pet seemed disrespectful. After all, in their circles, pets

    were just tools to be ordered about and discarded at will.

    But he had never thought of her that way. He liked Brielle¡¯s boldness, her shyness, her openness. This

    ¡®pet¡® only showed her soft belly in front of him, blushing at his every word. Even when he had her

    pinned beneath him in bed, she was sopliant it was unreal, letting him do as he pleased.

    He lost interest in smoking, crushing the half¨Cburnt cigarette out. Patrick knew it was bedtime, so he

    tactfully turned and left.

    Max cleared the air of smoke before lying down in bed. Brielle¡¯s scent lingered faintly on the sheets. It

    was not strong enough to lift his spirits, but it deepened his sense of loss.

    He did like Brielle, but her affection probably didn¡¯t even measure up to half of his own.

    Well, let it be.

    Brielle herself didn¡¯t sleep well, having gone through an entire day of busyness without eating. Her

    stomach ached throughout the night, and she tossed and turned. When she awoke, daylight flooded

    the

    room.

    She was about to get out of bed when a sharp pain in her stomach struck. She quickly swallowed a

    couple of antacids, then clutched her stomach and slumped onto the sofa, waiting for the pain to

    subside.

    Her phone was abuzz with notifications. With one hand over her stomach and the other holding her

    phone, she scrolled through them. Her newly created Twitter ount had exploded withments

    overnight.

    ¡°Shameless! John¡¯s script is a rip¨Coff of Amelia¡¯s, and Ster Stage Entertainment is backing this

    trash!¡±

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    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    15:12.

    Chapter 650

    Boycott Ster Stage Entertainment! Boycott Brielle! Boycott John!¡±

    ¡°Domestic abuse, infidelity, giarism¨CSter Stage Entertainment and John can go to hell!¡±

    ¡°Everyone at Ster Stage Entertainment is garbage!¡±

    ¡°Brielle and John are having an affair. Maybe she¡¯s the one he cheated with. Go to hell, home wrecker!¡±

    Brielle¡¯s frown deepened as she opened Amelia¡¯s page to find a new post.

    ¡°Just learned my ex¨Chusband might have taken my script. I¡¯ll provide evidence this afternoon, and Ms.

    Brielle said she¡¯d serve me court papers¨Cwhere are they? Ster Stage Entertainment, wait for your

    day in

    court.¡±

    If the public decided Ster Stage Entertainment¡¯s debut script was stolen from Amelia, it would be the

    end for them¨Cthere was noing back. Amelia was intent on dragging both Brielle and Ster Stage

    Entertainment through the mud, down into the sewers!

    Brielle¡¯s gaze hardened. She had nned to deal with Amelia in a couple of days, but Amelia was

    making bold moves. Taking a deep breath, Brielle noticed a text from the police station and promptly

    returned the call.

    she

    The officer on the line said they had identified the fan who had vandalized her car and asked how s

    wanted to proceed.

    ¡°The damages should be paid for, or 11l sue.¡±

    *Ms. Brielle, the perpetrator is a student. She likely doesn¡¯t have the means to pay andes from a

    challenging background¨Cher father works in construction, and her mother¡¯s ill, with a hospital debt of

    over two hundred thousand

    Brielle cut him off. ¡°I¡¯m not concerned with the offender¡¯s background. I¡¯m only protecting my legal

    rights within the scope of thew. If hardship bes a tool for leniency, what justice does thew

    serve?¡±

    2/2

 Chapter 691

    Chapter 691

    The silence on the other end of the line was palpable before the police officer let out a sigh. ¡°Alright,

    we¡¯ll pass on your message to the girl.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t that Brielle was heartless. She was simply tired of society¡¯s leniency toward criminals. Every

    time a heinous act wasmitted, the public would delve into the perpetrator¡¯s backstory.

    It was always, ¡°Look, his folks had a rocky marriage. That¡¯s why he resented society.¡±

    ¡°He grew up too poor to afford a decent meal. That¡¯s why he despised the wealthy.¡±

    ¡°His wife cheated on him and ran off with his dough. That¡¯s why he targeted other women.¡±

    Crime is crime. The moment the student swung that rock, nothing else mattered.

    After hanging up on the police, Brielle popped an antacid, changed her clothes, and prepared to tackle

    the uproar online.

    In no time, public opinion had exploded. The doors of Ster Stage Entertainment were swarmed with

    fans blockading the entrance. Anyone who passed was pelted with trash.

    Brielle couldn¡¯t abandon Ster Stage Entertainment. Initially, it was merely a business deal with

    Michael, but those hopeful faces that trusted her deserved more than her cowering at home.

    Besides, it was her decision to involve John, and she had drawn this hatred upon herself.

    She quickly got ready. Her car was trashed, so she had no choice but to hail a cab outside. But as she

    stepped out, a young girl rushed towards her and dropped to her knees. ¡°Ms. Brielle, I¡¯m truly sorry,

    please forgive me. My family really can¡¯t afford this.¡±

    Brielle frowned, not recognizing the girl at first. Then the girl began to cry. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to smash your

    car. I¡¯m truly sorry. Please don¡¯t ruin me, okay?¡±

    Brielle¡¯s frown deepened. After a moment of confusion, her heart grew cold. Was this her way of asking

    for mercy?

    Brielle¡¯s expression was icy as she looked down at the girl. ¡°Pleading with me won¡¯t help.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Brielle! I¡¯m only seventeen. Are you really going to watch me die? How can you be so cruel?¡±

    Brielle took a deep breath, her lips curling into a faint smile. ¡°If you¡¯re still a student, then I suggest you

    go back to your teacher and learn some manners. Had you spoken from the heart today, I wouldn¡¯t

    have asked for a dime for that car. But you seem to plead while you threaten, and I will not agree. If you

    think your death will threaten me, then I have nothing to say and certainly won¡¯t stop you.¡±

    ¡°Brielle! You¡¯re heartless! You¡¯ll get what¡¯sing to you!¡±

    After Brielle disappeared around the corner, the girl¡¯s tears vanished as she turned to the car parked

    nearby. ¡°Did you get it? Is it all on tape?¡±

    ¡°We got it, we got it. Let¡¯s edit the footage and post it online.¡±

    The girl¡¯s face was smug. ¡°Hmph, I¡¯ll not only smash her car, but I¡¯ll also make her beg me. That¡¯s the

    way to avenge Amelia!¡±

    Ten minutester, the edited video and dialogue hit the inte, quickly racking up over a million

    shares. Brielle¡¯s name was trending, followed by a barrage of insults.

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    Chapter 691

    The video showed the girl on her knees, crying and begging Brielle. Key parts of the conversation were

    omitted, making it highly unfavorable to Brielle.

    ¡°Please, don¡¯t ruin me, okay?¡±

    ¡°Pleading with me won¡¯t help.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Briellel I¡¯m only seventeen. Are you really going to watch me die?¡±

    The stark contrast between the girl¡¯s pitiful cries and Brielle¡¯s Indifference was striking. One was

    kneeling. the other standing, as if the dignity and life of an ordinary girl were nothing but disposable

    trash.

    Brielle was a monster!

    Upon seeing the video, the enraged public swarmed Ster Stage Entertainment, hurling rocks inside

    and causing the receptionist to scream in terror. Ster Stage Entertainment and Brielle became

    targets of public outrage!

    In the midst of this chaos, Amelia¡¯swsuit arrived, Unlike Brielle¡¯s empty threats, Amelia was a woman

    of action. Compared to Ame¡¯s transparent and self¨Creliant nature, Brielle was nothing but despicable,

    ¡°Boycott Ster Stage Entertainment!¡±

    ¡°Boycott all artists from Ster Stage Entertainment!¡±

    ¡°Boycott John!¡±

    Outside Ster Stage Entertainment, the crowd chanted slogans, furiously waving their metaphorical

    pitchforks, ready to sentence Ster Stage Entertainment to its demise.

    15N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

 Chapter 692

    Chapter 692

    Brielle¡¯s taxi pulled up outside the towering edifice of Ster Stage Entertainment to find a throng of

    people already crowding the entrance. Reporters were broadcasting live, their cameras pointed at the

    chaos. It was a blockade, utterly imprable.

    The driver, catching sight of the bem, couldn¡¯t help but exim, ¡°Thispany¡¯s the devil incarnate,

    I tell ya. Heard the big boss is forcing some poor girl to her demise. Utterly wicked¡±

    Brielle, masked to avoid recognition, had now realized that the situation with Ster Stage

    Entertainment had gone citywide in no time. She had the driver circle the building, but everywhere was

    swamped with frenzied fans, held back only by the burly security guards who were preventing what

    seemed like an

    imminent not.

    Rubbing her temples, she resignedly gave the driver Tiffanie¡¯s address. As soon as they reached

    Tiffanie¡¯s apartment building. Brielle¡¯s phone began to ring. It was an unfamiliar number. A sense of

    foreboding washed over her. She hesitated before finally answering just as it was about to disconnect.

    Michael¡¯s voice came through, terse and unamused. ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve messed up.¡±

    He was referring to her promise to skyrocket Ster Stage Entertainment¡¯s performance within six

    months. Thepany¡¯s reputation was now in the gutter, worse than ever before.

    N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    Ster Stage Entertainment used to be off the radar, but now it¡¯s the town pariah. Forget about profits.

    The stock¡¯s barely staying afloat.

    ¡°Brielle, you¡¯ve lost.¡± His tone was icy, but Brielle could detect a hint of pleasure. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a sum of

    money. Leave Beaconsfield.¡±

    Already on edge from a spat with Max, Brielle¡¯s stubbornness surged at Michael¡¯s words. ¡°Michael, the

    game isn¡¯t over yet.¡±

    He raised an eyebrow, his voice dripping with condescension, ¡°Without Max, what chance do you

    have? Face it, Brielle, you and Max were never meant to be.¡±

    ¡°If I were the type to ept my fate, I would¡¯ve starved on the streets as a child. I¡¯vee this far

    because I never gave up.

    Her tone was even, devoid of emotion. She paid the driver with cash from her purse and looked up at

    Tiffanie¡¯s residence.

    ¡°The universe hasn¡¯t settled yet, Michael. There¡¯s always uncertainty.¡±

    A chill flickered in Michael¡¯s eyes. He detested the defiance of those from the lower rungs of society. To

    him, the world¡¯s wealth and power belonged to the elite, and despite Brielle¡¯s tenacity, her origins were

    her shackles.

    Economists termed the chances of social mobility as a measure of hope for the underprivileged. High

    mobility meant a chance for the poor, most people like Brielle clung to that hope. But in a stable,

    developing country, social mobility inevitably dwindled.

    Beaconsfield was one such ce where mobility was scarce, its resources and connections cemented

    within an exclusive circle. For Brielle to climb out of this quagmire was nigh impossible.

    Michael had no more words to waste. ¡°Ster Stage Entertainment is under Dorsey International, and

    this mess won¡¯t leave us unscathed. We can handle the fallout if you step down now.¡±

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    ¡°I haven¡¯t lost yet, Michael.¡± With that, Brielle hung up first.

    Michael, staring into the silent phone, was shrouded in darkness. He managed to held hisposure

    and turned his attention back to the news on TV

    When Brielle found Tiffanie, she was on her way out. Her face lit up at Brielle¡¯s arrival. ¡°I was about to

    look for you. What¡¯s our next move?¡±

    Brielle shrugged, ¡°Give me the USB stick.¡±

    Tiffanie quickly handed it over, along with herptop. The video on the stick showed Arnelia, not as the

    irondy she was known to be but cooing vile sweet nothings to two men clinging to her. Their

    conversation got more repulsive by the moment.

    Brielle smirked. This footage was gold.

    Tiffanie was pacing, anxious. ¡°Do we release it now? Ster Stage Entertainment¡¯s about to be torn

    apart

    as it is!¡±

    Instead of releasing it right away, Brielle anonymously leaked a message within Ster Stage

    Entertainment. [Looking to buy shares at $50 a pop. Interested parties, get in touch.]

    The number she left was foreign, free from local tracking, and untraceable to Mason. With the

    company¡¯s stock plummeting, the offer was a godsend for shareholders. Yet, some questioned the

    legitimacy of the deal. With Ster Stage Entertainment in the eye of the storm, why would anyone offer

    such a price for its shares? What was the buyer¡¯s angle?

 Chapter 693

    Chapter 693

    The offer of $50 per share was simply irresistible Given the current circumstances, the stocks of Ster

    Stage Entertainment being held would soon be worthless paperweights. But if the current

    shareholders sold now, they could still pocket a tidy sum

    Once the first shareholder reached out, others quickly followed.

    Brielle sent a message to Mason, instructing him to get the funds ready. Mason was her most trusted

    ally. never one to question her choices. After all, theirpany had justpleted a multi¨Cbillion dor

    funding round. The amount Brielle needed was chump change inparison.

    In less than an hour, all shares of Ster Stage Entertainment were snapped up by an enigmatic buyer,

    giving herplete control of thepany.

    The takeover happened so swiftly that by the time Michael wanted to intervene, it was already toote.

    To call the mysterious buyer an opportunist was a stretch. They had offered a fair price, especially

    considering the stocks were on the brink of copse. The timing was impable, leaving not a single

    shareholder indifferent.

    With this mysterious entity holding absolute control, Dorsey International¡¯s influence over Ster Stage

    Entertainment was now at the mercy of this new owner. Apany wholly owned by one person didn¡¯t

    need to listen to anyone else¡¯s advice.

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Tiffanie watched Brielle¡¯s maneuvers in stunned silence. She didn¡¯t know whether to call her bold or

    meticulous.

    The outside world was in uproar¨Canyone else would¡¯ve been scrambling to turn the tables by now. But

    not Brielle. Instead, she used this time to secure absolute control over Ster Stage Entertainment.

    Tiffanie watched her calmly making calls, arranging her next moves with a serene confidence in her

    eyes. For a moment, Tiffanie thought she was looking at Maxie.

    If Brielle wasn¡¯t perfect for Maxie, then who was?

    Maxie was the epitome of excellence in Tiffanie¡¯s eyes, beyond words. Brielle was equally outstanding.

    which made their rtionship like a sh of titans, but even titans could have affection for one another.

    Even if they were to fall apart in the future, that would also be borne of affection.

    Once they were together, no one else coulde between them.

    Tiffanie didn¡¯t interrupt Brielle¡¯s strategy session but continued to monitor the news online. She was

    nearly livid with anger. That girl who had kneeled to Brielle had made an ount and was heaping

    thanks on Amelia, iming Amelia had covered her parents¡® medical bills and helped them through

    tough times. She was portraying Amelia as a saintly figure.

    With this as a backdrop, the video circting online made Brielle look monstrous.

    That bitch! Tiffanie wished she could confront Amelia right then and there to give her a piece of her

    mind. She managed to contain her fury and, while Brielle wasn¡¯t looking, sneakily texted Maxie,

    [Brielle¡¯s being dragged through the mud. Aren¡¯t you going to do something, Uncle?]

    [Hmm.]

    Tiffanie stared at the message, unsure if it meant he would intervene or not. Could they have had a

    fight?

    1/2

    15:12

    Chapter nu

    But Brielle was working so hard for that so¨Ccalled six¨Cmonth agreement¨Chow could Maxie fight with her

    HOW?

    Tiffanie had to admit she was somewhat bewitched by Brielle¡¯s charm and secretly wished for such a

    woman to be her aunt¨Cinw.

    [She¡¯s mad at me.] Clearly, if he intervened, Brielle might only grow angrier.

    Tittanie had a whole spiel prepared to persuade him, but that message gave her pause.

    People tread carefully because they care.

    The online controversy was explosive, with Brielle¡¯s name stered all over the trending searches. The

    crowd outside Ster Stage Entertainment was growing, and the unruly among them continued to pelt

    the building with stones.

    Thepany had called the police, who were now present, but the angry mob showed no signs of

    dispersing

    Inside, the Ster Stage Entertainment staff was on edge, hoping against hope that Brielle would show

    up¨Cshe was their pir, their source of hope. But Brielle was nowhere to be seen, and the executives

    were out of the loop.

    Some of the more timid ones had already started to cry.

    ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Ms. Haywoode yet? I¡­is she unaware?¡±

    ¡°Stop crying. Trust her. She¡¯ll have a n,¡± one tried to reassure.

    ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust her. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m¡­ scared.¡±

    The group was mostly young artists who had chosen to stay with Ster Stage Entertainment. Now,

    they all shared a bitter taste of fear.

    They were young and unable to hide their worries. A heavy silence fell over them. Ms. Haywood

    wouldn¡¯t abandon them, would she?

 Chapter 694

    Chapter 694

    Chapter 694

    The social media storm surrounding Ster Stage Entertainment and Beaconsfield College was a force to be reckoned with.

    Hundreds of thousands ofments bombarded the college¡¯s official Twitter page, each one screaming for the institution to

    revoke Brielle¡¯s degree. ¡°A student like that is an embarrassment to Beaconsfield College!¡± they cried out in digital uproar.

    Despite the online frenzy, Beaconsfield College, a titan in the academic rankings, remained silent, biding its time.

    Behind closed doors, the college¡¯s leadership¡ªmany of whom had climbed the ranks from professorship¡ªconvened in urgent

    meetings. Those who had taught Brielle held a fondness for the bright and diligent student. To them, her brilliance was not simply

    intelligence but raw talent.

    Effort determined one¡¯s lower limits, but talent set the ceiling.

    Dorsey International was backing them and had insisted that the college stand by Brielle. The faculty¡¯s resolve only hardened.

    They would protect this exceptional pupil at all costs. So, as the Twitter feed descended into chaos, the college focused instead

    onpiling Brielle¡¯s impressive academic record, ready to silence the critics with cold, hard facts.

    Meanwhile, at Ster Stage Entertainment, the tension was palpable. Silence had fallen in the dance studio, where artists usually

    honed their craft. Donny walked among them, feeling the weight of their collective despair. He sighed and rallied them with a few

    choice words. ¡°Keep practicing, folks. Put your faith in Ms. Haywood.¡±

    Donny¡¯s belief in Brielle was unshakable. Despite their brief acquaintance, he was convinced she had a n up her sleeve, that

    her silence was just the calm before the storm.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood won''t let Ster Stage down. She won''t abandon us.¡±

    His simple words rekindled a spark within the despondent group. A young woman wiped away her tears and stood tall, her voice

    breaking the silence. ¡°Ms. Haywood got rid of that boss who used to bully me. | trust her! She''ll pull us through!¡±

    The others were inspired. They rose to their feet and resumed their routines as if the outside world¡¯s anger didn¡¯t exist. Their

    dreams and beliefs slowly took root once more, and Donny watched with a nod, confident in the resilience of these young

    talents¡ªand Ms. Haywood¡¯s loyalty to them.

    Outside, the vitriol continued unabated. Online, the hatefulments persisted. Nearly a millionments piled up beneath

    Brielle¡¯s social media posts, yet she remained silent.

    Amelia watched the chaos unfold with a smirk barely concealed. ¡°This is what happens when you cross me,¡± she thought.

    ¡°People like

    Brielle, like John, belong at the bottom.¡±

    She let out a coldugh. It was clear that Kenzo¡¯s script was soon to be back in her possession. Brielle desired the script, but

    she seemed to have forgotten to check if she even had the capability to handle it.

    Beside Amelia sat a youthful male artist, her new object of fascination. Given her uplifting mood, she nned on spending some

    ¡°quality time¡® with him in the master bedroom.N?velDrama.Org owns this text.

    Their clothes had barely hit the floor when shouts echoed from outside the room. ¡°Ms. Amelia! Something is wrong!¡±

    Awave of annoyance washed over Amelia as she slipped a robe over her body and rose from the bed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong now?! Isn¡¯t

    everything going ording to my n?!¡±

    ¡°Check online right now!¡±

    F-Fas

    The distress disyed by her secretary gave Amelia pause and, with a sense of apprehension, she clicked on the trending news.

    Brielle had posted on social media half an hour ago.

    [Amelia¡¯s portrayal of herself is intriguing. Is she really a man¡ªphobic, hardworking woman? Everyone in the industry knows

    about her wild parties and explicit videos with men. Be careful, Amelia, you never know who has copies of those scandalous

    videos.]

    Before this revtion, a video of Amelia had already made it to the trending topics. It was a video of her with a man, two men,

    countless men. If it were just pictures, she could have imed they were fabricated, but the videos showed it all in high

    definition. The words, the faces, the gestures; it was unmistakably her.

    ¡°Amelia, did your ex-husband really cheat on you?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s too dense to cheat.¡±

    ¡°Did he really mistreat you?¡±

    ¡°No, but under those circumstances, if | say he¡¯s abusive, then he is.¡±

 Chapter 695

    Chapter 695

    Chapter 695

    Just after Brielle posted her second update on the situation, she hit the inte with a third, this time a video. The clip yed out

    the entire conversation Brielle had with the fan who had knelt before her.

    The truth was as clear as day ¡ª the video that had sparked the outrage was maliciously edited.

    [She wrecked my car, so she should pay for it. Is being broke suddenly an excuse? When | didn¡¯t forgive her, she started slinging

    mud ofiline, even deliberately posting misleading videos to incite cyberbullying against me. I¡¯ve handed all evidence to the police,

    and | won''t give up on holding her ountable.]

    The video was unambiguous about what had happened, capturing their exchange and even the moment when the fan asked her

    aplice if they got the footage, plotting to get back at Amelia.

    Three posts, three pieces of evidence, and the inte mobs were silenced, with Ame left without a leg to stand on.

    Amelia watched helplessly as the online world exploded, but this time, it was not at Brielle but at her. It was over; everything had

    crumbled. How could things have turned out this way?

    She felt her knees buckle, dropping to the floor in despair.

    Those who had exposed Brielle were now blushing with embarrassment, wishing they could just vanish into thin air.

    The mob that had been hounding Ster Stage Entertainment couldn¡¯t even look each other in the eye. They scurried away with

    their tails between their legs. They had been defending such a woman one with a scandalous private life who ndered her ex¡ª

    husband and poached his resources. They had been unwitting pawns in her game.

    The shame was unbearable!

    At this pivotal moment, John logged into his Twitter for the first time in years. His feed was still flooded with new messages, the

    vitriolic residue from the days he had stepped away from the spotlight. Like rabid dogs, they had never let go.

    Those hateful messages had haunted him, so much so that he had avoided his ount for years. But now, he was ready to

    return with his head held high. [I¡¯m back. Thanks to Ster Stage Entertainment and Ms. Haywood. Grateful for the new

    beginnings.]

    John¡¯s loyal fans, who had been waiting for hiseback, were moved to tears. They had been powerless back then, insisting

    John was incapable of the abuse and infidelity he was used of. Unfortunately, their voices were drowned out by the chorus of

    nder. Their talented director had been forced into an ignoble retreat.

    They had never lost faith, always believing John would return to filmmaking. Now, their wish hade true.

    ¡°I''m crying so hard. That wicked woman is finally getting hereuppance!¡±

    ¡°John, we never left. I¡¯ve watched your movies over and over.¡±N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    ¡°Thank you, Ster Stage Entertainment. Thank you, Brielle.¡±

    Everyone noticed. John had truly returned after being absent for years. No finger-pointing and no kicking Amelia while she was

    down, just simple gratitude.

    Only after lying in the mire did one understand how hard it was to stand again.

    Gratitude was John¡¯s only sentiment.

    Meanwhile, Beaconsfield College¡¯s official ount stepped into the fray, addressing the public¡¯s skepticism and revealing

    Brielle¡¯s admission scores, her grades in each subject, and even her thesis defense video.

    [At the request of the public, we are disclosing the academic records and thesis defense video of our alumna, Ms. Brielle.

    Throughout her time here, she maintained the top GPA in her ss and represented our college as an exchange student for a

    year, earning excellent marks. Ms. Brielle has always been an exemry member of our alumni.]

 Chapter 696

    Chapter 696

    Chapter 696N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    The tide had turned so swiftly, and the evidence was so overwhelming it left the online crowd at a loss for words. The flood of

    information was just too much to process all at once.

    An hourter, Amelia was being raked over the coals online, enduring the vitriol previously directed at Brielle a hundredfold.

    Brielle, for her part, was unbothered by the chatter. She was touched by the official statement from Beaconsfield College, her

    atma mater. Without hesitation, she retweeted the post with a brief, heartfelt note-[Thank you, Beaconsfield College.]

    With that done, she continued to unveil her next move by sharing a court subpoena. [As for the nder and defamation Ms.

    Amelia has spread about me online, I''ve pressed charges, and the police are on it. You said you haven''t received a subpoena.

    Well, it¡¯s been in my hands, waiting. As you wished, it¡¯s now on its way to you.]

    Brielle¡¯s series of updates came hard and fast, leaving Amelia reeling and defenseless. The evidence was irrefutable, nobody

    could use Brielle of ying dirty. And now, nobody dared to speak ill of her. After all, what was there to criticize?

    She hadn''t forgiven the fan who damaged her car, but her response had been reasonable-she wouldn''t be morally ckmailed

    by someone seeking a favor.

    Even Beaconsfield College stepped in to defend her, proudly disying her ster academic record, which left everyone in awe.

    Here was an outstanding woman, unfairly maligned as a viin, a slut. A true evildoer had masqueraded as an independent

    woman.

    The irony was not lost on anyone, and the college¡¯s use of the phrase ¡°mob mentality¡± seemed particrly apt in reminding the

    public of their misjudgment.

    What had escted into a fierce online battle by day had fizzled out by nightfall. It had begun with a bang and ended just as

    dramatically.

    Brielle had stayed with Tiffanie all day, not eating a thing, and was now overwhelmed by exhaustion. She rubbed her temples

    wearily and stood up. ¡°It¡¯s over. I¡¯m going to check on Ster Stage Entertainment.¡±

    Tiffanie nodded, offering a reminder, ¡°Take care of yourself. And while you¡¯re focusing on Ster Stage Entertainment, don¡¯t

    forget about your rtionship with Maxie. You came here for him, after all. Don¡¯t lose sight of what¡¯s important.¡±

    Brielle stiffened at the mention of Max, a bitter smile touching her lips. The day had brought her a resounding victory and even

    full control of Ster Stage Entertainment, yet she felt no joy. The reason was precisely what Tiffanie had pointed out-sess in

    her career but disappointment in love.

    ¡°| know,¡± she replied.

    Tiffanie didn¡¯t dwell on the subject. She trusted that Brielle, being smart, would know how to bnce her priorities.

    Descending to the ground floor, Brielle took a deep breath and coughed as the chilly night air caught her throat. She pulled out

    her phone

    and dialed Max''s number.

    No answer.

    She sent a message. No reply.

    Her eyes briefly reddened, and she sniffled. It wasn¡¯t that she wanted to neglect Max. She was trying, but he was giving her the

    cold shoulder.

    Upon returning to Ster Stage Entertainment, her expression was still gloomy, a clear sign of her inner turmoil.

    Inside the building, a janitor was sweeping up broken ss. Brielle instructed a nearby worker, ¡°Get someone to rece the

    window. Anything else that¡¯s broken should be reced, too. Just get the budget from the finance department.¡±

    The name Brielle had be synonymous with resilience.

    ¡°Will do, Ms. Haywood,¡± came the prompt response.

    Brielle nodded and made her way to the top floor. Donny¡¯s eyes lit up at her arrival. ¡°Ms. Haywood!¡±

    But after noticing Brielle¡¯s somber mood, he quickly subdued his excitement. ¡°Ms. Haywood, thank you.¡±

    She entered her office and inquired about everyone else.

 Chapter 697

    Chapter 697

    Chapter 697

    Donny was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement, his energy infectious as he handpicked the best candidates in less

    than half an hour. He pushed open the door and found Brielle lost in thought, staring nkly at theputer screen. He called

    out softly,

    hesitant to startle her

    ¡°Ms. Haywood?¡±

    It was puzzling. The crisis at Ster Stage Entertainment had been resolved, and thepany¡¯s reputation was on the mend.

    Why, then, did Ms. Haywood seem so downcast?

    Brielle nced up, quicklyposing herself, and resumed her cool, collected demeanor.

    ¡°Something on your mind, Ms. Haywood?¡±

    Rubbing the bridge of her nose, Brielle shook her head. ¡°No, have you finished the casting?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, these are the actors I''ve chosen-the ones who stuck around. They''re all top-notch, clear¡ªheaded folk.¡±

    Brielle skimmed the files and was pleased. These faces could stand up to the scrutiny of the big screen.

    ¡°Donny, have them each y a part, then send me the footage. I''ll review it when I can.¡±

    After all, the final say still rested in Brielle¡¯s hands.

    Relief washed over Donny as he registered Brielle¡¯s engagement. He bit his lip, barely containing his enthusiasm.

    ¡°I''ll get right on it.¡±Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Brielle waved him off, eager to get back to work, but then Donny posed a new question.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, who should we send to Dorsey International to deliver Ster Stage Entertainment¡¯s annual report?¡±

    Despite being a small subsidiary, Ster Stage Entertainment had protocols to follow, especially with the new year rolling in,

    which included presenting the year¡¯s ns to the Dorsey International headquarters.

    Previous managers had treated this task with indifference and sent digital reports, while Dorsey International had taken a

    laissez-faire approach to its subsidiary, but times had changed. After a day of battling public scorn and achieving a miraculous

    turnaround, Ster Stage Entertainment undoubtedly caught the attention of Dorsey International''s executives. A slipshod report

    might now provoke their dissatisfaction.

    While Donny knew Brielle had powerful connections at Dorsey International, the extent of those connections was unclear to him,

    prompting his cautious reminder.

    Brielle¡¯s hand, which had been massaging her forehead, paused at Donny¡¯s words. In truth, Ster Stage Entertainment could

    now operate independently of Dorsey International, with the majority of shares in Brielle¡¯s possession. Brielle¡¯s overseas

    companies could fund Ster Stage Entertainment if necessary.

    But to do so would sever ties with Dorsey International¡ªa move Brielle was not yet ready to make. Even if the connection with

    Max was as tenuous as a spider''s thread, Brielle clung to it, wary of letting it snap.

    The executives, who had been eagerly awaiting their moment outside, burst into the room as though on cue. They were thrilled,

    barely containing their excitement, certain that Ster Stage Entertainment was destined for greatness.

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, | could personally deliver the report to Dorsey International.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Ms. Haywood, there¡¯s no need for you to be bothered with

    trivial matters.¡±

    These were the same executives who had once tried to expose Brielle at Dorsey International, only to learn of her stronghold,

    which was none other than the CEO of Dorsey International himself.

    Max, known for his stoic exterior, had shown Brielle an unexpected tenderness, wrapping her in his arms. There were even

    rumors of a passionate morning encounter in thepany corridor.

    The executives, barely containing their glee, saw this as a golden opportunity to curry favor with Max. A few well-ced

    compliments could mean promotions, raises, and a fast-track to the top of their careers.

 Chapter 698

    Chapter 698

    Chapter 698

    Despite not being fond of the group, Donny couldn¡¯t help but agree with their sentiment. He believed Ster Stage Entertainment

    was set for stardom under Ms. Haywood¡¯s guidance.

    Asmile crept onto his face unbidden. ¡°Ms. Haywood¡¯s got game, for sure. If anyone can turn the tide, it¡¯s her. Plus, she¡¯s got a

    heart for the crew. I¡¯m all in on trusting her.¡±

    The others eyed Donny¡¯s expression and let out a knowing sigh.

    ¡°It''s not just that, kid. You don¡¯t get it, do you? Well, we do. From now on, if Ms. Haywood says jump, we won''t even think about

    sitting.¡±

    In Brielle¡¯s absence, their loyalties blew as freely as dandelion seeds in the wind. Feeling out of ce among them, Donny

    excused himself and left.

    The remaining group shared a look, their faces alight with aspiration. They had contacts at Dorsey International, which was how

    they received the photo of Mr. Dorsey kissing Brielle so promptly.

    Although they were aware of Mr. Dorsey''s special treatment of Brielle, they couldn''t gauge the depth of their rtionship. After

    all, despite her talents and looks, Brielle wasn¡¯t born with a silver spoon ¡ª a significant disadvantage when mingling with high

    society. While there were tales of stars bridging the ss divide, their marriages often seemed less than joyful once the novelty

    wore off. The young heirs would eventually rece their starry¡ªeyed brides with fresher faces, leaving their wives to suffer in

    silence, bound by pride and the absence of a powerful lineage.

    But Max and the Dorsey family weren''t your run-of-the-mill elites, and he was far from ordinary. Despite the liberal overseas

    tabloid culture, he had remained scandal-free without so much as a girlfriend. And while there had been whispers about him and

    Miss Alivia, nothing concrete had ever surfaced.

    However, with Brielle, the public disys of affection were undeniable. They were convinced she was destined to be Max''s wife,

    and they were eager to ride her coattails to glory.

    Unaware of their scheming, Brielle had gathered the necessary documents. It was time to see Max. His silence over text, his

    refusal to answer calls ¡ª even Patrick¡¯s ¡ª and his absence from Dorsey International left her with no choice but to avoid the

    Premier Pce.

    Brielle entered her car with a heavy heart and drove to Dorsey International, parking an hourter. She ascended to the top floor,

    but she ran into Annie as the elevator doors opened.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Annie, clutching a stack of documents, looked surprised to see Brielle. ¡°Looking for Max? He¡¯s not here. We¡¯re about to head out

    for a business lunch with the CEO of InnovTech Solutions. Dorsey International is looking to partner up. Max is down in the

    parking garage, ready to leave. | just came to grab some papers.¡±

    The timing couldn¡¯t have been worse for Brielle.

    ¡°Ms. Brielle, maybe give Max a call? Or you cane with me to the garage.¡±

    ¡°No, I''ll wait in his office,¡± she replied, masking the bitterness of being avoided.

    ¡°Alright, I''ll let Max know about it. Given that today¡¯s gathering is rather important, you might want to give him a call if it getste,¡±

    Brielle couldn''t tell Annie that Max was declining her calls, so she only replied with a ¡°Thank you.¡±

 Chapter 699

    Chapter 699

    Chapter 699

    Max was indeed heading out to schmooze that evening, with Patrick behind the wheel and Annie perched in the passenger seat.

    Arnie had initially nned to sit in the back with Max, but after Patrick coughed subtly, she took the hint and gracefully slid into

    the shotgun position.

    Max settled into the backseat alone, quietly flipping through the documents needed for InnovTech Solutions. His phoney

    beside him as if in wait for a message.

    After the day¡¯s events, he even had Patrick set him up with a Twitter ount. It was his first foray into the world of social media,

    and while he had meant to defend Brielle in a tweet, Patrick had advised against it. The chaos of the day was too much, and

    those vile Tweets were attacking Brielle¡¯s personal life. If he stepped into the fray, it would only tarnish her further.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    His ount wasn''t verified, so no one knew he was the CEO of Dorsey International. Even his username was a jumble of

    characters.

    After reviewing the documents for a while, Max checked his Twitter.

    Upon signing up, the tform auto¡ª-followed a bunch of ounts. Frowning slightly, he unfollowed each one meticulously, and

    then he found Brielle¡¯s profile and hit follow.

    Seeing that ¡®1¡ã in his following list lifted his spirits, but then, a wave of inexplicable mncholy washed over him. He suppressed

    the feeling, returning his attention to the documents in his hands and setting his phone aside.

    Patrick, driving up front, wasn¡¯t entirely used to having a female secretary around, as Max''s entourage had always been

    exclusively male.

    But Annie was discreet and never tried to seduce the boss like some other women. She waspetent, often quietly working on

    her doctoral thesis as if soaking up real-world experience from the job.

    Besides, the professor had personally rmended Annie to Max, and she performed wlessly, leaving not even the slightest

    error for Patrick to pick at. He had grown ustomed to her presence. Especially with what happened just now, he coughed, and

    Annie promptly moved upfront, clearly not interested in any extracurricr rtionship with Max. Patrick found that agreeable.

    The car was silent, save for the sound of Max¡¯s fingers turning the pages of his documents. The dinner with InnovTech Solutions

    went smoothly. As they were wrapping up, the CEO of InnovTech received a call from his wife. He quickly excused himself with

    an apologetic smile. ¡°Mr. Dorsey, | need to take this call. My apologies.¡±

    4

    Max nodded, distant but polite, watching as the man stepped away to whisper, ¡°I¡¯m out for dinner with Mr. Dorsey from Dorsey

    International. What would you like? Alright, I''ll bring it hometer. You''re not getting fat. How could you possibly get fat?¡±

    After hanging up, the CEO seemed somewhat sheepish. ¡°Ten years of marriage, and | get an earful every time I¡¯m homwte.

    Mr. Dorsey, being single like you has its perks, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    Patrick sat beside Max and didn¡¯t miss the deep envy in his gaze, as restrained as the man himself. It seemed that even

    someone as distinguished as Max could harbor envy for others. Perhaps this was his first real taste of sour and bitter envy. It

    was impossible to hide it in his eyes.

 Chapter 700

    Chapter 700

    Chapter 700

    ¡°Max, are you heading home?¡± Annie asked her eyes gleaming with a subtle light as she stood behind Patrick and Max

    Patrick, observing Max''s slightly flushed cheeks and the drunken warmth in his eyes, knew that any more work at the office was

    out of the question tonight. Despite not beingpletely wasted, Max definitely needed some rest.

    Annie, ever so considerate, slung her purse over her shoulder and stepped aside to hail a cab.

    ¡°Patrick, why don¡¯t you take the boss home to sleep it off? I''ll grab a cab back. After you drop him off, remember to fix him some

    food for the hangover,¡± she said, turning to leave.

    Patrick was pleased with her initiative. He opened the passenger door of the car so Max could climb in.

    Just as Max was about to get in, a yellow object rolled to his feet. A little girl, bundled up in a white puffy jacket with a butterfly

    bow on her head, rushed over to pick it up. It was an orange that had rolled right to Max¡¯s feet. He bent down to pick it up and

    handed it to her. The girl, barely reaching above his knee, looked up at him with big, grape¡ªlike eyes that blinked innocently.

    Those eyes reminded him so much of Brielle.

    He vividly remembered the first moming he woke up in Brielle¡¯s bed, consumed with initial panic as he grabbed her by the throat,

    demanding to know if she had a death wish. Those same pure, pained, yet defiant eyes met his gaze. That kind of look had a

    way of disarming him, even to the extent of making him want to gift her the world the should she desire it. So he knelt down, his

    long fingers picked up the orange, and handed it to the little friend.

    The girl took the orange with careful hands, blinked her watery eyes, and then ran back to a man not far away, hugging his knees

    tightly. ¡°Daddy, Daddy, | saw an actor!¡± she eximed.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    The man lifted her up and perched her on his shoulders. ¡°Really?¡± He said.

    ¡°It''s true, He is so pretty.¡±

    By now, Max had entered the car and was watching the yful father and daughter through the window. The man hoisted her up,

    twirling her around, and the girlughed and pointed ahead, prompting him to charge forward.

    Max mused that if he ever had a daughter, she¡¯d probably be just as adorable. He watched them for a moment longer before

    turning his

    gaze away.

    The air conditioning was on in the car, but Max felt suffocated and asked Patrick to turn it off. He then rolled down the window,

    letting in the chilly outside air, hoping it would help sober him up. ¡°Take me to Pearl Estate,¡± he instructed, unbuttoning a few

    buttons on his cor and leaning back, falling into silence.

    Patrick felt a tightness in his chest, knowing that Max was inevitably heading to see Ms. Brielle, He could only hope that Ms.

    Brielle was worth Max''s affection.

    But Brielle wasn¡¯t at Pearl Estate. Instead, she was sitting the CEO¡¯s office at Dorsey International, asionally ncing out at

    the city lights and feeling oddlyforted by Max''s presence in the room despite his physical absence.

    As time ticked by, her nerves began to fray. What would she say to Max if he showed up?

 Chapter 701

    Chapter 701

    It wasn¡¯t Max who came through the door, but Annie.

    Annie looked surprised to see her. ¡°Ms. Brielle?¡±

    Brielle nodded, watching as Annie walked straight to the desk, scooped up a hair clip, and slipped it

    into her purse. ¡°Aren¡¯t you heading out, Ms. Brielle?¡±

    ¡°The socializing isn¡¯t over yet?¡±

    Both asked at the same time.

    Annie chuckled, ¡°Not yet, probably another fifteen minutes or so. I got a call from my godfather, so I left

    early. Ms. Brielle, I passed your message on to Max. I¡¯ve got to run now. I was worried you¡¯d be waiting

    too long. Maybe give him a call to check in?¡±

    Annie knew their phones were out of reach and messages couldn¡¯t be delivered, so she dared to say

    so. She wanted to make Brielle feel more frustrated and more ufortable.

    ¡°Sure, thanks for the heads up.¡±

    Brielle sat on the couch, helplessly watching the hair clip disappear into Annie¡¯s bag as she departed,

    leaving the office quiet once

    more.

    Brielle nced at the wall clock. It was already nine in the evening. If Max was going toe back to

    workte, this would be the time. She started out lounging on the couch but gradually sat up straight

    with hands on her knees and a nervous sweat forming on her palms. Even as her back began to ache

    from the tension, Max still hadn¡¯t arrived.

    Outside Dorsey International, not far from the building, Annie hopped into Murray¡¯s car, a grin

    spreading across her face as the door closed. ¡°Murray, I¡¯ve managed to stir up trouble between Brielle

    and Max again. Gosh, I feel like I¡¯m just too good at this.¡±

    As she spoke, she pulled a piece of candy from a box beside her and popped it into her mouth.

    Murray¡¯s gaze on her was tender as if she were just a mischievous little girl. No matter how outrageous

    Annie¡¯s antics, Murray always thought she was an eternally youthful sprite.

    Savoring the candy, Annie leaned in close, turned Murray¡¯s face towards her, and passed the sweet

    from her lips to his, her eyes sparkling. ¡°Is it good? Sweet enough?¡±

    Murray felt his heart melting, his breath quivering, and his voice growing hoarse with desire. He was

    lost in her gaze and, after a moment, murmured, ¡°Miss, it¡¯s very sweet.¡±

    Maybe he was referring to the candy, or something else entirely.

    Annie leaned back, legs propped up, her eyes full of mirth. ¡°I¡¯m in such a

    fantastic mood today.¡±

    Her good mood usually meant Murray could suggest something audacious, like another round of the

    role¨Cy they had indulged in the night before. But he was so meek, so cautious, that he only dared to

    steal a nce at her through the rearview mirror.

    Resting her chin on her hand, cheeks bulging with candy, Annie caught his look and smiled. ¡°What¡¯s

    up? Is there something you want to tell me, Murray?¡±

    The man swallowed hard, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing. Instead of driving off, he got out, opened the back

    door, and slid in beside Annie. She said nothing, watched him sit down, and then felt his arms wrap

    around her waist. ¡°Miss, may I?¡±

    Even in her buoyant mood, Annie had no desire for sex, so she frowned slightly. ¡°Haven¡¯t I told you,

    when I want it, I¡¯ll let you good, go drive.¡±

    know? Be

    Murray, with a crestfallen look, reluctantly released her. He returned to the driver¡¯s seat and pressed

    the elerator. The car glided forward smoothly.

    Annie hummed a tune in the backseat, her voice pure and youthful. With her delicate features and eyes

    squinting as she savored her candy, she might as well have been a teenager. She seemed like a girl

    who had grown up sheltered, but Murray knew all too well that Annie was no damsel from a sheltered

    tower yet she was the princess in his heart.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    They got back to their ce, but Annie, seemingly weary, dozed off in her seat. Murray gently lifted her,

    cradling her carefully in his arms. Instinctively, Annie wrapped her arms around his neck, murmuring,

    ¡°Ricardo.¡±

    She smiled in her sleep, and Murray¡¯s grip tightened, his eyes filled with a bitter¨Csweetness. He had

    been by her side all along, and years had passed since she¡¯dst seen Ricardo, so why did she still

    harbor feelings for him?

    As Annie nestled against his chest, he worried she might catch a chill. He carried her into the room.

    Meanwhile, up in the top¨Cfloor office at Dorsey International, Brielle had fallen asleep waiting. The chill

    of the night made her stir, her brow furrowing as she pulled a throw pillow into her embrace.

    ¡°Achoo.¡±

    10:11

    She felt a cold draft and realized the office air conditioning had broken down. The nights in

    Beaconsfield were bitter cold, and without a nket she felt an loy numbness in her hands and feet.

    It was two in the morning now; Max certainly wouldn¡¯t being.

    As Brielle stood, her numb legs gave way, and she stumbled, a sharp pain shooting through her ankle.

    She crouched down to examine it, feeling the tears on her face and wiping it away.

 Chapter 702

    Chapter 702

    Taking a deep breath to ease the pain in her legs, she steadied herself against the wall and started

    walking out.

    At this hour, Dorsey Tower was basically deserted. She took the elevator down. Since her car had been

    vandalized, her only option was to hail a cab by the roadside. But catching a cab in the wee hours was

    tough, and the cold had turned her lips a faint shade of purple.

    An hourter, she finally managed to g down a taxi. By the time she arrived back at Pearl Estate, it

    was four in the morning. She paid the driver and, with a limp, made her way into theplex, only to

    find that the lights in her apartment were on. Her brow furrowed at the sight. She must have left in such

    a rush that she forgot to turn them off.

    As she rode the elevator up, she reached into her bag to get her keys, only to realize with dyed

    awareness that she had left her purse in Max¡¯s office. Now, aside from her phone, she had nothing.

    Brielle was not usually one to break down. She was often frighteningly strong. But today had been too

    much. All she wanted was to find a warm ce to rest, yet she had left her keys behind.

    Blinking back the tears, she slid down against the wall, not wanting to make another trip to Dorsey

    International. She had no energy left and just wanted to make do in the hallway for the night. She even

    tapped on her own door, knowing no one would answer, but she couldn¡¯t help but keep tapping, even

    as the tears fell uncontrobly.

    Pain shot through her ankle, leaving her both cold and hungry.

    After a couple of knocks, her palm reddened and ached, so she stopped and curled up, resting her chin

    on her knees and closing her eyes, Footsteps sounded from inside the apartment, and for a moment,

    she wondered if she was hallucinating.

    She was the only resident on this floor. If those weren¡¯t her footsteps, whose could they be?

    She opened her eyes and slowly lifted her head to see her apartment door cracked open, with Max

    standing in the light, his gaze soft upon her. The warm, orange light made him look quite unreal.

    Brielle blinked, wondering if the cold had conjured up a hallucination, but before she could think further,

    this vision crouched down to meet her eye level and even reached out to wipe away a tear from her

    cheek.

    His touch was moist. ¡°Why are you crying?¡± he asked.

    Brielle opened her mouth to speak but quickly closed it, fearing the vision would vanish. Even the Max

    she imagined was perfect. The apartment¡¯s lights bathed him, and for a moment, everything else faded

    away, leaving only his presence and the warmth from inside. He had shed his suit jacket, wearing just

    his shirt with the top three buttons undone. This squatting pose exposed a patch of his chest. Max

    looked at her, not understanding why she was crying sote at night aftering home. He watched

    as Brielle wiped her eyes and got up from the ground, walking past him into the apartment.

    Max frowned and noticed her closing the door, leaning against the wall to change her shoes, then

    moving to the couch to grab the nket he had justid out and wrapping it around herself.

    Brielle was freezing. The chill from the office had seeped into her bones, and her mind was foggy. She

    saw the apparition remain still by the entrance, quietly watching her. This hallucination felt so real that

    she could sense Max¡¯s presence.

    ¡°Brielle, let¡¯s talk.¡±

    Max stood in the entryway, his heart aching a bit at her deliberate disregard. He walked up to her

    quickly, grasping her wrist. ¡°Don¡¯t sleep, let¡¯s talk.¡±

    Brielle was truly exhausted, and his pull barely made her lift her groggy gaze to meet his. As Max

    touched her hand, it felt like ice, and any lingering sense of loss shattered. He knelt down slowly,

    cradling her hand in his warm palm.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    With this sudden warmth, Brielle realized this was no figment of her imagination. Her gaze collided with

    his, and the coolness in her heart began to thaw.

    Who was it that said romance in lovey in the silent yearning beneath?

    Max had been waiting for her at Pearl Estate/The person she wanted to reconcile with had already

    been there all along.

    Max held her hands, rubbed them gently, then kissed the back of her hand. ¡°Where have you been?

    Your hands are freezing.¡±

    This was an instinctive gesture for Max. Looking up, he saw Brielle staring nkly at him. ¡°Brielle?¡± He

    called out to her, and seeing her dazed with no response, he tucked her hands under the nket.

    He stood up straight and turned up the apartment¡¯s thermostat. After setting the temperature to a cozy

    80 degrees Fahrenheit, he was about to set the remote down when a pair of arms wrapped around his

    waist.

 Chapter 703

    Chapter 703

    Brielle was lounging on the couch while Max stood. She wrapped her arm around him, leaving her

    head resting against his midsection. Max froze for a moment, then felt her hand slip under his shirt¨C

    deliberately igniting his lust. A shadow passed over his eyes, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing.

    He chucked the remote control, not bothering to see if itnded on the coffee table. He spun around,

    pinned her to the couch, and kissed her fiercely.

    Brielle felt breathless, on the verge of suffocation, before he released her. Clothes littered the path from

    the living room to the bedroom. Max carried the faint scent of liquor¨Che must have had a drink here,

    evidenced by the small wine ss still resting on the coffee table. His eyes, slightly intoxicated with

    warmth, imprisoned herpletely in his embrace as he hoisted her up. Startled by the vulnerability of

    the position, Brielle¡¯s cheeks flushed. ¡°Hey, easy,¡± she murmured.

    Their bodies pressed close together.

    In truth, she didn¡¯t want him to be gentle. She wanted him to be rougher, topletely unravel her so

    that she could feel his presence instead of a gesture of rejection.

    His rejection was painful. His indifference drove her mad. She wanted to be entwined tightly with him,

    to forget everything else for a moment and focus only on each other.

    Neither asked why they didn¡¯t answer calls or texts; physicalmunication was far more honest.

    Hourster, Brielle was exhausted and on the edge of sleep. Her feet pushed against him, too tired to

    speak. Drops of sweat beaded on Max¡¯s forehead, sliding from his jaw to her chest. The bedroom light

    was dim as Brielle woke, watching him through half¨Clidded eyes just in time to see the sweat drip onto

    her skin.

    At that moment, she felt the heat of his sweat turn dry, then red, and finally, like a tattooed mark on her

    chest.

    She had so much to say, so many questions, but for now, she just gazed at him with shimmering eyes.

    Max¡¯s breathing grew heavy again, and he covered her eyes with his hand. ¡°Stop looking, just sleep,¡±

    he said. Her gaze made his body react and feel like she was dependent on him, that she couldn¡¯t let

    go. But he wasn¡¯t so sure himself.

    ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??? ? ???? ? ? ???? ? ??a ¨C F?? ??? ??? ? ?? ??? ??? ??

    Brielle¡¯s eyshes fluttered against his palm as she mumbled, ¡°Don¡¯t leave me.¡±

    Max tensed, feeling as if his palm was scorched. All the words in the world couldn¡¯t weigh against that

    single plea. His heart¡¯s

    bitterness and sense of loss vanished, reced by a light chuckle. Wasn¡¯t this what he was worried

    about?

    ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for pping you. Maybe you can p me back to even it out?¡± With her eyes still closed,

    Brielle¡¯s willpower was the only thing

    keeping her talking. She feared it was all a dream, that Max would vanish upon waking. So, while she

    still had the strength, she wanted

    to say everything on her mind.

    ¡°I don¡¯t me you for the scarf. I lost the rosary too, so please don¡¯t me me. We both lost something

    of each other¡¯s. Let¡¯s call it

    even, okay?¡±

    Max felt a softening in his heart, but it wasn¡¯t sweet, it was more sour. How could affection be like this?

    They were so close. She was in

    his arms, yet he wanted to be closer, to blend her into his being.

    All his emotions¨Cgrievances, touches of affection, sourness¨Csurged in his heart.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Hearing his affirmative response, Brielle¡¯s lips curved slightly, and she fell into a

    own words when she woke up.

    peaceful sleep. Perhaps she wouldn¡¯t remember her

    Max held her close, noting the sunlight already streaming in, filling the room with warmth. He also

    hadn¡¯t rested in a long time. Now, with his worries set aside, he closed his eyes as well.

    Brielle slept soundly until she woke to see the empty room, her heart skipping a beat. She fearedst

    night had indeed been a dream, but as she got out of bed, the soreness in her body told a different

    story, and her cheeks reddened.

    As she wrapped herself in a robe and headed to the bathroom, she overheard Max on the phone.

    ¡°Don¡¯t make the oatmeal too sweet. She doesn¡¯t like it that way. Be here in ten minutes, yeah.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    After hanging up, Max continued staring at hisptop, wearing just a bathrobe, his skin glowing. Brielle

    finished freshening up just as the doorbell rang. She saw Annie standing outside, hesitating.

    Annie gave her a small smile, her armsden with tworge food containers. ¡°Ms. Brielle, I brought

    some documents for Max and thought I¡¯d bring you breakfast too. He mentioned you might be hungry.¡±

    Seeing Annie, a delicate girl burdened with both paperwork and substantial food containers, Brielle¡¯s

    doubts dissipated. Max wasn¡¯t indifferent to women¡¯s needs. He just didn¡¯t extend the same care to

    others. No other man would treat a daintydy this way.

 Chapter 704

    Chapter 704

    Feelingpletely at ease, Brielle took the lunchbox from Annie¡¯s hands.

    ¡°Thanks, you¡¯re a lifesaver.¡±

    Annie nodded at her and handed over some documents to Max. ¡°These are the files for the uing

    meeting.¡±

    Max grabbed the documents and noticed Brielle holding the lunchbox. He stood up, stepped past

    Annie, and took the lunchbox from her. ¡°Is it heavy?¡±

    Brielle felt a sweet thrill of satisfaction as the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile. ¡°You go ahead

    and have your meeting, and I¡¯ll set this up.¡±

    Annie stood beside them, her gaze shifting back and forth in confusion. She was genuinely puzzled.

    Why had these two suddenly made up?

    After delivering the files, she had no reason to stay, so she tactfully made her exit. As she stepped

    outside Pearl Estate, her mind was still trying to unravel the mystery. She was so lost in thought that

    she nearly tripped over her own feet.

    Why were they so fickle? Weren¡¯t they at odds just yesterday? Rtionships were far tooplex, she

    mused. It seemed she had a lot more to learn.

    Upstairs, Brielleid out the lunchbox contents

    closed hisptop to join her.

    ¨C

    a hearty chicken soup and her favorite side dishes. Her smile deepened. Max casually

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be in a meeting?¡±

    ¡°The meeting isn¡¯t for another half¨Chour.¡±

    ? ? ? ?? ?

    As Brielledled soup into his bowl, she couldn¡¯t resist teasing, ¡°Someone said I was Annie¡¯s stand¨Cin.¡±

    She locked eyes with Max, searching for any flicker of emotion.

    Max¡¯s face was unreadable as he responded, ¡°Stand¨Cin for what?¡± He seemed genuinely clueless as if

    he had no idea what a stand¨Cin

    was.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Brielle let out a halfugh, half¨Csigh. ¡°Don¡¯t you think I resemble her?¡±

    ¡°Not at all. You¡¯re my girlfriend, and she¡¯s my professor¡¯s goddaughter. Once she finishes her PhD,

    she¡¯ll

    be

    moving on.

