Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Alivia was sobbing uncontrollably, 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'd come 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 Tequila 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 Tequila 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 use coming to me, Ms. Alivia." Biting her lip so hard it might bleed again, Alivia glared hatefully at Brielle.

to have some sort of connection with

seemed too

was agony as she was helped to her

bar quickly

Who on

one of Max's admirers, right? She went too far this

would've thought Alivia would be brought low like

yet. Everyone knows he has a soft spot

to stand, Alivia's tears flowed freely. As she left Tequila Sunset, she leaned against a nearby tree for

was desperate not to

was casually chewing gum, watching Alivia's misery unfold with a hint of schadenfreude in her

Alivia, trying

you know? Dustin might be

those he can dismiss with cash. For those he can't, he doesn't give them the time of day.

a

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

laughed and

and think the world revolves around you. Losing to Brielle is fitting, really. Brielle has clawed her way up from nothing-throw a rock at

cheek. "Drop the princess act, Ms. Alivia. No one in our circle wants to marry you now.