The Million-Dollar Heart

In the dank basement, Alyssa lay on the ground drenched in blood, her face the only part of her body left unmarred. The rest of her was a gruesome sight of flesh turned inside out.

It was the old man, the patriarch of the Wright family, who had taken it upon himself to administer the family's harsh discipline, aiming to quash the bad blood between the northern and southern branches of the Wrights.

Using a leather whip soaked in a concoction, he struck with all his might, each lash tearing open the skin and causing unbearable pain and itchiness that penetrated deep into the bones.

The old man issued a grim decree: no medical attention for Alyssa for seven days, leaving her fate to chance.

This was meant to serve as a lesson, a brutal testament to the consequences of crossing family lines.

Robbie approached, helping her to swallow a pill, offering a fleeting respite. "Rob, please save me!" Alyssa gasped.

"You know the old man's word is law in the Wright family. You brought this upon yourself!" Robbie's voice was cold, carrying a weight of inevitability.

Alyssa's heart sank; if even Robbie, her eldest brother, refused to help, her situation was dire. "Rob, I'm sorry, please, for the sake of..."

"The one you should be pleading to isn't me. It's whoever can restore your standing within the Wright family," Robbie cut her off, his help limited to ensuring she'd survive the seven days.

Fury and hatred bubbled within Alyssa, her cracked lips bleeding from the force of her bite. Apologize to that woman? Impossible.

The Brooks family.

a stranger tutoring their son, Thaddeus, in their living room. The scene was so peaceful, they thought they might have entered the wrong

theirs,

looked up with excitement. "Mom, Dad, you're back! Mr. Linklater's been waiting

Mr. Linklater?

couple exchanged puzzled glances, unsure

rose, greeting them with a warm

Cordelia's eyes lit up. "You're Vivienne's father,

had reached them while they were abroad, finalizing a deal to expand their perfume business internationally. Sasha's well-being was paramount; Dorian owed her a great debt.

had them missing the ceremony, and they'd only just returned home the day before, planning to visit Sasha that day.

sense of unease in Dorian, his protective instincts towards Vivienne

towards the couple for their kindness to

on winning his daughter's affection, a

the shared love for Vivienne, ended with laughter and new bonds forming among them, a testament to the unexpected paths family can

a while now, and she seems to resist me at every turn. I'm at a loss about how to make her feel comfortable and at ease around me. After thought,

glances, their eyes spelling out a

difficult

They couldn't see it!

short of wonderful. From the moment they met, she'd been quietly supporting them with her own funds, assisting them from the shadows