Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

In the quaint town of Beaconsfield, Brielle's day took an unexpected turn when she got an urgent call from one of Max's men. Without a second thought, she rushed to the scene.

"Ms. Brielle, someone tampered with all the surveillance, but they slipped up. We checked the dashcams of all the cars that passed by during that time. Mr. Lynch's car plunged into the river. We've got divers in the water now," the officer reported, a somber look on his face.

Brielle's heart skipped a beat, and her face turned pale. The riverbank was bustling with activity, and here, a grim profession had flourished: body recovery specialists.

Silently, she prayed with all her might that Dustin wouldn't be among those pulled from the murky depths. No news was good news. Maybe the raging river had swept him to some unknown place, or perhaps the water had distorted his features beyond recognition. With the Lynch family's only son missing, Mrs. Lynch already heartbroken over a lost daughter, and Desiree's life hanging by a thread, Brielle felt overwhelmed.

She found herself thinking she must be cursed. She had longed for a family, but now, that very family seemed to be falling apart because of her.

If Dustin was truly gone, how could she ever face the Lynch family again?

Moreover, she couldn't reveal her deepest suspicion - she had no idea who the enemy was or who was pulling the strings.

She needed to keep everyone guessing, to make them believe she had never considered the possibility that she might be the long-lost daughter of the Lynch family.

She had to act as if nothing had changed, to deceive whoever was behind this. If they sensed her motives, their attacks might escalate.

Taking a deep breath, she stayed in the unremarkable car, instructing those around her to inform her immediately if there was any news.

Back at Pearl Estate, she felt like she was suffocating. Recalling everything Dustin had done for her, she finally understood why his kindness felt so familiar. Her throat tightened, and she couldn't utter a single word.

Just then, a message from Max popped up on her phone. It contained the name of a sanatorium.

Somehow, Brielle and Max had a mutual understanding, and she instantly knew that this might be where Desiree of the Lynch family was being treated.

Desiree's health was critical, and Owen was to attend a charity gala in three days. Owen's sudden announcement of his return had sparked speculation that something had happened to Dustin, and now, Infinity Brilliance was under intense scrutiny. Brielle quickly booked a flight to North America for two days later. Regrets had already piled up, but she couldn't let Desiree's predicament become another.

Dustin had mentioned that Desiree's sorrow stemmed from the loss of her granddaughter, and the hospital had issued a critical condition notice.

Brielle wished time would slow down, giving her a chance to meet the grandmother she'd never known.

But if she left the country immediately, any attention drawn to her could have dire consequences.

In a flash, she thought of Stellar Stage Entertainment and promptly had their PR announce with great fanfare that Keiran had signed with them and was slated to collaborate with a Hollywood director.

She knew Infinity Brilliance had made many enemies worldwide, being the diamond industry's top dog. Plenty of people were waiting for their downfall, and whoever was behind this was undoubtedly powerful.

Brielle didn't want to involve Max too much, fearing his fate might mirror Dustin's. Any sacrifice would make her dreams since childhood seem pale and meaningless. She wanted everyone to survive.

Keiran himself was clueless about the supposed deal with Stellar Stage Entertainment until someone knocked on his door to inform him.

Fuming, he stormed over to Stellar Stage Entertainment's headquarters.

Though he had a poor memory for faces, he was certain he'd remember signing any contracts.

Bursting into the top floor of Stellar Stage Entertainment, he saw Aubree standing to one side and assumed a haughty demeanor.

"Brielle, let me make this clear-I'll never sign with Stellar Stage Entertainment. You need to retract that statement immediately, or I'll take you to court," he declared.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

He had agreed to act in one of Stellar Stage Entertainment's scripts, but signing? That was out of the question.

Aubree, sitting in Brielle's office, had

finished her scenes early and was

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there for a cast dinner later that night. She hadn't expected the entertainment industry's

highest-paid male star to barge in, mistaking her for Brielle.

She frowned, puzzled by Keiran's outburst.

Keiran huffed with indignation, then took a seat. "What are you looking at?"

Aubree rolled her eyes. "Are you an idiot?"

He thought he misheard and ground his teeth. "What did you just say?"

"You heard me. You're a fool, and you've got the wrong person."

Keiran gave Aubree a once-over, then continued to snort disdainfully.

"Oh, I apologize. I suppose it's because you're as unpleasant to look at as Brielle."