Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Andrew was destined for a restless night. No sooner had his head touched the pillow than Tessa’s sobs pierced the silence outside. She burst into his room, her face turning ghostly pale at the sight of the bandages wrapped around his palm and head. Tears cascaded uncontrollably down her cheeks.

“Andrew, who did this to you? Oh my god, your injuries look terrible. She clutched at Andrew’s uninjured hand, her tears plopping heavily onto the back of it.

Andrew seemed numb, and his fingertips only stirred after a long pause as a frown creased his forehead. “Tessa, stop crying, please.”

Tessa’s sobs didn’t cease. “Was it Aubree? Her voice was hoarse, and she watched Andrew freeze before he denied it. “No, it wasn’t” Material © NôvelDrama.Org.

Panic seized Tessa, rendering her speechless. Why did her mind immediately leap to Aubree?

The same had happened when Aubree had slapped him, and he’d dismissed it, claiming he’d walked into something.

Tessa knew Andrew too well, he was not one to let offenses slide. When Brielle had slapped him, he’d wanted to lash out, to make her pay dearly, Only Aubree seemed to have the power to make Andrew swallow his pride and endure any hurt in silence without uttering a word about revenge.

A sense of dread overwhelmed Tessa, her heart pounding wildly as if she wanted to scream, to confront him with the burning question.

Did he love Aubree?! Had he ever truly cared for Tessa at all? Why was it always Aubree causing turmoil in his life when he’d always tried to win Tessa over?

Tessa felt a mix of hatred and fear as she carefully kissed his palm. “Andrew, you’re still going to marry me, right?”

Andrew’s eyes remained closed, silent. He desperately wanted to escape into sleep, to wake from this nightmare. Tessa’s weeping, however, robbed him of any peace. It took a half–hour before he opened his eyes irritably. “Enough, Tessa.”

She looked up at him, her eyes bloodshot. “Andrew, I love you. We’ll be together, get married, and have kids.”

“Uh–huh,”

A tidal wave of emotion swelled in Andrew’s eyes. One moment, he was numb with shock. The next, he was wracked with pain so fierce he felt like doubling over to catch his breath.

This was no dream. Aubree really had struck him because of another man. She had betrayed him!

The logic that had long since vanished was slowly returning. He sat up, feeling a sharp pain in his palm. Fury prickled through him. The shock had been too great before to properly punish Aubree.

His lashes drooped in a mix of resentment and pain. Hadn’t she claimed to love him? Hadn’t Aubree always

said she adored him?

Deep down, he’d always known of Aubree’s affection and just chose to ignore it. He’d let her orbit him like a lovesick fool, asking him night after night if he harbored even the slightest affection for her.

Of course, he didn’t care for her. She was nothing more than a convenience, and he’d always been clear about that. So, without a hint of guilt, he’d let Aubree wait on him for years while he always spent his birthdays with Tessa instead.

Indeed, he’d never celebrated Aubree’s birthday with her, which, inconveniently, was just days apart from

11:34

Tessa’s

Andrew’s mind flashed back to the cruelest thing he’d ever done – ordering a birthday cake on Aubree’s day, only to have the card bear Tessa’s name. He had realized his mistake only when Aubree opened it. He had unconsciously instructed the bakery to write Tessa’s name, since he had never ordered a cake for Aubree. The air had been thick with awkwardness that evening, yet Aubree had let him fuck her. She seemed to have no boundaries with him as if she were spineless in his presence.

A buzzing filled Andrew’s head. Could that pretty boy make her happy? If she sought a new thrill, shouldn’t she air for someone on his level?

Unaware, Andrew was just jealous – so jealous his eyes reddened.

“She’ll come back,” he thought. “Just like before.”