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.

him away, Winston said in his soft voice, "Then I'll apologize to Auntie for big sis. Auntie is so nice; she won't blame

Brianna and Alyssa, who was lying in bed, were

puzzled. "Winston, you'd

"I told Grandpa, I don't blame big sis. It's my

raced, thinking of how she could use this

words? Have you forgotten how furious Grandpa was last time? He won't let

family was one thing; if Grandpa George found out

longer, a servant began to urge

asked, they would be

he really wanted to

Arthur's favor? If he's on your side, who cares about

patience with me... he won't even see

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

eliminate her, that would remove a

he may be, is

estate was

Alyssa silently agreed.

as Arthur's other half. Sasha's sudden appearance not only shattered her dream of marrying Arthur but also turned her

about her daughter. If something happened to her, Sasha would be too distracted to bother

we wouldn't need to resort to this. It's all up to you now." Alyssa didn't immediately agree. Brianna's suggestion seemed to support her but was actually using her

gone, not

Vivienne, who

You can go now," Alyssa said,

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

room, Alyssa received a

heart sank,

altered to a low

"The boss usually contacts me

particularly grating over the phone,

on you.

you really think he's

heart skipped a beat, and she hurried to