Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Max's words faded into a muffled backdrop as Brielle's focus narrowed on the video file on the computer. It was the footage of James pushing Martha, clear as day.

With a click, Brielle watched the entire sequence, her eyes narrowing at the damning evidence. James had indeed pushed Martha, and his face, post-incident, was a mask of smug satisfaction.

Blinking away the sting of fatigue, she scrutinized Martha's hand movements in the video. However, the footage was too distant, too devoid of sound to capture such minute details. It was all but impossible to discern the truth from this angle. This video was tantamount to a conviction for James.

Footsteps echoed from the master bedroom, pulling Brielle from her thoughts. Max was up, probably roused by the noise she'd made. Without glancing at him, she remained transfixed by the screen until Max sat down beside her and softly closed the laptop. "Did you sleep well last night?" His tone was casual as he tenderly inspected the faint shadows under her eyes, evidence of her restless night. Thankfully, the bruise that had marred her cheek had vanished.

She tried to muster a smile for him, but it was a struggle she lost.

Deep down, she had started to believe James' side of the story. Martha had released the brake herself, framing him.

But what could Brielle do? Michael wanted the Fox family to pay the price, Max himself demanded retribution, and her lone knowledge of the truth seemed futile.

Was she really going to suggest to Max that Martha might have sought her own end?

Brielle closed her eyes and recalled the misunderstandings that had once clouded her relationship with Max. Perhaps, just maybe, he would trust her. Max had always been her greatest believer, though the hope seemed faint.

He seemed to sense her internal conflict. "Got something on your mind you want to tell me?" he asked, releasing her chin to pour her a cup of water.

Taking a deep breath, Brielle nodded. "Max, I visited James in jail. He claimed Ms. Martha released the brake herself. Could we perhaps..."

She couldn't finish her sentence, and the chilling shift in Max's demeanor stopped her cold.

That icy change was directed at her, a metaphorical dagger to her heart.

Max gently set down the jug, his voice calm but frosty. "Are you suggesting my mother sought her own death and that James is innocent?"

As he turned to face her, his gaze remained unsettlingly serene. "How long have you known James?" he asked pointedly.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Brielle found herself speechless. After all, she and James had truly known each other for just one day. Yet Max and Martha shared a mother-son bond that was unbreakable.

Max's fingers jdly traced the rim of

his cup. "White my mother was in the overseas clinic, enduring daily injections and sleepless nights from pain, she fought to live. She always urged the doctors to do everything they could, regardless of the side effects. She endured everything to stay alive."

His implication was clear. Here was Brielle, swayed by someone she barely knew, suggesting that his mother had chosen death over life.

The silence that fell was stifling, an endless void indicating an irreparable rift.

A chill crept over Brielle, spreading from her heart to her limbs.

"My mother had her moments of despair, but she came around, actively cooperated with her treatment, and was determined to live. Why would she want to die now?" Max's tone was eerily detached, a match struck in a powder keg.

Brielle shivered, her tongue nearly too stiff to speak.

She made a mistake. She thought that by speaking the truth, misunderstandings would dissolve But Martha's situation was unique Max had spent years caring for Martha, studied the video all night, and witnessed the evidence

firsthand. He justn't see

James' innocence.

Moreover, the reputation of the Fox family did them no favors.

It was a common presumption that someone like James, from a family known for petty crimes, could easily be guilty. Even Brielle had felt a tinge of annoyance when she first heard James wanted to join Stellar Stage Entertainment.

Had she not met James in person, she'd never have guessed his intention to protect her.

He had asked for a large sum because he knew his worth, but he declined the offer out of pride. But for Brielle, his sister, he was willing to play the part of the loyal subordinate. His logic was stark in its simplicity.