Chapter 497
Max’s first conscious sensation was the oppressive weight of anesthesia pinning him to the hospital bed, ghostly whispers of the world beyond teasing his ears, yet his body remained unresponsive. His father had been there, pocketing Max’s cellphone and turning the hospital into a fortress so secure that even Patrick couldn’t slip through to visit him on that first night.
Speaking Brielle’s name would’ve been a death sentence, given Michael’s resourcefulness. Mar was certain that if he’d uttered her name upon waking, Michael would’ve had Brielle thrown into the deepest, darkest cell before sunrise. Powerless and weak, Max had no choice but to bury his worries temporarily.
Upon regaining some strength, he reached out to Patrick and meticulously orchestrated their next moves. Only after overhearing Alivia’s phone conversation in the hospital corridor did he consciously decide to keep Brielle’s name off his lips.
Max was still reeling from near death, and couldn’t quite parse the entirety of Alivia’s chatter. Bits and pieces about Brielle, jail, and Jaired floated through his throbbing mind. When Alivia swept into his room, announcing Jaired’s imminent return, Max’s gaze was fixed outside the window, his brain ablaze with pain and suspicion.
Why would Alivia bring up Brielle to Jaired? Max had been clear about his feelings for Brielle to Alivia long ago. If she was as refined and composed as she claimed, she wouldn’t gossip about Brielle in private.
His concern grew, wondering if his pain wasn’t clouding his judgment, conjuring delusions. After all, he had known Alivia for over a decade, and Kenzo had been a close friend for years. For now, his only move was to play it cool and send someone to protect Brielle in jail.
“So the guard in the uniform was your guy?” Brielle asked with a hopeful lilt in her voice.
“Yeah, I was worried someone might try to hurt you,” Max admitted.
Brielle’s lips curled into a sweet smile, her suspicions confirmed.She had always been sharp. Initially, she was rattled by the two guards, but had pieced together the uniformed man’s cryptic message. “When titans clash, the mortals suffer, and it’s unclear who’ll come out on top.” Clearly, someone wanted her in trouble, yet someone else was safeguarding her. Two forces were colliding, and the victor remained uncertain.
When Brielle had been led to believe Max had forgotten her, she felt a pang of despair. Yet, that subtle hint from the uniformed man had sparked a realization: someone powerful was protecting her. Who else in Beaconsfield could it be but Max?
Aubree’s only potential ally was the Clements family, who would never openly support her against their own interest. Despite her connections, Tiffanie was still under the Dorsey family’s thumb, unlikely to make a bold move against her grandfather’s wishes.
That left Max, the beacon of hope for Brielle’s release and the very reason she had the courage. to step into that VIP room alone. And now, Max’s words were the affirmation she needed.
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Her heart melted completely, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words. What could she possibly say that would equate to what Max had done for her? Her bravery seemed so small in comparison.
“Max, where are we headed now?” she inquired, noting that the car’s trajectory was neither towards Premier Palace nor Pearl Estate. Their relationship had just been made public, and Max certainly had a plethora of issues to attend to, yet they were driving towards the outskirts. “I’m taking you somewhere special,” he replied with a touch of mystery.
Brielle didn’t press further. Instead, she pulled out her phone, which was peppered with missed. calls from Aubree, Tiffanie, and even Sophia. She opened Sophia’s message first–just two words. [Brilliant, congratulations.] The ‘Brilliant‘ was for last night’s spectacle, and ‘congratulations‘ for her relationship with Max that was now out in the open. She replied with a simple [Thanks.]
Next was Aubree’s characteristically bold message. She had been ready to feign ignorance if Brielle failed, but she was genuinely surprised by her success. (Andrew called me this morning. I could feel his anger through the phone. Finally, I’ve turned the tables. We’ll talk more about it later,] she wrote.
Tiffanie’s message, expectedly gossipy, was surprisingly serious. [Alivia has invited a bunch of society ladies for afternoon tea today. Brielle, be careful.]
Brielle sighed. Alivia was quick to recover from the embarrassment of the previous night. already playing hostess to Beaconsfield’s socialites. It was a clear signal that the game of high society chess was far from over.
