Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Brielle's voice was as calm as a still pond. She sat with only a pane of glass separating her from James.

A flicker of shock passed through James' eyes before he hung his head in dismay.

In Beaconsfield, everyone knew of the Dorseys.

"So what if she's from the Dorsey clan? Wasn't it her fault first? Didn't she start by hurling insults at us? And all I did was grab her by the collar. The nudge I gave her wheelchair wasn't enough to send her tumbling. That old bat let go of the wheelchair's brakes herself, using my push to help her fall. I was shocked, thinking maybe the heavens were punishing her on my behalf. She's such a foul-mouthed, vile person - how could she be Max's mother? I've seen TV segments about Max. Don't they all say he's like some kind of saint? How could someone like him have a mother like that? Brielle, I swear I didn't push her. She released the brakes herself."

Martha's wheelchair had two brakes, one near the armrest and another below. Martha had been sitting in a deluxe wheelchair, and its brakes were even more sensitive than the standard wheelchairs.

When James' foot connected with the wheelchair, Martha's first action was to press the brake on her armrest - a slight movement that only James could clearly see.

At the time, James had thought it was an accident, that fate was on his side - after all, it was Martha's fault, wasn't it? All he did was lift her collar a bit.

Did the world allow people like Martha to spew verbal abuse freely but not allow others to retaliate even slightly?

"When I kicked at her wheelchair, she pressed the manual brake herself. That's why it slipped downhill. At that moment, I was thrilled, thinking she got what she deserved for her rudeness." Brielle's pupils constricted slightly, then she pursed her lips. "Are you sure?"

James felt a surge of anger at her skepticism.

"I may not be some paragon of virtue, and I don't respect my elders as I should. Hell, I'd even snatch candy from kids just to watch them cry, but I'm no liar. My brothers all say I'm loyal. Sure, I collect protection money, but the shops that pay are never bothered by other thugs. What's so wrong with that? Was it wrong to teach a lesson to an old hag who belittles others?"

James grew more incensed as he spoke, finally slamming his hand down on the table. "She released the brake herself, leveraging my push to fly downhill. I even felt her laughing as she fell. Who knows what evil schemes she had up her sleeve - that old hag was definitely up to no good!"

Watching James' outburst, Brielle felt her heart sinking.

If what James said was true, then Martha had set this up. But only James saw Martha release the brake. Who could corroborate his story?

Even the surveillance cameras could only show that it was James' kick that caused the wheelchair to go tumbling down.

James' brows furrowed. "You've got

a way out of this, right? You're the CEO of Stellar Stage Entertainment. I've been framed, and now there are guys in here who 'spar' with me every day. They claim it's just. sparking, but it feels like they're beating me up and running me ragged with their relentless attacks. All I want is a good night's sleep."

Brielle, listening to this, began to believe what Kingston had said.

James was a big, uneducated guy who took protection money, but his heart wasn't bad. He was just too hot-headed, making it easy for him to fall into traps.

If that was the case, wasn't it her fault that James had ended up in this mess?

Martha must have known who James was all along and

deliberately provoked him with her vile words. She intentionally released the brake to tie her injury to James and indirectly to Brielle.

Now, everything was unfolding just as Martha had desired.

Brielle felt a bone-chilling coldness. Could someone really be willing to stake their own life as a bargaining chip?

James tapped on the glass to bring Brielle back to the present.

"I came to Stellar Stage

Entertainment because I wanted to be your bodyguard. I'd only ask for a hundred grand a month. That's a bargain. Øve had offers before, but turned them down. I crave freedom, no strings attached. But you're different. You're my sister. I'd give up being the boss and being your right-hand man. So, you've got to get me out of this mess. That old lady is no good. You're the only good one."

James' face still bore the marks of his fights, and at six foot four, he made everyone else seem diminutive.

Brielle remained silent, rising to her feet.

James tapped against the glass again, staring at her with a pitiful, pleading gaze.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.