Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Antonio's lips curled into a sly smile, a trace of malice flickering in his eyes. There was no way he was going to let that old codger William get near Brielle. He intended to keep Uncle Max's sweetheart locked away like a trophy, safely under his protective wing. The thought made him lick his lips in anticipation, eager for the moment to arrive.

Father and son were lost in their delusions of grandeur, rushing their plans to take down Stellar Stage Entertainment.

Meanwhile, they were clueless about the brewing storm. The largest deals of Dorsey International were starting to unravel.

When Dorsey International's legal documents were posted online, the uproar was immediate and widespread.

The scandal devoured the nation's attention like a ravenous beast.

Dorsey International was a household name. From seniors to school kids, everyone knew its CEO.

But now, the figure once revered like a demigod was exposed to have tainted lineage and was facing a legal battle.

The internet erupted with insults, mockery, and expressions of dismay.

This was Max's first taste of being the epicenter of a media storm.

"Damn it! What the hell are these people babbling about?! The Dorsey International bunch has no shame!"

Inside the Clements family company, Andrew kicked a chair over in a fit of rage.

He looked like a lion set ablaze, itching to dive through the screen and beat some sense into the foul-mouthed commenters.

Dark circles under his eyes betrayed his lack of sleep, a sign of his recent restless nights.

His assistant knew all too well what had been consuming their boss's time. Aside from meetings, Andrew had been a constant fixture outside Aubree's villa, gazing up at the soft glow of her windows like a vigilant guardian. His health was bound to suffer if this continued.

Andrew's routine had been regular these days, shuttling only between the company and Aubree's villa. He'd hardly paid attention to the online tumult.

When he caught wind of the media frenzy, Max's name was already dominating the top trending searches.

"Send a message to pull those trends down now!"

Andrew fumed. His friend Max being dragged through the mud was unacceptable, regardless of whether he was a true Dorsey or not.

It didn't change his stature in the financial world one bit, but to think that the ingrates from the Dorsey family were trying to throw him into prison was infuriating.

The Clements had a decent relationship with the Dorseys, but that didn't stop Andrew from condemning them.

"Mr. Clements, it's too late to pull the trends. It's the biggest sensation of the year. We can't suppress it, and even Mr. Dorsey himself hasn't tried. He probably knows it's unstoppable. We have to let it run its course."

Unable to sit still any longer, Andrew snatched up his suit jacket.

The assistant hurried after him, assuming he was off on another quixotic quest to deliver lunch to Aubree.NôvelDrama.Org holds © this.

It was no wonder the assistant thought so, recently, that's exactly what Andrew had been doing-using lunch breaks to deliver meals to Aubree then waiting outside her

place at night, hoping for her return.

The assistant had a hunch that there was more than meets the eye between the two, but he wouldn't dare speak a word.

Without thinking, he steered the car towards Stellar Stage Entertainment. At this hour, Miss Nie was likely honing her acting skills or practicing her dance moves. "Mr. Clements, Miss Nie's movie is premiering soon. Are we going to see it?"

Andrew had never cared for movies, dismissing them as a hassle and a waste of time. Aubree had mentioned it once, and he'd flatly refused.

But now, the thought of Aubree's

movie hitting the theaters brought a

complex mix of bitterness and

sweetness to his heart. "Buy tickets for the whole company. Everyone's going."

The assistant's lashes fluttered down, thinking to himself, classic Mr. Clements.

"Of course, Mr. Clements."