Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

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 of communication.

He wasn't entirely sure if she still possessed that incriminating video.

Meanwhile, Aubree was determined to break into the entertainment industry, a place 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 a laid-off factory worker. The information he gave might not be accurate. 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 accept 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 a lavish party to answer the phone.

she saw the police return a disheveled Brielle, who stood out in her dirtied clothes against the backdrop of elegantly

failed ransom - these events had left an indelible mark on Brielle. Despite her successes, Brielle still craved a family's love - a need that

might pretend to

indifferent to family bonds,

herself she

from those painful

she was

internal wounds dressed in

a

prisoner's garb.

because she felt that Brielle was

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

with Kingston," Aubree suggested, patting

party? I decided then to be your friend because I felt the Haywoods didn't deserve you. You were

deserve her,

thought for a moment and then nodded.

Brielle left, it was already two in

loitering outside