The Million-Dollar Heart

Dracon shook his head in panic, knowing all too well why he was here, yet hoping against hope that his actions could somehow be justified.

Arthur advanced on him, grabbing Dracon by the shirt and glaring with such fury that it seemed to emanate the dominance of someone born to lead. "It was you! You're the one who gave Alyssa that voice recorder!"

Caught in Arthur's iron grip, Dracon's face was a mask of terror. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he stammered, "Bro, please... I just... I lost my head for a moment. Please, let me off this time..."

But excuses would do Dracon no good; not when Arthur was this enraged.

He shouldn't have voluntarily entered the Linklater family's surveillance room.

Had he heeded the warnings, he wouldn't have been caught so swiftly-like a moth drawn to flame, he had sealed his own fate.

Sasha approached, her presence commanding. "Besides the voice recorder, what else did you give Alyssa?"

Dracon's eyes darted away, caught off guard by her insight. But before he could react further, Arthur's fist connected with his face, numbing his cheek and drawing blood from the corner of his mouth. His legs trembled beneath him.

growl, barely containing his

pain, Dracon managed to shake his head, his voice trembling. "I... I also gave

with Arthur, begging for mercy he knew wouldn't come. "Please, don't

his grip tightening. "You should have been

across his face, then anger. "Why? Why am I the one to go? When you and Hector were away, I was the one who kept

If not for me keeping things running smoothly at home, could you have pursued your battles without a

expression darkened, his aura intimidating. "Dare to speak of it? When you drugged our father, did you think I wouldn't find out?

wasn't as well-kept as he'd believed,

testament to his craving for recognition in a family that seemed to overshadow him at every turn. His attempt to sabotage Arthu and Sasha's wedding was a misguided effort to claim a place of importance, a bid for acknowledgment that was doomed.

core principle of the Linklater family

shame, whispered, "Together in

chose this