    Brielle exhaled a sigh of relief. So what was all that jealousy about these past few days? She decided

    not to bring up the scarf incident, recalling her words from the night before about them both losing

    something important. They were even now. There was no point in holding grudges. Besides, that rosary

    seemed far more precious than any scarf.

    As long as she wasn¡¯t a stand¨Cin, everything else could be sorted out.

    Her mood lifted, but her eyes couldn¡¯t help welling up. These past few days had been tough.

    Just as she was about to lean in for a kiss, the television news caught her attention. ¡°The couple¡¯s

    wedding will take ce tomorrow morning at eleven at the church. Previously released photos of the

    couple in wedding attire¡­¡±

    The screen showed Andrew and Tessa in their wedding finery, Andrew with his arm around Tessa, who

    looked adoringly into his eyes.

    Brielle¡¯s good morning was thoroughly spoiled. Andrew and Tessa¡¯s wedding was tomorrow. How could

    she have forgotten something so important? She didn¡¯t turn off the TV but instead listened to the

    details.

    Tessa was also listening to the news, coughing slightly before wrapping her arms around Andrew¡¯s

    waist. ¡°Andrew, I swear I didn¡¯t leak anything to the media. It must have been the paparazzi yesterday

    when we were trying on the wedding dress. I¡¯m so sorry.¡±

    Andrew¡¯s expression darkened. Ever since their night out at Tequ Sunset, Tessa had been running

    into Aubree, his mood had soured, and he had rejected her advances.

    eager to get physically closer, but after

    He had discussed having a low¨Ckey, private ceremony with Tessa, just with close friends in attendance.

    Tessa had cried a bit but eventually agreed.

    Andrew had felt a twinge of guilt. What woman didn¡¯t dream of a grand wedding? But now, the media

    had released false information about them having avish ceremony at the grandest church in

    Beaconsfield.

    Tessa looked up at Andrew with pleading eyes, ¡°Don¡¯t you believe me?¡±

    It wasn¡¯t that Andrew didn¡¯t trust her, but the photographer for their wedding was someone he trusted

    completely. There was no chance the photos would have leaked from there, especially since the shoot

    had taken ce at a private estate, far from any prying paparazzi.

    Who else could it be if not Tessa hefself?

 Chapter 705

    Chapter 705

    Andrew was beginning to have his doubts about Tessa, and an uneasy feeling crept into his heart for

    the first time. He was always a maverick, and as long as he was happy, that was all that mattered¨Ceven

    when it came to Tessa. He didn¡¯t want her to oppose him with

    such tactics.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Tessa knew what she was doing was risky, but what would the socialites think if they were to have a

    low¨Ckey wedding?

    The Rond family had just fallen from grace, and she urgently needed avish wedding to reim

    her ce among the elite. She had been avoiding contact with anyone these past few days, fearing

    mockery from former friends and dreading the possibility of having to take charge on behalf of the fallen

    Rond family.

    The Rond family was finished. That was a certainty. If she opposed the public, she¡¯d be drowned in

    a sea of scorn. Just like Brielle had gone through the day before.

    Yesterday had been Tessa¡¯s happiest day because Brielle had been publicly humiliated. Tessa hadn¡¯t

    missed the chance to fuel the fire, hiring a legion of online trolls tombast Brielle. The more Brielle

    was chastised, the more Tessa felt at ease.

    She loathed Brielle and Aubree the most. Her very existence was to see those two women trampled

    into the depths of hell!

    Yesterday, she even resent that video to Aubree, determined to ensure that Aubree would never forget

    the humiliation. She nned to make it Aubree¡¯s lifelong shadow to shame her from ever appearing at

    Andrew¡¯s side again.

    Now, her n was nearlyplete. After tomorrow¡¯s wedding, she would be Andrew¡¯swful wife.

    Thinking of this, Tessa¡¯s eyes took on a pitiful look as she clutched Andrew¡¯s hand and ced it on her

    chest. ¡°Andrew, do you dislike my figure? We¡¯re getting married tomorrow, and I really want to be with

    you¡±

    But Andrew withdrew his hand coldly. ¡°Let¡¯s have breakfast first.¡±

    Tessa suddenly panicked, fearing herst lifeline was slipping away. She mustered a bitter smile and

    stood up. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go dish up the oatmeal.*

    Andrew remained in the living room. The noise from the television soured his mood.

    In the kitchen, Tessa reached for a bottle of pills hidden in the overhead cab. She nced at

    Andrew¡¯s figure in the living room and mixed the substance into the oatmeal.

    She couldn¡¯t be med, after all¨Cthey were soon to be married, and such intimacies were bound to

    happen. If she became pregnant, Andrew and Aubree would be history.

    Anxiety wed at her, especially after the night at Tequ Sunset when Andrew had left her with Jaired

    and chased after Aubree. She was acutely aware that she needed a child with Andrew to sever his ties

    with Aubree once and for all.

    She stirred the oatmeal slowly to ensure nothing seemed amiss, then carried it out with a smile.

    ¡°Andrew, dinner¡¯s ready.¡±

    Andrew, who usually let his guard down around Tessa, didn¡¯t suspect a thing about the doctored dish.

    They sat down together, facing a modest spread of light dishes. Tessa couldn¡¯t handle rich foods, so

    they settled for a simple bowl of oatmeal, which Andrew had dutifully shared with her every morning.

    Though he much preferred a hearty breakfast¨Cback when he lived with Aubree, she would wake up

    early to grill him a steak.

    During breakfast, Tessa seized the chance to voice her concerns.

    ¡°Everyone knows about our church wedding now. Maybe we should visit the church today just to check.

    It¡¯s usually booked in advance, but with the Clements family¡¯s pull, I¡¯m sure they can make room for

    us.¡±

    The frustration in Andrew¡¯s expression deepened, but out of consideration for Tessa¡¯s frailty and how it

    might look to others, he suppressed his irritation.

    ¡°Tessa. You know I indulge you in everything. I said I¡¯d marry you, and I will¨Cyou don¡¯t need these

    schemes. You¡¯re the one I¡¯ve always

    loved.¡±

    Tessa felt a surge of emotion, but unbeknownst to Andrew, her phone was recording their conversation

    on the side. After stopping the recording, she sent the audio to Aubree. Any chance to needle Aubree

    was an opportunity Tessa would never pass up.

 Chapter 706

    Chapter 706

    After finishing his oatmeal, Andrew was supposed to head to work, but he felt a feverish warmth

    coursing through his body and a general sense of mise. He unbuttoned a few buttons of his shirt.

    His brows furrowed as he slumped onto the couch, tilting his head back to reveal a prominent Adam¡¯s

    apple.

    His appearance was undeniably attractive, and this gesture was filled with an alluring charm.

    Tessa had never had sex with a man, so the sight alone was enough to send a blush spreading across

    her cheeks.

    Andrew stretched his legs onto the coffee table, feeling his body grow hotter by the minute, and Tessa

    slowly approached, cing her hand on his chest.

    ¡°Andrew, did you have a rough night? Do you think you caught a cold?¡±

    Andrew squinted his eyes. Not only had the previous night been restless, but the past couple of nights

    had been choppy at best. It never crossed his mind that Tessa might have slipped something into his

    oatmeal. He thought his body was weak, making him believe he had caught a cold.

    He stood up to leave, but Tessa would not let him go, quickly wrapping her arms around his waist.

    ¡°Andrew,¡± she whispered.

    Andrew¡¯s breathing becamebored instantly. The hands wrapped around his waist seemed to be

    dragging him into an abyss. He ced his hand over Tessa¡¯s.

    A glint of determination shed in Tessa¡¯s eyes, her cheeks reddening even more, ready for what was

    toe. This frail body of hers was not exactly eager for pleasure, but she had to persevere.

    She quickly shed her clothes and closed her eyes, not daring to look at him but guiding his hand across

    her skin.

    It had to work.

    Even theers of her mouth couldn¡¯t help but curve into a faint smile.

    Andrew¡¯s eyes reddened instantly at the stimtion. He grasped her chin and pushed her onto the

    couch.

    He was about to take off her pants after leaving her breathless from his kisses, but his phone rang at

    that very moment. It was a call from the church, cautiously inquiring if he really intended to reserve a

    spot.

    The church had found out through the news, but Andrew himself hadn¡¯t ced any order with them.

    They were free the following day, and if Andrew wanted to have his wedding there, they had to prepare

    overnight. After all, a high¨Cprofile wedding could not afford to look shabby.

    ¡°Mr. Clements, we have several marital packages avable; you¡¯re wee toe and see for

    yourself.¡±

    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Andrew felt even more breathless, grinding his teeth. ¡°Pick the most expensive one.¡±

    He hung up and was about to proceed with Tessa when the phone rang again. Sweat was beading on

    Andrew¡¯s forehead. He felt a mounting irritation with the incessant interruptions. Yet, he couldn¡¯t ignore

    the call, and suddenly, he snapped to attention¨Cit was Aubree¡¯s special ringtone.

    He let go of Tessa, restraining himself at this crucial moment. He fastened his belt, still feeling an

    unbearable heat throughout his body, but the ringtone was like a spell, briefly bringing him back to his

    senses.

    He took a deep breath and answered. ¡°What is it?¡±

    But the call wasn¡¯t from Aubree herself. It was from a hotel attendant. ¡°Hello, are you Miss Clement¡¯s

    brother? Miss Clements left her phone at the hotel, and we can¡¯t reach her at the moment, so we had

    to contact the emergency contact she listed.¡±

    Andrew was taken aback, and with that reminder, he suddenly wondered where Aubree was staying

    now that her ce had been sold.

    He remembered her mentioning sleeping with four men, and he felt a burning rage. Taking a deep

    breath, he responded, ¡°Please keep it for now. I¡¯lle by shortly.¡±

    The hotel attendant nodded, gave him an address, and hung up.

    Andrew grabbed his coat to leave and saw Tessa lying naked on the couch. Tessa was shaking all

    over, feeling utterly humiliated. They hade this close, just one step away. How could Andrew hold

    back?

    She bit her lip so hard she could taste blood.

    Andrew covered her with a nket and left a kiss on her lips. ¡°I¡¯m going to pick something up. I¡¯ll be

    right back.¡±

    Just that kiss made him feel like he was on fire, longing to have her, but thest shred of sanity in his

    mind pulled at him.

    He got up, his voice hoarse. ¡°Tessa, I¡¯m afraid of hurting you.¡±

    Tessa wanted to cry. She wasn¡¯t afraid of getting hurt. She just wanted Andrew now. But before she

    could say anything, Andrew was already out the door.

    10-11

    He had intended to drive himself but was suddenly aware of the unusual heat in his body. Andrew¡¯s

    brows knitted tightly, and he immediately suspected the cause, feeling a twinge of disappointment.

    In such a short span, this was the second time Tessa had resorted to such means.

    When he arrived at the hotel, he retrieved Aubree¡¯s phone and inquired which room she had checked

    into.

    Normally, hotel staff should not give out room keys to anyone but the guest, but after hearing he was

    Aubree¡¯s brother and only wanted to retum her phone, they made an exception.

 Chapter 707

    Chapter 707

    As Andrew entered the room, he was immediately engulfed in Aubree¡¯s essence. The drug¨Cinducing

    calm he¡¯d managed to wrestle into submission roared to life, his blood coursing with a fierce heat. He

    ripped off his jacket and shucked his shirt, making a beeline for the bathroom.

    Aubree was on set, still engrossed in her role, oblivious to the fact that she¡¯d left her phone behind.

    The set was a whirlwind of activity; everyone was fueled by the buzz from yesterday¡¯s headlines.

    John was his usual stoic self, but it was clear he felt lighter today. In his downtime, he was deep¨Cdiving

    into the works of other directors, keen on honing his craft.

    Aubree was caught up in the fervor, and her spirits lifted.

    As they wrapped up the morning¡¯s scenes, John announced they were heading to Ster Stage

    Entertainment for some location shots.

    The script might tell a story of the everyman, but a few scenes demanded the backdrop of a bustling

    office building, and Ster Stage Entertainment was just the ticket.

    Aubree¡¯s visit there would inevitably lead her to Brielle.

    Brielle had rolled into work just after noon, still reeling from a night of indulgence with Max and feeling

    the after¨Ceffects. It wasn¡¯t until sunlight flooded her room that she managed to rise.

    The news had her seeing red, but Max, ever clumsy with words, simply assured her Andrew would

    regret his actions and urged her not to be upset.

    Duties called, and they parted ways. Brielle longed for more time with Max, but with Ster Stage

    Entertainment still settling from recent upheaval, she was needed to steady the ship.

    Max had driven her in, stealing a few tender moments in the car before she staggered out on wobbly

    legs, only to stumble upon the film crew¡¯s arrival.

    Brielle tugged at her cor, trying to cover up, but it was toote ¨C Aubree had seen everything.

    Aubree had noticed the lovebites on Brielle before but was still puzzled. ¡°Bri, has Mr. Dorsey neverid

    eyes on a woman before?¡±

    Brielle, flushed and wide¨Ceyed with kiss¨Cbruised lips, was a sight that easily fueled gossip.

    Aubree had always known Brielle was stunning, so seeing her like this elicited an involuntary tsk. ¡°You

    might want to check yourself in the mirror.¡±

    Brielle was embarrassed, knowing she couldn¡¯t resist Max. She had simply closed her eyes as his face

    neared hers in the car, not bothering to wonder what Patrick in the front seat might think.

    ¡°You¡¯re the boss now, Bri. Keep up appearances. John mighte looking for youter. Let¡¯s go to

    your office.¡±

    Aubree led her to the private elevator that whisked them to the executive floor.

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    After freshening up, Brielle¡¯s cheeks cooled down. She eyed Aubree, curious if the day¡¯s news had

    affected

    her.

    ¡°Bri, I¡¯ve wrapped my scenes for today. Ricardo and the others are up next. I want to go somewhere.¡±

    1/2

    10:32

    Chapter 707

    ¡°Where to?¡±

    ¡°Radiant Light Church.¡±

    Aubree¡¯s eyshes fluttered as she mentioned the church, and then she looked up with a smile.

    ¡°Remember the wish you made for me? That me and Andrew would be tied together forever? You were

    so sweet to do it. You probably did hang that wish up there. I want to take it down now.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s heart ached at the request. ¡°I¡¯lle with you.¡±

    ¡°No need. You must be swamped, especially with thepany¡¯s recent shake¨Cup and having to quell

    the online storm about you. Have you seen today¡¯s trending topics? Amelia is practically hiding at

    home. We may have won this battle, but you¡¯re in the public eye now. You¡¯ve got your hands full.¡±

    ¡°Aubree, I¡¯lle with you. If we leave now, we can be back by tomorrow. Besides, I hung the wish. I

    know exactly where it is. Without me, you¡¯ll be searching through hundreds of wishes. Do you really

    want that?¡±

    Aubree had indeed intended to search on her own. She turned away, her eyes brimming with tears.

    Brielle didn¡¯t know how tofort her, especially with the news of Andrew and Tessa¡¯s impending

    wedding still fresh on TV and the media circling like vultures for details on the Clements family¡¯s ns.

    She wrapped her arms gently around Aubree. ¡°You can cry now. I¡¯m here for you. But once that wish is

    down, no more tears for him, okay?¡±

    Hearing this, Aubree¡¯s tears fell freely, and she clung to Brielle, sobbing without a sound.

 Chapter 708

    Chapter 708

    How long had Aubree known Andrew? It must have been twenty years by now.

    Her secret crush, her first love, her open yearning¨Call of it had been for him. Even now, as she found

    herself mired in disgrace, too tainted to be touched, she couldn¡¯t remain indifferent to the news of his

    marriage.

    Perhaps that was the terrifying nature of affection, like ants consuming an elephant, little by little, day

    by day. Unbeknownst to herself, she became a ve to love, forever debased in his eyes.

    At eighteen, she had thought that if only Andrew could love her back, she¡¯d be content to remain in

    humble adoration forever, even if it meant stripping away her pride and risking her life. But Andrew had

    a heart of stone, only showing a glimmer of tenderness while looking at her in the intimacy of the

    bedroom.

    ¡°Alright, then you¡¯reing with me.¡±

    Brielle didn¡¯t trust Aubree to go out alone in her current state and immediately called Max. The phone

    connected, and his voice came through, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°I need to borrow your car. Aubree wants to visit Radiant Light Church. We¡¯re heading out now and will

    be back tomorrow.¡±

    ¡®Drive safe.¡±

    ¡°Will do.¡±

    Max¡¯s car arrived swiftly. Brielle took the wheel while Aubree settled into the passenger seat. Seeing

    how attentive Max was to Brielle, Aubree couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit emotional. ¡°I always thought Mr.

    Dorsey was a yer, leading you on. I never imagined he¡¯d be the most devoted of them all.¡±

    To others, Max seemed indifferent to the world. Aubree even wondered if everything in Max¡¯s world

    was a monochrome of cold whites, so dull and colorless, allowing him to dedicate years to his work

    without a change of heart.

    But with Brielle, he was moved, his emotions in disarray

    As Aubree nced at the swiftly passing cityscape outside the window, the corners of her mouth

    twitched in a faint smile. Mr. Dorsey and Andrew were, after all, not the same.

    In the hotel room, Andrew took a cold shower but still felt ufortable all over. When he smelled

    Aubree¡¯s lingering scent in the room, the fire he had managed to suppress red up again.

    Sweat beaded on his forehead as he rummaged through the room, eventually finding Aubree¡¯s

    personal clothing. He felt like a creep at that moment, lying on the bed Aubree had slept in, inhaling the

    scent of her garments.

    Even then, he couldn¡¯t understand why Tessa had to go to such lengths to entice him. She used drugs

    and undressed to give him physical stimtion. But Aubree only needed a single piece of clothing to

    get a rise

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    out of him.

    Afterward, he buried his face in the pillow, his breath shaky, his body sweaty. If Aubree were actually

    there, he¡¯d make sure she couldn¡¯t leave the bed for three days.

    Thinking of her, the desire Andrew had just quenched seemed to boil over once again. ¡°Damn it!¡± He

    cursed under his breath, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing, a sense of frustration building within.

    1/2

    10.32

    Chapter 70%

    Ever since he¡¯d hooked up with Autres, he¡¯d never let himself offer like this.

    ¡°Son of a bitch¡± He swore again, then hoarsely called out, ¡°Aubree The name seemed to spill from the

    depths of his heart, lingering on his tongue, tugging at his very fech

    It wasn¡¯t until the evening that he irritably massaged his temples. What was he doing? How was he any

    different from some perverted stalker

    Andrew tossed the clothing into the trash can in a fit of disgust, but no sooner had he done that than he

    imagined Aubree¡¯s scolding voice in his head.

    Standing tall, his lean, muscr body was a sight to behold, but he was in no mood to appreciate it.

    Instead, he bent down and retrieved the clothing from the trash, taking it to the bathroom himself

    Andrew had never washed clothes in his life, but he scrubbed the garment that was stained with his

    essence vigorously andthered it with soap. Once clean and back to its original state, he fetched a

    hanger from the closet and hung the clothing out to dry. The thought of Aubree wearing the garment

    again made his throat itch anew. His reason told him to stop thinking about it.

    *Damn it!*

    He truly felt ufortable everywhere. The thought of washing clothes in a hotel was just in

    awkward. He took another shower, trying to wash away the unease.

    Aubree¡¯s phoney on the bed. He was tempted to find out who the other men were that had been with

    Aubree. So, his hand reached for the phone

 Chapter 709

    Chapter 709

    Frankly, Andrew still couldn¡¯t fathom how, in such a short time apart, Aubree managed to have sex with

    three different men, and bear such deep marks on her body?

    Aubree wasn¡¯t the Clements family¡¯s own flesh and blood, but she was raised in luxury, coddled and

    cared for. A mere paper cut on her finger would have her wailing in pain. So, when Andrew lost control

    for the first time, he ended up receiving several stinging ps and learned his lesson the hard way. He

    had tofort Aubree with sweet nothings until she agreed to sleep with him again. From then on, he

    made sure never to leave a single scratch on her skin.

    But the marks he saw that day were too harsh, too telling of the ferocity behind them. How much it

    must have hurt.

    Aubree couldn¡¯t stand him being so unrestrained with her, yet she tolerated it from others.

    Andrew was seething with rage. Gripping Aubree¡¯s phone tightly, he entered her birthday as the

    password. It was incorrect.

    He tried his own birthday next. Still wrong.

    His frown deepened, and he finally keyed in the date of their first passionate encounter, a day that

    should have been memorable.

    Wrong again.

    Three attempts, and now he was locked out for an hour. Damn it!

    His temper red in an instant, and he was about to use his own phone to call someone who could

    crack the code. But then he paused, the exhaustion weighing on him as he slumped onto the bed.

    Forget it. He wasn¡¯t up fa

    It was then that his

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    another p in the face.

    he¡¯d be back. ¡°Andrewe buzzed to life. Tessa¡¯s tearful voice echoed through the speaker, asking when

    he¡¯d be back. ¡°Andrew, I¡¯m feeling a little scared at home. Can youe over and keep mepany?

    Plus, the makeup team

    alled. They wanted to start prepping me for the wedding at five in the morning. The dress has arrived,

    and your suit¡¯s here too. Don¡¯t you want toe over and try it on?¡±

    Her voice was tentative, probably guessing that Andrew knew she had tampered with his food.

    ¡°Andrew, you¡¯re all I have left.¡±

    Andrew rubbed his temples, suddenly recalling that he was supposed to marry Tessa tomorrow. He had

    seemingly forgotten about the wedding the moment he stepped into the hotel.

    Tessa¡¯s eyes brimmed with resentment when he didn¡¯t immediately respond. ¡°Andrew, I¡¯ve heard

    people say that Aubree¡¯s been with several men. They say she¡¯s been taking them to hotels, reveling

    night after night.¡±

    Hearing this, Andrew felt a surge of anger. Recalling the foolish things he¡¯d done at the hotel filled him

    with shame. He yanked the clothes off the rack and tossed them straight into the trash.

    So, Aubree and her lover had been in this room, too? How low could she stoop?

    His blood boiled, then cooled abruptly, leaving him feeling like the whole room was tainted with

    impurity.

    Hadn¡¯t he vowed never to seek out Aubree again? Why had hee here once more? Without another

    thought, he strode out the door, leaving it all behind.

    1/2

    10:32

    Chapter 709

    ¡°Andrew, are you still listening to me?¡±

    Tessa¡¯s frail voice was like a faint whisper, easily swept away by the wind.

    ¡°I¡¯m here, on my way back. Tomorrow¡¯s wedding will be at the church, and I¡¯ve booked the grandest

    package. You¡¯ll have the wedding of your dreams.*

    He spoke without a trace of emotion, only the raw anger from the news still fresh in his mind.

    Tessa¡¯s eyes reddened with excitement as she wiped away tears. ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t let me down. I

    love you, Andrew.¡±

    After hanging up, Tessa¡¯s heart pounded with the intensity of her emotions. After some time, she dialed

    Alivia.

    *Alivia, have you seen the news? I¡¯m getting married tomorrow. The invitations have been sent, and it¡¯s

    at that church. Make sure youe. I owe it to you for your strategies that helped me be with Andrew.¡±

    Alivia had advised Tessa to go after Aubree, knowing it would also be a strike at Brielle. Tessa had

    done just that, employing the cruelest of methods.

 Chapter 710

    Chapter 710

    When Alivia heard the news, she wasn¡¯t the least bit surprised. Everyone in their circles knew that

    Andrew had a real thing for Tessa The Clements didn¡¯t need strategic marriages to boost their family¡¯s

    status anymore

    ¡°Congrats, Tessa,¡± Alivia said with a smile that didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes.

    Tessa¡¯s eyes sparkled with joy. ¡°I hope you and Max can tie the knot soon as well.¡±

    At the mention of Max, a chill ran through Alivia¡¯s heart, and the recent headlines shed through her

    mind. She¡¯d pushed Amelia to take Brielle down a peg but never expected Amelia to crash and burn so

    spectacrly Amelia was now a pawn off the board, having fled the country under the cover of

    darkness to escape the bacsh and try her luck abroad

    Alivia gritted her teeth in frustration, unable to fathom how public opinion had turned against them so

    swiftly when their n had seemed wless.

    The more Brielle¡¯s influence grew, the more unsettled Alivin felt. Annie¡¯s progress was still too slow for

    her liking. She had paid a hefty sum fifty million and heard about Max and Brielle¡¯s argument. But as of

    this morning, they were back on good terms.

    How did those two manage such unwavering trust in each other? It made Alivia¡¯s skin crowd with envy.

    If Michael hadn¡¯t advised her to sit tight and wait for the right moment she would have taken matters

    into her own hands by now

    Though she didn¡¯t fully trust Annie¡¯s capabilities, Annie and Martha were the only chess pieces she had

    to y. Now that Annie was proving useful, it was time to strategize with Martha.

    After hanging up the phone, Alivia tumed to Martha, who was sipping on her meds.

    Martha¡¯s health had taken a nosedive in recent days. Despite her tantrums and tactics, Max hadn¡¯t

    budged an inch. It seemed he was resolute in staying with Brielle

    ¡°Martha, you¡¯ve got to stop getting worked up over Max¡±

    Just the sound of Max¡¯s name made Martha¡¯s face flush with anger. She looked as though she wanted

    to spring out of bed, but a simple movement left her gasping for breath. ¡°Alivia, you¡¯re the only one who

    gets it. You¡¯ve been here for me all in thest few days¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the least I can do,¡± Alivia said sweetly. ¡°Did you hear? Andrew¡¯s getting married. You¡¯ve met him

    before.¡±

    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    ¡°That Clements boy, huh? I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s settling down. How wonderful. If only you and Max could

    get hitched. I could die happy! ¡°Martha, I wish. But Max doesn¡¯t see me that way. All the newstely

    has been about Brielle. Still, he insists on being with her. I think Max¡­ might never let her go.¡±

    Apart from work, Max rarely showed interest in anything else. His one passion seemed to be Brielle.

    How could Alivia ept that? She wouldn¡¯t give up on even the slightest chance.

    As expected, Martha was livid, her cheeks burning with rage, nearly passing out from the intensity of

    her emotions

    ¡°Martha, I¡¯m sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have told you, but I¡¯m just being honest. To split them up, we¡¯ll have to

    make Brielle back off herself.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Martha gasped. ¡°I must talk to Brielle!¡±

    Martha sped Alivia¡¯s hand in her own, her cheeks glowing with maternal affection. ¡°Don¡¯t worry

    Alivia. Even if it costs me my life. Ill make sure you end up with Max.¡±

    A sly glint passed through Alivia¡¯s eyes. This was perfect

    ¡°Okay, Martha. But I think a direct threat to Brielle won¡¯t do much. Do you know about Aubree? The

    Clements¡® foster daughter? She¡¯s just been through a lot, and Brielle is probably dying to protect her.

    Unfortunately, Brielle doesn¡¯t have the means to even protect her friend night now. We can use that to

    our advantage, use her to pressure Brielle.¡±

    Alivia had learned the hard way just how tough Brielle could be. That woman was stubborn to the core,

    her pride interwoven with her very being. To truly break her, they would have to strike at her Achilles

    heel, just like she had advised Tessa

    Control the weak spot, and you control the battle.

 Chapter 711

    Chapter 711

    Brielle was blissfully unaware of Alivia¡¯s machinations as she quietly drove the car, noticing Aubree¡¯s

    silence beside her Aubree sat in the passenger seat, gazing at the world passing by, wrapped in her

    own thoughts

    Sometimes, Brielle considered silence to be the bestpanion.

    The road to Radiant Light Church was familiar territory for Brielle. Having driven it once before, she

    pressed a bit heavier on the gas pedal. Still, the church was a good distance from the heart of

    Beaconsfield, and it was three in the morning by the time they arrived.

    At this hour, the doors were closed. The priests would be asleep, so the two women made do with what

    they had and spent the night in

    the car.

    At five o¡¯clock. Brielle woke Aubree. ¡°Can you hear the bells echoing from the hills? Come on, let¡¯s go

    up. We¡¯ll catch the sunrise just in time¡±

    Aubree followed her lead, and together they ventured toward the church. Before them, thendscape

    unfolded into endless rolling hills. As the sun crested the horizon, Aubree felt an overwhelming urge to

    cry

    The world was vast and beautiful, and she had wasted so much time fixated on just one person. It

    seemed so shortsighted now

    The first time she met Andrew was when he descended from the Clements family¡¯s grand spiral

    staircase, like a prince looking down upon her from his lofty perch Perhaps their ending was written in

    that first encounter¨Cthey were never meant to walk the same path

    Even now, she felt cursed as she witnessed the sunset, climbed mountains, or imagined herself beside

    a meadow¡¯ske under a gxy of stars. Her heart was tethered to Andrew, destined never to break

    free.

    Maybe, just maybe, if she could retrieve the wish she had tied to that tree, this chapter of her life could

    finally close and be free from the burden of hope.

    The predawn sky was still tinged with darkness, making the rising sun all the more brilliant

    The priests were surprised to learn that the women hade to collect a wish¨Cpledge and offered their

    counsel.

    Brielle took thedder offered to her with a gracious smile. ¡°Perhaps some of us need these rituals to

    find peace

    The priests sped his hands and sighed. ¡°Love brings worry. Love brings fear. Those free from love

    are free from both.¡±

    Brielle nodded in acknowledgment but offered no argument. It had not been long since she had left her

    own pledge among the many, and though she remembered where she had ced it, finding it now

    proved difficult.

    She and Aubree began their search at the lowest branches and worked their way up. After an hour,

    they had yet to find it

    Brielle was drenched in sweat, but when she looked at Aubree, her friend¡¯s face was a picture of calm

    resolve. By now, Andrew and Tessa would be on their way to the chapel in a wedding limousine. The

    irony of the situation left her speechless, and she continued her search without a word.

    Two hourster, Andrew and Tessa had exchanged their vows in the chapel amidst the well¨Cwishes of

    their guests.

    Tears of joy sparkled in Tessa¡¯s eyes as she reveled in the envious gazes of the other women. This

    was how it should be¨Cshe was bom a Rond, destined to be the center of attention. She thanked

    Andrew silently for reinstating her to this coveted circle.

    Yet for all her visible happiness, Andrew¡¯s demeanor remained detached, even as he ced the ring on

    Tessa¡¯s finger. Tessa was too immersed in her bliss to notice.

    After the ceremony, Tessa clutched their marriage certificate, and couldn¡¯t resist embracing Andrew.

    ¡°Andrew, I¡¯m so happy. We¡¯re finally married.¡±

    It was clear to everyone that the wedding wasn¡¯t well¨Creceived, many of Andrew¡¯s friends, including

    Kenzo and Max, had not attended. Andrew retumed her embrace yet felt a hollow ache in his chest as

    if something vital had been consumed. He dropped his gaze and responded with a soft ¡°Hmm,¡± then

    released her.

    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Marissa appeared at the periphery, gesturing Tessa toward an empty room, indicating a need for a

    private word. Tessa¡¯s lips curled into a smile as she called out, ¡°Hello, Marissa¡±

    Marissa¡¯s face remained impassive at the address, giving no response. Tessa didn¡¯t mind whether

    Marissa was genuinely happy or not¨Cthe marriage was sealed, and the Cl¨¦ments family¡¯s reputation

    would surely discourage any whispers of marital discord. That was exactly why she had worked so

    hard to marry Andrew

    Tonight was their first night as man and wife. Their bridal suite was gorgerously adorned. Tessa¡¯s heart

    raced in anticipation of their wedding night, and her smile deepened at the thought.

 Chapter 712

    Chapter 712

    After entering the room, Tessa shut the door firmly behind her ¡°You wanted to see me

    Marissa lifted her hand in imitation, brushing away a few stmy strands of hair from her forehead. ¡°The

    wedding¡¯s done and dusted, and you know the Clements family won¡¯t take kindly to divorce gossip, so

    you need to wipe that video clean off the face of the earth Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you, Tessa Aubree¡¯s

    been a Clements since she was knee high to a grasshopper, and not a soul in the family wants to catch

    even a whiff of that video. Keeping it around is like sitting on a ticking time bomb. If it ever sees the light

    of day not only will Aubree get dragged through the mud, but you¡¯ll face a bacsh ten times worse.

    You¡¯ve got what you wanted, and now there¡¯s no need to keep andmine under your bed. Just settle

    down and live a good life with Andrew. He won¡¯t shortchange you.¡±

    Her tone was dismissive, clearly unimpressed with Tessa

    Tessa¡¯s face was all smiles. Her cheeks flushed with joy despite her frailty. Even her carefully applied

    makeup couldn¡¯t hide her glee.

    She pulled out her phone and, right in front of Marissa, deleted the video without a trace. The video

    was only on a hidden file on my phone. Now that I¡¯ve deleted it, it¡¯s gone for good. You can rest easy.

    No one¡¯s going to see that video again.¡±

    Just as she finished speaking, Andrew¡¯s voice came from outside the door. What video?¡±

    Andrew walked in, his expression darkening

    Tessa¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but then she heard Marissa¡¯s calm reply. Just a video from your wedding.

    I was toying with the idea of sending copies to other members of the Clements family, but that¡¯s settled

    now. Off you go. Tonight¡¯s your wedding night¡±

    With that. Marissa didn¡¯t wait to gauge their reaction; she headed straight for the door. But before she

    left, she dropped a bombshell. ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve transferred my five percent shareholding to Aubree. It¡¯s

    worth a few billion. She can do whatever she wants with it, and the Clements family will soon find her a

    match that¡¯s fit for her status.¡±

    Hearing this, Andrew felt a chill run down his spine, his irritation growing. But he was married now.

    What could he say? Would Aubree agree if he wanted to keep things going with her?

    Besides, she had been sullied, who knows by how many men. Just the thought made Andrew¡¯s skin

    crawl with disgust

    At that moment, Tessa wrapped her arms around his waist, her voice dripping with seduction,

    ¡°Manssa¡¯s right, it¡¯s our wedding night. I heard the bed linen in the honeymoon suite was hand¨C

    embroidered, stitch by stitch, by the finxest artisans. Shall we go check it out?¡±

    Night had fallen, and since it was their wedding night, they were expected to have sex.

    Tessa¡¯s cheeks were tinged with shyness. ¡°Andrew, I¡¯m ready for you to make love to me.¡±

    Andrew felt a surge of desire, remembering how he had taken matters into his own hands at the hotel

    and how that fire had been smoldering within him ever since. He looked down at Tessa, her eyes full of

    ripples, bashful yet pleading.

    More importantly, Tessa was untouched, not tainted like Aubree, perfect to quench his burning lust.

    He nodded, and they were about to leave the church when his phone buzzed. It was Aubree, asking

    about her phone, which he had taken. Andrew paused, not expecting Aubree to call. Everything felt off¨C

    kilter. Where had she been today, and why hadn¡¯t she attended the wedding? He even wanted to

    angrily confront her, to ask which lover she had taken to the hotel. If she could possibly sink any lower,

    could she not live without a man?

    However, thest shred of his sanity told him that if he asked now, Aubree would likely hang up.

    ¡°It¡¯s with me.¡±

    ¡°I need it now. Can you bring it over?¡±

    Andrew couldn¡¯t help but smile at Aubree¡¯s request, though he didn¡¯t realize it himself. ¡°Sure, rll be right

    there.¡±

    After hanging up, he turned to Tessa

    Right on cue, the videographer came over, wanting to discuss the wedding video ns. He suggested

    it would be best if both the bride and groom were present. After all, a wedding video was a once¨Cin¨Ca¨C

    lifetime affair that needed a heart¨Cto¨Cheart with the newlyweds.

    ¡°Wait here and talk to them about it. I¡¯ve got to deliver something. I¡¯ll be back to pick you up in half an

    hour¡±

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Tessa felt an uneasy premonition. ¡°Andrew, who are you delivering something to? It couldn¡¯t possibly

    be that tramp, Aubree, could it? This was their wedding video discussion, and they needed to decide

    which moments to cherish and which guests to feature. But now Andrew was walking out.

    ¡°Kenzo. He left something very important at my ce. I¡¯ll be back in thirty minutes.¡±

 Chapter 713

    Chapter 713

    Relief §±ooded Tesso as she realized it was Kenzo on the line¨Cnot Aubree. That was a bullet dodged. A

    yful smile graced her lips, and a blush crept onto her cheeks. ¡°Mmmm, don¡¯t forget tonight is our

    wedding night,¡± she teased

    She tiptoed up and nted a soft kiss on Andrew¡¯s lips, lingering and deepening the embrace with a

    growing passion. They shared a ten¨Cminute kiss in front of the photographer, a marathon of affection

    before finally porting

    Kissing women was not something Andrew was averse to, especially kissing Tossa. They had been

    fianc¨¦s for so long, so kissing had be second nature to them. However, he had felt a distinctck

    of engagement at that particr moment and hadpensated by pulling her closer and employing

    some instinctual techniques

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Once he released her, he was eager to head out. His mind was preupied with whether Aubree

    wanted to see him or if it was truly just about a trivial thing like a cellphone. Their rtionship had hit a

    rough patch, and Aubree¡¯s demeanor towards him had turned odd. almost as if he was some sort of

    predator. It used to be that a simple beckoning from him would have had Aubreeing to him meekly;

    now, he found himself having to approach her

    As soon as he got into his car, his phone rang again. ¡°No need toe to the hotel. I¡¯m outside your

    honeymoon vi. Juste out and hand me the phone. I need it urgently. Her voice wavered slightly

    as if she¡¯d had a little drink

    A crease formed between Andrew¡¯s brows, puzzled by her intentions, but he agreed. I¡¯m not at the

    honeymoon vi. Just wait there. III

    be ten minutes.¡±

    Aubree leaned back in her car seat, silently gazing out at the world. Five hours earlier she and Brielle

    had finally found the wish card Brielle had left hanging heavily among many others.

    It read¨CMay Andrew and Aubree be bound together for a lifetime.

    She had made that wish, and now she personally took down the card, tossed it into the burning pot,

    and watched as it slowly caught fire and tumed to ash.

    Love, it seemed, was just like that¨Cintense and fiery in its prime, leaving not even a pitiful echo in its

    wake. When it came, it was like waves crashing over her, when it left, it was like mist fading away.

    Twenty years of her life, her entire youth had burned away in that small, bright me.

    On the way to the Radiant Light Church, she couldn¡¯t help but cry. On her return, she felt a chilling

    indifference.

    It was as if the version of Aubree who had loved Andrew, had taken a leap off the cliff outside the

    Radiant Light Church and was now dead.

    Her lips curled into a cold smirk as she opened the sunroof, framing the moon above. This small

    window to the sky perfectly captured the lunar orb.

    Ten minutester, she heard a car approach. Andrew appeared, walking up to her vehicle and leaning

    down to knock on her window.

    Aubree slowly rolled down the ss, facing Andrew outside,

    Andrew handed her the phone, his gaze fixed intently on her. ¡°Where were you today?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Went to light some candles, did you?¡±

    ¡°Hopeful for Tessa and me to split up?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that would give me a chance, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±

    Their banter was as disjointed as ever. Aubree had humbled herself with such probes countless times

    before, hopeful and cautious in her gaze, but the response was always the same.

    ¡°Don¡¯t kid yourself. Tessa will always be the one I end up with¡±

    The night air was cold, and Andrew had been feeling a fire burning within him these past days,

    probably the aftereffects of some concoction Tessa had given him. Seeing Aubree now, his eyes

    darkened instantly

    His gaze swept over Aubree inch by inch. She was dressed beautifully today as if she had made a

    special effort. Despite the cold, she wore a low¨Ccut gray knit dress that showcased her figure to

    perfection.

    At this close distance, he could smell her scent¨Cthe magnolia fragrance that he favored. He had once

    complimented that scent for its clean and elegant notes, and since then, Aubree had often worn that

    particr fragrance.

    Andrew¡¯s mind wrestled with itself. On one hand, he resented Aubree, considering her touched by

    others, possibly fresh from a lover¡¯s bed. Yet, he couldn¡¯t resist her allure.

    Aubree¡¯s body couldn¡¯t resist him, and his body couldn¡¯t resist Aubree

 Chapter 714

    Chapter 714

    Aubree¡¯s hands gripped the steering wheel of Max¡¯s cor, feeling the familiar leather beneath her palms.

    Upon returning from their brief jaunt, Brielle received a call from Max, who nonchntly announced that

    the car was now here, insisting she should not bother purchasing one herself. Brielle epted the gift

    from her boyfriend with open arms and a carefree smile

    Aubree had driven straight from Pearl Estate, eager to make the most of the time she had. She nced

    at Andrew¡¯s hand resting on the window sill.

    Aubree reached out covered his hand with her own, and yfully lifted his fingertips before bringing her

    lips close and biting down gently

    A tingling sensation nished through his body, a mix of pain and pleasure.

    Andrew¡¯s eyes shed red with a mix of anger and something more primal. In a moment void of

    reason, he flung open the car door, yanked her out, and camed her towards the vi behind them.

    ¡°Slut!¡± he hissed, his grip firm as he strode towards the building

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    He seemed to have forgotten that the vi was meant to be his and Tessa¡¯s love nest. It was Tessa who

    should¡¯ve been entering those doors tonight.

    Once inside the master bedroom, Aubree eyed the swathes of decor with raised eyebrows. Her fingers

    traced lightly across Andrew¡¯s

    chest.

    ¡°In the honeymoon suite?¡± she mused

    Without another word, Andrew pressed her into the sea of sheets, the stark contrast taking his breath

    away. In a frenzy, he tore at Aubree¡¯s clothes, his kisses growing more fierce by the second.

    Tessa¡¯s scent lingered on his lips, her presence on his skin. Aubree felt a wave of revulsion, yet her

    legs wrapped tighter around his waist, her breath teasing his car. ¡°Can we turn on the TV? It might be

    fun,¡± she whispered suggestively.

    Andrew was beyond the point of caring about her whims.

    The bedroom door remained ajat and within the room, a hidden television was embedded into the wall

    ¨C one of Andrew¡¯s favorite features. Without a second thought, he grabbed the remote and turned it on.

    His hands ripped away thest of Aubree¡¯s intimate apparel

    Aubree struggled for breath under his fervent kisses, nearly suffocating. It was supposed to be Tessa in

    this bed on their wedding night, yet here was Aubree, willingly defiling herself beyond caring for her

    own purity.

    Andrew¡¯s eyes clouded over with an intoxicating mixture of desire and something darker. ¡°You like this,

    don¡¯t you? Are you watching that kind of stuff now?¡± he growled.

    ¡°It makes it more exciting doesn¡¯t it?¡± Aubree repl

    Aubree replied with a teasing smile, wrapping her arms around his neck.

    ¡°Whore!¡± he cursed again, only to hear a voice from the video.

    ¡°Make it sound good. This one¡¯s for your brother.¡±

    ¡°Did you fight back like this with Andrew?¡±

    ¡°Please, stop..

    ¡°Stop

    what? Ha, you really are desperate.¡±

    Andrew stiffened, slowly tuming his head to the screen. All the heat in his veins turned to ice.

    The video showed Aubree¡¯s struggles, tears, pleas, and then her resignation¡­ And there on the bed,

    amidst the sheets,y Aubree with a smile blossoming on her face.

    Her legs still clung to Andrew¡¯s waist, her eyes sultry. ¡°Aren¡¯t we continuing?¡± she purred

    Andrew shook, hisplexion pale, speechless from the shock. But Aubree was relentless, her hands

    pulling his face down to meet her lips. She was like a peach ripening to the point of decay in an oil

    painting, her colors a blend of beauty and rot.

    She was indeed a peach gone bad.

    Andrew remained silent, overwhelmed by the scene before him. His retinas were painted with the color

    of blood. His heart cracked, and his bones felt crushed to dust.

 Chapter 715

    Chapter 715

    Aubree caught the sadness etched on his face, the crumbling of hisposure, and let out a soft, unexpected chuckle.

    She rolled <b>over </b>pinning him beneath her, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t like it? When Tessa had people treat me like trash, I thought you were behind it. After all, you and those guys are all the same, calling me a slut at every turn.¡±

    For a moment, Andrew seemed unable toprehend her words, seeing only her lips moving. His vision began to blur, and the vile words seemed to smash through screens and time itself, breaking his bones one by one.

    The pain was so intense he wished for oblivion. His arms involuntarily wrapped around Aubree, his shoulders were shaking, and his whole body quivered.

    Aubree saw his agony and miraculously stopped feeling her own pain. It turned out that not only joy needed to be shared, but so did suffering.

    Andrew buried his face in her neck. This tall man sobbed silently. His tears sshed onto her skin, holding her tight as if she would vanish.

    Aubree just listened to the sound of his crying, her gaze sweeping across the rooms swathes of color, feeling both amusement <b>and </b>madness<b>. </b><b>She </b>wasn¡¯t content suffering alone in hell so Andrew and Tessa could join her.

    Andrew¡¯s hands were weak, and his grip loosened as he trembled and tried to dress her piece by piece, but his hands shook too violently. Even such a simple task was beyond him.

    Aubree sat on the edge of the bed, her expression nk. So this was what Andrew looked like when he cried. She watched him copse to his knees, clutching at her legs. He was weak all over He should have destroyed the TV, but he couldn¡¯t stand, only able to hold her legs and weep with suppressed grief.

    Taking a deep breath, Aubree pushed his head away, her voice steady. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to <b>do </b>anything, I¡¯m leaving.¡±

    She dressed quietly but heard him plead, ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡±

    ¡°Andrew, tonight was supposed to be you and Tessa¡¯s wedding night.¡±

    He looked up at her, his face streaked with tears. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say anything before? Why did you keep silent?¡±

    Aubree smiled slightly, squatting down to meet his gaze. ¡°Because I wanted to see you marry someone like Tessa. I thought it¡¯d be fun to watch you torment each other. Two people I despise are finally together and bound to tear each other apart. <b>You </b>and Tessa are the ones who belong in hell.¡±

    Andrew sat on the cold floor, feeling each word she spat out like a de. Finally, he coughed, tasting blood, and when he wiped his mouth, his fingertips came away red¡­

    Aubree watched with satisfaction, even pausing to smile at the TV.

    Andrew scrambled to his feet, pulling her into an embrace and covering her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t look, please don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°How can I not? Tessa sends me the video every <b>day</b>!¡±

    Her tone was indifferent, and while she could feel his pain and trembling, it wasn¡¯t unbearable. She inhaled deeply, pushing him away. ¡°I chose your wedding night to tell you, hoping you¡¯d like this gift. I¡¯m leaving now, and this time, I¡¯m seriously telling you, it¡¯s over between us.¡±N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    ¡°It¡¯s not over for me¡± Andrew said stubbornly, his swollen eyes meeting <b>hers</b>, realizing how cruel he had been.

    How much pain had he caused her by repeating the same words as the men in the video? How much pain had she felt when he defended Tessa, the instigator, right in front of her? Perhaps his current anguish couldn¡¯tpare to even a fraction of hers.

    Aubree truly didn¡¯t want to stay any longer, stepping towards the stairs to leave. In a fit of rage, Andrew smashed the TV with a vase and then grabbed her from behind. ¡°Aubree, don¡¯t be like this.¡±

    His words were cut short as the living room door swung open. There stood Tessa, still in her bridal gown, but witnessing her newly wedded husband clinging to Aubree, his posture almost servile.

 Chapter 716

    Chapter 716

    Andrew¡¯s head was buried in Aubree¡¯s neck, and he felt as if his whole body were floating, empty of

    substance.

    His eyes zed with a searing agony.

    ¡°Aubree.¡±

    Tm sorry.

    His arms encircled Aubree, his knobby hands loosened their grip feebly, his throat was choked up, and

    tears fell onto her skin.

    Aubree just stood there, motionless, on his wedding night. With his wife¡¯s horified gaze upon them, he

    begged Aubree humbly to stay. It struck Aubree as funny, but she couldn¡¯t muster a singleugh.

    She remembered the day and moment her gaze firstnded on him. Back then, she hadn¡¯t realized this

    man would be her greatest joy and her deepest despair,

    Maybe that was just life, spending ages in confusion, investing in the wrong things, only to grow in a

    few fleeting moments. ¡°Happy wedding day¡± She said calmly, then pushed past him and walked toward

    the door.

    Tessa, d in her bridal gown, felt icy cold and a buzzing in her ears. She wanted to scream in terror

    and p Aubree across the face. but she was drained of all strength, like a clown excluded from the

    show, watching Andrew clutch at Aubree with earnest eyes.

    ¡°Aubree, I¡¯m sorry, please don¡¯t do this.

    Andrew¡¯s tears flowed so fiercely that he could barely see what was in front of him. He was panicked

    and afraid. He was afraid she might actually step back into the sister role for good.

    It was Aubree who had crossed the line first and came to him. Now, she wanted to retreat unscathed.

    How could she?

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    Andrew clutched at her sleeve like a dog about to be abandoned. Aubree pried his fingers off one by

    one, but he embraced her tightly from behind. ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡±

    Aubree felt the wetness on her neck, probably soaking through her clothes. She never knew Andrew¡¯s

    tears could be so plentiful. Suddenly, Aubree felt like crying too, though she probably ran out of tears

    because nothing came. She only felt a heavy, oppressive

    sadness

    Taking a deep breath, she felt as if she were about to break Andrew¡¯s fingers to push him away. She

    said nothing, just walked past Tessa and descended the stairs.

    Tessa stood frozen against the wall, unable to move, as if all her senses had been stripped away,

    offering no reaction at all. Perhaps when one was utterly hopeless, that was the expression they wore.

    The sound of Andrew¡¯s sorrowful crying reached her ears like a knife carving at her heart. Andrew had

    never cried for her, and she had never seen this side of him

    With Aubree gone, Andrew slowly sank to the floor, hands covering his face, shoulders shaking, and

    ragged sobs escaping through his fingers.

    Tessa felt an immense pain so acute she thought she might die. It was her wedding night, she was

    married to the man she wanted most, and it should have been a joyous return to spend the evening.

    She even prepared her body meticulously, but what she returned to was this scene.

    Now Aubree was gone, not even sparing her a nce.

    ly pitied her, allowing her to have this marriage.

    Tessa felt a deep sense of humiliation, as if Aubree had merely

    No, she couldn¡¯t believe it! Andrew had to love her!

    She slowly knelt down against the wall in her bridal dress, crawling towards Andrew to might realize

    how good she was if she showed a little care now.

    embrace him. This heartbroken, pitiful man

    But as she reached out, Andrew stood up and kicked her over. Tessa couldn¡¯t withstand the blow, and

    she copsed, breathing unevenly. ¡°Andrew?¡± She stared at Him in disbelief, thinking the whole ordeal

    must have been an illusion.

    How could it be? How could Andrew bear to treat her like this?

    Andrew stood there, crying andughing, feeling his heart ache so intensely he wanted to rip it out.

 Chapter 717

    Chapter 717

    ¡°Andrew, I¡¯m so scared,¡± Tessa sobbed and copsed on the floor. Fear had consumed her. How had

    their lives spiraled into this nightmare? And on their wedding night, no less. Andrew her Andrew, would

    never normallyy a finger on her. Something was tembly

    wrong

    She prayed for a retum to normaley, but Andrew advanced toward her with a predatory step.

    Panic¨Cstricken, Tessa scrambled back until she wasered, her back pressed against the cold wall.

    The murderous intent emanating from Andrew was unmistakable, and she felt a chilling certainty that

    she wouldn¡¯t survive the night.

    Her cheeks were streaked with tears, her fingernails digging painfully into her palms. ¡°Andrew, please

    stop, please. I¡¯m really scared,¡± she cried, shaking her head, curling into a ball in theer, her eyes

    wide with terror

    Andrew¡¯s hand shot out, fingers wrapping around her delicate throat

    Did Aubree not feel fear when the assault happened? How could Tessa do that to Aubree?

    Echoing in Andrew¡¯s mind were Aubree¡¯s words- ¡°I thought you were behind it His eyes, bloodshot with

    rage and sorrow, spilled over with tears. Even as he hurt Tessa, the pain in his own heart was

    insurmountable.

    Andrew wanted to end Tessa, but his fingerscked the strength. Overwhelmed by grief, his hand

    trembled and fell away as a sob brake from his throat, a sound akin to a wounded beast at the height of

    its anguish.

    He wanted to roat to tear the room asunder, but he could not muster the strength. All his energy

    seemed to have been sapped the moment he saw that damning video.

    As he tried to wipe the tears from his cheeks, they only seemed to multiply. A sickly sweet taste filled

    his throat. He yearned to pass out. to escape into unconsciousness, but he remained agonizingly

    awake and utterly powerless.

    Feeling his grip loosen, Tessa opened her eyes through her tears and wrapped her arms around him,

    seeking some semnce of warmth. ¡°Andrew¡­¡±

    Every part of him ached, especially where Tessa clung to him. He wished he could tear off that patch of

    skin. Pushing her away, he used the wall for support to stand, his crimson gaze sweeping the room.

    He pulled out a lighter and set the curtain ame.

    ¡°No, no! Andrew, I¡¯m begging you, stop! This is our honeymoon suite!¡± Tessa¡¯s voice was hoarse with

    desperation. She clung to his legs. pleading, tears streaming down her face. The embroidery on their

    bedding, the stitches on her bridal gown¨Call handcrafted, all burning before her eyes.

    ¡°Andrew, what¡¯s happened to you?¡± she cried, her voice a raw, anguished rasp

    Her wedding night was in ruins, the room choking with smoke as the mes took hold, but Andrew just

    stood in silence, watching it all

    burm.

    ¡°Andrew¡­¡± Tessa clung to his legs, trying to stand. He kicked her away. His upbringing never taught

    him not to strike a woman. His shoended on Tessa¡¯s chest, and he felt nothing but calm as she

    writhed in agony.

    Aubree was right¨CAndrew and Tessa were the ones who deserved hell.

    In the end, Tessa¡¯s tears ran dry, reced by a hoarse, painful wail. She watched as her cherished

    decor turned to ash. If she didn¡¯t escape, both she and Andrew would be consumed by the ze.

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Andrew gave her onest look before walking away. She begged him to take her with him; she was too

    weak to escape on her own. But he left without a backward nce, his departure resolute and cold.

    As he disappeared, Tessa found a reserve of strength fueled by resentment. She dragged herself

    towards safety, her fingernails snapping, trailing blood behind her. When she reached the ground floor,

    she saw Andrew outside, smoking against the backdrop of a fiery inferno, their silhouettes aglow

    Tessa copsed on the ground, now free from the mes. She cried bitterly, her body wracked with

    pain

    The wedding night she had longed for ended in tragic disarray. The man she loved had abandoned her

    to save himself.

 Chapter 718

    Chapter 718

    She screamed in me her voice hoarse, at the beautiful bridal gown the wore was charred at the hem,

    dirt smudging its once pristine whiteness

    Gritting her teeth, the wanted to confront Andrew, to demand why he would treat her this way, but

    Andrew was just standing a short distance away, silently smoking

    His lips trembled slightly, his fingers holding the cigarette until it burned down to the nuh, oblivious to

    the pain

    Tears spilled from his eyes again, trailing down his chin to the cold, unforgiving ground Had it not been

    for the nights events, he would never have known he was capable of so many tears. His eyes were like

    a broken faucet

    He dared not think of the name Aubree. The very thought was a stab of pain so intense he felt like

    doubling over.

