Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Brielle locked eyes with Cameron, her gaze unwavering. “Really, Cameron? You’re playing the grandpa card? Did you forget he’s your grandpa too? He’s been nothing but good to you. Is this how you repay him?”

She had fond memories of her grandpa Julian because, when the Haywood family wanted to formally acknowledge Lillian as their goddaughter, it was her grandpa who stepped in to stop it, believing it was unfair to Brielle.

But Julian had long since relinquished his authority, and with his dementia worsening year by year, he didn’t have any inheritance to speak of. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been exiled to a nursing home by the Haywood family.

Cameron’s eyes were stormy as he glared at Brielle, his anger and disgust not even slightly concealed. “Do you think I want to bring this up in front of Grandpa? I’m just reminding you, once this whole thing blows up, someone is bound to run their mouth to him. You know how much he cares for you. If he suffers because of you, you’ll never live it down.”

The weight of that accusation was almost too much for Brielle to bear. She turned her icy gaze to Lillian, who was smugly watching the scene unfold, and her lips curled into a frosty smirk. “So, it’s all about that engagement with Spencer, huh? If he’s not keen on calling it off, then I won’t stir the pot. But I must say, I didn’t realize he cared so much about me. Seems like hooking up with him isn’t much of a feat. The real skill is in capturing his heart.”

Lillian was seething, barely able to maintain her composure. Her hand was entwined with Cameron’s, and in a moment of frustration, she squeezed a bit too hard, causing him pain. Cameron turned to her, misconstruing her grip as fear of Brielle. “Lillian?”

Lillian was afraid that a few more barbs from Brielle would make her lose control. She quickly intervened. “Cameron, don’t you have a meeting to attend? Don’t be late. Bri’s an adult. She can figure this out on her own.”

Cameron nodded, impressed by her maturity. He looked at Brielle. “I can’t tell who’s the real Haywood daughter. If you had half of Lillian’s sense, Mom and Dad wouldn’t be embarrassed by you at their age.”

Brielle laughed, her eyes dancing with a provocative light. “You should be thankful she isn’t really a Haywood. Otherwise, you two dating would be quite the scandal.”

Her words struck a nerve with both Cameron and Lillian.

Brielle pulled Aubree into the car, calmly buckling her seatbelt. Aubree glanced in the rearview mirror, itching to reverse and smash the front bumper of that luxury sedan. “Lillian’s got game, fuckinh Spencer while keeping your brother on a tight leash. I wonder

if there are others in the circle who have been enchanted by her in the same way.”

Brielle closed her eyes, exhausted from a night of being tossed and turned by Max, and now her legs were still weak. This new scare only added to her frustration.

“There might be,” she admitted.

Aubree hit the gas. “Doesn’t seem too cold today, yet you’re all wrapped up in that scarf. You must have had quite the night.”

Brielle’s cheeks flushed, knowing she couldn’t hide it from Aubree.

Aubree pulled up to Brielle’s apartment, playfully tugged the scarf down, revealing a patchwork of marks on her delicate neck-shades of pink and rose, testimony to how much a certain man adored her skin.

Aubree whistled lowly, muttering an impressed “damn,” then cupped her hand like a microphone and held it to Brielle’s mouth. “On behalf of all the other ladies, tell me, what’s it like to sleep with Max? Is he as good as he looks? Is his voice as sexy in bed?” Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Brielle was backed into a corner but Aubree caught her wrist and pulled her back. “Spill it. You have to tell me. Do you know what I think about every time I see Max?”

Brielle shook her head, noting Aubree’s curious expression. “I wonder what it’s like to kiss those thin lips of his.”

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