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.

"Then I'll apologize to Auntie for big sis. Auntie is so

and Alyssa, who was lying

"Winston, you'd apologize to the Linklaters

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

of how she could use this opportunity to get into the

"Big sis, are you out of your mind? Believing a child's words? Have you forgotten how furious Grandpa was last time? He won't let you take Winston out again." Alyssa

Grandpa George found out she'd taken

Winston stayed longer, a servant began

Grandpa George asked, they would be

Winston left; he really wanted

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

pondered, "But Arthur has lost patience

Linklater estate without Arthur showing his face was proof

that would remove a significant thorn from

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

estate was always meant to be yours. Sasha stole it from you. What's wrong with taking back what's rightfully

Alyssa silently agreed.

seen herself as Arthur's other half. Sasha's sudden appearance not only shattered her dream of marrying

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

covering for herself, "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

gone,

Vivienne, who

Brianna. You can go now," Alyssa said, turning

leave, she cast a covert glance at Alyssa on the bed. For some reason, she felt there was something about her big sister

room, Alyssa

the number, her heart sank, and she

low

furrowed, "The boss usually contacts me directly. Why

mockery particularly grating over

on you. And

vanishing act these past few days? Do you really

heart skipped a beat, and she hurried