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.

Mara annoying, her current

slung an arm around Aaron's shoulder, introducing them. "This is my

ignorant of the Boyd family drama as Vivienne would allow him

nodded politely at Mara. "Hey, class is

little room for

"Let's focus on class for now. We can talk

singsong voice, "Hey, hey," only to receive a

ended, Kenneth was sprawled on his desk, asleep. Aaron nudged him awake. "You coming or

Mara, it's lunchtime. Join

place and friendless due to her scar, followed Aaron and Kenneth to the

finally got the chance to ask

her story, conveniently omitting her misdeeds and painting herself

never listened to Gillian. I deserved what happened to me,

knew they were having trouble in Sea City, I'd have bolted over there.

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

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

sizing up Mara with

showed Mara around to help her get familiar with the university. Elite

behind them, discreetly

Don't worry

you want me to teach her a lesson?"

he had not seen her much, and she rarely replied to his

trouble in Sea City, he was keen to retaliate on her behalf. After all, he was certain that Mara's story was

you that power to enrich yourself, not to squabble with small fry!" Aaron flinched, realizing his mistake. Vivienne would not spare a small fry like Mara

zealousness that had clouded his judgment,

apologized, realigning his

took a deep breath, "You need to think long-term, Aaron. Focus on getting the Miller family's business back on track. Lately, performance has been slipping, and the staff are restless. There are also some power plays happening within the Miller family. As the head of the family, it's your duty to get things in order. Once the home front is settled, you can focus