The Million-Dollar Heart

Alyssa's arms were etched with scabs and whip marks that Brianna could clearly see, yet she pretended not to notice.

Those were the handiwork of Grandpa George himself, a man who wouldn't stop until he'd drawn blood.

The mention of it left Alyssa in a daze.

Right, she thought, I'm the eldest daughter of the Wright family. Even for the sake of the family name, Arthur shouldn't have treated me this way.

It must be Sasha who's stirring things up.

"Big sis?"

Brianna watched Alyssa zone out, her eyes betraying a hint of disgust.

Winston, accompanied by a servant, came jogging over, his young face full of concern that seemed genuine. He was startled upon seeing Alyssa's injuries, "Big sis, what happened to you?" Alyssa frowned and withdrew her hand.

The last person she wanted to see right now was Winston.

If it hadn't been for him, Grandpa George wouldn't have been so harsh on her.

Brianna saw it all and, hiding her scorn, explained to Winston, "Little bro, someone bullied your big sis. Didn't you notice?"

"Bullied?"

Winston's young brow furrowed, puzzled as he looked at Brianna. "Big sis, who bullied big sis?"

Brianna's face turned cold at being called 'big sis.' "Who else could it be? In the Linklater family, who wields such power? If not Sasha and her daughter Vivienne, then who?" Winston quickly figured it out.

Shaking his head, he spoke clearly, "I trust Auntie; she wouldn't bully anyone. Maybe big sis didn't apologize to Auntie? Grandpa said if you do something wrong, you have to own up to it." Brianna raised an eyebrow but didn't reply.

Alyssa's face darkened.

She knew what she had done and certainly didn't need a five-year-old lecturing her.

to send him away, Winston said in his soft voice, "Then I'll apologize

who was lying

"Winston, you'd

nodded firmly. "I told Grandpa, I don't blame big sis. It's my fault for being too weak, it

thinking of how she could use this opportunity to get into the Linklater

forgotten how

Grandpa George found out she'd taken Winston there, it

stayed longer, a servant began to

Grandpa George asked, they would be held

Winston left; he really wanted to see

begging Sasha for forgiveness, why not seek Arthur's favor? If he's on your side, who cares about

pondered, "But Arthur has lost patience with me... he

the Linklater estate without Arthur showing his face was proof of Sasha's deep

to eliminate her, that

laughed, "Big sis, you're getting it all wrong. Arthur, powerful as he may be, is still a man. No man dislikes

The matriarch's position at the Linklater estate was always meant to be yours. Sasha stole it from you. What's wrong with

Alyssa silently agreed.

not only shattered her dream of marrying Arthur but also

If something happened to her, Sasha would be too distracted to bother with Arthur. That's

big sis could win Arthur over by herself, we wouldn't need to resort to

wanted Sasha gone,

Vivienne,

can go

Alyssa on the bed. For some reason, she felt there was something

room, Alyssa

the number, her heart sank,

low pitch spoke, "The boss

usually contacts me directly. Why

man let out a scoff, his mockery particularly grating over the phone,

on you.

these past few days? Do you really think he's going

heart skipped a beat, and she hurried to explain, "I haven't betrayed him, I