Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Chapter 1543

Matthew smirked and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I got it," he muttered, slipping back into the kitchen.

Casey and Pauline were a power couple, each with their own thriving careers. Casey directed films, rarely getting involved in the daily grind of the company, leaving those responsibilities to Pauline, the CEO. Both were big names in the entertainment biz, so when they had a kid, everyone just assumed their child would follow suit. With a mom running an entertainment empire and a dad who was a world-class director, it seemed like a no-brainer.

But Matthew had other plans. He chose finance over the spotlight. After finishing his studies, he didn't jump into the family business. Instead, he teamed up with his friends to start a company, which was now on the verge of going public. He didn't grow up basking in his parents' glory; he paved his own way.

Pauline and Casey never criticized Matthew publicly. When it came to his choices, they gave him the freedom to figure things out, even if it took him years to learn from mistakes.

Their mornings were always a rush. After a quick breakfast and a peck at the door, Casey and Pauline headed off to seize the day, leaving Matthew to his latest obsession: cooking. After all, they say the way to someone's heart is through their stomach. Cooking was the last skill Matthew needed to master, and he was determined to nail it, convinced it would help him outshine any rival, especially those who were all show and no substance.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Aubree was just drying her hair when Brielle dropped by. The Clements family drama had likely made its rounds in Beaconsfield already.

gifts and added a splash of color to the living room

gave a slow nod. Brielle sighed, searching for the right words. "Desiree's comments

shoulder. "I've grown used to it. She's never liked me, and I always knew I was adopted by the Clements family, so I just kept

down; back then, Aubree was naive, always trailing after Andrew, thinking just being near him was

family's shares? My startup's doing great, and I can pay you back-double, even. You

was quiet for a while, then gave a wry smile. "It's not about the

like one of their own. Desiree thought I was Andrew's fiancée since childhood, so when she found out

hesitated, then asked,

taken aback; Aubree hadn't let anyone in

"Matthew. He's only eighteen."

paused, then quipped, "Is

everyone knew Matthew since he wasn't