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.

so easily! She'd better leave Beaconsfield,

was another daughter, Martha's position would have been

only fitting," Alivia thought. After all, hadn't Martha chosen

guilt, only a deep, affectionate gaze toward

knew too, but she had cherished Alivia as her own for so

accomplice, conspiring from

have had the doctor examine Martha, a doctor who surely

person in the world. Her adoptive mother, Mrs. Barnes, bad provided for

to trade her life to fulfill

two women, what

was right; Max was destined to be

true heroine of this saga, and Brielle was nothing more

listening to Victoria's curses about how

frowned slightly and urged Victoria

only Max and

Alivia stepped forward, gently

her hand on his

worry about