Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

King let out a sigh of relief, thankful there was no resistance. But at the same time, a pang of sadness hit him. Were he and Brielle's child always going to live in the shadows, their past a secret they could never share openly? If only Brielle could remember...

Gently placing Isaac on the bed and hugging him, King whispered, "Listen, you've got to follow her lead, okay?"

Even if Brielle didn't know Isaac was her own, King believed she'd come to embrace him, even as she built a life with Max.

Isaac stayed silent for a moment before looking up. "Daddy, don't go."

A lump formed in King's throat as he hugged Isaac tighter. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm just worried about you getting along with her, that's all."

Just then, the door swung open and Brielle, dressed and glancing at her phone, frowned. "It's only 4:30 AM. What are you doing up? The kid needs his sleep."

King, too excited about visiting the Lynch family, had lost track of time, eager for the day to begin. He couldn't sleep, too anxious about meeting the in-laws.

After tucking Isaac back into bed, he called Joseph to arrange some gifts for the visit.

Joseph, hearing the news, jumped out of bed to help, while King also reached out to Dustin.

Dustin, exhausted from days of relentless work and investigation, craved a good night's sleep now that his family was safe. But at 4:30 AM, his phone buzzed. "Dustin, bro, what do Mom and Dad like?"

The casual address made Dustin grit his teeth, annoyed by King's audacity, or maybe his disregard for others' feelings.

"We, the Lynch family, haven't agreed to you marrying Brielle yet."

King, unfazed, retorted, "Then I'll become one of you."

Dustin, frustrated, hung up and tried to go back to sleep.

King, undeterred, decided to prepare a variety of gifts instead.

The next morning, Brielle found King busy on the phone. She invited him to join her and Isaac for breakfast. It was their first meal together. Isaac who usually ate alone in his room, now joined them at the table, quietly using his fork and knife without making eye contact. After eating, he said he was going to feed Noir, their pet leopard.

Watching Isaac and Noir play, Brielle couldn't help but ask King the question that had been on her mind. "Who is Isaac's biological mother?"

King, in the middle of serving her, paused.

Brielle, noticing his reaction, probed further. "You must have loved her deeply, to still be affected despite your feelings for me, influenced by Max. But is she still the one you love most?"This text is © NôvelDrama/.Org.

King lowered his gaze, his heart

heavy. He had liked Brielle long

before Max came into the picture, but now he couldn't express the turmoil within him. With Max

possibly returning in a month, there seemed no need to unravel the past unless Brielle remembered on her own.

Afraid of revisiting those painful memories, he simply nodded. "Yes, I loved her the most."

Hearing this, Brielle felt a pang of discomfort, realizing her own feelings were entangled not just with Max, but with King as well. As King sat there, quietly staring at his plate, Brielle felt her heart ache, sensing a profound connection that made her share in his sorrow.