The Million-Dollar Heart

In the classroom, Aaron slid into a seat near the back, and Kenneth ambled over to join him, idly flipping through a textbook.

Before long, the pair caught snippets of hushed whispers and the occasional snicker from nearby students.

Turning in unison, they spotted a girl seated behind them. Her face bore a deep scar that seemed to draw the cruel curiosity of their classmates. Aaron's expression remained impassive as he turned away; such sights were hardly a novelty.

But Kenneth could not peel his eyes away, a sense of familiarity nagging at him.

Aaron yanked Kenneth's head back around. "Dude, can you not stare at every girl you meet?"

Kenneth forcibly shifted his gaze back, muttering, "I've only stared at Anna! And this girl, she just looks so familiar. Wait, aren't you Mara?"

Kenneth, who had grown up under the care of Cecilia, naturally recognized Mara, though they were never close.

Mara had once looked down on Kenneth for being adopted, echoing Percival's snooty attitude. It was all rather shameless.

And Kenneth had his own gripes about Mara-her affected airs and constant "big brother" this and "big brother" that had always grated on him.

Although they never clashed openly, there was a silent mutual disdain, with each barely tolerating the other's presence. Without adults around, not trading eye rolls was as cordial as it got. Mara lifted her head, her surprise at seeing Kenneth fleeting before she masked it with indifference. "Kenneth? What are you doing here?"

"That's my line. What happened to your face?"

Kenneth had been away from home and was clueless about the Boyd family's upheaval.

Mara glanced down, her voice soft. "It's nothing. You're studying here too?"

Kenneth, never having heard Mara speak so meekly, was intrigued. "Yeah, you transferred here? Does Aunt Cecilia know?"

"Yeah. I'm here for grad school. My advisor said I've fallen behind, so he recommended I attend some classes to catch up," Mara explained, casting a timid glance at Aaron's back.

her current vulnerability softened his usual

Aaron's shoulder, introducing them. "This is my

allow him to be. During his

at Mara. "Hey, class is

left little

to Kenneth, "Let's focus

nodded, teasing Aaron in a singsong voice, "Hey, hey," only to

was sprawled on his desk, asleep. Aaron

Hey, Mara, it's lunchtime.

friendless due to her scar, followed

chance to ask her

misdeeds and painting herself as

listened to Gillian. I deserved what happened to me, but thankfully, Vivienne didn't hold

in thanks. If I knew they were having trouble in Sea City, I'd have bolted

to eat, irked by Kenneth's newfound affection. "Since when are you so close

your business." Kenneth snatched the last piece of chicken from Aaron's plate and

was silent, sizing up Mara with

get familiar with the university. Elite University had changed a lot since Mara's last

discreetly called Vivienne to

Don't worry about her;

her a lesson?" Aaron was eager

the Miller family to Aaron, he had

he was keen to retaliate on her behalf. After all, he was

Miller family, a leader in the Nine Mystics Society. I gave you that power to enrich yourself, not to squabble with small fry!" Aaron flinched, realizing his mistake. Vivienne would not spare

clouded his judgment, making

apologized, realigning his

the staff are restless. There are also some power plays happening