Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Kenzo gently raised his hand and placed it on her head, soothingly stroking her hair. “Max not liking you is not his fault, sweetheart. Matters of the heart can’t be forced. Get up and grab some breakfast. Grandpa’s been worried sick about you.” This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

Alivia’s return home last night was nothing short of a horror show, flinging stuff around from the living room all the way to the bedroom, her emotional outburst akin to a madwoman. To fall from grace overnight, from the belle of the ball to a laughingstock, the stark contrast drove her to the brink of insanity.

She cried, she raged, and her heart swelled with bitterness. Right, she couldn’t keep spiraling down. She needed to act swiftly, take advantage of the fact that Brielle and Max hadn’t tied the knot yet.

No, it didn’t matter whether they were married or not; she was determined to keep those two apart. The dignity she had lost, she would reclaim, little by little.

As her finally regained her composure, Kenzo’s lips curled into a smile. “It’s good to see you thinking straight. Now, head downstairs. Grandpa probably has an inkling about what’s going on and might still be fuming at Max. Everyone thought you two would end up married, and I bet there are already rumors swirling. If you hide away, that’s the real defeat.”

Alivia quickly dabbed at her face, restoring her composure. She wouldn’t let Brielle gloat for long!

After sprucing herself up, she eyed her swollen eyes in the mirror and clenched her jaw, her fingernails digging into the edge of the washbasin.

Stepping downstairs and catching sight of Jose seated in the living room, her steps faltered. her eyes brimming with tears.

Jose was thumbing through a newspaper, glancing up at her with a kind tone. “Time for breakfast.*

Alivia pursed her lips and slowly took a seat at the dining table, methodically swallowing her food. She maintained her usual poise, though a storm was brewing within. At least on the surface, she seemed to have calmed down completely, as if last night’s hysteria was but an

illusion.

Jose folded the newspaper and came to sit beside her. “Thought things through?”

“I won’t lose. What Brielle’s flaunting right now is just Max’s favoritism. She has no family background and no connections in our circles. There’s no way I could lose to someone like her.”

Jose chuckled softly and patted her on the back. “A man’s favor for a woman is limited, my dear. As someone who’s seen it all, let me tell you, young love peaks the moment it begins, and it’s all downhill from there. No one can truly overcome the barriers of class and upbringing. The education we receive, our worldviews, and even the way we perceive the world are all

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different. Their relationship won’t last. I’ll call the Dorsey family in a bit. You think about whether you really want to go down this road.”

“Grandpa, once I make a choice, I stick with it. Max is my goal in this life, and I’ll have him. I’ve already thought of a way to strike back.”

Jose looked at her approvingly. This was the treasured pearl of the Barnes family, resilient in the face of adversity, A single fall wasn’t the end; what mattered was getting back up.

Alivia had always had everything she wanted in life, and perhaps this humiliation would serve as a valuable lesson. Jose loved his granddaughter, and he knew that Max was at fault this time. As Max’s senior, it was only right to call and inquire.

The call to the Dorsey family was made shortly after.

Michael was in his study, practicing calligraphy, the scent of ink lingering in the air. The chair beside him was laden with sheets of his practiced characters, a testament to a troubled mind seeking tranquility through the art.

The butler knocked respectfully on the door. “Sir, Mr. Jose is on the phone for you.”

Michael’s brush paused mid–stroke. The inevitable had arrived. He set the brush down, and the butler handed him the phone.

Michael pressed the answer button. On the other end, there was no accusation in Jose’s voice. The two were old friends, through and through.

“Michael, what’s to be done about this mess? Alivia’s been shaken up for a night, and you know how the Barnes family dotes on her. I’m truly upset with Max.”

Michael massaged his temples.

“I’ve made it clear who I want for a daughter–in–law, and it’s Alivia. That hasn’t changed, and it won’t change. The Dorsey family owes your family an explanation, and I won’t allow my most outstanding son to be involved with an inappropriate woman. I’ll find a way, but this can’t be rushed. The more we push, the more Max will hide her away.”

Michael knew his son well. The more they tried to separate them, the more it would strain their relationship.

“Jose, the woman Max will marry is Alivia. The Dorsey family will make it up to her tenfold for any suffering she’s endured, even a hundredfold. Max will, too.”