Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Brielle stood solemnly, her face a mask of consternation. She followed a group of doctors to where Martha was being treated.

Martha was quickly wheeled into the emergency room. Her body was weak from the medication, and the grim expressions on the doctors' faces did nothing to ease Brielle's growing sense of dread. The lights of the emergency room flickered on. All the doctors present were top international experts. Now tasked with Martha's care, they were well-equipped for the urgent surgery at hand. Half an hour later, Michael walked slowly with the support of a group of people.

Brielle stood up hastily, ready to explain the situation, but Michael raised his hand and slapped her across the face. "If anything happens to Martha, I'll make sure you and your whole family pay for it!" Brielle's cheek stung from the impact, a wave of pain washing over her. She frowned, her response was measured but icy. "Michael, I have no ties to the Fox family."

"Are you denying that the man responsible for Martha's condition is not your legal brother?"

Silenced by his accusation, Brielle had no retort. She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, a ripple of emotion crossing her eyes.

Michael, leaning on his cane, wore a stormy expression. "You better pray she makes it."

The other members of the Dorsey family, including Victoria, trailed behind him. Victoria's gaze on Brielle was complex.

Michael took a seat, waiting for news from the emergency room in tense silence.

Brielle felt the bitter injustice of her situation. Because of her Fox family blood, she was being blamed for James' actions against Martha.

And she couldn't refute it because of that paternity test.

Michael's eyes narrowed as he turned to Victoria. "Did you notify Max? Let him see what has become of Martha because of him!"

Brielle wanted to shout at Michael, and accuse him of exploiting the situation. But Martha was his wife, at least in name, and to speak out would only give their enemies more ammunition.

The Dorsey family members lined the hallway, their eyes on Brielle as if she was something foul and contaminating.

Brielle pursed her lips and kept silent.

A doctor emerged, Victoria grabbing at him frantically. "How is she?"

The doctor hadn't even removed his mask, yet the grave look in his eyes said it all. "The prognosis isn't good Ms. Martha's recent physical and mental state have been

deteriorating, and now with the head trauma and excessive blood loss, there's a chance she may become vegetative."

The word "vegetative" hung heavy in the air, stifling the hallway with its implications.

Victoria released the doctor in shock, her face contorting with despair.

Michael took a deep breath and instructed someone nearby. "Inform the police to hold James

accountable. Dig up every dirty. secret of the Kingston couple and make sure they rot behind bars!"

QUMS

He glanced at Brielle as he said this, and she felt like prey under the gaze of a venomous snake, paralyzed.Original from NôvelDrama.Org.

A chill crept up from the soles of her feet, and she instinctively wanted to back away, but was met with the cold, unyielding wall. There was nowhere to retreat. Twenty minutes later, Max arrived.

Martha was moved to intensive care. The possibility of her being vegetative was the best-case scenario. The worst was that she might not survive at all.

Brielle opened her mouth to speak to Max but found herself at a loss for words. Her eyes reddened as she struggled with what to say.

Could she deny her connection to James? But the paternity test was there for all to see, and everyone would blame her brother for Martha's condition, or even her death. How could Max be with a woman whose brother was responsible for his mother's fate?

"Max, you're just in time," Michael said pointedly. "I always told you, you and Brielle come from different worlds. I tried to advise you, but you wouldn't listen, and now look where we are. If you still want to be with her do you think you can live with what's happened to Martha?"