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.

"Then I'll apologize to

was lying

puzzled. "Winston, you'd

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

use

words? Have you forgotten how furious Grandpa was last time? He won't let

was one thing; if Grandpa George found out she'd

longer, a servant began to

asked, they would

Winston left; he really wanted to see his

Sasha for forgiveness, why not seek Arthur's favor? If he's

Arthur has lost patience

the Linklater estate without Arthur showing his face was proof

a way to eliminate her, that would remove a significant

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

at the Linklater estate

Alyssa silently agreed.

seen herself as Arthur's other half. Sasha's sudden appearance not only shattered her

the moment, Brianna threw out her idea, "Sasha cares so much about her daughter. If something happened to her, Sasha would be too

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

wanted Sasha gone, not anyone

not Vivienne, who

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

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

Alyssa received a secretive

heart sank, and she quickly

other end, a voice altered to a low pitch spoke, "The

contacts me directly.

a scoff, his mockery particularly grating over the

on you.

days? Do you really think he's going

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