Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)

sighed in relief, repeating the process a few more times until she had eaten half the bowl. He then set it aside.

Tiffanie Harkins felt the familiar urge to vomit, but Mason held her chin gently yet firmly, keeping her head steady. Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she finally managed to swallow the spoonful of chicken noodle soup. Mason Tiffanie stayed silent, her fingers gripping the bed sheets so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her stomach was in knots, as if the room was still echoing with Everett's laughter, Victoria's screams, and a cacophony of accusations. These sounds swirled in her mind, threatening to drive her to madness.

Instinctively, she moved to cover her ears, but Mason caught her hands, sat beside her, and pulled her into a comforting embrace. "It's okay, don't be scared," he whispered.

Tiffanie didn't respond, but her hand reached down to feel her pants, which she remembered had been removed. Seeing them replaced made her face turn pale, and she bent over, feeling the urge to throw up again. But nothing came out, just the dry heaves of nausea. Mason rubbed her back, sensing her distress. "I changed them for you and gave you a bath. You were sweating a lot," he explained.

Tiffanie's eyes widened, but the explanation brought a slight relief to her unsettled stomach. She slowly leaned back against the wall, feeling as limp as a ragdoll. Just thinking about Everett lunging at her made her skin crawl. So disgusting, truly revolting. Mason continued to soothe her, likely piecing together what had happened. "Victoria's been sent to a psychiatric hospital, and my father... he didn't make it."

Tiffanie didn't say a word, the vivid image of Victoria stabbing Everett over and over again playing in her mind, the sound of the blade hitting bone hauntingly clear. She wanted to scream, but no sound came out.

Mason held her as if she were the most fragile treasure. Only then did Tiffanie's tears begin to fall, her hand clutching tightly at the corner of his shirt. Yet, her sorrow was silent, just quiet tears rolling down her cheeks.

Mason felt the dampness on his

back, the warmth searing straight to his heart. Once Tiffanie fell asleep, he called Brielle. He explained that due to all the overtime at work, he had set many new targets for the company that were still pending discussion. But now, he needed a month off to be by Tiffanie's side. Whether she decided to leave or stay was a question for later.

Brielle, hearing his request, agreed without hesitation and urged him to take care of himself. After hanging up, Brielle turned to King.

King had been unusually busy, leaving early and returning late. When asked, he mentioned some issues on Jaired's end. Brielle, having some inkling of Jaired's secretive identity, didn't press further.

Then King suggested something unexpected: joining a reality show together. Sitting on the plush sofa at Premier Palace, Brielle thought she might be hearing things. "What did you say?"

"Little Canary, let's join that reality

show together," King said earnestly. "The one you suggested to Aubree Clements, the one Stellar Stage Entertainment is investing in. It's the hottest show right now. I want to see what being a celebrity feels like. Will you join me?"

If it were Max Dorsey, he would never make such a request. Max was always discreet, shunning interviews with big outlets like Beaconsfield, and keeping his role in Dream Tech Designs a secret until it was leaked. But King was different, still a kid at heart.

"Little Canary, come on, I'm really bored at home. The Dorsey family's broke, and I've got nothing else to do," he pleaded.

Brielle shot him a knowing look. Before her memory returned, he had convinced her the Dorsey family was bankrupt and he was jobless. She had even thought about supporting him. Now, remembering the important details, she realized he'd been pulling her leg. King, realizing his slip, tried to charm his way out. "I just want to see what it's like to be a star."

Rationally, Brielle knew she shouldn't

indulge such whims, now that her

senses were fully restored. But lately, she sensed a subtle melancholy in King-feelings of loss, loneliness, and reluctance. Despite being by her side, why did he feel so alone? Reflecting on it, she realized he rarely asked for anything. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to agree just this once.