Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Peyton, despite her kindness, was a bit too gullible, always ready to take the village gossip as gospel truth. After days of being fed this narrative, she truly began to believe it.

Emma had been accepted into college, but due to a delay in her scholarship funds, she decided not to attend. However, the truth was that the scholarship had indeed come through. Peyton had hidden the money - all five thousand dollars of it, wrapped in a newspaper, tucked away under her mattress. Emma's academic achievements were well-known, so naturally, her teachers tried to persuade her to pursue her studies. Peyton, at that time, acted selfishly, fearing she'd be left alone in the village without care. So, she laid it on thick, making Emma feel too guilty to leave.

The teachers were all disheartened, especially the one who had arranged for Emma to have a room at school to look after Peyton. This teacher was not only her biggest supporter but also the most significant influence in Emma's life.

Given her circumstances, Emma didn't have many friends at school and was often isolated. Yet, her teachers always encouraged her, saying that education would show her a world much larger than the village's narrow-minded gossip, especially the kind targeted at women. "If you don't step out, you won't realize how limited your knowledge is," they would say.

But Emma, having been accepted into a prestigious college and then not attending, disappointed her teachers greatly, leading to a long, period without contact. This decision weighed heavily on Emma,

feeling she had let her moal ne!

important mentor down. However, she needed to stay for Peyton, with living expenses in the city being so high, taking her mother along just wasn't feasible.

Fast forward to that evening, with everyone congratulating Peyton, she felt her fortunes were finally turning, thanks to her daughter marrying into prosperity. Who in the village didn't dream of marrying into the Odeberg family with their wealth and numerous properties in town? Now, the least regarded Emma was becoming one of them, and caring for their son meant her position in the Odeberg family was secure, especially once she had a son of her own.

Peyton basked in the adulation, her weathered face breaking into a rare smile. She had already administered the medicine to Emma, and the Odebergs, satisfied with her decisiveness, had thrown a lavish feast, inviting the entire village. As the Odeberg family's limping heir toasted the guests, he was about to consummate the marriage with Emma.Exclusive © material by Nô(/v)elDrama.Org.

But then, a loud crash inside disrupted the celebration, initially dismissed as drunken antics by the Odeberg heir. However, he burst out, pointing accusingly at Peyton, revealing Emma was pregnant by another man, tarnishing the Moll family's name and demanding the return of the dowry and compensation for the feast.

The villagers, initially enjoying the festivities, were now engrossed in the scandal, defending Emma's character yet recalling her rescue of a handsome stranger. Inside, Emma curled up, overhearing the village's gossip and the Odeberg heir's demands, while Peyton, from celebrated to vilified, faced the hostile glares with a flushed face.

"It's impossible, my daughter can't be pregnant. You can't slander her like that. I did what you asked with the medicine," Peyton protested. But the heir's retort, revealing Emma's admission during their intimate moment, turned the situationinto an accusation of deceit, shocking everyone with the idea of someone attempting to marry while pregnant.