Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

The Dorsey family stood in silence at the doorstep, the air heavy with unspoken words, until Michael finally let out a weary sigh. "Alivia, did Martha say anything before she left us?" Alivia glanced at Max, who stood apart from the rest, his expression unreadable-lost in his own world.

He looked so alone.

"Martha wanted me to marry Max. It was her last wish, but I know he's reluctant, so..." She trailed off, her voice fading into the stillness.

Michael turned to face his son. "Max, what do you think?"

Max's fingers tensed, the coolness seeping into his very bones as if the chill in his heart had spread to every limb.

With downcast eyes, he rasped, "Let's talk about it later."

Michael scoffed. "What, can't even fulfill your mother's dying wish?"

Max looked up, his eyes devoid of emotion, like a frozen wasteland devoid of life. "Father, Mom has just passed. I don't want to think about this right now." "Martha's funeral arrangements are your responsibility."

"I know."

Max remained standing, wordless, while Michael conversed briefly with the doctor about the arrangements for Martha's body before departing.

The other members of the Dorsey family wore complex expressions, some with schemes in their eyes, merely exchanging knowing glances.

let her off so easily! She'd better leave Beaconsfield, or she'll pay the price!"

had chosen to spirit her away. If the second child was another daughter, Martha's position would have been in jeopardy. She smirked, her lips curling

only fitting," Alivia thought. After

only a

alone knew this secret-well, her mother knew too, but she had cherished

Barnes, had been Martha's accomplice, conspiring from the start to

Martha, a doctor who surely had been bribed to declare Martha was carrying a

moment, Alivia felt like the happiest person in the world. Her adoptive mother, Mrs. Barnes, bad provided for her as if she were her own

Dorsey, was willing to trade her life to fulfill

two women, what

Max was destined to be

the true heroine of this saga, and

instead listening to Victoria's curses about how vile

slightly and urged Victoria

Max and Alivia

Alivia stepped forward, gently

hand on his shoulder

worry about