Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Max didn't respond to the question; he didn't need to prove anything to anyone, least of all the depth of his feelings for Brielle. Handling personal questions wasn't exactly his forte. Andrew had asked more out of casual curiosity than genuine concern. Once he knew Max

had the Dorsey family situation under control, he stood up from the mahogany desk and made his exit.

Inside his car, Max slumped against the plush leather of the back seat and instructed his assistant in a muffled tone, "Head to Stellar Stage Entertainment."

The buzz at Stellar Stage Entertainment was palpable. The board had just passed a plan to construct two sizable cafeterias within the building, aiming to significantly boost the working conditions for the staff. The news spread like wildfire, stirring excitement throughout the company. Then, the higher-ups announced a company-wide salary raise, extending even to the unproven rookies, and to top it off, they revealed that all artist wardrobe designs would be entrusted to libo. Anyone who was anyone in the fashion scene knew of libo. His creations were routinely snatched up by A-listers in Hollywood, leaving nothing for the lesser-known talents. And now, this high-flying designer was going to dress Stellar Stage's newcomers?

But when word got out that it was Brielle who had secured libo's services, not a soul within Stellar Stage doubted it. They had followed Mr. Haywood-Brielle's father-to this point, witnessing her turn the impossible into reality time and again. She was the real deal, tirelessly working for Stellar Stage, and the company's higher-ups respected and supported her without question.

Even those known for their flattery, who had stayed on after Dorsey International targeted the company, didn't bolt. They proposed pay cuts as a gesture of solidarity-not out of coercion, but by choice. Brielle, however, declined their offers and instead gave everyone raises, earning their unwavering loyalty.

However, just because Stellar Stage believed in Brielle didn't mean the outside world did. When rumors that libo was designing for Stellar Stage's rookies hit the internet, mockery ensued.

"I bet no one at Stellar Stage realizes libo's rank in fashion."

"How embarrassing. Don't they know about the A-lister last year who got turned down by libo?"

"An A-lister gets rejected, but Stellar Stage rookies get custom libo designs? They're living in a fantasy land."

"Didn't Brielle graduate from Beaconsfield College? They boasted about her accomplishments, and this is what we get? They're saying she started this tall tale." Online commentators were relentless in their ridicule of Brielle. Stellar Stage staff felt the injustice keenly, and someone finally snapped back at the anonymous critics.

"Mr. Haywood's even bringing in two Michelin-starred chefs to run our new cafeterias," they retorted. That comment, screenshot and shared, only fanned the flames of mockery.

By evening, Stellar Stage was a trending topic for all the wrong reasons. Stellar Stage and Max were the butts of the joke, their names linked and lampooned endlessly online. "I used to envy Brielle, with Max chasing after her. Turns out birds of a feather really do flock together."NôvelDrama.Org owns © this.

"What a shame, they could've been the perfect power couple."

"Don't feel sorry. They're quite the match-a welfare queen and a man of questionable lineage."

The internet was awash with scorn,

practically pointing fingers directly at

Brielle and Max. Brielle was the

maligned of the two, as Max's

reputation was somewhat

cushioned by his long-standing

'golden boy' image. But Brielle? The

trolls showed no mercy.

As Brielle packed up for the day, she glanced at the online vitriol but didn't engage. Aubree, on the other hand, barged in fuming, "I can't stand these idiots anymore. I'm going to post about it right now!"

With Aubree's movie premiering

soon, any statement she made

would put her in the crosshairs as well. Brielle, already at the elevator, gave Aubree a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Don't bother with the internet."

"And what about Max? Is he really planning to hide away, letting you take all the heat?"

By the time Brielle stepped into the elevator, followed by Aubree, she still didn't know Max's plan. She hadn't~ asked, and lately, she'd been avoiding deeper conversations with him, knowing all too well that talk would eventually turn to the matter of children.