Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Martha's funeral was scheduled for two days later.

Brielle was in a meeting at Stellar Stage Entertainment when she heard the news.

Spring had arrived, and with it, the plans for the new year at Stellar Stage Entertainment were being laid out. The pressing issue at hand was convincing a sought-after male star to take the lead role in their latest screenplay. However, when a pop-up notification about the Dorsey International matriarch's burial appeared on her phone, Brielle's eyelashes fluttered ever so slightly.

The senior execs at Stellar Stage Entertainment had long since acknowledged her leadership. Even the wavering ones could tell that the news had hit her hard. After all, the media had been abuzz with reports of Mr. Dorsey's mother's passing, and today was the day of her interment.

They half expected Brielle to wrap up the meeting and rush to Max's side. But instead, she simply choked back a sob, her lashes casting a shadow on her grief-stricken face.

Her heart felt as if it were in a vice, yet her expression remained stoic. "Let's continue," she managed to say.

The executive who had been reporting didn't dare delay and carried on with the upcoming project details.

Brielle's gaze lingered on her phone screen, fixated on a blurry media-captured image of Max's silhouette, leading a procession of black-clad mourners. The spring drizzle seemed to soak the entire scene, the sorrow almost spilling out from the screen.

Feeling her eyes heat up, she realized Max looked so forlorn. Despite being surrounded by many, she felt he was utterly alone. Lowering her lashes, she felt the tears in her eyes. When she looked up, all the senior executives were silently watching her.

Donny quickly offered her a tissue, his tone laced with concern. "Ms. Haywood, got something in your eye?"

then did Brielle notice her silent tears. She hastily accepted the tissue, her voice hoarse, "Yeah,

her cracked lips and the unnatural flush on her

if you're not feeling well, you should rest," one of them

she couldn't rest for even

and now continued to push through Stellar Stage Entertainment's

her phone's

returned to her office, only to be confronted

Maxie?!" Tiffanie's shaking finger pointed at

focused on her paperwork and didn't

you have any idea how upset he is?! His mother just passed away and the Dorsey family

unsure of what to say. She started to pick

it! Maxie was crying this morning. How could

Brielle collapsed onto the couch, a

her heart felt no pain - perhaps it had grown numb from the constant

the nerve to leave Max. She couldn't bring herself to hit

left the same way, hurling one last insult before she left.

bang,