Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Chapter 921

Max was caught off guard. He had never been particularly kind or cruel to the mother-daughter duo, so even if Victoria decided to cut ties with him immediately, he wouldn't have felt a twinge of sadness. Tiffanie was an accidental seed he'd planted without much thought. He'd seen the lash marks on her skin before but never inquired about them, just handed over cash. He was indifferent, really. That was Max, his apathy expertly masked with a seamless facade. Yet, this accidental seed had bloomed into something pure and beautiful.

Tiffanie didn't catch his response, her voice hitching, "Maxie, I'll help get the money. I have lots of friends. I'm not sure how much I can gather, but I thought I'd give you back what you gave me first." Max chuckled softly, a rare hint of tenderness flickering in his eyes. "Go back home."

Her face turned ashen, thinking he was dismissing her meager offer. But that was all she had. She'd left herself just enough to scrape by, already planning to take on extra shifts at work to make ends meet. Max raised his hand and gently tousled her hair. He had never been one for such gestures, so Tiffanie froze, disbelief written all over her face as tears began to escape her eyes. "I haven't fallen that far." Patrick, standing behind Max, watched the scene unfold with a warmth spreading through his chest. At last, someone in the Dorsey family remembered the kindness of their CEO.

"But Maxie, the rumors online-"

"I'm fine. I just don't want to deal with it." His tone was nonchalant as he signaled the maid to bring tea.

Tiffanie wasn't foolish. Seeing his composed demeanor, she knew he must have a plan. Embarrassed, she quickly folded the property deeds on the table, slipped them into her purse along with the bank card, her cheeks blazing. "What a joke I am. Pretend I was never here today."

Max's laughter was light.

then." She paused a

slight smile faltered, his eyelashes casting shadows on his

out. Maxie had a solution, and she was overjoyed, more so because it meant she wouldn't have to work and

of Premier Palace, Tiffanie's phone rang. It was

your distance from Max,

eyes brimmed with

and lashed out over the phone before softly warning her, "If I find out you've been seeing him, I'll break your legs. We don't have the same standing in the Dorsey family as before. I'm planning to marry you off to a decent home. William won't be inclined to give me more money. After

nothing, simply looking up at

haunted by memories of Victoria beating her like a dog for disobedience.

Don't tarnish your reputation further. You know how bad it

Tiffanie remained silent, numbly

away. After berating

to leave, her voice desperate. "Everett, you're not

waist with revulsion, his skin crawling. But he endured, as he had for years, sometimes suppressing