Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Clare's face was filled with sadness as she watched Emma walk away, nodding slowly in acceptance. "I understand. Don't worry, I won't reach out to you again."

Seeing her acceptance, Dustin frowned slightly, as if struck by a thought, and left her with a warning.

"If you message Emma again, I won't be so nice."

"You're cruel, truly heartless."

Clare cried behind him, but Dustin didn't even glance back and just walked away.

Meanwhile, Emma found herself at the scene of Peyton's accident, where traffic was still bustling. She wandered along the road in a daze for a while before spotting a blood-stained phone in the bushes by the roadside. Her eyes widened slightly, and she stood there frozen, hesitant to touch it.

She knew it had to be her mother's blood.

Her fingers trembled as she crouched down, wanting to pick up the phone but finding herself unable to, just staring blankly at it.

If her mother had come here because of messages on this phone, then in a way, she was responsible.

She should have deleted those taunting messages right away. Why did she let her mother see them?

Emma squatted there, staring at the bushes and weeping.

Soon, Clare approached from behind.

Having seen Dustin drive away, she thought she'd try her luck here to see if Emma would show up.

And indeed, Emma was here.

Standing behind her, Clare paused briefly before introducing herself.

here. I recently lost a baby and was in a bad place when I

Dustin was there with me at the hospital, losing our baby, just made me so resentful, and I took it out on you. I'm sorry, but as you saw, Dustin isn't mad at me, so I hope you can

tone was genuinely

by then, a faint, wry smile tugging

talk to Clare,

to leave,

with Dustin won't make you happy. You saw it, he can't let go

ached slightly, a subtle pain, and she began to loathe herself for

gone, and she'd only wanted to work

she longed to return

outside, it wasn't as

that small village, now she yearned to return, to be the frog

away, a slight smile on her

just those few words should

car, she headed

the rent money to Aubree,

something was off and asked

to leave any debts

up the house a bit, then sent

see the kids tomorrow

was surprised by the message but quickly replied,

el.f

kissed Jaime and Heather on the cheeks, and then put on the same outfit she wore when she

afternoon and reached the town by

at that hour, she

car broke down