Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

As soon as the words had left his lips, a small silver pistol was pressed against his chest.

"Bang!"

Brielle watched the man slowly fall to the ground. She did not have a chance to fire again since the shot had already given away her position.

She shoved the gun up her sleeve and, with leaden legs, continued to move forward.

Murray lay on the ground, staring in disbelief.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Ten minutes later, Annie arrived by his side. Murray wasn't as quick on his feet as the rest, but in the final moment before Brielle fired, he had managed to dodge just enough.

It wasn't a fatal wound. A prompt visit to the hospital would see to its healing.

Annie sighed and crouched beside him. "Murray, do you know why you failed tonight?"

Murray remained silent, just gazing at her obsessively, in a daze. "Because you saw Brielle's face, and you hesitated for a few seconds. Seems I've got quite the hold on you, huh, Murray?" She reached out, her fingertip gently touching his cheek.

Like a dog begging for mercy with its tail between its legs, he still had no complaints as he stared at her.

Annie patted his cheek with the palm of her hand. "I told you before, Murray. Don't let emotions get in the way. You're no longer fit for this, but don't worry. I'll make sure Brielle pays for this." Her dagger slowly touched Murray's throat, and beneath his incredulous gaze, she sliced through.

Blood splattered.

The light in Murray's eyes went out forever.

Annie stood up, staring at the blood that had stained her dagger red.

A hound that couldn't measure up had only one fate.

Frowning, she tried to kick his body into the ravine, but his hand was clutching the hem of her pants. So tightly that even in death, he hadn't let go.

Annie frowned, annoyed, and cut the fabric to free herself, which delayed her pursuit of Brielle.

She headed in the direction where Brielle had vanished.

The more she walked, the more an unfamiliar restlessness grew within her. Annie didn't understand what was happening to her, so after running a hundred meters, she inexplicably turned back.

She returned to where Murray had fallen, only to find no one there. Just a few torn pieces of fabric lay on the ground, and some bent grass at the edge of the ravine.

It looked like he had fallen down and was gone for good.

Annie took out a piece of candy, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth. She chewed hard, but somehow, the candy didn't taste as sweet as it used to.

She turned back to pursue Brielle. It was Brielle who had caused Murray's death, so she had to kill Brielle to avenge him.

At this moment, Brielle was

breathless and ran as fast as she could. But her vision was getting blurrier. She had not been feeling well these past few days, and now she had pushed beyond her body's

limits.

She found herself beneath a large boulder in a daze, feeling the world sway before her. Then, her body followed the boulder down in a fall.

She had no energy left to run or to struggle. A severe pain struck her head as if she had hit something hard, then darkness enveloped her, and she passed out completely.

Max was spending the evening at the Dorsey family mansion. Martha had just been laid to rest, bringing together many distant relatives of the Dorseys. The Barnes family and business partners of the Dorseys had come as well.

The mansion, typically closed to outsiders, was exceptionally crowded tonight due to Martha's passing.

Martha's funeral was brief, and Max had not opted for a traditional wake.

He had hoped for a quiet end, but relatives began to arrive in droves after the interment, so the mansion was unusually bustling this evening.

He sat in silence just below the seat of honor, overhearing someone introducing a new suitor to Michael-a girl who had just turned eighteen.

Max said nothing, and neither did Victoria.

Martha was their birth mother, and by rights, they had the most say. However, such affairs were all too common in high society, and after all, Martha herself had married into the Dorseys in a similar way. She had outlived Michael's previous wife, ultimately becoming the last lady of the Dorsey family.

Max's face was somber amidst the noise, and he didn't notice the ring of his phone as he inadvertently answered the call, nor did he glance down.

Daisy had even come over to offer

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him a drink personally. She was Martha's dearest friend and also Max's elder, so he couldn't refuse the gesture. He raised his glass in a token sip, accepting the drinkin front of him.

As Daisy witnessed his action, a glint passed through her eyes, and the corner of her mouth curled into a smile.