Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Max was keenly aware that if this continued, Brielle’s situation would become 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 glance, 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 classic 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–fiancée. A real–life fairy tale!

No matter how turbulent the thoughts of those present, they had no choice but to suppress them and see the play through to its end.

The original leads of this drama, Spencer and Sophia, looked anything but the star–crossed lovers; one was as pale as a ghost, and the other wore a smile not reaching their eyes, neither sparing a glance for the other. They were preoccupied 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.

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 clarity.

She had thought her plan foolproof, yet it had become 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 to compose 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 relationship with Brielle, they would only become more conspicuous. Alivia would be the laughing 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

13:22 This is property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

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 occasionally strolled through the hallway. The Barnes family could emerge at any moment, and members of the Dorsey and Rowland families might appear. But Max seemed oblivious to all, his hand cradling the back of Brielle’s head, his lips claiming hers, a siege of passion.

Brielle, flushed and breathless, had lost her earlier poise. Now, shy and unsure, she cautiously placed her hands on his waist, timidly grasping the hem of his shirt like a child. They were the embodiment of every clichéd 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 glazed 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.