Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)

Dustin's call ended abruptly, leaving him staring blankly at his phone and the baby nestled in his arms.

The nanny, hovering nearby, asked gently, "Any idea when Ms. Emma's coming back?" Her tone carried an unsettling hint, as if Emma might never return. Dustin snapped out of his daze, realizing the gravity in her voice. He was at a loss for what to do, instinctively comforting the baby, his face a mask of emptiness.

As he descended the stairs, he gently laid the sleeping child down, memories flooding back. Not long ago, Peyton was in the kitchen slicing fruit, Emma was pregnant, eagerly waiting for their baby to arrive. What used to be a routine moment was now a cherished memory. Emma had decided to trace her roots, but what was he supposed to do now? Could he ever go back to the way things were?

Sitting on the couch, Dustin felt lost, like taking care of the kids was all he had left, the rest of him feeling worn and rusty. With a steady hand, he called Brielle.

"Hey, Little Y, Emma's gone. Stellar Stage Entertainment might need to put out a statement."

Brielle, who was out walking the Little Noir pups, came to a halt. "What do you mean, bro?"

"She left the kids and took off from Beaconsfield, probably back to her old hometown. Looks like she might not be coming back."

"Then go after her, man."

Dustin's gaze dropped. "I wish I could, but I can't bring Peyton back."

Emma's life had already been upended by having two kids. Now, because of him, Peyton was gone too. He'd changed her life completely. How could he possibly follow her now, unless he could turn back time?

Brielle didn't know what to say. No one truly understood Emma's journey, but leaving the kids behind showed that their joy couldn't ease the pain of losing Peyton.

She hesitated, rubbing her temples. "Bro, I gotta be honest-there's something off about that woman staying at your place."

Dustin blinked, acknowledging it. "I know. I've already sent her packing. Little Y, Grandma always said my knack for trouble with women would catch up with me. Finding out about Peyton's death made me realize this is the fall my life's been leading up top and it feels like I'll never get back up."

Brielle's throat tightened. She wanted to say it wasn't his fault, but how could it not be, at least partly? Allowing that woman to stay in Beaconsfield, without explaining to Emma, led to Peyton's tragedy. Even though he was her brother, she

couldn't fully clear him of blame.

"Little Y, I loved cooking for Emma. Watching her enjoy my meals made me happy. Maybe it started because she was carrying my child, but the day she gave birth, seeing her so frail struck me deeply. It was a feeling more profound than love or affection."

That was responsibility-a deep-seated concern that left a permanent mark. It was his first encounter with such emotions. But before he could fully grasp them, Emma had seen enough and left. Time waits for no one.

After hanging up, Dustin kept staring blankly at the TV. The baby beside him shifted, and worried the little one might roll off, he reached out to protect the child.

He had Clare banned from Beaconsfield for good, though legally, he couldn't pin any blame on her for Peyton's death.

Back at his villa with the kids and the nanny, Dustin endured a couple of busy days. The babies, sensing their mom's absence, were particularly fussy, only calming when he soothed them himself.

This stage of infancy is notoriously

tough, often pushing many mothers to their limits. Yet, Dustin handled it admirably, even pausing meetings with Infinity Brilliance executives to tend to his children's cries, showing a devotion that surpassed his past life.