Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Dustin logged onto the platform today with one goal in mind: to get some info out of her. She wasn't about to spill the truth to Dustin directly, but she might just let her guard down with this so-called "Mr. Zero" - after all, he was the one who jump-started her career. "So, who's the baby's dad?" Dustin wondered.

Emma hesitated for a few minutes before finally responding: "The father doesn't want the baby, and he's not interested in being with me. I've stopped hoping for us to be together. I can manage as a single mom on my salary, but I'm worried about breaking my contract. Boss, do you know anything about contract breaches?"

Dustin read her message and instantly got it. Emma had been duped. The guy who got her pregnant wanted nothing to do with the kid or her. Classic jerk move, right? Given Emma's modest background and limited experience with guys, she probably fell for some sweet talk and ended up in this mess.

Dustin's brow furrowed deeply. "Sort it out now before it becomes a big deal. You're making good money, so why leave yourself vulnerable? Plus, your boss already knows. If she decides to pull the plug on everything you've worked for, she can. Don't risk it." Emma's hands shook, and tears filled her eyes. But she was already three months pregnant. Terminating now could harm her health. Her bump was getting noticeable, hidden under a big coat. Every night, she could feel the baby kicking. How could she even think about termination now?

When Dustin didn't get a reply, he figured she might be crying. After all, she got played by a jerk and now faced a potential financial mess.

"Don't worry too much," he tried to comfort her. "Your boss hasn't taken legal action yet. There's still a way to fix this. But it's best to be honest about the baby's father. The company would rather be prepared than kept in the dark."

Emma felt a lump in her throat, almost blurting out that the baby was her boss's. But that would just lead to more questions and complications. She was lost in thought until Peyton walked in.

"Emma, why don't you take a shower and get some rest? You're pregnant; you shouldn't be up all night."

Emma nodded, putting down her phone. After her shower, she still felt uneasy. The morning sickness had been intense lately. During her livestreams, she would sometimes feel so nauseous that she'd have to excuse herself, claiming she felt unwell, then sneak off to the bathroom to quietly throw up.

Living under so much pressure, she had been walking on eggshells. Now that Dustin knew, he'd given her three days to bring the baby's father to Stellar Stage Entertainment. But where was she supposed to find him?

Feeling suffocated, Emma reminded

herself to stay calm for the baby's sake. But her stomach churned again. Heading to the bathroom, nothing came up. Streaming required makeup, and she stuck to herbal skincare products out of concern for the baby. Even her hair dye was the priciest brand, despite the doctor's advice against it. noveldrama

People are too greedy, she mused. She had fought hard for what she had and was determined to hold onto it. After buying her mom a smartphone, she finally saw her mother find a bit of joy in showing it off to others.

Phones were everywhere now, but back when they were struggling, neither she nor her mother had one, unlike their neighbors. Her mom memorized everyone's numbers and eagerly shared her own. Their departure from the village had been far from graceful, and everyone was waiting to see them fall flat.

But when someone called to mock

Peyton, she stood tall and proudly declared, "I've got a house in Beaconsfield now, thanks to my daughte I'm almost back to full- health, thanks to the best hospitals in Beaconsfield. She even bought me a gold bracelet that cost a fortune, and the house? That cost hundreds of thousands. My Emma's really made something of herself."

The caller couldn't believe it. How could a young woman earn so much so quickly? In their view, women needed men to succeed. Sure, there were men from their village working in Beaconsfield, but the high living costs there meant saving a few thousand was tough. Yet, Emma and Peyton had managed to buy a house worth hundreds of thousands in under a year.

"Yeah, right," the caller scoffed. "You couldn't even afford a house in the county, and now you're saying you've got one in Beaconsfield?"