    The cigarette was now finished, and he got into his car parked nearby and drove away without a word

    ¡°Andrew!¡±

    Andrew

    Tessa shouted in panic, trying to rise and chase after him, but exhaustion pinned her down, forcing her

    to watch his car leave a tral of exhaust in its wake

    She was so cold, so hungry, and to very frightened. Andrew had abandoned her Was she to spend the

    entire night shivering in her thin dress on the icy ground?.

    She would die, she really would,

    quiet

    ¡°Andrew, pleasee back¡± she sobbed, her voice raw. But the night around her grew qui

    Instead of Andrew, the fire brigade came to extinguish the mes, and the next morning, she was sent

    back to the Clements family

    estate

    News of the fire at Andrew¡¯s honeymoon suite spread among their social circle. Some called it an ill

    omen, and others used Tessa of bringing bad luck.

    Tessa had hoped this manage would restore her social status, now, she was shunned even more,

    labeled a jinx not only to the Rond family but to Andrew himself.

    When Brelle heard of the fire, she was surprised. Last night, Aubree hade back to Pearl Estate

    veryte, and after having some drinks and watching a vy show, they had fallen asleep. Aubree

    hadn¡¯t even woken up yet.

    Brielle didn¡¯t want to disturb her. Seeing the news about the fire, she felt a sense of vindictive

    satisfaction, Serves them night! Why couldn¡¯t that damned couple have burned in the ze?

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    She was unaware that Aubree had visited that vist night. She was too tired to keep track and had

    slept deeply and soundly Brielle had intended to share the good news with Aubree, but she opened the

    guest room door and saw Aubree still sleeping soundly. Brielle simply closed it again and went to the

    supermarket to buy ingredients for breakfast.

    It had been a while since she had made breakfast at her ce. She simmered soup and stir¨Cfried a few

    dishes, then received a message from Max [Are youing over?)

    they stayed at the Pearl Estate

    She and Aubree had returned to Beaconsfieldtest night, so they

    Soon, §±l bring breakfast. Made it myself.]

    She made three portions and bought a beautiful thermos to keep the food warm.

    [Okay!

    Brielle didn¡¯t reply further and focused on preparing the breakfast

    Aubree got out of bed and went to the bathroom, relieved to see her eyes weren¡¯t too swollen. After

    washing up quickly, she walked into the living room to find the tableden with steaming dishes, which

    warmed her heart.

    Brielle was just serving thest dish. ¡°You¡¯re awake. You have a shoot today, so eat up, and we¡¯ll head

    out together¡±

    Aubree nodded, and they sat down to breakfast in silence.

    Aubree noticed Brielle carefully packing another portion into the thermos and teased, ¡°Oh, delivering

    breakfast to our esteemed CEO, Max, are we?¡±

    This was the first time Brielle was doing something like this, especially in front of her best friend, and

    she couldn¡¯t help but blush. Aubree clicked her tongue in amusement and circled Brielle, ¡°I mean, you

    and Max have sex enough times, and you still blush like a schoolgirl at the slightest tease,¡±

    Brielle had enough, grabbin Aubree¡¯s arm. ¡°Cut it out. Let¡¯s go, the crew is waiting for you.¡±

    10:54

    Chapter 718

    In the car, Brielle still felt her cheeks burning with erbarmssment. She drove to Dorsey International and

    asked Aubree to wall while she delivered the breakfast upstairs

    Aubree chuckled, ¡°Go on, but remember, it¡¯s just breakfast ¨C don¡¯t get sidetracked.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s face grew hotter, and she quickly took the elevator up.

    Aubree sat in the car, watching Brielle¡¯s figure disappear before she allowed her smile to fade and

    turned on the radio. The news was about Andrew. His honeymoon suite had been set on fire in the

    middle of the night.

    Aubree thought she had steeled her heart against anything rted to Andrew Still, after hearing his

    name unexpectedly, she felt herposure crumbling, leaving her feeling like a ruin in an instant.

    It seemed the softest part of her heart was still reserved for Andrew. But no longer was she filled with

    hope.

    People really couldn¡¯t be persuaded. Brielle had tried to warn her, but she always thought she could

    hold on. Now, the pain had been her wake¨Cup call.

    She wanted to see a bigger sky and venture into it with Brielle by her side.

 Chapter 719

    Chapter 719

    Brielle arrived at the top floor of Dorsey International, and, as usual, Annie was the first person she ran

    into. However, Annie seemed to be in a sour mood today. She barely acknowledged Brielle¡¯s greeting

    before resuming whatever she was busily tending to at her desk. With a lunchbox in hand, Brielle didn¡¯t

    linger and entered Max¡¯s office without knocking a privilege she had always enjoyed.

    As the door swung open and she caught sight of five or six executives withiri, her face instantly

    stiffened. Some were standing others sitting, but all quickly overted their gaze when Brielle entered.

    ¡°The presentation is ready for you, boss, one of them said, noting the lunchtime interruption. ¡°We¡¯ll

    circle back after you¡¯ve eaten.¡± The executives, avoiding any further eye contact, filed out one by one.

    Frozen at the doorway, Brielle felt the lunchbox burning in her grip.

    Max closed hisptop and raised an eyebrow at her lingering presence. With nervous energy, Brielle

    marched forward, her heart pounding like a drum solo as embarrassment washed over her. ¡°Made you

    breakfast,¡± she said, attempting a casual tone

    Max wrapped an arm around her waist, leaning in for a kiss, but Brielle dodged his advance. ¡°Aubree¡¯s

    waiting for me downstairs.¡±

    She dreaded the teasing she¡¯d endure from Aubree if she showed up looking too¡­glowing.

    Max sighed and withdrew his arm. At his gesture of disappointment, Brielle¡¯s heart twinged with

    reluctance. ¡°Tll be back at Premier Pce tonight.¡±

    Hearing this, Max¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. His gaze raked over her, and his voice roughened. ¡°I¡¯ll make

    it home early, too.¡±

    Her cheeks flushed with understanding. They¡¯d both been so busy tangled in¨Cmimunications, and

    now was their chance to

    reconnect

    The usually solemn office seemed to bloom with romantic bubbles at her arrival, but with the executives

    due to return, Brielle didn¡¯t dare stay long.

    ¡°I should go.¡± she said, turning to leave, but Max called out, ¡°Brielle.¡±

    She looked back to see him touch his lips ¨C the message clear

    Amused, Brielle wrapped her arms around his neck and nted a quick kiss on his lips. The moment,

    however, quickly escted, and their kiss deepened.

    ¡°I wanted to discuss the project further, I think¡­ The door burst open, revealing one of the previously

    departed executives, who, upon realizing the situation, mped the door shut again. ¡°Sorry for the

    interruption.¡±

    Brielle¡¯s face zed with embarrassment, frustration boiling over. She wished she could disappear

    from the. ming herself for sumbing to temptation, she stormed out, avoiding any eye

    contact as she headed straight for the private elevator, jabbing the button more than necessary.

    Still feeling overheated, she found Aubree¡¯s eyes on her as she slid into the car. ¡°Your lipstick is

    smeared.¡±

    Wishing for a crevice to swallow her whole, Brielle touched her lips, realizing the light color had bled

    beyond their edges. Aubree, with a smirk, handed her a tissue. ¡°Mr. Dorsey must get a kick out of

    seeing you all flustered like that. What a perv.¡±

    ? ? ? ? ??

    Brielle wiped her mouth clean, avoiding a response, and drove them to Ster Stage Entertainment in

    silence.

    Today¡¯s shoot was s still at Ster Stage, and Aubree¡¯s scenes were up soon. They parted ways in the

    parking lot¨CBrielle to her office, Aubree to the set.

    Walking through the hallway, Brielle greeted young artists from Ster Stage, all beaming and shyly

    calling out, ¡°Ms. Haywood.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, you¡¯re even more stunning in person.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Haywood, I¡¯ve been dying to meet you.¡±

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Brielle responded politely until she reached her office, where she found Dustin already waiting, his

    presence a surprise. ¡°Mr. Lynch?¡± Dustin¡¯s eyes were lined with evident fatigue. Seeing her arrive, he

    massaged his temples. ¡°BrL was everything okayst night?¡± She didn¡¯t mind Dustin¡¯s impromptu visit

    or that he was in her office. To her, he was always one to follow his whims

    She asked Donny to bring in some tea.

    ¡°Still troubled about your sister¡¯s situation, Mr. Lynch?¡±

    His expression darkened. ¡°We checked out Mark. His background is clean. His wife¡¯s whereabouts,

    though, remain a mystery. No trace of her. And with the Sunflower Children¡¯s Home records destroyed,

    it¡¯s impossible to track all the kids adopted over the years.¡±

    Dustin stood, ceding the main chair to her and settling onto the couch with a heavy sigh like he was

    confiding in a close friend. ¡°My grandmother doesn¡¯t have much time left. The doctors issued another

    critical notice.¡±

 Chapter 720

    Chapter 720

    Brielle couldn¡¯t help but empathize with Dustin, as she was without family ties

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, why don¡¯t you head back and keep your grandmapany? The Lynch n¡¯s power ys

    are so convoluted, and you¡¯ve talked about the resistance you¡¯re up against. Finding what you¡¯re

    looking for won¡¯t happen overnight¡±

    Dustin closed his eyes, fighting back the warmth welling up inside. ¡°I know, which is why I won¡¯t be

    coming back to Beaconsfield anytime soon. I¡¯m going to stay by my grandma¡¯s side.¡±

    Brielle felt a twinge of emotion. He had made a special trip just to see her before he left. She also

    considered Dustin a friend.

    ¡°Oh, and when I met with Mark, he asked me to bring something for you¡± Dustin nodded towards the

    table.

    Brielle spotted the wooden box and furrowed her brow in curiosity. What could Mark possibly have for

    her?

    When she opened it in front of Dustin, her eyes flickered with surprise. She never expected to find a

    paternity test inside.

    Just seeing the words ¡°paternity test on the cover was enough for Brielle; she didn¡¯t need to look any

    further. So Mark had been searching for her biological parents all this time, and atst, he had a

    sessful match with one of them.

    The confusion between her and Lillian¡¯s information had clouded the truth, but with Lillian gone and no

    one else left, this test was likely legitimate.

    Yet Brielle couldn¡¯t muster any joy. Her face tightened, a forced smile struggling to appear

    Dustin didn¡¯t peek inside but sensed her mood darken and stepped closer out of curiosity. Brielle had

    already closed the box, the weight of it heavy in her heart.

    ¡°Bri, what¡¯s wrong?¡±

    She shook her head, the smile on her face belying her true feelings. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Thank you for

    bringing this, Mr. Lynch. How about I treat you to dinner?¡±

    Dustin¡¯s gaze was soft and warm. There was something about being with Brielle that just felt right. He

    couldn¡¯t resist ruffling her hair gently.

    ¡°My cars waiting downstairs, and I¡¯m off to the airport. Bri, I count you as my friend here in

    Beaconsfield, better than anyone. If you ever find yourself in a bind, give me a call, okay? No matter

    what, I¡¯lle help you.¡±

    His words might have sounded like a confession to some women. But to Dustin, Brielle was just

    genuinely likable¨Cin looks, personality, and capability. In some ways, she reminded Dustin of his

    mother. His mother was a celebrated beauty in North American circles, a formidable businesswoman

    who¡¯d stepped back from the limelight after her sister¡¯s disappearance.

    Had her sister not gone missing, his mother might have been one of the most influential women in the

    world two decades ago. But when her sister vanished, she lost interest in des, bing

    reclusive and forlorn

    That loss ended his mother¡¯s career and left a scar in Dustin¡¯s heart. As the eldest son, it was his duty

    to pick up the mantle. Now, Infinity Brilliance was more sessful than ever, and with that sess

    came more adversaries.

    His promise to Brielle was sincere. From the moment he met her, he knew they clicked.

    ¡°Mr. Lynch, I remember that.¡±

    Brielle was touched, she escorted him to his car and watched him drive away. Only after standing there

    for a moment did she realize how reluctant she was to see him go. Feeling a sense of loss, she

    returned upstairs and stared at the wooden box, massaging her temples.

    Mark called at that moment. ¡°Bri, did you get the thing Mr. Lynch brought you?¡±

    ¡°I did, thanks, Mark. I thought you¡¯d given up looking.¡±

    ¡°How could I? If the Haywood family wasn¡¯t your destiny, I had to try something else. I¡¯m sorry for the

    trouble the Haywoods gave you and how they mistreated you. I did my best this time. The patemity test

    results just came in. I wanted to bring them myself but worried my visit might cause you problems¡±

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Brielle didn¡¯t respond, her mind eerily calm¡¯in the face of the paternity test. She had always wanted to

    understand why she was left at an orphanage doorstep, why her parents had abandoned her. But after

    the ordeal with the Haywoods, she found a new sense of eptance. What mattered most was living

    well in the present.

    ¦¥¦°

    I¡¯ve included your father¡¯s current address in the documents. Whether you decide to see him is up to

    you¡±

    Brielle¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. She was still not ready to confront the paternity test report. She no

    longer needed it, letting each other be was perhaps for the best

    She nned to drive to Premier Pce after wrapping up at thepany, but the reception called with

    unexpected news¨Ca TV crew from Beaconsfield¡¯s ¡°Life Focus¡± had shown up in force.

    Just two hours earlier, the show had received a plea from a man iming to have lost his daughter over

    twenty years ago. Now that she

    was a public figure, a wealthy CEO, he was demanding a hundred million for support.

 Chapter 721

    Chapter 721

    The ratings for ¡°Life Focus¡± had been in the pits for thest couple of years. With new shown popping

    up left and right, their family¨Creunion angle just wasn¡¯t drowing the crowds. Word around the office was

    that a rebrand was imminent, so when they heard someone wanted to reconnect with a long¨Clost

    daughter, their knee¨Cjerk reaction was to decline.

    ¡°The guy says his daughter is Brielle, an assistant informed, hesitating slightly. ¡°You know, the Brielle

    that caused a media frenzy yesterday¡±

    The director¡¯s eyes bulged, half¨Cconvinced he¡¯d misheard. ¡°You mean the Brielle who got publicly

    called out by Amelia? The CEO of Ster Stage Entertainment, that Brielle?!¡±

    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the one¡±

    ¡°Book it! Get him in here, pronto!¡±

    Brielle was the talk of the town, the name on everyone¡¯s lips. Any show that featured her was

    guaranteed skyrocketing viewership.

    ¡°But the assistant cautiously began, ¡°I heard this guy abandoned his daughter at an orphanage twenty

    years ago. Now that she¡¯s made it big, he¡¯s suddenly reappeared, demanding a hundred million in

    support. It seems a bit¡­.

    ¡°Enough,¡± the director interjected sharply. ¡°We¡¯re in the business of buzz. The more the viewers rant,

    the higher our ratings climb¡± And so, the scene was set

    The host of ¡°Life Focus surrounded by a crew of producers and technicians, camped out in the lobby of

    the Ster Stage Entertainment building, waiting.

    The receptionist had already buzzed Brielle, who was on her way down.

    Ster Stage Entertainment, being a premier entertainmentpany, spared no expense on

    appearances. The lobby was chic, and the sofas were top¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cline imports.

    The host, a 25¨Cyear¨Cold man, was visibly nervous as the live broadcast continued. The online buzz

    had reached a fever pitch. When word got out that this was a reunion show for Brielle, the online

    audience had surged to the point of nearly crashing their servers. They were experiencing the highest

    viewership in the history of the show!

    In past episodes, children had been reunited with their biological parents, and for the sake of drama,

    they were encouraged to embrace and weep. But the audience wasn¡¯t buying it. They just found it

    awkward and staged.

    The host could hear the production team in his earpiece, shouting with excitement

    ¡°We hit ten million views!¡±

    ¡°Twenty million!!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re closing in on thirty million!!!¡±

    Thirty million people watching their livestream was unprecedented. The host¡¯s palms were sweaty with

    anticipation. He turned the camera to Kingston, aiming to warm up the audience before Brielle¡¯s arrival.

    ¡°Mr. Kingston, you¡¯ve previously mentioned that your daughter is the CEO of Ster Stage

    Entertainment¡± the host prompted. ¡°Could you borate on your intentions for today?¡±

    Kingston, d in an ill¨Cfitting suit that seemed borrowed, had a calcting look in his eyes as he gazed

    at the building¡¯s entrance. He snapped back to reality when the host addressed him.

    ¡°My request is simple,¡± Kingston said, adjusting his tie nervously. ¡°I want my daughter to acknowledge

    me and to live with us. We had no choice but to leave her at the orphanage back in the day. The folks

    at the DNA center called us and told us she¡¯s doing well, Everyone knows how lucrative the

    entertainment industry is. She¡¯s a CEO, yet she hasn¡¯t given us a dime in support all these years.¡± ¡°And

    after she was taken in by the Haywood family, she changed her surname. She needs to revert it back.

    She has no blood rtion to the Haywoods. Her mother is worried sick; we used to visit her at the

    orphanage, spending every penny we had on her. Now that she¡¯s grown up, it¡¯s time for her to repay

    her parents. If she refuses to recognize me as her father, I¡¯m asking for a hundred million in support¡± A

    hundred million¨Cthe online crowd was incredulous. This man hadn¡¯t cared for his daughter in over two

    decades and was now demanding a fortune.

    Yet some viewers felt that blood ties couldn¡¯t be severed so easily. Brielle was making money hand

    over fist surely, she could afford to give her biological parents something. To her, a hundred million

    would be a drop in the bucket, wouldn¡¯t it?

    The elevator dinged, and Brielle appeared. The camera swung to capture her entrance.

    The viewers saw a woman dressed in a simple yet formal outfit walking towards them. Her eyes, firm

    and clear, swept over the room, exuding a powerful presence that put everyone on edge.

    Fully briefed on the situation, Brielle nodded to the camera and then to the host¨Ca courteous

    acknowledgment to the online audience. and those present. Taking a seat opposite Kingston, her tone

    was measured, and her demeanor wasposed.

    ¡°Speak,¡± she said.

 Chapter 722

    Chapter 722

    The expected flood of tears didn¡¯t materialize, leaving Kingston with a lump in his throat and an

    awkward expression that hung somewhere between wanting to cry and riot being able to shed a single

    tear

    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    The shock wasn¡¯t confined to the studio; even online viewers were reeling from the drama.

    ¡°Brielle¡¯s being so cold. I mean, that¡¯s her biological father standing right there!¡±

    ¡°How can you call someone ¡®dad¡® if all they did was bring you into the world but didn¡¯t raise you?¡±

    ¡°Sure, she¡¯s made a fortune, but I heard her old man¡¯s on welfare. If she¡¯s this heartless with her own

    kin, Imagine how she treats the rest of the world.¡±

    The live chat was in uproar due to Brielle¡¯s attitude, ferventments flying every which way.

    Backstage, the crew watched the numbers skyrocket, eyes glowing with excitement. ¡°We¡¯ve hit 50

    million views! Get the camera on Brielle, now! The audience can¡¯t get enough of her!¡±

    The director¡¯s word wasw, and soon enough, Brielle¡¯s indifferent face filled the screens, sending the

    ratings through the roof. After all, this was the sensational newsmaker¡¯s first live public appearance!

    Kingston was miffed, expecting a tearful reunion since every woman supposedly longs for a family. But

    Brielle¡¯s face was tooposed. Was this really the face of someone meeting their father?

    Trying to control his imitation as they were still on air¨CKingston yed his part

    ¡°I¡¯m your biological father, Kingston. I only got the paternity confirmation today. The hospital called me

    immediately. Back then, we were struggling financially and just couldn¡¯t afford another child, so we had

    to send you to the orphanage. Your mother was devastated and cried for days. We visited you as much

    as we could until our family faced more hardships, and we lost touch. We¡¯ve been looking for you all

    these years. You¡¯ve done so well for yourself. It¡¯s truly astounding, Bri.¡±

    Tears welled up in Kingston¡¯s ey

    eyes as he reached out to gmb Brielle¡¯s hand.

    Brielle withdrew her hand from the table, her face betraying no emotion at his words.

    At that moment, a receptionist brought over water, serving everyone a cup before respectfully asking

    Brielle. ¡°Ms. Haywood, would you like some snacks as well?¡±

    ¡°No, thank you,¡±

    The receptionist nodded, offered a polite smile, and left.

    Kingston bristled at being ignored, his pride wounded. His daughter was the CEO of Ster Stage

    Entertainment, and this youngdy didn¡¯t give him the time of day. What was the meaning of this?

    ¡°Br, no offense, but your receptionistcks respect. I¡¯ve just told her I¡¯m your father, and she couldn¡¯t

    care less. You should fire her and find someone younger and prettier.¡±

    Brielle remained silent, sipping her water calmly.

    Kingston, taking her silence as agreement, pressed on with his prepared speech. ¡°Now that you¡¯re

    doing well, your mother and I are very happy. You haven¡¯t met your brother yet, have you? We told him

    about you, and he¡¯s ecstatic. He wants to join you at Ster Stage Entertainment. It would set our

    hearts at ease to have you two at the samepany. Find him a good position, weill you? A six¨Cfigure

    sry should suffice. He won¡¯t settle for less, and as your brother, it wouldn¡¯t reflect well on you if his

    sry were too low, would it, Bri?¡± Kingston¡¯s face was flushed with a mix of excitement and

    anticipation. ¡°Girls shouldn¡¯t earn so much. I¡¯ve seen the news about your ex¨Cfianc¨¦, and we worry

    you¡¯ll run into another deadbeat. Your mother and I think it¡¯s best if you keep your money with us. That

    way, if you get a boyfriend, you won¡¯t naively hand over your hard¨Cearned cash. Men are unreliable.

    We¡¯re just looking out for you. If you ever want to buy a house or anything else, just tell us, and well

    make sure you have the funds.¡±

    Kingston had it all figured out, confident Brielle wouldply. After all, she was his daughter. On his

    way there, he¡¯d boasted to his neighbors about his long¨Clost daughter, who had be a CEO

    overnight. The heavens must¡¯ve blessed them. Her sess was surely a karmic reward for their past

    actions. If they hadn¡¯t given her up, she wouldn¡¯t have achieved what she had today.

    Sinning trener back eligidly and monyet everything with dights Levha

    The hot face etiffened looking rather shempi jutowing a request, staying true to the show a

    No edit yoursel. To The focus is on being lost. But I was deliberately abandoned, if I had mat yang tep

    but now that I¡¯m a CFO,

    From start to ¡®stone was detached devoid of anger or sentment, butced with a casual, didnt nude and

    ca

    wara not. The heat sho

    mending searches spanking another widespread online de

    bed her hand and took a gente sip of her water ¡°Let¡¯s so the moral hijacking, shall we? if you have

    something more 16 ca

    silencing

    1. an. Even the seasoned Nost couldn¡¯t help but

    narece the staff woes continued ¡°Keep it going The ratings west climbing¨Cweaking record

    1. dn. i Caught off guard by such gutan tutibled nooding along with the hosts words ¡°Thats ght, but

    still hope you¡¯lle

    se looking at the

    impatience in

    locked up at hun with

    smile we party? Or is it more about ananging you for your eces and

    gets face stiffened Thought my but that everyone and now that he had found the power daughter

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    a good job for that aftapm

    hapter 723

 Chapter 723

    Chapter 723

    ¡°Bri, when are you nning toe with me to visit your home? Your mom and your brother are

    waiting for you. It¡¯s not like you¡¯re

    married or anything¡±

    Kingston was ying a loud game in his head, not once considering whether Brielle would agree to it.

    A girl who¡¯d been wandering the world for so many years, suddenly sought out by her biological father,

    would surely be overwhelmed Brielle was silent. She hadn¡¯t said a word yet¨Cprobably too choked up to

    even start

    Kingston¡¯s cheeks flushed with emotion, and he sighed deeply. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll make up for all the

    years of parental love you¡¯ve missed out on ¡± With that, he began to weep and nced at the show

    host

    The host, microphone in hand, knew that the live audience must¡¯ve been in an uproar, as Kingston¡¯s

    words were bound to stir controversy

    But controversy was exactly what they wanted for the show!

    Many of the viewers were middle¨Caged or older, and to this demographic, family was everything. The

    colder Brielle seemed, the more she would be ed!

    The host, a veteran in the industry, knew exactly how to retreat gracefully while controlling the

    atmosphere. He passed the microphone to Brielle with a smile. ¡°Ms. Brielle, what are your thoughts on

    Mr. Kingston¡¯s words here? The show received a request from Mr. Kingston this morning, hoping to

    reunite with his daughter. ording to him, you haven¡¯t given him a cent over the years, nor have you

    sought out your biological parents. He resorted to this method as ast hope¨Cthe love of a parent

    knows no bounds.¡±

    The love of a parent knows no bounds. Brielle raised an eyebrow. Was that how that phrase was used?

    She found it amusing, leaned back slightly, and surveyed everything before her with a slight smile. ¡°I

    haven¡¯t been in the entertainment business long, and I¡¯ve only recently be the president of Ster

    Stage Entertainment. I¡¯m surprised¨Cis this how TV shows are done these days?¡±

    Her words seemed polite and filled with wonder, but they were anything but courteous. She was

    mocking the show¡¯s desperate grab for ratings. The host¡¯s face stiffened, looking rather sheepish.

    ¡°We¡¯re just following a request, staying true to the show¡¯s mission¨Cto reunite every lost child with their

    family.¡±

    ¡°You said it yourself, lost. The focus is on being lost. But I was deliberately abandoned. If I hadn¡¯t met

    Mark, I¡¯d probably have frozen to death by now. My father¡® didn¡¯t look for me when I was sick or when I

    was starving, but now that I¡¯m a CEO, hees sniffing around. Does such a person even deserve to

    ask me for money?¡±

    From start to finish, Brielle¡¯s tone was detached, devoid of anger or resentment, butced with a

    casual, disdainful attitude and a calm

    gare

    Thements in the live broadcast were exploding¨Cmost were supportive, and a few were not. The

    heat shot up to the top of the trending searches, sparking another widespread online debate.

    Brielle lifted her hand and took a gentle sip of her water. ¡°Let¡¯s skip the moral hijacking, shall we? If you

    have something more to say. speak.¡± Her presence was overpowering, silencing everyone in the room.

    Even the seasoned host couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard, at a loss for

    words.

    F5 B * IS 5 F

    In his earpiece, the staff¡¯s voices continued. ¡°Keep it going! The ratings are still climbing¨Cwe¡¯re

    breaking records!¡±

    Can such a thing as human nature feed all the workers in a show¡¯s production team?

    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    The host took a deep breath, his face still smiling. ¡°Ms. Brielle, Mr. Kingston isn¡¯t trying to guilt¨Ctrip you,

    nor is he demanding a billion dors. He simply hopes you¡¯ll take his surname. If you refuse to

    acknowledge him as your father, he wishes for a billion in support.¡± Caught off guard by such a scene,

    Kingston fumbled, nodding along with the host¡¯s words. That¡¯s right, Bri. But I still hope you¡¯lle

    home with us. All the rtives are waiting, and we¡¯ve even nned a wee party for you.¡±

    + Brielle set down her cup, looking at the man with an indifferent gaze. His face was etched with

    schemes, his eyes alight with the thrill of

    impending sess, showing no genuine joy at finding his daughter¨Cunless that joy was due to the

    wealth she represented.

    Disappointment and loss swept through her heart, settling into calm. She didn¡¯t show impatience.

    Instead, she looked up at him with a smile. ¡°A wee party? Or is it more about arranging jobs for

    your nieces and nephews?

    Kingston¡¯s face stiffened. Though it was true¨Cthis was what everyone was thinking. After all, he had

    lived insignificantly his whole life, and now that he had found his powerful daughter, he wouldn¡¯t miss

    this chance to boast among friends and family. The moment he got the DNA results and learned of

    Brielle¡¯s identity, he notified all his rtives.

    Now, they were all waiting at home, eager to catch a glimpse of Brielle and, incidentally, secure a good

    job for their offspring.

 Chapter 724

    Kingston was fuming. Brielle''s indifferent attitude was getting under his skin, and he was at a loss for words.

    "You know, it''s only right to look after the family. Haven''t you ever thought about where you''d be if we hadn''t left you at the doorstep of that orphanage? You owe your whole life to that moment. We don''t expect your gratitude, but you''ve got our blood in your veins, and now that you''ve struck it rich, you can''t just turn your back on your poor rtives."

    Brielle''s brow creased, a flicker of emotion breaking through her usuallyposed demeanor.

    Even the show''s host was speechless. This man''s words were shameless.

    Backstage, the production crew was buzzing.

    "The ratings are through the roof! Let Kingston keep talking! Quick, keep the cameras on Brielle."

    Her face was made for the camera, even the slightest frown looked stunning. Her aloofness against Kingston''s scheming created a stark contrast that set the inte aze.

    She just chuckled softly and slid a card onto the table. "I''ve consulted with the doctors. The best sperm goes for about twenty thousand dors, and the best egg roughly forty thousand. Sure, carrying a baby for nine months is tough, so I''ll give you ten thousand a month for that. All in all, it adds up to a hundred and sixty thousand dors. I''m offering you a lump sum to sever all ties with you. Take this card, and don''te looking for me again."

    "Brielle! Is this how you treat your own father?!"

    Kingston couldn''t hold back any longer, his face darkening with anger. He had wanted a fortune - a billion, not a measly hundred and sixty thousand. Was she looking down on him?

    Brielle''s eyes grew colder as she raised an eyebrow. "So, what you''re saying is, you don''t want the hundred and sixty thousand, is that right?"

    Kingston felt the pressure mount, his eyes pleading with the host.

    The host quickly pushed the card back. "Ms. Brielle, isn''t this sum a tad insulting to your own father?"

    Kingston, as if he found his backbone, breathed a sigh of relief. "That''s right. Brielle, you''re really out of line. Your mother and I have been searching for you for years, and this is how you repay us? We''re so disappointed."

    Brielle gestured, and a receptionist approached with an admiring look. "Ms. Haywood, what can I do for you?"

    Brielle handed her the card, her tone nonchnt. "Donate this hundred and sixty thousand to the orphanage in my name."

    "Right away, I''ll get someone on it."

    Brielle turned to the people in front of her. "I offered you money. It was your choice to refuse it. I didn''t want to be harsh, but you really don''t

    know when to quit. Please, spare me from these ridiculous shows in the future. My appearance fee isn''t cheap, and neither is my time. You can''t afford to waste it."

    "Brielle! Brielle!"

    Failing to get what he wanted, Kingston started shouting in the lobby, causing chaos among the crew. Ster Stage Entertainment''s security was quick to step in and escort them out. Kingston was a man of little substance but great pride. He had dressed up today, thinking he was going to impress at a bigpany. Instead, he was shown the door.

    His face burned with embarrassment, a mix of awkwardness and anger.

    Not to mention, the crew was still live-streaming the debacle. He had never been so publicly humiliated.

    "I regret ever having her. Should''ve ended it before she was born. Mark my words, if she doesn''t cough up a billion, I''ll drag her down to hell with me."

    The host quickly directed the camera back to Kingston, capturing his ugly rant for all to see.

    His words sent the show''s ratings soaring to new heights.

    The production team achieved

    extremely high viewership, enjoying the sweet taste of sess.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    However, Kingston left disappointed, stating that he would continue to find ways to reim Brielle.

    Seething, Kingston got into his borrowed car and pounded the steering wheel.

    How could this be happening? Shouldn''t Brielle be overjoyed to reconnect with her biological father?

    Grinding his teeth, Kingston dialed his wife. "Are the rtives still around?"

    He med his hubris, thinking that women belonged at home serving men, and that Brielle would be no different.

    Men were always the pir of

    strength for women, and a father was the linchpin of a family. He had expected Brielle to break down in tears, overwhelmed by emotion at finding her pir. However, she had looked at him as if he were a stranger, a reaction he hadn''t anticipated, leaving him humiliated in front of the whole world.

 Chapter 725

    "Everyone''s still around, dying to catch a glimpse of Brielle. Why haven''t you brought her here yet? I''ve already promised them that they can all find jobs with a sry over ten grand a month. Honey, we really hit the jackpot this time."

    The sound of his wife''s nagging voice made Kingston feel irritable.

    Why hadn''t those rtives left yet? They had been waiting all morning.

    He regretted speaking too soon and even inviting so many people over to his ce, guaranteeing them he''d bring Brielle back.

    Now it felt like a p in the face.

    "Is everyone watching the show?"

    "What show? Honey, are you on TV? Oh my gosh, did thework approach you because you''re Brielle''s dad?"

    Learning that they hadn''t watched the show yet, Kingston finally felt a bit less embarrassed.

    "I''ll exin everything when I get back. For now, just find an excuse to send the rtives packing. They weren''t this eager to help when we were down and out. Now that they''ve heard my daughter is a CEO, they''re all too willing to grace us with their presence. As for the jobs, let''s wait and see who''s the most sincere, and we''ll make a deal with them."

    The woman thought it over and agreed. Why should they hand out favors to these people?

    "Alright, I''ll talk to them."

    Kingston hung up the phone, feeling utterly restless. He had to find a way to make Brielle acknowledge him, or he''d be looked down upon by the rtives sooner orter.

    His hands clenched tightly around the steering wheel as various ns flickered through his mind, only to be dismissed one after another.

    Back in the day, giving up his daughter was a simple decision. Their house had two bedrooms - one for him and his wife, and the other for his son. There was no room for a daughter, so she was abandoned. After all, a daughter wasn''t seen as useful.

    Back then, there was no custom of wedding gifts. Otherwise, he would''ve never given up his daughter. Raising her could''ve fetched lots of money now.

    Kingston nced at Ster Stage Entertainment with a determined look in his eyes.

    Meanwhile, Brielle had returned to the Ster Stage Entertainment building, thinking back on Kingston''s words with a hint of amusement.

    She took out the paternity test and struggled to believe that such a man could be her father.

    A trace of coldness swept across her eyes, but this was Mark''s investigation. It was unlikely to be a mistake.

    Frustrated, she put the paternity test aside and rubbed her temples.

    The phone number of the testing center was on the paper. After a moment''s thought, she called to confirm the results, which indeed verified their father-daughte rtionship.

    If Kingston had been a decent, uncalcting middle-aged man, who had genuine difficulties when he abandoned her, Brielle wouldn''t be so disgusted with her heritage She would have certainly helped her

    settle into their old age

    But this family, who preferred a son over a daughter and abandoned her for that reason, was now foolishly hoping to get money from her. Dream on.

    Brielle tossed the paternity test documents into a drawer and headed downstairs to drive back to Premier Pce.

    The car she was driving was a gift

    from Max. She had initially thought it too shy, but they had just

    reconciled, and she couldn''t bear to reject her boyfriend''s gift, so she epted it with grace.

    Stepping out of the car, she could smell chicken soup from a distance and chuckled.

    Wesley was at it again, brewing soup.

    The wreath was still hanging inside Premier Pce, warming her heart as she pushed open the door.

    "I''m back." She called out, seeing Max sitting on the couch in a meeting, bathed in the brilliant light from above, as if sprinkled with glittering gold dust.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    Her heart warmed up. She used to long for a family and yearn for her parents. However, reality repeatedly yed jokes on her.

    She realized she shouldn''t fantasize about boarding any ship, for she already had the sea.

 Chapter 726

    Brielle casually hung her bag and coat on the coat rack nearby. "Caught in a meeting?"

    Max nced up at her, the fleeting warmth in his hazel eyes dissolving as quickly as a mirage, his features tightening into a smirk that hinted at mischief.

    At this moment, the camera was still facing him, and in the quiet conference room on the other end of the screen, everyone remained silent, avoiding eye contact and keeping their thoughts to themselves, though their minds were racing withmentary. "Was that Brielle''s voice just now? Max is at his own residence, Premier Pce, right?"

    "Brielle and Max are living together?!"

    "And by the looks of it, this isn''t a recent development."

    Their faces remained a study in calm, but internally their minds were racing.

    Then Brielle''s voice came from the screen again. She asked the housekeeper inside the Premier Pce with ease.

    "Wesley, are we having soup again today?"

    A smile spread across Wesley''s face. "Yes, both you and Mr. Max have been workingte quite frequently, so I asked the kitchen to make some soup for you."

    "Thank you."

    "Ms. Brielle, would you like some fruit? We just received an air shipment today."

    "Sure, I''m a bit thirsty, actually."

    "Alright, I''ll have the staff wash some and ce it on the side table. Why don''t you go wash your hands, and dinner will be ready shortly."

    The executives felt as if their ears were ying tricks on them because they could hear everything so clearly. It was clear to them that from top to bottom, Premier Pce treated Brielle like thedy of the house. Unaware that Max had both the camera and the microphone on, Brielle spoke without reservation.

    Max sat with an expression of cool indifference, his pale lips parting slightly, the sharp angles of his face as distinct as ever. "Continue."

    With that, the conference room once more buzzed into action, summarizing and discussing as before.

    When Brielle returned after washing her hands, the meeting had ended. She walked over to the couch where Max had already closed hisptop and was pulling her close by the waist. "Back sote?"

    Brielle didn''t really want to discuss

    al.ne

    the matter concerning Kingston, but she knew all too well that she couldn''t keep it from Max. And singe she''s now with Max, many in Beaconsfield were curious about her background. Now that her biological father had shown up-and such a character at that-her mismatch with Max seemed even more pronounced.

    She raised her hand to rub her temples. "Mark found my biological father. He''s not quite what I expected."

    There was a tinge of disappointment in her voice. It wasn''t that she was unmoved; rather, faced with such a father figure and a TV crew that was only interested in ratings, she had to appear unbreakable. But the truth was, she''d been feeling awful after the show.

    During the countless times she went

    hungry as a child, she would askN?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    Mark when her parents woulde for her, and if she was unwanted

    from birth. Life in the orphanage

    was indeed impoverished. There were too few sponsors, and Mark, aid-off worker, could only provide a meager stipend to support a group of children.

    Brielle was sensible, never allowing herself to eat her fill, always saving what little she could.

    In winter, she and Mark would knit hats and scarves for everyone. When it was cold, they huddled together, dreaming of the day they''d find their parents. That hope was perhaps the most beautiful support during those times.

    So when the Haywood family came

    into her life, she was ecstatic and

    overjoyed But because she had to bring another girl back with her, she never dared to act spoiled. She had to be the most understanding child, to strive, to excel, and to earn everyone''s praise.

    No matter how well she did, she just was never enough for the Haywood family.

    She wasn''t a child born of blessings or raised in praise, so she didn''t know how to be petnt, always thinking she had to solve everything on her own.

    Now the Haywood family was gone, and in their ce was Kingston, a self-serving asshole.

    The castle in her heart about familypletely copsed. How could she not be heartbroken?

    Still, she was grateful for the concept of family. Just that word had helped her endure the hardest yet happiest times.

    It seemed her fate was to be devalued, such was her lot in life.

 Chapter 727

    "What''s on your mind?" Max tilted her face towards him, scanning the confusion etched across her features, his brow furrowed in concern. "Something bothering you?" She was sitting right next to him, close enough for him to quickly pick up on her mood shifts.

    Brielle shook her head as a grape popped into her mouth. It was sweet, a burst of sweetness that reached deep into her soul.

    "Is it about that TV show crew?" Max''s tone was casual as he continued, "I''ll have Patrick prepare, and we''ll acquire the sponsor of this production team."

    Brielle found it amusing, but as sheughed, she pursed her lips and felt a hint of bitterness. "Now there''s going to be even more talk about me not being good enough for you." She had let her innermost thoughts slip out without intending to.

    Max fell silent. He was looking down, his high nose bridge prominent, his forehead slightly covered by his naturally falling hair, partially concealing his eyes.

    Brielle wanted to say something to ease the tension, but her throat tightened. What could she say?

    After all, wasn''t there some truth to her words?

    "Brielle." Max called her name.

    "Yeah?"

    "Hungry?" "No."

    "Good."

    She wanted to ask what he meant by that, but in the next moment, she was swept up in his arms, her hands instinctively wrapping around his neck.

    When she realized what he intended, her cheeks flushed, "Aren''t we about to have dinner?"

    Max didn''t respond, carrying her into the master bedroom and gentlyying her on the bed.

    The lights went off, he leaned in, and everything happened so fluidly.

    Brielle''s fingers were sped tightly in his, and she heard him say huskily, "Others may say that, but you can''t."

    He had never thought that way. Brielle was just Brielle, her background irrelevant.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    That she had made it into his eyes and heart proved that she was exceptional, truly one of a kind.

    His kisses moved from her cheek to her lips, light as a feather, treasured beyond measure.

    "As long as you want, from now on, I''m your family."

    Warmth surged through Brielle''s heart. Perhaps, from now on, Max would indeed be her home.

    She felt an unprecedented sense of relief and eptance. Even without parents, hadn''t she made it through these years on her own?

    She had walked her path more independently and resolutely than anyone, and now she couldfortably savor the call of the birds, the evening stars, the morning breeze, and the glow of the moon. As for family ties, their absence was a regret but merely that, a regret.

    She wrapped her arms around Max''s neck, her eyes brimming with tears as she whispered, "Yeah."

    Max stroked her hair, his eyes cold and resolute.

    Meanwhile, the town of Beaconsfield was anything but peaceful. The industry was abuzz.

    Who would have thought that Brielle was from an orphanage, but she also had such a father?

    The gossip spread like wildfire, with a touch of condescension.

    "Found out about it, Kingston''s just a warehouse guard. That house he got was inherited from his father, all dirty and messy."

    "Their son dropped out of middle

    school and never got a real job, but

    his parents, spoiled him and couldn''t bear to make him work. Their welfare checks barely add up

    wnovel

    three grand, all handed to the son."

    "And her mom, what about her? Only got an elementary school education. It''sughable. With a background like that, does the Dorsey family really not mind?"

    "Having a warehouse guard for a dad, a maid for a mom who''s had run-ins with thew, and azy brother to boot. Geez, can someone''s birth circumstances really be this poor?" "Such is the life of themon folk."

    The chatter was rampant in social circles, especially after the afternoon''s live broadcast which had caused quite a stir. Now, it seemed everyone in the circle knew about it.

    Regarding Max''s affairs, whispers

    had circted, especially since Alivia

    had been quiet on social mediately, no more subtle disys of affection. The rumors seemed true: Max had taken a shine to Briette and had even defied Michael for her.

    Now, could Max still be indifferent to the rumors?

    In the sanatorium, Martha was practically beside herself with rage, smashing her teacup to the ground. "Damn it! I never imagined such a lowly upbringing! What right does she have to be with Max? Bitch!" The floor was littered with broken porcin, a testament to Martha''s fury.

    The staff at the door trembled, too scared toe in and clean up. Alivia was like a savior to them. Alivia raised her hand, signaling everyone to leave, before she walked in. "Martha."

    Martha''s mood improved considerably upon seeing her. "Alivia, did you see the live broadcast?"

    "I did, Martha. But please, don''t get too upset. It''s not good for your health."

    How could Martha not be upset? She felt her temples throbbing with anger.

    Martha had thought Brielle was just an unwanted piece of trash, only to discover that the trash hade from a literal dump. And the Dorsey family''s most eligible heir had stooped to picking up trash from such a ce.

    It was simply preposterous.

 Chapter 728

    Alivia''s face was alight with glee, her eyes twinkling with barely concealed mirth.

    She never would''ve guessed that Brielle''s family background was so terribly lowbrow. It had be the talk of the town, a juicy piece of gossip that many couldn''t resist sharing with her. They all hinted that Max would eventually grow weary of the disparity between them. Brielle''s humble beginnings were seen as a ceiling to her potential. She was nothing but an essory to Max''s life, they said. And a man like Max would surely find the burden too heavy in time.

    Of course, Alivia agreed wholeheartedly, which only bolstered her confidence that she was the one destined to walk down the aisle with Max.

    "Martha, you just focus on getting your strength back," Aliviaforted her.

    Martha''s face was a dance of anger and humiliation - humiliation for her son being entangled with such a woman like Brielle.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    She took a deep breath, as if preparing herself to make a monumental decision. "Alivia, do you remember what I told you? I''dy down my very life to see you and Max together." "Martha, please, calm down."

    "Ha! Those two will have a baby before we know it if I don''t do something now. That bitch!"

    Martha spat out the words, her chest heaving with emotion.

    Alivia felt a surge of satisfaction. People like Brielle were beneath her, not even fit to polish her shoes. She didn''t need to take Brielle seriously, just bide her time and let others deal with her.

    After Alivia soothed Martha with a few more titudes, her phone rang. She nced at the caller ID and her expression turned serious. "Martha, excuse me, I need to take this call."

    Stepping into the hallway, she took a deep breath before answering, "Mr. Lynch."

    Dustin Lynch of Infinity Brilliance was a major yer in the research world and one of their leading investors.

    It was the financial titans who reigned supreme. The more prestigious the institution, the more formidable its backers. Infinity Brilliance was a household name among the North American elite, and Dustin, the young man at the helm, warranted her utmost courtesy.

    Alivia often wondered, though, why

    Dustin, known as a flirt, showed so little interest in her. They had met a few times, and while she was head over heels for Max, and determined that healone would be her husband, she couldn''t help but feel slighted. Everyone longed to be desired by those they perceived as attractive and sessful.

    Dustin had always been nothing but polite, which left Alivia feeling a tinge of defeat.

    "Ms. Alivia, I''ve sent over the new resumes for the institute''s staff. We can move forward with the schedule, and I''ll need your full cooperation."

    "The institute is the one that should be thanking you, Mr. Lynch, foring all this way to finalize the location."

    Dustin chuckled on the other end,

    his voice warm and enticing, as though his words were caressing her very soul. "Don''t mention it, Ms. Alivia dust ensure you do your part, and the director''s position will remain yours."

    As the primary investor, Infinity Brilliance held sway over countless top-tier research institutes and the billions in annual funding they required, granting Dustin the

    swnevel.

    authority to make such promises.

    Reassured by his words, Alivia rxed.

    Meanwhile, Dustin stood before an expansive floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the bustling cityscape.

    "Let''s leave it at that, Ms. Alivia. Once the staff selection isplete, I expect you to finalize your research focus promptly. Here''s to a fruitful coboration."

    Without waiting for her response, he ended the call. Dustin wasn''t in the best of spirits and had little interest in domestic affairs.

    After delivering this message, he turned off his own phone.

    On his desky a critical condition notice, prompting a weary sigh as he rubbed his temples.

    Decades had passed with no word.

    Each attempt had failed to bring back good news, and deep down, he harbored a grim suspicion: perhaps his sister was no longer in this world.

    If that were indeed the case, there would so many people brokenhearted.

 Chapter 729

    Brielle awoke at 6 AM, feeling the quiet stillness of the early morning. She freshened up quickly and headed downstairs for breakfast, only to realize Max had already left for work.

    "Mr. Max left for the office at five in the morning," the housekeeper informed her.

    Typical workaholic, Brielle mused.

    After a quick meal, she hopped in her car and drove to Ster Stage Entertainment, her mood souring at the sight of the swarm of reporters waiting like vultures. Their persistence was grating. "Ms. Brielle, is it true you''re nning to abandon your father?" one reporter shouted.

    "Ms. Brielle, I heard that your father gave you all the little money he had back then, and he doesn''t seem as unbearable as you think. As a daughter, isn''t it against thew not to support your parents?" another pressed. "Your mother''s health is failing. She''s been waiting for you to visit," a third added.

    Brielle''s gaze grew icy as she backed her car away, avoiding the reporters by using a different garage entrance.

    Once inside and away from the media frenzy, Brielle''s mood hadn''t improved by the time she reached her office at the top floor.

    Donny walked in with updates that did little to lighten the atmosphere. "Ms. Haywood, the front desk is swamped with calls - invites for you to appear on shows."

    "Decline them," Brielle replied curtly, powering up herputer.

    "And Mr. Kingston stopped by again this morning. The crew from Life Focus is broadcasting live outside as we speak."

    They were clearly trying to milk the situation after yesterday''s viral episode. The security at Ster Stage Entertainment had been instructed to only allow staff entry, so the reporters were left stranded outside.

    However, as long as the scandal

    remained hot, Brielle would be under

    scrutiny. Thepany''s social

    media was exploding with

    messages, both from detractors and

    supporters alike.

    en FindNovel

    [You better look after Ms. Haywood, she''s under so much pressure because of that jerk Kingston.]

    [Ms. Haywood is so gorgeous, what''s her secret to perfect skin?]

    [Those eyshes, she''s like a living Barbie doll. Can she really be Kingston''s daughter?]

    [Don''tpare Ms. Haywood to that man. She''s an Ivy graduate, backed by the prestigious Beaconsfield College. She should cut ties with that family.]

    Thepany''s social media

    thousand, and the staff were

    overwhelmed but managed to respond gracefully, [Thank you for your concern. Ms. Haywood is doing welt and is currently in a meeting with executives.]

    Eventually, the conversation turned to her personal life, with one user asking, [Is Ms. Haywood single? Do I stand a chance?]

    Unaware of Brielle''s personal status, the social media manager responded yfully, [Single. Ms. Haywood belongs to the entire staff of Ster Stage Entertainment.]

    The topic of Brielle''s rtionship status became a hot trending item, fueled by Kingston''s previousments about her bad experience with a former partner.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

    Men from all over the inte were dering their intentions to apply for a chance with her.

    Meanwhile, across town at Dorsey International, Max''s mood darkened upon seeing the trending topic about Brielle''s singleness.

    He set his tablet down, his features stern as he ordered, "Have that trending topic taken down."

    Patrick, unaware of the online frenzy, was amused by the CEO''s sudden interest in social media. Complying with themand, he made a call, and within minutes, the trending topic about Brielle''s singleness vanished.

 Chapter 730

    Online spectators could only watch in real time as the trending topic mysteriously vanished from their feeds. Many were perplexed, wondering what on earth had happened.

    But no one dwelled on it for too long, instead, they reverted to poking fun at Ster Stage Entertainment''s official page.

    Brielle had just wrapped up her morning tasks and was about to take a breather when Donny informed her that Kingston was back at it again-holding court with the press right at the doorstep of Ster Stage Entertainment.

    Kingston was like gum stuck on a shoe, annoying and seemingly impossible to shake off. He''d cling to Brielle, exploiting her fame for all the attention and cash he could get, until she coughed up an eye-watering sum for alimony. Today, Kingston was in the same suit as yesterday, ying the sob story for the reporters.

    "Her mother''s in the hospital, and now we''re out of money for the bills. Brielle can''t just stand by and watch her own mother suffer, can she?

    "I don''t even have her phone number. Now that she''s a big-shot CEO, it figures she wouldn''t want anything to do with us. I don''t me her, but she''s got to at least meet with me, and have a heart-to-heart chat.

    "My demands are simple, a private conversation. Once we''ve settled things, I''ll stop hounding her. After all, she''s got my blood in her veins. It wouldn''t be right for her to live in thep of luxury while her own parents are scraping by on welfare, would it? We did bring her into this world, after all."

    Kingston''s antics were truly nauseating, leveraging Brielle''s public profile to stir up a media frenzy.

    Brielle herself was watching the live interview, feeling a mix of annoyance and a touch of self-mockery. Deep down, she also felt a sting of embarrassment.

    With a sigh, she leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples.

    Right then, Max called her up, asking what she was up to.

    Not wanting to admit she was following the distressing news, Brielle fibbed. "Just prepping some documents. Got a meeting soon."

    "Brielle, I followed you. Could you follow me back?"

    She was taken aback, unsure what he meant by ''follow."

    Max felt a bit sheepish. It was his first time using the app, and he was still figuring it out.

    He''d sent Brielle a message on the app but hadn''t received a reply. Patrick had told him she''d only notice his messages if she followed him back. Brielle was his only follow, and he hoped to be her only one too.

    Because of these words, all Brielle''s bad feelings shattered into pieces. She chuckled and flipped open her Twitter.

    "Let''s see, which one''s you?"

    Max rattled off some random string of characters, and Brielle hit the follow button. "Followed you, Mr. Dorsey. Did you call just to tell me this?"

    Her tone was teasing, but Max was dead serious. "I''ll leave youments, and make sure you respond."

    Brielle chuckled. "Sure, Mr. Dorsey, I''ll remember that."

    After hanging up, Max stared at his jumbled username. He didn''t even bother changing it, so he''d just stick with it.

    For Brielle, her spirits soared. She didn''t really use the app much, only downloading Twitter to engage in a spat with Amelia.

    After firing off a few tweets, she hadn''t opened it since.

    Now, logging in, Brielle was swamped with messages she couldn''t begin to sift through. She blocked the notifications to avoid distraction and then posted a new tweet.

    [Thank you all for your concern. I

    have no intention of paying attention

    to external rumors, and I will refuse interviews from reporters. If you are truly interested in following celebrities, feel free to support the artists under Ster Stage Entertainment. I will uphold the original mission of the

    MS

    entertainmentpany and present outstanding artists for the public.]

    She didn''t miss the chance to plug her artists at the end of her statement.

    Fans loved to build up their idols, only to tear them down themselves. Brielle didn''t need that kind of heat.

    Due to her statement, thoseBelongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    nicknames prefixed with Ster

    Stage Entertainment and the artists

    who had not yet debuted

    experienced a direct surge of one million followers.

    The trainees in the dance studio, caught off-guard, could hardly believe it.

    Men and women alike were moved to tears, hugging each other tightly. They had not only survived their darkest days but were now bathing in a brilliant new dawn. How could they not be moved?

 Chapter 731

    The fire in the hearts of the young men and women was fully ignited as they wiped away the tears on their cheeks and began to prepare for their future with fervor.

    Their enthusiasm was unbridled; they never onceined of fatigue. They trained in silence, pushing their bodies to the point of aching soreness, so much so that their coach couldn''t bear to watch and urged them to take breaks and rx. Their growing fanbase was keenly interested in their activities, bombarding them with questions about what movies or TV shows they had been in.

    These young talents hadn''t yet made a public appearance, and even thepany hadn''t informed them of what roles they might be ying. But they all believed that Ms. Haywood wouldn''t let them down.

    Muchter, in a much-anticipated awards ceremony, Ster Stage Entertainment''s artists swept almost all the categories. Beneath the blinding spotlight, with the weight of the trophies in their hands and the sound of apuse ringing in their ears, they achieved everything they had ever longed for.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Tears brimmed in their eyes, rendering them speechless as they finally stepped out of their dark days into the morous limelight.

    Little did they now know how brightly they would shine in the future.

    A summer of cicadas often requires several seasons of dormancy. The ephemeral bloom of the night-blooming cereus also waits for daylight.

    All their passion and hard work were slowly fermenting, brewing into a sweet fruit of sess.

    Brielle hung up the phone from the first invitation to a variety show and told Donny to try to get in touch with some screenwriters and directors to see if they could ride the wave of poprity and score some roles.

    The ones left in the physical training room were all top-notch, ready for action. In this business, youth was the currency, and the earlier they joined a production crew to hone their skills, the better.

