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.

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

Brianna and Alyssa, who was lying in

"Winston, you'd apologize to

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

could use

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

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

Winston stayed longer, a servant began to urge

Grandpa George asked, they would be held

he really wanted

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

pondered, "But Arthur has lost patience with me... he won't

at the Linklater estate without Arthur showing his face was

that would remove a significant thorn from

"Big sis, you're getting it all wrong. Arthur, powerful as he may

matriarch's position at the Linklater estate was always

Alyssa silently agreed.

had seen herself as Arthur's other half. Sasha's sudden appearance not only shattered her dream of marrying Arthur but also turned her decade-long wait into

her, Sasha would be too distracted to bother with Arthur. That's your

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

wanted Sasha gone, not

not Vivienne, who was

Brianna. You can go now," Alyssa said,

on the bed. For some reason, she felt there was something about her big sister she

Alyssa

heart sank, and she quickly

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

brows furrowed, "The boss usually contacts me directly. Why

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

soured on

vanishing act these past few days? Do you really think he's

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