The Million-Dollar Heart

In the study, Diana had already prepared a cup of coffee for Jasper, waiting in the silent room for his arrival.

As soon as Jasper stepped in, he noticed the red rims around Diana's eyes, a clear sign of her guilt about the day's earlier events.

Jasper had always been stern with the boys in the household, quick to wield his walking stick when they stepped out of line. But with the girls, it was a different story; he rarely had a harsh word to say.

It was not just out of a fondness for Sasha, who had gone missing long ago. He simply believed that girls were to be cherished.

Even when Natalia and Yasmine, the mischievous ones, had nearly shaved off their eyebrows with Maddox's razor, he had only chuckled and playfully tapped them on the head.

He had never laid a finger in anger on Diana, too.

Today, however, Jasper was truly upset.

He had raised Diana; he knew her every mood and thought. How could he not see what was on her mind?

Diana didn't take kindly to Vivienne and was not particularly fond of Natalia and Yasmine either. He was well aware of that.

"Dad," Diana said, her voice breaking as tears spilled over.

Normally, Jasper would have handed her a tissue or teased gently, "What's got my little girl crying this time?"

But not today. He sat down heavily in his chair, his usual warmth replaced by a brooding silence.

After a while, Diana stopped crying and hung her head in silence.

out a deep sigh, his words laden with disappointment, "Diana,

fake. I was deceived, too. I'm truly

outshine the Rainbow Opal. What angers me is how you accused Vivienne in front of Dracon!"

How could he harbor such animosity towards her?"

saved Yorick at the Linklaters' estate. "That

with disappointment. "Diana, how

They had been inseparable in their youth and remained close

happened within the Linklater family escaped his notice, including Diana's slander about Vivienne to Dracon. Dracon had bluntly revealed Vivienne's identity as the Specter Healer, and it was indeed deliberate. He did not even know Vivienne,

she was in

"Diana, I know you feel threatened by Vivienne's arrival. You're scared of losing your place in my heart or being driven out

child, if I didn't see you as my own, would I have raised you all these years? Don't think of yourself as just Sasha's replacement. You are Diana, my third

tears as she looked at

I've never shown favoritism. I may have been preoccupied with finding Sasha, but

with

waved her off, "Never mind, don't do this

"I

rest. And don't let this happen again. I'll deal with your

at the door,