Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

But when you get right down to it, who's really to blame for all of this?

Brielle gave Max a love that was equal, a commitment so deep they'd face death together. But with King, she was often as cold as ice.

"Little Eagle, don't sweat the royal family and the Lynch family's relationship," Dustin reassured her. "The Lynch family didn't climb the ladder by hanging onto the royal family's coattails. As long as we control the diamond mines, the royals will have to find another way. Right now, it looks like they've got their eyes set on you."

Dustin had a sharp sense for these things. He knew Arthur's motives went beyond just wanting Brielle; it seemed like he was dead set on driving a wedge between her and King.

King wasn't Max. When it came to Brielle, he could never keep his cool. And Arthur took full advantage, managing to push King out of North America with just one move.

But what was Arthur's endgame in tearing them apart?

Dustin was still trying to figure it out when Brielle laid it all bare.

"Bro, there's something seriously off about Arthur. He's risking everything just to stir up trouble between King and me. It's not just about turning public opinion. The royal family's under fire from all over the world. If the investigation into that mountain doesn't go well, they'll need a scapegoat. Who do you think they'll pin it on?"

Imprisoning geniuses from around the globe isn't something a small-time family could pull off. World leaders aren't idiots; they wouldn't let the North American royals fool them so easily.

The Lynch family was the perfect patsy.

"Bro, what deal did you sign with Arthur?" Brielle asked.

Dustin went over the details, piecing together the royal family's plan. They felt ripped off by the agreement and couldn't squeeze any more out of the Lynch family. So, they figured they'd just throw the Lynch family under the bus. Dustin scoffed, "Arthur's no fool, playing his cards right."

"Little Eagle, I'll talk to Mom and Dad, figure out a game plan. Just steer clear of the royal's lackeys. When they're desperate, they'll try anything."

Brielle nodded, feeling Dustin's comforting hand on her forehead.

"Take the fever reducer. Even if you're pissed, don't mess around with your health."

Dustin called Orla, the housekeeper, to bring the medicine. Orla, Max's aunt and more than just a housekeeper, was also deep into

research. She had a soft spot fome

Brielle, believing she and King were a great match. Seeing them fight, she could only hope they'd patch things up soon, like a concerne belder who had been out of the loop for years.

Brielle took her meds and rested on the couch, recalling the words of a bespectacled woman who claimed to have photos of her and a boyfriend. But Brielle couldn't remember having a boyfriend during her exchange program.

She quickly got a new phone and

headed straight to school once she

retrieved her SIM card, hoping to meet the woman at their supposed movie-watching spot. But after a

long

alt and still not knowing who

this woman was or her role at the school, Brielle decided to dig through the school's records.

Soon, she caught wind of a body found in the school's river, setting off alarm bells in her head.

Following the crowd to the scene, she saw the authorities pulling the body from the water. From a distance, she couldn't make out the face, but the clothes were unmistakable it was the woman she'd spoken to, a new teacher at the school this year.

Standing amidst the chaos, with

police collecting evidence and

students buzzing around, Brielle felt

a sinking certainty. Something

crucial from her exchange program was being hidden from her. The sight of the body being pulled from the river only solidified her

conviction that this was a turning point in her life, one that someone was willing to kill over. Content held by NôvelDrama.Org.