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.

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

Brianna and Alyssa, who was lying in bed,

puzzled. "Winston, you'd

don't blame big sis. It's my fault for being too weak, it

mind raced, thinking of how she could use

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

George found out she'd taken Winston there,

servant

they would

Winston left; he really wanted

not seek Arthur's favor? If he's on your side, who cares about Sasha and

has lost patience with

showing his face was proof of Sasha's deep

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

all wrong. Arthur, powerful as he may be, is still a man. No man dislikes a woman's undying

Linklater estate was always meant

Alyssa silently agreed.

seen herself as Arthur's other half. Sasha's sudden appearance not only shattered her dream of marrying Arthur but also turned

threw out her idea, "Sasha cares 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 mean

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 now." Alyssa didn't immediately agree. Brianna's suggestion seemed to support her but was

Sasha gone, not

not Vivienne, who

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

she cast a covert glance at Alyssa on the bed. For some reason, she felt there was something about her big sister

the room, Alyssa

heart sank, and she quickly

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

usually contacts me directly. Why

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

on

you really

and she hurried