Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)
Chapter 1263

Brielle's lips curled into another smile, but she turned away quickly, masking it with a cold expression so he wouldn't notice.

"At this hour, you're still worried about your pride?"

"A man's pride is bigger than the sky, you know."

After saying that, he rested his head back on her shoulder.

"But don't worry, we've got enough for a decent meal."

Brielle glanced at him, remembering their first meeting when Max had taken her breath away with his striking looks. She had always seen him as something unattainable, like a snowflake in the sky that, no matter how much she tiptoed, she couldn't reach. Even if by some miracle the snowflake fell into her hands, it would just melt away. That fleeting coldness would stay etched in her heart, but to him, it meant nothing. The gap between them felt insurmountable.

So vast that if he ever disappeared, she would worry if she had done something wrong to drive him away. But now, with the Dorsey family's downfall, he was no longer the untouchable CEO or the Dorsey heir, just another guy dealing with bankruptcy. A warmth spread through her chest as she looked at him now, thinking she should work harder to earn money. With his good looks, how could she let him live an ordinary life? Max deserved to be looked up to, after all.

Taking a deep breath, her fingers flew over the keyboard even quicker. "If you don't want to go job hunting, that's fine. I'm about to graduate from Beaconsfield College, which carries a lot of weight. I should be able to land a job at a top firm."

King couldn't help feeling a strange sense of relief, almost as if she was happy about the Dorsey family's misfortune. He frowned slightly but said nothing, especially seeing her so enthusiastic about her upcoming exams. He felt an unexpected calm, thinking that a life like this wouldn't be so bad. To maintain this facade, he had even gone to the lengths of blocking any online mention of 'Max,' ensuring that Brielle wouldn't stumble upon any news about the CEO of Dream Tech Designs. Any future mentions related to Max wouldn't trend online either. This bubble he created was meant to give Brielle a better environment to heal. Once she was back on her feet, he would then tell her about the little secrets he had kept.

King took her hand gently, his tone light. "Little Canary, give it your all. I'm looking forward to living off your success."

Brielle couldn't help but smile,

though she didn't respond verbally.

Seeing the sparkle in her eyes,

brighter than usual and devoid of

frailty, King felt a twinge of pride. Perhaps he was starting to understand Max's approach. Putting her out there, letting her grow

and

amongst thorns, her growth rate ne

ΛΟ

resilience were beyond his expectations. The determination in her

gaze was far more beautiful than any vulnerability or fear. He had always believed he was doing the right thing by keeping her close, protecting her. But now, seeing the confidence that emerged in her, he realized how naive his initial thoughts were. He wanted her to be his delicate, cherished bird, while Max intended for her to rise from the ashes like a phoenix. And it was the phoenix that Brielle truly aspired to be.

Unable to resist, King slowly wrapped his arms around her. Caught off guard while typing, Brielle looked at him, puzzled. "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry."

Pet

He apologized softly, and Brielle assumed it was because he couldn't find a job, apologizing for not being able to contribute financially. A sense of accomplishment surged within her, wishing she could type faster, determined to support him, to not let him suffer. She even thought, perhaps, the universe had answered her prayers. When she first saw him at Beaconsfield College, she wished he could depend on her, an unlikely scenario she never thought possible. Yet, how quickly fortunes change. A smile flickered in Brielle's eyes as she eagerly continued with her graduation project.

"I'll apply to graduate a few months early. Thanks to my exchange student grades, my professors should approve. By the day after tomorrow, I'll start job hunting." King nodded, kissing her cheek softly. "Good luck."

Brielle felt a sweetness in her heart

but kept a cool exterior, not letting her emotions show. To make this act more convincing, King even reached out to Beaconsfield College, offering to donate two buildings in exchange for the school's

cooperation in crafting a little planet

for Brielle, a proposition they found too good to refuse. Given the

abundance of talent at Beaconsfield College, creating a bespoke website for Brielle to mistake as the official one was a simple task for the programming students. The college promptly agreed to assist, and King also got in touch with Stellar Stage Entertainment, planning to offer Brielle a CEO position once her project was completed. This way, her life could gradually get back on track.