Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)
Chapter 1254

Andrew, in his signature trench coat and with a cigarette perched between his fingers, looked like his usual self.

For the first time, Aubree noticed he had lost a lot of weight. She had told him before to stop picking her up, but he never listened. Aubree couldn't understand why he kept doing it. She marched towards him, ready to say something, but ended up pressing her lips together. Andrew followed her silently. As she got into the car, he asked, "Weren't you supposed to be on set until six?"

Aubree had just opened the car door when she felt arms wrap around her waist, pulling her into a hug. "Stop it, will you listen to me for once?"

Andrew's face was buried in her shoulder as he held her tightly. Worried about paparazzi lurking around, Aubree quickly pushed him away. Andrew let go almost immediately, as if expecting her reaction. "Aubree, coming home for dinner tonight?"

Andrew had bought a house right across from hers. Every evening, he'd come home early, make dinner, and wait for her-just like she had waited for him countless times in the past. But back then, Andrew, always with Tessa Rowland, never came home. Aubree would wait until the food got cold, reheat it, and repeat the cycle.

Now, Andrew was the one waiting, but it didn't make Aubree feel any better. She didn't want things to be like this between them. She didn't answer, and Andrew just held the car door.

"It's okay, I'll wait for you."

After Aubree drove off, she looked at him through the rearview mirror, still standing there, and her heart tightened. She didn't know how long they could keep this up; she was exhausted. They couldn't be together, but they also couldn't just be friendly neighbors. With Andrew's house right across from hers, the lights on every evening seemed to be waiting for her.

Aubree's mind wandered, almost causing her to rear-end the car in front of her before she hastily accelerated. Once she settled her thoughts, she arrived at the estate and rang the doorbell. Instead of Brielle, a massive black panther greeted her.

Aubree almost swore out loud, her mind flashing back to that peculiar case. The core personality wasn't human but a pet. She marveled at the thought of Max turning into a panther!

As Brielle approached and saw Aubree staring blankly at Noir, she called out, "Aubree?"

Aubree snapped back to reality and sighed. "Bri, I'm so sorry, I never imagined Max could turn into this." Probably to avoid hurting Brielle's feelings, she added, "But you know, when he was human, he was devastatingly handsome. As an animal, he's still strikingly majestic."

Brielle, always aware of Aubree's wild imaginings, watched as Aubree squatted down to eye level with the imposing panther and sighed again. "He really is handsome. Some folks are just blessed by the gods, standing out no matter what form they take." Brielle's lips curled into a smile, finding Aubree's thoughts a bit too fantastical. Aubree patted Noir's head, saying earnestly, "Mr. Dorsey, long time no see."

Just then, she noticed the man

standing behind Brielle. Her attention had been solely on the panther, completely missing the presence of another person behind Brielle. Aubree froze, looking from Max's face to the black panther at her feet, and awkwardly withdrew her hand. So, he hadn't turned into an animal after all. Of course, it was just his personality that took on an animal's guise, not an actual metamorphosis. The shock of

seeing the panther had thrown her

off.

King watched this woman and sneered derisively. Aubree, feeling a bit embarrassed, quickly changed the subject. "Bri, glad you're okay. Mr. Dorsey, same to you." Her gaze shifted to Max. King pulled Brielle close and warned, "Don't get too close to such people. Stupidity is contagious."

Realizing this wasn't Max's

personality speaking, Aubree understood the disdain. Yet, his affection for Brielle seemed

consistent. Even as an outsider net

Aubree could see King's fondness for Brielle, a sentiment surely even more palpable to Brielle herself, thus her sense of security around him.

Brielle, not accustomed to public displays of affection in front of friends, shrugged off King's hold, turning his pale hand red with her pats. King eventually let go, but not before stealing a kiss on her cheek.

Aubree sat down, contemplating the

stark difference between this

personality and Max's. Yet, upon reflection, she didn't feel any relief The emergence of a dual personality only happened when the core personality had vulnerabilities, allowing another to take over. It seemed that even someone as seemingly perfect as Max had weaknesses he wished to discard.