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.

voice, "Then

and Alyssa, who was lying in bed, were

looked at him, puzzled. "Winston, you'd apologize to the Linklaters

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

she could use this

"Big sis, are you out of your mind? Believing a child's words? Have you forgotten how furious Grandpa was last time?

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

servant began to urge him

Grandpa George asked, they would

Winston left; he really wanted to see his

forgiveness, why not seek Arthur's

lost patience with me...

at the Linklater estate without Arthur showing his face was proof

her, that would remove

laughed, "Big sis, you're getting it all wrong. Arthur, powerful as he may be,

meant for each other. 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.

herself as Arthur's other half. Sasha's sudden appearance not only shattered her

Sasha would

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

Sasha gone, not

Vivienne, who was

Brianna. You can go now,"

glance at Alyssa on the bed. For some reason,

Alyssa received a secretive

her heart

the other end, a voice altered to a low pitch spoke, "The boss has

boss usually contacts

particularly grating over the phone, "With

on you.

days? Do you really

skipped a beat, and she hurried to explain, "I