Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)
Chapter 997

Brielle returned to Dustin's swanky manor, and they settled in for dinner together. Lately, Dustin had been practically glued to her side, putting his usual playboy antics on hold. It seemed like he hadn't even glanced at another woman since Brielle came back into his life. As they ate, Dustin kept a close eye on Brielle, trying to see if her hallucinations had come back. She had left the house earlier that day looking pretty down, but came back with a much lighter expression.

Over dinner, she brought up the child again. "Bro, he really reminds me of Max," she said, a wistful look in her eyes that tugged at Dustin's heartstrings.

Brielle had lost more than just Max; she had lost a child, and today, it seemed she saw Max in another kid's face. She was still struggling to get over the trauma of losing Max.

Dustin had tried everything to comfort her, but he still felt helpless. All he could do was reassure her. "I'm on it, and as soon as I find anything, you'll be the first to know." In reality, he hadn't put anyone on the case. He knew it was a dead end. Still, he had to give her some hope to keep her from spiraling again.

Her mood had visibly improved after her outing today. Maybe she just needed to get out more? "There's a gala tomorrow night. Wanna go? Some friends of yours will be there. Keiran's movie wrapped up a month ago, right? It's in the running for an Oscar, and the whole cast will be there. You should go and reconnect with them."

Hearing that the folks from Stellar Stage Entertainment would be there, Brielle's eyes lit up. She smiled, "Sure, I haven't seen them in a while."

The Oscar gala was always a big deal, drawing in a lot of influential people. The red carpet was for the stars, but the real action happened at the dinner afterward.

Brielle skipped the daytime red carpet, which was already packed with people and stars lining up for photos. Keiran was among those walking the red carpet, a seasoned pro whose acting had become a symbol of Australia.

After the daytime festivities, the evening gala kicked off. Brielle wore a custom-made gown adorned with diamonds from the waist down, courtesy of the Lynch family. But Dustin was far from satisfied. In his eyes, his sister deserved nothing but the best, and the gown's scattered small diamonds were almost an insult - mere trinkets, despite their allure.

The Lynch family was wealthy enough that if Brielle wanted a mountain of diamonds, Dustin would make it happen that very evening. Seeing her in this dress, he felt it didn't do justice to her status.

Yet Brielle loved the gown; it was understated and complemented her figure perfectly. She looked forward to seeing Keiran, Aubree, and Chase, who had been a great support back home.

She chose to enter the gala alone, respecting the Lynch family's decision to keep her identity under wraps - her own request, to avoid complicating Dustin's ongoing investigations.

As she lifted the hem of her sparkling gown and made her way into the grand ballroom, she was unaware of the envious eyes watching her from the shadows.

Alivia, despite her tarnished reputation back home, still had a vast network abroad. Her mentor was a big shot in the industry, so her presence at the gala wasn't surprising.

However, spotting Brielle filled her

with venomous resentment. She had been slaving away for an elderly woman, hoping to be recognized as her granddaughter, but to no avail. She had also lost contact with Antonio. When he first positioned her in front of the Lynch family, she had high hopes for his ambitions. But then he vanished, leaving no trace.

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Frustration boiled within her. What right did Brielle have to be at this gala? Even if she was the president of Stellar Stage Entertainment, it was just a minor company back home. Sure, a few reps from Stellar Stage Entertainment were there, but they were acclaimed artists. What was Brielle's claim to fame?

Previously, Aubree's movie had been nominated, but it was Keiran who won the award, leaving Aubree with just a nomination. The thought afone was enough to stoke Alivia's ire- these were the stars Brielle had elevated.

Aubree's debut film had been nominated for an Oscar - what did that signify? The only other person with such acclaim back home was Keiran. It was infuriating that both were talents of Stellar Stage Entertainment! Clutching her glass tightly, Alivia was convinced Brielle must have sneaked into the event. Tonight, she vowed, Brielle would face utter humiliation.