Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Chapter 972

King stood gazing out at the shadowy mountains, his breath mingling with the chill at the cliff's edge. A slight smirk played on his lips. "Think I've got a shot?"

"Absolutely, sir. While Max becoming the president of Dream Tech Designs was a surprise, I'm confident that you have far stronger connections. I trust you completely."

The man chuckled softly as the words left Antonio's mouth.

Antonio couldn't figure out what was so amusing, tilting his head in confusion. The garden around them was in full bloom, caught in that vibrant transition between spring and summer. King plucked a flower, gently rolling it between his fingers before crushing it slowly.

"Did the old man tell you anything before you came here?"

A shiver ran through Antonio, and he lowered his gaze. "He did. Grandfather's getting old and doesn't believe you have such capabilities, sir."

Antonio kept back the secret Michael had confided in him, the one about this house.

"The old man wasn't wrong. There's a reason he was the previous heir to the Dorsey estate he wasn't senile enough to not know friend from foe."

Antonio didn't grasp the meaning of his words, but in the next instant, the barrel of a gun was staring him down.

He stepped back, disbelief etched on his face. "Sir, what are you—"

King continued to chuckle, pulling the trigger without hesitation.

Antonio stumbled backward, plummeting, but his will to live kicked in, and his hand snapped out, grasping the edge of the cliff.

looked up in terror at the man with the gun, who

was tinged with a cry, like someone abandoned by

for being killed by his own son, should be the confused one. Michael, the grandson who turned the tables on those who used him, should be bewildered. Your role, the sword, was quite useful-far better than me seeking my own revenge on the Dorsey family. If I struck directly, they'd die

hanging on the edge, was running out of strength, even his fingertips bleeding.

don't understand,

through him. Why was he always the one discarded? Even after dragging Max through the mire, how could Max still

only Max had

the sludge was now turning

aimed the gun at

ofholding power, as you'd only sit in that seat for a day. But you missed the undertone of

fingers clung desperately to the edge, refusing to let

I trusted you so much. I always thought of you

a mocking laugh, "Do you

The tone was biting.

drained from Antonio's

mask

him, bitterness.

radiating from him. Contentve

off and he saw

he laughed like a madman, releasing his grip on

he fell, his

an eyebrow, considering a final

on the mask and returned