Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

The words stung like a slap to the face. Was everyone in on it? Was she the only one left in the dark>

“Tessa, I just said they slept together, not that Andrew cares about Aubree. It was just a fling.”

Tessa’s chest heaved violently, and then she heard Sophia continue to stir the pot. “Brielle and Aubree are thick as thieves, and let’s just say Brielle’s personal life is a bit of a train wreck. Aubree’s not far behind, which is probably why she made a move on Andrew. It’s the early bird that catches the worm.”

“Enough!” Tessa’s voice cracked as she threw a pillow across the room, her face flushed with rage. “Send those bodyguards after Brielle! I want her ruined! And then let Aubree know, bait her into coming to the rescue. If she does, the bodyguards get a bonus. I’ll personally let Andrew know. I want to see whose side he takes those women, or mine.”

Sophia barely contained her glee, nodding submissively. Once she left Tessa’s room, she made her way to where Brielle was being held.

Brielle’s wrists were chafed red from the iron cuffs suspending her hands above her head. Seeing Sophia enter, Brielle smirked, “What, couldn’t resist coming to lecture me yourself?”

Sophia’s lips curled into a sneer. “It’s not me you need to worry about. Tessa wants to take you down. See those bodyguards outside? She’s promised them a feast for dealing with you – wants them to play you to death. I’m just here to give you a heads up. If you manage to come out from under them alive, make sure you know who to blame.”

A shiver ran down Brielle’s spine, but she faced Sophia calmly, “I’m curious about what happened to you after your kidnapping ordeal.”

Sophia’s face contorted with rage and she slapped Brielle across the face. The sound echoed in the room as Brielle’s head snapped to the side, a metallic taste filling her mouth.

Licking the blood from her lips, she chuckled, “Must have been similar to what I’m about to face. Let me guess, the Dorsey’s dirty work, William?” Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

Sophia’s eyes flickered with fear.

Despite her hands being bound, Brielle’s words were sharp blades. “William’s people had their ways with you, and you’re too cowardly to retaliate, so you pin it all on me. Pathetic.”

“Shut up! Shut up!” Sophia grabbed a fistful of Brielle’s hair, pausing only when Brielle’s next words froze her in place. “Why would William abduct you?”

Brielle had bluffed about William to provoke a reaction, but Sophia’s outburst confirmed her suspicions. At that time, William must have known about her and Max, so the subsequent events made sense. It was only now that Brielle pieced it together.

Why would William abduct Sophia unless she had something he wanted? And what did William desire most? It’s leverage over Max.

Max had been untouchable within the pyramid of power, with their relationship being his only weakness.

Did Sophia possess evidence of her affair with Max? In other words, Sophia knew about her and Max.

Brielle’s smile was blindingly sarcastic, and Sophia couldn’t stand it any longer. She wanted to rip out Brielle’s hair in her fury. “You bitch! Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”

Pain seemed irrelevant to Brielle. Her physical discomfort was nothing compared to the torment her words inflicted on Sophia, who was shaking as if her bones were being crushed.

Brielle stared defiantly into Sophia’s eyes. “You know about Max and me. If I survive this, you’ll be my first target. So, Sophia, you better think carefully about how you can save me from this mess.”

Brielle spoke coolly, her lips a tight line. “If I don’t suffer here, you won’t suffer later. Or would you rather trade your life for my disgrace? Sophia, you’ve lived in Tessa’s shadow all your life. Are you really content being her lapdog? William destroyed you and turned you into his puppet. Don’t you want to fight back? I can help you.”