Chapter 178

She had wanted to approach him further, but Max’s countenance was so ice–cold that it made. her shrink back, scurrying into her own room.

“Brielle?”

Max tapped on the door and rang the doorbell several times.

Amidst a groggy haze, Brielle thought she heard her name being called.

A burning pain seared through her stomach as she slowly awoke, hearing the doorbell and Max’s voice, mistaking them for auditory hallucinations.

Shouldn’t he have returned to the Dorsey family manor by now? And wouldn’t the Dorsey. household be buzzing with activity tonight?

Brielle frowned, feeling as though her blood was freezing over, unsure if it was due to the drop in temperature or the chill in her heart.

“Brielle!”

The urgency in the man’s voice helped her realize that it wasn’t her imagination.

Struggling to her feet, she made her way to the door and opened it.

Max’s face tightened at the sight of her pale complexion and bloodstained lips. “Stomachache?”

She nodded, her eyelashes fluttering with drops of sweat rolling down.

Max scooped her up in his arms and carried her straight to the elevator.

Brielle rested against his chest, listening to his racing heartbeat, and slowly closed her eyes.

The elevator came to a halt at the ground floor. Max carried her out, placing her gently in the passenger seat and leaned over to buckle her up.

Brielle leaned her head back, hand over her stomach, hoping the position might alleviate some of the pain.

After securing the seatbelt, Max moved to the driver’s side. “What caused the stomachache?”

Of course, Brielle did not want to admit it was Spencer who had upset her, and just thinking about the whole affair made her feel irritable. She was also worried about those photographs. making their way around.

“I forgot to eat.”

“Is the salary I give you worth all this, Ms. Brielle?”

Max’s sarcasm wasn’t new to her. Brielle pursed her lips, her chest tight with anger and eyes brimming with tears, her hand at her side clenched slowly.

14:11 Max frowned. Seeing that they had already reached the hospital, he parked the car and considered carrying her inside.

.b ut Brielle pushed him away, trudging up the nearby staircase with labored breaths.

Max stood rooted for a few seconds before following. “Are you angry?

His voice carried a hint of confusion, as he reached out to her again.

“I can go by myself. I can’t afford to waste Mr. Dorsey’s precious time. I’ll also take a few days off. The business trip will have to be postponed.”

As Max watched her retreating figure, he couldn’t help but find her behavior slightly amusing.

The elevator was right there, but because it was too close to him, Brielle had chosen the stairs. her silhouette exuding steam in her frustration.

Max stood in place for a moment before slowly following her. “Why take the stairs when there’s an elevator?”

A few steps up, and Brielle already regretted her decision. Each rise of her foot sent sharp jabs of pain through her stomach, yet turning back to the elevator now would be too humiliating.

Her hand gripped the railing, slick with sweat, her face turning even paler.

“Don’t worry about me.”

She attempted to ascend further, but Max swept her up in his arms and carried her up two flights of stairs.

Brielle’s heart raced uncontrollably, but eventually, she succumbed to the exhaustion and fell silent.

While the doctor examined her, Max was standing by the window.

Brielle didn’t look at him until the IV needle pierced her hand, causing her to flinch in pain.

The doctor wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling the pressure of Max’s gaze upon him.

“Mr. Dorsey, she should be fine after the IV. Ms. Brielle’s constitution is rather weak. She should eat regularly and avoid spicy food in the future.”

Max looked up, his gaze settling on Brielle. “Did you hear that, Brielle?”

For some reason, Brielle felt a wave of mortification and looked down, as if she were a child being reprimanded by the headmaster.

She gritted her teeth and muttered, “I know.”

“You know, and yet you end up in the hospital?”

Brielle fell silent, her heart squeezed tight with indignation.