Chapter 344


    Martha’s emotions surged again, and she threw back the covers, poised to leap out of bed. Max. held


    her firmly in ce and pressed the call bell beside the bed.


    The doctor hurried in with a sedative and administered a shot.


    Max looked at his gaunt mother, his face betraying little emotion. Only after the sedative had taken


    effect did he turn to the doctor. “When do we start with the new medication?”


    “In three days at thetest. For now, we have to rely on sedatives to keep her under control. When she


    gets agitated, she bes aggressive and hostile to everything around her. This isn’t just a simple


    case of mental illness. Maybe we should try to find the root cause.”


    What was the root cause? Max racked his brain. Martha’s moods had always been vtile, but what


    could be the trigger? The Dorsey family had skeletons in their closet, but which one wasing back


    to haunt them now?


    He frowned, and his hand automatically moved to massage his temple.


    The doctor gestured upstairs. “Max, you should get some rest, too. Dinner will be prepared downstairs


    later, and I’lle up to get you.”


    He nodded and then nced at Alivia.


    Of course, Alivia wanted to stay, but before she could voice her desire, Max asked, “Are there other


    rooms.on the ground floor?” He didn’t even want her on the same floor as him.


    A shadow crossed Alivia’s eyes. Her resentment grew for whoever had managed to leave such an


    intimate mark on Max. Her chest trembled with suppressed emotion, and her hand clenched slowly, yet


    her voice remained steady. “Yes, there is one next to Auntie Martha’s. I’ll go and rest then, Max.”


    Alivia retreated to her room, taking deep breaths topose herself. She perched by the window, her


    brows furrowed in thought.


    Max had always been distant with her, but she never minded. She wanted Max, If Max returned her


    affections, all would be well. But if his hearty elsewhere, it didn’t matter. As long as she tied him to


    her, there would be ample time to erase the marks left by other women.


    This was the worst–case scenario. A scenario Alivia had never even considered. In her mind, Max was


    incapable of love.


    When she used to visit Martha, she’d heard stories about Max’s childhood, how he rarely smiled, how


    he might have starved in the attic had no one brought him breakfast. Once, due to a servant’s


    negligence, Max went without food for two days and lost a significant amount of weight. Martha had


    thought her son was simple–minded until she realized he simplycked certain emotions.


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Hearing these stories, Alivia felt they were beyond herprehension. What kind of child didn’t cry out


    when hungry? Was he really prepared to starve in the attic?


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    Chapter 344


    It was terrifying. How could a man who could be so indifferent to himself, ever show warmth to others?


    So, she believed Max was incapable of love.


    But if that were true, how could he let someone else leave such a mark?


    That bite mark would haunt Alivia’s nightmares. She was desperate to return home to Investigate, but


    she couldn’t afford for anything to happen to her anchor, Martha.


    Having calmed her nerves, Alivia gazed out the window at the garden, designed by a renowned


    landscape architect. The sight was genuinely soothing.


    Her eyesnded on some purple flowers – irises. Her expression darkened, a sh of malice in her


    eyes. She hoped it wasn’t what she thought.


    Pulling out her phone, she hesitated, then dialed Spencer. She knew Spencer well because they grew


    up in the same circles.


    These days, Spencer was consumed with finding evidence of Brielle and Max’s secret encounters. He


    didn’t care about anything else. The suspicion gnawed at him, a pain that throbbed relentlessly. He


    needed answers to either confirm or dispel his hunch.


    After a fire at Brielle’s apartment building, all the residents had relocated. Spencer had asked around,


    and thanks to connections through Ryan, he was at yet another temporary housing unit. His eyes were


    red with a predatory re.


    Before stepping in, he called Brielle, even though it was approaching eight in the evening. The time


    difference meant his call coincided with Alivia’s. He had no intention of answering Alivia’s call anyway.


    As if under a spell, he waited for Brielle to pick up.


    Brielle had spent the day at home. Seeing Spencer’s call, her brows knitted together. What was he up


    to now? She hit the decline button.


    Spencer’s message came through immediately. [Brielle, this is yourst chance toe clean


    withstand my retaliation.]


    with me. If I find out myself, you won’t be able to


    Madman.


    Brielle regretted removing him from the cklist, yet she was curious about what Spencer could


    possibly stir up.