    "Donny, we need to bring on a few more agents. Make sure you vet them properly forpetence and character. Ster Stage Entertainment doesn''t need agents who pressure their artists into unsavory situations. Their job is to make connections, and thepany will handle the distribution of resources. Also, pay attention to their mental health. They have spent years at Ster Stage Entertainment, and I''m worried they might have been mistreated by the previous management."

    Donny felt a warmth in his heart when he heard this. Brielle, even as she faced her own challenges, still cared deeply for those young kids.

    In reality, she was only a few years older than them, but the weight she carried on her shoulders was heavier than anyone else''s.

    "Ms. Haywood, I''ll choose carefully," he promised.

    Brielle rubbed her temples, the fatigue showing in the dark circles under her eyes.

    "About that script for Kenzo, didn''t the director already finalize the lead actor? What''s going on, has thepany sent someone to reach out?" Donny furrowed his brow and sighed.

    "Ms. Haywood, there''s something

    you don''t know. That actor the director mentioned is very dedicated, but he doesn''t use social media like WhatsApp and his phone is only capable of making calls and sending texts. Plus, he doesn''t have an agent or a contract with any studio, and he''s known for being quite entric. I heard that a director once approached him for a movie role and ended up crying and running away."

    The director ended up crying?

    Brielle rubbed her temples, wondering whether that was a male celebrity or a big-shot investor.

    "Ms. Haywood, although I believe

    that this director is incredibly talented and can capture the essence of the script, that lead actor is just too difficult to approach. He''s been in the industry for five years and has only done four movies, each earning him an acting award He''s one of the most sought-after names in the industry, yet he hasn''t signed with any studio. Many have extended offers, but he''s rejected them all. No one knows what he''s up

    to all day."

    Brielle''s eyes narrowed. She had heard it said that actors with a gift for their craft often had their quirks, as the line between their roles and reality became blurred.

    Many directors were willing to indulge such actors, but the one Donny described seemed to be an extreme case.

    "Not only that," Donny continued, "his temperament is also erratic. One moment he''s warm as spring, and the next, he''s as cold as ice. You just can''t pin down his preferences."

    Donny seemed troubled as he pulled

    out the director''s file from a stack of papers. "This director and I have a personal connection. I once promised to grant him a favor, and I never expected him to make such a demand for this script. I''m thinking, maybe we should just let it go."

    Though he spoke of giving up, Brielle could hear the reluctance in Donny''s voice.

    She nced at the director''s file. A pioneer in the industry, he had created a documentary-style film that earned billions at the box office on a shoestring budget, earning him the reputation of a visionary.

 Chapter 732

    No wonder Donny was so unwilling. If the script hadn''t been handed to such a director, it would indeed have been a waste of Kenzo''s talent.

    Brielle heaved a sigh, "Hand over the address of that movie star, will you? I''ll meet him personally."

    Donny''s eyes sparkled with hope, but they soon dimmed again. "Ms. Haywood, he''s really a bit odd. I''m worried he might harm you. Maybe you shouldn''t go."

    "Don''t worry about me, I''ve got a ck belt in Taekwondo. Your average Joe can''t do much to hurt me."

    Hearing this, Donny excitedly scribbled down the address. "He meets guests in that vi, but each visitor gets roughly ten minutes tops-that''s the limit of his patience." Such a diva.

    Brielle didn''t rush to meet this star. Instead, she did some digging into the movies he''d shot.

    The actor''s resume was indeed simple, as Donny had said, with all four movies he''d starred in winning awards. He was currently one of the highest-paid figures in showbiz.

    She couldn''t help but rub her temples, wondering just how hefty his paycheck must be.

    She was about to open some documents she needed for the afternoon when her phone buzzed with a text from Max. [Reply to me.]

    Brielle raised an eyebrow and immediately opened Twitter, discovering that the string of garbled characters had indeedmented on her post.

    That string of gibberish was buried under a hundred thousand otherments, rather pitiful. No fan in their wildest dreams would guess that the CEO of Dorsey International had a Twitter handle that was a system-generated mess. Finding it amusing, she responded to hisment with a rose emoji, and Max''s reply was simple-an emoji of a thumbs-up.

    Because of her response, Max''sment shot up to the top.

    [Why did Ms. Haywood reply to this ount? Who is this person?]

    [Ms. Haywood didn''t reply to me, but why did she reply to this person with no proper handle. I don''t even know if they''re a guy or a gal!]

    [I''m green with envy. Got a response and it''s a rose at that.]

    [Looks like next time I should try just a thumbs-up for myment, not even a word.]

    Max saw hisment section growing and the corner of his mouth curved into a smile.

    His new ount gained a couple dozen followers, and he noticed a fanmenting under Brielle''s tweet. [Babe, look at me. I''vemented dozens of times, why haven''t you replied even once? Notice me, darling.] Thementer was a woman.

    Max''s face darkened instantly, and he swiftly opened his ount to remove the fan. His following list didn''t need such unwise individuals.

    Patrick watched Max''s series of actions, his lips twitching slightly.

    At the same time, Patrick couldn''t help but feel that only Ms. Brielle could have such an effect on Max. After all these years, this was the first time he''d seen Max engaging with social media.

    Hidden behind a string of gibberish, Max had secured the top spot in Brielle''s Twitter mentions, and he was in a good mood.

    Seizing the opportunity, Patrick brought up the matter of the TV station.

    "Those journalists are still hounding Ms. Brielle, especially the crew from ''Life Focus.'' They''re probably going to leech off her for a while."

    "Contact all the sponsors of that TV station. Tell them if they let this program continue to hassle Brielle, they''ll soon find themselves without investors for any of their shows."

    Patrick knew Max meant business and quickly set out to carry out the order.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.

    Meanwhile, the ''Life Focus'' crew watched as their viewership numbers climbed, not nearly as high as the frenzy when Brielle made an appearance, but still much better than their previous numbers. Brielle was like a guardian angel to them.

    As for whether such reporting would affect Brielle personally, that was none of their concern. However, soon, the entire TVwork received a directive to halt all coverage of Brielle.

    The head of Life Focus'' thought he had heard wrong. Halt? Yesterday''s viewership had broken all-time records for any TV station. Hafting now would mean watching otherworks rake in the views.

    What on earth were the higher-ups thinking?

    The head was about to storm off to the executives for an argument when someone stopped him.

    "Buddy, calm down. Thework''s

    hands are tied. It''s an order from Dorsey International. If we don''t stop, they''ll pull the plug on future investments in thework. You know the clout Dorsey International wields."

    Kon?

    It was often said that looking down from the top floor of Dorsey International''s headquarters, all you could see was their assets ¨C and there was no exaggeration in that. If Dorsey International decided to block all their investors, it wouldn''t just be ''Life Focus'' that suffered, but every program on thework would decline.

    Without sponsors, there''d be no ad revenue, and they''d be left surviving on government subsidies, with the situation only worsening.

    Hearing this, the head of ''Life Focus'' backed down. He might take on the executives, but even he wouldn''t dare challenge Dorsey International.

    He was baffled. Why would Dorsey International bother with such a trivial matter?

 Chapter 733

    "Damn it! Have the big shots at Dorsey International lost their minds? They''re actually meddling in the affairs of an ex-director?"

    "Just chill for a sec. We are sniffing around too. If we really tick off Dorsey International because of Brielle, we''re gonna pay through the nose."

    The team leader sighed heavily, lifting his hand to rub his temples. "We finally got some buzz going, and Kingston trusts us. Even if we drop the story, every other channel is gonna jump on this like a trampoline."

    "I just got a call. It''s not just our station. Everywork got a threat from Dorsey International. The reporters camped out at Ster Stage Entertainment have scattered."

    "Damn! Who the hell is Brielle?!"

    Everyone in the break room was stunned.

    They were talking about every single news outlet. Dorsey International wasn''t just making a friendly call. They must''ve had word with the top brass..

    Wasn''t Brielle supposed to be just some regr Joe with no connections, who left Dorsey International? How could she pull such strings?

    Everyone fell silent, thinking back to the scene of crazily exploiting Brielle''s story yesterday, feeling a bit intimidated.

    If the power behind her decided to get even, wouldn''t Life Focus, the show that first thrust Brielle into the spotlight, be in the line of fire?

    Twenty minutester, the Life Focus crew got the notice. The show was canceled, and to be reced by something new.

    Beaconsfield would be without its beloved Life Focus from now on.

    The production team was pped with a gag order, forbidden from mentioning anything rted to Brielle online.

    Brielle had no idea Max had intervened. She just noticed the absence of reporters around Ster Stage Entertainment.

    It was as if the bustling scene from earlier was just an illusion. She asked Donny, but even he was clueless.

    Brielle decided to let it be. After all, no reporters meant good news for her.

    She breathed a sigh of relief, packed up, and was about to call it a day when the receptionist called her. Kingston was still loitering outside, refusing to leave.

    Kingston was utterly baffled. Why had the reporters suddenly vanished, leaving him awkwardly alone?

    He tried reaching out to the Life Focus crew again, but this time, they wouldn''t even take his call.

    A sense of unease crept over Kingston. If the reporters wouldn''t show, what was he supposed to do?

    After a moment''s thought, he created a Twitter ount, bluntly named Brielle''s Birth Father. Since there were no journalists, he could postme

    ments about Brielle online

    himself.

    en FindNovel

    However, no sooner had he typed out a tirade against Brielle than his ount was suspended.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Kingston had lived a long life but had never seen anything like it.

    He thought it was a glitch, so he appealed, only to be denied. The message imed his ount was in vition.

    ve

    Kingston, who had spent his life overseeing warehouses and asionally dabbling in petty theft, was no criminal. To say his ount was in vition was absurd.

    Undeterred, he switched to another number and attempted to register again, only to be met with the same warning.

    Kingston was too stupid to realize someone must be pulling strings, instructing the operators not to allow any of hisments to spread.

    Out of options, Kingston loitered outside Ster Stage Entertainment, hoping to catch a glimpse of Brielle.

    Just half an hour ago, every reporter stood by his side, moring for the story. Now, he felt abandoned by the whole world.

    He nned to turn his life around relying on Brielle. After all, she was his long-lost daughter, and asking for a billion in alimony was not excessive. Bristling with anger yet powerless, Kingston waited.

    Then, a luxury car emerged from the underground parking lot, and his eyes lit up.

    "Brielle!"

    She seemed not to hear, steering in another direction.

    Infuriated, Kingston threw caution to the wind, standing in front of the car with arms syed wide in

    shameless defiance. He was sure Brielle wouldn''t dare hit him. Of she did it''d be parricide.

    She''d never live that down!

    Brielle did stop, pulling out her phone to call the cops. The police arrived swiftly and carted Kingston away.

    "Brielle! You''ll face consequences! I''m your dad! Brielle! How can you deny me!"

    Sitting in her car, Brielle heard the desperate cries. A wry smile curled at the corner of her mouth.

    This was her birth father? The man who discarded her, only to return yearster, hoping to cash in on her sess.

    Family bonds were profoundly disappointing indeed.

 Chapter 734

    Brielle gripped the steering wheel, her fingers barely registering the cool leather as a wave of unspeakable exhaustion washed over her.

    She didn''t hit the gas right away, not until the impatient re of a horn from behind spurred her into motion, and she slowly pulled out into the street.

    She was on her way to Dorsey International as she got off work early today and wanted to visit Dorsey International.

    But halfway there, she spotted Annie, armsden with files, hustling toward Dorsey International. Annie was multitasking, chatting on a phone call without watching her step, which led to an unfortunate tumble, files scattering like leaves in a gust of wind. The sidewalk was awash with people in a hurry, too wrapped up in their own worlds to lend a hand.

    Brielle couldn''t just drive on by, so she pulled over and swung open her car door.

    Annie, still on the call, was gathering her papers when she caught sight of Brielle and eximed in surprise, "Ms. Brielle."

    Brielle squatted down to help, gathering the sheets of paper. "Why didn''t you grab a cab?" She handed the papers back and gestured toward her car. "If you''re heading to Dorsey International, I can give you a lift."

    "Thank you, Ms. Brielle," Annie said as she climbed into Brielle''s car, only then noticing that it was the same vehicle Patrick had driven just a few days ago. Her eyebrows arched momentarily, but she didn''t inquire further.

    As Brielle drove, she stole nces at Annie through the rearview mirror. Brielle did harbor suspicions, but shecked concrete evidence.

    The night she''d gotten drunk with Kenzo, her memory was patchy, leaving her uncertain if the clues in her mind were real.

    Max, with his arm around Annie, had spoken of a stand-in. Brielle had questioned Max about it, but he seemed genuinely unaware of any such notion, and Max was not one to lie. He''d stood too long in his position to stoop to deceit. So either the scene Brielle witnessed was real and the man wasn''t Max, or it was a drunken figment of her imagination.

    Either way, Annie was suspect. This woman, with her uncanny resemnce to Brielle, right down to her demeanor, was hard to trust.

    But Brielle didn''t probe. If Annie''s intention was to sow discord between her and Max, there would likely be more maneuvers toe.

    The car ride was silent, with Annie waiting for Brielle to break the ice. She had prepared a script to nt seeds of doubt once more in Brielle''s heart.

    To her surprise, Brielle said nothing

    throughout the entire trip. When they arrived at Dorsey International, call

    Brielle said was, "We''re here. Time to hop out."

    Annie disembarked, feeling a novel sense of being outyed. Usually, she was the one outmaneuvering others.

    Her mood darkened, though her face remainedposed. "Thank you, Ms. Brielle. I''ll head up now."

    Brielle nodded, her fingertips drumming on the wheel.

    After Annie entered the elevator,

    puffing her cheeks in frustration, she longed to pop a piece of candy into her mouth-afort when upset but the elevator reached the top floor too quickly. Here, she had to emte Brielle, allowing no slip-ups.

    Brielle didn''t indulge in sweets.

    Sighing, Annie tossed the unwrapped candy into the bin.

    At that moment, Brielle reached the top floor and immediately spotted Annie chatting with Patrick.

    She pondered Patrick''s unresponsiveness to her calls, wondering if her recent silent treatment with Max had soured Patrick''s view of her.

    Brielle wasn''t one to let misunderstandings linger, so she approached Patrick with a gentle tone. "Patrick, can we talk?"

    Caught off guard, Patrick looked up. "Ms. Brielle?"

    Brielle gestured toward a quiet spot down the hallway. "Is now a good time? It''ll just take a few minutes."

    After swiftly wrapping up his work, Patrick followed her. They stood before a floor-to-ceiling window, and Brielle spoke first.

    "Patrick, I know my situation with

    Max must be troubling for you. He''s

    not taking my calls or responding to my texts and I understand he might still be upset. But I hope in the

    cel?From N?velDrama.Org.

    future, if I call you to check on him, you''ll answer. Can you do that?"

    A flicker of confusion crossed Patrick''s face, followed by a slow realization. "Ms. Brielle, haven''t you been the one not answering the CEO''s calls?"

 Chapter 735

    Brielle''s brow furrowed in confusion, momentarily at a loss as to what exactly he was referring to.

    She would be the first to admit that she could be a bit prickly and somber at times, but she would never ignore a call from her partner, especially not during a silent treatment between them. Such tactics only hastened the demise of a rtionship.

    She genuinely treasured the bond she shared with Max. She knew that their journey together had been no easy feat and that the road ahead would be fraught with obstacles. If she were to throw in the towel first, what kind of future could they possibly have? "Ms. Brielle, he tried calling you several times, I did too, but you just hung up. Your situation with the him really has me worried, because I want you two to work it out, not just cut off allmunication the moment there''s a disagreement," Patrick said, his frustration evident.

    Brielle was speechless. She pulled out her phone and scrolled through her missed calls.

    There were no calls from either of them. Not a trace. Could someone have tampered with her phone?

    That was impossible. During her time at Ster Stage Entertainment, her phone had always been by her side, untouched by anyone else.

    So what exactly was going on?

    The confusion in her eyes was unmistakable, prompting Patrick to frown. "Ms. Brielle, is there a problem?"

    "I didn''t receive any calls from you guys."

    Patrick had been by Max''s side for years, effortless in his counter-surveince skills. Hearing Brielle''s response, he immediately grew suspicious. "Ms. Brielle, would you mind if I take a look at your phone? I''ll have someone check it out." Brielle nodded and handed it over without hesitation.

    Around the corner, Annie stood with her arms crossed, casually eavesdropping on their conversation.

    Aplicated look crossed her face before she let out a sigh. It seemed that remotely controlling Brielle''s phone was off the table from now on.From N?velDrama.Org.

    Before Patrick could return, Annie swiftly made her way back to her desk and sent a message to Murray.

    [Brielle''s phone is being checked, and I can''t control it anymore. Murray, I''m so sad. What do we do now?]

    When Murray read the message, his heart melted. [Miss, with your smarts, I''m sure you''ll think of something else.]

    [What else is there? My brain''s at its limit. How can those two reconcile just like that, without clearing up all those misunderstandings? It''s so defeating. I''m in a foul mood.]

    When Brielle approached, she found Annie quietly sitting at her desk, texting someone intently.

    She didn''t pry but instead entered Max''s office.

    Max was just shutting down hisputer when he saw her. He reached for his suit jacket that was draped over a chair.

    Brielle paused, surprised. Was he leaving work early today?

    Max took her hand and hung it by his side. "We''re not going home for dinner tonight."

    "Should we call Wesley?"

    "I''ve already told him."

    Brielle was led out of the office, her wrist in his grasp, all the way to the private elevator.

    Max leaving early was unprecedented. So everyone at the top floor watched in surprise, well aware that this topic was off-limits in office gossip.

    Rumors had spread that the couple was living together and that Max was truly in love with Brielle.

    The women in the office were a mix of envy and jealousy. How had Brielle managed to snag such good fortune?

    Only Annie looked on with aplex expression, feeling an unpleasant twinge in her heart.

    Brielle had thought Max might have some schmoozing to do, or maybe he''d take her to Tequ Sunset for drinks, but when the car stopped at Beaconsfield College, surprise flickered in her eyes.

    "You-"

    Whye to her alma mater?

    Max leaned over to unbuckle her seatbelt. "Don''t you want toe back for a visit?"

    Brielle was at a loss for words, then slightly bitter.

    When she had graduated top of her ss, she thought she''d make it big in finance.

    She was youthful, with nothing to lose. And because of her youth, she felt she could have everything.

    Back then, even with the modest sry at Dorsey International, she was full of drive. Yet, she hadn''t made a name for herself as her mentors had hoped and had never returned since.

    "Beaconsfield College''s centennial

    celebration is in two days, and

    Dorsey International, as its biggest sponsor, will be there. I won''t be able to join you, so I want you to walk around with me first."

    Although Dorsey International had always been a benefactor of Beaconsfield College, Max rarely visited, having spent his formative years on Wall Street and not in domestic academic institutions.

 Chapter 736

    Brielle felt a wave of emotion as she remembered the uing centennial celebration at Beaconsfield College. It was going to be the grandest event yet, and all alumni were invited to return. She had received her invitation, but she wasn''t all that keen on going.

    For one, she had been in the eye of the storm recently, and she didn''t want her alma mater to bear the brunt of any criticism. Secondly, her name hadn''t yet graced the financial newspapers, and she felt she hadn''t lived up to her professors'' instruction.

    "Brielle, what did you use to enjoy eating?" Max had done his homework beforeing.

    His experience couldn''t be applied to the average person, as he rarely stayed on campus during his university days, let alone made any friends.

    Back then, he was already rubbing shoulders with the Wall Street wolves, engaged in a fierce tug-of-war over interests. So, the typical college life, with itsmunal dining and hangouts, was foreign to him. "Hmm, corn dogs," Brielle replied almost subconsciously, noting the puzzled look in Max''s eyes, knowing he probably hadn''t heard of the Beaconsfield College specialty.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

    The college was known for its clean, fresh, and affordable corn dogs.

    But such a ce probably wasn''t Max''s scene. She couldn''t imagine him perched at a cramped table, enjoying a budget-friendly corn dog.

    "Which way to go?" Max nced at the various paths, wondering where he could find this famous treat.

    Without further hesitation and with a spark of mischief in her eyes that swept away the day''s gloom, Brielle said, "Let''s go, it won''t be too crowded right now."

    They walked through the pathways, passing the girls'' dormitories where Brielle pointed out her old residence.

    Beaconsfield College, being a top-ranked institution, boasted beautiful dorms surrounded by fragrant cedar and ginkgo trees.

    During her time at college, Brielle

    had never dabbled in romance. She was engaged to Spencer, which kept her at a conscious distance from other male students, and her addiction to the library ensured her presence in ss was somewhat

    muted.

    Now, she could barely remember how she spent those university years - her days were a blur of books and research in the library.

    Gripping Max''s hand, she felt a surreal connection to her younger, lonely self across the years.

    "I actually saw you once during my freshman year," she mentioned casually, her voice soft, stepping on fallen leaves.

    "The school invited you for a lecture.

    You came back from abroad, spoke briefly, and the crowd went wild because you looked about our age. I was the top scorer that year and had the honor of presenting you with flowers."

    Her engagement with Spencer hadsted nearly ten years, but she had seen Max no more than thrice from a distance, except for that one time she presented the flowers, pushed forward by the school officials.

    At neen, Max, the heir to Dorsey International, a taciturn yet obviously young man, had taken the flowers from her with a simple "Thank you."

    His voice at neen was crisp, like a chilled sparkling water on a hot summer day.

    For a moment, Brielle felt a ripple in her heart, but it quickly settled into silence. She knew all too well. He was the heir to the Dorsey family, Spencer''s Uncle, destined for the pinnacle of sess. Any impractical fantasies or fleeting heartbeats were nipped in the bud.

    What followed was simple. He held the flowers, posed for photos with the faculty at their request, and Brielle, as the flower girl, was positioned just a fingertip''s distance from him.

 Chapter 737

    He exuded a cold aura, seldom speaking or smiling, regardless of who he was dealing with.

    Brielle had seen her fair share of 18 or 19-year-oldds, theirughter as fresh and pure as a spring breeze, their gazes as tender as a starry night sky.From N?velDrama.Org.

    But it wasn''t until she met Max that she realized boys like him existed. He''s graceful as a marble statue. Simply standing there, he could stir a garden into bloom. If Max hadn''t brought her back to Beaconsfield College, she would''ve kept it all to herself, locked away as a secret in her heart.

    But Max did bring her back, and just days before the centennial celebration, no less.

    "Max, you probably don''t remember, do you?"

    Max didn''t want to lie to her. He really didn''t remember much.

    The first time he came to Beaconsfield College, after reciting his piece, his mind was swamped with thoughts of Wall Street.

    Numbers, algorithms, and investments-these words flooded his thoughts so much that he barely noticed who had offered him flowers.

    He just vaguely recalled a pretty, serene-looking student.

    Watching him struggle to remember brought a chuckle to Brielle''s lips, and sheughed out loud. "Forget it, it''s not important."

    Life isn''t always smooth sailing. If every fleeting nce were reciprocated, the world wouldn''t be filled with so many tales of joy and sorrow, unions and partings. As she finished, her face was gently cradled in someone''s hands. A kissnded near her lips, and she heard him say, "Let this be a kiss from 19-year-old me." Brielle, feeling slightly ufortable, pushed him away, her lips curving into a reluctant smile.

    On the day she had presented flowers on stage, she was far from calm.

    As the top student representative, it was the first time she felt the chasm between them. They were only a finger''s width apart, yet he seemed to be on a cloud.

    The 16-year-old her felt as if her very soul had been dazzled, and that night she dreamt of the a guy for the first time.

    Just like Max had just said, 19-year-old Max had kissed her in that dream. It''s a restrained and polite kiss, just a light touch.

    Now, that dream scene strangely merged with the present moment.

    Aplex emotion brewed within Brielle''s chest.

    She had always cherished this rtionship, and at first, she felt timid to admit her feelings for Max.

    Because 19-year-old Max couldn''t even remember her face, much less bother to ask her name. What right

    did she have to think that yearster, Max would fall for her?

    Standing next to him, her mind was filled with the shock of that moment, the stark realization of an insurmountable gap.

    Thus, when the man from the clouds suddenly took an interest in her, she felt not delight, but panic.

    Affection could indeed render one lowly, as humble as a flower in the corner of a wall. Yet even that flower would yearn for a sliver of sunfight''s attention to bloom into its most delicate petals.

    en FindNovel

    Brielle was more mature and sensible than most. Knowing the impossibility of her feelings, she didn''t hesitate to snuff them out.

    She had said she wouldn''t actively like someone who didn''t like her back. Only if someone approached her first, would she dare to tentatively reach out in response.

    Snapping back to reality, Brielle looped her arm through his. "If we don''t leave now, the corn dog stand will be swamped once thest ss ends."

    Max nodded, following her into the bustling school backstreet.

    The hot dog vendor''s eyes lit up upon seeing her. "Oh my! Brielle?!"

    Brielle blushed slightly.

    "You''re back at Beaconsfield College, huh? Did you get the invitation to the centenary celebration? I thought you''d nevere by here again. Have a seat. And who is this? My, my, what a handsome fellow. This must be your husband, right?"

    Brielle, about to sip her soda, choked on her drink when she heard this.

    The vendor was as chatty as ever.

    "Oh, no, he''s not."

    "Ah, don''t be shy with me, girl. This is the first time you''ve brought a man to eat here. Today''s on the house. It''s my wedding gift to you two. Hahaha."

    Brielle felt a mix of embarrassment and amusement.

    Who ever heard of a wedding gift of two servings of corn dogs?

 Chapter 738

    As Max remained standing, Brielle thought he might find the cramped space ufortable. After all, the clientele of this little diner were mostly students from Beaconsfield College, crowding around tiny tables with just a couple of bar stools each.

    She was about to suggest moving somewhere else when she noticed he had already taken a seat.

    To the scattered students around, a man in a suit was a rare sight here, especially one as handsome as Max.

    However, Brielle''s face wasn''t unfamiliar to them. She had been the talk of the town on social media over the past few days.

    Someone whipped out a cell phone, aiming for a snapshot, but was quickly stopped.

    The reason was simple: Beaconsfield College had officially defended Brielle, proving her record was spotless, and she was an alumnus.

    With Brielle at the center of a media storm, they knew it wasn''t the time to post pictures online, which would only draw unwanted attention to the school.

    "Put the phone away. Let''s eat before it gets cold. She''s our senior, the legend from the finance department."

    "I''m just curious about the guy with her. He''s so good-looking. They look so cute together."

    Their whispers were quiet enough that Brielle didn''t hear them.

    The diner owner brought over two corn dogs with a hearty smile andplimented Max again. "Young man, you look so healthy and handsome?"

    Max, unustomed to such praise, paused for a moment before replying politely, "Thank you."

    The owner giggled like a schoolgirl. "Oh my, not just a pretty face, but a charming voice too. Of course, Brielle is gorgeous as well. You two make a lovely couple. Come back often. I won''t even charge you."

    The diner owner''s warmth was overwhelming, and Brielle, worried Max might feel out of ce, pushed the corn dog towards him. "Dig in. These are homemade, fresh, and they don''t skimp on size."

    Max had never tried anything like it before. He took one bite under her expectant gaze. The meat was fresh, and the portion was generous. One bite and he was content.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

    "How is it?"

    "Not bad at all."

    Their conversation was brief.

    Max stopped when he noticed she wasn''t eating. "You should eat too."

    Brielle merely propped her cheek in her hand, watching him eat with such deliberation, and found it delightful.

    After they finished eating, Brielle attempted to pay, but the owner refused to take her money and insisted shee back on the day of the school''s centenary celebrations.

    en FindNovel

    Brielle, feeling awkward, agreed to return.

    As she and Max left, the owner continued to rave to other customers. "Oh, he''s so handsome. Did you see hisshes? They''re like fans."

    Several hundred meters away, Brielle stopped and turned to Max.

    He maintained his cool demeanor,

    bathed in the evening sunlight that dappled through the small grove Beyond ity the Beaconsfield College library, once her favorite haunt.

    en FindNovel

    "That''s the library, it has the richest collection of books. I used to love spending time there."

    Entry required a student card, and she was no longer a student, so she could only gaze from a distance.

    Approaching the library with Max, she had barely begun to share more when she spotted two figures walking side by side not far off.

    One was Kenzo, the other, the dean of Beaconsfield College.

    Kenzo wore a light smile, chatting with the dean who patted his shoulder in a gesture of approval before departing.

    "Kenzo?" Brielle called out, and Kenzo turned around, his eyebrows raising slightly upon seeing them.

    "What brings you here?"

    After a brief pause, his gaze shifted to Max, eyebrows arching even higher.

    Brielle felt a twinge of

    embarrassment, remembering Kenzo was also a Beaconsfield alum. With the centenary approaching, he was likely on the guest list, probably invited by the school leadership toe early.

    She recalled her first meeting with Kenzo-it too had been in the library.

 Chapter 739

    Kenzo was invited back to teach, and word was that his sses were all the rage online at Beaconsfield College. It was nearly impossible to snag a spot because everyone wanted to be there. "Are you guys done touring? Fancy grabbing a bite together?" Kenzo offered as he crossed paths with Brielle and Max.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

    Brielle and Max had indeed seen all there was to see, tasted the local vors, and browsed the quaint shops. Returning to Beaconsfield College was like a warm embrace, a chance to momentarily forget the worries of the world outside. But Brielle knew she''d have to face reality again soon.

    "We''re all set. Let''s roll out together," Brielle replied, linking arms with Max as the trio made their way down the path leading out of the campus.

    The journey was punctuated with hellos from fellow students, all eager to greet Brielle and Kenzo. Brielle''s alumni status was well-known, and Kenzo was a celebrity in his own right. He retained the title of Visiting Professor, ensuring he could step back into the lectern anytime his heart desired.

    Kenzo''s gentle smile greeted each student, and upon hearing Brielle ask, "Kenzo, are you speaking at the centennial celebration?" his own smile turned into a chuckle.

    "Yep, got a special request from the dean," he replied, his lips barely revealing the amusement behind them.

    Before Brielle could sing his praises, Kenzo added, "The dean found out we''ve stayed in touch and asked me to bring your speech too. Brielle, he still remembers your name."

    Max interrupted just as Brielle was about to respond, "So, Kenzo, did you drive over?"

    "Ah, my driver''s waiting outside. Brielle, here''s the draft of the speech. Feel free to tweak it," Kenzo offered, handing over the papers.

    Brielle epted them, a strange feeling bubbling inside her. Had she inadvertently ignored Max, causing him to feel left out? His interruption suggested as much.

    With a polite "Thank you," she turned her attention back to Max as Kenzo nodded and departed down a side path.

    Once Kenzo was out of sight, Brielle yfully fanned her face. "Did you catch a whiff of jealousy?" she teased Max, who simply gave her a nonchnt nce. Was he actually miffed?

    The thought amused her. Why would Max be jealous of Kenzo?

    Catching up to Max, she slipped her arm through his. Max''s expression softened as he joked, "I should''ve attended Beaconsfield College."

    This way, he would''ve been able to join in on her and Kenzo''s conversation.

    "Mr. Dorsey, Beaconsfield College lost a great deal without you." When Brielle wanted to charm someone, she could really talk.

    Max chuckled, and the hint of jealousy in his heart disappeared.

    Suddenly, he pulled her aside, beneath the shadow of the academic building.

    Here stood a grand que engraved with the names of distinguished students. The evening bells chimed signifying the end of a ss, and the campus buzzed to life. Students meandered past them, debating where to grab ate-night snack.

    Brielle found herself pinned between the wall and Max''s embrace, her cheeks flushed with heat. His kiss was fierce sending waves of pleasure and a thrilling sense of secrecy through her. It was as they were sneaking around, two lovers defying the watchful eyes of the headmaster who might be patrolling nearby, ready to catch them in the act.

    After what seemed like an eternity locked in the kiss, Brielle''s strength waned, her legs turned to jelly, and she buried her head in Max''s chest, trying to catch her breath. "Feeling better now, Brielle?" Max''s voice was soothing, his hand gently patting her back.

    Brielle could almost hear the musical notes in his voice that sent tingles down her spine.

    Max felt her emotions these past two days. In that moment when she realized she had no family in this world, her sense of loss and pain, all fell into his eyes.

    She had thought the visit to Beaconsfield College was just for the centennial celebration, but now it was clear: he wanted to give her a brief respite from her troubles.

    Tears welled in Brielle''s eyes as she nestled closer into his embrace. She once dreamt of a fairytale life where her parents didn''t need to be wealthy but would treat her to a beautiful doll after payday or buy her a tutu on Children''s Day.

    The Haywood family never fulfilled that dream, and the Kingstons didn''t bother to try. Her childhood fantasyy buried in the dust of time, vanished amidst the years.

 Chapter 740

    But now, someone had fished her out of those lonely times, brushed the dust from her heart and lit themp of this world. Max had no idea that sixteen-year-old Brielle''s dream was to shine as brightly as he did at neen.

    And she didn''t n on letting him know.

    That fleeting heartbeat could remain in that summer that echoed with the cries of cranes and could never be returned to. Back at the Premier Pce, they had sex again.

    Brielle was more excited than ever, taking initiative. With Max, she was devoured to the bone.

    Exhausted, she couldn''t curl a single fingertip, her voice hoarse as she pushed him away. "I have work tomorrow." "Onest time."

    "Mmm."

    Brielle couldn''t refuse him. She looked up and caught the intense meaning in his eyes, scorching hot, and she melted away.

    So when she woke up the next day, it was already noon, and she felt as disassembled as a scarecrow after harvest, every bone sore.

    She turned over, feeling as if her body was no longer hers tomand.

    Propping herself up to get out of bed, she couldn''t help but reflect on whether she should continue to indulge Max like this.

    After freshening up and heading downstairs, she felt weak even as she ate.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    Max had already gone to work. He was always the earliest to leave.

    After Brielle finished eating, she saw Patrick walk in, handing her a phone. "Ms. Brielle, this is your new phone. Your old one had beenpromised with spyware, likely hacked." Brielle thought she had heard wrong.

    Hacked?

    "The phone we''ve set up for you now has a counter-surveince system. It''s not something average hacker can crack, but for safety''s sake, you might want to think about who gave you that phone." Brielle took the new phone, which looked exactly like her old one. "Thank you."

    A smile of relief curled on Patrick''s face. "As long as you weren''t intentionally dodging the CEO''s calls, we''re good. Should I inform him about this?"

    "Not yet."

    "Okay."

    After Patrick said his piece, he hurried off to Dorsey International, apparently havinge back just to deliver her phone.

    Brielle remembered clearly. The phone was a gift from Aubree, but Aubree would never tamper with her phone.

    However, there was someone she found suspicious.

    Brielle drove to the location where Aubree was filming. Today was another scene with Aubree and Ricardo. Outside, she spotted a car that screamed luxury, clearly not belonging to the crew.

    Brielle''s brow furrowed, and as she entered the alley, she saw Andrew, standing like a guardian deity not far off. His post was strategically

    chosen, invisible from Aubree''s spot. en FindNovel

    Brielle sneered, "Mr. Clements, what brings you here?"

    At the sound of her voice, Andrew stiffened, then slowly rxed, "None of your business."

    "Here to see Aubree? Tough luck, she doesn''t seem to want to see you at all." Andrew felt a knife twist in his heart, his face paled, and he turned to re at Brielle. Unphased, Brielle stepped past him towards the interior.

    Andrew swallowed hard, leaning against the wall, hisshes cast down in silence.

    When Brielle entered, she greeted Aubree.

    Aubree''s eyes sparkled, wiping her hair, she asked, "Isn''t Ster Stage Entertainment swamped these days? How do you have the time toe here?" While she talked, she followed Brielle to the room she was staying in.

    Aubree had already moved into this

    ce, renting the houses in the area.

    vel

    Although they were modest and cramped they were clean and well-disinfected. She feltfortable living there, with a sense of being cut off from the outside world.

    As they reached her door, Aubree''s face turned cold at the sight of Andrew waiting.

    Andrew opened his mouth to call out but saw her step aside, open the door, pull Brielle in, and then shut i behind them.

    Andrew''s slightly open mouth closed

    slowly, and he pressed his lips

    together in disappointment. He raised a hand to touch the doorknob, hesitating, not wanting to provoke her further.

    The warmth that lingered on the doorknob was hers.

    His fingertips curled, and his eyes reddened in an instant.

    No words were needed. Her retreating figure was a sharper pain than any spoken word.

 Chapter 741

    Brielle stepped into the room and was greeted by its impable cleanliness. Near the window, a bouquet of sunflowers seemed to illuminate the entire space.

    "Ricardo found those," Aubree mentioned as she went to pour two cups of tea.

    Brielle caught the scent of tea and raised an eyebrow slightly, "Didn''t you use to be all about coffee?" Aubree had always had a thing for coffee, the more bitter and robust, the better. "Sometimes you gotta mix things up."

    The statement hung in the air, heavy with implication.

    Brielle''s eyebrows lifted subtly, and she let out a light chuckle. "How long has he been around?"

    Aubree''s eyes shed with irritation. "Who knows? Clements Corporation is probably on the brink of copse. That''s why he''s got so much free time."

    Brielle didn''t dwell on the subject and instead voiced her reason for the visit.

    "Aubree, the phone you gave me, did you buy it yourself?"

    The phone?

    It took a moment for Aubree to react, then she shook her head. "No, it was from Andrew. I was puzzled at the time. He never liked you, so why would he bother giving you a phone? Is there a problem with it?" "It''s been tampered with, hacked. During the time Max and I had our issues, it blocked ourmunication."

    Aubree''s anger was palpable. She stormed to the door, yanking it open.

    Andrew stood outside, his face lighting up upon seeing her emerge. However, instead of a warm greeting, he was met with a resounding p. The p echoed down the alley, crisp and forceful. Andrew''s eyes reddened, but he did not scold her. Instead, he asked hoarsely, "Does your hand hurt?"

    "You bugged Bri''s phone?"

    "Yes."

    Aubree couldn''t help butugh out of sheer exasperation. Andrew knew full well that Brielle was her closest friend, yet he resorted to such sleazy tactics.

    "Get out."

    "But I didn''t-"

    "Out!"

    Andrew suddenly fell silent, and a bitter smile tugged at his lips. "Aubree."

    "Bang!"

    The door mmed shut again, narrowly missing his fingertips.

    He licked the metallic taste from the corner of his mouth, feeling Aubree''s profound disgust. It was like a needle piercing his heart.

    Yet, perversely, he thought the sting of the needle was sweetened with honey. Perhaps in her contempt, there was a twisted form of affection.

    The guilt that burrowed deep within him was as torturous as any other pain.

    Memories of Aubree flooded him like a relentless river, battering against his fragile defenses.

    It made his heart race and his soul ache.

    Andrew stood motionless for a while before wandering off aimlessly.

    His driver had been waiting all along. Upon seeing him, the driver sighed with relief. "Sir, there''s been a call from the family estate. Ms. Tessa''s condition has worsened. She''s burning up with fever and keeps caffing your name."

    After a pause, the driver noticed the blood at Andrew''s mouth and the stark handprint on his pale cheek. Clearly, the p had been delivered with no mercy. Andrew coughed twice, his nose tingling as if he were on the verge of tears.

    The driver wanted to ask if they should head back to the office where the executive team was waiting. But looking at Andrew, who had been haunting this

    down-and-out neighborhood

    sin

    the crack of dawn, returning each

    time more dispirited than thest, he hesitated.

    When Andrew lifted his head, his reddened eyes were heartbreakingly sorrowful. "Take me to my ce."

    His voice was hoarse, like he was about to break down.

    Without dy, the driver pressed the elerator.

    Andrew''s current residence was a ce heavy with memories of Aubree Every corner spoke of her presence, from the matching shoes at the entrance to the whimsically colored bedsheets. FindNovel

    Aubree''s clothes still filled the closet, as if nothing had changed. He had shooed away the cleaners scheduled to tidy up.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    He''d never been one for housework, but now he clumsily cleaned the ce himself. It was as if keeping it spotless would bring Aubree back. Though he knew, deep down, she probably never would.

 Chapter 742

    The pain was so intense it robbed him of breath.

    Having tidied up the room, Andrew drew all the curtains and shut the windows, as if by doing so, Aubree''s essence would linger a little longer.

    He slumped onto the couch, the incessant ring of his phone piercing the silence. It was the Clements family calling, but he had no desire to answer.

    A few empty beer bottlesy in the trash can, remnants of the past couple of days'' attempts to drown his sorrows.

    Sleep evaded Andrew, and he could not invite it. Every time he closed his eyes, that video yed in his mind, apanied by Aubree''s pleading cries. Tears welled up in his eyes.

    He made his way to the master bedroom, to the bed where they had once been so entwined.

    Now, lying there, he felt every cell in his body screaming emptiness. Clutching theforter to his chest, hugging it close, the misery ebbed slightly.

    His phone continued to ring, but he just stared nkly at the ceiling, ignoring its persistent call.

    After half an hour, there was a knock at the living room door.

    Hope flickered in Andrew''s eyes. He even sshed his face with water in the bathroom, trying to p some life into his listless features.

    As he approached the door, his fingers curled nervously. He was also afraid. Afraid that it really was Aubree at the door,ing to collect her things and then leaving his life forever. Andrew was torn between pain, fear, and the longing to see her.

    Every attempt to see Aubreetely had ended in being ignored or ridiculed, but the desire to see her made the hurt bearable.

    Tremblingshes gave away his emotion as he heard Marissa''s voice from outside. "Andrew, what on earth have you been hiding out here for?"

    It wasn''t Aubree. Relief washed over Andrew, quickly reced by a profound sense of loss.

    Marissa, about to knock again, saw the door swing open to reveal Andrew, his eyes red-rimmed. Unaware of what had transpired, she wrinkled her nose at the smell of alcohol wafting out.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    "You''ve been missing from thepany for two days, and the executives have been bombarding me with calls. The Clements family elders are concerned. What''s gotten into you?" Andrew opened his mouth, the video Marissa and Tessa had mentioned shing in his mind. Could it be the same one he had seen? His marriage to Tessa, what was it really?

    Did everyone know about Aubree''s misfortune except for him, who foolishly thought she was fickle?

    Tears fell again as Andrew''s arms limply dropped to his sides. "Mom, I want a divorce."

    No sooner had the words left his mouth than Marissa''s hand flew up in a p. "Have you lost your mind? You were the one who wanted to marry Tessa, and now just two days in, you want a divorce? Think about the Clements family''s reputation!"

    The p twisted Andrew''s head to the side, and he tasted blood. In that moment, the despair in his eyes faded. Right, he wanted a divorce. "Mom, I''m serious about the divorce."

    "You!!" Marissa raised her hand again, threatening another blow.

    Andrew closed his eyes, his Adam''s apple moving in a hard swallow. "Even if you kill me, I''m still getting a divorce."

    "Over my dead body! If you divorce,

    you''ll have my corpse to answer to tomorrow. Pull yourself together, and go to the office. Tessa''s at home crying her eyes out every day. You brought this upon yourself, so deal with it."

    Marissa''s brow was etched with impatience, She whipped out apact mirror to touch up her

    makeup. "I''ve got a tea date with et

    some tadies this afternoon. You''re not a child, Andrew. Stop spouting such juvenile nonsense."

    Her tone was dismissive as she stowed the mirror back in her purse and strutted away in her heels.

    Marissa was known for her iron will, just as she had promised Tessa a wedding into the Clements family within a week.

    Divorce was not taken lightly in the Clements family. It was their creed.

    Left alone, Andrew could only taste the blood in his mouth and remember Aubree''s words. He and Tessa were the ones who deserved to go to hell.

    Aubree had endured in silence, revealing the video only on his wedding night.

    Bound by family pressures, he found himself unable to leave Tessa just yet, leaving him no legitimate reason to pursue Aubree.

    The more he tried to salvage their rtionship, the more he clung to her, the more his selfishness showed.

    This was Aubree''s ultimate revenge.

    How deeply she must have hated him.

 Chapter 743

    Andrew leaned weakly against the door, chuckling bitterly a couple of times. However, at the thought of Tessa, a trace of coldness flickered in his eyes.

    He dialed his associates, ordering them to extract Tessa from the Clements household and confine her to a house. They were to strip her of all means ofmunication.

    He wasn''t entirely sure if she still possessed that incriminating video.

    Meanwhile, Aubree was determined to break into the entertainment industry, a ce where any hint of scandal could be a death sentence. Andrew knew his role was to shield and guide her through the treacherous waters of showbiz. After ending the call, Andrew felt an agonizing bitterness in his heart. Clutching his chest as if pierced by needles, he slumped on the couch, lost in thought.

    At that moment, Aubree was having tea with Brielle.

    "So, that Kingston is really your biological father?" Aubree inquired, having followed the recent news. Kingston''s nefarious reputation was likely the talk of the Beaconsfield social circles, with many probably sneering at Brielle''s plight. The corners of Brielle''s mouth twisted into a bitter smile. "Mark handed me the paternity test results. He''s been trying to help me find my real parents for years."

    "But Mark''s just aid-off factory worker. The information he gave might not be urate. Bri, deep down you might feel abandoned by your family. That''s why when someone like Kingston shows up, you''re not surprised. You don''t fight it. Instead, you ept the harsh reality, albeit with pain and resignation."

    Aubree knew Brielle too well after all these years. She understood the scars in her friend''s heart. Abandoned on a snowy day at an orphanage''s doorstep, Brielle had always felt unloved.

    When the Haywood family brought Brielle home, she was kidnapped for ransom. The kidnappers couldn''t get through to the Haywoods to negotiate. Even after lowering their demands three times, there was no response. Eventually, it was the police who raided the hideout and saved her.

    At that time, the Haywood family was too busy celebrating Lillian''s birthday with avish party to answer the phone.

    Aubree was also on the guest list for that party. When she saw the police return a disheveled Brielle, who stood out in her dirtied clothes against the backdrop of elegantly dresseddies, she knew she had to be close friends with this girl.

    The abandonment at the orphanage, and the kidnappers'' failed ransom - these events had left an indelible mark on Brielle. Despite her sesses, Brielle still craved a family''s love - a need that was severely unmet.

    Now, Brielle might pretend to be

    indifferent to family bonds,

    convincing herself she had moved

    on from those painful memories. But

    in truth she was still shackled, her

    internal wounds dressed inBelongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    a

    prisoner''s garb.

    Aubree became close to Brielle at that banquet because she felt that Brielle was just like herself.

    At that young age, she was already mesmerized by Andrew, yearning for the love in the adults'' world. Meanwhile, Brielle longed for family affection. Two wounded souls, in many nights, opened up to each other about their most fragmented and painful sorrows.

    "Bri, let''s do another paternity test with Kingston," Aubree suggested, patting Brielle''s shoulder reassuringly.

    "Do you remember that party? I decided then to be your friend because I felt the Haywoods didn''t deserve you. You were meant for something more, and it''s the same now."

    The Haywoods didn''t deserve her, and Kingston even less so.

    Brielle thought for a moment and then nodded. "Alright, I''ll do it."

    When Brielle left, it was already two in the afternoon.

    Kingston was again loitering outside Ster Stage Entertainment,

    evidently not having learned his

    lesson even after being detained et

    Brielle instructed security to obtain a strand of his hair and personally delivered it to the testing center.

    There, someone''s eyes flickered upon seeing the two profiles. They discreetly switched the samples and made a call.

    The man on the other end, his face obscured by a mask, swirled his drink while overlooking a vast indoor pool.

    "Alright."

    His tone was indifferent. After hanging up, he nced at a photo on his phone.

    His little princess didn''t need the world''s attention.

 Chapter 744

    A butler, dressed in immacte white gloves, approached the gentleman and whispered something into his ear, prompting a light chuckle from the man as he set his wine ss down with grace.

    As he rose to his feet, a thought seemed to strike him, and he turned to instruct someone behind him. "Keep a close eye on themotion over there. I need to go have a chat with a few unruly hounds." "Understood."

    Brielle had spent the entire afternoon waiting for the results from the paternity center. As the workday was drawing to a close, a dossier was delivered to her.

    The results were as expected. She was still linked to Kingston by blood.

    She let out a self-deprecatingugh and tossed the paperwork straight into the trash bin.

    At that moment, Tiffanie burst through the door, her face flushed with ire.

    "I can''t even with those high societydies anymore. Ever since your family drama hit the fan, they''ve been dragging your name through the mud daily in the chat groups. Some even had their maids snap pictures of Kingston''s ce, airing out all the dirtyundry about him and his wife''s past shenanigans. You know he has a son named James, right? A real thug, always shaking people down for ''protection money''. Lately, he''s been telling everyone you''re his little sister."

    Brielle wasn''t part of those chaotic Beaconsfield social circles, but Tiffanie was, and she couldn''t stand to look at them for another day.

    These high societydies had been embarrassed in front of Brielle before and were itching to w back some dignity. Now that Brielle''s past was out in the open, they were all too eager to kick her while she was down. Tiffanie was about to say more, but her anger spiked when she caught sight of thetest message on her phone.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

    [Brielle isn''t just a jokepared to Alivia. Even the Barnes family''s staff in Beaconsfield live morefortably than middle-ss families. Pfft.]

    [And she had the nerve to act all high and mighty before? With parents like that, the nerve!]

    [I bet Michael''s beside himself, having his most promising son entangled with someone of such lowly birth.]

    Brielle simply hung up her coat, not giving the matter any attention, which only served to infuriate Tiffanie further.

    That was until Donny walked in. "Ms. Haywood, there''s a guy outside iming to be your brother. He wants to meet you and brought his r¨¦sum¨¦, says he wants a job at Ster Stage Entertainment."

    However, when Donny thought of that resume, his brows furrowed. A person without an education, who was all talk and no action, and constantly used foulnguage, simply didn''t qualify to enter Ster Stage Entertainment. But the man was insistent, iming to be Ms. Haywood''s brother and demanding shee down to meet him.

    A flicker of impatience crossed Brielle''s face. It seemed this family was like chewing gum on the sole of her shoe-impossibly sticky.

    "Call the police, and from now on, you don''t need to report anything rted to the Fox family to me."

    Donny could see she was genuinely upset and nodded quickly.

    Meanwhile, James loitered outside for a while but left before the police arrived.

    After wrapping up the afternoon''s work, Brielle decided it was time to meet this so-called movie star that Donny had mentioned. She had the address on her phone.

    Tiffanie was just passing by to vent, and Brielle didn''t care one bit about the gossip from the social circles of Beaconsfield.

    At six in the evening, after clocking

    out, Brielle set her navigation for the

    movie star''s vi. Passing by a dessert shop, she remembered Donny''s note about the actor''s preference for matcha-vored sweets with less sugar, so she packed up a beautifully decorated little cake.

    Just as she stepped out with the cake, she spotted a young man lingering suspiciously around her car.

    Brielle had seen photos of James and recognized him at a nce. James was tall and burly, the type who looked like he was no stranger to a scuffle. Upon seeing Brielle, a grin spread across his face. "Brielle!"

    Brielle''s brow furrowed, and she made a beeline for her car.

    But James grabbed her wrist, "I''ve heard all about it from mom and dad. I came especially to see you. Just give me a few minutes of your time."

    James'' grip was strong, and Brielle

    e couldn''t shake him off. She hadn''t expected him to be so towering. Her taekwondo skills seemed pitifully ineffective against him.

    She took a deep breath. "There''s nothing for us to talk about. If you keep this up, I''m calling the cops."

    James pulled her closer, "Don''t be like that. I really do want to have a chat."

    Brielle struggled, realizing his stocky build and height advantage would be intimidating to anyone.

    The dessert shop was situated near

    several rehab centers, with steep steps leading up to it. The movie star, known for his entricity, had a rtive who was a psychiatrist," which exined why he lived in a vi near the heart of the rehab facility.

    This dessert shop, pricey as it was, belonged to other vi owners in the area.

    But that wasn''t the point. The point was that James had followed her here, and Brielle was now at a disadvantage.

 Chapter 745

    Just as she was about to strike at his belly, a mocking voice echoed from not too far away. "Slut!"

    Brielle froze, her gaze shifting toward the entrance.

    The whole area was a wellness retreat with picturesque views, and at that moment, Martha, sitting in a wheelchair, was being pushed around for a stroll in the vicinity.

    There was a riverside walkway meant exclusively for the retreat and the surrounding vimunity. Brielle hadn''t expected to run into Martha here.

    Martha''s eyes zed with an intense hatred as she red at Brielle.

    Brielle frowned upon hearing Martha''s unfiltered tirade continue.

    "You whore! You think you''ve won my son over with your bedroom tricks? The guy next to you must be your lover, huh? You sure have a way with men, seducing Max with your cheap tricks. Now that Max isn''t around, you''re already on the prowl for someone else, aren''t you?

    "Word is your dad''s a doorman, your mom''s a lowly maid, and your brother''s a no-good thug. How can someone of your low birthck such self-awareness and cling to Max like that? Don''t you feel inferior in front of him?!

    "You''re not worthy of my son, and that brute next to you, he looks like an uneducated lout. Brielle, oh Brielle, I bet you''re with Max just for the money, right? Probably learned all your tricks from your mom. I heard she was quite the little tart in her day. The whole neighborhood knew how cheap she was."

    Martha had been seething with furytely, and she hadn''t expected to be caught off guard by a run-in with Brielle.

    Her pent-up rage exploded in an instant, and she could barely contain her desire to throttle Brielle right there. However, she had just finished her medication and was still feeling weak, so all she could do was shoot Brielle death stares.

    Stung by the barrage of insults, Brielle scowled. James, who had been restraining her, slowly let go and bellowed, "Shut your damn mouth, you old hag! What the hell are you saying? I think you''re the real slut here!"

    Martha, unustomed to being spoken to in such a way, turned a ghastly shade of pale and let out a sinister chuckle. "Oh, hit a nerve, did I? You adulterers deserve each other. You should rot in hell."

    James couldn''t take the provocation and marched forward with imposing strides. His towering figure was intimidating enough to send Martha''s nurse running in fear.

    He grabbed Martha by the cor and snarled, "Keep talking, you old bitch, I dare you!"

    No street tough was known for their respect for the elderly.

    Martha was livid, her scalp tingling with rage Her son hadn''t visited her, and the crushing news Alivia had brought made she wish everything rted to Brielle would just vanish.

    en FindNovel

    "I''ll say whatever I want about you and Brielle. You''re both trash, birds of a feather, partners in filth."

    "Go to hell!" James shoved Martha back into her wheelchair and kicked it forcefully.From N?velDrama.Org.

    "James! Stop!"

    Brielle ran to intervene, but James was beyond listening. The wheelchair, with Martha in it, tumbled down the steep steps.

    Brielle''s heart suddenly turned cold, and at this moment, she found herself unable to say anything.

    The wheelchair cascaded down the slope, and Martha, instead of screaming, wore a twisted grin. "Crash!"

    Finally, the wheelchair hit the ground, Martha''s head striking the sharp edge of a flower bed, blood

    pooking around her inso

    The cake Brielle had been holding

    dropped to the ground, and s people in white, clearly d severat

    emerged from the retreat.

    James looked down as Martha was surrounded and helped inside, probably to be rushed into emergency care. "That bitch got what she deserved."

    He had no clue about the gravity of what he had done and was tempted to spit in the direction of Martha''s fall.

    The police arrived swiftly, and handcuffs clicked shut around James'' wrists.

    Only then did James start to panic, his eyes seeking Brielle''s.

