Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)

Dustin had been up to his ears in work in North America for a full two months. When he finally made it back to Beaconsfield, it just so happened to be the town's first snowfall of the season.

Dressed in a sharp black trench coat, he smoothly slid into the car that came to pick him up. As he settled in, Donny started filling him in about Emma.

"Emma got sick and threw up during her live stream last night. Now, her fans are buzzing with rumors. They're wondering if she's pregnant with that guy known as 'the boss's son', and some are even gossiping that she's being financially supported. It's turning into quite the spectacle."

A crease formed on Dustin's forehead, the mention of Emma's morning sickness clearly troubling him.

"Did it hit the trending topics?"

"It did, but we managed to pull it down. Right now, the company's trying to touch base with Emma to figure out what's really going on."

Donny was clueless about Emma's pregnancy, but Dustin wasn't. He rubbed his temples, deep in thought.

"If she's pregnant, how's the company supposed to handle this?"

Donny was caught off guard, confirming his suspicions. "Mr. Lynch, this is a bit of a tight spot. Fans are already in a tizzy, and 'the boss' himself hit the trending topics. We've been trying to contact him, but he hasn't responded to any messages."

Dustin had been too swamped to check the news himself. Now, as he skimmed through the trending topics, everything seemed calm-a clear sign that Stellar Stage Entertainment had stepped in. But this would only make the fans more suspicious.

"Mr. Lynch, if we deny it now and later the truth comes out, Emma will still face online harassment, maybe even more than now. But if we admit it, with her current pregnancy, she'd be overwhelmed by the media storm. You know, pregnant women need peace and happiness."

Dustin rubbed his temples again, hoping the father would step up, but Emma always seemed to defend him.

Without her speaking out, the company couldn't make a move.

After getting to his villa in Beaconsfield, Dustin took a day to recharge before calling Emma. She was having a rough time with morning sickness, looking as pale as a ghost. Peyton, not wanting to rush her to the hospital, tried to cheer her up with some tasty meals, but nothing seemed to work. Emma's morning sickness was worse than ever.

Peyton suggested, "Emma, let's rent a villa, not buy. If we buy now, we'll be pinching pennies later, and you'll feel the pressure. But if we rent a nice place with a garden for about four or five thousand a month until the baby turns one, you won't be stuck in this small room. You can go outside, see the flowers, enjoy the grass. Plus, we'll make sure there's good security, so you won't have to worry about people finding out you're pregnant."

Emma's eyes lit up. She hadn't expected Peyton to be so thoughtful.

"Mom, I'll have someone look into it. Let's get ready to move."

The first person Emma thought of was Aubree, wondering where they could find a villa for rent nearby.

Aubree, without missing a beat, spilled the beans on where Dustin lived.

Dustin had a place in Beaconsfield, but it wasn't cheap. The rent was about twenty thousand a month, way over their budget.

"Emma, it's ready to move into,

beautifully decorated, and actually, a

friend of mine owns it. He can cut you a deal, let you rent it for half price. Living there for a while will lift your spirits."

When Emma heard twenty thousand, she almost declined, but Aubree's glowing recommendation and the promise of a discount swayed her. "Can I check it out first?" Emma asked.

Aubree wasted no time and took her to see the place.

Emma was blown away by the stunning house-it felt like a dream. She was so captivated she couldn't tear herself away.

Even Peyton, who was initially hesitant about spending ten grand, was ready to take the plunge after seeing her daughter's joy. "Emma, this is it. You've worked hard; you deserve this. Someday, when we've made more money, we'll buy this place!"

Peyton, who had lived a life of

thriftiness, agreeing to rent a place for ten thousand a month was a big deal. Normally, she'd argue about wasting money, insisting Emma compromise.

Seeing her mother's support, Emma quickly signed the lease, but to their surprise, the landlord only charged them four thousand.

Little did they know, the place was

actually Aubree's, one of many properties she owned in

Beaconsfield. Considering how freely she lent money to Brielle it

was clear she wasn't strapped for cash.

QUMS

And if Dustin and Emma ended up together, Dustin would owe Aubree a big thank you.