Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)

Brielle was the life of the dinner party, eagerly dishing out heaping servings of homemade stew to Max and the others. Her lips curved into a proud smile as Max complimented her on her culinary skills. "Next time, I'll cook you up another batch." Aubree couldn't sit still any longer, nor could she bear to watch. As Brielle tidied up in the kitchen, Aubree grabbed Ramey's arm and dragged him to the front door. "Isn't there something we can do?" she almost shouted, her voice cracking as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Ramey, looking just as exhausted, massaged his temples. "Unless Max comes back."

But how could he? How could someone who's gone return?

Aubree was frantic. "Maybe we should call the Lynch family, have them take her away. I can't stand this anymore. My heart aches. If I had known it would come to this, I would never have let them get so close."

She paced in distress, clearly on the verge of collapse. Ramey relented. Brielle's condition was beyond what he could manage. Maybe it was time to let the Lynch family step in. With family by her side, perhaps she'd start to heal instead of clinging to the memory of someone who wasn't there.

As they discussed what to do, Brielle opened the door, her arms wrapped around thin air, looking puzzled. "What's going on? Did the stew not sit right with you?"

She had caught Aubree and Ramey off guard, just outside the living room. Aubree asked, "Where are you headed?"

"I'm off to buy rings with Max. He just told me we lost the ones we had, and I need to get a new set." Her face lit up with a smile, then shifted to annoyance. "I've already scolded him for being so careless."

Aubree and Ramey exchanged worried glances. This couldn't happen. If she went to the mall and started talking to the air, the sales staff would probably call the cops. "Bri, maybe we should do that another day."

But Brielle was adamant. "No, I want to go now. I'm in a hurry."

Aubree tried to reason with her, but to no avail. They watched helplessly as Brielle got into the car. With no other choice, they followed her in. Addison was the driver, silent the entire ride.

As they passed a hospital, Aubree clutched her stomach dramatically. "Oh, my stomach is killing me. We might need to stop at the hospital Bri, could you come with me for a check-up? Let Max wait with the others."

If they went to the mall, it would all be exposed, causing panic. Naturally, Brielle agreed to accompany her friend in need, setting aside her ring shopping. Yet she was uneasy about leaving Max, fearing he might disappear again. It was odd-why did she feet it would be "again"?

She insisted on bringing Max along, and with no other option, Aubree consented.

Just as they reached the hospital, they ran into Michael. This wasn't the formidable patriarch of the Dorsey family they knew. Michael

looked utterly defeated

Brielle, he looked as though he wanted to tear her apart, but age had taken its toll, leaving him incapable of more than a bitter glare.

Brielle faced Michael, her expression turning cold. Michael coughed, his head drooping. "I've lost everything. I regret it all... The Dorsey family is ruined because of me."

He muttered to himself, a picture of desolation, attempting to pass by Brielle. The Lynch family's little princess after all this time, Michael still couldn't digest the news.

His stubbornness, his disdain-it all seemed like a cruel joke now. His life had become an absurd tragedy. He had lost so pathetically, so pitifully-he was Michael, after all.

Brielle, still holding onto Max, spoke up to avoid any further entanglement with the Dorseys. "Max, let's keep our distance from the Dorsey folks from now on. They're no good." Michael stiffened, looking up at Brielle incredulously. She continued to admonish the air. "They only want to use you."

Aubree, standing beside her, wanted to silence her friend, but it was already too late.