Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Kailee was absolutely livid. She grabbed the nearest glass of water from the coffee table and downed it like it was her only chance at relief.

As she slammed the glass down, King shot her a look, calm and collected. "Take it easy, you're going to wake someone up."

It felt like a dagger to her heart. She was seething, her lips trembling with unspoken words. Unable to find a retort, she stormed out of the room in a huff.

In the garden, she spotted Isaac and nearly screamed in frustration. "Hey, little cricket!"

Isaac, who was petting Noir, paused. "Kailee."

She marched over, her voice a mix of worry and anger. "You really want that woman to be your mom? Think about it, little cricket. A stepmom's a stepmom, she'll never truly care for you."

Isaac's lips tightened. He could sense the irony in her words.

Clearly, Kailee wasn't thinking straight, unlike Brielle, who, despite her tough decisions, always had a clear head.

He sighed, resuming his gentle strokes on Noir's head.

Later that evening, Brielle woke up to find King already dressed and ready. They were supposed to have dinner at the Lynch family's place.

As they got into the car, Brielle wanted to bring Isaac along, worried about leaving him alone. But King had already conspired with Isaac to have him hide, so when Brielle couldn't find him and with King hurrying her, they left without him. Arriving at the Lynch family's home, Brielle was stunned to see not just their car but a whole convoy of ten trucks trailing behind.

Sarah and Raymond came out to greet them, and Desiree, in a chic dress, stood smiling beside Dustin.

But everyone's eyes were glued to the convoy of trucks. Desiree couldn't help but ask, "Wow, do you have that much stuff to move?" Before Brielle could answer, King stepped forward, warmly taking Desiree's hand. "Grandma, these are gifts for the Lynch family." Desiree, impressed by King's genuine affection for her granddaughter and the grand gesture, smiled. "Well, well."

The others, however, weren't as thrilled. Raymond's face was grim, Sarah looked awkward, and Dustin scoffed.

But as the saying goes, it's hard to stay mad at someone who's smiling at you, so they welcomed the guests inside.

Walking beside King, Brielle felt out

of place. King was calling her parents Mom" and "Dad" more naturally than she ever could, and Raymond's icy demeanor didn't seem to faze him.

Suddenly, Brielle found herself laughing at the thought of how much more awkward things would be if Max were here with his cold demeanor. King's easygoing nature somehow made the weird

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atmosphere a bit warmer.

Gradually, Brielle relaxed and looked over at Sarah, who was also looking at her. They shared a moment of mutual understanding without words.

"Just good to have you back," Sarah managed, summarizing the struggles of returning to the Lynch family.

Tears welled up in Brielle's eyes, but before they could fall, King took her hand, reassuring Sarah, "Mom, don't worry, I'll take good care of her."

Any brewing sentimentality was quickly dispelled by King's words, leaving Sarah looking awkwardly comforted.

Dustin couldn't resist a jab, "The Lynch family hasn't agreed to marry her off to you yet."

"I could always join the family. There's plenty of room in this house," King quipped, making Desiree laugh and warmly take his hand.

"Dear, you're a good man. Take care of each other," she said, then turned to Dustin, "Go get that ring."

Dustin's face fell at the mention of the ring, a cherished family heirloom.

"Go on, Dustin," Desiree urged.

Reluctantly, Dustin retrieved the black ring and handed it over.

Desiree personally slid the ring onto King's finger, "This is for you, a keepsake from my husband."Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

King's eyes sparkled, and he smiled, feeling the weight of the gesture.

Max had his black rosary, but it was nothing compared to this. This black ring wasn't just any gift; it was a pledge from Desiree, a symbol of acceptance and a challenge he had proudly met.

"Thank you, Grandma. I promise, I'll take good care of her."

"Ah, that's my boy."