Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

In a quiet corner of Beaconsfield, Annie played with her switchblade, her eyes fixed on the film crew in the distance. She waited until they had all dispersed before leaping down and wrapping her arms around Ricardo.

"Ricardo," she murmured.

Ricardo frowned, trying to push her away, but his resolve melted when she said, "Murray's gone, he's..." Her voice trailed off into sobs.

Annie's tears soaked through the fabric of Ricardo's shirt. He stood frozen for a few seconds before finally pushing her away and asking, "How did it happen?" ""Brielle did it."

Ricardo laughed, half-believing he was hallucinating. "Annie, are you pulling my leg?" Even with some skills, Brielle wouldn't stand a chance against Murray.

"When have I ever lied to you, Ricardo?" She raised her arms and clung to his waist. "Murray caught a bullet from Brielle."

"So, the night you asked me to take out Aubree Clements, you went after Brielle instead?" His voice turned cold, his laughter tinged with bitterness. "Good riddance."

Annie pouted and let go of him. "I messed up, but I was on a job, okay? Don't be mad at me, Ricardo. I'm really torn up about Murray." Her lashes drooped, tears streaming down her face.

Ricardo was about to respond when Annie's phone rang. It was Patrick, calling for a late-night meeting. As his secretary, Annie had to go. She bit her lip, mimicking Brielle's poise as she answered, then popped a piece of candy into her mouth.

"Ricardo, I've got to run. With Murray gone, I've got no one left. Won't you come back?" Without waiting for his response, Annie's gaze lingered on the film set as she chewed her candy fiercely, then said to herself, "Murray, don't you find that Aubree just as grating?"Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

But the expected reply never came.

She turned to find no one there, a stark reminder that Murray was indeed dead, taken by Brielle. The candy lost its flavor, and in desperation, she reached for another, only to realize she'd run out. Lately, she'd been going through dozens a day, unable to fill the void inside. This new, odd feeling gnawed at her. With a slight pout, she turned and left the scene.

That day, she had hesitated in her pursuit of Brielle, glancing back at Murray one last time, missing her prime opportunity to strike. Brielle hadn't seen her face, so Annie could still masquerade within Dorsey International. Chewing her candy, Annie walked away with a heavy heart and sighed deeply. Despite numerous losses in the past, Murray had been different. Loyal and always by her side. It seemed she needed to find herself a new companion, to keep the loneliness at bay. Her lips curved into a smile, her eyes regaining their sparkle.

Meanwhile, Brielle had returned to Pearl Estate and received a message from Max as she lay in bed. The message hinted at inconsistencies in Mark's reported heart attack death, suggesting that someone might have taken Mark's place, faking his own demise to disappear. This revelation could potentially add a new obstacle between Brielle and Max. Piecing together this puzzle would bring clarity to the past and present.

Brielle bit her lip and sent a message back. I'm sorry. She had been harsh in blaming him for Mark's death, but it was driven by a loathing for the pattern of loss surrounding her. That's why she had so readily given up on her feelings for Max, unwilling to witness any more sacrifices.

You already apologized in the car. Confused at first, Brielle's cheeks flushed crimson as realization dawned.