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.

teeth clenched. "That bitch! If I run into her again, I won't let her off so easily! She'd better leave Beaconsfield, or she'll pay the price!" Victoria's face was twisted with spite, her nails

spirit her away. If the second child was another daughter, Martha's position would

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

no guilt, only a deep, affectionate

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

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

doctor who surely had been bribed to declare Martha was carrying

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

Mrs. Dorsey, was willing to trade

by these two women, what

right; Max was destined to be

this saga, and

to Victoria's curses about

slightly and

Max and

Alivia stepped forward, gently

on his

worry about