Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)

Dustin thought to himself, That was a solid hit.

At first, everyone assumed Max had perished in the blaze. No one understood the hell Brielle went through that month better than Dustin did. Haunted by auditory and visual hallucinations, she seemed trapped in a never-ending nightmare. And then there was the child they never got to welcome into the world. The agony she endured was immeasurable.

Yet, Max had assumed a new identity, seamlessly blending into the shadows, even managing to wreak havoc from within. Just thinking about it made Dustin's blood boil, but Brielle had chosen to stay by King's side, so it wasn't his place to interfere. After all, this was his sister's personal affair.

But to let this man get close to Brielle without any consequences? No way.

The table was already a lost cause, so Dustin picked out a new one and took a seat first, setting the pace. After a moment, King followed suit.

Meanwhile, the café's owner hid behind the counter, too scared to come out. Having witnessed the brawl, he was dumbfounded. Didn't their hands or feet hurt? He dared not intervene, opting instead to shrink back completely.

Seated calmly now, Dustin tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his gaze casually falling on King.

"You're thinking of marrying little Bri?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"She doesn't seem too keen, does she?" If she were, she wouldn't have slapped him.

This guy was nothing like Max. Although Dustin wasn't a fan of Max either, Max had won Brielle over with kindness. But this guy? He did whatever he pleased, completely disregarding the feelings of others. King's expression remained stern, unaffected by Dustin's comment. Inside, however, a storm was brewing.

"It doesn't matter if she agrees or not. I make things happen. You, the Lynch family, are just treading water. You should've never brought him back."

Dustin glanced at him, seeing Max's face but wishing he had a different mouth.

"What's the status of your collaboration with the Lynch family's butler?"

King hadn't really cooperated much with them, but he had aligned with their actions once. After all, he genuinely wanted to get rid of Max and had no desire for Brielle to be found. He wished for her to stay in the castle, just like before, so he

could see her whenever he returned.

His urgency grew, especially sensing Max becoming aware of his presence. Previously, he could afford to plot slowly, but not anymore. He had to act fast. Every minute he could spend with Brielle felt stolen.

He always worried that he might disappear one day, leaving Max to enjoy domestic bliss. His mood darkened, his hand tightening.

"I'm not too interested in their organization, but there's a guy from the Dorsey family in Saudi, considered a traitor. After being kicked out, he joined them, landing a mediocre position."

That was Ronald. Ronald thought he controlled everything, but in King's eyes, he was just a middleman.

Dustin raised an eyebrow, surprised King was willing to spill the beans. Actually, King wasn't keen on sharing, but just a second ago, he had heard Max's voice in his head. "Brielle and her brother get along well."

Meaning, if you upset him, get ready for more slaps.

King was livid, wishing Max would appear when he wanted and stay away when he didn't. Yet, oddly, he believed what he was told and thus shared about Ronald.

"Ronald has been around for years. I let him handle the trivial plans. His minor schemes, I'm willing to go along with."

"Why?" Dustin was taken aback, only to hear King's hoarse reply, "Because it's boring."

Unable to get what he wanted, he was in a state of resignation. Like a child tired of throwing tantrums without getting the candy, he simply let it be.

Especially since it wasn't just about

not getting what he wanted, but also fearing Max discovering him and erasing Kim from existence. After all, he was the one who showed up later. Whether it was Brielle or fate itself, both seemed to favor Max.

King always felt like he shouldn't exist.

Such is the unfairness of this world. He was the first to care for Brielle; logically, she should have liked him in return. But in matters of the heart, there's no precedence. Yet, when it едпо came down to who would last

between him and Max, precedence

suddenly mattered.

He was never the favored one.