Chapter 457

Brielle had returned to her elegant abode at Pearl Estate, and her thoughts were tangled with the secret she had accidentally unearthed earlier that evening. A crease of concern formed between her brows.

She reached for her phone, her fingers swiftly dialing Patrick’s number. “Patrick, can you do me a solid and send over the security footage from the Dorsey International elevator? Not the private one, just the one from today.”

Had it not been for the unexpected encounter that night, she wouldn’t have found herself requesting surveillance footage.

It was Sydney’s glance at Spencer that had set off alarms in Brielle’s mind. At first, she thought it was fear, a kind of wariness, but now, replaying the lies Sydney had spun to her own boyfriend, Brielle knew better. Those lies were delivered with the ease of practice. It was clearly not for the first time.

Making such a call to her supposed boyfriend while tangled in deceit was both cruel and shameless.

While waiting for Patrick to send the footage, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Aubree.

“Bri, have you seen the buzz online? You weren’t with Max? That jerk was caught locking lips with Alivia!”

The news hit Brielle like a cold splash of disbelief. Max wasn’t that kind of guy.

Still, she instinctively scrolled through the latest news feeds, and there it was–the top story was Max and Alivia.

The image was like a bright flash that left her eyes stinging with pain.

Max wasn’t that kind of guy. He had introduced her to Alivia with such openness, which meant there was nothing untoward between them. But as a woman, Brielle knew Alivia’s tricks all too well. The objective was clear–to chip away at her, piece by piece, just like the lipstick stain on Max’s collar from before.

Brielle could shrug off such incidents, confident in the strength of their relationship. But what if it happened time and time again?

She wasn’t heartless, not a machine devoid of emotion. Each incident was a prick to her heart. and over time, all that would remain was disappointment. Besides, she had lost a child, and the pain from seeing such a photograph was like a needle digging in deep.

Though neither of them had done anything wrong, that was the most disheartening part of it all. Once Brielle felt too weary to go on, that would signal the end of this silent war.

“Bri?”

“Bri?”

Aubree called out twice, but there was no reply.

11:51 Aubree was concerned and nearly ready to rush over to Pearl Estate when Brielle finally said with firm denial “It’s fake.”

Somehow, those two simple words carried a weight of helplessness that even Aubree could feel, making her own heart clench. Il Brielle and Max weren’t right for each other, it was better to cut ties now before things got messier.

“But he also took Alivia back to the Barnes residence. At this hour, he’s dropping off a woman who’s got a thing for him… I’m not buying the innocent act,” Aubree said, her voice tinged with a cruel edge.

Brielle didn’t respond. The pain was throbbing more intensely as if salt was being rubbed into her wounds. She let out a weary sigh, and after a long pause, her voice was hoarse as she said, “Aubree, I just want to sleep.”

Aubree could tell Brielle was dodging the issue, and it sparked annoyance within her. “It’s just Max, for God’s sake. We don’t need him. How about you come out, and tonight, I’ll help you find someone way better?”

Brielle, not wanting to be alone with her thoughts, considered the offer for a moment before replying, “Come pick me up in a bit.”

A cheer erupted on the other end of the line as Aubree hurried to get ready.

Meanwhile, Patrick had sent the elevator surveillance footage. In the video, Sydney was the first to step into the elevator, followed closely by Spencer crowding in after her.

“Did Uncle Max ask you about Brielle? What did you tell him?”

“Brielle! Brielle! That’s all anyone ever talks about! Am I invisible to you all?!”

“Why do you think you can even compare to her? Don’t you have a clue?”

The footage was crystal clear, every word cutting through the silence.

Brielle’s gut instinct was right. There was something off about those two, most likely more than just a passing fling. Perhaps Sydney’s companion that night had been Spencer.

Every time Brielle thought Spencer couldn’t sink any lower, he managed to outdo himself.

Her expression twisted with disgust, and she was about to slam her laptop shut when a new email notification caught her eye.

She had blocked Spencer, but there he was, invading her inbox. [Brielle, I told you, you and Uncle Max aren’t a match. He was just toying with you. You’ve seen the news, right? He and Alivia kissing… I bet they’ve done more than that.]

The message left Brielle feeling irate, and without a second thought, she relegated the email to the spam folder.

Twenty minutes later, her doorbell chimed. Expecting Aubree, she casually opened the door in her thin nightgown. To her surprise, it wasn’t Aubree at the door but a slightly inebriated 11-51 Spencer, his gaze brazenly sweeping over her.

As Brielle moved to close the door, Spencer seized the moment, pushing his way in and deadbolting the door behind him.

Brielle’s alarm spiked instantly. “Spencer, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”