Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Chapter 1225

I'd gotten used to her cold remarks and stinging words. How could I hold a grudge now? What good would it do? My gaze dropped, the cigarette in my hand untouched, each breath feeling like a knife to the chest. If I hadn't left in a huff, she wouldn't have vanished. The thought of Brielle being dead sent a jolt of panic through me, visible even in my usually composed eyes. The cigarette slipped from my fingers, hitting the deck.

"Keep searching," I ordered, my voice firm. "Even if we have to turn this whole damn sea upside down, find her."

Even if it's just her body, we need to bring her back.

On the other side of the deck, Isaac stood with Noir. Noir wasn't cut out for sea life, curled up in a lethargic ball. Isaac gently rubbed its head, but his mind was elsewhere. The sparkle in his eyes was gone.

Every so often, he'd scan the horizon, hoping one of the fishing boats would bring good news. He didn't want Brielle to be dead. Joseph had once told us that those thrown into the sea to feed the sharks never left a whole body behind. Even if you avoided the sharks, the water would bloat and disfigure you in no time.

Brielle was so beautiful. The thought of her being unrecognizable tore at him.

The search dragged on for two days.

Meanwhile, Arthur's inauguration speech was happening. His first address was in his home district, drawing a crowd of locals and media. Though few international reporters were present, the speech was broadcast worldwide.

adjusted his suit before stepping up to the podium, his

minutes in, the microphone cut out. Arthur, mid-sentence, suddenly had a bullet tearing through his forehead, blood

Screams filled the air.

"Call an ambulance!"

Arthur stood there, life fading, then collapsed backward. Police rushed towards the sniper's possible perch, while others hurried Arthur into

Kenzo, mission-complete, packed

and

killing a

away from easily. Several

streets below

inauguration speech, live on camera, Arthur's death was the most disgraceful in

uninterested in

had the TV on. He didn't catch Arthur's words, more focused on the endless

the broadcast descended into chaos, he turned just in time to see Arthur

ordered the hit, so who did? But the

gazed at the sea, a heavy feeling settling in. Maybe