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.

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

was

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

I don't blame big sis. It's my

raced, thinking of how she could use this opportunity to

words? Have you forgotten how furious Grandpa was last time? He won't let you take Winston out again."

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

longer, a servant began to urge him

they would be

Winston left; he really

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

patience with me...

at the Linklater estate without Arthur showing his face was proof

there was a way to eliminate her, that would remove a

he may be, is still a man.

you two are meant for each other. The matriarch's position at the Linklater estate was always meant to be yours. Sasha stole it from you.

Alyssa silently agreed.

half. Sasha's sudden appearance not only shattered her dream of marrying Arthur but also turned her decade-long

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

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 all up to you now." Alyssa didn't immediately agree. Brianna's suggestion seemed to support her but was actually using her to

gone, not

not Vivienne, who

tired, Brianna. You can go

Brianna stood to leave, she cast a covert glance at Alyssa on the bed. For some reason, she felt there was something about her big sister she couldn't quite

the room, Alyssa received a

number, her heart sank, and

low

contacts me directly.

a scoff, his mockery particularly grating over

on you. And

days? Do you really think he's

a beat, and she hurried