Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Emma only needed three days to pack up and leave the village behind.

Their home never had much to begin with. They sold the land for a bit over ten thousand dollars. With that sum, plus a few clothes on their backs, she and her mom headed to town, no clear plan in sight. Peyton had backed off from pressuring Emma to end her pregnancy, especially after Emma threatened to cut ties. These past few days, Peyton had been walking on eggshells, terrified of upsetting her daughter further. Thankfully, Emma was feeling better, both physically and mentally, without the constant anxiety that had been plaguing her.

With the remaining money, they found a modest apartment renting for three hundred a month. It was small, about fifty square meters, but it had a kitchen and a bathroom-enough for both of them to start anew. Emma spent half of their money on Peyton's medication for the year.

Upon hearing this, Peyton was heartbroken. "Why'd you spend so much on meds? You've got a baby on the way and refuse to consider other options. We need every penny we can get, especially for proper nutrition. You need to have at least a chicken stew every week; where else will the nutrients come from?"

Emma simply stored the medication in the cabinet. It filled three cabinets, with excess spilling onto the floor.

"Mom, we'll make it work. I've already had a job interview at the hospital. It looks promising, and the job pays two thousand eight hundred a month. Our rent is only three hundred, and we still have some savings. We'll figure out the rest as we go." Peyton sighed, then fell silent.

"Maybe I should look for a job as a nanny."

"You should rest instead."

"I've rested enough; it's been tough on you as well."

Hearing this, Emma's eyes welled up with tears.

Her job interview at the local hospital went smoothly, and it seemed like the small town was becoming busier by the day.

On her first day, Emma overheard some young girls gushing about a famous celebrity.

"She's absolutely stunning, far more than on TV. I thought she couldn't be any prettier, but seeing her in person, she's like a goddess!"

"Aubree's debut was in such a high-profile film, and now she's tackling real-life stories. She's definitely aiming for awards."

"Her acting is top-notch, outshining so many young actresses. And hear this, she's teaming up with Ricardo again, though this time he's not the lead. The lead is Keiran. My god, what a cast!"

Emma didn't recognize any of the names the girls were tossing around. She diligently finished assisting them and then headed to the hospital cafeteria.

There was an old but still functioning large screen in the cafeteria. As Emma sat down with her tray, she caught sight of Aubree on the screen and froze. The town was abuzz, more so than the village, and many of her colleagues were star-struck fans.

"Emma, do you know her? She's

gorgeous, IS

she? Have you

set

noticed how our town's gotten busier? Word is Aubree, along with Ricardo and Keiran, are filming here. Fans have flooded in. Every inn is booked, and there are tents all over the square."

Emma was stunned. A celebrity!

She had spoken to a celebrity last time?

"She's that famous?"

Her colleague looked at her incredulously.

"You don't know Aubree? Her first film was a blockbuster! Don't tell me you've never been to the cinema."

Feeling slightly embarrassed, as she indeed had never been to a cinema, Emma quickly brushed it off, knowing her colleague meant no harm.

"Yeah, she's huge. The hottest

actress right now, and her rise to fame was rapid. Imagine getting her autograph; it could go for ten thousand dollars. But she rarely signs autographs now. To prevent fans from inflating the prices, she said on Twitter she'd only do photos, no autographs."

An autograph worth ten thousand?

Dazed, Emma barely finished her meal when a swarm of bodyguards entered, causing a commotion.

Soon, sh

saw Aubree, protected by

the guards, walking in with a bleeding hand, probably froman on-set injury. Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

Aubree locked eyes with Emma, a flicker of recognition crossing her face.