 Chapter 746

    Brielle stood solemnly, her face a mask of consternation. She followed a group of doctors to where Martha was being treated.

    Martha was quickly wheeled into the emergency room. Her body was weak from the medication, and the grim expressions on the doctors'' faces did nothing to ease Brielle''s growing sense of dread. The lights of the emergency room flickered on. All the doctors present were top international experts. Now tasked with Martha''s care, they were well-equipped for the urgent surgery at hand. Half an hourter, Michael walked slowly with the support of a group of people.

    Brielle stood up hastily, ready to exin the situation, but Michael raised his hand and pped her across the face. "If anything happens to Martha, I''ll make sure you and your whole family pay for it!" Brielle''s cheek stung from the impact, a wave of pain washing over her. She frowned, her response was measured but icy. "Michael, I have no ties to the Fox family."

    "Are you denying that the man responsible for Martha''s condition is not your legal brother?"

    Silenced by his usation, Brielle had no retort. She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, a ripple of emotion crossing her eyes.

    Michael, leaning on his cane, wore a stormy expression. "You better pray she makes it."

    The other members of the Dorsey family, including Victoria, trailed behind him. Victoria''s gaze on Brielle wasplex.

    Michael took a seat, waiting for news from the emergency room in tense silence.

    Brielle felt the bitter injustice of her situation. Because of her Fox family blood, she was being med for James'' actions against Martha.

    And she couldn''t refute it because of that paternity test.

    Michael''s eyes narrowed as he turned to Victoria. "Did you notify Max? Let him see what has be of Martha because of him!"

    Brielle wanted to shout at Michael, and use him of exploiting the situation. But Martha was his wife, at least in name, and to speak out would only give their enemies more ammunition.

    The Dorsey family members lined the hallway, their eyes on Brielle as if she was something foul and contaminating.

    Brielle pursed her lips and kept silent.

    A doctor emerged, Victoria grabbing at him frantically. "How is she?"Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    The doctor hadn''t even removed his mask, yet the grave look in his eyes said it all. "The prognosis isn''t good Ms. Martha''s recent physical and mental state have been

    deteriorating, and now with the head trauma and excessive blood loss, there''s a chance she may be vegetative."

    The word "vegetative" hung heavy in the air, stifling the hallway with its implications.

    Victoria released the doctor in shock, her face contorting with despair.

    Michael took a deep breath and instructed someone nearby. "Inform the police to hold James

    ountable. Dig up every dirty. secret of the Kingston couple and make sure they rot behind bars!"

    QUMS

    He nced at Brielle as he said this, and she felt like prey under the gaze of a venomous snake, paralyzed.

    A chill crept up from the soles of her feet, and she instinctively wanted to back away, but was met with the cold, unyielding wall. There was nowhere to retreat. Twenty minutester, Max arrived.

    Martha was moved to intensive care. The possibility of her being vegetative was the best-case scenario. The worst was that she might not survive at all.

    Brielle opened her mouth to speak to Max but found herself at a loss for words. Her eyes reddened as she struggled with what to say.

    Could she deny her connection to James? But the paternity test was there for all to see, and everyone would me her brother for Martha''s condition, or even her death. How could Max be with a woman whose brother was responsible for his mother''s fate?

    "Max, you''re just in time," Michael said pointedly. "I always told you, you and Briellee from different worlds. I tried to advise you, but you wouldn''t listen, and now look where we are. If you still want to be with her do you think you can live with what''s happened to Martha?"

 Chapter 747

    Max peered through the hospital window, his heart heavy as he observed the hive of activity in the intensive care unit. Tubes and wires ensnared Martha while doctors monitored her vitals on the array of beeping machines beside her.

    Suddenly, Michael turned, his gesture cold and disdainful, pointing an using finger at Brielle. "As long as I draw breath, I''ll never let a woman like her cross the threshold of the Dorsey household! If you insist on this, Max, don''t bothering back to the family estate!" His words were a hair''s breadth away from outright disowning his son.

    "Father, Brielle has no ties to the Kingstons. Do what you will with the others, but there''s no need to drag her into this," Max argued.

    Michael let out a derisive chuckle. "Do you truly believe Brielle is more important than Martha that you''d disregard whether she lives or dies?"

    "I never said that."

    Seemingly exhausted by the confrontation, Michael waved his hand dismissively. "Let''s just focus on Martha for now."

    Max remained silent, standing his ground, his hand reaching back slightly, seeking Brielle''s.

    Her hand was as cold as ice, devoid of warmth. She couldn''t even feel the heat of Max''s palm, only the numbing cold.

    With his back to her, Max faced down the rest of the Dorsey n with a dignified defiance.

    Brielle''s lips parted, but she felt utterly powerless. Unless she renounced her very flesh and blood, in the eyes of others, James would always be her brother, the one who had harmed Martha.

    Blinking back her emotions, she pressed her lips together, saying nothing.

    The hospital corridor was eerily quiet. Brielle didn''t need to look to know Max had stirred discontent amongst the Dorseys by standing with her.

    She could feel Victoria''s gaze upon her, a mix of resentment and bitter usation.

    The fight for Martha''s life continued unabated, and Max only turned to Brielle long enough to say, "Go home for now."

    It made sense for him to stay. After all, it was his mother clinging to life.

    Brielle wanted to offer some words offort but felt it was futile under the watchful eyes of the family. She turned and walked silently out of the hospital, her mind a nk te.

    Patrick was waiting outside, hastening to open the car door for her. "Ms. Brielle, you should head back."

    She nodded, knowing there was little else to do.

    Feelingpletely drained, she was about to get into the car when Kingston''s voice carried from a distance.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

    "Brielle, you have to save your brother. If it weren''t for you, he wouldn''t be in the police station. Do you want his life ruined?

    "I''ll give up the billion-dor alimony. If something happens to him, your mother and I won''t want to live either. You have to save him."

    Kingston had apparently been waiting for her, desperate for help, but Brielle silently got into the car without responding.

    "Brielle!"

    "Brielle!"

    Her father''s voice grew fainter as the car pulled away.

    Patrick nced at Brielle through the

    rearview mirror, noting her gaze

    fixed on the car roof, lost in thought. He wanted to offer somefort, Wante

    but words seemed pointless with Martha''s fate uncertain.

    Back at Premier Pce, Brielle skipped dinner and went straight to bed, haunted by the cacophony of usations - Kingston''s, James'', and the rest of the Dorsey family.

    She frowned, sitting up to ask Wesley for a sleeping pill.

    Wesley simply advised her to try and rx.

    Even with the medication, Brielle''s sleep was fitful, disturbed by every slight noise. She would wake every half hour, hoping to see Max return. This restless vigilsted until dawn when she finally slipped into an uneasy slumber.

    Max did note back that night, a grim sign of Martha''s dire condition. Brielle was too weary to work and could only wait for news from Patrick.

    The hospital was abuzz with activity; word was that Martha had been rushed back to the emergency room the previous night but was now stable enough to speak. Yet, she would only see Alivia.

    The Dorsey family quickly summoned Alivia, who trembled with excitement at the news. This was her moment!

    Fate itself seemed to collude in her favor. Brielle''s brother had hurt Martha, and now Martha wanted only herpany, signaling to the entire Dorsey family that Alivia was the chosen one.

 Chapter 748

    Alivia rushed to the sanatorium, her heart sinking as she saw the crowd of people still waiting in the corridor. Her eyes instantly welled up as she approached the doctor. "How''s Martha doing?"

    "Ms. Alivia, Ms. Martha just came around for a bit and said she wanted to see you. Come on in, but please suit up in protective gear first."

    Nodding, Alivia followed the doctor, slipping into the gear before proceeding inside.

    She immediately spotted Martha lying in the hospital bed, tubes and wires protruding from her body. Yet, there was no sign of defeat in Martha''s eyes; rather, there was a strange excitement. "Alivia,e here." Despite how ufortable she felt, Martha was actually agitated and thrilled. She could finally use her broken body to force Max and Brielle apart.

    "Alivia, tell me, is it Max or no one for you?"

    An intuition told Alivia that Martha was on the brink of a major decision. Unable to guess what it was, she affirmed with conviction. "Martha, I''ve been in love with Max for so many years. I am definitely the person who loves him the most in this world. I would do anything to marry him."

    Her eyes shone with deep affection and a hint of shyness - the mark of true love.

    Speaking was difficult for Martha. The doctors weren''t exaggerating when they said she could be vegetative. Her body was frozen, but her mind was still turning sharply. "Are you sure? Marrying Max could make you the target of a lot of anger. Would you still want it?" "I would!" Alivia''s voice brimmed with resolve, her eyes sparkling. "Nothing else would have meaning if I can''t be with Max. I''ve worked my way to this point, to this position, just for him to give me a second nce."

    They were alone in the intensive care unit with the curtains drawn, and nobody knew what they were discussing or saw their movements.

    Martha felt a deep sense of relief and affection as she watched Alivia. "I understand. Do you remember what I told you? I''dy down my life to unite you with Max."

    Alivia''s heart raced, her lips pressed tightly together.

    "Alivia, whatever you desire, I will fight for it. Because you are my..." Martha paused, letting out a weary sigh. "There''s a vial of medicine next to you. Do you see it? Inject it into the IV bag. It will keep my mind clear for another month, but after that, I will die." Alivia''s pupils dted slightly, half-expecting this to be some sort of joke.

    Martha''s gaze was determined, her lips curving into a faint smile. "You said you''d do anything for Max, right?"

    In truth, Alivia didn''t hesitate for a second, but since Martha wouldn''t die immediately, she feltpelled to put on a show of reluctance. "Martha, if I do this, Max will never forgive me."

    en FindNovel

    "Don''t worry, no one will find out. I probably won''t live another month and will find a way to die sooner."

    Alivia looked down, listening as Martha continued.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    "Alivia, if Max stays with Brielle, it''ll be worse than death for me. If my death can leave a scar in Max''s heart, it''ll be worth it. Can they really be at peace together, carrying the weight of my life?" FindNovel

    Max wanted to escape her grasp? Impossible.

    She watched him grow up under her watchful eye. He would never break free from the Dorsey family''s clutches.

    She wanted Max to always prioritize the Dorsey family and put being the CEO of Dorsey International first, not some lowly woman with a family of thieves. Brielle didn''t deserve Max!

    "Alivia, if you hesitate, it means you don''t love Max enough."

    Immediately, Alivia grabbed the syringe nearby, her eyes shing with determination. "Martha, I''ll do it. I just hope you won''t me me."

    "I won''t me you. You''re my favorite, and you must be with Max, be happy." Martha used up thest of her energy to say this.

    Once Alivia was certain that no one

    would discover her actions, she

    steeled herself and injected the medication into the IV bag. The medication, flowing through the IV,

    would enter Martha''s bloodstream.

    Martha had people among the medical staff; getting hold of such a drug wasn''t surprising as it had been part of her n.

    Martha drifted back to sleep. The drug would keep her unusually alert for a month, but this alertness was akin to thest burst of rity before death.

    After injecting the medication, Alivia pocketed the syringe.

 Chapter 749

    Alivia stood in the silent room, her heart oddly calm as she processed everything that had transpired. From the moment Martha had dered her willingness to trade her life for Alivia''s union with Max, Alivia had internally prepared herself. She had asked herself countless times if she would ept such an offer once it was presented.

    The truth was, Alivia was more than willing. In her eyes, any sacrifice made for her rtionship with Max was a sacrifice worth making.From N?velDrama.Org.

    Martha had drifted into sleep, and Alivia rose from her bedside, stepping out into the corridor. She peeled off her protective gear and handed it to a nearby nurse with a nonchnt air as if she hadn''t just been contemting the gravity of life and death.

    All eyes from the Dorsey family turned to her, a mix of concern and curiosity in their gazes. But Alivia wasn''t shaken. She might as well have been discussing the weather when she said, "Martha only had a few things to say about me and Max. Don''t worry. She''s feeling quite content now."

    She turned to Max, who stood silent, his stoic demeanor unbroken, while the others let out sighs of relief.

    Victoria hesitantly approached the attending doctor. "How long does she need to stay in the ICU?"

    "At most three days. We''re not sure what might happen, so please be prepared for any oue," the doctor responded cautiously.

    Victoria nodded, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. Despite her strained rtionship with Martha, Martha was still Victoria''s mother, and concern was inevitable. Martha hadvished all her affection and attention on her son, Max, leaving Victoria to linger in the shadows.

    As the daughter of a family that valued sons, Victoria''s longing for attention had never been satisfied by her father, Michael. The Dorsey name provided her with a prestigious status and wealth but not the emotional fulfillment she craved. This emotional void made her cling to Everett when he appeared in her life as if he could make up for all she hadcked.

    Her obsession with the rtionship had caused both her and Everett years of anguish.

    Michael massaged his temples, his gaze locking onto Max. "Max, what are you going to do about this situation?"

    The implication was clear-it was time for Max to make a choice.

    Max''s lips tightened as he looked away. "I will ensure that whoever harmed my mother will face consequences."

    Michael let out a mirthless chuckle. "When James pushed Martha, Brielle was right there and did nothing to stop it. Can you really be at peace being with her?"

    His words cut deep. When it came to speaking his mind, Michael was always the sharpest knife in the drawer.

    He added with a sneer, "I''ve said it before: Brielle''s intentions with you aren''t pure. You two aren''t suitable for each other, but you wouldn''t listen."

    Michael, leaning on his cane, made his way out. The rest of the Dorsey family followed, leaving only Victoria and Alivia behind.

    Victoria reached out, intending to touch Max''s shoulder, but remembering his slight aversion to physical contact, she thought better of it. "Max, Mother really despises Brieffe, and honestly, I have to ask, does it have to be her?"

    "Did you have to be with Everett?" Max shot back, his tone icy.

    Victoria''s face stiffened with a mix of anger and embarrassment.

    Alivia quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "Victoria, let''s not do this now. Max isn''t in the best state of mind, either. Let''s give each other some space."

    Victoria grabbed Alivia''s hand, her

    heels clicking on the floor as she leaned in. "Alivia, I genuinely like you. I didn''t hate Brielle before. I only wanted Max to be happy. But now, I can''t help but think that if you were with him, our family wouldn''t be in such disarray. Max has always been so untouchable, but because of Brielle, he''s be the talk of the town. I get furious just looking at the messages in our social circles."

    Reputation was paramount in their world. Max used to be admired and almost worshipped, but now, his name conjured up images of Brielle and her less-than-ideal family background. It was as if she had pulled him down from the clouds. "Let''s just give Max some time to himself," Alivia said gently, escorting Victoria to the exit of the rehabilitation center.

    Victoria sighed deeply, her private

    thoughts slipping out. "Sometimes, I selfishly wish Brielle didn''t exist. You and Max were meant to be, but she''s wedged herself between you and turned our family upside down. Any fondness I had for her has vanished."

    "Victoria, let''s address this after everything has settled down," Alivia urged.

    "You always know just what to say, Alivia." Victoria patted Alivia''s hand and then slipped into her car.

    Everyone was waiting for an oue from the ICU, but Alivia knew the result ahead of them all. In a month, Martha would be gone.

    Her lips curved into a faint smile as she made her way back into the center, the wheels of fate silently turning in the quiet of her heart.

 Chapter 750

    Max had already found a seat and sat down, his posture rigid and upright, the very picture ofposure. However, Alivia could tell that beneath the surface, Max was anything but calm. For years, he had diligently overseen Martha''s treatment, and now, despite the introduction of cutting-edge medication, Martha''s condition had deteriorated because of Brielle.

    The fact that Brielle had been present during the incident was an indelible stain on her reputation. She hadn''t intervened in time, and thatpse had directly contributed to Martha''s current plight. Moreover, it was Brielle''s own brother who had caused the harm. Had Brielle, at some dark moment, wished for Martha''s demise as well?

    This thought would undoubtedly be a thorn in Max''s side.

    Taking a deep breath to muster tears, Alivia approached Max.

    "Max, there''s a room for you at the sanatorium, the same one as before. Why don''t you stay the night?" she suggested gently.

    Max blinked for the first time in a while, replying with a faint "Hmm."

    "I''ve had the surveince footage from that day brought over. Unfortunately, the nearest camera was a bit too far to capture their voices, so you won''t be able to hear them in the recording. I''ll have someone set it up in your room."N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

    Alivia wasn''t lying about this. The open space had diluted the sound to a whisper, making it impossible to hear Martha''s curses, leaving only the visual of Martha and Brielle locking eyes. What was clear from the footage was Brielle''s fight with James just before he turned his aggression on Martha.

    The video did not bode well for Brielle. At the very least, it didn''t portray her as innocent.

    After reviewing the surveince, Alivia had deliberately retrieved it, knowing it would serve her purposes.

    "Max, go get some rest. Staying up all night here won''t hasten the results for Martha," she advised, her toneced with faux concern.

    Still in the suit he had worn to the Dorsey International meeting, Max stood up and began rubbing his temples, clearly exhausted.

    Alivia wanted to seize the opportunity to say more, but Max was already heading for the door, not sparing her another word.

    A flicker of disappointment crossed Alivia''s eyes, but it was quickly reced by confidence. This crisis was far more serious than before. Even if Max was emotionally detached, Martha was still his mother. He couldn''t be entirely indifferent. Her lips curved into a determined smile. She had no regrets about injecting the drugs.

    Back in his usual room at the sanatorium, Max found that Patrick had anticipated his stay and had the wardrobe fully stocked with his clothes.

    After a shower, Max emerged, casually toweling his hair dry.

    "Sir, Ms. Brielle and Kingston have undergone another paternity test, and the results confirm their biological rtion," reported a familiar voice. Max took a sip of water, its coolness quelling the restlessness within him.

    "And I''ve had people dig into Kingston''s past, About two decades ago, they did indeed abandon a girl at the doorstep of Sunflower Children''s Home. ording to Ms. Brielle and Mark''s ounts, Brielle was the child Mark found at the orphanage, cold and starving, nearly dead. Mark spent a lot of money to save her, which exins why Ms. Brielle was so frail and sickly as a child."

    All the evidence pointed to the validity of the paternity test.

    Max''s lips pursed. "Which hospital conducted the test?"

    "It was Central Hospital, independent, under government administration," the voice responded.

    Max frowned slightly, then listened as Patrick continued.

    ???

    "The police have also reported that Kingston and his wife have a history of petty theft. The warehouse he managed often reported missing items, and there were numerousints from clients. However, since the losses were minor, they never faced criminal charges. As for his wife, she''s been caught stealing jewelry from her employers. Their son, James, has been involved in petty crime, extorting protection money with a gang of underlings."

    This matched the gossip circting in their social circles.

    Max yed the video Alivia had sent. There was little to glean from it. In fact, it seemed to suggest thate Brielle wasplicit in some wrongdoing.

    Max knew his mother had always had a disdainful attitude towards Brielle. Was it possible Brielle harbored some resentment toward Martha?

    He pursed his lips, watching as Brielle dropped her little cupcake, apparently trying to stop James, but her actions were too slow.

    The video made it seem like Brielle could have intervened faster.

    The video couldn''t convey the full context since Max hadn''t been at the scene. In reality, Martha''s spiteful words had frozen Brielle in ce.

 Chapter 751

    Martha had never been a fan of Brielle, but she''d never before stooped to hurling insults in broad daylight with such filthy abandon.

    In that instant, Brielle''s mind went nk. She hadn''t expected someone of Martha''s stature to sling mud like a fishwife, with every barb seeming designed to provoke.

    Lost in thought over this, Brielle didn''t notice until it was toote that James had already kicked out the chair Martha was sitting on.

    With the staircase being so high, even if Brielle had thrown her body beneath Martha, it would''ve been toote. She couldn''t match the speed of the fall.

    All this wasn''t apparent in the video. Slow was slow, and the video couldn''t be scrubbed clean.

    Max stopped the video with a cold detachment, feeling a restlessness spread through his chest.

    Patrick stood by his side, had also seen the video, and recognized the problem: Ms. Brielle had reallynded herself in hot water.

    First, she was entangled with the Kingston family, and now, she was linked with Ms. Martha''s injury.

    For years, Max had gone out of his way to find doctors for Martha, sending her to a foreign sanatorium after his Wall Street stint.

    Martha mattered to Max. She had given him life.

    "Sir, Ms. Brielle has returned to the Premier Pce and asked to be kept informed of Ms. Martha''s condition."

    "Mm."

    Max''s tone was nomittal, and his gaze was lost in the sanatorium''s garden through the window.From N?velDrama.Org.

    "I heard Michael blew up pretty badly and shattered quite a few mugs in his study."

    Michael even uttered that Max should never return to the Dorsey family homestead, indicating his rage. It was the fiercest Michael had ever been, especially regarding Max. Max rubbed his temples, the skin under his eyes tinged with fatigue. "Alright."

    He continued to stare outside, his thoughts unreadable. Minutester, a chill shed in his eyes.

    "Look into Sunflower Children''s Home, and while you''re at it, bring Mark back."

    Mark was the primary contact of the orphanage, so he''d surely have the clearest picture of Brielle''s past.

    "Ms. Brielle sent Mark away, but we''ve located him. I''ll have someone fetch him tonight."

    Many records from the orphanage were lost, but perhaps Mark retained some memory. Only with his return could the mysteries be resolved.

    Once Max finished instructing, Patrick left, giving Max space to rest-more events were sure to unfold.

    At six in the morning, Martha sent a message. She wanted to speak with Max. Max hastily prepared and headed for the ICU.

    Now, Marthay motionless, only her eyes able to move. Doctors had tried to move her fingers the previous night but to no response.

    Max expected some final words, but Martha just stared at him with a mix of weakness and resentment.

    For the first time, Max felt as if a needle had pricked his heart. He reached out, taking Martha''s hand. "Mother."

    Martha offered no response, instead closing her eyes.

    Max opened his mouth to speak, looking to the doctor.

    The doctor sighed, continually monitoring the data. "Max, your mother''s condition is grave. We''ve examined her, and there''s no sensation in her limbs. Even if she survives this critical period, she''ll be in a vegetative state. Your should prepare."

    Martha just closed her eyes, saying nothing. She hadn''t summoned him forst words but to burden Max with a psychological weight. Having been injected with a drug the night before, Martha''s mind was clear, temporarily free of pain, coldly analyzing everything.

    The moment she knew her son was

    with Brielle, Martha was ready to face death. The Dorsey family heir, her painstakingly nurtured legacy, wouldn''t be ruined by such a

    woman.

    So she kept her trump card, aware of all the machinations in y. She had a month to slowly crush these two people.

    The doctor caught Martha''s eye,

    realizing her goal was achieved, and

    suggested, "Ms. Martha needs ber

    rest. You should go now. Come backter to visit."

    Max nodded, leaving the ICU, feeling an overwhelming exhaustion. It wasn''t physical fatigue but a weariness rising from deep within his soul.

 Chapter 752

    she couldn''t help but break down, the medical staff nearby offering their best attempts at constion.

    Max retreated to the sanctuary of his own room, his brow furrowing at the sound of Alivia''s sobs filtering in from outside. She was on the phone with the doctor, grappling with the stark prognosis that Martha might never wake from her vegetative state. As the reality sank in, Alivia had chosen to stay the night at the hospice, and she had specifically requested a room far from Max''s. Her cries were loud enough for Max to hear, and even as he listened, he said nothing. After all, Alivia and his mother Martha had always been close. As Alivia cried, she ensured that her voice could be heard just right in the room where Max was located. A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she stood outside the intensive care unit without entering. The doctors mistook her presence for overwhelming grief and tried tofort her. But behind the veil of sorrow, her eyes burned with curiosity, wondering what Martha''s next move would be.

    Martha was a gambler, betting her life with a fervor that outmatched anyone else''s. Even as a child, Alivia knew there was something off about her. Martha''s harsh, domineering ways of training Max were as if he wasn''t her son at all. Back then, Max''s reluctance to speak or interact with others was likely a subconscious defense against the torment he endured, causing him to shut everyone out.

    Martha even enlisted the help of psychiatrists and therapists in an attempt to ''cure'' him, though what was treated in those sessions remained a mystery to all. Yet, whatever happened, Max emerged as a prodigy with astonishing talents and leadership qualities, seizing the reins of power from Michael by the tender age of ten.

    Alivia felt her smile growing harder to hide. She sat down, burying her face in her hands to appear utterly heartbroken, as the doctors around her sighed sympathetically, convinced of her deep bond with Martha. Little did they know, justst night, Alivia had administered a lethal dose to Martha, all in the name of love.

    Hiding her face, Alivia''s grin turned manic. She was anticipating Martha''s countermove. After all, Martha had not spent years in Beaconsfield without forging some connections. No one knew what she would do next.

    Alivia was almost buzzing with anticipation, and at the same time, the thought of Brielle filled her with loathing.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Meanwhile, at the Premier Pce, Brielle had not stepped out, awaiting feedback from Patrick. The night had passed without a word from him, indicating Martha''s fate was still undecided. Brielle felt as if a guillotine hung above her neck, ready to drop with Martha''s verdict. She touched her cheek, still feeling the sting of Michael''s p from the previous day. Fortunately, Max had arrived in time to shield her, and he had noticed the mark.

    Wesley noticed the fingerprint bruising on Brielle''s face and hurried to cook an egg, peeling it and handing it to her with concern. "Ms. Brielle, who did this to you? If anything''s wrong, please tell the boss. Don''t keep it to yourself."

    Brielle managed a bitter smile,

    feeling it was best not to trouble Max with such trivial matters, especially when he had enough on his te. She winced as the smile stretched her bruised skin and began to roll the egg over her cheek to soothe the pain. Wesley watched her, his own expression a mix of concern and resignation.

    As noon approached without any news from the hospice, Brielle received a message from Mark.

    [Bri, I''m heading back to

    Beaconsfield soon. Don''t worry, Mr. Dorsey''s people are picking me up. They want to conduct a thorough investigation into your lineage. I''ve heard about the troubles the Fox family has caused you. I hope you''re not their child. I''ming to look into the destroyed documents, and maybe if I can remember something, it might help a lot.]

    Brielle''s heart sank. Max had started digging into her past, which meant he was taking Martha''s im seriously. To extricate her from this mess, she needed to prove she wasn''t a Fox, or else nothing else mattered. The Dorseys wouldtch onto that fact and drag her through the mud.

    She feared the Dorsey family''s scorn

    the least. Her rtionship with Max had never been blessed by many. The other society figures in Beaconsfield watched her like a spectacle, counting down the days until Max would cast her aside. And if that day came, the resentful socialites who had long envied her would unleash their influence and cruelty upon her as if snuffing out an ant.

 Chapter 753

    Brielle was at a loss for words on how to respond to Mark. She had wanted to tell him not to bothering over because she had undergone another paternity test with Kingston, this time under the strict supervision of a government-regted hospital. Hence, the chances of a mistake were slim to none.

    Two consecutive paternity tests yielding the same result solidified the truth about her and Kingston''s connection.

    Who would go to such lengths to orchestrate all this?

    Before she had met Max, Brielle''s life had been by the book, and although her rtionship with Max had attracted its fair share of criticism, it seemed far-fetched that someone would tamper with her identity.

    Her brow furrowed with concern, but considering Max had personally arranged for someone to pick her up, she feared that refusing to cooperate would only leave him with doubts.

    [Alright, Mark, just hit me up when you get here, and we can head out together. I''ve recently bumped into another guy from Sunflower Children''s Home, and we could bothe and pick you up.] she replied.

    The person she was talking about was Ricardo, who used to live in Sunflower Children''s Home and got along great with the kids there.

    [You don''t have to pick me up, Bri. Just focus on your own stuff. Mr. Dorsey''s got my back. My return''s on the down-low. Mr. Lynch also found mest time, so there''s probably some secret still lurking in that home. It''s better to y it safe.] Mark texted back. Brielle''s heart sank a little more with each message.

    Mark was no spring chicken, and she had selfishly sent him away from Beaconsfield. Now, because of her, he was being dragged back into turmoil and sneaking around in his own hometown.

    Beaconsfield was supposed to be Mark''s home.

    However, she was powerless to intervene, so she silently epted the oue.

    She stayed in the Premier Pce untilte afternoon when news came from the clinic that Martha had awakened. Brielle''s heart leaped, only to plummet upon hearing that Martha had slipped into a vegetative state.

    She felt paralyzed, frozen on the couch, her mind a whirlwind of chaos.

    Meanwhile, her phone number had somehow been leaked to Kingston. Since Mark''s message, Kingston had been bombarding her with texts, each more pleading than thest, begging her to help get James out of the police station. But what could Brielle possibly do?

    James had hurt Martha, Michael''s wife.

    Michael had made his intentions crystal clear: they would pay for their actions.

    Kingston''s final message was a plea.

    [I''m sorry for using the media against you and abandoning you all those years ago. Your brother is vital to us; without him, your mother and I wouldn''t survive. Brielle, even if your mom and I end up behind bars,

    please don''t let James go to prison. He isn''t a bad guy, just quick-tempered. It''s your mom and I who are at fault. When James heard we found you, he kept us from extorting money from you. He may look intimidating, but he''s not a bad guy. Please, I''m begging you.]

    Kingston was desperate, and his dozens of messages were a testament to his helplessness.

    The police had taken James into custody, and the list of charges against him was lengthy as if they intended to keep him locked away for life.

    Kingston couldn''t ept this.

    James was the family''s golden boy, coddled and adored since childhood. They couldn''t bear to see him suffer, but now, inexplicably, he was facing prison time.

    As Brielle read the messages, her brow knitted tightly.

    Taking a deep breath, she made up her mind to visit James at the police station. Her memory of that night was too muddled; only James knew the whole truth. She arrived at the station to find James, nearly two meters tall, covered in bruises. It seemed Michael had made sure the officers gave James a ''warm wee.'' James'' face was scratched, but his eyes lit up at the sight of Brielle. "Bri, you came to see me? So, can I get out of here now?" he asked hopefully.

    Brielle had no real affection for the Fox family and loathed Kingston, who was nothing but a schemer in her eyes.

    She didn''t know James well, but it was undeniable that he had manhandled Martha and had been aggressive.

    "You''re not getting out, James.

    You''ve hurt someone from theN?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

    Dorsey family of Beaconsfield.

    That''s Max''s mother. Max''s the GEO

    of Dorsey International. Michael has

    ordered that you spend the rest of your days in prison," she said, her Voice steady.

 Chapter 754

    Brielle''s voice was as calm as a still pond. She sat with only a pane of ss separating her from James.

    A flicker of shock passed through James'' eyes before he hung his head in dismay.

    In Beaconsfield, everyone knew of the Dorseys.

    "So what if she''s from the Dorsey n? Wasn''t it her fault first? Didn''t she start by hurling insults at us? And all I did was grab her by the cor. The nudge I gave her wheelchair wasn''t enough to send her tumbling. That old bat let go of the wheelchair''s brakes herself, using my push to help her fall. I was shocked, thinking maybe the heavens were punishing her on my behalf. She''s such a foul-mouthed, vile person - how could she be Max''s mother? I''ve seen TV segments about Max. Don''t they all say he''s like some kind of saint? How could someone like him have a mother like that? Brielle, I swear I didn''t push her. She released the brakes herself."

    Martha''s wheelchair had two brakes, one near the armrest and another below. Martha had been sitting in a deluxe wheelchair, and its brakes were even more sensitive than the standard wheelchairs.

    When James'' foot connected with the wheelchair, Martha''s first action was to press the brake on her armrest - a slight movement that only James could clearly see.

    At the time, James had thought it was an ident, that fate was on his side - after all, it was Martha''s fault, wasn''t it? All he did was lift her cor a bit.

    Did the world allow people like Martha to spew verbal abuse freely but not allow others to retaliate even slightly?

    "When I kicked at her wheelchair, she pressed the manual brake herself. That''s why it slipped downhill. At that moment, I was thrilled, thinking she got what she deserved for her rudeness." Brielle''s pupils constricted slightly, then she pursed her lips. "Are you sure?"

    James felt a surge of anger at her skepticism.

    "I may not be some paragon of virtue, and I don''t respect my elders as I should. Hell, I''d even snatch candy from kids just to watch them cry, but I''m no liar. My brothers all say I''m loyal. Sure, I collect protection money, but the shops that pay are never bothered by other thugs. What''s so wrong with that? Was it wrong to teach a lesson to an old hag who belittles others?"

    James grew more incensed as he spoke, finally mming his hand down on the table. "She released the brake herself, leveraging my push to fly downhill. I even felt herughing as she fell. Who knows what evil schemes she had up her sleeve - that old hag was definitely up to no good!"

    Watching James'' outburst, Brielle felt her heart sinking.

    If what James said was true, then Martha had set this up. But only James saw Martha release the brake. Who could corroborate his story?

    Even the surveince cameras could only show that it was James'' kick that caused the wheelchair to go tumbling down.

    James'' brows furrowed. "You''ve got

    a way out of this, right? You''re the CEO of Ster Stage Entertainment. I''ve been framed, and now there are guys in here who ''spar'' with me every day. They im it''s just. sparking, but it feels like they''re beating me up and running me ragged with their relentless attacks. All I want is a good night''s sleep."

    Brielle, listening to this, began to believe what Kingston had said.

    James was a big, uneducated guy who took protection money, but his heart wasn''t bad. He was just too hot-headed, making it easy for him to fall into traps.

    If that was the case, wasn''t it her fault that James had ended up in this mess?

    Martha must have known who James was all along and

    deliberately provoked him with her vile words. She intentionally released the brake to tie her injury to James and indirectly to Brielle.

    Now, everything was unfolding just as Martha had desired.

    Brielle felt a bone-chilling coldness. Could someone really be willing to stake their own life as a bargaining chip?

    James tapped on the ss to bring Brielle back to the present.

    "I came to Ster Stage

    Entertainment because I wanted to be your bodyguard. I''d only ask for a hundred grand a month. That''s a bargain. ?ve had offers before, but turned them down. I crave freedom, no strings attached. But you''re different. You''re my sister. I''d give up being the boss and being your right-hand man. So, you''ve got to get me out of this mess. That olddy is no good. You''re the only good one." N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

    James'' face still bore the marks of his fights, and at six foot four, he made everyone else seem diminutive.

    Brielle remained silent, rising to her feet.

    James tapped against the ss again, staring at her with a pitiful, pleading gaze.

 Chapter 755

    Brielle took a deep breath, unable to make any more promises. She was up against the Dorsey family, and with her current capabilities, challenging them was akin to amb taking on a lion.

    "I''ll do my best to investigate," she said.

    James managed a smile, but the injury on his face pulled at his muscles, causing him pain.

    "They''re ying tag team on me. I can''t beat them all, but I''m sure I won''t suffer too much. I''ll wait for you to get me out of here."

    A pang of difort hit Brielle in the chest. She nodded silently and stepped away from the police station.

    Outside, she saw about a dozen motorcycles parked nearby, with a group of rough-looking guys boldly waiting by the police station entrance.

    As Brielle emerged, they quickly surrounded her.

    "Hey, you''re James'' little sister. How''s he doing? Those damn cops, did they give him any trouble?"

    "Damn it! I''m about to storm that precinct right now!"

    "Girl,e on, talk to us. How''s he? Did he suffer in there?"

    Brielle opened her mouth but found herself at a loss for words, encircled by a group of twenty-something-year-old guys. Any womaning face-to-face with such a scene would be terrified.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    These were the people society looked down upon, the ones parents warned their children about, the city''s supposed shame.

    "For now, the details are unclear. I need to look into it further."

    "We''re not the most educated bunch, but you''ve got to get him out, okay?"

    "Yeah, he gave each one of us your photo. Everyone on the street knows he found his sister. We won''t lie. His folks really did you dirty, ditching you just because you were a girl. But James has been looking for you all this time." "Right, we all knew James had been searching for his sister for years. So when we saw the news online, we immediately printed your photo. Each of us carries one. Tell us if you ever run into trouble, and we''ll have your back." Standing among them, Brielle suddenly found she couldn''t speak.

    Police voices echoed in the distance.

    "What''s going on here?! Are you harassing this girl? We''ll lock you all up!"

    "A bunch of lowlifes making a scene at the station!"

    The group quickly hopped on their bikes, not before reminding Brielle. "Hey, take this."

    Brielle reached out, finding a crumpled note in her hand, with a number scrawled on it in almost childlike handwriting.

    "If there''s any news about James, let us know. We all work for him and are really worried."

    With a roar, the motorcycles sped away.

    A cop, baton in hand, approached Brielle. "You alright?"

    Brielle nodded, feeling a bittersweet taste in her mouth.

    "Ms. Brielle, you should head back home if you''re okay. We''ve seen the news about you and the Fox family. They''re no good. And yet here you are,ing all the way to see him."

    en FindNovel

    She remained silent, knowing the officer meant well.

    In most cases, people were judged by their appearances, which supposedly dictated their character.

    But the worst devils always wore the kindest masks, and those deemed the dregs by the sessful could possess the most honest hearts.

    James, a rugged man with a

    towering height of 6''4", low

    education, and raw strength, was being mobbed inside, yet he sawit as a fair fight. With his simple mind and experience, he couldn''t fathom that it was a deliberate attack.

    Even injured, he harbored no resentment, simply believing his attackerscked honor.

    James'' crew, seemingly unruly, had rushed to the police station the moment they heard of his trouble, waiting silently for even a scrap of news from her.

    Brielle felt a tightness in her chest,

    of

    feeling for all those in Beaconsfield who suffered from the dirty tricks the high and mighty. They manipted and crushed others yet denied themon folk even a hint of resistance.

    But on what grounds?

 Chapter 756

    She sank back into her car seat. The string of numbers on her phone screen pressed on her chest like a weight, making it hard to breathe. Her heart was a chaotic mess. She was already leaning toward believing James. Their brief encounters had painted him as

    someone who didn''t seem capable of deceit.

    If that was true, then she had inadvertently dragged James into this mess. Martha had targeted James as a way to get at her.

    From a moral perspective, Brielle felt the need to help James out of this tight spot, but doing so would mean going against the entire Dorsey family, including Max.

    Every piece of evidence, from the video footage to the statements of bystanders, only showed James as the aggressor. His face twisted in anger as he acted out. Michael had already given his orders. No quarter would be given to the Fox family. They would all head straight for jail.

    Was it Brielle''s fault that the Fox family was on the brink of ruin?

    Exhaustion washed over Brielle, a deep, soul-sapping weariness.

    Her phone rang at that moment, breaking through her fatigue. It was Kenzo checking on the progress of her speech.

    With all this happening, how could she focus on attending the centennial celebration at her alma mater? She''d have to miss it, regretfully.

    "Kenzo, I can''t make it, I''m sorry. Someone else will have to deliver the speech."

    There was a brief pause on the other end before Kenzo asked softly, "Did something happen?"

    Brielle felt a sudden urge to cry but held it back.

    "It''s nothing. Where are you? I''ll bring the speech over."

    "I''m at the entrance of Ster Stage Entertainment. I''ll wait for you inside."

    Reluctantly, Brielle drove to Ster Stage Entertainment.

    Thepany had been running smoothlytely, thanks to the numerous meetings she''d conducted. The next few days weren''t going to be as hectic. Except for the leading man in Kenzo''s script-that still needed some attention.

    All Ster Stage Entertainment had to do was wait for John''s movie to wrap up and hit the screens, marking their first big ssh in the entertainment industry.

    Brielle entered the lobby and spotted Kenzo immediately.

    He sat by a window. The receptionists recognized him and eagerly served him tea. He was the screenwriter of the moment, rarely seen in interviews, releasing only one script a year. Ster Stage Entertainment had snapped up this year''s script. Here he was in the flesh, suggesting a close rapport with Ms. Haywood.

    The receptionists sneaked nces at Kenzo but quicklyposed themselves when Brielle walked in.

    Brielle''s gaze swept the room, and after spotting Kenzo, she made her way over. "Kenzo."

    She handed him the speech, apologizing as she did so.

    The speech wasmissioned by the school and needed personal touches. If not for this mess, she''d definitely have attended the centennial celebration at Beaconsfield College.

    The issue at hand was just too pressing. There was no way she could go now.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    "It''s okay, the dean has other candidates. Are you dealing with some troubles?"

    Brielle looked down and forced a smile. "Just a bit busy. I have to head back to Premier Pce now, so I can''t stay. I''ll treat you to dinner next time to make it up to you."

    II

    "Brielle, you don''t have to be so formal with me. Kenzo''s voice was still gentle as he stood up. "Still, if it''s possible, please stop by

    Beaconsfield College on the day of the celebration. It''s their centenary, after all. Many of your former teachers will be there."

    Brielle blinked wearily. "I''ll try."

    After Kenzo left, Brielle sat there, lost in thought, until her phone rang again. This time, Patrick asked her to visit the sanatorium. Frowning, Brielle knew Martha was awake and certainly didn''t want to see her. So what was she needed for at the sanatorium?

    Despite her confusion, she went. That was when she learned Martha had woken up, spoken to Max, and then asked to speak with Brielle herself. But just minutes before Brielle arrived, Martha had fallen back to sleep, dying their talk.

    "Ms. Martha has fallen asleep again. You''ll have to wait," Patrick said with his usual courtesy, exhaling deeply "Mr. Max is resting. He barely slept

    morning. He''s only justid down."

    BUMS

    Brielle nodded, intending to check on Max. Patrick didn''t stop her.

    She found Max''s room spacious, akin to a presidential suite in a five-star hotel. Max was asleep in the main bedroom, hisptop still aglow on the coffee table. Brielle settled onto a sofa without disturbing him, waiting for him to wake.

    Half an hourter, she heard him on the phone inside.

    "Make sure he rots in prison with no chance for appeal. As for Kingston and his wife, their petty thefts alone are enough to get them convicted."

    The words sent a chill through Brielle, and she stiffened.

 Chapter 757

    Max''s words faded into a muffled backdrop as Brielle''s focus narrowed on the video file on theputer. It was the footage of James pushing Martha, clear as day.

    With a click, Brielle watched the entire sequence, her eyes narrowing at the damning evidence. James had indeed pushed Martha, and his face, post-incident, was a mask of smug satisfaction.

    Blinking away the sting of fatigue, she scrutinized Martha''s hand movements in the video. However, the footage was too distant, too devoid of sound to capture such minute details. It was all but impossible to discern the truth from this angle. This video was tantamount to a conviction for James.From N?velDrama.Org.

    Footsteps echoed from the master bedroom, pulling Brielle from her thoughts. Max was up, probably roused by the noise she''d made. Without ncing at him, she remained transfixed by the screen until Max sat down beside her and softly closed theptop. "Did you sleep wellst night?" His tone was casual as he tenderly inspected the faint shadows under her eyes, evidence of her restless night. Thankfully, the bruise that had marred her cheek had vanished.

    She tried to muster a smile for him, but it was a struggle she lost.

    Deep down, she had started to believe James'' side of the story. Martha had released the brake herself, framing him.

    But what could Brielle do? Michael wanted the Fox family to pay the price, Max himself demanded retribution, and her lone knowledge of the truth seemed futile.

    Was she really going to suggest to Max that Martha might have sought her own end?

    Brielle closed her eyes and recalled the misunderstandings that had once clouded her rtionship with Max. Perhaps, just maybe, he would trust her. Max had always been her greatest believer, though the hope seemed faint.

    He seemed to sense her internal conflict. "Got something on your mind you want to tell me?" he asked, releasing her chin to pour her a cup of water.

    Taking a deep breath, Brielle nodded. "Max, I visited James in jail. He imed Ms. Martha released the brake herself. Could we perhaps..."

    She couldn''t finish her sentence, and the chilling shift in Max''s demeanor stopped her cold.

    That icy change was directed at her, a metaphorical dagger to her heart.

    Max gently set down the jug, his voice calm but frosty. "Are you suggesting my mother sought her own death and that James is innocent?"

    As he turned to face her, his gaze remained unsettlingly serene. "How long have you known James?" he asked pointedly.

    Brielle found herself speechless. After all, she and James had truly known each other for just one day. Yet Max and Martha shared a mother-son bond that was unbreakable.

    Max''s fingers jdly traced the rim of

    his cup. "White my mother was in the overseas clinic, enduring daily injections and sleepless nights from pain, she fought to live. She always urged the doctors to do everything they could, regardless of the side effects. She endured everything to stay alive."

    His implication was clear. Here was Brielle, swayed by someone she barely knew, suggesting that his mother had chosen death over life.

    The silence that fell was stifling, an endless void indicating an irreparable rift.

    A chill crept over Brielle, spreading from her heart to her limbs.

    "My mother had her moments of despair, but she came around, actively cooperated with her treatment, and was determined to live. Why would she want to die now?" Max''s tone was eerily detached, a match struck in a powder keg.

    Brielle shivered, her tongue nearly too stiff to speak.

    She made a mistake. She thought that by speaking the truth, misunderstandings would dissolve But Martha''s situation was unique Max had spent years caring for Martha, studied the video all night, and witnessed the evidence

    firsthand. He justn''t see

    James'' innocence.

    Moreover, the reputation of the Fox family did them no favors.

    It was amon presumption that someone like James, from a family known for petty crimes, could easily be guilty. Even Brielle had felt a tinge of annoyance when she first heard James wanted to join Ster Stage Entertainment.

    Had she not met James in person, she''d never have guessed his intention to protect her.

    He had asked for arge sum because he knew his worth, but he declined the offer out of pride. But for Brielle, his sister, he was willing to y the part of the loyal subordinate. His logic was stark in its simplicity.

 Chapter 758

    Brielle felt like she was running out of air as if someone had a vice-like grip around her throat.

    Max didn''t seem angry with her. He was just stating a fact, but it still sent a shiver down her spine.

    She even wanted to bolt, to find a quiet corner somewhere to catch her breath.

    "Brielle, if you''re feeling wiped, you should head back and hit the hay," Max suggested.

    Before she could muster a response, he spoke up. The subtext was clear: they both needed a moment to cool their jets.

    Brielle stood up, her body stiff as a board. She wanted to say a million things, but what would they be?

    Could she convince Max of her innocence?

    She put herself in Max''s shoes and knew her words must have crossed a line for him.

    Now, Max seemed set on taking down the Fox family, working overtime to find something, anything to prove she wasn''t one of them - all to extricate her from this mess. Meanwhile, Brielle was busy making excuses for James. No wonder Max was steamed. Neither of them was at fault. It was always the same tragic tune - whenever they hit a snag, it turned out nobody was to me.

    Without another word, Brielle left the ce. It felt like her feet were encased in lead, and it felt as if she was hauling a ton with every step.

    Patrick was waiting for her outside, and seeing her out of sorts, he took the initiative to drive her back to the Premier Pce.

    Her mind was a nk te all the way home, not a single thought crossing it.

    As she was about to step out of the car, Patrick briefed her. "Ms. Brielle, you should take it easy for the next few days. Mr. Max has been up all night waiting for news, and now, Ms. Martha was likely to be a vegetable. This hit him hard." Brielle didn''t respond, only offering a slow nod.

    Once back at the Premier Pce, she felt utterly drained, clueless about her next move.

    Her phone was still flooded with Kingston''s distress signals, which eventually stopped. Based on what she''d heard from Max, the police must have nabbed Kingston and his wife.

    Copsing onto the couch, Brielle felt utterly defeated.

    Even if she had no ties to the Fox family, James was still paying the price for her actions.

    With no way to clear James'' name yet, was Brielle supposed to let him take the fall for good?

    A wave of sorrow washed over her, her eyes brimming with tears. She was always the type to tackle things head-on and rarely leaned on others, so thest thing she wanted was to be a burden.

    But now, someone with a heart of gold had suffered because of her, and it pained her deeply.

    sher

    To others, her pain might''ve seemedughable. If she imed James had a heart of gold, who would buy that? He was a guy who made a living collecting protection money What did he know about integrity?

    Brielle chuckled bitterly, half-wishing she had never set foot in that police station.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    But if she hadn''t and just passively epted everythingid out for her, she wouldn''t really be herself, would she?

    Hershes drooped as Wesley inquired. "Ms. Brielle, you seem down. How about I whip up some hearty soup for you tonight?"

    "Thank you, Wesley, I don''t feel like eating anything tonight."

    Brielle was stubborn. After receiving the information about James, she had to dig into his background.

    The tidbits from his cronies weren''t enough. She needed to see the ces where he collected his dues. So, she picked herself up and headed to the street where James did his rounds.

    It was away from the glitzy Beaconsfield, in a melting pot of society, but the street was clean. Despite the crowded storefronts, it served as a bustling marketce.

    When Brielle asked about James, the shopkeepers were eager to share.

    "James, yeah, he''s a big guy, can be

    pretty intimidating, but he''s got a good heart, He''s taken protection money from many of us but also looked out for us. This ce used to be a ma for troublemakers," one exined.

    "James is not like those thugs that used to hassle us. We resented him

    at first when he demanded

    vel

    protection money, but over the years our businesses thrived

    without vandals wrecking our

    shops," another added.

    "Yeah, running a small business is tough these days. Five hundred a month isn''t cheap, but at least we can work in peace. The thugs are scared of him. They can''t beat him," a third chimed in. Brielle absorbed their words, her heart sinking further. The more she uncovered, the more she realized that James had told her the truth.

    But what now?

    Max and Michael were clearly aligned, and Kingston might''ve even been behind bars. Could she just stand by and do nothing?

 Chapter 759

    If Brielle did nothing, she''d probably spend her entire life draped in a shroud of guilt. However, taking action might just be the wrecking ball to her and Max''s rtionship, possibly leading to a breakup that neither could mend. It was a tug-of-war between heart and conscience, and she felt utterly drained by the emotional battle.

    Back in her car, she took a deep breath, reached for a bottle of water to quench her thirst, and noticed a text from Patrick.

    Kingston and his wife were behind bars, serving about a five-year sentence.

    She harbored no sympathy for Kingston and his wife. Their shady dealings were no secret. However, the thought of James was like a thorn lodged in her throat.

    She sat in her car, lost in thought, but couldn''te up with any solution. Defeated, she drove back to Premier Pce.

    In the end, she felt too powerless to stand against the Dorsey family.

    That night, her sleep was restless again,pounded by the centennial celebration of Beaconsfield College looming over her. She felt adrift and overwhelmed. She had always wanted to be someone capable and strong, but now, it seemed like misfortune befell anyone linked to her.

    With hardly any rest for two nights straight, her eyes were bloodshot.

    Max was still away, busy with Alivia at the nursing home. Martha seemed to exclusively want Alivia''spany.

    Why Martha had suddenly wanted to see Brielle the day before was anyone''s guess.

    Sitting alone in Premier Pce, Brielle was about to scrounge up somefort food when a visitor arrived an unexpected one, Max''s sister, Victoria. "Miss Brielle," she greeted, barely lifting her chin as a sign for Brielle to sit.

    Once seated, Brielle saw a card slid in front of her. It was a scenario she had imagined countless times, but she never expected Victoria to be the one to y it out. "What''s this about?" Brielle asked, her voice wavering.

    "Brielle, Max is caught between a rock and a hard ce because of you. It''s clear enough that he''s avoiding Premier Pce... avoiding you, even if he won''t admit it." Victoria''s words cut deep into Brielle''s heart. It was a truth neither Max nor Brielle wanted to face.

    "Max is just taking care of her mother. It''s not that he doesn''t want toe back," Brielle tried to defend.

    "There''s seventy million in that

    ount. It''s my own money. I liked

    you, Brielle truly did. But the troubles you''ve brought to Max''s door are undeniable. And because of you, my mother is practicallyatose. Don''t you feel

    a

    shred of guilt? She''s you friend''s

    mother, for heaven''s sake."

    Brielle hurt her boyfriend''s mother and appeared unaffected. Either Brielle had nerves of steel, or she didn''t care one iota about Max''s feelings.

    "I once supported your rtionship

    with Max, thinking it would bring him happiness. But look at the turmoil in the short span you''ve been together it''s overshadowed his entire life. Can you truly bear to see him torn between family loyalty and ridicule? He was meant to be on a pedestal, shining bright, not dragged through the mud.

    "Living with guilt, feeling the weight of the crime every time you think of my mother-how long can you endure that? Let Max go, Brielle. Free him... and free yourself too."

    Her tone was detached, pushing the

    card closer to Brielle. "Max is

    Ine

    responsible, and he''s probably made promise He won''t back down easily It''s all on you now. If you truly love him, let him remain the golden boy in everyone''s eyes, will you?"

    Every word from Victoria pierced Brielle''s heart, making her eardrums throb with pain. Was Victoria right? Was Max suffering so much that he couldn''t even faceing home? Had she ever really brought him joy in their rtionship or only this back-breaking position?N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

 Chapter 760

    Victoria rose slowly from her seat, her words hanging heavy in the air.

    "Let''s be real here," she said, "Alivia was always Max''s best bet. Without you in the picture, they would have tied the knot, and all of Beaconsfield would''ve been popping champagne in celebration. He wouldn''t be stuck in this mess. Face it, your rtionship has only brought him down." Brielle blinked back the dryness in her eyes, wanting to challenge this one-sided narrative. But recalling Max''s demeanor from the night before, she found herself speechless.

    Long after Victoria had left, Brielle remained dazed, staring nkly at the card on the coffee table, lost in thought.

    The slump dragged on until dusk when her phone buzzed with a new message. [Hey, how''s James doing? Right before the cops took Kingston away, he gave me your number. I didn''t wanna bother you with a call, so I''m just texting to check in.] Reading the message brought James back to Brielle''s mind. Kingston and his wife were locked up, facing five years. James, who was seen as Martha''s assant, would likely spend his life behind bars, enduring daily beatings.

    The feeling of helplessness surged again, and for the first time, Brielle felt utterly restless. She didn''t want anyone''s life ruined on her ount, nor did she want her rtionship with Max to suffer.

    She was never selfish. She couldn''t bear to let others sacrifice for their love. Besides, she had sacrificed enough since the beginning.

    With resolve, Brielle decided she had to get James out.

    All evidence pointed to James as the culprit, a fact that seemed irreversible with surveince and eyewitnesses against him. Legally, James had to pay the price.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

    She stood up, slid the card into her purse, and nned to return it at the first opportunity. Her mood was sour, and staying at Premier Pce only made her more agitated. The only person who could possibly help her now was Dustin. Brielle bit her lip, feeling guilty for always turning to Dustin for help. But who else would be willing to assist her?

    Thest time she had been to jail, Dustin visited her despite the Dorsey family''s influence. It seemed Dustin had his own ways to make a visit possible.

    Still, Brielle hesitated, since Dustin was currently tending to his grandmother.

    As she was opening the door to the Premier Pce living room and about to leave, Wesley appeared.

    Victoria had sent Wesley away during their conversation earlier.

    "Ms. Brielle, aren''t you dining here tonight?" he asked.

    "Wesley, something''se up. I won''t be staying for dinner."

    Brielle drove off, herck of focus nearly causing an ident with a car that darted out in front of her. Realizing she was in no state to drive, she pulled over, hoping the

    chill wind would help clear her head.

    Spring had arrived, but Beaconsfield remained cold. She rubbed her hands together and noticed a cozy glow emanating from a nearby alley.

    Brielle had stopped by a nondescript alley, but as the door opened, she sensed something special within.

    A respectful voice approached her. "Ms. Brielle, someone wishes to meet with you."

    Sensing no threat from the person but rather a polite demeanor, Brielle walked down the alley and entered through the weing door.

