Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Brielle's voice was as calm as a still pond. She sat with only a pane of glass separating her from James.

A flicker of shock passed through James' eyes before he hung his head in dismay.

In Beaconsfield, everyone knew of the Dorseys.

"So what if she's from the Dorsey clan? Wasn't it her fault first? Didn't she start by hurling insults at us? And all I did was grab her by the collar. The nudge I gave her wheelchair wasn't enough to send her tumbling. That old bat let go of the wheelchair's brakes herself, using my push to help her fall. I was shocked, thinking maybe the heavens were punishing her on my behalf. She's such a foul-mouthed, vile person - how could she be Max's mother? I've seen TV segments about Max. Don't they all say he's like some kind of saint? How could someone like him have a mother like that? Brielle, I swear I didn't push her. She released the brakes herself."

Martha's wheelchair had two brakes, one near the armrest and another below. Martha had been sitting in a deluxe wheelchair, and its brakes were even more sensitive than the standard wheelchairs.

When James' foot connected with the wheelchair, Martha's first action was to press the brake on her armrest - a slight movement that only James could clearly see.

At the time, James had thought it was an accident, that fate was on his side - after all, it was Martha's fault, wasn't it? All he did was lift her collar a bit.

Did the world allow people like Martha to spew verbal abuse freely but not allow others to retaliate even slightly?

"When I kicked at her wheelchair, she pressed the manual brake herself. That's why it slipped downhill. At that moment, I was thrilled, thinking she got what she deserved for her rudeness." Brielle's pupils constricted slightly, then she pursed her lips. "Are you sure?"

a surge of anger at her

may not be some paragon of virtue, and I don't respect my elders as I should. Hell, I'd even snatch candy from kids just to watch them cry, but I'm no liar. My brothers all say I'm loyal. Sure, I collect protection money, but the shops that pay are never bothered by other thugs. What's so wrong with that? Was it wrong to teach a lesson to

down on the table. "She released the brake herself, leveraging my push to fly downhill. I even felt her laughing as she fell. Who knows what evil schemes she had up her

Brielle felt her

But only James saw Martha release the brake. Who could

only show that it was James' kick that caused the wheelchair to go

furrowed. "You've

out of this, right? You're the CEO of Stellar Stage Entertainment. I've been framed, and now there are guys in here who 'spar' with me every day. They claim it's just. sparking, but it feels like they're beating me up and running

began to believe what

wasn't bad. He was just too hot-headed,

wasn't it her fault that James

who James was all

released the brake to

was unfolding just as Martha had