Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Max's pupils constricted, his fingers halting mid-air.

Michael had already spotted the hand at the door, and a smirk curled at the corner of his mouth. "Figured it out? You finally decided to rescue James?"

Brielle cast her gaze down, forcibly swallowing the taste of copper in her mouth as anger swept through her, compelling her. In this moment, she had to compromise. She couldn't beat the Dorsey family, nor could she beat Michael.

"Yes, just like you said, Mr. Dorsey, me being with Max was just to get back at the Dorseys. Spencer held me back for a decade, and his mother only saw me as a stepping stone for Spencer to secure his place at Dorsey International. My fling with Max was a jab at the Dorsey's pride, but now I see clearly. So, please, Michael, show some mercy."

"Weren't you in love with Max before? You even humiliated yourself in the lounge, trying to wreck his wedding with Alivia."

Brielle's lashes fluttered, her emotional defenses nearly crumbling.

Max was her forbidden fruit, the one she had to stand on her toes to pluck, thinking she'd never let go. But who else could bear the burden of the Fox family's tragedy? Who else could carry Mark's fate?

He was defying the Dorseys to be with her, defying his mother's expectations to be with her. Max was so perfect it left her speechless.

But what could she do when someone had already sacrificed so much for her? She couldn't let the entire Fox family pay the price, could she?

The debt she owed the Foxes was already too vast. Even her life couldn't balance the scales.

know what love is. I just thought Max was out of my league, and if he

his entire family, but are you sure you won't regret this? What if Max can't let

with a bitter twist of her lips. "It was just a game. He wouldn't

to the doorway.

right through her. Her words were like steel pins hammered into his brain, tugging at his nerves painfully. When Brielle wanted to charm someone, it was effortless.

be both sweet as honey and sharp

sadness like

the call to the station right now. You're

moment Brielle sensed Max's presence, her back tensed, but now she began to

"Brielle!"

her wrist. Had she

be lying. It

Max. His eyes were a tumult of disbelief, sorrow, and loss. She had never seen such a storm of emotions in Max's eyes, as if only now he was

down from his pedestal, and now she wished he could go back to being the untouchable

IMS

in too deep, pushing him away so