Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

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Three days later, the film crew finally hit the road to the neighboring city. Matthew found himself alone at home, neck-deep in work related to the company's IPO. But no matter how busy he was, the absence of Aubree left a noticeable void, a loneliness that lingered like a Out of habit, he opened his laptop, and a news headline immediately grabbed his attention:

-Clements Corporation CEO Hits the Bottle in Late-Night Meltdown.

-Clements Corporation CEO Rumored to be Nursing a Broken Heart.

These sensational headlines rocketed to the top of trending searches, accompanied by images of Andrew, completely plastered in a bar.

Matthew's forehead creased with irritation. What kind of pity ploy was Andrew pulling now?

Without a moment's hesitation, he reached out to Casey at the company, a heavyweight in the entertainment industry, on par with Stellar Stage Entertainment, and adept at managing media storms. "Get that trending topic off the radar," he instructed firmly.noveldrama

The last thing he wanted was for Aubree to stumble upon this news and feel upset or reconsider her decision to be with him. He was resolute in his mission to push Andrew out of Aubree's life for good.

A fierce determination glinted in Matthew's eyes. Sure, he knew Andrew had feelings for Aubree too, but love was inherently selfish and possessive. As long as he was part of Aubree's life, no other man would have a chance.

In no time, Andrew's drunken antics vanished from the trending lists. Matthew exhaled a sigh of relief and promptly checked in with Aubree to see if she'd reached her destination.

Her reply was swift, mentioning they wouldn't arrive until evening and still had to trek into the mountains. Matthew felt a flicker of annoyance. What was that old man thinking with these filming locations? At least, he had packed bug spray for her. "I've slipped some bug spray into your bag. Don't forget to use it, okay? Can't have those pesky mosquitoes bothering you."

Aubree felt a wave of warmth at his thoughtfulness, a smile tugging at her lips. "Got it."

After two weeks of grueling filming.

in the mountains, Aubree was feeling the toll. The limited food

options and a recent downpour that

stalled shooting left her yearning for Matthew's home-cooked meals.

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The crew and cast were holed up in wooden cabins, a setup reminiscent of college dorms, crammed with several people in one room. Conditions were undeniably tough.

Every now and then, lightning would streak across the sky, slicing through the unease in the air.

While Aubree was going over her script in her cabin, her assistant called out, "Aubree, someone's here to visit!"

Taken aback by the timing, especially with such weather, Aubree quickly set aside her script and stepped outside, only to see Matthew stepping out of a car, umbrella in hand. Behind him, several other cars followed, packed with fresh ingredients, fruits, and even hot pot bases and various meats.

The whole crew erupted in cheers, eagerly unloading the bounty. After weeks of dry rations and bland box lunches, everyone had shed a few pounds. But now, it felt like a feast sent from above! en

Aubree was so moved she was at a loss for words, especially when she noticed the mud splattered on Matthew's pants, a clear sign he had helped push the cars through the muddy path. Matthew, standing amidst the bustle with his umbrella, caught her gaze, his eyes filled with warmth and affection.

Yet, as Aubree had warned, with so many people around, revealing their relationship could stir up trouble. So, he simply beamed at the crowd, then turned to Casey with a bright smile. "Dad, I came to check on you."

Casey, pretending to be grumpy, felt

like booting him out. What a dutiful son, he mused sarcastically,

knowing perfectly well his son's true intentions. Despite the dreadful weather, Matthew's presence spoke volumes about how much he cared for Aubree.