Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)

Alivia had no idea where this guy was taking her; she just followed along, ending up in front of a sleek mansion. Kenzo didn't offer a hand, just strolled right in. Inside, a middle-aged man was engrossed in a book, his brow furrowing at Kenzo's return. The moment he noticed Alivia, his face darkened. "Why'd you bring someone from Beaconsfield here?"

Panic crept into the professor's voice as he hurried forward. "If you start making decisions on your own, those people will be pissed."

Before the words fully landed, a gun was pressed against his forehead. The professor's pupils shrank in disbelief.

"If you don't care about her well-being, why should I? I've been tangled in her mess for far too long, Father. So long that my patience is running out." A smirk curled Kenzo's lips as he tapped the gun against the professor's forehead. "I'm sorry, but you and Grandpa have been utterly useless."

"Have you lost your mind? Don't forget, your mother's still in their hands," he stammered.

For years, the professor had kept Kenzo under his thumb, dictating his every move because Kenzo's mother was held hostage. Despite being his own flesh and blood, the professor showed no concern. He used his son for his own ends, even sending him to the Barnes family right after birth. When Kenzo was old enough to think for himself, he was told that his true identity could cost him his life if discovered.

Such threats left the boy terrified every day, with the professor occasionally stepping in to 'help' him, taming him like a forsaken beast. He never treated Kenzo as his son. To him, those serving the organization were to forsake everything, to obey without question. They weren't family, just followers of the organization. The organization was sacred, destined to topple everything, demanding absolute loyalty.

But now, his own son was rebelling, even calling them incompetent. The professor was at a loss. His years undercover in Beaconsfield had been successful, with a clear path to retiring with honor. He never thought of himself as incompetent.

With the cold gun against his forehead, Kenzo's eyes were icy. "Having control over medical resources opens up many possibilities. Why stagnate? Maybe it's time for a change in leadership, Father. I regret my mother's death."

His premature acknowledgment of his mother's death showed his indifference towards her fate. This world was mad, devoid of humanity. If he didn't descend into hell, who would?

The professor's face went pale, his eyes darting to the surveillance cameras around them. His heart pounded with fear, cheeks flushing with terror. They were all servants of the organization, forbidden from uttering such sentiments. Walls have ears. Kenzo's return trip had somehow emboldened him to contemplate usurping those in charge. A thought flashed through the professor's mind, narrowing his eyes. "Did you meet with Brielle?"

For years, Kenzo's primary concern

had been his mother's safety, obeying orders only out of necessity. But since reencountering Brielle at Beaconsfield College, he found another reason to care. Kenzo was the professor's perfect creation: gentle, beautiful, capable of betraying even Dustin, his longtime acquaintance. This facade could deceive anyone. But now, his

creation was flawed.

In that moment, the professor understood why Michael had lost his mind. The destruction of a perfect creation was an insult to them. Yet Kenzo looked straight into the camera, his lips curving slightly. "Father, I refuse to be just a tool, unlike you."

His tone was indifferent, signaling to

those watching that they knew his

stance. Sure enough, half an hour later, a car waited at the door for him. Seeing the group of people, the professor's devotion was palpable, his bead bowed, sneaking glances as Kenzo was escorted away.

Kenzo's hair had grown a bit longer, his skin too pale. As he left, he arched an eyebrow and smiled at the professor. The professor felt a chill through his body, and Alivia was taken along in the car.

Throughout the journey, Alivia didn't

dare utter a word, wishing she could make herself invisible. Kenzo, howeverdeaned back in his seat, his expression indifferent as he gazed at the roof. Ahead of them sat a stunning woman, toying with a gun, her red lips reflected in the rearview mirror.

"The woman you said you didn't care about, we had her killed. Before her death, she was... Well, let's just say she had a tough time. Poor thing, at her age, to face such an ordeal." Kenzo remained silent, but Alivia shivered at the words. These people were lunatics. Monsters.