Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Her eyes, as blue as a clear sky, were filled with warmth for Dustin as she gently took his hand and placed it on her cheek.

"Do I look like I've lost some weight?" she asked softly.

"Not at all, you're still as stunning as ever," he replied with a smile.

Clare chuckled lightly, "Honestly, can you stay here with me for a couple of days?"

Dustin's brow furrowed a bit, but the sight of the scar on her neck, a chilling reminder from the doctor that she had been just inches from death, tugged at his heartstrings. "Alright," he agreed.

Clare's smile widened, her gaze never leaving his.

Dustin settled into a chair, his phone buzzing at that moment with a message from Emma.

"The baby just kicked! Feels like it knows it's almost time to make an entrance."

A grin spread across Dustin's face as he read her message.

"The due date's just a week away. I'll be back in two days," he texted back.

Emma nodded to herself, then realized he couldn't see her nodding, so she quickly typed a reply.

"Okay."

Dustin was about to ask if she'd been eating well and if they had any names picked out for a boy.

But just then, Clare playfully snatched his phone and leaned in, pressing a kiss to his lips.

"Are you busy with work?" she teased, her voice soft as she nestled into his arms.

"I hadn't finished what I was saying. I thought I might never see you again, but I always believed you'd come to save me," she murmured, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning in for another kiss. Dustin gently pushed her back, "Clare, we were clear that night was just a moment of madness."

Clare's eyes lowered, "Can't we have a week, a month, together?"

Dustin scooped her up and laid her on the bed, tucking the blanket around her.

"In two days, I've got to head back to Beaconsfield. My fiancée's about to have our baby."

Clare's eyes widened in disbelief, as if she'd heard wrong.

"A baby?" she asked.

Dustin nodded, "So, I'm truly sorry."

"But I can see you don't really love her. With your means, you could easily raise the child on your own."

"I'll try to love her," he said.

Clare's gaze turned determined, "But that takes time, doesn't it? Right now, you don't love her. You're drawn to me, I can feel it. Otherwise, you wouldn't have left her to come see me. It's just the baby that makes her special to you." Dustin sighed softly.

"Clare, I'm sorry. She came into my life at just the right time when I was ready for marriage and kids."

Clare's eyes dimmed, "Is that so? You

open as Australia's views aren't as

open as North America's. I get your past flings, even your wife, and your thoughts on love and marriagez But she might not understand you. You always said, 'Live in the moment, savor life as it happens."noveldrama

That had always been Dustin's motto.

But now, he could only look at Clare, "I want to give it a shot with her."

Tears welled in Clare's eyes as she looked down.

"Then stay with me for two days, and you can head back to Beaconsfield," she whispered.

Seeing her so downcast, Dustin reached for a tissue and offered it to her.

Clare didn't take it.

Two days later, before Dustin could even board his flight, his phone rang with a call from the hospital. Emma had gone into labor early and was already admitted.

Dustin froze, then quickly rushed back to Beaconsfield.

Emma was having a difficult birth, with heavy bleeding, and the hospital was scrambling to save her.

The baby's umbilical cord was wrapped around its neck, nearly causing suffocation.

Eventually, a C-section was needed, and it turned into an exhausting ordeal that lasted a full day and night.

Peyton was outside, crying in fear, and Dustin arrived in a panic.

Emma hadn't come through yet, and he was engulfed in a cloud of fear, feeling powerless despite all his wealth.

After three gruelling hours, a nurse finally emerged, holding twins-a boy and a girl-all exhausted.

"The mother is still very weak. We'll be moving her to a room soon," the nurse informed them.

Dustin arranged for the best room, but Peyton stopped him from going in.

"Emma needs a moment to change and clean up. I'll let you know when you can see her," Peyton advised.

Knowing that a man without deep

emotional ties might not want to see

her in such a vulnerable state,

eliset

Peyton was the clearest-headed of

them all.

So Dustin waited outside, the corridor still heavy with the scent of blood.

Peyton and the nurse helped Emma change and clean up, ensuring she was comfortable before allowing Dustin inside.

The room now had fresh flowers, and the smell of blood was gone.

For Dustin, it felt like stepping into a new world, especially seeing Emma lying unconscious on the bed, his heartaching as if pierced by an

arrow. ove

She had just gone through a life-and-death struggle to bring their son and daughter into the world.

Now, so weak and pale, she was a shadow of the vibrant, spirited woman she used to be, lying there in a small hospital bed, as if trapped.