Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)

She had gone through countless resources, trying to make sense of her feelings. This wasn't Stockholm Syndrome. No, it was simply coming face-to-face with the most vulnerable part of herself-a part she couldn't let anyone else see. Her true self was a secret she guarded fiercely.

She always told him to let go, but the idea of him actually doing it hurt more than anything. Now, under his intense gaze, that deep sense of security washed over her again.

King just watched her, mentally counting down the seconds until he expected the slap he had grown so used to. But it didn't come. Instead, she glared at him coldly before calling Aubree, asking her to come over.

King was confused. During his time in North America, he'd endured enough of her slaps. Now that she wasn't hitting him, he felt oddly... disappointed.

Thinking back, Brielle's slaps had always been rare, usually just sharp words followed by her icy stare. But now, even that cold look didn't sting like it used to.

He couldn't figure out what had changed.

He was certain his love for Brielle hadn't faded. The only explanation was that Max had somehow broadened his view, helping him see beyond Brielle's frosty glares, not as signs of contempt, but something more. As King watched her talk to Aubree on the phone, a smile crept onto his face. He walked over and gently kissed her.

Aubree heard the kiss and cried out, "What was that noise? Max?"

She was shocked. Max didn't seem like the type to do something like that.

Could it be another personality?

Aubree was dying to rush to the mansion and find out, but she was stuck filming for another two hours.

After promising to visit Brielle soon, Aubree hung up, her mind racing.

She recalled a lecture about multiple personalities, including a case with over a hundred identities, which severely impacted the person's life The simplest cases had two identities taking turns, each unaware of the other. More complex cases involved a primary identity unaware of an alternate, which might feel resentment and occasionally make its presence known to the primary.

Aubree remembered a particularly strange case where the primary identity wasn't even human. Love, they say knows no gender, race,

reet

even species, and neither doe personality disorder. There was once a man who alternated between being himself and a fluffy overweight dog.

Now, Aubree's curiosity about Max's

anality was so i

it

her from her acting.

John noticed and asked, "First time something's thrown you off like this. What's going on?"

She apologized and explained she needed to see Brielle.

John, understanding, gave her the day off.

Aubree quickly apologized to the crew, explained her urgent departure, and left the set.

But as she stepped outside, she saw Andrew waiting quietly.