Chapter 566

Andrew was still reeling from the unexpected call when Max’s voice came through the line. “Max?”

Suspicion flickered through his mind. Could someone be playing a prank with Max’s phone?

“Andrew, Aubree got plastered.”

Andrew pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling Tessa stir in his arms. He’d thought he’d awakened her and gently patted her back to soothe her.

“I’m aware, but didn’t Brielle go to look after her? Tessa is feeling under the weather, and I need to stay here and take care of her.”

Tessa, now fully awake, snuggled closer. “Who’s calling?”

“Max.”

Anger flared in Tessa’s eyes at the mention of Aubree’s name. Why was Max calling about that tramp?

She fumed internally, thinking it was high time to talk to Andrew’s mum about marrying Aubree off and out of their lives.

Max, picking up on Tessa’s voice, understood the implications. It was late; they were obviously sharing a bed.

“If you’re not fond of Aubree, I can arrange an overseas position for her. She can start fresh there,” Max suggested, his voice floating like mist.

Andrew’s reaction was instantaneous, leaping out of bed as if scalded. “What do you mean?” His tone turned icy, his eyes blazing with anger.

But Max remained calm, unperturbed. “She’s alone here, and with Brielle so busy, there’s no one to look after her. Abroad, she can meet new people and make new friends.”

Andrew’s temper flared. “Can you stop interfering? She’s a Clements, for heaven’s sake. Any move she makes needs parental approval. As her brother, I-”

He cut himself off, painfully aware of the truth they both knew. Ever since that forbidden moment at eighteen, they were no longer just siblings.

Max hung up, ignoring Andrew’s rage.

Andrew felt a fire within him, his temper boiling over. He grabbed his jacket, ready to storm out, but Tessa’s arms wrapped around his waist, holding him back. “Stay with me, please? Andrew, I don’t want you to leave because of Aubree. Would you really abandon me over her? I thought I was the one who mattered most to you.”

Andrew stiffened, his features a mask of conflict. Tessa’s pleading eyes softened him. He pulled out his phone and fired off a message to Max. [Aubree stays in Beaconsfield. If you whisk her away without consent, this brotherhood is over.]

10:56 Max didn’t bother checking the message, settling down to watch as Brielle continued to care for Aubree. He didn’t want Brielle to overextend herself; she was already swamped. Now she had to deal with a friend’s troubles, troubles caused by another man’s actions.

Brielle tucked Aubree in, worried she might retch again. She glanced at Max, seated on the sofa, and sighed, “I’ll stay here tonight. You should head back. You have a meeting in a couple of hours. I’ll head straight to Premier Palace to change, then head off to the office. I need to check on the reforms we implemented and discuss resources with the directors. Plus, we need to front some cash.”

With the company’s finances in the red, she had to figure out how to engage with prominent directors.

Max approached, cradling her face and planting a kiss. “Don’t stress about the corporate stuff.

Whatever the outcome, my father can’t separate us.”

Brielle chuckled at his defiance. It was heartwarming, but she was committed to doing her best, especially in front of the Dorsey family’s extended kin. If she half–assed it, they’d say she didn’t love Max enough. The truth was, she adored him. Every time she thought her love for him was profound, he did something to deepen it further–as if her love for him was a bottomless pit.

“Max, I’ll do my best.”

In six months, she intended to turn heads.

As Max was about to kiss her again, a hoarse voice interrupted. “Have you no decency?”

Aubree, who had apparently woken up, propped herself up and glared at them as they were about to kiss, her face etched with disapproval.