    Once inside, she found herself in a vintage courtyard lit bynterns, where someone was feeding fish in a pond. Koi fishpeted eagerly for the food.

    Brielle watched for a moment,

    feeling as though she had stepped

    out of Beaconsfield and into another world, a haven amidst a ce driven by material desires and skyscrapers.

    "Ms. Brielle, we meet again."

    The man''s face was hidden behind a mask as he set down an exquisite bowl and stood by the firece in the courtyard.

    It was that enigmatic casino owner. Brielle hadn''t expected to encounter him here.

    "It seems you''re in a bit of trouble," he said, his lips curving into a smile as he loungedfortably on a plush sofa, legs crossed. It was as if he had anticipated her current predicament. en FindNovel

    Brielle did not sumb to desperation and ask for his help. Instead, she cautiously stepped back.

    The drive from Premier Pce had taken a significant amount of time, and she had been conveniently stopped by another vehicle, leading her right here.

    In a world with so few coincidences, she realized she was ying into someone else''s hands.

    What was his endgame?

 Chapter 761

    Those who''d been to the casinos in Beaconsfield knew the enigma that was the man behind the curtain. You could only get an audience with him with a win of ten billion in one night.

    And yet, here she was, meeting him in this most unexpected ce. Naturally, Brielle couldn''t help but wonder if there was something about her that he wanted.

    For the life of her, she couldn''t figure out what that could be.

    She had an average family background and was currently tangled in a mess. Why would this shadowy figure want to meet with her?

    Perhaps her wariness was all too apparent as the man let out a soft chuckle, his gaze softening. "Come, have a seat."

    "Is there something you need?" Brielle stood her ground, her expressionposed, while she subtly scanned her surroundings.

    The door she entered was now closed. She was in a tastefully decorated garden area with no escape in sight.

    "Calm down. I just wanted to let you know that I might be able to help you."

    Brielle frowned. She knew that nothing in life was free. She slowly approached and stood before him.

    He exuded aid-back vibe, but it was nothing like Dustin''s. Dustin was the epitome of clean, pure nonchnce.

    This man''s ease seemed to ooze from a ce of darkness.

    "What would I have to give in return?" Unsure of his intentions, she yed along, trying to keep the situation under control.

    Noticing her cautious approach, the man pointed to the seat beside him. "Take a seat."

    As Brielle took her seat, her mind raced with thoughts of her current predicament.

    In the next moment, his head leaned close, his breath tickling her ear. "All you have to do is kiss me."

    Brielle felt as if a venomous snake was hissing beside her ear, her hair standing on end. Instinctively, she wanted to recoil. But showing too much fear would be a loss. It would mean she''d be at his mercy from here on out. What a psycho.

    Her expression darkened, and after a moment, she stood up, her gaze sharp and piercing.

    The man had already reclined back, appearing unbothered by his own offensive suggestion.

    A woman emerged from the side, kneeling obediently at his feet, massaging his legs.

    Brielle frowned, disgusted by the scious scene. "I''ll give it some thought."

    Her tone was indifferent as she eyed the door She''d entered through. "May leave now?" Her

    ''consideration'' was simply a means to make a swift exit.

    "Please."

    The man''s face curled into a smile, his lips beneath the mask forming a taunting curve as he appraised her.

    Brielle felt like prey in a hunter''s game, a sense of difort washing over her. As the door opened, she all but dashed outside.

    Just as she was leaving, she heard him say, "You''lle back to me."

    Brielle''s stride faltered, a wave of anger spreading through her, but she said nothing, silently returning to her car.

    When she noticed the vibrant roses in the car, her mood soured further. She grabbed the bouquet and

    tossed it into a nearby tra ther

    can.

    She sensed danger in that ce, and from that man, prompting her to drive straight back to her residence at Pearl Estate.

    After a shower, she still felt the chilling presence of that man clinging to her.

    Exhausted, Brielle sat quietly on

    sofa. She wasn''t vain enough to

    think that the man desired her,Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    sparking his ludicrous reh

    The only usible exnation was that he knew Max, perhaps even as a rival, aiming to strike at Max through her. Feeling restless, she waited for her emotions to settle before pulling out her phone and finding Max''s number. But what could she say?

    Theirst meeting had ended on a sour note, and he refused to believe her about James'' innocence.

    Brielle didn''t me him. If she were in Max''s shoes, she wouldn''t have believed it either.

 Chapter 762

    She sighed and was about to chuck her phone aside when a new message buzzed in. [Wesley mentioned you skipped dinner tonight?]

    Brielle''s nose tingled as she read the message, a lump forming in her throat.

    [Brielle, where are you?]

    He was asking why she wasn''t cozied up at Premier Pce. She was about to respond when Max sent another text. [Don''t believe anything Victoria told you.] Clearly, Wesley had spilled the beans to Max about Victoria''s visit to Premier Pce, prompting this message at such a critical moment.

    Brielle tasted the bitterness in her mouth. [I''m just out for a walk, don''t worry.]

    After sending that, she felt at a loss for words, and Max didn''t reply either. He was probably bogged down with his own affairs.

    Max was indeed preupied. Martha had fainted again, with doctors monitoring her vitals continually.

    If Martha didn''t pull through in the ICU, she''d be more than just a vegetable. The doctors had the family brace for the worst.

    Martha had woken several times, only ever seeing Alivia, and no one knew what was exchanged between them.

    For this reason, Alivia had remained at the nursing home. Her mood was soaring, but she kept a facade of utmost despair.

    She approached Max, who stoodsolemnly outside the ICU. "Max, you should eat something," she soothed gently. "You won''tst if you keep this up."

    Max''s brow furrowed slightly before he nced back at the ICU and finally turned toward the dining room.

    The table wasden with his favorites. Alivia sat opposite him, careful to mask any hint of joy. "The chefs made all our favorites. Martha might be here for a while, so let''s make sure we have the energy to take care of her." Max nodded, not cold or dismissive, since Alivia was always so devoted to Martha''s care.

    Alivia watched him dine with refined ease, the gleam from his cufflinks intoxicating her.

    These moments of dining face-to-face with Max were rare, without the intrusion of others. Her heart swelled, a smile betraying her control.

    Just a little longer, and her patience would pay off.

    Annie and Martha were pawns in her game. They were ying their roles and driving a wedge between Max and Brielle.

    Alivia was so close to Max now. If she stayed at the nursing home, wouldn''t he grow fond of her over time?

    She loved Max and was the only one who truly deserved him. All of Beaconsfield seemed to be on her side; what chance did Brielle have?

    Max ate with elegance as Alivia watched. He never gave her a nce. The nursing home''s dining room was meant for guests like them There was no need for special arrangements. It would seem petty.

    After dinner, Max thought of Brielle, who''d left Premier Pce without a bite. His concern creased his forehead.

    He couldn''t resist, pulling out his phone to call her.

    Brielle didn''t pick up. She was exhausted and asleep on the couch.

    "Patrick." Max''s voice summoned Patrick from the shadows. "Find out where Brielle is. Take her some dinner and grab some antacids."

    Her stomach troubles red up now and then. She should take care, regardless of her spirit.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Patrick bowed respectfully. "Right away, sir."

    Alivia, seated across from Max, felt a §Ö surge of rage at his explicit concern for Brielle. It was infuriating how he still cared about whether Brielle had eaten.

    wn

    Her lips turned white from the pressure of her bite, the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth.

    Jealousy reddened her eyes, and she had half a mind to overturn the table.

    She had thought Max was indifferent to love, but she was wrong. His heart had been a nk canvas, reserved solely for Brielle.

    §Ö

    To be loved by a man like Max was

    to be the luckiest woman alive. He was fiercely loyal, to the point where nothing else mattered but Brielle.

    That infuriating, despicable wretch!

 Chapter 763

    Alivia worried that if she stayed any longer, she would be physically sick, so she set down her spoon, herplexion ghostly pale, pretending to sip her soup.

    Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Max had finished eating. Suppressing the howl of frustration and anger that threatened to burst from within, she watched him with a feigned gentleness. "Max, I spoke with the doctor. He said if Martha can hold and just get through the next three days, she''ll be out of danger."

    By out of danger, she meant no risk to Martha''s life. Bingatose was all but a certainty.

    She broached the subject at this moment as a warning to Max - your thoughts may be with Brielle, but remember, it''s Brielle who''s driven your mother to the brink of a vegetative state. How can you remain indifferent? Sure enough, she saw Max''s fingertips tremble slightly and his eyshes cast downward.

    His skin was too perfect, bathed in the glow of the setting sun. It was too easy to be overwhelmed by the urge to spend a lifetime by his side.

    Alivia felt an irrepressible fondness wash over her, further solidifying her resolve that any sacrifice was justifiable for Max.

    She was determined to marry into the Dorsey family. Everyone would have to make way for her love.

    Hadn''t she once masterminded Tessa''s sessful marriage to Andrew? Surely, what worked for Tessa could work for her as well.

    It was just a matter of timing.

    Max hadn''t yet reached the point ofplete disillusionment with Brielle. When he had umted enough disappointment, that would be Alivia''s moment to strike.

    Max said nothing, simply stood up, and headed toward the intensive care unit.

    There, he encountered Michael.

    Leaning on a cane, the once omnipotent patriarch of the Dorsey family looked unexpectedly alone, sitting in the hospital corridor.

    Max had always believed that there was no love between his parents - after all, Michael had had more than one wife, but it was Martha who had outlived the others, the rest having died under mysterious circumstances. "Father," Max called out, sitting down beside him.

    Michael gripped his cane, looking suddenly aged. "Max, I''ve spoken to the doctors. The best-case scenario for your mother is that she remainsatose. I''ve been thinking, you never should have brought her back to Beaconsfield."

    A pang of guilt hit Max. His mother''s condition had been even worse abroad, and it was out of necessity that she had been transferred home, but no one had anticipated the tragedy that would unfold here.

    "Don''t me Martha. Everyone

    knows Brielle isn''t right for you."

    Michael chose the path of emotional appeal, a softer but often more effective method than directo confrontation.

    en FindNovel

    Max''s brow furrowed, likely aware of his father''s purpose for this visit.

    Michael was here to see Martha, yes, but also to continue exerting pressure on him to end things with Brielle.

    Max couldn''t understand this. He

    would ask for something his entire life, and it had always been handed to him. But why was it that the one thing he truly wanted on his own was met with universal opposition?

    Brielle wasn''t the evil woman everyone made her out to be. On the contrary, she made him feel that the world was meaningful.From N?velDrama.Org.

    Thendscapes they had seen together were more vibrant and more captivating than ever before. His world was no longer just dry numbers and text. It had taken on a warmth.

    The one thing he wanted, fought for, and couldn''t let go of was Brielle, but this tiny wish was unforgivable in the eyes of others.

    Wasn''t he the CEO of Dorsey International?

    As a child, his mother had told him that once he reached this position and became a man above others, he could have anything he desired without opposition.

    But Martha was deceiving him, it seemed. At his peak, wanting anything meant everyone would try to stop him.

    "Father, I''ve already spoken to the police. James will spend his life behind bars."

    Michael''s grip on his cane tightened, a hint of irony shing in his eyes, but he hid it well, his face maintaining the worn expression of a regr, aging father. This was a game of psychological warfare.

    "But do you know, Brielle has met

    with James alone and even been in contact with James'' cronies? Haven''t you considered that she can''t bear to see the entire Fox family incarcerated, that she might do something about it?"

    A shadow passed through Max''s gaze.

    "There won''t be such a day."

    "And if there is? Max, do you really know Brielle?"

    A chill emanated from Max, sharp as ice. In his presence, it seemed as though everything could be frostbitten.

    "Brielle loves me. She wouldn''t do that."

 Chapter 764

    Michael''s lips curled into a cold, mocking smirk as he heard the words he''d been waiting for. "Really? Then let''s see if she likes you enough."

    Leaning on his cane, he made his way slowly out of the corridor. His eyes were a stormy sea of dark thoughts, as if he could already foresee the grim fate awaiting this pair. The human heart is a curious beast, spinning webs of deceit without a single spider in sight. Bathed in sunlight, it could shroud itself in a darkness of its own making.

    He figured Max''s heart was already caught in this web, spiraling into the shadows. Just a little longer, and Brielle''s true, hideous nature woulde to light.

    After Michael left, Max remained seated alone, his face a mask of bone-deep indifference and weariness.

    The doctor emerged from the ICU, removing his mask upon seeing Max. "Her stats are stable for now, but I''m afraid Ms. Martha has lost all sensation in her limbs. I''m terribly sorry." Max rubbed his temples, a gesture of fatigue more than concern.

    "You haven''t rested in days. Now that her vitals are stable, why don''t you take a break?" The doctor''s gaze shifted to a point just beyond Max, a smile ying on his lips. "Ms. Alivia, please take Max to rest. You should also ensure you''re getting enough sleep. Ms. Martha will want to see you as soon as she wakes up."

    For reasons unknown, Martha seemed eager to see Alivia, more so than even her son, Max. This worked in Alivia''s favor. The more Martha favored her, the less suspicion she would face when Martha passed.

    Suppressing her glee, Alivia approached Max. "Let''s get some rest, Max. If you''re ufortable here, you could head back to Premier Pce."

    The doctor chimed in, "If anything changes, we''ll notify you immediately."

    Alivia joined in, "Let''s go, Max."

    Max didn''t refuse. His presence here served no purpose. He headed to his car, only to notice Alivia''s vehicle was nowhere in sight.

    "Max, can you give me a ride? I told my driver I wouldn''t need him since I wasn''t nning to go back home today."

    With the requestid out, Max barely frowned before opening the car door for her.

    Once Alivia was buckled in the passenger seat, Max felt a twinge of difort. Patrick was off delivering food to Brielle, and now he found himself ying chauffeur.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    As Max pressed the elerator, the car drifted away from the hospital.

    Meanwhile...

    Brielle was at Pearl Estate, about to whip up something to eat, when the doorbell rang. She opened it to find Patrick, armsden with takeout containers.

    He also produced a bottle of antacids. "Mr. Max insisted I get these for you. He wants you to remember to eat and take care of yourself, Ms. Brielle."

    Brielle was at a loss for words. Max

    was so good to her, but she knew her uing actions would disappoint him. The mere thought of his dejected face sent sharp pains through her heart.

    However, if she didn''t save James, could she really stand by and watch an innocent man suffer for a crime he didn''tmit?

    After Patrick left, Brielle ate without

    tasting a thing. She was about to clean up when her phone rang - it was Ricardo informing her that. Aubree had been injured, and he texted her the hospital location.

    swnovel

    Panicked, Brielle didn''t ask for details and rushed to the hospital.

    There, she found Aubree, getting her hand bandaged, and Andrew, trembling like a leaf outside in the corridor, his clothes stained with blood- a testament to his being the first to rush to Aubree''s aid.

 Chapter 765

    Brielle didn''t n to ask Andrew. She noticed that Aubree''s wounds had already been tended to. "What happened?"

    Looking slightly resigned, Aubree raised a hand to rub her forehead. "Just took a tumble while filming, scraped up a bit, that''s all." Brielle asked the doctor to make sure the wounds weren''t deep and breathed a sigh of relief. "You scared the crap out of me."

    Thest thing she wanted was more news about Aubree getting hurt.

    She had driven there with her fingers trembling on the wheel. Thankfully, it was only a minor injury.

    Aubree didn''t say a word, but she understood why Brielle was acting this way. Both of them were haunted by the memories of that night - one pretending not to care, and the other pretending they could help each other move on. In truth, neither had moved on.

    Brielle''s legs were still shaky, and after taking a deep breath, she patted Aubree''s shoulder. "Where''s Ricardo? Have you two eaten dinner?"

    "Ms. Haywood."

    No sooner had she spoken than Ricardo''s voice came from outside, his hands carrying a bag of medical supplies.

    Brielle nodded. "Let''s head back, Aubree, skip filming tonight. I know it''s just a scratch, but don''t push yourself."

    Aubree agreed.

    The three of them walked out, naturally bumping into Andrew.

    He had been leaning against the wall and straightened up instantly upon seeing them. Anxious about a sharp retort from Aubree, he turned away, rasping, "I was just passing by."

    His fingertips dangled by his side. When Aubree had fallen, he had rushed to cushion her fall, and his hand had been pierced by sharp ss. He just kept his injured palm against his trousers, the fabric soaking up the blood, leaving no trace on the ground. His face was tinged with pain, yet he seemed numb, pursing his lips and deliberately avoiding Aubree''s gaze.

    Aubree frowned, oblivious to his injury. "Don''t stick your nose where it doesn''t belong next time." She didn''t need Andrew''s rescue, preferring to take the fall herself.

    Andrew felt a pang in his chest. His breathing was erratic, but he still didn''t dare look at her.

    Afraid that the disgust in her eyes would pierce through him, he chose to flee.

    "Yeah." He murmured, his eyes reddening with unshed tears.

    Aubree didn''t notice his distress. She followed Brielle and Ricardo into the elevator.

    Ricardo, however, cast a lingering nce at Andrew. He chose to silent.

    Brielle had wanted Aubree to stay with her at Pearl Estate that night. Aubree''s house was sold, and she was temporarily staying with the crew. However, Aubree insisted on returning to the set, mentioning Ricardo had scenes to shoot that evening. Unable to persuade Aubree otherwise, Brielle drove them back to the set.

    When Brielle returned to Pearl Estate, it was eleven at night.

    She heard Max''s voice from inside as she was about to insert the key into the lock. "Is he okay?"

    "Let''s keep this from Brielle for now."

    Max was fuming and not quietly.

    Brielle stood still, but Max seemed to hear her and quickly approached, pulling the door open with a sudden tender tone. "What took you so long?"

    Brielle bit her lip, too exhausted to think, almost ready to copse on the spot.

    Her mind was reying his earlier words. Who was being saved? And why couldn''t she know?

    She tried to look up at Max, who, for the first time, seemed evasive. "Brielle, go take a shower."

    Her mind felt numb as she mechanically moved towards the bathtub, unaware of how she even got there.

    Max wiped her down and helped her dress.

    Brielle was dazed, wondering why he wasn''t at the sanatorium-why was he back tonight?

    As shey in Max''s arms that night, for the first time, her sleep was restless. She tossed and turned and barely managed to drift off, only to dream of the orphanage fire

    en FindNovel

    She remembered the orphanage had caught fire, destroying many records. She couldn''t recall the specifics of that day, but tonight, some details came back to her.

    Before the fire, she and another little girl were inside, sorting files because Mark had a bad back and struggled with the task daily. So, she and the other girl had volunteered

    Sweat beaded on Brielle''s forehead. Even in her dream, she was unsettled.

    It was hot, scorching.

    The little girl had been trapped under a beam trying to save her.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    "Go, or we''ll both burn. We''re unwanted kids, but you can knit gloves. You''re better than me.

    "I overheard them talking... I went back home secretly. Apparently, myst name is Fox.

    "If I die, no one would grieve, but if you die, who would make scarves and gloves?"

    In the dream, Brielle tried hard to recall more details, but all she could remember was a snippet from the hospital.

    "The other girl''s gone. This one''s

    alive, with no injuries. She''s just shocked and babbling. The body triggers its own defense

    Vol

    mechanisms. If she wakes up not remembering, don''t talk about the dead girl in front of her."

 Chapter 766

    It was a dream, so Brielle could only watch herself in a daze as she followed back to the orphanage.

    Some records were burned, and she and Mark began to reorganize them. Sure enough, she forgot what had happened there.

    Brielle didn''t know why she had this dream. Startled awake, she rushed to the bathroom, her stomach churning, feeling the urge to vomit.

    The sealed memories started to be clear: the records room, the fire, the girl her age who had pushed her out of harm''s way and had perished. The girl said herst name was Fox, and she had a brother named James.

    "Cough, cough, cough."

    The fragments of memory sent Brielle into a fit of coughing.

    Hunched over the sink, she retched. Her mind was filled with the image of charred bodies, the smell of the ze still detectable in her nostrils.

    After throwing up, she washed her face and looked into the mirror to see her eyes grow eerily calm.

    The incident was indeed too shocking for a child. She had promised to teach that little girl how to knit gloves the following winter.

    Who could have anticipated that that girlwould remain eight years old forever and never grow up?

    "Brielle?" Max stood at the bathroom door, noting her paleplexion. He reached out to check her forehead. "You got a fever?"

    Brielle shook her head, clutching her stomach. "Just remembered some things. My stomach hurts."

    If the girl who died in the fire was the daughter of the Fox family, then who was Brielle?

    Why were the paternity tests wrong each time?

    Brielle wasn''t foolish. One mistake could be an ident, but two? Two paternity tests linking her to the Fox family certainly implied foul y. Who was behind it?

    Darkness filled her eyes as she quietly grabbed a toothbrush to start brushing her teeth.

    It couldn''t be the Ronds. They had fallen from grace.

    The Clements? Andrew was too frazzled by Aubree''s situation to focus on her.

    The Barnes family? The Barnes had motive, and so did the Dorseys.

    Especially Michael, whose disdain for her ran deep. He wished her to acknowledge her connection to the Fox family and leave of her own ord. Or perhaps there was someone else out of these families who wanted to target her?

    But why?

    Or was her true identity a secret so dark it couldn''t be revealed?

    It seemed she would have to consult with Mark about the fire.

    And the secret of her birth? That was something Max could investigate. After all, wasn''t he trying to clear her name from the Fox connection?

    Regardless, Brielle couldn''t just abandon James. Otherwise, the girl who died all those years ago would surely never rest in peace.

    After she finished washing up, she saw Max adjusting his suit. She was about to speak when his phone rang.

    It was from the sanatorium. Martha requested to see Brielle.

    Max felt a surge of irritation.

    Brielle was always sensitive to Max''s moods, and she knew something had been off with him since the call the day before. It was as if he was trying to cover something up

    She looked down, exhausted from the dream. "I''ll go to the sanatorium. Maybe she has something important to say."

    Max sighed, taking her hand. "Are you sure you want to go?"

    "Yeah."

    "Brielle, you''re exhausted."

    But truthfully, Max was just as tired. Neither had rested properly in a long time.

    "I want to go."

    Martha had asked for her before, and there was something she wanted to say.

    With no other choice, Max drove Brielle to the sanatorium.

    On their way, Brielle noticed that Patrick wasn''t driving. Max was behind the wheel. Although he seemed calm, his brow was furrowed with deep concern. Brielle''s unease grew stronger by the minute. Upon arriving at the sanatorium and donning protective gear, she entered Martha''s intensive care unit.

    Max stayed outside, massaging his temples. He took the opportunity to continue a call with Patrick.

    As soon as Brielle entered, she was met with Martha''s disdainful yet triumphant gaze.

    Struggling, Martha looked at Brielle with a sense of victory. Only her head could move, and although she was in a pitiful state, she held her neck high as if she were the victor.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    "Brielle, haven''t you heard the news yet?"

    Brielle''s heart skipped a beat as she watched her quietly.

    Martha smirked, her voice dripping with schadenfreude, "Mark suffered a sudden heart attack on the way back to Beaconsfield and died. Didn''t Max tell you?" Brielle felt a chill run through her. Suddenly, it was as if all other sounds were muted.

    clear

    your

    "It seems Max didn''t want to tell you. He probably wants to prove you had nothing to do with my injury and name from the Fox scandal Mark wouldn''t havee back to Beaconsfield if it weren''t for this, right? Now you don''t have any family left. And that fall I took? It was no ident."

    Martha''s voice was faint, like a whisper from the devil itself.

 Chapter 767

    As she finished her tirade, Martha began to snicker with smug satisfaction.

    Standing by the bedside, Brielle felt a chill spreading through her entire body, like a withered flower shaking ever so slightly in a cold wind.

    "Brielle, I''ve told you time and again that you''re no match for Max, but you wouldn''t listen. You had to get yourself all banged up before you''d walk away. Tsk, tsk, I almost feel sorry for you. Heard that you sent Mark away just to be with Max, and now, the poor man hase back to town at his old age, only to kick the bucket from a heart attack-without a soul by his side."

    Every venomous word Martha spat out pierced Brielle''s heart. Her hand, hanging limply at her side, slowly clenched into a rigid fist as she listened to Martha spill her bile.

    "Mark must have been cursed to have bumped into you-a real ck cat! First, he got divorced, then died in such a miserable way! Serves him right!" "Shut your mouth!"

    Brielle had never seen such an ugly face before. Martha had everything, so why was she so hell-bent on stripping away the little Brielle had left?

    "Oh, getting antsy, are we? Too bad, James will suffer in prison for the rest of his life because of me. And Brielle, this will be your life now. As long as you''re with Max, these kinds of troubles will keeping. Enjoy your misery, you tramp."

    Brielle''s fingertips trembled as she watched Martha dislodge her oxygen tube with her chin and start to gasp for air. Even at this moment, she was using her life to threaten Brielle.

    Brielle remained frozen, her mind screaming at her to save Martha.

    However, the thought of saving someone so bent on death, someone who would drag her down too, was revolting. Her stomach churned, and her legs felt nailed to the floor. "Help, Brielle is trying to kill me!"N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

    Martha''s voice was hoarse with anger yet oddly triumphant.

    The doctors burst in to the scene of Martha convulsing with the oxygen tube unplugged, while Brielle hadn''t moved an inch.

    The door was ajar, and Max stood just behind the frantic medical team, watching as they desperately tried to save Martha''s life.

    Martha continued to cry out that Brielle was trying to murder her.

    Brielle blinked away the sting in her eyes, feeling Max''s presence behind her.

    Max hade up behind her, but neither of them spoke.

    Their silence was endless, a void of irreparable division and lingering pain built up from constant helplessness, likeva solidified after a volcanic eruption, never to disappear. Brielle felt utterly drained.

    Before,

    thought Brielle''s

    James was out to harm Now, they believed Brielle intended to harm her.

    belongs to en.kikistori 2x

    Once the video of James pushing Martha circted around the social circles of Beaconsfield, everyone would think Brielle had stood by idly. With today''s incident, they''d believe she wanted to get rid of Martha to be with Max.

    And if Max continued to stand by her, he would be seen as heartless,mitting the gravest of sins.

    Max would be branded a sinner struggling in hell.

    "Brielle," Max whispered, reaching out to gently and cautiously touch her fingertips.

    Brielle jerked her hand back and stormed out, only to trip over a potted nt in the hallway and crash to the ground. "Thud!"

    Her knees, ankles, and palms ached as tears streamed down her face in humiliation.

    Martha''s wails could still be heard from the room.

    "Brielle is trying to kill me, arrest her!"

    "She wants to kill me over a few words, Max."

    "Max, can you tolerate such a woman by your side?"

    Then, the doctors'' panicked shouts filled the air.

    "Ms. Martha!"

    "Hurry, get the emergency team! Ms. Martha, hold on!"

    Max stood in the doorway, torn between the dying Martha and Brielle, crumpled on the floor.

    His instincts drove him to help

    Brielle first, but he watched as shee

    stubbornly got up and limped

    toward the elevator at the end of the hallway.

    She never looked back.

    Not even once.

    Max''s half-step forward faltered, and he felt an overwhelming pain.

    Loving someone what kind of cruel torture was it?

 Chapter 768

    Brielle stepped into the elevator. She couldn''t feel any physical pain, only a sharp, unbearable agony radiating from her heart.

    She even considered bending over to ease the pain clutching at her chest, but no matter what she did, she felt utterly powerless.

    Her mind was a mess, and her legs felt as if they were filled with lead, each step a monumental effort.

    She walked out numbly, and it wasn''t until she reached the lobby that she pulled out her smartphone to call Patrick.

    Patrick was in the midst of reaching out to Mark''s rtives when he saw Brielle''s iing call. He hesitated to answer, knowing Max had said to keep this matter from Ms. Brielle for the time being.

    Mark''s ex-wife, the one who had left him a long time ago, was unreachable. No one knew where she had gone. So, Mark''s body had been cremated in the meantime, but now there was no one to im the ashes, leaving them temporarily stored at the hospital. When Patrick didn''t answer, Brielle sent him a text message instead. [Mark has no other rtives. I''ll take care of his funeral arrangements.]

    Patrick''s heart skipped a beat. Did Ms. Brielle find out?

    He quickly called Max.

    Max stood silently in the nursing home hallway upon hearing the news. After a long pause, his voice hoarse, he said, "Let her do it."N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

    Reluctantly, Patrick sent Brielle the address of where Mark''s ashes were being kept.

    Brielle contacted the staff at West Hill Cemetery, intending to purchase a gravesite there.

    When she mentioned it was for Mark, they informed her, "Mark''s plot has been purchased long ago. He bought it himself over a decade ago. Additionally, he bought a small plot for a child from the orphanage who perished in a fire. He wanted his resting ce to be next to the little one''s, perhaps to continue looking after the child in the afterlife."

    Hearing this, Brielle felt a sting in her nose. She wanted to say something, but it was as if her voice had been stripped away.

    She made arrangements with the cemetery for the burial the next day.

    Mark had no close family, and Brielle

    hadn''t notified anyone. She spent the night near the ce where Mark''s ashes were stored and took the urn to West Hill Cemetery the next day.

    As the urn was buried, Brielle stood numbly by until her gazended on the small smiling face on the nearby headstone. It was like a sharp bay thrust into her heart

    She couldn''t bear to look at that smile because she was the reason the Fox family had all been sent to prison. The Fox family''s daughter had died in a fire trying to save her.

    It was all Brielle''s fault. If she allowed James to continue suffering in prison, she would probably start having nightmares from tonight on.

    Maybe Martha was right. Everyone who crossed Brielle''s path was cursed.

    The grave was ready, and the staff had left.

    Brielle stood alone in the midst of a spring where everything was supposed to being to life, yet her heart felt as barren as winter, riddled with a thousand wounds. Who could she me for Mark''s death?

    Max, the Dorsey family, or even Martha?

    She tried to smile, but it felt like pulling on countless invisible wounds, and tears followed.

    The previous night''s spring rain had persisted into a drizzle. She didn''t have an umbre, and her clothes were soaked through.

    She bowed deeply to Mark''s headstone, then moved to the small neighboring grave, kneeling to clear away the weeds carefully.

    When she was done, her palms were raw and bloody from the sharp stones, but she felt no pain, only an endless chill corroding her heart. Was there any point in continuing her rtionship with Max? Perhaps he would be the next to be ruined because of her.

    She was truly exhausted. This was her first love, yet it felt overwhelmingly weary.

    The mistake was hers, an orphan with no parents, foolishly yearning for warmth, reaching for the stars. She had been too greedy.

 Chapter 769

    What was her life, really, if not a long nightmare that kept offering brief moments of light before snatching them away?

    In this dream, she believed happiness was within reach. She kept lifting her head above the water, thinking that with enough effort and if she just refused to give up, she could make a change. But as beautiful as it was cruel, hope granted her the belief in endless possibilities while also subjecting her to that unbearable cycle of raised and dashed expectations.

    Brielle felt nothing but a numbing sensation, more terrifying than despair, more harrowing than pain.

    Everyone said she wasn''t good enough for Max, so she silently strategized, thinking it would bridge the distance between them.

    Now, for the first time, she realized how cruel time and distance could be, how arduous the path to sess was.

    Her heart felt as though it had been hammered, contracting violently, throbbing with pain.

    She wiped the blood from her palm, unable to cry.

    By the time she returned to the base of the mountain, her hair was soaked through by the rain, and she wished someone would tell her if she still had family or if her parents were gone.

    If they were gone, could someone point her to their gravestones? Feeling so hurt, she longed to weep before their final resting ce.

    Clutching the steering wheel, Brielle''s lips pressed into a tight line.

    She first drove to Pearl Estate to wash her hair and change her clothes. But when it came time to leave, her footsteps felt heavy. After getting drenched, her body was feverish and devoid of strength. What she didn''t know was that, when she stood in front of the gravestone, out in the rain, Max had been watching from a distance, racked with guilt and too scared to even offer her an umbre. Now that Brielle was gone and the cemetery was empty, he climbed the overgrown steps.

    Max had never thought of himself as selfish. As a businessman, he always put others'' interests first.

    Now, standing in front of Mark''s gravestone, he felt unable to lift his head.

    What was there to say?

    Pain stabbed through his heart as he ced the flowers he brought in front of the gravestone and bowed solemnly.

    His eyes reddened with grief, like a

    man capsizing in sorrow, and it took

    a long while before he could

    hoarsely say, "I''ll take good vel ook

    her.

    But could he ensure she wouldn''t leave?

    of

    Patrick, holding an umbre at another path at the base of the mountain, watched Brielle''s car pass by.

    After a moment of thought, he slowly walked up the steps.

    The spring rain seemed endless.

    He saw Max standing in front of the gravestone, murmuring something. Patrick quickly raised the umbre over Max''s head. "Sir, let''s head back," he urged.

    Max''s fingers stiffened, and he nodded, but on the slippery path down, he fell, his expensive suit trousers stained with mud. Patrick, startled, dropped the umbre and rushed to help.

    Max stood up, nced at his mud-sttered shoes and trousers, and merely frowned despite his mild obsession with cleanliness. Patrick, in his haste, nearly fell as well.

    There they were, the CEO of Dorsey International and his Chief Assistant, both experiencing such disarray for the first time.

    Max didn''t bother to clean off the mud but instead reclined in the car seat.

    His phone rang - it was Michael, informing him that Brielle had gone to the Dorsey mansion.

    Max''s brows furrowed. "Patrick, to the Dorsey mansion," hemanded.

    Patrick floored the elerator, and in less than twenty minutes, they were at the mansion.

    Max''s trousers were still caked with mud as he strode towards Michael''s study. But as he was about to open the door, he heard Brielle speaking.

    "I agree to break up with Max. Can you let James go?"Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Her voice was steady, resolute.

    Not a moment''s hesitation to be heard.

 Chapter 770

    Max''s pupils constricted, his fingers halting mid-air.

    Michael had already spotted the hand at the door, and a smirk curled at the corner of his mouth. "Figured it out? You finally decided to rescue James?"

    Brielle cast her gaze down, forcibly swallowing the taste of copper in her mouth as anger swept through her,pelling her. In this moment, she had topromise. She couldn''t beat the Dorsey family, nor could she beat Michael.

    "Yes, just like you said, Mr. Dorsey, me being with Max was just to get back at the Dorseys. Spencer held me back for a decade, and his mother only saw me as a stepping stone for Spencer to secure his ce at Dorsey International. My fling with Max was a jab at the Dorsey''s pride, but now I see clearly. So, please, Michael, show some mercy."

    "Weren''t you in love with Max before? You even humiliated yourself in the lounge, trying to wreck his wedding with Alivia."

    Brielle''sshes fluttered, her emotional defenses nearly crumbling.

    Max was her forbidden fruit, the one she had to stand on her toes to pluck, thinking she''d never let go. But who else could bear the burden of the Fox family''s tragedy? Who else could carry Mark''s fate?

    He was defying the Dorseys to be with her, defying his mother''s expectations to be with her. Max was so perfect it left her speechless.

    But what could she do when someone had already sacrificed so much for her? She couldn''t let the entire Fox family pay the price, could she?

    The debt she owed the Foxes was already too vast. Even her life couldn''t bnce the scales.

    "It''s fake. I don''t really know what love is. I just thought Max was out of my league, and if he chose me, everyone who looked down on me would be green with envy."

    "I''ll get the police to release James and his entire family, but are you sure you won''t regret this? What if Max can''t let go of you?"

    Brielle looked up, meeting Michael''s gaze with a bitter twist of her lips. "It was just a game. He wouldn''t care that much."From N?velDrama.Org.

    Satisfaction flickered across Michael''s face as he turned to the doorway. "Max, did you hear all that?"

    Max didn''t speak, his stare burning into Brielle''s back as if to see right through her. Her words were like steel pins hammered into his brain, tugging at his nerves painfully. When Brielle wanted to charm someone, it was effortless. When she wanted to hurt someone, it was with a disarming ease.

    He couldn''t fathom how words could be both sweet as honey and sharp as a knife.

    Max felt a sadness like never before.

    Michael waved it off. "I promise you, I''ll make the call to the station right now. You''re free to go."

    The moment Brielle sensed Max''s presence, her back tensed, but now she began to rx, turning to walk past him.

    "Brielle!"

    Max''s grasp was sudden on her wrist. Had she gone mad to let him go?

    She must be lying. It must''ve all been a lie.

    Brielle fought back tears as she looked up at Max. His eyes were a tumult of disbelief, sorrow, and loss. She had never seen such a storm of emotions in Max''s eyes, as if only now he was truly flesh and blood.

    She had been cruel, pulling him down from his pedestal, and now she wished he could go back to being the untouchable Max, not someone tarnished because of her.

    IMS

    She was already in too deep, pushing him away so he wouldn''t fall any further.

    Max''s world was clear and bright, tender and dazzling. It was the brilliant gxy in her heart she had always wanted to protect.

    Brielle was filled with guilt, frustration, and self-loathing.

    "Brielle, don''t break up with me." Max always spoke inly, his fingertips gripping her wrist tightly.

    He stepped closer, his body lightly

    vel

    pressing against her back. His brows knotted in distress, the corners of his eyes reddening slightly.

    "Can''t we be together in secret, please?"

 Chapter 771

    Brielle felt as though her heart had crumbled, a void that could never be filled. She looked up, her gaze piercing straight into his eyes.

    "I will never forgive you for Mark''s passing. Not in this lifetime."

    Max''s pupils shrank, his heart stopped for a brief moment, and his grip weakened as if he had lost all his strength.

    He choked back a silent sob. It was his own disgrace.

    Brielle shook off his hand and stormed out with determined strides.

    He had lost the courage to chase after her.

    Death is irreversible. His selfishness had condemned Brielle to a life of pain.

    Max''s eyes reddened in an instant, and his lips pressed tightly together like the edge of a knife.

    Back in her car, Brielle realized just how violently her hands were trembling. She wanted to m the gas pedal, but her body felt as limp as overcooked spaghetti.

    The more she struggled, the deeper she sank into the mire until she finally slumped over the steering wheel, her shoulders quaking silently.

    An hourter, she finally grabbed the tissues from the passenger seat and wiped the moisture from her cheeks. Taking a deep breath, she mustered what little rationale she had left and drove to Pearl Estate. All the way there, she felt the tears wet her face, only to dry again.

    She was despicable and vile, dragging Max down only to discard him without a second thought.

    She used him to fill all her voids and desires, and now, she chose to let him go without hesitation.

    She sat on the couch like a zombie, motionless until the evening, until the doorbell rang.

    Standing up felt like a merry-go-round had taken up residence in her head. After sshing water on her face, she opened the door to find Aubree holding beers andte-night snacks.

    Aubree had just wrapped up a shoot and hade over to have a drink with Brielle. With her next scene not until three dayster, she could afford to let loose for the night.

    As soon as the door swung open, she saw Brielle''s unnaturally red eyes.

    "Come in," Brielle''s voice was hoarse and barely recognizable.

    Aubree stepped inside, ced the barbecue bites on the coffee table, and popped the caps off the beer bottles.

    Brielle didn''t touch the food or drink and just leaned against the couch.

    Aubree didn''t ask any questions. She justid everything out and turned on the V. "Hey, what do you think of this actress?" she asked, pointing to a celebrity who was the current talk of the town. en FindNovel

    "She''s alright."

    "She''s all m and glitz. How do you think I''d fare with that look?"

    Brielle managed a wry smile, "You''d knock ''em dead."

    Aubree took a satisfied swig of her beer.

    "Right? That''s why you gotta have a n in life. Men are just the icing on the cake. They do note through when you really need them." Brielle slowly sat up straighter, taking the cold beer can Aubree handed her. She didn''t drink, just held it.

    Aubree hugged her knees, rocking her beer bottle back and forth.

    Brielle whispered, "I''m the one who did him wrong."

    "In love, there''s no room for wrongs. Isn''t it all about willing hearts? If said Andrew hurt me, how could that be? If there''s no love, there''s no love.

    I was the delusional one, and it''s my own fault."

    When it was all over, you couldn''t keep counting who gave more or wronged whom. That would be as cheap as bargaining goods sold by the pound at a market. Besides, the very nature of love is mutual indebtedness. Falling for someone should erase countless possibilities for yourself, a sort of deprivation.

    Once you woke up to reality, you would see it was not that big of a deal.

    If you thought everything before was meaningless just because love was gone, well, the world needs some meaningless things. If everything had to be significant, we''d suffocate.

    "Bri, just hang in there."

    Hang on until spring blooms.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Hang on until the world is awash with light.

 Chapter 772

    The Fox n was released the very next day. Brielle didn''t go to pick them up in person. She simply had the officers ry the message about their daughter.

    Kingston, who had been cautiously messaging Brielle with such care before, didn''t dare to mess around anymore now that his family was back together. He returned home with his wife and son, their tails between their legs, not attempting any further contact with Brielle. James seemed to have some conscience left. The first thing he did after getting out was to reach out to a media outlet, earnestly rifying that Brielle was the daughter of the Fox family. The story zed across the inte for a morning but didn''t really stir up much of a storm.

    However, within the social circles of Beaconsfield, the hottest gossip was that Brielle and Max had broken up.

    Some pped their hands with glee as if Brielle had finally gotten hereuppance.

    The high societydies couldn''t wait to set off fireworks in celebration. They had always said that once Max got bored, he''d kick her to the curb. After all, wasn''t Brielle just an orphan with no parents? Keeping her around was just for a bit of excitement, nothing more. "Serves her right! Once a tramp, always a tramp. She''s destined to wallow in the mire."

    "Poor thing was tossed aside and had no choice but to swallow her pride."

    "Ha, being by Max''s side for so long was her biggest stroke of luck. Max, the unattainable rose, remains just that."

    Max didn''t see any of thesements. He had spent the whole night on the sofa at Premier Pce, and everyone there knew better than to approach him.

    As dawn broke, he stood up, grabbed hisptop nearby, and looked like he was heading to work.

    Patrick hurried over to him. "Sir, your pants..."

    Max''s eyes narrowed, and only then did he nce down at his suit pants, still dirty with yesterday''s cemetery mud, his shoes caked with it.

    "Maybe you should take the day off."

    Patrick had seen the rumors about the boss and Ms. Brielle breaking up.

    "No need."

    Max showered, changed into a fresh outfit, and then headed down to Dorsey International. Patrick followed, though he didn''t dare speak along the way.

    Max seemed the same as ever, but Patrick felt that he was even colder, more silent than before.

    When they arrived at the top floor of Dorsey International, Max nced at the quarter''s project list, his brow slightly furrowed, though it was unclear what he was thinking. Patrick refrained from reminding him that he was holding the project list upside down.

    When Annie walked in, she could feel the oppressive atmosphere. She looked at Patrick, who simply motioned for her to leave. Then he left as well, and Annie touched his shoulder.

    en FindNovel

    "What''s going on? Max seems off today."

    "He and Ms. Brielle split up."

    Shock flitted through Annie''s eyes. She hadn''t yed all her cards yet, and these two had already split.

    "Didn''t he really like Ms. Brielle?"

    "It was Ms. Brielle who wanted the breakup."

    Annie''s eyes narrowed, a cold sneer hidden deep within. So, now that Brielle was alone and vulnerable, maybe it was time to go after her face.

    Annie had always been irked by

    Brielle''s face, which was eerily

    simr to her own, stirring difort within her. She truly

    desired to torment Brielle until she

    was unrecognizable.

    Only then would the sight of that face stop bothering Annie. Annie had been hiding out in Dorsey International for so long, which was a constant irritation.

    A slight smirk yed on Annie''s lips, her eyes filled with mischief.

    She thought it was time to have someone mar Brielle''s face, to slice it off with a knife. Then Brielle would be a faceless monster.

    The mere thought excited Annie, sparks dancing in her eyes.

    But to Patrick, she appeared silent.

    Back in the office.

    Max blinked, finally letting the words on the paper sink into his mind. He turned the project list right side up and noticed there were no entertainment-rted projects listed.

    Dorsey International''s initial

    acquisition of Ster Stage

    Entertainment had been impulsive,Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    with no real intention to dive into the

    entertainment industry.

    Consequently, the details of the

    Ster Stage Entertainment project

    had never really made it to his desk.

    Max pursed his lips, lowered hisshes, and rubbed his temples.

    Meanwhile, the sanatorium called with a grim update. Martha was critical.

    "Max, I''m sorry. Ms. Martha was in the ICU, and after her episode with Ms. Brielle, she is now barely holding on. Please prepare for the worst. It could be a matter of days."

    Max listened to the doctor''s words, feeling as if he couldn''t utter a single syble. After a long pause, he replied with a raspy voice, "Okay."

 Chapter 773

    The news that Martha was on her deathbed cast a shadow over the Dorsey household. Gloom filled the air as family members flocked to the hospice where shey fading.

    Michael tasked Max with the solemn job of selecting a headstone for Martha. It was his way of driving the point home: Your mother is dying because of Brielle. Brielle has left you, and it''s time to let go of her. The failed romance had cost Martha her life. Did Michael ever love Martha? Impossible to imagine. Love was a foreign concept to the Dorsey men. He had chosen her for her youth, herpliance, and for giving him a son like Max.

    Max had been a quiet child, a source of frustration and even disdain for Michael, who feared his son might be simple-minded or mute. But Martha, through some miracle or method, had awakened a remarkable talent in the boy. All those pricey sessions with child psychologists and psychiatrists hadn''t been for nothing.

    Michael was interested in results, not the pain Max might suffer along the way. All they needed was a worthy heir.

    So, with Martha''s imminent demise, Michael''s presence was less about concern and more about keeping up appearances.

    Among the gathering Dorseys, Alivia stood out, her eyes swollen with tears that held a glint of joy.

    The doctor emerged from the ICU, removing his mask. "Ms. Martha wishes to see Ms. Alivia onest time."

    Surprised, Alivia had thought Martha''s final moments would be reserved for Max, especially given the lengths she had gone to control his life. With everyone around, Alivia''s tears managed to spill as she entered the room alone.

    Martha was a shadow of herself, ravaged by illicit medication and a burdening secret.

    Once the door shut, Alivia''s hidden smirk emerged. Martha was a dead woman anyway. There was no need for pleasantries now.

    "Martha," she called out.

    Martha''s weary eyes opened, having endured agony since leaving the emergency room. But for Alivia''s happiness, she''d sacrifice anything. "Alivia," she whispered, beckoning her closer with a weak hand.

    Alivia impatiently leaned in. Last words were such an inconvenience. "What is it, Martha?"Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    "You must be happy with Max. He will protect you," Martha managed to say.

    Alivia''s eyes danced with unspokenughter, "Of course, Martha. After all you''ve done, I will be."

    Contentment flickered across Martha''s face as she tried to caress Alivia''s head, her limbs too weak toplete the gesture.

    Alivia was growing restless. Stooping beside a dying woman felt unlucky.

    "Alivia, you are actually my daughter," Martha confessed.

    Alivia''s world spun, and her heart hammered. Had she misheard?

    Martha''s life was slipping away, her final words spilling out without consciousness. "Marry Max. He will keep you safe. He is..." Martha''s words trailed off as her eyes closed for thest time.

    Shock filled Alivia''s eyes, and her heart began to race.

    What did this mean?

    Martha imed to be her mother, and that everything she had done was for her daughter''s happiness. If Max was not a part of the Dorsey. family, then how could Martha ensure that he would protect Alivia for a lifetime?

    Perhaps Martha knew who Max truly was.

    Alivia''s thoughts were in chaos, her lips tightly pressed as she stared at the person before her who had just passed away. She slowly straightened her back, and her hand hanging at her side clenched slightly.

    tont

    It was all so confusing. If Martha really was her mother, then Alivia could understand why this woman had been so kind to her. In the Dorsey family, daughters were mostly considered useless, unable to help Martha secure her position or outlive Michael''s other wife. So after giving birth to a daughter, she sent her to her best friend, who became Alivia''s mother.

    As for Max, no one knew how Martha had managed to orchestrate the switch, but it seemed that Martha had put in a lot of effort.

    Hiding the turmoil in her eyes, Alivia rubbed them to make it look like she was crying, and then she reached out to open the door of the intensive care unit. "Martha has passed away."

 Chapter 774

    The Dorsey family stood in silence at the doorstep, the air heavy with unspoken words, until Michael finally let out a weary sigh. "Alivia, did Martha say anything before she left us?" Alivia nced at Max, who stood apart from the rest, his expression unreadable-lost in his own world.

    He looked so alone.

    "Martha wanted me to marry Max. It was herst wish, but I know he''s reluctant, so..." She trailed off, her voice fading into the stillness.

    Michael turned to face his son. "Max, what do you think?"

    Max''s fingers tensed, the coolness seeping into his very bones as if the chill in his heart had spread to every limb.

    With downcast eyes, he rasped, "Let''s talk about itter."

    Michael scoffed. "What, can''t even fulfill your mother''s dying wish?"

    Max looked up, his eyes devoid of emotion, like a frozen wastnd devoid of life. "Father, Mom has just passed. I don''t want to think about this right now." "Martha''s funeral arrangements are your responsibility."

    "I know."

    Max remained standing, wordless, while Michael conversed briefly with the doctor about the arrangements for Martha''s body before departing.

    The other members of the Dorsey family woreplex expressions, some with schemes in their eyes, merely exchanging knowing nces.

    Victoria red at Max, her teeth clenched. "That bitch! If I run into her again, I won''t let her off so easily! She''d better leave Beaconsfield, or she''ll pay the price!" Victoria''s face was twisted with spite, her nails digging into her palms.

    Alivia understood why Martha had chosen to spirit her away. If the second child was another daughter, Martha''s position would have been in jeopardy. She smirked, her lips curling with smug satisfaction.

    "So Martha''s sacrifice now was only fitting," Alivia thought. After all, hadn''t Martha chosen to sent her away?

    Alivia felt no guilt, only a deep, affectionate gaze toward Max.

    It was perfect. She alone knew this secret-well, her mother knew too, but she had cherished Alivia as her own for so many years.

    Alivia''s mother, Mrs. Barnes, had been Martha''s aplice, conspiring from the start to raise her.

    Michael must have had the doctor examine Martha, a doctor who surely had been bribed to dere Martha was carrying a son.

    At this moment, Alivia felt like the happiest person in the world. Her adoptive mother, Mrs. Barnes, bad provided for her as if she were her own flesh and blood.

    Her birth mother, Mrs. Dorsey, was willing to trade her life to fulfill her daughter''s love.

    Cherished by these two women, what couldn''t Alivia achieve?

    Martha was right; Max was destined to be hers.

    She was the true heroine of this saga, and Brielle was nothing more than a minor jester.

    Alivia managed to contain herughter, instead listening to Victoria''s curses about how vile and outrageous Brielle was.

    Max, however, just frowned slightly and urged Victoria to leave.

    Soon, only Max and Alivia remained.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

    Alivia stepped forward, gently

    cing her hand on his shoulder et

    "Max, don''t worry about Martha''s

    Her words were cut off by Max''s blunt interjection. "Aren''t you and Jaired giving it a try?"

    Alivia''s temper red, and her face paled. She awkwardly withdrew her hand. "We did, but I realized I still prefer you. So, I made things clear with Jaired."

    Max looked at her for a long time before finally saying, "Even if I''m not with Brielle, I won''t give you a chance."

    That single sentence shut down all of Alivia''s passionate confessions. She stared at him in disbelief, her expression contorting with emotion barely held in check. "Max, don''t you care about Martha at all? This was her dying wish. You and Briette are

    over. Martha won''t forgive you both."

    Max''sshes drooped, concealing a flicker of pain.

    He didn''t need Alivia''s reminder. He knew all too well. Not only would his mother never forgive him, but neither would Brielle.

    He was fated to be alone, and perhaps there was a bitter sort of peace.

 Chapter 775

    Martha''s funeral was scheduled for two dayster.

    Brielle was in a meeting at Ster Stage Entertainment when she heard the news.

    Spring had arrived, and with it, the ns for the new year at Ster Stage Entertainment were beingid out. The pressing issue at hand was convincing a sought-after male star to take the lead role in theirtest screeny. However, when a pop-up notification about the Dorsey International matriarch''s burial appeared on her phone, Brielle''s eyshes fluttered ever so slightly.

    The senior execs at Ster Stage Entertainment had long since acknowledged her leadership. Even the wavering ones could tell that the news had hit her hard. After all, the media had been abuzz with reports of Mr. Dorsey''s mother''s passing, and today was the day of her interment.

    They half expected Brielle to wrap up the meeting and rush to Max''s side. But instead, she simply choked back a sob, hershes casting a shadow on her grief-stricken face.

    Her heart felt as if it were in a vice, yet her expression remained stoic. "Let''s continue," she managed to say.

    The executive who had been reporting didn''t dare dy and carried on with the uing project details.

    Brielle''s gaze lingered on her phone screen, fixated on a blurry media-captured image of Max''s silhouette, leading a procession of ck-d mourners. The spring drizzle seemed to soak the entire scene, the sorrow almost spilling out from the screen.

    Feeling her eyes heat up, she realized Max looked so forlorn. Despite being surrounded by many, she felt he was utterly alone. Lowering hershes, she felt the tears in her eyes. When she looked up, all the senior executives were silently watching her.

    Donny quickly offered her a tissue, his toneced with concern. "Ms. Haywood, got something in your eye?"From N?velDrama.Org.

    Only then did Brielle notice her silent tears. She hastily epted the tissue, her voice hoarse, "Yeah, thank you."

    The execs breathed a sigh of relief, noticing her cracked lips and the unnatural flush on her cheeks.

    "Ms. Haywood, if you''re not feeling well, you should rest," one of them suggested.

    Brielle was running a fever, but she couldn''t rest for even a moment, determined to settle the affairs of herpany.

    She had been in meetings all night with Mason and now continued to push through Ster Stage Entertainment''s projects. She didn''t feel tired, only increasingly alert.

    "I''m fine, carry on," she insisted. She turned off her phone''s screen, refusing to look at any more messages.

    After the meeting, she returned to her office, only to be confronted by Tiffanie barging in, her face a mask of fury.

    "Brielle, how could you dump Maxie?!" Tiffanie''s shaking finger pointed at her.

    Brielle focused on her paperwork and didn''t bother to engage.

    Infuriated, Tiffanie stormed over and swept the documents off the desk. "Do you have any idea how upset he is?! His mother just passed away and the Dorsey family is pressuring him to marry Alivia. How could you break up with him at a time like this?"

    Brielle remained silent, unsure of what to say. She started to pick up the scattered papers.

    Tiffanie grabbed her by the cor. "Brielle, say something, damn it! Maxie was crying this morning. How could you do this?"

    Pushed backward, Brielle copsed onto the couch, a sharp pain shooting through her back.

    Strangely, her heart felt no pain - perhaps it had grown numb from the constant battering.

    Enraged and heartbroken, Tiffanie couldn''t believe Brielle had the nerve to leave Max. She couldn''t bring herself to hit Brielle again. Instead, she kicked the papers on the floor, sending them flying.

    Tiffanie stormed in with anger and left the same way, hurling onest insult before she left. "Don''t expect me to help you ever again!"

    With a loud bang, the door mmed

    shut, and Brielle shivered, then

    slowly began to pick up the papers, now stained with fresh, damp marks of tears. She tried to wipe them away with her sleeve, but it only seemed to spread the wetness.

