Master of his heart (Max and Brielle) novel Chapter 1152

In their secret hideout, Irene soaked in the tub, her skin marked by their recent passionate encounter. Outside, the sound of people clinking glasses and playing drinking games filled the air—everyone was celebrating.

Her time with Kenzo had been brief, no more than two hours, as both of them were lost in their own thoughts. She knew Kenzo was waiting for her to reveal her trump card. Drying her fingers on the tub's edge, Irene grabbed a cigarette, lit it, and exhaled a perfect smoke ring into the damp air. The humidity quickly made the cigarette soggy, and the smoke mingled with the steam, giving the bathroom an ethereal feel.

Kenzo, dressed in pajamas, opened the door and saw her smoking. He walked over and took the cigarette from her fingers. "Smoking in the bath?"

Irene raised an eyebrow and smiled playfully. "Just got promoted, huh? So, feeling a bit more in charge now, darling?" she teased.

Kenzo cut straight to the point. "Is your ace that assassin?"

She sighed and stood up from the tub, wrapping herself in a towel as she moved closer to Kenzo. "Darling, can't we talk about this after our wedding night?" she pleaded, gently placing her palm on his cheek. Kenzo frowned. Her bare toes peeked out from under the towel, a soft pink against the white fabric. Bending down, Kenzo picked up a pair of slippers and held her ankle. "Put these on."

Irene laughed lightly. "Oh, darling, you're so good to me."

Kenzo managed a smile, though his eyes remained calm and undisturbed. "So, the royal family is the ultimate beneficiary."

As the saying goes, when the snipe and the clam grapple, it's the fisherman who reaps the rewards. Irene snuggled closer, her demeanor affectionate. "Indeed, the royal family has long coveted the diamond resources controlled by the Lynch family. In a nation ruled by wealth, those with riches dictate the terms. If the diamonds fall into royal hands, they'll no longer fear any other clan. From the moment you agreed to disrupt the status quo, the royal family has been watching from the sidelines, even pulling strings with Saudi interests. Their ambition is vast. Saudi might be powerful, but this is North America; once they cross that line, the royal family will deal with them, seizing the opportunity to strike at Saudi and claim its oil resources. This chess game we've orchestrated, darling, was all your doing."

Kenzo gently caressed her head, his touch tender. This world was never at peace. Some people didn't live in peaceful times; they merely lived in peaceful countries. Many smaller nations were engulfed in turmoil. If Saudi gets involved, North America would indeed have a pretext to strike. Oil resources are coveted by all. Poor Max, facing a nation, an individual's power is minuscule. This organization always had surprises up its sleeve.