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.

Winston said in his soft voice, "Then

was lying in bed,

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

I don't blame big sis. It's my fault for being

she could use this

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

George found out she'd taken Winston there, it would be

servant began to urge him

asked, they would be held

Winston left; he really wanted to see his

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

Arthur has lost patience with me...

showing his face

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

it all wrong. Arthur, powerful as he may

the Linklater estate was always meant to be yours. Sasha stole

Alyssa silently agreed.

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

Brianna 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,

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 target

gone, not

not Vivienne, who

You can go

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

room, Alyssa received a

the number, her heart

to a low pitch

boss usually contacts

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

soured on you.

Do you really think he's going

and she hurried to explain, "I