Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Her face was a mess of distress, a far cry from the poised, high-and-mighty demeanor she once had. Desperately gripping Jaired's sleeve, Alivia was a shadow of the woman who always held her head high. "Do you want to see who I'd sleep with?" she spat out, the words crude and out of place, like they belonged to someone else entirely. Was this the same Alivia everyone admired?

Jaired raised an eyebrow, a soft chuckle escaping his lips as he leaned in closer. "You're agreeing to this?"

Alivia's eyes shut tight, trembling. She felt every ounce of her dignity being stomped into the ground. She didn't feel human anymore; she felt like she was nothing but a harlot, a loose woman.

Tears welled up in her eyes; she never imagined she'd sink this low. "Yes! I agree! As long as you help me take down Brielle! Do whatever you want! I want that witch dead!"

"Don't worry," Jaired assured her, "I'll make it happen."

Alivia burst into tears again, her legs giving out underneath her. What had she become? An absolute disgrace!

She was consumed by hatred-hatred for Brielle, and for Max. She vowed to bring down those deceitful lovers!

Meanwhile, Brielle lay unconscious, completely unaware of the chaos unfolding outside.

The sudden blare of medical monitors jolted Max into action; he frantically pressed the call button as doctors rushed in and whisked Brielle away for emergency treatment. Overnight, her condition had taken a turn for the worse.

Max sat on the cold hospital corridor floor, his hands trembling. He leaned his head against the wall, his Adam's apple bobbing with each swallow. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it—a forbidden act in the hospital, yet no one dared to tell him off. The bloodshot eyes and his air of desperation were enough to keep people at bay.

on fumes, clinging to a sliver of hope that kept him going. But he knew that

was already dawn. Max felt like his feet were made of lead,

news. "Max, Ms. Brielle's head injury is severe. We've tried twice, but if luck isn't on our side, Ms. Brielle may never wake up. And if she does, there could be complications, like memory loss." Max

doctor frowned, "It's a

Max

a bitter laugh, his

falling

het

still form in

forget him, he'd throttle

doctor, sensing the tension, made

at noon with fresh clothes and a razor for Max, who had been keeping vigil. Despite

constant eye drops.

a shower, Max threw his suit in the trash and approached Brielle's bedside,

convenient for her, to toss him aside and then

and shook her shoulder. "Brielle, wake