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?"

She hastily accepted the tissue, her

noticing her cracked lips and

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

rest for even a moment,

all night with Mason and now continued to push through

She turned off her phone's screen,

she returned to her office, only to be confronted by Tiffanie barging in, her face a

could you dump Maxie?!" Tiffanie's shaking finger

her paperwork

how upset he is?! His mother just passed away and the Dorsey family is

what to say. She

something, damn it! Maxie was crying this morning.

collapsed onto the couch, a sharp pain shooting through her

pain - perhaps it had grown numb from

to leave Max. She couldn't bring herself to hit Brielle again. Instead, she kicked the papers on the

last insult before

a loud bang, the