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."

go after her,

gaze dropped. "I wish I could, but I can't bring

already been upended by having two kids. Now, because of him, Peyton was gone too. He'd changed her life completely.

leaving the kids behind showed

be honest-there's something

up with me. Finding

to say it wasn't his fault, but how could it not be, at least partly? Allowing that woman to stay in Beaconsfield, without explaining to Emma, led to Peyton's

clear him of

Emma. Watching her enjoy my meals made me happy. Maybe it started because she was carrying my child, but the day

was responsibility-a deep-seated concern that left a permanent mark. It was his first encounter with such emotions. But

The baby beside him shifted, and worried the little one might roll off, he reached out to protect

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