Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Brielle felt a wave of emotion as she remembered the upcoming centennial celebration at Beaconsfield College. It was going to be the grandest event yet, and all alumni were invited to return. She had received her invitation, but she wasn't all that keen on going.

For one, she had been in the eye of the storm recently, and she didn't want her alma mater to bear the brunt of any criticism. Secondly, her name hadn't yet graced the financial newspapers, and she felt she hadn't lived up to her professors' instruction.

"Brielle, what did you use to enjoy eating?" Max had done his homework before coming.

His experience couldn't be applied to the average person, as he rarely stayed on campus during his university days, let alone made any friends.

Back then, he was already rubbing shoulders with the Wall Street wolves, engaged in a fierce tug-of-war over interests. So, the typical college life, with its communal dining and hangouts, was foreign to him. "Hmm, corn dogs," Brielle replied almost subconsciously, noting the puzzled look in Max's eyes, knowing he probably hadn't heard of the Beaconsfield College specialty.

The college was known for its clean, fresh, and affordable corn dogs.

But such a place probably wasn't Max's scene. She couldn't imagine him perched at a cramped table, enjoying a budget-friendly corn dog.

"Which way to go?" Max glanced at the various paths, wondering where he could find this famous treat.

Without further hesitation and with a spark of mischief in her eyes that swept away the day's gloom, Brielle said, "Let's go, it won't be too crowded right now."

They walked through the pathways, passing the girls' dormitories where Brielle pointed out her old residence.

Beaconsfield College, being a top-ranked institution, boasted beautiful dorms surrounded by fragrant cedar and ginkgo trees.

During her time at college, Brielle

had never dabbled in romance. She was engaged to Spencer, which kept her at a conscious distance from other male students, and her addiction to the library ensured her presence in class was somewhat

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Now, she could barely remember how she spent those university years - her days were a blur of books and research in the library.

Gripping Max's hand, she felt a surreal connection to her younger, lonely self across the years.

"I actually saw you once during my freshman year," she mentioned casually, her voice soft, stepping on fallen leaves.

"The school invited you for a lecture.

You came back from abroad, spoke briefly, and the crowd went wild because you looked about our age. I was the top scorer that year and had the honor of presenting you with flowers."

Her engagement with Spencer had lasted nearly ten years, but she had seen Max no more than thrice from a distance, except for that one time she presented the flowers, pushed forward by the school officials.

At nineteen, Max, the heir to Dorsey International, a taciturn yet obviously young man, had taken the flowers from her with a simple "Thank you."

His voice at nineteen was crisp, like a chilled sparkling water on a hot summer day.

For a moment, Brielle felt a ripple in her heart, but it quickly settled into silence. She knew all too well. He was the heir to the Dorsey family, Spencer's Uncle, destined for the pinnacle of success. Any impractical fantasies or fleeting heartbeats were nipped in the bud.

What followed was simple. He held the flowers, posed for photos with the faculty at their request, and Brielle, as the flower girl, was positioned just a fingertip's distance from him.