Master of his heart (Max and Brielle) novel Chapter 1015

Nobody could truly grasp what he was going through.

"Do you have any idea where I've been this past month? I went to see my parents. Back in the day, I was their golden boy, the pride of the family. We weren't from Beaconsfield, but we had a good life—never lacking anything. My parents poured their hearts and souls into me, making sure I shined. Whenever I performed internationally, my family would gather around the TV, and the whole neighborhood would celebrate my victories. But once I got mixed up with the Dorsey family, Michael cut off all my ties with them. It was only last month, when I visited my hometown, that I found out they had passed away. And I... I didn't even know. Nobody told me because I was forced to sever all connections with my past. Michael had someone tell my parents I was jailed for life."

Everett felt the absurdity of it all wash over him.

"Overnight, admiration turned into scorn. My parents, once the pride of the community, became targets of ridicule. You know how cruel people can be online, right? My folks were simple, honest people; they couldn't handle that kind of hatred. My mother fell into depression first, and then my father... he hanged himself. Look at what your love has brought me, Victoria. I've never seen anything more repulsive than your love. The truth is, you love yourself more than anyone else. If you had truly loved me, you wouldn't have stood by and let my family suffer."

"Victoria, you're disgusting, like a vile insect."

"Stay here and guard this grave for the rest of your life."

His face was calm again as he walked away with determination.

Victoria stood frozen, her cries of despair echoing.

"Everett!"

"Everett!"

"Come back!"

But he didn't look back, his mind made up.

Later that evening, Ramey was driving to the airport when he happened to see Everett.

Ramey didn't recognize him at first, but there was something familiar about him. After a moment, he tentatively reached out.

"Everett?"

Everett had transformed; the gloom was gone, his eyes now sparkled with life. With the Dorsey family's dark cloud lifting, he felt fearless.

Seeing the hand extended toward him, Everett hesitated for a moment before shaking it. Their paths had crossed briefly before, as it wasn't Ramey's first visit to Beaconsfield. A simple handshake, no words exchanged.

"If it were anything else, maybe I could help, but I really don't know much about Myles. He's out of my league, and although I call him cousin, our relationship isn't that close—just relatives by blood."

Brielle remained composed, sipping from the cup on the table.

"A month ago, your cousin showed up at the Beaconsfield casino, then went to Premier Palace with me. The next day, he was gone, and nobody knew when he left. Do you remember that?"

Of course, Ramey remembered; it was then that Brielle suddenly started seeing things.

"Yeah, I even regretted not staying over; maybe I could've convinced him to stay."

"Ramey, look at this photo."

Brielle had Dustin retrieve surveillance from the banquet and obtained a high-resolution picture of King. The photo, now printed and in her hands, was cut into two—mask on one piece, body on the other. Before she could inquire, Ramey's curiosity was piqued.

"Brielle, why do you have a photo of my cousin?"