Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)
Chapter 1424

Tiffanie was speechless. She'd told herself she was okay, but in that moment, the pain was almost unbearable. It felt like the kind of hurt that made her want to curl up and pull her heart out.

Mason, his hand trembling, pressed the cigarette butt onto the back of her hand. Then, in a sudden act, he grabbed the other butts from the coffee table and pressed them against his own skin. His hand immediately blistered. As one cigarette went out, he quickly picked up another.

Tiffanie, who usually brushed off her own pain, found it unbearable to watch Mason inflict the same on himself. She swept all the cigarette butts to the floor in one swift motion and gently took Mason's hand to examine it, noticing several burns.

Tears she thought had dried up now fell onto his blistered hand. She felt pushed to her breaking point, utterly lost.

They sat in silence for a long while before Mason finally asked, "How long has it been since you ate?"

Tiffanie shook her head. "I don't know."

"Okay," he replied. "From now on, whatever you do, I do. If you're not eating, then neither am I."

Desperation washed over Tiffanie. Why couldn't they just let each other go?

But Mason just held her face gently, his look serious but sad. "Tiffanie, you're all I've got left."

His mom had passed, his dad too. He was truly alone.

Mason's words hit Tiffanie hard, leaving her speechless. It was because of her that Mason's father was gone, all due to her mom, Victoria.

The memory of that bloody scene flooded back, and she felt herself unraveling. But Mason just held her tighter, as if saying even if they hurt each other, they should still stick together.

Feeling overwhelmed, Tiffanie let

Mason carry her upstairs. The bed was soft, but she couldn't bring

herself to face him and closed her eyes, maintaining the silent standoff until the next day, both without food.

Tiffanie was used to hunger, but she worried about Mason. His busy life and stomach problems-if he kept this up, would it make him worse?

By morning, Mason's face had paled, and he clutched his stomach. Tiffanie knew his ulcer was acting up.

"Mason," she called softly, but he just gave her a faint smile, insisting he was fine.

Her heart ached, thinking back to when they first met. Mason had always been so positive, especially about work, despite growing up in a single-parent household. He rarely lost his temper, except that one time on his birthday.

Thinking of how good Mason was only made her feel less worthy. "Mason, please take your medicine," she urged, knowing the pain could land him in the hospital. "No need," he said lightly, turning away, afraid her tears might weaken his resolve. "Tiffanie, you're all I've got," he repeated, a phrase that had echoed since last night.

Unable to stop her tears, Tiffanie took his hand. Everything Mason lost was taken by the Dorsey family, and yet, here she was, struggling under the weight of their shared pain and her own guilt.