Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)
Chapter 1319

Brielle's face went pale the moment she laid eyes on the pair. A wave of discomfort washed over her, and she stepped back instinctively, feeling a surge of nausea. "Brielle?" King was by her side in an instant, guiding her to a quieter spot and gently massaging her temples. "Just try to relax, don't think about anything right now."

Her complexion was ghostly, and she buried her face in his chest, taking deep breaths to calm herself. Annie, witnessing this, snickered with a touch of malice, "Looks like karma's finally caught up with you, huh?"

King shot her a look that made her stiffen and turn away, her snide remarks dying on her lips. Murray wrapped his arms around Brielle, softly patting her back, trying to comfort her.

It took about an hour for Brielle to regain her composure. Her face regained some of its color, and she clutched at King's shirt, slowly shaking her head. "Let's just send them back. Whatever issues we had, it seems like it's all water under the bridge now. We've all got our own lives to live; no point in making things harder for each other."

King's fingers were cool against her forehead as he continued to gently press on her temples. After a long pause, he finally responded, "Alright, I'll listen to you."

There was a sweetness in Brielle's heart, but then she remembered what that man had said about taking her place. "What did that mean?" she thought.

She took King's phone to check it, and he didn't stop her. The videos she found only intensified her headache, evoking a sense of déjà vu. Her stomach churned with disgust, but she fought back the urge to throw up. "King," she said, embracing him, "as long as Ricardo is with us, I won't be in danger."

Knowing what she implied, King was quick to rebuff, "Don't even think about it."

The room fell silent, filled only with their presence. Brielle quieted down for a few minutes before kneeling in front of him, looking up into his eyes. "That day, at your mom's grave, were you going to say something?"

King, whose temper had been flaring up, suddenly seemed to hit pause at her words. His ears tinged red, and his complexion turned awkward. Brielle rested her chin on his knee, "Were you about to say, once all this

is over, we'll get married?"

King stood up abruptly, eager to clarify. "How could you think that? No way! It's not like that! I haven't even proposed properly yet. I wouldn't settle for less with you."

He nervously adjusted his collar, "I mean, I want to give you the best of everything."

King wasn't one for veiled compliments; his words were always straightforward, and that's exactly what Brielle loved about him. She stood up to join him. "And if I don't go, what will you do?"

The videos, if leaked, could tarnish

the reputation of someone who's been gone for years, subjecting them to public scorn and slander Though none of this was her fault, society seldom showed leniency toward women, often empathizing more with men.

King had no real plan to counter this, but he was adamant about not putting Brielle in harm's way. He knew his mother would have supported any decision that kept Brielle safe.

Just as he was about to voice his refusal again, Max's voice echoed in his mind, urging him to let her go. King froze, disbelief crossing his face. "Max, have you lost your mind?"

The idea of sending Brielle into danger was unthinkable. The mere possibility of losing her was unbearable.

"King, you've said how important

your mother is to you. If her memory

were to be tarnished, even being with Brielle wouldn't bring you happiness. You'd live with that guilt. Don't you see? Brielle desires a love that's bold, pure, and unadulterated. If you deny her now, you're bound to regret it, to suffer. That's not what she wants."

And it's not what I want either. Max's counsel hit close to home, piercing through King's turmoil with undeniable truth.