Chapter 227

Brielle was utterly baffled, and Mason even more so. She desperately wanted to spill the beans right there, to let each of them know who the other was, but Tiffanie grabbed Mason’s hand with a firm grip, pulled a card from her purse, and slid it over.

“I meant it when I said I liked your look. Why the long face, big guy? Brielle, she’s Maxie’s girl, hands off. Stick with me, and you’ll live the sweet life.

Brielle opened her mouth to speak but ultimately said nothing.

Instead, Mason seemed galvanized by the card, looking at Brielle, “Ms. Brielle, you should head out.”

Brielle wanted to interject, but Tiffanie’s stare was unyielding, clearly signaling that if Brielle didn’t leave, they were no longer friends. With a heavy heart and frequent backward glances, Brielle made her exit.

Technically speaking, there was no blood relation between the two, but their respective identities were enough to make each other’s skin crawl.

Once in her car, Brielle felt the need to inform Tiffanie about the situation and texted her, but Tiffanie didn’t respond, and Brielle was left wondering what had become of them.

Stepping out at the entrance of her neighborhood, Brielle noticed several luxury cars parked, turning heads. She took a closer look and was about to enter when a group of bodyguards emerged from a car and approached her.

Before she could react, they forcefully grabbed her shoulders. “Ms. Brielle, we’re with the Rowland family’s security. We need an explanation for the malicious harm you’ve caused our young miss.”

Brielle’s brow furrowed, feeling as though her shoulders were about to be crushed. She had anticipated the Rowland family might retaliate, but not this swiftly. And the lead car’s doors remained closed, leaving her to wonder who was inside.

Brielle bit her lip, struggling briefly. “By what right are you detaining me? Do you have any evidence that I’ve harmed Tessa?”

The bodyguards ignored her protest, pushing her towards the car, “The Rowland family has decreed that should anything befall the young miss, Ms. Brielle, you will pay the price.”

Brielle ceased her struggle, surrounded by five fancy rides, each seating four, with a total of twenty bodyguards–not counting the one in the lead car. The Rowland family’s show of force was like mobilizing to capture a traitor.

Once in the car, Brielle’s wrists were shackled with cold cuffs. She chuckled. “Since when does the Rowland family perform police duties?”

The bodyguards felt she was incredibly naive. In their world, powerful families could do as they pleased, untouchable by the likes of common folk. No one answered her.

Meanwhile, in the front car, Andrew twiddled with his phone. He had stayed put, curious about the Rowland family’s intentions for Brielle.

Now that they had taken her, he debated whether to inform Max. Max’s true feelings for Brielle were a mystery. If he wasn’t serious, she might not make it out alive from the Rowland family’s clutches.

After some thought, Andrew texted Max, asking for his location.

Max was in a foul mood that evening, joining Kenzo for a drink at his spacious villa, where Kenzo, an artist with a wide social circle, had stashed away an impressive collection of fine liquors.

Members of other influential families, including Zaiden from the Rowland family and Sammuel from the Hatfield family, were present.

In this upper–crust gathering, Kenzo’s popularity was evident as everyone vied for a hint about his next project, knowing his scripts could rake in millions.

As Kenzo entertained his guests, Max sat in solitude in a corner, nursing a drink, lost in thought until Andrew strode in and took a seat across from him.

They drank silently for a moment before Andrew ventured, “I heard you bought some land from the Hatfield family. What’s your plan with that lot?”

The property was out in the suburbs, and any construction would typically require a bidding process.

Max had signed a contract with no bid in sight, as if he had bought it just for kicks.

“Brielle needs it, and I can provide,” was all Max replied.