    What was she to do? Reconcile with Max?

    Michael would not hesitate to imprison the entire Fox family, continuing to use them as leverage against her.

    Like she did with Mark, could she send them all away, risking another tragedy on the road?

    She couldn''t face another death in her life.

    Brielle couldn''t move past Mark''s death, and Max couldn''t possibly get over his mother''s death.

    Their love had been a burden from the start, and now the weight was too much for either to bear. The only choice left was to part ways and be strangers once more.

 Chapter 776

    In thete afternoon glow, Aubree buzzed Brielle''s phone, suggesting a casual jaunt to the mall.

    Brielle felt the urge to decline, but Aubree was like a whirlwind, sweeping into Ster Stage Entertainment and whisking her away without a moment''s hesitation.

    Amid the bustling crowds weaving through the shopping center, Brielle felt as if she had stepped into another era.

    Ever the bold spirit, Aubree tugged her along, bee-lining straight for the women''s fashion section.

    "Guess what? My foster mom just rocked my world. She''s giving me five percent of the Clements family fortune. That''s billions, with a ''b''! I can literally live off this and never work another day. Bri, pick something out, it''s on me. We''re going top shelf, no skimping." Joy painted Aubree''s face as she reached for a dress with a price tag that screamed luxury.

    After draping it over Brielle, she nodded in approval. "Perfect fit. It''s a done deal."

    Brielle seldom wore dresses, preferring the practicality of pantsuits a testament to her years in the corporate trenches.

    As she attempted to return the dress, insisting it wasn''t necessary, a hand suddenly snatched it from her grasp.

    She followed the hand to its owner and locked eyes with Alivia.

    Radiating a stark contrast to Brielle''s somber mood, Alivia was the picture of vitality, nked by several high-profiledies from Beaconsfield''s social elite-all familiar faces to Brielle.

    Alivia arched an eyebrow, a smirk unfolding across her lips. "Fancy seeing you here, Brielle. I thought you''d left Beaconsfield for good."

    Now that Brielle and Max were history, Alivia no longer felt the need to mask her disdain.

    In the eyes of these richdies, each worth a cool billion, Brielle was no more than refuse-an afterthought unworthy of their attention. Thedies behind Alivia giggled behind their hands.

    "Heard about the split with Max, tsk tsk. Weren''t you on top of the world not so long ago? How quickly things change."

    "One shouldn''t covet what they can''t have."

    "Brielle, you owe us an apology for your past slights. No one''s got your back now. You''re just a stray dog we can kick around as we please."

    The ridicule drew a smirk from Brielle. Her eyebrow quirked in amusement. "What''s with all the yapping?"

    The debutantes'' faces stiffened, their eyes darkening with malice.

    One stepped forward, hand raised to strike Brielle''s cheek, but Brielle was quicker, her p resonating with a crisp "thwack!" "You hit me?!"

    As the others readied to pounce, Brielle nced at Aubree, who looked ready to explode with rage.

    She chuckled, "Aubree, you''re footing the bill today, right? Does that include their medical expenses?"

    Aubree''s initial shock gave way to wild tion. "Hell yeah! I''m rolling in dough! Let''s do this! Time to take out the trash!"

    No longer hesitating, Brielle grabbed

    Alivia by the hair and delivered a solid kick to her abdomen. Aubree joined the fray, her hands a blur of motion. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Trained in self-defense, Brielle was unmatched. Aubree''s sparring sessions with Andrew made her no pushover, either.

    The richdies were unustomed to such brawling, and faltered.

    Alivia, in agony and disbelief, was convinced Brielle had lost her mind to attack her so brazenly!

    Damn it all!

    Any one of their fortunes could crush Brielle. Did she not fear their vengeance?

    As the thought crossed Alivia''s mind, Brielle''s palm struck again. "p! p!"

    Two more hits left Alivia''s cheeks swollen, her eyes seething with rancor She couldn''t scream back without getting embarrassed she was the youngest researched at the institute!

    But Brielle and Aubree, with nothing to lose, had no fear of disgrace and no concern for onlookers'' opinions.

    The high society misses howled under the assault.

    Seizing the moment, Aubree

    smacked Alivia with her crocodile

    leather bag, delighting in the

    payback. Seeing Alivia''s horror-stricken face was pure catharsis!

    Brielle quickly pulled Aubree back. If Alivia''s face were marred beyond repair, neither of them would walk away scot-free.

 Chapter 777

    The girls were all in tears, clutching their faces as they looked at Brielle and Aubree.

    With a raised eyebrow, Brielle snatched back the dress that had been taken from her, a sly smile curving her lips. "If you don''t scram, I might have to get physical again." "Brielle! You''ll pay for this!" wailed one in despair.

    Their hair was a mess, truly a sight of disarray, and in their midst stood Alivia, seething with resentment, itching to w Brielle''s eyes out!

    However, she was no match for Brielle. That bitch came with inexplicable brute strength.

    Alivia ground her teeth in a fury but was restrained by another girl. "Alivia, let''s just leave. These two lunatics don''t care about our status, and we can''t beat them." "Yeah, think of the scandal if the tabloids caught this."

    Alivia''s lips bled from biting. With a bitter re at Brielle, she covered her face and stormed off.

    Once in her car, she wanted to scream until her throat was raw.

    Blood tinted her lips, her eyes were bloodshot, and her fists pounded the leather of the seat as she choked down the taste of iron.

    Brielle had humiliated her time and again. She would have her revenge!

    She dialed Annie on her smartphone. "I want you to make Brielle suffer! Make her wish she was dead!"

    Annie''s voice wasced with mirth. Alivia''s patience had finally snapped. "Your wish is mymand, but it''ll cost you another fifty mil. No more bossing me around after this." "I don''t care about the money as long as you take care of Brielle."

    Annie chuckled, her innocence belying the disdain in her eyes. "Foolish Alivia, blinded by love," Annie thought.

    Love was such a bothersome thing.

    Perched on the windowsill, swinging her legs, Annie frowned in contemtion.

    Murray tapped away at hisptop, asionally ncing at her. "Bored, Miss?"

    Annie shed a toothy grin. "Murray, we''ve finally got a job. Let''s go after Brielle." Surprise flickered in Murray''s eyes. They had agreed not to touch Brielle, hadn''t they?

    "Brielle''s got a friend, Aubree, right? She''s working with that actor, Ricardo. Let''s have him handle Aubree. He only said he wouldn''t hurt Brielle and never mentioned Aubree. Ricardo deals with Aubree, I deal with Brielle, and then they''ll both be history."

    Annie''s eyes sparkled with excitement, eager for the hunt.

    "Shall we proceed tonight, Miss?"

    Annie hesitated, twirling a knife between her fingers, a wicked smile ying at her lips. "Murray, how long before you hack Aubree''s phone?"

    "Aubree''s phone is a piece of cake, but Brielle''s is a fortress, and she''s got some tech skills. essing it remotely might take a while, but for Aubree, give me just a minute."

    "Let''s make it thrilling. Track their locations, use Aubree''s number to bait Brielle into a trap, and then I''ll have the pleasure of carving up that pretty face."

    Murray''s fingers flew over the keyboard, data blinking rapidly. "Done, Miss. Brielle and Aubree are now separated."

    "Murray, got any of that drug left? Max''s heartbroken over Brielle. It''s the perfect time. When he''s out drowning his sorrows, I''ll slip him a hallucinogen. Just enough to make him see me as Brielle."

    Shock crossed Murray''s face. He was speechless.

    Annie nestled into hisp, tilting his chin up. "Remember, you said you''d be my loyal hound."

    Murray''s Adam''s apple bobbed, his breath hot and heavy.

    "Murray, a disobedient dog, is a useless dog. I don''t keep the useless around."Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    Murray stiffened, his smile bitter. "I understand."

    Annie sauntered off, bending over provocatively. "But tonight, you get your reward."

    A p followed by a sweet treat-Annie had mastered this art.

    Her innocent face and voice, paired with such a provocative gesture, sent a jolt through Murray''s nerves He was like a starved hound, ready to leap for any scrap Annie deigned to throw. And she was offering herself.

    He dropped to his knees in fervent devotion.

 Chapter 778

    When Brielle and Aubree parted ways, dusk had already painted the sky in shades of fading gold.

    Aubree had taken Brielle out to distract her mind, resulting in a haul of outfits and a trove of gleaming trinkets and baubles.

    Aubree had always indulged her, so when Brielle returned to Pearl Estate,den with bags from Herm¨¨s and Bulgari, she was too exhausted to utter a single word.

    Still, the shadow Max cast lingered in her mind, an enigmatic silhouette spinning in her thoughts.

    She sshed her face with water in the restroom, the events of the past few days throbbing in her head like needle pricks.

    The identity of the person who had forged her past remained a mystery to her, a puzzle unsolved.

    Without uncovering their identity, she felt an ominous plot was waiting for her just around the corner.

    Aubree''s presence during the day had kept her anxiety at bay, but with the arrival of night, sleep eluded her despite her weariness.

    Rising from her bed, Brielle grabbed her car keys and drove straight to the old site of Sunflower Children''s Home.

    She had meant to visit after settling Mark''s affairs, feeling certain secrets stilly hidden there.

    In her dreams, the fire had seemed too random, as if it had been deliberately set with the intention of iming her life.

    Only the sacrifice of another child had saved Brielle, trading their life for hers.

    If someone had been after Brielle since she was so young, what could the secret she carried be?

    By nine o''clock, she arrived at the former orphanage. Though developers had bought thend, the building still stood untouched. She slipped in through a window and flicked on the lights. The past began to unfold before her as the light chased away the shadows.

    Taking a deep breath, Brielle walked to the site of the old fire. It was still a records room, now masked with fresh wallpaper hiding the scars left by mes.

    It was Mark''s idea to save costs. He initially just pasted old newspapers over the damage.

    After she began donating to the home, the old papers were stripped away and reced by elegant wall coverings, leaving few aware of the fire''s scars.

    Most records had been moved to the new location, but Brielle had an inkling that something remained hidden.

    She rummaged through every cab until her gaze caught on a piece of peeling wallpaper, revealing an unfinishedyer of newspaper beneath.

    As she reached to smooth the

    wallpaper back into ce, she uncovered a hidden door. Surprise flickered in her eyes as she tore the rest of the wallpaper away

    The door was narrow, allowing entry for only one person at a time. She didn''t have to go far to find a light switch, and deeper in was a small chamber.

    In the center of this room was a modest bed, and in this cramped space of less than a hundred square feety two bodies.

    Far from being frightened by such a sight in the dead of night, Brielle was unfazed.

    The corpses were old, a man and a woman, surrounded by walls scribbled with coherent words and curses.

    The handwriting belonged to the two, their final testament.

    First things first, Brielle dialed the authorities, then returned to scrutinize the wall scribbles. Time and moisture had blurred the words, and smoke ckened the walls, making them illegible.

    Only a line written in bold, clear strokes remained visible.

    "He stole my identity."

    "I can''t go on."

    "I''m dying."

    The blood-written words, coupled with the frantic scratch marks on the wall, finally sent a shiver down Brielle''s spine.

    On the day of the fire, smoke would have risen, and with no escape, the pair likely suffocated within this hidden chamber.

    Brielle stepped back, her mind racing.From N?velDrama.Org.

    Who were these people?

    The police arrived promptly, and a team quickly removed the bodies.

    As the one who reported the incident, Brielle stayed to give her statement.

    "Ms. Brielle, we''ll investigate the identities," the officer said. "If you''re keen on the oue, we''ll update you as soon as we have leads."

    Brielle was indeed eager to learn about the deceased. The orphanage had been her home, and she had survived that fire. It seemed there had been three fatalities, not one, the chamber''s ckened interior evidence of a smoky death.

    "Please do," she replied, "notify me the moment you find something."

 Chapter 779

    Brielle had thought the police would need more time to investigate, but to her surprise, the results came back quickly.

    By the next day, there was an update.

    But it concerned only one person - the woman. The investigation revealed that she was Mark''s wife, the same woman who had divorced Mark and abandoned him without looking back.

    In Brielle''s memory, Mark had said they were divorced and that theirst major argument had been over helping Brielle.

    How would she end up in an orphanage?

    A frown creased Brielle''s brow as the police informed her that they could not trace the man''s identity. His DNA was not found in any database.

    It seemed impossible. With today''s advanced technology, confirming the identity of the deceased should''ve been straightforward.

    Then Brielle recalled the writing on the wall. It mentioned someone impersonating the deceased man. Could this impersonation be all-epassing?

    Were all the DNA records false? To achieve this, how deep must the mastermind''s influence run?

    Brielle had only just started digging but already felt the weight of a massive conspiracy looming over her.

    When Brielle visited Ster Stage Entertainment, she was met by a member of the Barnes family in person.

    It was not Alivia or Kenzo.

    It was their mother, Daisy.

    Brielle sensed the same unfriendly aura in Daisy that she did in Martha. Daisy''s distaste for her was undisguised.

    "Ms. Brielle," Daisy said, standing in the lobby clutching her chic Hermes bag. "I expect you to apologize to Alivia for yesterday''s incident. You wouldn''t want Ster Stage Entertainment to get into any trouble, now would you?" She spoke casually, her eyes appraising thepany.

    "This is just a little entertainment firm, not even a billion in funding, and you''ve barely been the CEO for a month. I wonder where you get the nerve to be so brash in front of the Barnes family."

    Brielle couldn''t help butugh. "Mrs. Barnes, I don''t recall you seeking me out when I was Max''s girlfriend. It seems only after we broke up that you and Alivia decided toe knocking. You''re quite adept at avoiding risks, aren''t you? Too afraid teoffend Max, but not me, right?"

    Daisy''s face stiffened, her grip on her bag tightening. "Brielle, as an elder, I shouldn''t even be bothered to squabble with you." "Then don''t. I''m at work and don''t have time for this."

    "You!"

    Daisy was unustomed to being dismissed this way and was left fuming.

    Brielle walked past her, intent on leaving, but then she heard Daisy say, "Don''t stand in the way of Max and Alivia It was Max''s mother''s dying wish. You''ve already caused him enough stress. Do you really want to make him a pariah?" From N?velDrama.Org.

    Brielle''s heart ached. The image of Max''s lonely silhouette flooded her mind.

    She was trying to keep busy, unravel the mysteries of her past, and stop being a pawn in someone else''s game to constantly lose control.

    That was the only way to keep Max out of her thoughts. Otherwise, her heart, riddled with scars, would continue to ache.

    Her gaze darkened as she looked up

    at Daisy. "Mr. Barnes, your enthusiasm for Ms. Alivia doesn''t

    hold a candle to Martha''s. Martha et

    was willing to die to stop Max and me from being together. And yet, you show up for the first time today. Perhaps Alivia is Martha''s real daughter?"

    Brielle was just bluffing, but she saw Daisy''splexion change dramatically. "What nonsense are you spouting?!"

    Realizing she''d lost herposure - after all, this secret had been buried for over two decades and was suddenly being exposed by an outsider - Daisy panicked. Brielle gave her a meaningful look, a glint of intelligence in her eyes.

    After a few more threats, Daisy found an opportunity to leave. Long after she had exited Ster Stage Entertainment, her expression finally cooled.

    Brielle was too perceptive. She could not be left unchecked.

 Chapter 780

    As Brielle entered the office, a small frown creased her brow.

    Her words were meant to rile up Daisy, but Daisy''s reaction had set off rm bells in Brielle''s head. If her off-the-cuff remarks held truth, then it pointed to a scandalous secret between the Dorsey and Barnes families.

    Brielle''s gaze hardened. She knew she had to take the initiative and preempt any potential threats rather than remain a sitting duck as she had in the past.

    She took a deep breath and dialed Mason, hoping he could facilitate a transfer of funds into her ount.

    Thepany had recently secured a funding round in the billions, and while it wasn''t her personal wealth, it did represent a significant stake.

    However, as Mason''s ounts were overseas, the transfer process was cumbersome and would take at least two days toplete.

    Brielle was nning her next moves for two dayster, bute evening, her bank alerted her to an iing transaction of twenty billion. The sum was so vast that the bank called her personally to inquire about any recent business dealings.

    As Brielle was about to deny any such activities, Aubree popped up on WhatsApp with a new message.

    [I sold off the Clements family stocks. Holding those shares made me a Clements family stakeholder, and I''d inevitably have to face Andrew at the shareholder meetings. By selling them, I cut the ties binding me to him. I''ll be picking up my stuff in a few days, and I''m looking at getting a vi with tight security around Pearl Estate.]

    [Bri, I know you''re in need of money right now, more so than me. Take it. Whatever you return to me in the future will undoubtedly be more.]

    From the moment Aubree met Brielle at the Haywood family gathering and saw the fear in her eyes, surrounded by a sea of insincere adults, Aubree had vowed to be Brielle''s lifelong friend. They would share their fortunes and face challenges together.

    Moreover, Aubree believed Brielle was the most capable woman in the world, destined for greater heights. All Aubree wanted was to be able to see Brielle''s shadow from a distance.

    Brielle replied to the bank and then to Aubree. [In five years, I''ll return it double to you.]

    This would be more valuable than any investment in the Clements Corporation.

    With the funds secured, Brielle called Mason back, telling him to hold off on the transfer. Then she went downstairs, got into her car, and drove to the suburban casino.

    If there were any shady dealings in Beaconsfield, the casino was bound to be a hotbed of information.

    She''d overheard a secretive tip on the night she''d won at the casino. There was talk that one could buy a new identity with the right amount of cash.

    The casino''s enigmatic owner was so certain she''d return to him. Was it perhaps in rtion to this identity purchase?

    Brielle''s second visit to the casino was with a sense of familiarity. As she was about to ask a waiter for information, he seemed to anticipate her arrival and bowed respectfully. "Ms. Brielle, we''ve been expecting you. Please follow me."

    Brielle arched an eyebrow but didn''t refuse, tailing him into the depths of the establishment.

    If the casino''s boss had wanted her dead, he could have taken his shotst time in the alley.

    She had a hunch that this boss was a cunning man with deep-seated schemes, the kind who''d have

    hideouts even in the most unlikely ces.

    Following the waiter, she entered a secluded room, veiled by heavy curtains, opening up to a spacious area.

    A man wearing a silver mask reclined on a plush red sofa, swirling a ss of liquor. His lips curled into a half-smile at her.

    Brielle''s frown deepened. To dance with wolves, you either got devoured or used them to your advantage.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

    "You made it," the man''s voice was husky, deliberately low.

    Brielle sat beside him, her back ramrod straight. "I hear the casino offers more than just gambling. Do you deal in other ventures?"

    The man squinted at her, taking her in from head to toe before chuckling softly. "So, you''re looking to strike a deal?"

    "Yes."

    "Your stake." The man leaned back, setting his ss on the coffee table. "You know I''m not short on cash."

    Brielle''s gaze was steady, her striking eyes locked on his.

    "Since we''re talking business, I

    expect you to have what I want, and

    I''ll provide what you desire. It''s only

    fair. I want to know Alivia Barnes''

    true identity. And what do you want?"

    The man went quiet for a second before saying, "Your kiss." "Done."

    Brielle agreed readily, standing up without hesitation.

 Chapter 781

    The man across from her was clearly losing his cool, his casual demeanor slipping away as he slowly sat up straighter in his chair.

    Brielle was closing in, leaning towards him with an air of calcted ease. His pupils dted ever so slightly, and before he knew it, she whipped out a palm-sized fan, the center of which featured a clear stic film. Her lips pressed a kiss onto his chin, the thin membrane between them ensuring their skin never made contact.

    Then, with the sameposure, she retreated. "I need to know Alivia''s real identity."

    The man was frozen in ce for a moment before he let out augh tinged with incredulity. "Do you take me for a fool?"

    "You asked for a kiss," she pointed out, a coy smile ying on her lips. "You didn''t specify the type of kiss, whether tongues were to be involved, and to what extent. You run a big casino. Surely, you''re not one to renege on a deal?" He breathed deeply, his lips pursing as he fought to maintainposure. His eyes darkened with a swirl of emotions, much like a whirlpool, as he contemted the warmth that had just grazed his chin.

    She was, as always, uniquely audacious.

    After leaving the casino and getting into her car, Brielle realized her back was slick with cold sweat. It had been a gamble. Though she suspected that the mysterious casino boss didn''t want her dead, she couldn''t fathom his true intentions. Asking him to check on Alivia was a minor request for him. If he wanted to maintain his hold over her, he''d have to acquiesce to this small favor to keep hering back to him. She wouldn''t be inclined to return without getting a taste of victory. Brielle''s gaze dropped as she leaned back in her seat, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.

    Why not go directly for the jugr and have someone investigate her own identity, revealing the plots against her? Because she didn''t know who was targeting her-it could be the casino boss himself or someone even more enigmatic. If she yed her hand too soon, she''d spook her adversaries.

    She mustn''t let anyone know that she was quietly digging into her own past-not a soul.

    Driving home, she anticipated that information about Alivia would soon reach her phone.

    Her car had just pulled into Pearl Estate when her phone buzzed with a new message from Aubree, listing an address far from her current location. [Bri,e pick me up. I had a bit too much to drink.]

    Dancing with wolves, bargaining with tigers-it was all about who had therger courage.

    It sounded like Aubree, alright-uninhibited and spontaneous, especially since she had no filming scheduled for the past couple of days.

    Without hesitation, Brielle steered her car towards the given location.

    Meanwhile, Murray watched the tracking dot on hisputer screen. His lips curved into a subtle smile.

    "Miss, Brielle took the bait. She''s headed our way and should arrive in about an hour and a half."

    Annie''s eyes sparkled with

    excitement. The knife in her hand glinted coldly. Finally, she would have the pleasure of slicing off Brielle''s pretty face.

    Her lips were a deep crimson. She pulled out a piece of candy and crushed it effortlessly with her sharp teeth as she spoke with an almost childlike innocence. "I''ve sent Ricardo a message to eliminate Aubree. He should be making his move now, right?"

    "Ricardo would never defy you, Miss."

    "Indeed, he''s always been so obedient."

    Over in the Beaconsfield slums....

    Ricardo had just finished shooting hisst scene of the day. The studio lights dimmed, and the crew began to pack up their gear. Ricardo headed to the dressing room to remove his makeup, and Aubree followed. "You were in top form today."

    Ricardo saw her, nced at the

    makeup artist waiting to assist him, and shed a guileless smile. "Tonight ''d like you to do myBelongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    makeup removal, if that''s okay

    After all, we have a scene together the day after tomorrow. It''d be good toget more familiar with each other."

    The makeup artist nodded, ustomed to their friendly rapport.

    Aubree, ever bold and carefree, took the makeup remover and stepped in front of him. "Alright, take a seat and close your eyes."

    Ricardo''s skin was wless. His visage was so youthful that he could easily blend into a high school crowd without a second nce.

    "Ricardo, your skin is amazing," Aubree said admiringly as she began wiping his face. "I''ve never seen you use skincare products. Must be natural." Ricardo''s hand moved behind his chair, the de of a knife slowly appearing, its sharp edge catching the light.

    "Mhm."

    Aubree was blissfully unaware of the looming danger.

 Chapter 782

    In less than a heartbeat, the dagger could slice through her throat.

    Starting tonight, Ricardo''s identity would be thoroughly erased from Ster Stage Entertainment.

    There was no trace of panic on Ricardo''s face. To him, taking a life was second nature. His arm tensed to strike, but Aubree''s grip on the tip of his ear sent a confusing warmth through him, causing him to shudder and the dagger to slip from his sleeve. This was a grave mistake.

    "ng."

    The sound was especially clear in the quiet of the dressing room, where only the two of them stood.

    Ricardo''s eyes snapped open, filled with murderous intent.

    Oblivious to the danger, Aubree stared at the dagger on the ground, surprise flickering in her eyes. She stooped to pick it up and ced it on the makeup table. "Why are you carrying a paring knife around? Aren''t you afraid you might hurt yourself?" Both Aubree and Brielle had seen Ricardo kill on the night she was hurt. He seemed to go mad.

    But in their view, it was just a reaction of someone driven to temporary insanity by fear. It never crossed their minds that a teenage boy could be the top assassin on the hit list, the chameleon killer.

    That world was too far removed from theirs.

    When Aubree saw the dagger, she first thought it was used for peeling apples.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

    The assassination n failed. Tonight''s debacle was enough to pin Ricardo to a pir of shame. He took a deep breath and managed a smile at Aubree. "Yeah, for apples. Thank you, Aubree. Let me peel one for you."

    A fruit basket sat conveniently on the makeup table. Ricardo took the dagger and began to peel with exaggerated care. This incident could not be known to others. It would be too embarrassing.

    But what about Aubree? Should he silence her?

    Just as the thought crossed his mind, Aubree patted his shoulder with feigned wisdom. "Don''t worry, I won''t tell anyone about your quirky habit of hiding daggers."

    Ricardo''s hand slipped, and the sharp de sliced a long gash across his fingertip. His face turned cold, and he clenched his teeth.

    Another mistake.

    His forehead throbbed as Aubree, startled by his injury, produced a band-aid with a sexy lipstick mark on it.

    "I knew it. Carry a dagger around,

    and you''re bound to get hurt. Once this shoot is over, we should get Bri to hire a personal assistant for you. a Let them handle the apple peeling."

    en FindNovel

    Ricardo had never felt so powerless in all his years.

    He watched Aubree, who was bandaging his finger, not realizing what had just transpired.

    Ricardo sighed inwardly and let it go. He could tell that, in some ways, Aubree and Brielle were sharp and

    resilient, but in others, they were incredibly naive and oblivious.

    QUMS

    Though he didn''t understand why Annie suddenly wanted Aubree dead, he wouldn''t pursue a mission that had already faced two blunders. "Aubree, that''s it. Let''s call it a night and get some sleep." He withdrew his hand and carelessly wiped his face with a makeup remover wipe. Aubree didn''t insist further, patting his shoulder. "Alright, then I''m off to bed."

    After she left, Ricardo stared at the band-aid on his finger and sighed.

    Meanwhile, Brielle drove to a rather secluded bar.

    Aubree always liked a thrill, but her frequent haunt was always Tequ Sunset.

    Although off the beaten path, this new bar''s exterior was surprisingly elegant. Perhaps Aubree had discovered a new hidden gem?

    She took out her phone to call Aubree but was interrupted by a sudden whoosh behind her.

    Instinctively ducking, she avoided the attack.

    Turning, she saw a tall man she was certain she did not know. His attack was no ident. He intended to harm her.

    Brielle stepped back, eyeing the man-Murray-with wariness.

    Murray was more of a hacker than an assassin. Hence, his physical skills were somewhatcking. He thought Brielle would be an easy target, but she had evaded him.

    Without hesitation, Brielle sprinted to her car and locked the doors tight. As she floored the gas pedal, the car felt unstable.

    Someone had shed her tires in less than a minute after she got out, clearly not intending to let her leave tonight. Cold sweat coated Brielle''s palms, her heart raced, and she immediately contacted her emergency number. But she had forgotten. Her emergency contact was Max.

 Chapter 783

    When she saw the number dialing out, she froze for a moment but didn''t hang up.

    She recalled the spat she''d had with Max, theirmunication severed by someone else''s doing. The text message that came through from Aubree wasn''t really Aubree. Then, it meant someone had hijacked Aubree''s phone. It''s the top-tier hacker Patrick had mentioned.

    It seemed she had wrongfully used Andrewst time. Maybe Andrew had indeed infected her phone with a virus, but he hadn''t tried to control it.

    Brielle heard a voice on the other end, but it wasn''t Max''s - just a jumble of noises.

    She was about to speak when she felt her car falter once more. She was a long way from Pearl Estate and even farther from the bustling city center.

    She and Aubree had managed to avoid being sandwiched by two carsst time, but now one of her tires had blown, making a strange noise. If the car behind kept up the chase, she would be forced to stop sooner orter. She had to save herself.

    At least until Max arrived, she had to save herself.

    She floored the gas pedal and nced in the rearview mirror. Only one car was in pursuit.

    With an almost robotic decisiveness, Brielle stopped the car, abandoned it, grabbed her phone, and dashed into the dense woods nearby.

    The stretch of road was wellndscaped, connecting to thergest mountain in Beaconsfield. Now, under the cover of night, she could use the foliage for cover, buying herself time.

    Brielle ran wildly forward, her breath forming white clouds in the night air.

    She left the car because there was just one vehicle chasing her. Since the driver hadn''t rammed her yet, she surmised they were confident she wouldn''t get away tonight. The certainty of those chasing her meant there was a greater danger ahead!

    Abandoning the car was the smartest move. It bought her time.

    Her foot slipped on an unstable rock, and she tumbled down the hillside. Her phone fell to one side. She struggled to reach for it, her body wracked with pain.

    All around her, silence prevailed as if all sound had vanished. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and with bloodied fingertips, she reached for her phone. Her eyes quivered, seeing that the call was still connected.

    "Max,"

    In the next instant, the phone slipped further down, tumbling into the abyss.

    Brielle could only watch the light of the screen fade, blinking as the echo came from far below after a long dy.

    There was no way to retrieve her phone now. It had fallen into a deep ravine left over from an old road. construction project. Going down there with her injuries would mean certain death.

    Brielle took a deep breath and got to her feet, heading in a different direction. Though only superficially wounded, every movement made her face turn pale with pain. She stopped to catch her breath, sweat streaming down her forehead.

    Suddenly, something sharp pressed against her back, and she tensed up, swallowing hard.

    Murray''s voice drifted through the air, tinged with regret. "Ms. Brielle, you''re quite clever, but s, your cleverness has brought you this fatal trouble."

    After all, it wasn''t just Anniey who

    wanted her dead tonight. Mrs. Barnes had also sent people. Dozens more were searching above. Even if Brielle escaped his grasp, she wouldn''t get away from the hands of the Barnes family.

    Brielle didn''t move, recognizing the voice of the man she had narrowly escaped from earlier.

    Even though she had managed to slip away from him once, his demeanor had always been one of rxed superiority, like a cat toying with a mouse.

    The gleaming de of a dagger had already pierced her clothing and was a second away from prating her heart.

    Brielle lowered her eyes, then looked up at him with a smile. "I''m about to die. Let me at least die with some understanding. May I ask who you are?"

    Murray actually quite admired

    Brielle. If she hadn''t left her car, she would have faced certain death, as Mrs. Barnes'' people were blocking the way. Mrs. Barnes'' stance was clear Brielle had to die tonight.

    He had even thought he might not need to lift a finger, but then he saw Brielle stop the car and dart into the forest.

    He didn''t know what had tipped her off, but her guess was spot on.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Getting out of the car had bought her time to strategize; otherwise, she was on a path to certain death.

    "My name''s Murray."

    He responded simply.

 Chapter 784

    As soon as the words had left his lips, a small silver pistol was pressed against his chest.

    "Bang!"

    Brielle watched the man slowly fall to the ground. She did not have a chance to fire again since the shot had already given away her position.

    She shoved the gun up her sleeve and, with leaden legs, continued to move forward.

    Murrayy on the ground, staring in disbelief.

    Ten minutester, Annie arrived by his side. Murray wasn''t as quick on his feet as the rest, but in the final moment before Brielle fired, he had managed to dodge just enough.

    It wasn''t a fatal wound. A prompt visit to the hospital would see to its healing.

    Annie sighed and crouched beside him. "Murray, do you know why you failed tonight?"

    Murray remained silent, just gazing at her obsessively, in a daze. "Because you saw Brielle''s face, and you hesitated for a few seconds. Seems I''ve got quite the hold on you, huh, Murray?" She reached out, her fingertip gently touching his cheek.

    Like a dog begging for mercy with its tail between its legs, he still had noints as he stared at her.

    Annie patted his cheek with the palm of her hand. "I told you before, Murray. Don''t let emotions get in the way. You''re no longer fit for this, but don''t worry. I''ll make sure Brielle pays for this." Her dagger slowly touched Murray''s throat, and beneath his incredulous gaze, she sliced through.

    Blood sttered.

    The light in Murray''s eyes went out forever.

    Annie stood up, staring at the blood that had stained her dagger red.

    A hound that couldn''t measure up had only one fate.

    Frowning, she tried to kick his body into the ravine, but his hand was clutching the hem of her pants. So tightly that even in death, he hadn''t let go.

    Annie frowned, annoyed, and cut the fabric to free herself, which dyed her pursuit of Brielle.

    She headed in the direction where Brielle had vanished.

    The more she walked, the more an unfamiliar restlessness grew within her. Annie didn''t understand what was happening to her, so after running a hundred meters, she inexplicably turned back.

    She returned to where Murray had fallen, only to find no one there. Just a few torn pieces of fabricy on the ground, and some bent grass at the edge of the ravine.

    It looked like he had fallen down and was gone for good.

    Annie took out a piece of candy, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth. She chewed hard, but somehow, the candy didn''t taste as sweet as it used to.

    She turned back to pursue Brielle. It was Brielle who had caused Murray''s death, so she had to kill Brielle to avenge him.

    At this moment, Brielle was

    breathless and ran as fast as she could. But her vision was getting blurrier. She had not been feeling well these past few days, and now she had pushed beyond her body''s

    limits.

    She found herself beneath arge boulder in a daze, feeling the world sway before her. Then, her body followed the boulder down in a fall.

    She had no energy left to run or to struggle. A severe pain struck her head as if she had hit something hard, then darkness enveloped her, and she passed outpletely.

    Max was spending the evening at the Dorsey family mansion. Martha had just beenid to rest, bringing together many distant rtives of the Dorseys. The Barnes family and business partners of the Dorseys hade as well.

    The mansion, typically closed to outsiders, was exceptionally crowded tonight due to Martha''s passing.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

    Martha''s funeral was brief, and Max had not opted for a traditional wake.

    He had hoped for a quiet end, but rtives began to arrive in droves after the interment, so the mansion was unusually bustling this evening.

    He sat in silence just below the seat of honor, overhearing someone introducing a new suitor to Michael-a girl who had just turned eighteen.

    Max said nothing, and neither did Victoria.

    Martha was their birth mother, and by rights, they had the most say. However, such affairs were all toomon in high society, and after all, Martha herself had married into the Dorseys in a simr way. She had outlived Michael''s previous wife, ultimately bing thestdy of the Dorsey family.

    Max''s face was somber amidst the noise, and he didn''t notice the ring of his phone as he inadvertently answered the call, nor did he nce down.

    Daisy had evene over to offer

    ???

    him a drink personally. She was Martha''s dearest friend and also Max''s elder, so he couldn''t refuse the gesture. He raised his ss in a token sip, epting the drinkin front of him.

    As Daisy witnessed his action, a glint passed through her eyes, and the corner of her mouth curled into a smile.

 Chapter 785

    The drink had been spiked, and Max was feeling particrly on edge tonight. His usual vignce was dulled amidst the chaos stirred up by the distant rtives who had gathered. Thest thing he would have expected was for someone to tamper with his beverage at his mother''s wake.

    But Daisy felt not an ounce of guilt. As Martha''s closest confidante, she was determined to fulfill herte friend''s dying wish.

    Martha had been explicit about her desires. Max was to marry Alivia, and only then would Alivia be the happiest woman on earth.

    A smug smile danced at the corners of Daisy''s lips as she watched the proceedings.

    Alivia had been under her wing for many years, raised with all the privileges the Barnes family could offer. She had blossomed into the cream of Beaconsfield society, Daisy''s pride and joy. What Alivia wanted, the Barnes family provided, sparing no expense. Daisy had been generous with the best education and resources.

    Now that Martha was gone, it was Daisy''s responsibility to see her daughter''s dreams realized.

    "Max, you''ve been through a lot these past few days, and you look exhausted," Daisy said. "Why don''t you go get some rest?"

    Max despised crowds and was wary of the rtives with their ulterior motives. They had seized the opportunity of Martha''s passing to start introducing neers to Michael.

    To curry favor with Michael could mean a world of difference. It meant possibly rising from the ranks of the distant rtives and breaking into the Beaconsfield elite-a chance at unimaginable wealth.

    Max nodded at Daisy and rose to leave. He had intended to return to the Premier Pce, but the butler intercepted him midway, informing him that a room had been prepared for him.

    Feeling off-color and weary, Max was also aware that returning to the Premier Pce meant facing the absence of Brielle.

    The mere thought of her tightened his chest, and his eyes began to burn inexplicably.

    Led by the butler, Max retired to his room, but it wasn''t just his eyes that felt the heat. His entire body was soon aze.

    His brow furrowed as his consciousness began to blur, and through the haze, a figure appeared in the doorway-a woman.

    Max raised a hand to his forehead, but suddenly, a pair of cool hands were on his temples.

    "Does this help a bit, Max?" a voice whispered.

    The drugs in Max''s drink-one to muddle his mind, the other a hallucinogen-were no low-grade concoctions, especially not when Daisy was the one who''d procured them. The face before him morphed into Brielle''s, and it wasing closer.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    His frown deepened. The scent wasn''t Brielle''s. She never wore perfume, always carrying a natural fragrance either from her shampoo or her body wash, never contrived. He tried to push the person away, but her hand slipped down, fumbling with his suit buttons.

    "Get off!" his voice was a sharpmand, his eyes shing with cold fury as he stood up to leave.

    A pair of arms wrapped around his waist.

    "Max, please, I need you," pleaded the voice, which Alivia had disguised to sound desperate. She had even dressed in Brielle''s style, down to the makeup.

    Under the influence of the drugs, she believed Max couldn''t resist.

    Max reached for the door, only to find it locked tight.

    The dizziness in his head intensified,

    and as he tried to shake off the woman clinging to him, she shamelessly began to moan louder, intent on attracting attention whatever scandal they were supposedly enacting.

    This was definitely not Brielle!

    Brielle would never stoop so low.

    "Let go!" he demanded, his blood boiling, yet Alivia twined around him like a serpent, her moans bing morescivious.

    She was nothing like the sophisticateddy she was groomed to be.

    A fierce look crossed Max''s eyes, but the drugs sapped his strength.

    Triumph shone in Alivia''s eyes, sure that the drugs were beyond even the best doctors'' ability to counteract. They would soon have Max begging for relief.

    She couldn''t wait and used her sultry voice to lure him, wishing he would pounce on her without dy.

    A sharp pain shot through Max''s

    head, aggravated by the woman''s moans In a fit of anger, he knocked

    over a vase, grabbed a shard of broken porcin, and dragged it across his palm.

    The pain brought a moment of

    rity, and as he saw the woman before him clearly for the first time,

    Max felt an urge to strike

    ve

    her something utterly against his upbringing.

    Despicable, vile, shameless.

 Chapter 786

    "Get lost!"

    The words spewed from his lips for the second time as he shoved the figure away from him.

    Alivia tumbled to the floor with a thud, her elbow swelling with pain from the impact. Tonight was her golden opportunity. The room was locked tight, and Max was under the influence of two different meds. If she couldn''t take him down now, she''d be facing hisplete disdain in the future.

    "Max!"

    Max had already grabbed a chair next to him, hurling it at the room''s window.

    No wonder he''d felt uneasy since entering the room. The door and windows were sealed shut. His palms were smeared with blood, a testament to his forceful action that shattered the window.

    ss shards littered the floor as Alivia''s cries turned into screams.

    The butler had chosen a ground-floor room for him that night, and with his long legs, Max vaulted out with ease. He didn''t look back at Alivia. He just felt utterly disgusted.

    He had never experienced such revulsion before.

    Max stumbled a few steps forward and finally encountered Patrick.

    Patrick quickly steadied him, his eyes wide with shock. "Sir?"

    "Take me back to Premier Pce."

    Patrick nodded vigorously, a flicker of anger in his eyes. Had they been yed?

    While the Dorsey family mourned the death of Martha, some distant rtive was pushing Michael for a new girl while someone else drugged Max.

    What a filthy nest the upper crust turned out to be.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

    Sometimes, the pinnacle of education, resources, and wealth didn''t equate to perfection. In such circles, privilege was taken for granted from the moment it was enjoyed, with ttery and societal favor bing expectations. Humanity fades, and personal gain takes the throne.

    Max settled into the car, a wave of unease washing over him. His forehead was slick with sweat, both hot and ufortable.

    When he pulled out his phone, the sight of Brielle''s call log made his vision swim.

    It had to be a trick, right?

    She was so heartless and had even rejected his whispers of a secret rtionship. Why on earth would she reach out to him?

    Brielle''s heart was colder than

    anyone''s Her time with him was solely to get back at Spencer. He was nothing but a blunt instrument, a tool for her vendetta against the Dorsey family. en FindNovel

    Max blinked away the haze, resisting the urge to look closer, yet his trembling fingers dialed the number anyway. The phone was off.

    At least he wasn''t blocked. He had half-expected her to cut off all contact after her ruthless goodbye.

    Thinking back on the day''s events, a bitter smile spread across Max''s lips.

    He had hoped to keep their only connection through Ster Stage Entertainment, only to learn that it had be a privately-heldpany, free from Dorsey O International''s clutches.

    Who else could orchestrate such a move but Brielle?

    She hadid her ns well in advance. Was this her escape route?

    Max felt a surge of rage that came from being used and then callously discarded. If it was all about him, why couldn''t she do it thoroughly?

    She could use him for a lifetime.

    moving

    But for Brielle, there was probably never a thought of a lifetime.

    That ruthless woman...

    Max closed his eyes, his chest heaving with a turmoil that refused to settle.

    The heat of his body, coupled with the chill that spread through him at thoughts of Brielle, tormented him.

    He leaned back in the car seat, finally instructing Patrick. "Patrick, track down Brielle''s location."

    Nowadays, hardly anyone turned off their phone unless something was up.

    What if something had happened to her? He couldn''t gamble on that one-in-a-million chance.

    Max closed his eyes, feeling a warmth that wasn''t just from the fever.

    He could never harden his heart against Brielle, yet she showed him no mercy.

 Chapter 787

    Patrick nced at him through the rearview mirror, noting how his breathing was shaky from distress. He nodded swiftly in acknowledgment. "Alright, boss."

    Patrick floored the elerator, but his first call wasn''t to track down Brielle''s whereabouts. Instead, he rang the family doctor to meet them at Premier Pce before making another call to initiate the search for Brielle.

    By the time Max arrived at Premier Pce, the doctor was already there, a look of surprise evident on his face. Over the years, Max had faced his share of underhanded tactics, but this was the first time he seemed so tormented by a drug''s effects, indicating a potent dose. For an ordinary man, confusion would have already blurred the lines between friend and foe. The family doctor, seasoned by various crises, recalled a drug that had once made a well-mannered gentleman nearly attack his own brother in public. Shuddering at the memory, the doctor hastily administered an antidote to Max.

    Max kept his eyes closed, darkness swirling inside them like a vortex, threatening to drag him deeper. He leaned back against the couch, his Adam''s apple bobbing as he asked Patrick.

    "Have you found her location?"

    Patrick was about to say they hadn''t received any updates when his phone rang. He pressed the answer button without hesitation.

    "Patrick, we''ve located Ms. Brielle. But it''s not good news-the car the boss sent for her is abandoned on the outskirts of town. There''s been a lot of activity out there tonight, and it''s likely that Ms. Brielle..."

    A shiver ran down Patrick''s spine as he ryed the information to Max.

    Max''s eyshes quivered violently, and from somewhere, he summoned the strength to stand.

    "Let''s go."

    "But boss, you''re not well..."

    The doctor looked on, troubled. Given the drug''s effect on Max, the dosage must have been massive, perhaps aplex blend of substances. Even with his strong will, a breakdown seemed imminent. "Max, you should stay and rest."

    But before he could finish, Max was already striding out the door, leaving Patrick with no choice but to follow swiftly.

    Max''s presence was icy, the air around him seemingly solidifying into frost. Patrick felt chilled to the bone just sharing the same space with him.

    They drove to where Brielle''s car was abandoned. Evening had fallen, and the dim streetlights made the area look like a prime spot for foul y. Max saw his men searching for Brielle but was not reassured. He grabbed a shlight and decided to search himself.

    Patrick, unable to dissuade him, followed closely, fearing Max might copse due to the drugs.

    Thorns and underbrush surrounded them, and Max felt a growing chill in his heart, overpowering the drug''s effects until all he could feel was an endless cold.

    Brielle...

    He quickened his pace and then, at the edge of a ravine, he found her gun. It was custom-made for her by Jaired to fit her hand perfectly. Max squatted down to pick up the gun, noting the bloodstains on it. His eyes, dark already, now flickered with a tinge of madness. "Check down there."

    His voice was hoarse as he clutched the firearm tightly. The ravine was steep, and finding a way down was not easy.

    After a long search, Max found a narrow path. But the recent spring rain had made it slippery, and his dress shoes lost their grip. He slipped and tumbled down.

    "Sir!"

    Patrick cried out in panic. He was about to leap after him when a beam of light revealed Max picking up the shlight from the ground. "I''m fine."

    Patrick sighed in relief, his eyes reddening as he hurried down to join him.From N?velDrama.Org.

    Max''s expensive suit jacket was smeared with leaves and mud, but he didn''t have the luxury of concerning himself with his attire. He moved forward.

    Patrick was speechless. This was

    the second time he''d seen the boss

    so disheveled. The first was the night Ms. Brielle had broken things off with him, when he had returned from the graveyard with his trouser hems caked in mud.

    Both times, it was because of Ms. Brielle.

 Chapter 788

    Patrick''s heart felt like it was being wrung out. He didn''t say a word, just followed behind in a heavy silence.

    Max hadn''t gone far when he spotted a man on the ground, gunshot wound fresh and throat shed, having fallen from a great height. Yet, miraculously, the man was still alive.

    Patrick called for reinforcements, and soon, help arrived to handle the situation. Max didn''t stop; his mind was set on finding Brielle.

    He trudged along the muddy path for nearly a mile before he finally spotted her silhouette. If his need to find Brielle had been strong before, now he wished with every fiber of his being that it wasn''t her lying there.

    Shey still, her head resting in a dark pool of blood. Max felt like the world had gone silent. He moved instinctively closer, bending down to touch her hand, terrified it would be as cold as death.

    His fingertips pulled back, eyes wide with shock, sorrow, and panic. Patrick quickly stepped in, cing a finger under Brielle''s nose to check for breath. Max, unable to speak, watched him desperately.

    His body, which had been fueled by adrenaline, now felt icy cold. He had imagined countless ways to reunite with Brielle, but never like this. He tried to speak but found himself mute. Slowly, cautiously, he reached out and touched Brielle''s palm. It was cold, devoid of warmth.

    Max lowered his gaze, grasping her hand in his, exhaling a warm breath, trying to will his heat into her. What if Brielle was gone? What if she was truly dead? What then?

    "She''s still breathing, sir," Patrick confirmed, his own heart heavy at the sight.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.

    Max''s eyes clung to hope as he tried to lift Brielle, but his arms felt like overcooked spaghetti. As Brielle slipped from his grasp, he gathered her up again, only for her to slip once more. His strength had abandoned him, his body paralyzed by an overwhelming terror that clouded all thought.

    Unable to bear the sight, Patrick crouched down. "Let me carry Ms. Brielle. They''re ready for us back there. She''s got a severe head injury. We can''t waste any time."

    Max nodded, summoning all his strength to help position Brielle onto Patrick''s back. His legs gave way, leaving him barely able to stand as he rasped, "Go ahead."

    Patrick nodded and hurried back the

    way they came. Max waited until he could feel his limbs again before rising from the cold stone, leaning against a tree for support, feeling as though his chest was being torn apart. He had never experienced such raw agony, as if his bones were being ground to dust.

    vel

    Max staggered forward, tripped, and the shlight he carried broke, plunging his surroundings into darkness. With an exceptional memory, he recalled the exact number of steps he had taken. Discarding the broken shlight, he relied on the feeble moonlight to find his way back.

    He felt something cold on his face and looked up, expecting rain, but the sky was clear. How strange. He had lived for twenty-six years but had never felt such intense emotion.

    By the roadside, the car that had brought Brielle had already left, leaving behind people waiting for Max. When Max finally arrived, everyone was taken aback by his disheveled appearance-his once pristine clothes now soiled, his expensive shoes caked with mud.

    "Sir, please, get into the car."

    Max remained silent, climbing into

    the vehicle with a quiet dignity that was both heartbreaking and imposing. When Max reached the hospital, Brielle was already in the emergency room. He didn''t bother changing clothes, sitting stoically as

    doctors and nurses bustled around

    him.

    At dawn, Brielle was wheeled out. Max stood, his throat too tight to ask anything, feeling as though a blockage was suffocating him. He watched in silence as Brielle was moved to the ICU-a ce his mother had never returned from just days ago. Insisting on a protective suit, Max was determined to stay by her side. For three days, he didn''t blink, didn''t eat, didn''t drink, holding her hand as if that alone could bring her back to consciousness.

 Chapter 789

    Three dayster, the test results showed Brielle was stable, at least for now. The doctor wheeled her into a regr ward, and for the first time in days, Max felt the tension in his body start to ease. But then came the pounding headache and the all-over ache that made him feel like he''d been hit by a truck.

    Blinking to clear the sting from his tired eyes, he dragged himself to the ward. Seeing Brielle''s pale face lying there, all his previous pain seemed like nothingpared to the gut-wrenching agony he felt now.

    Patrick walked in and saw Max looking like he''d been through hell-bloodshot eyes, stubble on his chin, and his hand gripping Brielle''s like he''d never let go.

    "Any updates?" Max asked, his voice tight, still gently rubbing Brielle''s hand.

    Patrick hesitated before finally whispering, "It was Mrs. Barnes. She kept you busy that night and sent someone to mess with Ms. Brielle, so..."

    The Barnes family was deeply intertwined with the Dorsey family. Max was friends with Kenzo, so even though Mrs. Barnes had crossed a line, retaliating against the Barnes family would be a big deal. Patrick''s mind was a whirl of concerns, but then Max asked, "What about Alivia?"

    Max''s eyes shed with undisguised disgust at the mention of her. He kissed Brielle''s palm, trying to use her touch to chase away the loathing gnawing at him.

    "After you left, sir, Ms. Alivia told everyone you two had, well, ''sealed the deal,'' and she hoped your father would bless your union. She even said you got a little too friendly after a few drinks. He bought it and approved your marriage to Ms. Alivia on the spot." Rage that had been simmering inside Max started to show. His lips curled into a thin, dangerous smile. "Is that so?"N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

    Patrick stood there, stunned by the sheer force of Max''s silent fury. Max''s anger was always quiet, like now, as he calmly picked up a nail clipper and started trimming Brielle''s nails with meticulous care.

    Her nails had gotten a bit long, and Max had been diligently cleaning cher hands these past few days. Her palm was much smaller than his, pale and soft, no longer as cold as that night.

    Still, his heart felt like it was being squeezed by a thousand thorns, each one digging deeper into his soul.

    After he finished, he wrapped the clippings in a tissue and tossed them in the trash. His eyes were dark and intense, a cold air around him that felt like it could freeze over.

    "Patrick," he said in an icy calm voice, "tell the media that Alivia and Kenzo aren''t actually Barnes family children. Let the Barnes family deal with that chaos."

    Just a few words from Max could ruin the Barnes family. Patrick thought he might be hearing things, his body cold with shock. But if Max said it, it had to be true. Why? What was really going on?

    Patrick didn''t dare ask. Max was focused on Brielle, still wiping her fingertips with a handkerchief. Her hands were clean enough, but to Max, they were still tainted, as if they were smeared with blood.

    He wanted to scrub away the scent of blood, but he couldn''t erase the fear inside him. He couldn''t go through it again.

    His gaze was icy and dark, filled with a brooding intensity. He couldn''t bear to see her lying there, silent and vulnerable, anymore.

    If they were heading towards disaster, he''d join her in it.

    When Patrick left the hospital, his head was buzzing, but he didn''t dare disobey Max''s orders. He called the press and told them to release the news in half an hour, making sure it would be broadcast everywhere.

    Beaconsfield was about to be thrown into chaos.

 Chapter 790

    The Barnes household had been in chaos since Daisy returned from the Dorsey residence. Although Michael had publicly agreed to the union of Alivia and Max, Max himself had been conspicuously absent. On the day of the fateful incident, when they burst into the room, they found Alivia crying on Max''s bed, a small red stain on the sheets. She imed Max, intoxicated, had taken advantage of her. Present were members from both the Dorsey and Barnes families, and the consensus was that marriage was the best resolution to the scandal. Yet, Daisy couldn''t shake a feeling of unease. So, she had Alivia summoned back to the house.

    Alivia had been glowing these past few days, confident that the announcement of their engagement was imminent. Even if Max objected, the decision was out of his hands once their parents made the news public. Throwing herself into Daisy''s arms with a coquettish giggle, she said, "Mom, I really owe you one."

    Daisy looked at her with a tender gaze. "Oh, you''ve been so fixated on Max all these years, making me pull this stunt. Don''t you dare be this headstrong again."

    Alivia smiled, but inside she felt a twinge of resentment. Even with Max drugged that night, he had resisted her. Did she hold no allure in his eyes at all?

    In Beaconsfield, plenty of wealthy suitors vied for her attention, yet Max had always been dismissive of her advances, forcing her to fabricate the scene that night.

    Still, in the end, she got what she wanted: the marriage was set.

    "Alivia, what''s Kenzo been up totely?" Daisy inquired, feeling a headacheing on at the thought of her elusive son.

    "Mom, Kenzo''s work thrives on inspiration. He travels the world, and once he catches that creative spark, he locks himself away, working tirelessly. He''s either seeking inspiration or on his way to find it," Alivia said with satisfaction. Though not born a Barnes, she was treated as one, with all the affection from her parents and brother, who had little interest in the family''s assets, ensuring that most of the Barnes fortune would be hers.

    Her smile widened, and she thought of how her rtionship with Max would only solidify her position as the darling of both families. She didn''t

    ''t worry about Max''s current indifference; marriage was for life, and she had time to win his love.

    Just then, a servant burst into the room, breathless. "Madame! There''s been an incident!"

    Daisy''s hands stilled from stroking Alivia''s hair, her brows furrowing. "What happened?"

    The servant hesitated, simply murmuring, "Please, check the trending news."

    Both women were puzzled by the panic, but as they opened the hot news of the day, a chill ran down Alivia''s spine.

    Daisy stood frozen, her phone slipping from her grasp. She headed for the door, demanding, "Where''s Collin? Where is he?"

    Collin, her husband, was the Barnes family patriarch''s eldest son.

    "He is on his way back, the old man has returned, and so have the Barnes rtives. They''re making a scene, demanding answers," the servant exined.

    The Barnes extended family had always envied Collin''s position, and the breaking news yed right into their hands. They had stormed the family estate, moring for Collin to exin. en FindNovel

    Jose Barnes sat with a throbbing headache as the mor surrounded him. He could not fathom the. revtion that his cherished grandchildren, Kenzo and Alivia,

    were not of Barnes blood.

    He turned to Daisy, his expression darkening. "Daisy, exin this."

    Daisy swallowed hard, bewildered by the leak of her deepest secrets, never questioned in over two decades.

    Suddenly, a mug shattered nearby, and Jose''s anger surged. "Exin to me, who are Kenzo and Alivia''s real parents?"

    Daisy copsed to her knees, her forehead slick with cold sweat. Her darkest secrets exposed, her standing within the Barnes family was utterly destroyed.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.

