Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Brielle felt as though her heart had crumbled, a void that could never be filled. She looked up, her gaze piercing straight into his eyes.

"I will never forgive you for Mark's passing. Not in this lifetime."

Max's pupils shrank, his heart stopped for a brief moment, and his grip weakened as if he had lost all his strength.

He choked back a silent sob. It was his own disgrace.

Brielle shook off his hand and stormed out with determined strides.

He had lost the courage to chase after her.

Death is irreversible. His selfishness had condemned Brielle to a life of pain.

Max's eyes reddened in an instant, and his lips pressed tightly together like the edge of a knife.

Back in her car, Brielle realized just how violently her hands were trembling. She wanted to slam the gas pedal, but her body felt as limp as overcooked spaghetti.

The more she struggled, the deeper she sank into the mire until she finally slumped over the steering wheel, her shoulders quaking silently.

what little rationale she had left and drove to Pearl Estate. All the way there, she felt the

vile, dragging Max down only

to fill all her voids and desires, and now, she

on the couch like a zombie, motionless

up felt like a merry-go-round had taken up residence in her head. After splashing water on her face, she opened the door to find Aubree holding

over to have a drink with Brielle. With her next scene not until three days later, she

soon as the door swung open, she

in," Brielle's voice was

the barbecue bites on the coffee table, and popped

food or drink and just leaned against the

"Hey, what do you think of this actress?" she asked,

"She's alright."

all glam and glitz. How do you think I'd fare

smile,

took a satisfied swig of her

just the icing on the cake. They do not come through when you really need them." Brielle slowly sat up straighter, taking the cold beer can Aubree handed her.

hugged her knees, rocking her beer bottle back and

"I'm the one who did him