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

"Winston, you'd apologize to

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

use this opportunity to get into the

Believing a child's words? Have you forgotten how furious Grandpa was

George found out she'd taken Winston

a servant began to urge him

George asked, they would

left; he really wanted to see

Arthur's favor? If he's on your side, who cares about Sasha and

Arthur has lost patience

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

there was a way to eliminate her, that would remove a significant thorn from Alyssa's

"Big sis, you're getting it all wrong. Arthur, powerful as he may be, is still a man. No man

the Linklater estate was always meant to be yours. Sasha stole it from you. What's wrong with taking back what's rightfully

Alyssa silently agreed.

not only shattered her dream of marrying

her, Sasha would be too distracted

taken 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 all up to you

Sasha gone, not

not Vivienne, who

tired, Brianna. You can go

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

the room, Alyssa received

heart sank, and she quickly

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

boss usually contacts me directly. Why go

man let out a scoff, his mockery particularly grating over the phone,

soured on you. And

Do you really think he's going to trust

and she hurried to