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 I'll apologize to Auntie for big sis. Auntie is so nice; she won't blame big

and Alyssa, who was lying in

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

my fault

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

how furious Grandpa was last time? He won't let you take Winston out

one thing; if Grandpa George found

servant began to urge him to

they would be

really wanted to

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

lost patience with me... he

fainting at the Linklater estate without Arthur showing his face was

there was a way to eliminate her, that

it all wrong. Arthur, powerful as he may be, is still a man. No

Linklater estate

Alyssa silently agreed.

not only shattered her dream of marrying Arthur but also turned her decade-long wait

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

wouldn't need to resort to this. It's all up to you now." Alyssa didn't immediately agree.

wanted Sasha gone, not

not Vivienne, who

can go now," Alyssa said, turning

on the bed. For some reason, she felt there was something about her big sister she couldn't

room, Alyssa received a secretive

number, her heart sank, and

end, a voice altered to a low pitch spoke,

contacts me directly.

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

on you.

Do you really think

hurried to