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.

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

was

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

my fault for being too weak, it

raced, thinking of how she could use this opportunity to get

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

into the Linklater family was one thing; if Grandpa George found out she'd taken Winston there, it would be

stayed longer, a servant began to urge him

they would

really wanted

for forgiveness, why not seek Arthur's favor? If he's on your side, who cares about

has lost patience with me... he won't

estate without Arthur showing his face was proof of Sasha's deep influence

there was a way to eliminate her, that

he may be, is still a man. No man dislikes a woman's undying

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

Alyssa silently agreed.

appearance not only shattered her dream of marrying Arthur but

so much about her daughter. If something happened to her, Sasha would be too distracted to bother with Arthur. That's your chance, big sis." Alyssa's gaze darkened, "You

aback by Alyssa's sudden intensity, quickly covering for herself, "Of course, if big sis could win Arthur over by herself, we wouldn't need to resort to this. It's

gone,

Vivienne,

tired, Brianna. You can go

the bed. For some reason, she felt there was something about her big sister she couldn't quite grasp

the room, Alyssa

heart sank, and she

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

furrowed, "The boss usually contacts

a scoff, his mockery particularly grating over the phone, "With the lab trashed, the

soured on

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

beat, and she hurried to explain, "I