Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Max’s face remained expressionless as he listened to Michael mention his name.

Michael spoke again. “Max, I’m entrusting this to you. Take this woman and her child and get them out of here. Drop them off somewhere only you know about, so that certain prying eyes Can’t follow.”

After finishing his directive, Michael turned his gaze toward the kneeling woman. “Tell me, how much do you want?”

Without any hesitation, the woman stated, “Fifty million.”

Michael had no intention of saying anything further, so with a dismissive wave of his hand, his consent was given.

Max stood up, ready to escort the woman away, but Spencer, who had been sitting quietly in a corner, also stood up. “Uncle Max, I’ll come with you.”

Max’s brow furrowed at the Interruption, only to hear Spencer add. “After all, he is my half–brother,”

Discussing so–called family ties within the Dorsey clan was almost laughable, but Max didn’t call Spencer out on it.

The woman followed quietly, holding her child close. The child was only six months old, smiling and reaching out to grab his mother’s face.

The woman had been assertive when demanding money, but now, softened by her child’s presence, she sighed and gently soothed him, “Be a good little man.” She knew he couldn’t understand, but her voice grew tender all the same.

Max, leading the way, paused at the sound of the child’s laughter, unable to resist glancing back. The child was indeed beautiful–rosy–cheeked and clean.

Seeing Max stop and look at her child, the woman instinctively tightened her embrace. When she was with Ryan, she had indeed thought about having this child as a ticket into high society. She even believed she wouldn’t feel anything for the kid. But at the sight of the child, all her schemes vanished and were replaced by fear of discovery by the Dorsey family.

The Dorseys had a strict rule against illegitimate offspring, and she was well aware of it. Rather than live in fear, she chose to confront them directly. If the Dorseys wanted her child gone, she was ready to go too–her own greed had brought this on them both.

Fortunately, Michael was willing to pay.

Once away from Beaconsfield, it would be just her and her son against the world. But now, facing this utterly impassive man, her heart raced wildly. She knew of Max and had heard Ryan mention him more than once, describing him as a cold, merciless, unfeeling creature. So, when he approached, she was so frightened that she immediately dropped to her knees, clutching her child fiercely.

11:47

“Max, I’ll leave as soon as I have the money! Really, I won’t cause any trouble for the Dorsey family!”

Max regarded her coldly. “The child shouldn’t exist. I’ve arranged the money and a doctor, too.”

He had spoken with the woman before.

She shivered, her lips quivering. It was her greed that had led her here. She dreamed only of entering the ranks of the elite.

As the shadow loomed over her, she was about to scramble backward, but then she saw him lean in, gently lifting the child from her arms. Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Max wasn’t adept at holding children and lifted him by the collar rather than cradling him. Yet the child didn’t cry, even giggled, thinking it was a game.

As if discovering an amusing toy, Max pinched the child’s foot, eliciting another round of giggles from the infant. “You’ve chosen to keep him, so he stays. I’ll arrange for someone to take you away, but don’t reveal his parentage unless you want to be separated from him forever.”

The woman nodded rapidly, gratitude filling her eyes. “Yes, yes, I understand. Thank you, thank you, Max.”

Max smiled softly. The sound dazzled the woman and sent a blush across her cheeks. She thought perhaps Max would make a good father after all.

Outside the grand entrance of Dorsey International, Max’s people had arrived, taking the woman and child away.

Max turned to face Spencer, who had been trailing behind. Spencer stood rigid with nerves, “Uncle Max, I’ll be off too. That little brother of mine is quite charming, isn’t he?” His words. were tripping over each other in his anxiousness.

Max stood tall, an aura of steely resolve about him. “Spencer, have you been bothering Brielle?” This was the first time Max had addressed the issue of Brielle so directly with him. Spencer’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly shook his head. “I was just-”

“I’m with Brielle now.”

To others, Max never wasted words. Unnecessary talk was a waste of his time. So, the more straightforward he was, the better.

“Stay away from her.”