Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Brielle stepped into the room and was greeted by its impeccable 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 flashed with irritation. "Who knows? Clements Corporation is probably on the brink of collapse. 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 our communication."

Aubree's anger was palpable. She stormed to the door, yanking it open.

slap. The slap echoed down the alley, crisp and forceful. Andrew's eyes reddened, but he did not scold her. Instead, he asked hoarsely, "Does your

"You bugged Bri's phone?"

"Yes."

help but laugh out of sheer exasperation. Andrew knew full well that Brielle was

"Get out."

"But I didn't-"

"Out!"

silent, and a bitter smile tugged

"Bang!"

door slammed shut again, narrowly

metallic taste from the corner of his mouth, feeling

thought the sting of the needle was sweetened with honey. Perhaps in her contempt,

guilt that burrowed deep within him was as

Aubree flooded him like a relentless river, battering against his fragile

heart race

for a while before

call from the family estate. Ms. Tessa's condition has worsened. She's burning up

the slap had been delivered with no mercy. Andrew coughed twice, his nose tingling as if he

the office where

down-and-out neighborhood