Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Peyton had reached her breaking point. Clutching her phone, she stormed out, set on confronting the woman who had been messaging Emma. Enough was enough.

There were a couple of reasons Peyton chose to handle this face-to-face. For one, she wasn't exactly tech-savvy, struggling even with basic texting. Plus, she was curious about the woman who claimed to be pregnant by Dustin. Maybe, just maybe, she could talk some

sense into her and stop her from making Emma's life a living hell.

Back in her small town, Peyton was the kind who'd believe anything folks told her-a real pushover. But her daughter's well-being spurred her into action, dissolving any reservations she might've had.

These days, Peyton knew how to grab a cab, so she hopped in and had the driver take her straight to the address. By the time she got there, Dustin was long gone, having no intention of sticking around for drama.

When Peyton reached the villa and rang the doorbell, she took a deep breath, bracing herself.

Clare opened the door, her eyebrow arching as she took in the sight of Peyton, who looked every bit the small-town mom.

"Can I help you?" Clare asked coolly.

"I'm Emma's mom," Peyton replied, a bit taken aback by Clare's polished appearance.

Clare gave a sly smile. "So, you're Emma's mom. What brings you here?"

"Please, could you stop sending those messages to Emma? She's just had a baby, and she's really emotional right now."

"Oh, dear," Clare said with a mocking tilt of her head. "Emma's got her baby, while, well, mine's gone. Dustin was right there for me when it happened. Are you really okay with having someone like him as your son-in-law? Aren't you worried about your daughter? She's a streamer, right? Probably makes a good living. Quite the accomplishment for someone from a small town, huh?"

Peyton couldn't find the words. She was deeply unhappy with Dustin's behavior, but what could she say?

Ever since Emma had started opening her eyes to the world, Peyton had tried to evolve too. Now, standing in front of Clare, she just sighed. "Emma isn't planning to marry Dustin anytime soon."

"Auntie," Clare said, almost amused, "you shouldn't let them get married. With Dustin's wandering eye, who knows? Maybe next time, it'll be me coming over when your daughter's expecting her second. Picture that. And this villa? Dustin gave it to me. He's always been generous. Don't I seem like the perfect mistress?"

Peyton pressed her lips together, unable to argue.

Clare continued with a smirk, "Instead of lecturing me, maybe tell your daughter to steer clear of Dustin. You can go now. It's tricky to get a cab here. Just turn left out of the complex, cross through those houses, and you'll find a spot to catch a ride." noveldrama

With that, Clare shut the door.

Peyton stood there for a few moments, feeling utterly defeated. Clare's sharp words had left her speechless.

Following Clare's directions, Peyton set off, hoping for a quick exit. But the left turn led her into a construction zone, bustling with massive trucks and a maze of hazards.

Inside, Clare chuckled. She'd

knowingly directed Peyton into a dangerous area, aware of recent accidents there-one involving an exposed manhole had been fatal." The route had no pedestrian paths, a risk Peyton, unfamiliar with city life, wouldn't recognize.

Stuck in the middle of a busy road, Peyton spotted a taxi across the way. With no cars in sight, she made a dash for it.

But the expressway traffic moved swiftly. A truck barreled down, hitting her before she could react. Blood stained the pavement as the world spun chaotically around her.

Screams echoed as vehicles screeched to a halt. Peyton, still clutching Emma's phone, watched helplessly as it flew into the bushes.

Meanwhile, back home, Emma tended to her crying babies, Jaime and Heather, her hopes of sleep dashed. Rocking Heather gently, she whispered soothing words, trying to calm the storm around her.

The truck had claimed another life.