Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Emma had been out cold for two days straight, unable to keep any food down. Every time she tried to eat, it just came right back up.

After giving birth to two kids, it felt like she'd lost half her life force. She'd just started to look a bit healthier when she suddenly dropped twenty pounds, losing that vibrant glow she once had. She looked so frail, like she could pass out at any moment. She refused to eat, and Dustin couldn't force it on her, so they had to hook her up to an IV to get some nutrients in her.

Meanwhile, he was overwhelmed, juggling everything else and taking care of their two kids. Even though Emma wasn't eating, Dustin still cooked every day, hoping she might change her mind.

Three days later, Brielle finally stopped by. Seeing Dustin alone in the kitchen, busy as ever, she couldn't help but ask, "Hey, where's Emma?"

Dustin was chopping veggies. "Upstairs with the kids."

Brielle hurried upstairs, finding Emma in the kids' room, sitting there with a vacant look, holding one of the babies. The window was open, letting in a draft.

Brielle quickly shut it. "Emma, you doing okay?"

Emma snapped back to reality, offering Brielle a weak smile after a long pause. "Yeah, thanks for asking, Mr. Haywood."

Seeing how much weight Emma had lost made Brielle's heart ache. But what could she say to ease her pain? This was about losing someone close.

focus on resting for now. Forget about

mind was a mess, barely registering what Brielle was saying. Dustin would talk to her every day, but sometimes it was like she couldn't hear a word, just watching their lips move. "Yeah, thanks, Mr.

the baby's crib and gently rocked it. That seemed to snap Emma out of her daze. She stood up quickly and rushed over, picking up the sleeping baby. "It's okay, it's

she was hoping for a cry,

happened so far from here, and she was always so cautious. How did she end

knife. "Driver fatigue. The driver hadn't slept properly in three days. And Peyton wasn't paying attention

the news coverage of

media's pointing fingers

the

and that it's only

claim

fame that there's talk of compensation. Emma should steer

stopped everything, his shoulders slumping. "Brielle, I honestly don't know what to

be falling apart. Just like

was just