Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

As she finished her tirade, Martha began to snicker with smug satisfaction.

Standing by the bedside, Brielle felt a chill spreading through her entire body, like a withered flower shaking ever so slightly in a cold wind.

"Brielle, I've told you time and again that you're no match for Max, but you wouldn't listen. You had to get yourself all banged up before you'd walk away. Tsk, tsk, I almost feel sorry for you. Heard that you sent Mark away just to be with Max, and now, the poor man has come back to town at his old age, only to kick the bucket from a heart attack-without a soul by his side."

Every venomous word Martha spat out pierced Brielle's heart. Her hand, hanging limply at her side, slowly clenched into a rigid fist as she listened to Martha spill her bile.

"Mark must have been cursed to have bumped into you-a real black cat! First, he got divorced, then died in such a miserable way! Serves him right!" "Shut your mouth!"

Brielle had never seen such an ugly face before. Martha had everything, so why was she so hell-bent on stripping away the little Brielle had left?

"Oh, getting antsy, are we? Too bad, James will suffer in prison for the rest of his life because of me. And Brielle, this will be your life now. As long as you're with Max, these kinds of troubles will keep coming. Enjoy your misery, you tramp."

Brielle's fingertips trembled as she watched Martha dislodge her oxygen tube with her chin and start to gasp for air. Even at this moment, she was using her life to threaten Brielle.

Brielle remained frozen, her mind screaming at her to save Martha.

However, the thought of saving someone so bent on death, someone who would drag her down too, was revolting. Her stomach churned, and her legs felt nailed to the floor. "Help, Brielle is trying to kill me!"

Martha's voice was hoarse with anger yet oddly triumphant.

The doctors burst in to the scene of Martha convulsing with the oxygen tube unplugged, while Brielle hadn't moved an inch.

frantic medical team,

to cry out that Brielle was trying to

away the sting in her eyes, feeling Max's presence behind

her, but neither of them

a void of irreparable division and lingering pain built up from constant helplessness, like lava solidified after a volcanic eruption, never to disappear. Brielle felt utterly

Before,

thought Brielle's

they

belongs to en.kikistori 2x

social circles of Beaconsfield, everyone would think Brielle had stood by idly.

to stand by her, he would be seen as heartless,

branded a sinner struggling

Max whispered, reaching out to gently and cautiously touch

jerked her hand back and stormed out, only to trip over a potted plant in the hallway and crash

and palms ached as tears streamed down

be heard from

is trying to kill

kill me

such

panicked shouts filled the

"Ms. Martha!"