Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

The staff were clearly startled, snapping to attention with uncertainty written all over their faces.

Aubree sighed, stepping into the doorway of the bedroom.

Andrew must've just come back from some event; his suit still clung to him, a few buttons undone, his tie clutched in his hand, and impatience marked across his face.

But the moment he saw Aubree, his grip on the tie tightened, his throat went dry, and his heart clenched.

Aubree stood there with her arms crossed, looking relaxed but defiant.

"I told them to pack up. It's all my stuff."

Andrew had known this day would come. He lowered his gaze, staying silent.

But his commanding presence made the staff hesitate, looking to Aubree for guidance.

Aubree waved them off. "Go on, pack everything I pointed out."

The movers glanced at Andrew, seeing the hardness in his eyes, their lips trembling.

"Miss Aubree, is this really your house? If the owner-"

Aubree rubbed her temples. "Seriously? Do you need a deed to do your job? What about renters?"

After another look at Andrew, the workers quickly resumed packing.

Andrew stood there like he was choking on his words, unable to move or speak.

After a while, he finally managed, "How much? I'll buy it."

Aubree thought she misheard, her brows knitting together.

Andrew repeated, "How much for these things? I'll pay."

Finding the situation absurd, Aubree said, "A billion dollars, you want them?"

"Fine."

Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone and called his assistant.

"Prepare a check for a billion dollars."

On the other end, the assistant was bewildered; Mr. Clements sounded like he was about to cry.

Realizing he was serious, Aubree's expression darkened. She turned to the stunned staff, "Could you hurry up?"

She then stepped into the bathroom, grabbing her toothbrush and personal items-clearly not planning to leave any trace behind.

In the mirror, she saw another face, and the bathroom door clicked shut and locked.

"Aubree,"

He wrapped his arms tightly around her from behind.

Aubree felt a chill on her neck but couldn't understand why Andrew was so upset.

How many years had she followed him? Over a decade, surely.

His happiness was her happiness. When he even slightly frowned, her heart shattered.

From the day the Clements family took her in, she had loved him.

Every step since had been painful, and he had always been noncommittal, unresponsive. Had Andrew ever celebrated her birthday? No.

Her birthday was too close to Tessa Rowland's, sometimes even on the same day.

So he

Aubreys with Tessa, and.

reheat the dinner she

prepared, thinking he'd come back.

1het

Aubree looked at her reflection in

mirror, enveloped in his

almost merging into him.

by to en. yel.ne

She felt wronged; Andrew had bought her a cake, but it had Tessa's name on it.

She forced a smile, trying to push him away.

"Aubree,"

Andrew's voice cracked, holding her tighter.

Aubree felt the resentment in her chest finally explode.

"Enough!"

She shoved him away and turned to gather her things in the bathroom.

Andrew staggered back, hitting the cold wall, accidentally turning on the cold faucet.

Early spring was still chilly, and the cold water made Aubree shiver.

Andrew, drenched himself, quickly turned off the tap, grabbing a towel to cover her.

"Get out, change your clothes."This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

Outside, the movers had finished packing, watching the two emerge soaked, too scared to speak.

Aubree sent the address to the foreman's phone.

"Please deliver my luggage here and have the property manager hold on to it."

She grabbed a fresh set of clothes

from a

wet clothes into the tranet

dex, went back into the

bathroom, changed, and tossed the

When she came out, Andrew was still waiting in his wet clothes, water dripping from his hair.

Aubree didn't linger, stepping away to leave, but he followed her.

Aubree stopped, frustration boiling inside her.

"I'll take you."

"No need, I drove. Here's your house key, I'm returning it."

She tried to keep her voice steady as she handed him the key.

Andrew's eyes reddened instantly, but he didn't take it.