Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Chapter 861

Brielle and Max slid back into the car, taking a moment to soak in the scenery outside before Brielle broke the silence. "Max, you had a bunch of professors back in the day, but this one seems to be off the grid. Do you have a picture of him?" Max pulled out his phone and scrolled through his gallery, finally finding an old photo from their graduation years ago. "Which one is the professor?" Brielle asked.

Max pointed to a man with a rugged beard and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose.

Brielle pursed her lips, pulling the phone closer to scrutinize the image. After a moment, her expression turned icy, and her fist clenched by her side. "It's Mark."

Take away the slightly curly hair, the glasses, the beard, and there you had Mark from Beaconsfield.

A storm raged inside Brielle. Her lips pressed tightly together, her nails digging into her palm. Max stayed silent, trusting Brielle's recognition.

So, the person from her childhood in Beaconsfield was both the professor and Mark.

No wonder he didn't want to see her. Seeing her would blow his cover.

Brielle had never seen the professor's face, so she never linked the poor Mark to the renowned professor abroad.

Her face darkened, and an urge to confront him surged within her, but she knew she wouldn't get any answers, just like the past twenty-some years of her life. No one was accountable for her life; they were all pulling the strings. Max dimmed his phone's screen and pulled her into his arms.

fake death, Brielle knew he must still be alive, just under a

excuses not to meet, she had her doubts, but the truth

ruffled her hair gently

found traces of

Brielle's fighting

Is he okay? How's

her spirits lift, Max's lips curled into a

alive. There are signs he fought to survive on that

car over and

bring him back, so focus on what

emotion at the news of Dustin's survival, torn between

quaint florist's shop. Max got out and returned with a bouquet, handing it to Brielle. It was almost comical; they'd been together on and off, but never had a proper

have a date," Max suggested, tucking a pink rose behind Brielle's ear.

seeking her approval.

been abroad for two days and had done what she needed to do. Now, with the truth weighing on her mind, Max's suggestion seemed appealing. So, when he took her hand and led her into a luxury

heading in, Brielle left the bouquet on a chair, keeping only the rose behind her ear. With her distinctly Eastern