Chapter 672
Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)
Kenzoâs gaze lingered for a moment before he looked away.
Max was sitting next to Jaired, who couldnât resist the urge to fiddle with the scarf around Maxâs neck.
âHave I ever seen you wear one of these things before?â
Jairedâs hand hadnât even reached out before Max swatted it away. Another crisis had just been averted, and Jaired could feel the tension in the air as if another bomb was about to go off.
Max was in a foul mood, and it was as if a chilling aura surrounded him. Jaired felt as though he might be cut by the icicles emanating from Max and instinctively retracted his hand, his fingers curling up slightly.
âWhatâs with you guys tonight, all acting like youâre on edge? Just now, Andrew was outside going off at his sister, then came in looking like he was ready to commit murder, and youâre not far off from that state either.â
Max took off his coat, carefully placing his scarf on top of it with a deliberate gesture. Beneath the coat, he wore a suit, clearly having just finished some business negotiation. He casually unfastened his cufflinks and tossed them onto the couch.
Jaired was tempted to ask about the deal Max had been working on, but sensing his bad mood, he decided against asking and getting an earful.
Jairedâs phone rang. He pressed the answer button, and his brain exploded with urgency. It was Tessa again. He grabbed Max. âTo the parking lot! Somethingâs happened to Andrew!â
Maxâs eyelashes fluttered. He had known Andrew for years, and despite their differences, they never completely cut ties. Hearing that Andrew was in trouble, he followed Jaired to the parking lot without hesitation.
From a distance, they could hear Tessaâs piercing screams and the sounds of a brawl. As Max and Jaired approached, they saw Andrew in the center of a scene with a dozen thugs on the ground, all groaning in pain.
Andrewâs palms were dripping with blood, but he seemed oblivious to the pain.
These men had tried to harass Tessa.
It was Tessa who had called Jaired, worried that Andrew, in his current state, wouldnât be able to handle the thugs, who were skilled and ruthless, regardless of consequences.
The underground parking lot, connected to several entertainment venues, was a notorious hangout for troublemakers.
Jairedâs scalp tingled with tension as he rushed forward and gave a final kick to one of the thugs. âGet lost! All of you, get lost! Are you blind or what?!â
11:41 The thugs hadnât expected to meet such resistance and scrambled away.
Both Jaired and Max could tell that Andrew was barely holding on. He had just been discharged from the hospital, his body still healing from injuries, and now he had taken down so many people. He was likely to pass out at any moment.
Sure enough, once the thugs had fled, a sweat broke out on Andrewâs forehead, his eyes bloodshot as he tried to light a cigarette, hands shaking, but before he could get it lit, the cigarette was snatched away. He looked up, ready to lash out, only to find Max standing there. His irritation flared. âWhat are you doing here?â
Max tossed the cigarette into a nearby trash can, his brow furrowed in disapproval. âLooking for more trouble?â
Andrew couldnât help but laugh bitterly, reaching out to grab Maxâs collar. Max glanced at the blood on Andrewâs hand with disdain and kicked him away. Andrew landed with a thud on the hood of a car behind him.
Damn Max and his high horse!
Jaired glanced at Tessa, still tearyâeyed, and couldnât suppress a chuckle. âYou two are getting married in a few days, and the news is already out. Do you want your bride to walk down the aisle with swollen eyes? Doesnât Tessa have health issues? With your constant brawling, sheâll end up back in the hospital worried sick about you.â
Andrewâs sense of reason returned, and he fell silent.
in The parking lot grew quiet. Tessa walked over and hugged him tightly. Guilt welled up Andrewâs heart.
Tessa was infinitely better than Aubree. At least she didnât aggravate him. He got to his feet and glanced at the security cameras, then called the police to have the thugs locked up for a few days.
Jaired noticed Andrewâs bleeding hands and sighed. âDo you need to go to the hospital?â
Andrew was already getting into his car. âNo need, Iâll take Tessa home. You guys go up and have a drink. Donât worry about me.â
Jaired and Max stood still, noticing the bloodstains on the steering wheel, both with furrowed brows.
But the car had already driven off.
Jaired turned to see Kenzo, his fingers pinching a cigarette, standing at a distance. He couldnât help but throw an arm around Kenzoâs shoulders. âYouâre the calmest one of us. Even Max landed a kick on Andrew.â
Kenzo rarely smoked, but now he snuffed out his cigarette. âAre we going back up?â
No one felt like drinking anymore, but their belongings were still in the private room. When they returned to the room, Maxâs expression darkened immediately. His coat, scarf, and cufflinks were all missing. Jairedâs phone and Kenzoâs coat had vanished as well.
Jaired burst into laughter out of sheer frustration, his teeth bared in anger.
âThis is Tequila Sunset, isnât it? How could someone have the nerve to steal here? They must be looking for trouble.â