Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Aubree sensed Brielle’s distraction and knew she had been browsing the news. She silently cursed herself for being a blabbermouth; 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 flapping 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 hotel last 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–fear 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 plan 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 become a complete jerk, leaving her battered and bruised, he had once been her sole comfort 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.

Brielle’s mood had soured further, especially with the Rowland family’s timing. She grabbed her phone and called Mason. “Has the Rowland family been up to anything abroad?”

Mason stiffened at the question. “Are you talking about the Rowlands in Beaconsfield? They’ve been scouting locations to build a medical facility. Coincidentally, we’re eyeing the same spot. NôvelDrama.Org is the owner.

15:26

With the company 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 playful 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 that land?”

Mason, impressed by Brielle’s insight, responded, “Indeed, the local government plans to boost the economy over the next five years. Buying that land 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 plans to develop luxury homes nearby. If the Rowlands establish their medical center there, not only will the land appreciate, but they’ll also corner the market on affluent clients.”

Brielle mused over the situation. “Mason, let’s not rush to compete with the Rowlands 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 becoming 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 accurate? Every investor has their eyes on that piece of meat.”

A name flashed in Brielle’s mind: Dustin Lynch.