Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)

All that showing off for nothing. Brielle couldn't help but laugh at the look of defeat on Max's face. "Wow, that was quite the performance. Even better than some pros I've seen." Max's mood improved as he knelt down to unstrap her gear, and Brielle felt a bit guilty for teasing him. "Max, is there anything you can't do?"

He was talented with so many instruments, managed the company flawlessly, and was ridiculously good-looking. Did the universe forget to give him any flaws? As Max helped her with her equipment and heard her compliment, a pleased smile spread across his face. "If I had any flaws, I wouldn't be worthy of you."

Brielle's cheeks turned crimson. She used to think King's straightforward flirting was overwhelming, but now Max's words had the same effect, making her heart race and her knees weak. As Max got up, he noticed her bashfully covering her face and chuckled. He took her hand and led her toward the beginner's slope. "I'll keep teaching you. If you want to learn, you've got to focus, or you'll fall."

"Okay, okay." Brielle's mind was a blank slate, the thought of skiing far from her mind. As she slid down the slope, her legs gave way, sending her careening straight down. "Brielle!"

Max shouted as he swiftly skied in front of her, catching her in his arms. The momentum, however, sent them crashing into a tree. Wincing in pain, Max immediately checked on her. "Are you okay?"

Brielle, panicking, scrambled out of his embrace. "I'm fine, but what about you? Did you hurt your back?"

Max was relieved she was unharmed. "As long as you're okay." But Brielle insisted they check his back at the hotel.

With no way to refuse, Max agreed. Thankfully, his thick clothing had prevented any serious injury. As Max took off his shirt, he quickly went to close the door and led her to a chair, intending to ease her worries

"Max, we need to go out later," she reminded him.

QUMS

His response was to kiss her, leaving her speechless. "Brielle, we should talk to Xiao Zhi about planning for our second child," he murmured between kisses, leaving her agreeing in a daze.

Nearby, Emma leaned against a chair, her face pale from severe morning sickness. With a live stream scheduled soon, she felt too weak to continue and had to apologize to her fans on Twitter. Instantly, thousands of supportive messages flooded in, urging her to rest.

Peyton watched with concern. Emma had always been healthy, rarely sick, so her current state was alarming. "Emma, maybe we should go to the hospital?"

Emma shook her head, worried

about being recognized and sparking rumors about her

pregnancy Peyton felt anxious. In

their small town, pregnancy care was basic, often just a bowl of chicken soup. Yet he knew the dangers of childbirth without proper medical care. For many women, giving birth was like walking through death's door.