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.

was about to send him away, Winston said in his soft voice, "Then

who was

him, puzzled. "Winston, you'd apologize to

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

use this opportunity

your mind? Believing a child's words? Have you forgotten how furious Grandpa was last time? He won't let you take Winston out

could even get into the Linklater family was one thing; if Grandpa George found out she'd taken

Winston stayed longer, a servant

George asked, they would

Winston left; he really wanted to

not seek Arthur's favor? If he's on

patience

showing his face was proof of Sasha's deep influence on

there was a way to eliminate her, that would remove a significant thorn from

as he may be, is still a man. No man dislikes a

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

Alyssa silently agreed.

herself as Arthur's other half. Sasha's sudden appearance not only shattered her dream of marrying Arthur but also turned her decade-long wait into

to her, Sasha would be too distracted to bother with Arthur. That's your chance, big sis." Alyssa's gaze darkened,

"Of course, if big sis could win Arthur over by herself, 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

gone, not

Vivienne,

You can go now,"

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

the room, Alyssa received a

heart sank, and she

a low pitch spoke, "The boss has

usually contacts me directly. Why go

mockery particularly grating over the phone, "With the lab trashed, the boss

soured on

days? Do you really think he's going to trust you

heart skipped a beat, and she hurried to