Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)
Chapter 1543

Matthew smirked and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I got it," he muttered, slipping back into the kitchen.

Casey and Pauline were a power couple, each with their own thriving careers. Casey directed films, rarely getting involved in the daily grind of the company, leaving those responsibilities to Pauline, the CEO. Both were big names in the entertainment biz, so when they had a kid, everyone just assumed their child would follow suit. With a mom running an entertainment empire and a dad who was a world-class director, it seemed like a no-brainer.

But Matthew had other plans. He chose finance over the spotlight. After finishing his studies, he didn't jump into the family business. Instead, he teamed up with his friends to start a company, which was now on the verge of going public. He didn't grow up basking in his parents' glory; he paved his own way.

Pauline and Casey never criticized Matthew publicly. When it came to his choices, they gave him the freedom to figure things out, even if it took him years to learn from mistakes.

Their mornings were always a rush. After a quick breakfast and a peck at the door, Casey and Pauline headed off to seize the day, leaving Matthew to his latest obsession: cooking. After all, they say the way to someone's heart is through their stomach. Cooking was the last skill Matthew needed to master, and he was determined to nail it, convinced it would help him outshine any rival, especially those who were all show and no substance.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Aubree was just drying her hair when Brielle dropped by. The Clements family drama had likely made its rounds in Beaconsfield already.

Brielle came bearing gifts and added a splash of color to the living room with a bouquet. "How're you holding up?" she asked.

Aubree, hair now dry, gave a slow nod. Brielle sighed, searching for the right words. "Desiree's comments were really out of line."

Aubree couldn't help herself and leaned her head on Brielle's shoulder. "I've grown used to it. She's never liked me, and I always knew I was adopted by the Clements family, so I just kept my head down."

It wasn't just about keeping her head down; back then, Aubree was naive, always trailing after Andrew, thinking just being near him was enough.

Brielle gave her a comforting pat. "Why not return the Clements family's shares? My startup's doing great, and I can pay you back-double, even. You poured a lot into it, and I can match that."

Aubree was quiet for a while, then gave a wry smile. "It's not about the money with the Clements family.

They never treated me like one of their own. Desiree thought I was Andrew's fiancée since childhood, so when she found out I was with someone else, she flipped.

Brielle hesitated, then asked, "Who was it?"

She was genuinely taken aback; Aubree hadn't let anyone in for so long, let alone share her space.

"Matthew. He's only eighteen."

Brielle paused, then quipped, "Is he easy on the eyes?"

Not everyone knew Matthew since he wasn't a celebrity.

Aubree nodded. "He's got this youthful energy, and being around him made me feel younger."

"Why not see where it goes with him?" Brielle suggested. Who said Aubree could only have feelings for Andrew? That seemed way too limiting.

Why should women box themselves in like that? Aubree was single; she was free to explore relationships as long as she wasn't breaking up a family.

But Aubree went quiet, her voice barely a whisper when she finally spoke. "Do I even deserve to be with someone else?"

Her question was so soft, Brielle almost missed it. But when she caught it, all she felt was a deep ache in her heart.