Chapter 6

Max’s gaze did a quick sweep over her face before he murmured, “Leave.”

Brielle wasn’t offended, she knew his sternness was just a show of authority for others, not truly directed at her. After all, she did benefit from the situation.

She was about to sweet talk him a bit more when the conference room door burst open. Spencer stood there, his face clouded with anger. “What are you still doing here?” he snapped Brielle hadn’t expected Spencer to double back like this. He usually paid her no mind. With no choice, she pretended to tidy up the papers on the table, gave Max a respectful nod, and left the room.

Spencer, in his sharp suit, didn’t dare meet Max’s gaze and mumbled, “Uncle Max, I apologize for her ignorance. She doesn’t know any better.

Max responded with a nonchalant “Hmm” and looked away.

Outside, Spencer grabbed Brielle’s wrist tightly. “Did you go squealing to him? For heaven’s sake, Brielle, you’re a lady of the Haywood family. Haven’t you ever seen money before?”

The disdain in his eyes was like a thorn, brutally piercing Brielle’s heart.

Brielle found him utterly ridiculous. She didn’t know where he got the idea that she was money-hungry and promiscuous. Maybe because she had only been brought back to the Haywood fold at the age of ten, he assumed she carried an air of poverty about her.

“Spencer, we’ve known each other for thirteen years. Have you ever given me anything?” she shot back. So what made him think she was after money?

v ever Spencer clenched his teeth, his irritation boiling over. “You wish! The Haywoods only wanted to latch onto our family’s influence. Let me tell you, stop meddling in things that don’t concern you. I don’t like you one bit. Just stay in your lane, and eventually, I’ll make things clear to my family, and we can part ways amicably.”

Brielle’s wrist throbbed painfully under his grip, likely bruising. “Spencer, it was your who wanted this engagement in the first place, and now you want to call it off. What exactly do the Dorseys take me for?”

Indeed, it was a teenage Spencer who had insisted on the alliance with the Haywoods, charmed by Brielle’s looks and top-notch academic performance. They were classmates, and Spencer, used to getting his way, thought she was the only girl worthy of him. The Haywoods naturally agreed, and Brielle had no say in the matter. The Dorseys probably thought it was just child’s play and didn’t object.

Now, the only reason the marriage contract hadn’t been dissolved was because of her status as a top university graduate and her choice of a finance major, both of which could help Spencer secure his position at Dorsey International.

For ten years this engagement had dragged on, and Brielle had been nothing but devoted, pouring her heart and soul into it.

And what had he done? Carried on an affair with Lillian, and while with her, he’d take every opportunity to belittle Brielle as dull, unfeeling, mechanical.

Ha, if the Dorsey family saw her as some cheap commodity to be used and discarded, she wasn’t about to sit back and take it “Being engaged to you has been the biggest mistake of my life. It’s utterly revolting!”

Spencer’s words were meant to wound, and they struck Brielle like a plunge into icy waters. A stifled pain grew in her heart, and she couldn’t help but wonder how he would react if he found out about her and Max.

“Let go. There’s a department meeting this afternoon. If you’re going to have a meltdown, do it somewhere else.”

Spencer, fearing Max might emerge from the conference room, thought he had hit a nerve with Brielle and, with a self-satisfied snort, released her. “Mom sent you to spy, actually took yourself seriously.”

and you Rubbing her sore wrist, Brielle wished she could swing a punch at him. “I’m heading downstairs.

Remember to transfer that villa into my name.”

Spencer’s eyes bulged in disbelief, and he almost shrieked, “What did you just say?”

Brielle looked up, smiling. “Uncle Max said it was a gift for me. So, please tell Lillian to move out.”

“You!”

Spencer had never seen this side of Brielle, and he clenched his fists in rage. “You’re really all about the money, aren’t you?”

Brielle didn’t bother to refute. A two-million-dollar villa was not something she was willing to hand over to Lillian.

Ignoring Spencer’s teeth-grinding behind her, she returned to her office. The office was buzzing, and all eyes were on her. Brielle frowned upon hearing the whispers about a “fiancée.” Her relationship with Spencer had been exposed.

She looked up at Lucinda. With an apologetic grip on her own clothes, Lucinda said, “I’m sorry. I spoke too loudly, and someone overheard.”

Spencer stepped forward, impatiently tugging at his tie. “So they know. What can you do about it? It’s not like it’s going to last anyway.”

In front of everyone, he showed no regard for Brielle. She received many sympathetic looks, but it suited her just fine. She felt the same way.

After work, a Haywood car came to pick her up.

“Ms. Brielle, the lady has requested your presence.”

It must have been Faith who called.

Brielle reluctantly got into the car, and before she could even step through the Haywood’s front door, she heard Lillian’s laughter from inside.

“Miranda, your tea is delightful. Bri has always praised it, and even Spencer mentioned it.”

“Lillian, it’s been so long since you’ve been home. I thought you and Bri had grown apart. Did you receive the gift I sent you last time?”

“It was too extravagant. I felt awkward accepting it.”

“Nonsense, take it. Why stand on ceremony with me?”

With pressed lips, Brielle paused in the foyer to change her shoes and saw Lillian massaging Miranda’s wrists. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think they were mother and daughter.

Miranda looked over with a beaming smile, “Bri, Lillian’s been here all afternoon, where have you been? Did you get Faith’s call? Spencer is still young and restless-cut him some slack next time, will you? Don’t be so headstrong.”

Brielle set her bag down, meeting Lillian’s gaze Lillian offered a timid smile, awkwardly settling back onto the couch, “Bri, are you mad at me? I’m sorry, I’ve been sick these past two weeks and I don’t really know anyone else here, so I ended up calling Spencer.”

Miranda took her hand, her face a picture of concern, “What, sick? You’ve got to take care of yourself.

Spencer’s a pampered young man, all thumbs, how could he take care of anyone? Next time, just call Bri. If that’s not an option, I’ll send someone over to look after you.”

“Miranda, I don’t want to impose.” Lillian was visibly flustered, casting a quick glance at Brielle.

Brielle’s expression remained cool as she walked over and sat down on the couch, “It’s getting late, you should head home.””

Lillian paled, her shoulders shrinking as if she were a small, pitiful creature, “Bri, you really are upset with me, aren’t you? I’ll call Spencer right now and tell him to stop fussing over me.” Her hands trembled slightly, barely able to grip her phone.

Miranda frowned in disapproval, “Bri, you and Lillian grew up together in the same orphanage, and you two have known each other for years. Don’t you know her by now?

Lillian has always been frail. Don’t be so cold. You might scare her.”