Chapter 404
Max tasted the bitter sting of jealousy for the first time, as if a glass of lemonade had spilled over, sour and unrelenting. He glanced down at Brielle, feeling the chill around him grow colder by the second.
Brielle shivered slightly, puzzled at the sudden shift in his mood.
“Did you let Dustin wrap his arms around you?” he asked, the jealousy in his heart seeping into his words.
Brielle was taken aback. Had Dustin hugged her? She couldn’t recall for sure, but she remembered feeling unusually at ease around him. She knew Dustin was a charmer, but from the first time they met, his gaze upon her had been nothing but genuine. Now that she thought about it. Dustin had indeed embraced her. A flicker of guilt crossed her face.
That flicker was enough to intensify the jealousy swirling in Max’s chest. He took a deep breath. pulled her into an embrace, and then slowly guided her towards the plush bed by the floor–to–ceiling window.
Brielle resisted a little. “I’d like to take a shower.”
Max pecked her on the lips, sensing her reluctance, and let her go.
She got up and retrieved a silky nightgown from the bedroom wardrobe before retreating to the bathroom. As soon as the sound of running water filled the bathroom, Max heard a knock at the door–it was Wesley, the butler.
“Sir.” Wesley said, bowing respectfully, “there are a few details to discuss regarding Ms. Martha’s transfer.”
Max frowned. Martha had been insistent on returning to her home country, so he had been in the process of coordinating with facilities back home, but he wasn’t comfortable with just any facility, hence the meticulous selection process. Martha had suffered her incident back home. and Max could not afford to take any chances.
After showering in another room, he headed to his study. The computer was on, with several people waiting on the other end for an online meeting. Dorsey International had a diverse portfolio, but it hadn’t ventured into healthcare. If anyone in Beaconsfield had clout in the medical field, it was the Rowland family.
The Rowland family’s main business was healthcare, with stakes in several of the country’s most renowned hospitals. Without hesitation, Max had reached out to the Rowlands and secured a spot in one of their best nursing homes.
The Rowlands, aware that Martha would be in their care, were on high alert, leaving no stone unturned to ensure her comfort.
Just as Max finalized these arrangements, the study door opened. Brielle entered, her hair loose and wearing a silken nightgown that highlighted her delicate skin. She had a perfect
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complexion, and the steam from the shower had flushed her skin, making her look even more enticing.
Max’s eyes darkened at the sight. He shut down his computer, walked over to her, and pressed her down onto the soft leather sofa in the study.
Brielle blushed, sinking into the sola’s cushioning embrace.
Max’s kisses were gentle, cascading over her skin like water. Her skin flushed even more, yet he kept her pinned beneath him, carefully observing every nuance of her expression. He wanted more than just to see her belly exposed; he wanted this hedgehog to unfurl completely, to reveal every inch of herself to him.
For Brielle, the physical sensation overwhelmed any embarrassment she might have felt. She suspected Max was still angry, and his actions now were a deliberate display of that anger.
Their skin touched, their warmth mingled, and she felt too exhausted to protest. Yet, whenever she tried to speak, he would steal away her breath, leaving her gasping for air.
A jealous man could indeed be frightening. In the end, Brielle surrendered, limp as if boneless. Deep down, she knew Max wasn’t just upset about Dustin. It was also because she wasn’t wearing the string of beads he had given her–a gift he must have pondered over deeply before presenting it to her.
But Brielle didn’t want to wear it. To her, Max was like a rare diamond, which she wanted to keep hidden, away from prying eyes. The moment others noticed the diamond’s brilliance, more would covet it, and she didn’t feel strong enough to protect it. If she lost the diamond due to a moment of careless pride, the regret would haunt her for life..
She was also grateful to Max. He acted rather than questioned, showing a ferocity that was absent from his usual detachment. She loved his restraint and his calm, but she also loved him. now, colored with passion.
Chapter 405
