Chapter 648

Michael knew better than to try to outlast Max In a game of patience. He had watched his youngest son grow Into a man who could keep his lips sealed just as tightly as his father, If not more so.

Having finished the last stroke of his calligraphy, Michael set down the brush and accepted a handkerchief from the butler to clean his hands. “What’s your plan with the Clements family?”

“Haven’t you already done everything that needs to be done?”

A chill flickered in Michael’s eyes. He finished wiping his fingers and handed the handkerchief back to the butler. “I’ve spoken with the Clements family and made some concessions. The damages are around a billion dollars.”

Max considered this for a few seconds before responding. “It can be deducted from my personal account.”

“Max!”

Michael’s anger flared, and he slapped the desk. It was the first time he’d ever lashed out at Max like this, a hint of frost in his glare. “All this for a woman. You seem pretty content to be the butt of the joke.”

It was a harsh accusation. After all, any random chapter from Max’s life thus far had been nothing but highlight reels. He was never the topic of ridicule.

“Father, having Brielle by my side is icing on the cake.”

Michael’s breathing grew labore; it was the first time he’d been this incensed. His chest heaved in silent laughter, though it was anything but humorous. “I’ve heard Martha’s condition has worsened. The sanatorium has called you several times, and you’ve been ignoring them, even going as far as instructing the doctors to take drastic measures.”

“Mother’s emotional state was too agitated. I did what I felt was best for her.”

“Absurd!”

A cup shattered at Max’s feet.

Michael’s brow furrowed deeper, his tone ice–cold. “I remember that wager with Brielle well. I won’t make things difficult for her for at least half a year. But if you continue with this outrageous behavior, don’t blame me for breaking our agreement. Max, I won’t touch you, but I can’t make the same promise for Brielle. She has too many vulnerabilities. Do you think you can protect everyone involved?”

It was a blatant threat. His most prized son was brawling in the streets – it was an affront to everything Michael stood for. Moreover, it was with the heir to the Clements family, a brother who had grown up beside Max.

Michael was a seasoned businessman, and he knew when to hold back. “I’ll have Alivia spend more time with your mother. Consider how you might make it up to her. Jose enjoys collecting art. I happen to have a piece he would appreciate, ‘The Twelve Scenes of Landscape.”

The recompense wasn’t for Alivia but for the Barnes family.

Michaei added, “You know Alivia wants more than that.”

“Father, that’s all I’m prepared to offer.” Max’s words were blunt, typical of his nature, and not prone to deception.

Feeling the conversation would only serve to aggravate him further, Michael waved Max away.

Before leaving, Max instructed the servants to clean up the broken glass. Then he stepped into his car parked outside. He was about to reply to Brielle’s message on his phone when the car window was tapped. It was the butler.

The butler spoke with due respect. “Sir, Mr. Michael recently assigned someone new to Dorsey International to be your assistant. He forgot to mention it earlier and sent me here to inform you. Also, he insisted that you are not to dismiss this person.”

Who could this new person be that required Michael’s personal attention?

Max nodded slightly. When he drove to Dorsey International and saw the woman who appeared on the top floor, his brow furrowed ever so slightly.

His new assistant was a woman with a passing resemblance to Brielle. If Sydney had merely copied Brielle’s dress sense, then this woman had captured Brielle’s essence. Her every gesture, combined with the resemblance, could easily be mistaken for Brielle’s under the dim lighting.

She was Michael’s plant. Michael had not explicitly stated it, but Max understood the implication. As part of the deal to settle the brawl with Andrew, this woman had t by Max’s side as his secretary.

remain Max was not one to be provoked by such tactics. His gaze lingered on her for a moment before he entered his office.

The woman respectfully stood at the entrance, not following in, but consulting with the people about the other procedures here.

These people all knew Brielle, but Brielle had been fired. Before, there was a Sydney, who deliberately came to the top level to wander around, but she has recently disappeared. It was said that her family had reported to the police and Dorsey International had also helped to find her, but they had not been able to find her.

Now there’s another one who looked so much like Brielle and had a similar temperament to Brielle, which seemed a little aloof.

People who were used to the genuine were not fond of the counterfeit, and they initially. thought this woman was like Sydney, just an Imitator. However, after spending just two hours with her, everyone found that her abilities were very strong, even far surpassing. others.

Upon asking, it turned out that she was a Harvard graduate and a master’s degree holder at a young age.