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.

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

and Alyssa, who was lying

you'd apologize to

It's my fault for being too weak, it has nothing to

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

"Big sis, are you out of your mind? Believing a child's words? Have you forgotten how furious Grandpa was last time? He won't let you take Winston out again." Alyssa also felt

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

servant began

they would be held

he really

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

lost patience with me... he

at the Linklater estate without Arthur showing his face was

eliminate her, that would remove a

wrong. Arthur, powerful as he may be, is

meant for each other. The matriarch's position at the Linklater estate was always meant

Alyssa silently agreed.

sudden appearance not only

to her, Sasha would be too distracted to bother with Arthur. That's your chance, big sis." Alyssa's

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.

wanted Sasha gone, not

not Vivienne, who

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

covert glance at Alyssa on the bed. For some reason, she felt there was something

in the room, Alyssa

the number, her heart sank, and she

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

brows furrowed, "The boss usually contacts

grating over

on you. And

few days? Do you really think

a beat, and she hurried to explain, "I haven't betrayed