Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Brielle casually hung her bag and coat on the coat rack nearby. "Caught in a meeting?"NôvelDrama.Org copyrighted © content.

Max glanced up at her, the fleeting warmth in his hazel eyes dissolving as quickly as a mirage, his features tightening into a smirk that hinted at mischief.

At this moment, the camera was still facing him, and in the quiet conference room on the other end of the screen, everyone remained silent, avoiding eye contact and keeping their thoughts to themselves, though their minds were racing with commentary. "Was that Brielle's voice just now? Max is at his own residence, Premier Palace, right?"

"Brielle and Max are living together?!"

"And by the looks of it, this isn't a recent development."

Their faces remained a study in calm, but internally their minds were racing.

Then Brielle's voice came from the screen again. She asked the housekeeper inside the Premier Palace with ease.

"Wesley, are we having soup again today?"

A smile spread across Wesley's face. "Yes, both you and Mr. Max have been working late quite frequently, so I asked the kitchen to make some soup for you."

"Thank you."

"Ms. Brielle, would you like some fruit? We just received an air shipment today."

"Sure, I'm a bit thirsty, actually."

"Alright, I'll have the staff wash some and place it on the side table. Why don't you go wash your hands, and dinner will be ready shortly."

The executives felt as if their ears were playing tricks on them because they could hear everything so clearly. It was clear to them that from top to bottom, Premier Palace treated Brielle like the lady of the house. Unaware that Max had both the camera and the microphone on, Brielle spoke without reservation.

Max sat with an expression of cool indifference, his pale lips parting slightly, the sharp angles of his face as distinct as ever. "Continue."

With that, the conference room once more buzzed into action, summarizing and discussing as before.

When Brielle returned after washing her hands, the meeting had ended. She walked over to the couch where Max had already closed his laptop and was pulling her close by the waist. "Back so late?"

Brielle didn't really want to discuss

al.ne

the matter concerning Kingston, but she knew all too well that she couldn't keep it from Max. And singe she's now with Max, many in Beaconsfield were curious about her background. Now that her biological father had shown up-and such a character at that-her mismatch with Max seemed even more pronounced.

She raised her hand to rub her temples. "Mark found my biological father. He's not quite what I expected."

There was a tinge of disappointment in her voice. It wasn't that she was unmoved; rather, faced with such a father figure and a TV crew that was only interested in ratings, she had to appear unbreakable. But the truth was, she'd been feeling awful after the show.

During the countless times she went

hungry as a child, she would ask

Mark when her parents would come for her, and if she was unwanted

from birth. Life in the orphanage

was indeed impoverished. There were too few sponsors, and Mark, a laid-off worker, could only provide a meager stipend to support a group of children.

Brielle was sensible, never allowing herself to eat her fill, always saving what little she could.

In winter, she and Mark would knit hats and scarves for everyone. When it was cold, they huddled together, dreaming of the day they'd find their parents. That hope was perhaps the most beautiful support during those times.

So when the Haywood family came

into her life, she was ecstatic and

overjoyed But because she had to bring another girl back with her, she never dared to act spoiled. She had to be the most understanding child, to strive, to excel, and to earn everyone's praise.

No matter how well she did, she just was never enough for the Haywood family.

She wasn't a child born of blessings or raised in praise, so she didn't know how to be petulant, always thinking she had to solve everything on her own.

Now the Haywood family was gone, and in their place was Kingston, a self-serving asshole.

The castle in her heart about family completely collapsed. How could she not be heartbroken?

Still, she was grateful for the concept of family. Just that word had helped her endure the hardest yet happiest times.

It seemed her fate was to be devalued, such was her lot in life.