Chapter 154

Brielle’s nose tingled with an unspoken sorrow. Her heart bore secret scars, teeming with pride and self–esteem in excess. To be humiliated or to ask lavors of others was to her a shame most profound.

So, when Max probed her with that question, her cheeks, which shouldn’t have hurt, blazed anew. The wounds Faith and Ryan had inflicted were not just of the flesh.

Max, seeing her silent, reached out and took her chin in his hand, locking eyes with her. His eyelids, thin and imposing, seemed to tighten the air around them when drawn together.

Heat rose in waves across Brielle’s face, and with Patrick standing by, her embarrassment. surged.

Patrick, ever perceptive, rose and feigned a trip to the kitchen to lend a hand, but through the glass door, he watched the pair surreptitiously.

With Patrick gone, Brielle felt a measure of relief wash over her. Her eyes reddened slightly. lending her a pitiable air. Max had no fondness for pity. In a dog–eat–dog world, weakness was an invitation to be trampled.

“What are you crying for?” His voice softened, and he let go of her chin. “Who hit you? Hit them back. If there’s trouble, I’ve got you covered. What are you scared of?”

As his canary, there was no reason she should suffer at another’s hand. Moreover, after last night’s debacle, it irked him that Brielle hadn’t called.

Just now, in his presence, she and Aubree had subtly praised Andrew for his generosity. Max began to wonder if he was falling short. He had never cared for a delicate creature like a woman before and didn’t know how to handle her.

Brielle, for her part, never sought help. Used to solitude, she tackled everything alone. This realization sat uncomfortably with Max. He even resolved to go home later and look up how to properly care for a canary.

Brielle sat silently, her mind a blank slate. After a long moment, she looked up at the man still coldly immersed in his paperwork.

His hair caught the light from the window, casting a cool golden sheen, his skin pale, his lashes long, his wristbones sharp as blades. Was such a man truly behind her?

She pursed her lips, then finally asked, “What if I cause a scene at tomorrow night’s party?”

Before she could finish, Max interjected, “If you’re wronged, it reflects on me.”

Brielle found it amusing, chuckled to herself for a moment, and then said. “Thank you. As for the files on the Book Group, I can compile a more detailed report for you, or I could even go abroad myself to scout for potential investment opportunities. Mr. Dorsey, I have nothing to repay your kindness with, so I’ll dedicate my all to Dorsey International.”

After her speech, she reached for a nearby teacup. “Mr. Dorsey, are you thirsty?”

15:37 1 Amusement flickered in Max’s eyes as he took the cup, a faint smile playing at his lips. “Trying to curry favor?”

Internally, Brielle rolled her eyes. Wasn’t that obvious?

Max found this side of Brielle rather refreshing. Flattery, subservience, no pretenses. She was disarmingly candid, and it pleased him.

So when Patrick came out with the tray, what he saw was the scene of Max’s frosty demeanor melting away, with Brielle sitting by his side. They were talking about something. Her eyes were slowly showing hints of smile, and the pressure of her bite on her lip was deepening.

Patrick didn’t linger, signaling the chef to bring out the rest of the meal before excusing himself. For Brielle, it was a first to enjoy the privilege of a star–rated chef’s personal service. After a satisfying meal and a call to check on Mark, she turned her attention to the charity.

The charity had always treated her with reverence, “Ms. Haywood, you’ve already made this month’s donation.”

“I know,” she replied. “You keep calling me ‘Ms. Haywood.‘ Do you know my first name?”

There was a pause on the line. “Isn’t it Miss Lillian?”

Brielle scoffed coldly. It wasn’t the charity’s fault. With both women sharing the same surname and the charity only knowing her as ‘Ms. Haywood,‘ they were unaware of her true identity.

“My name is Brielle. I was too busy with work back then, so I had Lillian handle the paperwork. You do have security cameras there, right?”