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.

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

Alyssa, who was lying

"Winston, you'd apologize

blame big sis. It's my fault for being too weak, it has nothing to do

could use this opportunity to get into the

Believing a child's words? Have you forgotten how furious Grandpa was last time? He won't

Linklater family was one thing; if Grandpa George found out she'd

servant began to

Grandpa George asked, they would

Winston left; he really

forgiveness, why not seek Arthur's favor? If

Arthur has lost patience with me... he won't even see

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

eliminate her, that would remove a significant thorn

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

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

Alyssa silently agreed.

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

so much about her daughter. If something happened to her, Sasha would be

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, not

Vivienne, who was

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

to leave, she cast a covert glance at Alyssa on the bed. For some reason, she

the room, Alyssa

her heart sank, and

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

boss usually contacts

his mockery particularly grating over the phone, "With

soured on you.

few days? Do you really

and she hurried