Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Andrew couldn't even be bothered to say hello; the mutual disdain was palpable.

Brielle made her way over to Aubree, who was in the middle of removing her stage makeup, signaling that her morning scenes were done.NôvelDrama.Org: owner of this content.

"Have you moved already?" Brielle asked.

Aubree met her gaze through the mirror and nodded slowly. "Yep, I bought the house, so of course, I moved. It's close to Pearl Estate, but it's huge and feels... lonely."

Aubree truly was lonely. Cut off from the Clements family, without friends, and unable to stand the thought of sharing her space with someone else.

For her, acting was the only escape.

Brielle didn't want to intrude on Aubree's ritual, so she stepped out.

Once her makeup was off, Aubree headed to the dressing room to change. She had just slipped off her jacket when a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind, pulling her close. Dressed in just a tank top, Aubree's brows knit together in irritation. "Get out," she said coldly.

Andrew rested his chin on her shoulder, his voice laden with emotion. "No."

His eyes were bloodshot from waiting all day and night, and she hadn't even spared him a glance.

The cramped, mirror-lined dressing room, hastily thrown together for the production, was barely twenty square meters.

Aubree struggled to push him away, but a noise startled her-someone had burst into the room.

Tessa stood there, her pupils dilating at the sight of the two in an embrace. Her hair was a mess, and a red slap mark marred her cheek.

She had just left Alivia's place, where she ran into some old friends who didn't hesitate to shame her, calling her sickly.

She had slapped one of them, but her own face had quickly swollen from the retaliation.

No longer Ms. Tessa, rumors were spreading that Andrew didn't really love her.

How could that be?

Andrew was just confused by Aubree's words; after all these years of kindness, how could he not love her?

It was Aubree's fault, that temptress!

Alivia had said it-if she could ruin Aubree's face, Andrew would come back.

But now, seeing them together, Tessa felt as if someone had struck her on the head.

"Bitch! You're seducing Andrew again! Go to hell!"

Overwhelmed by emotion, Tessa didn't hesitate to fling the contents of the glass bottle she was holding at them.

Andrew quickly realized it was acid and kicked her hand away.

The bottle flew into the air, its contents splattering everywhere.

Tessa's arm, face, and chest were all scalded.

But Andrew's next move was to shield Aubree, his clothes sizzling as the sulfuric acid burned into his skin.

Aubree could hear nothing but the acrid smell in her nostrils and Tessa's heart-wrenching cries.

Then, suddenly, Tessa's cries stopped.

Beside her lay the shattered bottle, with bits of acid on her leg and scattered scars all over.

But she just watched Andrew, watched how carefully he protected Aubree, ignoring the pain on his

back as he checked her ove is

"Are you hurt anywhere?"

His voice was urgent as he spun Aubree around, frantically inspecting her. Tessa sat just two meters away, her exposed arm bloody, her cheek burned.

But he was blind to her. He only had eyes for Aubree.

Tessa didn't feel the physical pain, only the unbearable ache in her heart.

Tears streamed down her face as she suddenly pulled out the dagger she had hidden. "Die!"

With all her strength, she lunged, but

All kicked her aside,&

flying dagger embedded itself in

her shoulder. elf in

Her already frail body now spit out a mouthful of blood.

Nothing hurt more than realizing Andrew might not love her.

She couldn't understand, truly couldn't.

How could someone who had cherished her for so many years suddenly change?

"Andrew, it hurts so much-my hands, my cheeks, my legs-they're burning."

Tessa was severely injured, the sulfuric acid continuing to ravage her flesh, turning her eyes red with pain.

She wanted to scream, but a greater agony came from her heart.

Aubree remained silent; she had lost her voice to shock.

She saw Tessa's wounded cheek, the blood flowing from her shoulder, her state more wretched than a stray dog.

Tessa had come here in a desperate gamble, hoping to win Andrew back with everything she had.

But Andrew didn't love her, and she was left with nothing to win him over.

In that moment, Tessa wept with a raw,

Aubre al fury, wishing to

with the most venonet

words she could muster.