Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Brielle felt like she was running out of air as if someone had a vice-like grip around her throat.

Max didn't seem angry with her. He was just stating a fact, but it still sent a shiver down her spine.

She even wanted to bolt, to find a quiet corner somewhere to catch her breath.

"Brielle, if you're feeling wiped, you should head back and hit the hay," Max suggested.

Before she could muster a response, he spoke up. The subtext was clear: they both needed a moment to cool their jets.

Brielle stood up, her body stiff as a board. She wanted to say a million things, but what would they be?

Could she convince Max of her innocence?

She put herself in Max's shoes and knew her words must have crossed a line for him.

Now, Max seemed set on taking down the Fox family, working overtime to find something, anything to prove she wasn't one of them - all to extricate her from this mess. Meanwhile, Brielle was busy making excuses for James. No wonder Max was steamed. Neither of them was at fault. It was always the same tragic tune - whenever they hit a snag, it turned out nobody was to blame.

Without another word, Brielle left the place. It felt like her feet were encased in lead, and it felt as if she was hauling a ton with every step.

Patrick was waiting for her outside, and seeing her out of sorts, he took the initiative to drive her back to the Premier Palace.

mind was a blank slate all the way home, not a single thought

should take it easy for the next few days. Mr. Max has been up all night

at the Premier Palace, she felt utterly drained, clueless about

flooded with Kingston's distress signals, which eventually stopped. Based on what she'd heard

couch,

to the Fox family, James

was Brielle supposed to let him take the

always the type to tackle things

with a heart of gold had suffered because of

sher

others, her pain might've seemed laughable. If she claimed James had a heart of gold, who would buy that? He was a guy who made a living collecting

bitterly, half-wishing she had never set foot in

laid out for her, she wouldn't really be herself, would

"Ms. Brielle, you seem down. How about I whip

you, Wesley, I don't feel

about James, she

his cronies weren't enough. She needed to see the places where he collected his dues. So, she picked herself up and headed to the

of society, but the street was clean. Despite the

asked about James, the shopkeepers were eager

he's a big