Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)

Back in Beaconsfield, Alivia had already hinted at wanting to be the lady of Infinity Brilliance, Dustin's empire. The fact that the research institute had come under fire because of her was a minor detail to him; after all, losing money wasn't really a big deal in his world. But when she showed up at his grandma's, he knew she had ulterior motives. Yet, seeing his grandma perk up after her arrival, he couldn't be bothered to intervene. Let her be, he thought; she couldn't really turn the sky upside down.

Dustin turned and spotted her, a flash of disgust crossing his face.

However, bullying a member of the Lynch family on their own turf was like signing one's death warrant. He signaled to a nearby bodyguard.

"Throw her out. And make sure she's banned from any event hosted by the Lynch family from now on."

It turned out tonight's gala was indeed hosted by the Lynch family. Well, it made sense; the Lynches were big in the diamond trade, often rubbing shoulders with international celebrities. Every star seemed desperate for an endorsement from the Lynch family. Alivia's pupils shrunk; her legs gave out beneath her, unable to stand. Being thrown out by the Lynch family-what did that mean for her? Given the Lynch family's standing in North America, she was effectively blacklisted, doomed to never grace a public event again. How could this happen? She couldn't believe this was her end!

But the bodyguard showed no mercy, grabbing her by the arms and dragging her outside.

Her struggles were in vain; her hair was a tangled mess as she glared venomously at Brielle. If looks could kill, Brielle would have died a thousand deaths by now.

"No! Please, no!"

In this moment, Alivia realized how foolish she had been, dreaming of being recognized as Desiree's adopted granddaughter, not realizing the Lynch family already knew Brielle was one of their own. Her appearance at the nursing home was nothing but a cruel joke! The humiliation was too much for Alivia; tears streamed down her face. Back in Beaconsfield, she had believed in a possible comeback, as long as she could secure the backing of the Lynch family, taking down Brielle would be easy. But the very support she craved turned out to be Brielle's family. She became the joke of the century.

How could this be!

"Thud!"

She was thrown out, rolling on the ground in her once-prized dress. This dress, which she had gone to great lengths to buy after being cut off by the Barnes family and having her accounts frozen, was now ruined. She had reassured herself, at least her taste and aesthetics, honed from a young age, were

wn

In

intact-something Brielle could never match. She was, after all, a lady raised in luxury, not some orphanage upstart. Just by her worldview alone, she was leagues ahead of Brielle.

Yet there Brielle was, basking in adoration, while Alivia was discarded like trash.

Sitting on the ground, Alivia sobbed breathlessly. The media, ever so eager, swarmed around her, cameras pointed at her disheveled state. Foreign media had no qualms about bold headlines, and Alivia, like a madwoman, tried to cover her face. "Get lost! All of you, get lost!"

She heard mocking laughter in

various English accents around her, demeaning her every step. She cried again, struggling to get up and leave. But the shock was too much; every few steps, her dress would trip her up, making her the laughingstock. The cameras relentlessly captured every fall, every stumble.

"How could this be, how could she be a Lynch?" "Ha, impossible! Get out of here!"

Alivia lost a shoe, her shoulders shaking amidst overwhelming jealousy, and she found herself unable to cry any longer. Just then, a group of bodyguards escorting celebrities pushed through, shoving anyone in their way aside, including Alivia.

"Move it."

With that push, Alivia tumbled down the stairs. Mumbling to herself, but her words were lost in the chaos.

Indeed, she became the center of attention tonight, but not in the way she had hoped.