Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

In the late afternoon glow, Aubree buzzed Brielle's phone, suggesting a casual jaunt to the mall.

Brielle felt the urge to decline, but Aubree was like a whirlwind, sweeping into Stellar Stage Entertainment and whisking her away without a moment's hesitation.

Amid the bustling crowds weaving through the shopping center, Brielle felt as if she had stepped into another era.

Ever the bold spirit, Aubree tugged her along, bee-lining straight for the women's fashion section.

"Guess what? My foster mom just rocked my world. She's giving me five percent of the Clements family fortune. That's billions, with a 'b'! I can literally live off this and never work another day. Bri, pick something out, it's on me. We're going top shelf, no skimping." Joy painted Aubree's face as she reached for a dress with a price tag that screamed luxury.

After draping it over Brielle, she nodded in approval. "Perfect fit. It's a done deal."

Brielle seldom wore dresses, preferring the practicality of pantsuits a testament to her years in the corporate trenches.

As she attempted to return the dress, insisting it wasn't necessary, a hand suddenly snatched it from her grasp.

She followed the hand to its owner and locked eyes with Alivia.

Radiating a stark contrast to Brielle's somber mood, Alivia was the picture of vitality, flanked by several high-profile ladies from Beaconsfield's social elite-all familiar faces to Brielle.

Alivia arched an eyebrow, a smirk unfolding across her lips. "Fancy seeing you here, Brielle. I thought you'd left Beaconsfield for good."NôvelDrama.Org (C) content.

Now that Brielle and Max were history, Alivia no longer felt the need to mask her disdain.

In the eyes of these rich ladies, each worth a cool billion, Brielle was no more than refuse-an afterthought unworthy of their attention. The ladies behind Alivia giggled behind their hands.

"Heard about the split with Max, tsk tsk. Weren't you on top of the world not so long ago? How quickly things change."

"One shouldn't covet what they can't have."

"Brielle, you owe us an apology for your past slights. No one's got your back now. You're just a stray dog we can kick around as we please."

The ridicule drew a smirk from Brielle. Her eyebrow quirked in amusement. "What's with all the yapping?"

The debutantes' faces stiffened, their eyes darkening with malice.

One stepped forward, hand raised to strike Brielle's cheek, but Brielle was quicker, her slap resonating with a crisp "thwack!" "You hit me?!"

As the others readied to pounce, Brielle glanced at Aubree, who looked ready to explode with rage.

She chuckled, "Aubree, you're footing the bill today, right? Does that include their medical expenses?"

Aubree's initial shock gave way to wild elation. "Hell yeah! I'm rolling in dough! Let's do this! Time to take out the trash!"

No longer hesitating, Brielle grabbed

Alivia by the hair and delivered a solid kick to her abdomen. Aubree joined the fray, her hands a blur of motion.

Trained in self-defense, Brielle was unmatched. Aubree's sparring sessions with Andrew made her no pushover, either.

The rich ladies were unaccustomed to such brawling, and faltered.

Alivia, in agony and disbelief, was convinced Brielle had lost her mind to attack her so brazenly!

Damn it all!

Any one of their fortunes could crush Brielle. Did she not fear their vengeance?

As the thought crossed Alivia's mind, Brielle's palm struck again. "Slap! Slap!"

Two more hits left Alivia's cheeks swollen, her eyes seething with rancor She couldn't scream back without getting embarrassed she was the youngest researched at the institute!

But Brielle and Aubree, with nothing to lose, had no fear of disgrace and no concern for onlookers' opinions.

The high society misses howled under the assault.

Seizing the moment, Aubree

smacked Alivia with her crocodile

leather bag, delighting in the

payback. Seeing Alivia's horror-stricken face was pure catharsis!

Brielle quickly pulled Aubree back. If Alivia's face were marred beyond repair, neither of them would walk away scot-free.