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.

away, Winston said in his soft voice, "Then I'll apologize to Auntie

was lying in

looked at him, puzzled. "Winston, you'd

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

use this opportunity to

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

if Grandpa George

Winston stayed longer, a servant

asked, they

he really wanted to see

for forgiveness, why not seek Arthur's favor? If he's on your

patience with me... he won't even

showing his face was proof of

to eliminate her, that would remove a significant thorn

all wrong. Arthur, powerful as he

you two are meant for each other. The matriarch's position at the Linklater estate was always

Alyssa silently agreed.

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

Brianna threw out her idea, "Sasha cares so much about her daughter. If something happened to her, Sasha

"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

wanted Sasha gone, not

Vivienne, who was

can go now," Alyssa

Alyssa on the bed. For some reason, she

room, Alyssa received

her heart sank, and

altered to a low pitch spoke, "The boss has a

contacts me directly.

out a scoff, his mockery particularly grating over

on you.

act these past few days? Do you really think he's going to

she hurried to explain, "I haven't betrayed him,