 Chapter 791

    In the Barnes family, the recent revtion had kicked up a storm. For over two decades, the uneven distribution of resources had simmered with resentment. The bombshell that the two most promising heirs weren''t even Barnes blood was a scandal that rocked the high society of Beaconsfield. It was a disgrace that threatened to undermine the family''s standing in themunity. How could the Barnes name retain its prestige in Beaconsfield now?

    Daisy, forehead slick with sweat, dared not utter a word in her defense. Alivia, kneeling beside her, was utterly dumbfounded. Just recently, she had been relieved that their secret had remained undiscovered, but now, it wasid bare for all to see.

    The shock that Kenzo, her brother, was also not a true Barnes had her reeling. "What on earth is going on?" she wondered fearfully, leaning closer to Daisy for support, while Jose, red-faced with anger, bellowed for Collin.

    "Collin! Get him back here now!"

    The Barnes estate descended into chaos, with family membersshing out at Daisy and Alivia with every insult under the sun. The suppressed anger of years was unleashed with a vengeance, fingers practically jabbing in the faces of the two women. Collin arrived soon after, his shock surpassing everyone else''s. To find out that his star son and the daughter he''d painstakingly raised had no ties to him was shattering.

    "You! You"

    The usuallyposed man fainted from sheer fury.

    Jose could only look at Daisy with disgust. With this scandal breaking, the Barnes family, known for their etiquette and historical schrship, would struggle to hold their ground. This would be the joke of the inner circle, and the support they used to receive would likely be diverted elsewhere.

    "Daisy, leave. The Barnes family has no ce for you," he said coldly.

    Daisy remained on her knees, the events unfolding too rapidly toprehend.

    Alivia''s mind was nk, but she couldn''t help trying to defend herself. "Grandfather, my achievements have nothing to do with my birth. I am still the youngest manager at the research institute. Besides, I''m about to marry Max, and then-"

    But before she could finish, someone burst in, their face a mask of panic.

    "Mr. Barnes, Dorsey International has issued an official statement. They im Mr. Dorsey never had any rtions with Ms. Alivia, and all rumors suggesting otherwise are the product of her unrequited affections. They also rified that Mr. Dorsey has admitted to pursuing someone he truly likes, but the

    feelings are not yet reciprocated."

    Max had never bothered with an official social media presence, his private ount following only Brielle, unverified and hidden behind a string of random characters.

    The statement from Dorsey

    International was carefully worded,

    almost bluntly stating there was no rtionship between Max and Alivia. It went on to exin the origin of the rosary, a gift from Max''s mother Martha, given to Alivia during better times. The announcement also highlighted that the rosary had been intended for the woman Max truly cared for, but it was returned to him when she didn''t share his feelings.

    As a final blow, the statement made it clear that Alivia''s maniptive tactics, borne out of unrequited love, had severed any remaining ties with them.

    Attached was a toxicology report from Max''s medical examination, the implications of which were clear to anyone who understood.

    Alivia''s reputation plummeted. The public outcry was immediate, calling for her removal from her prestigious position. Her misuse of substances and moral failings made her unfit to lead, they argued. The government responded promptly, announcing they would consider a new candidate for her position.

    Given Max''s stature-a man who''d

    shunned public attention, whose image was scarce, save for a dated photograph his word carried weight. There was no need for

    someone of his caliber to falseFrom N?velDrama.Org.

    use a woman. It was evident he hadn''t given much thought to Alivia''s earlier insinuations online, but her recent actions, especially so soon after his mother''s death, were nothing short of reprehensible.

    The twisted scheme was too vile for words. How could someone stoop so low?

 Chapter 792

    A few days ago, the media dropped a bombshell with a snapshot of Max''s silhouette, breaking hearts left and right.

    Alivia had been professing her love for Max, but behind his back, she was up to some seriously shady stuff. No wonder Dorsey International''s top brass felt the need to step in and set things straight-they were absolutely furious! "Unbelievable, the audacity of her! Mr. Dorsey has always kept quiet, but this must''ve really hit a nerve!"

    "I thought they were a match made in heaven! What a joke! Alivia, do you even deserve Max?!"

    "Mr. Dorsey deserves way better. She''s not worth the drama. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil, no wonder thepany had to speak up."

    "Alivia always portrayed herself as Miss Perfect online, but who would''ve guessed this was her true face? My heart goes out to Mr. Dorsey. I hope he finds his true love soon."

    Thanks to the official statement, Max was painted as a humble admirer right from the start. Support for Max to find someone who truly appreciated him was overwhelming. Even Dorsey International''s stock prices soared. Meanwhile, Alivia''s legs gave out beneath her as she read the online tirades against her. Her lips trembled, but she couldn''t form a coherent word.

    How could this be happening?

    How?!

    Her teeth clenched, eyes filled with resentment.

    That damned Brielle! What did she have that made Max go to such lengths?!

    It was Brielle who shamelessly threw herself at Max, not the other way around!

    Cursed be the day!

    Envy twisted her features into a grotesque mask.

    The Barnes family had had enough of her excuses, and Jose, in a rage, threw her out on the street.

    Thinking of Kenzo, who had yet to show up, Jose felt a stab of pain in his chest, nearly passing out with the strain.

    The entertainment industry was in an uproar, Beaconsfield turned upside down in the blink of an eye!

    Daisy and Alivia were out of the Barnes'' favor.

    The nation stepped in, announcing a recast for the role of the manager of the research institute.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.

    Infinity Brilliance, a major investor, was inevitably drawn into the fray, rushing to handle the situation domestically.

    In one day, the inte was aze with an unprecedented fervor, the number of participants in the discussion breaking the hundred million mark. This was the most-watched drama in history.

    The outcry against Alivia drowned out all othermentary!

    Spiking someone''s drink on the day of their mother''s funeral was she a monster?!

    But no matter the chaos outside,

    Brielle''s hospital room remained et

    serene the only sound being the medical monitors beeping rhythmically.

    The doctors couldn''t say when she would wake up-maybe tomorrow, maybe a month, maybe never.

    Max held her hand, his eyes red-rimmed.

    As evening fell, Daisy''s hysterical voice pierced the calm.

    "Max! Come out here! Max! Show your face!"

    Her voice was hoarse, worn thin by her descent from bliss to hell in a day. She was on the verge of a breakdown.

    Max ignored her, gently covering Brielle''s ears with his hands.

    Even though Brielle couldn''t hear anything in heratose state, he didn''t want the barking outside to disturb her rest. Daisy''s criessted only minutes before security dragged her away, banishing her from the hospital. Shivering, Daisy couldn''t believe Max would go so far as to ruin Alivia. How dare he!

    Did he not fear the repercussions if the truth about his origins within the Dorsey family came to light? Damn it all!

    She was ready to burn it all down, but as the thought crossed her mind, a man appeared beside her.

    Standing before her with a smirk, he said, "I''d advise Mrs. Temperance to reconsider. You''re down and out, and the boss can do whatever he pleases. Before you spill any secrets, you''ll likely end up dead in some forgotten alley. So, keep quiet, because as it stands, you''ve only lost your reputation-you still have your wealth. Once you lose your life, you''ve got nothing left."

    Daisy paled, her teeth clenched in fury.

    This man was Max''s-what did this mean? Had Max known all her secrets all along? Impossible!

    How could he have found out?

    In that moment, Daisy realized that none of them truly knew Max. He had always maintained a dignified facade, not bothering to deal with

    anyone beneath him. But when truly angered, no one could stand in his way.

    QUMS

    She had hired a hit on Brielle, stepping over the line, provoking his wrath.

    Brielle, what made her worthy of such devotion?

 Chapter 793

    Daisy''s heart pounded so fiercely she could hardly believe how quickly her life had spiraled out of control. Even Alivia, whom she had vowed to protect, was left exposed because of her failure. Damn it!

    She couldn''t wrap her head around how Max could be so heartless. Even if he didn''t have feelings for Alivia, after all these years, the least he could do was show some decency. Now, with all the vilements online, how was Alivia supposed to face the world? Was she to be a recluse?

    Daisy''s lips trembled as she rasped, "I need to talk to him! If he keeps up this ruthless campaign against Alivia, I swear I''ll spill that secret!"

    A flicker of murderous intent crossed the man''s eyes as he stepped closer. "Mrs. Winston, I think you''re missing something. Max has no desire topete with the Beaconsfields or any other family. He sees them as beneath him. The wealth he amassed on Wall Street has long surpassed the Dorsey family''s legacy. Do you really think he fears losing his position as heir?"

    Daisy was frozen in ce, speechless. No one knew exactly how much wealth Max had umted during his Wall Street days. At sixteen, he orchestrated thergest acquisition the world had ever seen, and while everyone focused on his genius, few delved into his actual fortune.

    Maybe it wasn''t that no one tried to dig deeper, but rather that they found nothing. Was Max, at only sixteen or seventeen, already that formidable?

    A chill crept up Daisy''s spine, making her feel icy cold. She wanted tough hysterically but couldn''t.

    Max! She had truly underestimated him.

    "So what if Max is formidable! Even if he turns into a mad dog, he''s still willingly leashed, and Brielle holds the other end of that leash! He will regret it, not choosing an exceptional girl like Alivia. Instead, he wasted his affection on a tramp. He will regret it!" Daisy''s voice echoed through the empty space, but no one cared to listen anymore. After her outburst, she began to sob, covering her face with her hands.

    The Barnes family had cast her aside, her husband was pushing for a divorce - was it her fault she couldn''t bear a child? Then, a spark of realization lit up her eyes. She still had Kenzo!

    Kenzo would surely remember the years of care she had provided. Without her, Kenzo would have starved to death. They had warned her when they handed Kenzo off- the child would die if discovered by others. She had given Kenzo life; surely, he would stand by her.

    With gritted teeth and eyes full of resentment, she thought of Martha, who would never know the ironic twist her sacrifices had led to. How utterlyughable! Meanwhile...

    Alivia was holed up in her house, too afraid to answer the phone or face anyone, locking her doors tight. The online abuse was too much for her to bear She couldn''t, she wouldn''t look at it. Just a short while ago, she was confidently fielding interviews with the media, and now she had be an object of public scorn.

    Tears streamed down her cheeks as she bit her lip, silent in her anguish. Since her return, her phone hadn''t stopped ringing; it seemed the whole industry was waiting to mock her downfall, with the media eager for a juicy story. Her eyes reddened with frustration, her chest trembling. Her lips bled from biting, her palms stained with blood. That morning, she had thought she''d marry Max as she had wished, only to be met with a cruel twist of fate. She felt as if she was choking on blood, and finally, unable to hold it in, she spat it out and crumpled to the floor, weak and kneeling. Her tears smeared across her face, she never imagined she''d see such a day.

    She had thought the worst-case

    scenario was Max never loving her, but at least she would maintain her status as Mrs. Dorsey International She never anticipated that her most disgraceful moment would be exposed by the man she loved, in such a brutal manner. And the woman she loathed most was now adored by him, pursued so humbly?

    Ha! What a farce!This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.

 Chapter 794

    Alivia''s eyes were zing with hatred as she screamed and smashed everything in her room, like a madwomanpletely losing it. Shards of porcin scattered across the floor, but she seemed numb to the pain, kicking wildly and yelling in rage. Her voice didn''t even

    sound human anymore; it was more like the primal roar of an animal pushed to its limits.

    The room was a total wreck by the time she copsed among the debris, feeling both pain and utter helplessness. The doorbell rang, but she didn''t dare open it, terrified it was the press, drawn by the scent of scandal. She even backed away in fear, her eyes wide with

    panic.

    Then, a familiar voice came from outside. "Alivia, it''s me."

    Jaired!

    A spark of hope flickered in Alivia''s eyes, but seeing the state of the room, she froze as she tried to get up, a cry escaping her lips. Outside, Jaired sighed and lit a cigarette. "Heard Brielle took a tumble down the cliff and hasn''t woken up yet." As soon as the words left his mouth, Alivia yanked the door open, ring at him with pure resentment. "Is she dead?"

    Jaired took a drag of his cigarette, a slight curve to his lips. "Not dead, but she might never wake up."

    Joy erupted on Alivia''s face. "That bitch! She got what she deserved! I hope she''s gone for good!"

    Her face twisted in malice. As she looked down, a murderous intent filled her eyes. Was there a way to ensure Brielle would never wake up? "Jaired, can you help me find a way? I want Brielle to stay asleep forever. Please, I''ll do anything you ask, okay?"

    Jaired had been smitten with her for years; surely he''d do anything for her. Saying this, she shed her clothes, looking deeply into Jaired''s eyes. He looked down, tracing a finger along her porcin skin. Goosebumps erupted on Alivia''s body; she bit her lip, her eyes bloodshot. "Just make it happen, and I''ll do whatever you want."

    Jaired smiled but didn''t dress her. Instead, he asked, "Has Kenzo reached out to you?"

    With such a scandal rocking the Barnes family, Kenzo''s phone was off. No one knew where he had

    vanished to, maybe off to some

    quiet ce to write a script, as heet

    had done before. The Barnes family''s troubles wouldn''t affect Kenzo much; it was more a cause for sighs than anything. After all, with or without the Barnes family, nothing could detract from his status as a top-notch screenwriter.

    Humiliation washed over Alivia; she had undressed, yet he hadn''t pounced. Was she so cheap that even Jaired scorned her, just as Max had? Confusion took hold, herplexion turned deathly pale thest bit of color draining from her face. Clutching her clothes, tears began to fall in earnest, and she couldn''t utter a word. Why did Brielle get Max''s love when she ended up with nothing? She couldn''t bear it.

    "Alivia, why the tears?" Jaired''s face was amused as he cupped her chin, a grin in his eyes. "Think I''m rejecting you? I have particr tastes in bed; are you sure you can handle them?"

    "I can! As long as you help me!"

    Jaired chuckled, releasing her chin. He stepped back, the smile vanishing from his face. "Really? Because I enjoy watching you with others. The louder you scream, the more excited I get. Can you deal with that?"

    Alivia''s legs gave way, and she sank to her knees. It must have been a bad dream. The Jaired who loved her so couldn''t possibly say such things! Her lips quivered, and all she saw were Jaired''s polished shoes, his demeanor still noble and assured, born of a distinguished lineage, a privileged son of the establishment. Impossible. Where had he learned these perverse tastes?Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    Jaired slowly knelt down, patting her face gently. "Come back when you''re ready."

    "Jaired..."

    He frowned, helping her to her feet. "Let''s continue talking about Kenzo."

    As if that exchange was nothing more than a trivial interlude. Alivia felt a chill, longing to flee, but where could she go? Anywhere there were people, there would be scorn for her. Her tears flowed again, and she felt despair. Was this karmic retribution for her past maniption of Tessa against Aubree? No! She refused to believe in fate! Even if it cost her everything, she was determined to see Brielle pay.

 Chapter 795

    Her face was a mess of distress, a far cry from the poised, high-and-mighty demeanor she once had. Desperately gripping Jaired''s sleeve, Alivia was a shadow of the woman who always held her head high. "Do you want to see who I''d sleep with?" she spat out, the words crude and out of ce, like they belonged to someone else entirely. Was this the same Alivia everyone admired?

    Jaired raised an eyebrow, a soft chuckle escaping his lips as he leaned in closer. "You''re agreeing to this?"

    Alivia''s eyes shut tight, trembling. She felt every ounce of her dignity being stomped into the ground. She didn''t feel human anymore; she felt like she was nothing but a harlot, a loose woman.

    Tears welled up in her eyes; she never imagined she''d sink this low. "Yes! I agree! As long as you help me take down Brielle! Do whatever you want! I want that witch dead!"

    "Don''t worry," Jaired assured her, "I''ll make it happen."

    Alivia burst into tears again, her legs giving out underneath her. What had she be? An absolute disgrace!

    She was consumed by hatred-hatred for Brielle, and for Max. She vowed to bring down those deceitful lovers!

    Meanwhile, Brielley unconscious,pletely unaware of the chaos unfolding outside.

    The sudden re of medical monitors jolted Max into action; he frantically pressed the call button as doctors rushed in and whisked Brielle away for emergency treatment. Overnight, her condition had taken a turn for the worse.

    Max sat on the cold hospital corridor floor, his hands trembling. He leaned his head against the wall, his Adam''s apple bobbing with each swallow. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it¡ªa forbidden act in the hospital, yet no one dared to tell him off. The bloodshot eyes and his air of desperation were enough to keep people at bay.

    He was running on fumes, clinging to a sliver of hope that kept him going. But he knew that if that hope vanished, he''d fall apartpletely.

    When Brielle was wheeled out the next morning, it was already dawn. Max felt like his feet were made of lead, barely able to move.

    Back in the room, the doctor removed his mask and delivered the grim news. "Max, Ms. Brielle''s head injury is severe. We''ve tried twice, but if luck isn''t on our side, Ms. Brielle may never wake up. And if she does, there could beplications, like memory loss." Max looked up, his voice hoarse, "Are you saying she might have amnesia?"

    The doctor frowned, "It''s a possibility."

    Max

    hoed a bitterugh, his gaze

    falling

    het

    Brielle''s still form in theThis text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.

    bed. If she dared forget him, he''d throttle her himself.

    The doctor, sensing the tension, made a quick exit.

    Patrick arrived at noon with fresh clothes and a razor for Max, who had been keeping vigil. Despite his efforts, the redness in Max''s eyes wouldn''t fade, not even witho

    constant eye drops.

    After a shower, Max threw his suit in the trash and approached Brielle''s bedside, this time with a mix of resentment and anger.

    How convenient for her, to toss him aside and then end up in this state, possibly forgetting himpletely.

    He yanked back the covers and shook her shoulder. "Brielle, wake up," he pleaded.

    But Brielle remained motionless.

    Max was startled by his own loss of control. He gently reced the nket and felt his eyes sting with tears. "You better not forget me, you hear?" he growled, cursing himself for even thinking of using foutnguage-a far cry from his usual self-discipline.

    Overwhelmed with anger, he wanted tosh out at her, to strangle her for causing him this pain.

    Taking a deep breath, Max slumped in the chair beside her bed, once again taking her hand and pressing it against his cheek.

    Unbeknownst to him, Brielle''s fingertips brushed against something wet. They twitched involuntarily.

    Max''sshes quivered as he lifted his gaze to her.

    Her eyes slowly opened, staring nkly at the ceiling above.

 Chapter 796

    Max felt a shiver run down his spine as he watched Brielle''s eyelids flutter open for a few fleeting seconds before closing again. It was almost as if the brief awakening had been an illusion. "Doc, she opened her eyes!" he called out, urgencyced in his voice.

    The doctor rushed in, quickly checking the monitors and Brielle''s vitals. His tense brow rxed slightly. "As long as Ms. Brielle has woken up once, she''s likely to do so again," he reassured. "But we can''t rule out the possibility ofplications, so..." Max nodded, his face stoic. A quiet "hm" was all he managed to say before falling silent.

    After the doctor left, Max headed to the bathroom. He meticulously shaved, making sure every hair was in ce. Then, he returned to Brielle''s side, patiently waiting for her to wake up again.

    By evening, Brielle''s eyes opened once more, this time staying open as she blinked slowly. Her entire body ached, especially her head, which throbbed relentlessly.

    She raised her hand to rub her temple but was stopped by a firm grip. "Don''t move," a familiar voice instructed.

    Hearing the voice, Brielle froze. She slowly lowered her hand and stared nkly at the ceiling, saying nothing.

    For the next two days, the doctor came and went, peppering Brielle with questions. But she remained tight-lipped.

    Eventually, the doctor pulled Max aside in the hallway. "She should be fine now. You can start the discharge process," he advised.

    Max nced through the small window in the door, noticing Brielle gazing out of the window, lost in thought. He followed the doctor toplete the discharge paperwork. But when he returned to Brielle''s room, it was empty. She had left without a word, taking her phone, which he had cleaned multiple times after it got stained with blood.

    Gripping the bag of medications, Max''s hand tightened, a shadow crossing his eyes. A dangerous thought shed through his mind: she was more manageable when bedridden.

    The doctor, standing behind him, had witnessed the mercurial nature of the CEO of Dorsey International over the past few days. Now, an icy chill seemed to emanate from Max, as though the ground beneath him had frosted over.

    Without a word, Max signaled for Patrick to pick him up. As he was about to get into the car, he cast a lingering nce into the distance before settling into the silence of the vehicle.

    Patrick had meant to ask about Ms. Brielle, but the look on Max''s face stopped him cold.

    Max''s emotions burrowed deeper, and he seemed colder than ever, like a sharp sword sheathed and hidden away.

    The car was quiet, save for the asional cough from Max. He turned to look outside, his eyes bloodshot from days without rest.

    Fury seared through his soul and heart. If inflicting pain was a talent, then Brielle was indeed gifted.

    When Brielle slid into the car Aubree had driven over, her head was pounding so fiercely it was hard to think.

    Her external injuries may have healed, but the potential forplications the doctor mentioned was still a reality.

    Aubree nced at her through the rearview mirror, her brow furrowed with concern. "What''s going

    How did you end up in the ital

    all of a sudden?"

    "Bri, do you have any idea what''s happening out there? It''s chaos. Alivia and Kenzo aren''t even from the Barnes family. The Barnes n has really lost face this time. And Max, Can you believe Dorsey International released that

    hove

    statement? It turned Alivia from society''s darling to a pariah overnight."

    Brielle lifted a hand to her forehead, sensing new memories flickering in her mind like sparks, but the pain was too intense. Sweat beaded on her brow as she clenched her lips shut, tilting her head back in a vain attempt to ease the pain.

    Once they arrived at Pearl Estate, Aubree brought her a ss of water and asked, "What about Max? Hasn''t he been looking after you these past few days?"

    Brielle''s hand froze, her fingers curling.

    Yes, he had been looking after her.

    Seeing his tired eyes and gaunt face, she couldn''t bring herself to say a word.

    The weight of Michael''s expectations still pressed down on her, leaving her afraid to make a move.

    As Aubree said, she had to endure.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    She hoped their paths would be clear of obstacles, blooming with flowers, so she knew she had to face and resolve the troubles at hand. She picked up her phone and checked the news online.

    Alivia''s lineage had been exposed, and with the official statement from Dorsey International, Michael must be fuming.

    And Max, still waiting at the hospital, had evidently been ignoring the outside world''smotion, unreachable by Michael.

    Brielle took a sip of water, trying to ignore the throbbing in her head, and began to piece together the scattered clues.

 Chapter 797

    Aubree noticed Brielle deep in thought and couldn''t help but break the silence.

    "Did you even let Mr. Dorsey know you were leaving? Did you just sneak out of the hospital?"

    Brielle''s eyshes flickered, her lips pressed into a tight line, and she took a sip of water to mask her difort.

    After all, she couldn''t go against her feelings again, couldn''t say something that would hurt him. That would be more painful than a knife to her own heart. Better to be a coward, at least for now.

    In less than two minutes, she had pieced together all the clues. Max, to avoid any entanglement with the Barnes family, had orchestrated the release of two bombshell pieces of news. This meant Max had been aware of Alivia and Kenzo''s true identities all along and almost certainly knew that he wasn''t a Dorsey by blood. But the years of care from Martha were undeniable. Besides, Victoria had mentioned that there had been a time when Martha had doctors visiting Max repeatedly, so whatever Max had endured during that period remained a mystery. It was understandable that, in recognition of those years ofpanionship, Max had arranged for Martha to be looked after in a nursing home as a form of repayment.

    Brielle''s fingers tightened. Did Max know his true identity? Or did Michael know Max''s real lineage? If he did, why would he let Max assume the position of heir to the Dorsey family? If not, what would Max face when the truth came out?

    Too many puzzles. Brielle pulled out her phone and first dialed Kenzo''s number. Among Max''s circle, Kenzo seemed the most approachable. Maybe he knew something. Kenzo''s phone was off. Brielle frowned. Senior Jin must have holed up somewhere to focus on his scriptwriting, oblivious to the brewing storm. She set the phone down, and Aubree, having ordered her some takeout, reminded her they had a scene to shootter before she left.

    Brielle sat alone on the sofa, the headache making it impossible to think. She opened a drawer and swallowed a painkiller. She had intended to drive to the casino, but halfway there, Dustin''s call came through. With Alivia, the youngest Mark, in trouble and Infinity Brilliance as an investor in the research institute, they needed to reconvene back home and, in tandem with the government, find another suitable candidate.

    Brielle had thought about asking Dustin for help but hesitated because of his grandmother''s predicament. Now that Dustin had reached out, hope sparked in her eyes.

    Without hesitation, Brielle arrived at the address by five in the evening. She found the private booth and pushed the door open. Dustin wasn''t drinking tonight, just staring nkly at a screen. Brielle mustered a smile.

    "Little Brie,e to Tequ Sunset."

    "Mr. Lynch."

    Dustin usually shunned formal attire, but tonight he was in a sleek ck suit. There was no alcohol on the coffee table in front of him, but the scent of spirits clung to him-he''d clearly juste from some social obligation. He rubbed his temples. "I''ve barely been gone a week, and I can''t believe the mess the Barnes family has stirred up."Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    "Is it troubling you? I heard the institute poured a lot of money into this."

    Dustin chuckled, loosening a few buttons forfort. "Losing money is the least of my worries. It''s just that I don''t have the time for this."

    "How''s your grandmother? Is it serious?"

    There was a faint shadow under Dustin''s eyes as he forced a bitter smile. "It''s a heart condition-untreatable."

    "Mr. Lynch, you''ve got to be flexible. If your grandma wants to see her granddaughter so badly, why don''t you find someone to temporarily take on the role? As long as you trust this person''s character to` cheer up the olddy in her twilight years, her condition might improve, right? That way, you''d have more time to look for your real sister, wouldn''t you?"

    vern

    Dustin''s pupils dted in shock, his gaze fixing on Brielle. His eyes were full of disbelief, incredulous. His family had been in turmoil over the missing sister, his grandmother gravely ill, his mother retreating from the business world early, and his father maintaining a strained. cheerfulness. Yet, they had never considered finding a stand-in for his sister to lift their grandmother''s spirits. Because to them, that familial bond was indelible, and deceiving a family member was out of the question. No matter how rakish Dustin was in the outside world, at home, he was expected to toe the line.

    But with his grandmother''s condition worsening, perhaps there was merit in Brielle''s suggestion. A glint of possibility flickered in his eyes as he looked at Brielle, as if eyeing prey. Brielle suddenly felt awkward and her headache intensified, prompting her to massage her temples. But Dustin was only entertaining the thought. If he were to find someone, he certainly wouldn''t choose a friend. The Lynches had more than their fair share of enemies. Standing in that spotlight, everyone waited for them to fall. The North American social circles were even more intricate than back home. Someone like Brielle, without any significant backing, would only get chewed up and spat out in their world.

 Chapter 798

    Brielle had taken her painkillers, but the sudden stab of pain still managed to sneak up on her, making her break into a light sweat. She needed a moment and made a quick excuse to head to the restroom. After sshing some water on her face, she felt a bit better.

    Steeling herself, she re-entered the private dining room and was met with an unexpected sight.

    There was Alivia, sporting a baseball cap and mask, clinging to Dustin''s arm with a pitiful expression. "Mr. Lynch, you''ve got to help me. My degree, my grades, they''re all legit. I''ve earned my spot. It can''t be that just because I fell for someone, I''m getting tossed aside. Infinity Brilliance is the top investment firm globally. If you don''t want to rece me, not even the government can make you."

    Brielle stood at the doorway, her cheeks still damp from the water. Seeing the once proud Alivia reduced to begging like this, she couldn''t help but smirk a little.

    Alivia was clearly desperate, trying to charm Dustin. Her delicate hand was wrapped around his arm, her eyes full of sorrow.

    Given Dustin''s history with women, there was a chance he might take an interest in Alivia. After all, her beauty was undeniable. She used to carry herself with such confidence, but recent events had shattered her. Now she was grasping at any lifeline she could find. She had reached out to Michael, but he hadpletely turned his back on her. With the decision to rece Mark, Michael saw Alivia as just as unfit as Brielle to be by Max''s side.

    Realizing how dire her situation was, Alivia had dropped all pretense. The Barnes family had kicked her out, the academy was looking to expel her, and her former friends were now mocking her through messages.

    Her only options now were Jaired and Dustin. Jaired, who seemed so upright, had made an unthinkable proposition. Since she decided to ept it, maybe she could use her "clean te" to tie Dustin down first.

    She had painstakingly found out where Dustin would be that night and had put extra effort into her makeup, looking absolutely stunning.

    "Mr. Lynch, we''ve known each other for a while now. Can''t you help me just this once?" Her lips were almost touching Dustin''s face.

    Brielle knocked on the door frame. "Sorry to interrupt, Ms. Alivia."

    The sound of Brielle''s voice made Alivia''s eyes ze with hatred. Her lips trembled as she turned to see Brielle, her body shaking with barely contained rage.

    If there had been a bottle of wine on the table, she would''ve smashed it over Brielle''s head. That bitch had woken up! How could she be so lucky?This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.

    Unable to hold back any longer, Alivia, as disheveled as she was, was filled with loathing for Brielle. "Bitch! How dare you show your face here?!" She no longer cared about Dustin. Stomping in her high heels towards Brielle, she raised her hand to p her.

    But Brielle caught her wrist before the pnded. With a swift motion, Brielle pped her back and closed the door to the private room. "Smack!"

    The force of the p sent Alivia reeling, and she tumbled onto the couch. Brielle recalled the news she had seen about Alivia drugging Max, and that too during Martha''s wake.

    "Ms. Alivia, drugging Max at your

    own mother''s wake, don''t you think

    that''s a particrly despicable

    move? You keep saying you love et

    Max, but is that really love? It''s coercion, possessiveness. You''re in love with yourself, with your own vanity!"

    "Shut up! Just shut up! Brielle, you whore! What do you know! I''ve known Max for years. If you hadn''t shown up, he would''ve married me! Why don''t you just die? If you were dead, Max would be mine!"

    Blood stained Alivia''s mouth as she red at Brielle, struggling to reach for her hair.

    Brielle turned to Dustin, who was sitting across the room, and said calmly, "Mr. Lynch, things might get a bit gruesome. You might want to look away." Obediently, Dustin averted his gaze as the sounds of ps echoed in the room.

    "Alivia, let me tell you, Max is mine," t me tell Brielle dered with each p. "That p is for the dirty tricks you yed on him, this one for stirring Tessa against Aubree, and the third for showing up tonight to disgust me."

    QUMS

    "Whimpering, you bitch, you bitch!" Alivia''s cries were drowned out by the sound of Brielle''s retribution.

 Chapter 799

    Alivia was sobbing uncontrobly, her lips bleeding from biting them so hard in frustration.

    It was her own fault. She should have known better than to mess with Brielle, who had a reputation for her mean right hook. In her anger, she had made a spectacle of herself.

    Her eyes darted to Dustin, praying he''de to her aid. After all, they had been acquaintances for some time, and she was sure he wasn''t close with Brielle. Finally, Dustin stood up and walked over.

    Alivia reached out, expecting him to lift her to her feet.

    But Dustin did nothing of the sort. Instead, he simply grabbed Brielle''s wrist.

    "If you keep this up, the bouncers will be all over us in a minute," he warned.

    Right on cue, the manager of Tequ Sunset barreled through the door. Dustin pulled Brielle behind him and offered a sheepish smile.

    "Ms. Alivia''s had a bit too much to drink. Let''s help her out, shall we?"

    The staff at Tequ Sunset knew Dustin well-his generous tipping meant that the manager hurried over to assist Alivia with utmost politeness.

    "Ms. Alivia, are you alright?"

    Alivia''s face was a map of red handprints, and she stared at Dustin in disbelief.

    He gave her a small smile. "As for the new appointment at the institute, the government will decide. I''d rather not get too involved. It''s no useing to me, Ms. Alivia." Biting her lip so hard it might bleed again, Alivia red hatefully at Brielle.

    She had underestimated Brielle, who seemed to have some sort of connection with Dustin.

    The word ''traitor'' seemed too mild for what she felt.

    Each breath was agony as she was helped to her feet.

    Patrons of the bar quickly recognized her.

    "Isn''t that Alivia? Who on earth pped her like that?"

    "She must be one of Max''s admirers, right? She went too far this time."

    "Tsk, who would''ve thought Alivia would be brought low like this? I heard Mark got demoted too."

    "Don''t be too harsh. The Riddle family hasn''t said a word yet. Everyone knows he has a soft spot for Alivia. Maybe he''s just waiting for the chance to y the hero."

    Shivering with humiliation and barely able to stand, Alivia''s tears flowed freely. As she left Tequ Sunset, she leaned against a nearby tree for support and spat out a mouthful of blood. She was consumed by hate.

    Quickly donning her hat and mask, she was desperate not to be recognized and be the butt of the town''s jokes.

    Perched on a two-meter wall, a woman was casually chewing gum, watching Alivia''s misery unfold with a hint of schadenfreude in her voice.

    "Ms. Alivia, trying to snag Dustin?

    Don''t you know? Dustin might be a

    yer, but the women he beds aren''t just any street corner finds. Ny-nine percent of them are devoted to him, like concubines pce waiting for his favor. He rarely invites trouble for himself; he only beds those he can dismiss with cash. For those he can''t, he doesn''t give them the time of day. You might as well wear a sign with your intentions-no way he''d go for someone as transparent as you."

    "Who are you calling a street corner find? Me?"

    She was Alivia, for heaven''s sake. Men lined up just to be seen with her in the social circles of Beaconsfield. Dustin''s disinterest was simply due to hisck of courage.

    Annie justughed and hopped off

    the wall. "This is why I can''t stand dealing with you. You''ve been pampered since birth and think the world revolves around you. Losing to Brielle is fitting, really. Brielle has wed her way up from nothing-throw a rock at her head and she''ll still climb higher. But you? You can''t handle the climb."

    Annie patted Alivia''s swollen cheek. "Drop the princess act, Ms. Alivia. No one in our circle wants to marry you now. They''re allughing at you."

    "Annie! I hired you to take out Brielle, and you failed. What right do you have to mock me? Some organization you are-I bet you and your backers are all useless!" Annie''s eyes darkened, and with a swift kick, she knocked Alivia to the ground.

    Alivia struggled, but it was futile.

    Annie stepped on her face, and the pain brought fresh tears.

    "Murray''s dead, killed by Brielle. I''ll keep going after her, but you better not act all high and mighty with me. Right now, you''re nothing."

    The malice in Annie''s eyes was clearBelongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    as day; she was a hair''s breadth

    away from crushing Alivia''s face beneath her boot. But she restrained herself, sneering, ¡°Alivia, you''re notpletely out of options. Better cozy up to your Jaired. Though, that man gives me the creeps. Good luck with that."

    After Annie left, Aliviay there for what felt like an eternity, drowning in humiliation. Finally, she got up and called Jaired.

    She couldn''t take it anymore. Brielle had to pay!

    It was all Brielle''s fault she was in ruins. Even if it cost her everything, Alivia would make Brielle regret ever crossing her.

 Chapter 800

    In the cozy, dimly lit booth, Brielle rubbed her temples, trying to clear her head. Dustin Lynch, after finishing his chat with the manager, closed the door behind him.

    "Little Brie, if you''re still into Max, why''d you break it off with him?" he asked, leaning casually against the polished mahogany bar.

    Brielle sank into the plush sofa and recounted the whole saga involving the Fox family. Dustin''s eyes narrowed as he listened, his voice taking on a more serious tone.

    "So, you''re saying you''re neither a Haywood nor a Fox, and someone''s been messing with your DNA tests?" he asked.

    "Yeah. In my memories, a girl with thest name Monty died in a fire because of me. I owe her my life, so I can''t let James get into trouble," Brielle exined.

    Dustin reached out, gently tousling her hair and secretly winding a strand around his finger. "Little Brie, being cautious is smart, but to keep James safe, maybe you should think about sending them out of the country."

    Brielle lowered hershes. "It''s not just about James. It could be Aubree or anyone from Ster Stage Entertainment."From N?velDrama.Org.

    The more people she cared about, the more vulnerabilities she had. Was she supposed to break up every time she felt threatened? At the root of it all, she felt too weak.

    Dustin''s phone buzzed with a message, prompting a slight smirk. "I get it. Michael hates you so much that he''d use any leverage over you to hurt Max if he sees you two getting close."

    "Yes, I always feel like he has an ace up his sleeve that could hurt Max."

    That was the real crux of the matter. The Dorsey family had been standing tall in Beaconsfield for years, and Michael had watched the Barnes family empire fall without uttering a word. No one knew what he was plotting, and with Max''s true identity being a mystery, Brielle''s head was spinning with where to even begin the search. The police hadn''t made any headway in identifying the man who was burned to death either.

    "Mr. Lynch, do you think someone''s entire file could be swapped out? Completely erasing one person''s data and recing it with their own, DNA and all?"

    "That sort of identity trade does happen, both in North America and back home. Underground casinos deal in it, but the bosses rarely do such favors. It''s called ''buying an identity.'' Once you''ve bought it, the casino handles the dark ops, and you can go anywhere with this new identity," Dustin exined.

    "But wouldn''t friends and family suspect something?" Brielle asked.

    "That''s why the identity you buy has to be someone with no kin. No one to call them out."

    Brielle''s eyes narrowed as she contemted the gravity of the situation. "If you suspect someone close to you has switched identities, think about whether they''re all alone in the world. Even if they''re not who they used to be, no one will doubt it. And the man you found wasn''t a minor; he was an adult, so his identity must not have been

    swapped in childhood."

    Each of Dustin''s points made sense. He stood up slowly, offering her a reassuring smile. "I''ve got some urgent stuff to deal with, but you take your time thinking it over. If you need my help, just give me a call, okay?"

    Brielle nodded, her mind racing with

    suspects but unwilling to ept the truth, her fingertips trembling and lips quivering with the weight of realization. Parentless, friendless, identity changed in adulthood. All signs pointed to one person

    With a heavy heart, Brielle stood to leave. But as she turned the corridor, a hand suddenly grasped her wrist and a pair of lips imed hers. The familiar scent of Roman¨¦e-Conti filled her senses, a luxury she had

    seen only in Premier Pce.

    She tried to speak, to push away, but her hands were pinned behind her, her back against the cold wall, legs trembling. "Stop, Max," her voice broke, her mind foggy with pain.

    The kiss deepened until there was no room for protest. A dim light flickered on, and he pinned her beneath him, biting gently at her fingertips.

    "What were you and Dustin talking about?" Max asked, his breath warm against her ear.

    Brielle was still reeling from the encounter, her voice choked. "Noth¡ª"

    Before she could finish, the room''s screen lit up with the surveince footage, highlighting her defiant promation-Max, he''s mine!

    "Brielle, you''re always so contradictory," Max whispered, his breath warm against her ear.

    Silenced, Brielle gazed at the monitor through misty eyes. Whoever said there were no cameras in the booths on Tequ Thursday had clearly lied.

 Chapter 801

    **Max Dorsey had rigged the equipment himself.**

    Brielle was stunned into silence, feeling the sting as if she were the one who had been pped, not Alivia.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.

    "Liar," Max spat, kneeling down to punish her again.

    Tears welled up in Brielle''s eyes. After what felt like forever, she watched as Max stood up, his desires now in disarray. Seeing this usuallyposed man lose control left her defenses shattered; she had already surrendered. She was about to speak when his fingertip slipped into her mouth, pinching the tip of her tongue. "Don''t talk; I won''t like what you have to say."

    Her eyes, still glistening from the tears, met his. Unable to utter a word, she could only stare. Max ignored her silence and bent down to kiss away the moisture from her lips before moving on to his main course. With Max, Brielle never spoke her truth. It was best to keep her mouth shut.

    As they were winding down, Brielle was so exhausted she could barely keep her eyes open. Considering she had just been discharged from the hospital, Max held back, scooping her into his arms and preparing to leave. All the surveince along the route had been disabled. He got into the car, holding her close.

    Patrick was driving, mulling things over before deciding to spill the beans. "There are a bunch of new cameras around Pearl Estate, probably put up by the old man to keep tabs on you and Ms. Brielle," he said. "We''ve dealt with the ones around Premier Pce. Since you haven''t been answering your phone, the old man''s getting aggressive."

    "Hmm, is James'' family taken care of?" Max asked.

    "They''ve been secretly moved out of the country with thirty million bucks. They''re in a scenic, safe ce, and the old man won''t be able to find them."

    Max looked down and patted Brielle''s cheek. "Did you hear that?"

    Brielle, eyes closed, kept pretending to sleep.

    Max chuckled, a bit exasperated, his eyes reddening slightly. He pressed his lips together and gently put her down outside the car. "Brielle, do you really think I''m invincible?"

    Her feet had barely touched the ground when she "woke up." Sweat beaded on her forehead; she didn''t dare look at him through the car window.

    Inside, Max reached over and pressed her head down for a forceful kiss. "How about we keep this quiet, just between us? Deal?"

    If she refused again, he''d lock her away in Premier Pce right then and there, since her mouth always seemed to speak in contradictions.

    Brielle''s legs were unsteady, her voice hoarse. Max braced for another sharp retort, but instead, she opened the car door and climbed back in. "Patrick, could you step out for a moment, please?" she asked, her voice raspy and cheeks flushed.

    Patrick didn''t dare refuse and scampered off faster than anyone.

    Max frowned, wondering what trick she was about to pull-was it a breakup, or a deration of dislike? But a secondter, the car windows rolled up. Her fingers went this belt, unbuckling it. FindNovel

    Standing at a distance, Patrick''s mind raced with possible scenarios: the car shaking, a hand pressed against the window...

    But there was nothing. Only silence from the car.

    He waited patiently, lighting a cigarette. Though Max smoked, he didn''t actually like the smell, so as his assistant, Patrick smoked even less. But with the stress of Brielle''s hospitalization and Max''s foul mood, he felt like he was constantly in the presence of a chilling air conditioner. Now that the two seemed to be reconciling, he wanted to set off fireworks.

    Inside the car, Max held Brielle''s hair between his fingers, the scent of her shampoo intoxicating. He tilted his head back, his Adam''s apple bobbing. Deadly. This vindictive little woman. Half an hourter, Brielle stepped out of the car, wiping her lips. Through the window, Max watched her, a red-hot sting in his gaze.

    Brielle tucked her hair behind her ear, licked her lips, and stared at him without a word.

    Max suddenlyughed, handing her the gun she had lost. Brielle took it, her voice rough, "There''s a problem with Mark''s identity."

    The only person who could be

    reced without suspicion, with no

    friends or family to notice, was Mark. And the other deceased woman was Mark''s wife, making it even more likely that the dead man was indeed Mark.

 Chapter 802

    Max nodded, his eyes lingering on her lips before he chuckled softly. "Still got a headache?" Brielle, a bit slow to catch on, looked away, feeling a tinge of embarrassment. "You should go." "Will you reach out to me?"

    "Yeah."

    A small smile yed on Max''s lips as he extended a finger. "Keep it on the down-low?"N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

    Standing by the window, Brielle hooked her pinkie with his. "Yeah."

    Max withdrew his hand, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off his chest.

    Brielle stayed put, watching the car slowly drive away. It took a moment for her to snap back to reality, patting her cheeks gently. She hadn''t met anyone easier to cheer up than Max.

    As Patrick drove, he nced at Max through the rearview mirror. Max''s eyes had a certain glow, and a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

    Patrick sighed in relief. Had Max really been cheered up?

    Patrick couldn''t help but smile himself. People often said Max was just a businessman, indifferent to emotions. But Patrick always thought that was exactly why Max didn''t overthink things like other men, who saw showing vulnerability as a sign of weakness.

    To harvest flowers, you need to nt seeds. If you nt cacti, you''ll only get thorns. In a rtionship, if both people just try to conquer and control, neither will be happy. Love needs vulnerability, a desire to protect, and an eagerness to please.

    Few can handle the madness of love, let alone the constraints imposed by society. But Max didn''t care about any of that, so he was always the first to show vulnerability.

    Brielle was still standing there, her heart racing. Only when the car was out of sight did she lean against a nearby tree, her legs trembling from standing too long. Her cheeks were flushed red.

    Meanwhile, Dustin Lynch got into his car, looking at the strand of hair wrapped around his finger, his expression unreadable.

    After a moment, he handed the hair to the person next to him. "Get a DNA test done,pare it with my dad''s."

    The person, shrouded in shadows, took the hair respectfully and nodded.

    Dustin tapped his fingertips lightly

    on the window frame, his eyes

    under your watch. Nol

    sharp. Keep the whole proces

    The shadowy figure nodded and made a gesture, assuring Dustin of hispliance.

    Dustin''s lips curved into a smile, but his eyes were ruthless. "Check up on Mark."

    Hispanion nodded again and started sending messages.

    Dustin chuckled softly, a fierce look in his eyes. "Beaconsfield, quite the interesting ce."

    The car was filled with a chill, but neither the driver nor the person next to Dustin dared to speak.

    Dustin looked at the spot on his finger

    twistingere the hair had been, it slightly. "Dummy, hop

    many years have you been with me?"

    The person next to him, his face marred by ugly scars, began to sign with his hands.

    Dustin leaned back, his arms casually crossed. "Rece everyone I''ve sent to Beaconsfield, except you."

    The other man nodded, quickly rying the orders.

    Dustin gazed out the window, his expression growing colder. If Brielle really was his sister, what had he missed all these years?

    A Mark who had been by her side for

    so many years, someone who could tamper with DNA results, and even more people influencing her fate.

    swn y

    Dustin''s fists slowly clenched, the rxed demeanor on his face fading away.

 Chapter 803

    In a quiet corner of Beaconsfield, Annie yed with her switchde, her eyes fixed on the film crew in the distance. She waited until they had all dispersed before leaping down and wrapping her arms around Ricardo.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

    "Ricardo," she murmured.

    Ricardo frowned, trying to push her away, but his resolve melted when she said, "Murray''s gone, he''s..." Her voice trailed off into sobs.

    Annie''s tears soaked through the fabric of Ricardo''s shirt. He stood frozen for a few seconds before finally pushing her away and asking, "How did it happen?" ""Brielle did it."

    Ricardoughed, half-believing he was hallucinating. "Annie, are you pulling my leg?" Even with some skills, Brielle wouldn''t stand a chance against Murray.

    "When have I ever lied to you, Ricardo?" She raised her arms and clung to his waist. "Murray caught a bullet from Brielle."

    "So, the night you asked me to take out Aubree Clements, you went after Brielle instead?" His voice turned cold, hisughter tinged with bitterness. "Good riddance."

    Annie pouted and let go of him. "I messed up, but I was on a job, okay? Don''t be mad at me, Ricardo. I''m really torn up about Murray." Hershes drooped, tears streaming down her face.

    Ricardo was about to respond when Annie''s phone rang. It was Patrick, calling for ate-night meeting. As his secretary, Annie had to go. She bit her lip, mimicking Brielle''s poise as she answered, then popped a piece of candy into her mouth.

    "Ricardo, I''ve got to run. With Murray gone, I''ve got no one left. Won''t youe back?" Without waiting for his response, Annie''s gaze lingered on the film set as she chewed her candy fiercely, then said to herself, "Murray, don''t you find that Aubree just as grating?"

    But the expected reply never came.

    She turned to find no one there, a stark reminder that Murray was indeed dead, taken by Brielle. The candy lost its vor, and in desperation, she reached for another, only to realize she''d run out. Lately, she''d been going through dozens a day, unable to fill the void inside. This new, odd feeling gnawed at her. With a slight pout, she turned and left the scene.

    That day, she had hesitated in her pursuit of Brielle, ncing back at Murray onest time, missing her prime opportunity to strike. Brielle hadn''t seen her face, so Annie could still masquerade within Dorsey International. Chewing her candy, Annie walked away with a heavy heart and sighed deeply. Despite numerous losses in the past, Murray had been different. Loyal and always by her side. It seemed she needed to find herself a newpanion, to keep the loneliness at bay. Her lips curved into a smile, her eyes regaining their sparkle.

    Meanwhile, Brielle had returned to Pearl Estate and received a message from Max as shey in bed. The message hinted at inconsistencies in Mark''s reported heart attack death, suggesting that someone might have taken Mark''s ce, faking his own demise to disappear. This revtion could potentially add a new obstacle between Brielle and Max. Piecing together this puzzle would bring rity to the past and present.

    Brielle bit her lip and sent a message back. I''m sorry. She had been harsh in ming him for Mark''s death, but it was driven by a loathing for the pattern of loss surrounding her. That''s why she had so readily given up on her feelings for Max, unwilling to witness any more sacrifices.

    You already apologized in the car. Confused at first, Brielle''s cheeks flushed crimson as realization dawned.

 Chapter 804

    She tossed her phone aside and flopped onto the bed with a sigh. Sleep, however, was nowhere in sight. Tonight, she owed Dustin a big one; he had given her a crucial lead.

    As Brielle''s mind wandered through the memories of Mark, she realized the signs had always been there. Mark had been involved in all her DNA tests. During her first test with the Haywood family, Mark was right there. The second time, with the Fox family, it was Mark who delivered the results. Having been by her side for so many years, she never doubted him. But what if the Mark she met at the orphanage wasn''t Mark at all? What if someone had taken over his identity? The real Mark and his wife had been locked away in a hidden room behind the archives and had perished in the fire.

    An unemployed, divorced man with no ties, living on the outskirts in an orphanage, made it all too easy for someone to step into his shoes. But why? What was this imposter''s motive? Just to watch her grow up?

    Brielle clenched the sheets tightly as the memories from the orphanage shed vividly-shared hardships, knitting gloves and scarves together. So when the clues pointed to Mark, the pain was unbearable. When she was hungry, Mark encouraged her. When strangers hurled insults and fists, Mark protected her. But now, reality told her it was all an act.

    A bitter smile crossed her face as her heart ached with the sting of betrayal. Even his faked death was designed to leave her drowning in guilt. How much must he have hated her? One grand performance, and she had given him her whole heart, as if her entire life was a cruel joke.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.

    A pounding headache forced Brielle to reach for painkillers from her nightstand before she finally drifted off to sleep.

    The next morning, a message from Max jolted her awake. The man who had fallen with her had woken up and was now her responsibility-and he was in the same hospital as her. The hospital had ensured secrecy, so even if she visited, no evidence would be left behind.

    Last night, Patrick had told her that

    Pearl Estate was bristling with surveince cameras, thanks to Michael. The Barnes family incident had put Michael on high alert, and he would likely be monitoring her and Max''s every move for a while. Any misstep would mean danger for those close to her. Michael wouldn''t dare touch Max; he''d always go for the easy target.

    Brielle steered her car toward the hospital. Murray had been at death''s door but had miraculously survived. However Annie''s de had shed his vocat cords, leaving him mute, possibly for life. He sat up in bed, his pupils shrinking and lips tightening

    When Brielle walked in.

    As she drew closer, she noticed the bandages around his chest. The gunshot wound was her doing, but she couldn''t recall slicing his neck as the doctors had described. "I''m Brielle. You remember me, right?" she asked.

    Murray remained silent, his gaze cold and distant.

    She sat down, taking her time. "The cut on your neck wasn''t from me. The doctors said it was a dagger. So, after I shot you, someone else stabbed you. Who was it?"

    The moment she finished speaking, Murray''s hands clenched the nket, knuckles white and veins bulging. His breathing grew ragged, and he bit his lip hard.

    Brielle was about to push him further when she saw tears welling in his eyes, blood trickling down from his bitten lip. It was like watching a caged beast, limbs broken, struggling in silent fury, expressing its sorrow with tears and blood.

    When someone''s emotions areid

    bare, the message is often overwhelming. In his face, Brielle saw deep resentment and sorrow, as if his neck had been shed by someone he loved. No, it wasn''t just a resemnce-it had to be the truth. A woman had cut his throat, and not just any woman, But the one he loved.

 Chapter 805

    Murray''s neck was bulging with veins, and his forehead was slick with sweat. Brielle was genuinely worried that if he kept up this level of distress, the wound in his throat might get even worse. "Look, I advise you to cool it, pal, or that second chance at life you just snagged might slip right through your fingers."

    But Murray clearly didn''t give a hoot about his own life; he was even trying to rip open the bandages around his neck with his bare hands, eager to tear at the wound. Brielle''s pupils narrowed, and she swiftly chopped the back of his neck. Murray passed out, and Brielle immediately called for a doctor.

    She''d never seen anyone this hell-bent on self-destruction. Was he trying to rip open his own scar and bleed out? He cared nothing for his own life. Or maybe, because his sweetheart wanted him dead, he was obediently ready to give up his life. Brielle''s eyes darkened. This kind of extreme love surely left a trail. This guy probably saw his partner as his entire world.From N?velDrama.Org.

    She got up and left the hospital room to speak with the doctor.

    "I want to know where his clothes are. Was there anything in them?"

    It was either something given to him by that woman, or something he kept for her.

    "Ms. Brielle, his clothes were sent for cleaning. There weren''t any peculiar items, just a few pieces of candy. They were water-damaged, so we disposed of them."

    Candy? Brielle frowned. Just a few pieces of candy didn''t give her much to work with. And judging by the man''s current state of mind, he probably wouldn''t be willing to share any information.

    As she left the hospital, she unexpectedly bumped into Michael, who was apanied by his butler, entering the hospital. Brielle was on her way out, and there was Michael, on his way in. The doorway was only so wide, leading to an inevitable encounter. Michael''s palm rested on a cane, and he seemed fairly robust, just a bit under the weather. Brielle didn''t think he looked sick, more likely someone else was ill. And for Michael to personally visit, it must be the Barnes family patriarch. "Brielle."

    Michael spoke up, while his butler, carrying a fruit basket, practiced discretion.

    "Michael."

    Michael gave a wry chuckle, sizing her up.

    "Heard you turned Ster Stage Entertainment into a wholly-owned subsidiary. Not a bad move. Hanging around Max, that''s part of the n, isn''t it?" "Michael, got proof?"

    With a single retort, Brielle left Michael speechless. After all, it was just spection. The overseas ount that bought the shares at a low price was anonymous.

    "If it wasn''t you, why would you care so much about Ster Stage Entertainment? You''ve got everyone wrapped around your finger."

    "That might just be because I''m capable."

    "You!"

    Michael almost coughed in frustration. His chest heaved, eyes seething with contempt.

    "Stay away from Max, Brielle. If I find you sniffing around him, I''ll make you regret it. Don''t push me to y my trump card."

    With that, Michael shot her a chilly nce and walked on. Brielle stood there, silent. She had suspected Michael still had an ace up his sleeve, she just didn''t know what it was.

    And she hadn''t asked Max directly if he knew his real identity; after all this time, he hadn''t said a word, so he must have his reasons. Asking might disrupt his ns.

    After getting into her car, Brielle still made her way to Ster Stage Entertainment. She hadn''t shown for days, but thepany was running smoothly. Only when

    asked Donny did she finden sol ne

    out

    someone had informed them she

    was recuperating.

    Besides Max, who else would it be? A warmth spread through Brielle''s heart as she settled into her office chair. Seeing her return, Donny lit up, eager to speak.

    "Mr. Haywood, we can''t dy the matter with that male lead any longer. The director called me this morning asking if we''d secured our lead man. I barely managed to smooth things over and have been waiting for your return."

    Brielle raised a hand to her temple, rubbing away the tension. She''d meant to meet that actorst time but then Martha''s incident happened while she was buying a cake, and it

    had been hanging ever since

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