Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Dustin's call ended abruptly, leaving him staring blankly at his phone and the baby nestled in his arms.

The nanny, hovering nearby, asked gently, "Any idea when Ms. Emma's coming back?" Her tone carried an unsettling hint, as if Emma might never return. Dustin snapped out of his daze, realizing the gravity in her voice. He was at a loss for what to do, instinctively comforting the baby, his face a mask of emptiness.

As he descended the stairs, he gently laid the sleeping child down, memories flooding back. Not long ago, Peyton was in the kitchen slicing fruit, Emma was pregnant, eagerly waiting for their baby to arrive. What used to be a routine moment was now a cherished memory. Emma had decided to trace her roots, but what was he supposed to do now? Could he ever go back to the way things were?

Sitting on the couch, Dustin felt lost, like taking care of the kids was all he had left, the rest of him feeling worn and rusty. With a steady hand, he called Brielle.

"Hey, Little Y, Emma's gone. Stellar Stage Entertainment might need to put out a statement."

Brielle, who was out walking the Little Noir pups, came to a halt. "What do you mean, bro?"

"She left the kids and took off from Beaconsfield, probably back to her old hometown. Looks like she might not be coming back."

after her,

dropped. "I wish I could, but I

gone too. He'd changed her life completely. How could he possibly follow her now, unless

truly understood Emma's journey, but leaving the kids behind showed that their

hesitated, rubbing her temples. "Bro, I gotta be honest-there's something off about that woman staying at your

Grandma always said my knack for trouble with women would catch up with me. Finding out about Peyton's death made me realize

be, at least partly? Allowing that

fully clear him of

made me happy. Maybe it started because she was carrying my child, but the day she gave birth, seeing her so frail struck me

first encounter with such emotions. But before he could fully

the TV. The baby beside him shifted, and worried the little one

for good, though legally, he couldn't pin any blame