Chapter 528

Andrew fell silent as his cell phone erupted with Tessa’s trembling sobs. “Andrew, have you seen what’s all over the internet?”

Andrew’s brows furrowed. He knew Tessa had planned to spread rumors to slander Brielle and that the plan had been a success. But why was she crying now?

Panic washed over Tessa, draining the last bit of color from her face as she lay trembling in the hospital bed. After calling Alivia, she was about to leak Brielle’s name to the press, hoping the public would crucify the bitch. But just ten minutes ago, every media outlet started reporting that Ms. Tessa had been hounding Max relentlessly.

They identically mirrored the scheme she had used against Brielle. Not just one media outlet, but dozens were parroting the same story. So now, the one taking the heat was none other than Ms. Tessa herself.

Already frail, Tessa had thought she’d soon trample over Brielle, only to find herself trampled instead.

She couldn’t bear the blow. After several gasping breaths, her voice shook uncontrollably.

“Easy, tell me slowly. What’s the news online?”

“Somebody… somebody’s saying I’ve been harassing Max,” she wept.

Tessa’s teeth clenched with hatred. Who could be behind this? Was it Max? Had he stopped caring about his bond with Andrew altogether?

Andrew’s expression darkened. After hanging up, he checked the online news. At the top of the trending list was Ms. Tessa’s name, with the comment section ablaze with condemnation.

“She and Alivia were close, and because of her health, she rarely went out. But since Alivia left the country, she’s been seen out more and more.”

“Disgusting. She’s probably been exploiting her frailty to gain Max’s sympathy while Alivia is away.”

“Home–wrecker! Using her sickness to snag her best friend’s man. If you ask me, she’d be better off dead! Why waste the air if she’s so unwell? Ugh, nothing but a sad, pitiful excuse for a woman!”

The comments were harsh and seemed well–substantiated.

Indeed, Tessa had rarely been seen before Alivia’s departure, but afterward, she became a regular at various events.

Only those in the know understood that Tessa was trying to secure her spot with Andrew, not Max, but the public wouldn’t believe that. They wanted to drag the entire Rowland family through the mud.

Tessa was like a flower in a glass jar, well–protected within the Rowland family fortress, and 15:27 adept at manipulating its members to maintain her standing. But once the battlefield changed, her frailty and life experience became her Achilles heel.

Andrew, hearing Tessa’s labored breathing, hastily summoned the doctor and rushed to the hospital himself.

Jaired and Kenzo glanced at their phones and frowned upon seeing the news that had rapidly risen to infamy.

Just recovering, Tessa was in turmoil again, likely headed back to the emergency room. Tessa’s hands gripped the bedsheets beneath her, nails almost piercing her skin.

It had to be Brielle! That bitch was emboldened by Max’s favor and acting without any regard!

Damn her!

Tessa’s scalp tingled with rage, and she longed to confront Brielle and tear her apart!

Brielle had destroyed everything – first causing her embarrassment within their circle and now on the internet, where everyone was shaming her for shamelessly soliciting sympathy with her ailments.

Tessa was on the brink of madness. How could things have turned out like this?

When Andrew arrived, Tessa was being wheeled back into emergency care. The doctors cited a severe panic attack with bouts of vomiting blood. Her frail body couldn’t cope.

Andrew’s fist collided with the hospital wall, his features twisted in fury, but when he thought of Max, that fury melted into powerlessness. He couldn’t fathom who else besides Max could orchestrate such a media frenzy. It seemed their brotherhood was nothing anymore.

After Andrew left, Jaired and Kenzo sat in silence, sipping tea on the couch. They both knew who was behind it all; it looked like a showdown was imminent.

Jaired’s phone rang as he gazed into his teacup. He pressed the answer button and heard Max’s voice.

“You remember where the boxing gym at your place is?”

Of course, Jaired knew. He had grown up loving to fight, mastering every weapon from blades to bats, which led to him setting up a full–scale boxing gym at his place.

“Jaired, I’m waiting for you here.”