Chapter 402

Brielle was well aware that the young heir to Kingston Enterprises was no saint, but she hadn’t anticipated him being this reckless. No wonder he had been detained.

“If someone came to claim him, would you release him?” she asked.

“Of course not,” came the reply with a sly edge. “But for you, Ms. Brielle, I might just consider it.”

As long as he wasn’t released, William wouldn’t stand a chance. Therefore, Daniel staying put was actually to her advantage.

The man had already picked up his glass and was idly toying with it. “Men like Dustin and Max hold you in high regard, Ms. Brielle. I’m quite curious about you.”

“Do you fancy Max, Ms. Brielle?” The tone was casual, as if two old friends were catching up.

“Of course.”

“And do you love him?”

Love? Brielle had never really entertained the concept, or rather, she had never truly encountered it.

She acknowledged her fondness for Max, secure in the knowledge it wasn’t unrequited. If she hadn’t sensed Max’s affection for her, she would have guarded her feelings closely.

Affection was like basking in the warmth of a cozy fireplace – you didn’t ask others what warmth was;

you simply felt it. If you couldn’t feel it, or if you found yourself seeking confirmation from a third party, then it was absent. That was why when she saw girls online asking strangers if their boyfriends still liked them, she knew that those asking usually had their answer already.

But love was different – complex and yet pure. Affection was commonplace: true love was rare. It was an oasis in a long–parched desert, a fleeting joy upon first sight – both eternally scheming and dirtied with thought.

Having once ventured into a real desert during her college years, Brielle understood that oases were indeed scarce, but the endless sand was the norm. So she remained silent.

Pleased by her reticence, the man said, “Mr. Dorsey should be arriving soon. I’ll have someone escort you out.”

Brielle nodded politely, unsure of his intentions but eager to leave.

A waiter soon approached and led her towards the exit. As she walked away, she glanced back. at the man still seated in the gazebo. His fingers caressed his glass, and a slight smile played at the edges of his concealed lips.

Brielle frowned but didn’t dwell on it.

Once outside, Tiffanie was waiting anxiously at the exit. Upon seeing Brielle emerge, she quickly circled her, checking for any harm. “Thank God, I was terrified you’d been chopped up or something.”

She let out a sigh of relief. “Maxle would have killed me If anything happened to you.”

As she finished speaking. Max’s car pulled up.

Tittanie, feeling a tad guilty for having brought Brielle to the casino in the first place, avoided. Max’s gaze and quickly ushered Brielle into the car, “See you next time! Have fun.”

“Bang!”

The car door closed, and Tiffanie sauntered off to her own convertible.

Brielle swallowed, sensing the chill in the car’s atmosphere. “I can explain,” she said in a gentle voice, not minding playing the peacemaker.

Max’s gaze fell on the back of her hand.

Brielle had thought nothing of Dustin’s European manners. A polite kiss on the hand was customary, after all. But under Max’s scrutiny, she felt that patch of skin burn. Her fingers curled involuntarily, and before she could react, Max was wiping her hand meticulously with a disinfectant wipe, as if handling a precious artifact.

Brielle knew he was upset, but his careful actions conveyed respect and care.

Affection was like moon–gazing. You didn’t just see the moon. It illuminated you even before. you looked up.

And so, she was willing to let her guard down around Max, even relinquishing control of her body to him. She couldn’t help feeling shy in his presence, her transparency leaving no need to hide her emotions.

Yet she was certain – she didn’t love Max. Or rather, the moment hadn’t come for her to feel that she loved Max.