Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)

The pain in her hand surged, and she lifted it to inspect her palm-a mess, fingertips smeared with blood.

In the next moment, her gaze shifted to the tall wall nearby, where a man sat, unnoticed until now. His face was hidden behind a mask. He leaped from the wall and approached her swiftly. "King?"

"Does it hurt?" The voice was unmistakably King's.

But how? King had just left. How did he reappear so suddenly?

In a flash, Brielle's senses snapped back. It dawned on her; there had always been two Kings. One was the real deal, the other a stand-in.

Facing the masked man, Brielle stayed silent, her mind racing. She thought back to that night at the Premier Palace, the night she thought was a dream. She'd seen King on the ground floor, and then, upon reaching the second floor's bedroom door, she saw him again. She never imagined there could be two Kings, bound together for some reason, mirroring each other in every move, even their voices indistinguishable. Not just their voices, but their demeanor towards her was strikingly similar.

But who were they, really?

Brielle lowered her eyes, withdrawing her hand. She didn't care whether this person was the stand-in or the real deal. She had questions that needed answers, and a hunch pushing her forward.

Rising, she headed for the alley's exit. King remained where he was, making no move to follow.

Limping, Brielle's panic during the encounter had cost her a shoe. After all, she had been dressed for a banquet that night. Now, her gown was soiled, and her high heel was broken. It felt like she was Cinderella, post-midnight, returning from the prince's ball, leaving her crystal slipper behind in the alley to be found by the prince.

King, standing still, saw the damaged high heel. He knelt on one knee, cradled the shoe in his palm, and gently kissed its tip.

"How could he call you cruel?" he murmured. "When you're so endearing."

Brielle, holding up her dress, decided to discard the other shoe as well and retraced her steps. She had to investigate something! Her excitement was palpable; she was eager to return to the villa. Meanwhile, Isaac, cradled in a man's arms, quietly circled the man's neck.

"Daddy, she's beautiful. From Australia."

The man paused, looking down. "Do you like her?"

Sensing the chill emanating from the man, Isaac hurriedly shook his head. "Only like Daddy."

The man sighed in relief, holding him

tight. "I've told you, women are

trouble. Don't talk too much with them, espécially those from

Australia." His words bore a gritted

resentment. "Masters of deception."

Isaac, somewhat confused, looked up and then slowly nodded. He felt the grip tighten, as if fearing he'd leave, just as Mommy had left them behind.

Brielle limped back to Dustin's villa.

е

Λ

Her delay meant Dustin arrived just as she finished showering and changing Still in his exquisite suit, he was advising someone on the phone against rash actions. Unbuttoning a few buttons at the neck, he seemed uncomfortable. Spotting Brielle, he ende the call.

"Enjoyed your evening?"

Indeed, Brielle felt unusually upbeat, visibly excited. "Brother, did you look into that matter about the kid I asked?"

Dustin had initially dismissed the possibility of another child resembling Max, attributing it to Brielle's longing. He'd placated her, claiming his people were on it. Now pressed again, he continued the charade. "It's being looked into."

Stalling seemed the best option, hoping to give her space to heal.

"Brother, there's something else." This time, Brielle's tone turned serious. "Have you investigated King from the Beaconsfield casino?"

Indeed, Dustin had, in collaboration

with members of the Riddle family.

The Lynch family's influence in Beaconsfield intertwined with the Riddles. Their joint investigation, however, yielded no concrete identity for King. He seemed to have emerged out of nowhere,

noel.ne

establishing significant connections. The casino's daily revenue remained a mystery, but given its booming business, King's wealth rivaling nations seemed plausible.

Yet, when it came to riches, the Lynch family never backed down.