Chapter 542

Max still had the hairdryer in his hand when he noticed the troubled look on her face, causing a pang in his chest. He quickly set down the hairdryer and approached her. “It’s not what you.

think.”

His fingertips gently lifted her chin, tilting her face up as he softly explained. “Andrew came locking for a fight.”

Brielle’s eyes narrowed instantly, and her sadness evaporated, replaced by a surge of anger, The last time he had a bruise on his cheek was from Andrew, and now Andrew had the nerve to get physical again. What was his deal?

Seeing her expression returned to normal, Max breathed a sigh of relief. “I let some info leak online.

Tessa got so wound up she ended up back in the ER, and Andrew lost it.”

“Isn’t that what she deserves?” Brielle’s tone was bitter, her fists clenched tight.

Max couldn’t help but chuckle and handed her the hairdryer. “Yeah, she had it coming.”

Brielle plugged the hairdryer into the socket, grabbed his hair with her left hand, and with the hairdryer in her right, she diligently went about drying his hair. “You didn’t fight back?”

“I did. He’s probably still in the hospital.”

“Good for you.”

Brielle felt a lot of her anger dissipate. “Don’t go easy on him. This mess isn’t our fault. When Tessa and I fell into the water, she was the one who pushed me first while my guard was down.”

“I figured as much.”

Max closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation of Brielle’s fingers weaving through his hair. There was always a faint scent about her, permeating the air and seeping into his pores, impossible to ignore..

Unable to resist, he wrapped his arms around her waist and slowly trailed his hands upward. Brielle squirmed as he found a ticklish spot, trying to suppress a laugh. “Stop it.”

“You were mad at me just now, weren’t you?” She must have misunderstood something again.

Brielle quickly straightened up, feeling guilty. “Then go ahead, touch.”

Her hands continued drying his hair until it was almost done, but his next move left her frozen in place.

His fingers slipped under the hem of her shirt, and he looked up at her. “Did he touch you?”

It seemed he had guessed who had taken her away that evening. Brielle felt a heaviness in her heart, sensing that Max was more dangerous now than ever before. It was as if a positive answer would seal Spencer’s fate. How would that be any different from Michael?

15:15 “No, it’s over between him and me “But he’s not giving up, is he7”

He should be giving up now.”

With his hair fully dry, she wrapped the hairdryer cord and placed it in the nearby storage box Max embraced her from behind, enveloping her completely. “Next time, I won’t be so lenient with hum.

Brielle sensed a lethal intent in his words.

Was she supposed to urge Max not to act on it? No way. She was no saint. Ryan and William had been eyeing him like a piece of meat, waiting for a chance to take Max down, without hesitation. If she now asked Max to hold back, it was akin to cruelly defanging a tiger.

She was selfish.

“Alright, then, don’t hold back.”

Max seemed surprised by her response, chuckled lightly, and buried his head into the nape of her neck. The warmth of his breath tickled Brielle, and she couldn’t help but turn her head to dodge it.

“Let’s go downstairs for dinner, that king crab is huge.”

Brielle’s eyes light up with anticipation. Max’s heart softened, and he led her downstairs. Wesley had already started setting the table and couldn’t hide the smile in his eyes when they arrived. “Ms. Brielle, I’ve decanted the wine. You and the gentleman can enjoy a glass tonight. There’ll be fireworks to watch from upstairs, and it’s supposed to snow.”

Brielle realized Wesley really knew how to dial up the romance; he even prepared candles for the occasion. She felt a touch embarrassed..

With everything set by Wesley, he and the staff discreetly retreated.

Brielle and Max had been together long enough, and though they had had sex numerous times, she still felt shy in front of him, especially since this was their first candlelit dinner.

She sat down and sneakily glanced at Max across the table. Max served her a bowl of soup. “Aren’t you hungry?”

He was so gentle that it made Brielle feel as if she were already tipsy without even having a sip of wine.

Just as she was about to speak, Max’s cellphone rang.

He frowned slightly, stood up, and walked to the side to answer. “Mother.”

“Max, have you had dinner? If you’re done, could you come and keep me company?”

“Not yet.”

“Where are you having dinner? I called Michael, and he said you left a while ago. Why aren’t you at home for the New Year’s Eve dinner? There are many distant relatives there tonight, and you know what they’re thinking.”

“If you had called there, then you should know that I had taken Brielle to meet the Dorsey family.”

At that, Martha’s expression darkened, a flicker of madness crossing her eyes. “Now you’re completely disregarding my health. Didn’t the doctor say I can’t handle stress?”