Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Keiran was as thick-skinned as they come, and for a brief moment, he failed to notice the subtle change in Brielle's demeanor.

"I only heard it through the grapevine, relatives on that side mentioned it. My brother went back to tackle the situation. Seems like he's got some trouble in his inner circle."

At the mention of 'inner circle', Brielle couldn't help but think of Kenzo, and that Dummy. She lowered her lashes, one hand gently resting on her belly.

"Keiran, can you even be of any help if you go?"

Keiran shook his head. He was just an actor, a celebrity-what help could he possibly offer?

"Then don't go stirring up trouble. Stick to your day job," she advised.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Keiran's eyes, which didn't escape Chase's notice as he casually tossed his phone on the couch, casting an unexpected glance at Brielle. Brielle, for her part, seemed to regain her composure in an instant. No one could guess what was going through her mind.

After sending the two men on their way, Brielle dialed Max's number. Max was quick to arrive, waiting for her in the underground parking lot. Aubree, still in her office, had intended to escort Brielle to her car but was gently refused.

Brielle got into the car and was greeted by the aroma of soup. Patrick was in the driver's seat, while Max, holding a lunchbox, wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Eat up first, then I'll take you for a few more tests," he urged.

Brielle, however, had grown resistant to the idea of any more tests, and even the soup failed to tempt her.

"I don't want to, Max. This baby, I—"

Her words trailed off as she noticed the chill inside the car. Looking up into Max's eyes, she found them filled with a deep, helpless kind of sorrow. It felt like a stab to her heart.

But Max didn't press the issue. Instead, he brought the soup spoon to her lips.

"No matter what, you need to eat."

Without suspicion, Brielle ate half the bowl of soup. But there was a sleeping agent in the soup, safe for pregnant women to consume. They were heading to a private clinic, one run by a trusted acquaintance of Max. Unaware, Brielle fell asleep and didn't realize she underwent another examination. The middle-aged female doctor provided a candid assessment.

"I wouldn't recommend she keep the child. She's not in robust health, and there's still foreign material inside her uterus. The previous doctor was correct. If she truly wants this child, I'd suggest removing the IUD first." Max felt drained, watching Brielle sleep soundly. He wanted to speak but found himself speechless. He didn't even know when Brielle had gotten the IUD. Rubbing his temples, his headache intensified.

The doctor, knowing the difficulty of

his decision, added, "Mr. Dorsey, you should really talk this through with her. It's not just about wanting the child or not. Delaying the procedure could eventually lead to a tragic outcome."

The throbbing in Max's head grew severe as he stood by the bedside, taking Brielle's hand in his.

"Isn't there any way to do this without harming her?"

The doctor sighed, lowering her gaze.

"Ms. Brielle is already carrying a heavy burden, and the pregnancy only adds to it. Communicating with her will certainly be challenging, and some women even develop depression during pregnancy. If she's truly opposed to terminating the pregnancy, you could proceed with the surgery first and inform her afterward."

If Max were to do that, he'd only be pushing Brielle further away. His headache returned with a vengeance.

"Mr. Dorsey, you need to make a decision soon. The longer the child is carried, the greater the risk to Ms. Brielle's health."

After delivering her advice, the

doctor left the room, leaving Max alone with Brielle. Max's phone rang-it was Michael, inquiring if he had made up his mind. Additionally, Brodie had sent a text, warning that

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father meant business this time.

If Max refused to continue as CEO of Dorsey International, Michael's retaliation would be fierce. You know, I've asked every pharmacist in our circle, and no one can replicate that drug. You'd better check on who's backing Dad. Max glanced at the message without emotion and remained silent. Right now, all that mattered was Brielle.