Chapter 340

Brielle managed a wry smile, wishing she was in the know.

Aubree placed her hands on Brielle’s shoulders firmly. “Is there something you’re keeping from me?

Bri, trust me, anything you tell me stays between us. I’ve never breathed a word to Andrew, I know he’s not your biggest fan, but you mean so much more to me than he does.”

Brielle trusted Aubree, of course, but the thought of her secret being out there still cast a shadow of worry across her face. Not knowing who the puppet master was behind the scenes made Brielle feel helpless.

Aubree had also brought over a couple of bottles of wine. “Fancy a glass tonight?”

Brielle shook her head, and just as she reached for her phone, Aubree stopped her. “You really should just chill at home for a few days, don’t look at anything, don’t think about anything. After such a big ordeal, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.”

Aubree wasn’t good at lying to Brielle’s face, so she spotted the fib instantly.

Aubree, uneasy, pulled back her hands and deflated into a nearby chair. “Fine, but if you go looking for news, don’t say I didn’t warn you. You’re just asking for trouble.”

It didn’t take long for Brielle to understand what “asking for trouble” meant. Just half an hour before, the media had been ablaze with talk of the Barnes family and the Dorsey clan’s upcoming nuptials.

The catalyst was a photo Alivia had posted on her social media. It featured two hands, side by side, each adorned with a black bead bracelet, clearly a matched set.

The caption was equally romantic.

-No longer content to watch from the shore, he’s ready to dive into the waves of passion.

Comments were flooding in by the tens of thousands, all of them well–wishes.

“The couple I’ve been rooting for! Matching in pedigree, looks, talent, and education!”

“There really is love in high society. With their looks, their kids are going to be stunners.”

“I heard Alivia’s the dream girl for plenty of Beaconfield’s golden boys. Who knew she’d fall head over heels just like the rest of us.”

“When’s the wedding? The courthouse is practically rolling out the red carpet for you two.”

Aubree watched Brielle from the corner of her eye, noticing a slight tremor of Brielle’s lashes as she scrolled through the messages. Suddenly feeling a pang of empathy, Aubree snatched the phone and slapped it down on the table. “Stop torturing yourself. He’s just another jerk. You’ll find someone way better than Max!”

Brielle’s mind blanked for a second, but then she just smiled. “I’m fine.”

Aubree wasn’t convinced. She knew Brielle had a soft spot for Max, and now that he seemed on the brink of engagement, there was no way she was just fine. She must’ve been too heartbroken to even realize it. “Bri, if you’re hurting. Just say it.”

But Brielle genuinely wasn’t hurting: she just felt a bit stifled. Why would Max give Alivia such a photo op? She couldn’t believe that Max would tangle with her while planning a wedding with Alivia. If their wedding were truly imminent, Max wouldn’t ask Brielle to wait for his return.

She had a hunch he had something important to tell her; it was just that he had left in such a hurry that he only asked her to wait for him.

Seeing Brielle’s silence, Aubree knew her friend was still heartbroken and quickly tried to console her.

“There are plenty of fish in the sea. We’ll just find you a new one. You’re not stuck like me, Bri. You’ve still got a shot. And hey, you’ve been with Max. You didn’t lose out. What does it matter if he gets engaged to Alivia? I bet they haven’t even slept together!”

Brielle’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “And how would you know that?” Max and Alivia had known each other for years; it was unlikely nothing had ever happened.

“Andrew let it slip, said you were Max’s first, you know.”

A sweet warmth spread through Brielle’s heart, and her cheeks grew hotter. He was her first, too. Their firsts were shared, something special. She had thought Max and Alivia had done it.

If last night hadn’t happened, seeing that photo would have been a blow to her heart. She would have consoled herself by thinking that so many women adored Max, and he couldn’t possibly reciprocate everyone’s feelings. Besides, she had been prepared to play the lone role in her unrequited drama.

Her faint stirrings of affection had never been a thunderous explosion in Max’s world, at best, a quiet sob.

Brielle looked down, feeling her heart bloom with every beat. “He’s probably not getting engaged.”

Aubree was surprised Brielle was still defending Max at a time like this. After a moment’s thought, Aubree admitted to herself that Max hadn’t really done anything wrong. After all, he wasn’t engaged to anyone. He hadn’t let anyone down.