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.

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

and Alyssa, who was lying

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

blame big sis. It's my fault for being

she could use this opportunity to get into

how furious Grandpa was last time? He won't

get into the Linklater family was one thing; if Grandpa George found

stayed longer, a servant began to urge him to

Grandpa George asked, they would

left; he really wanted to see

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

patience with me... he

the Linklater estate without Arthur showing his face was proof

eliminate her, that would

Arthur, powerful as he may be, is still a man.

knows you two are meant for each other. The matriarch's position at the Linklater estate was always meant to be

Alyssa silently agreed.

other half. Sasha's sudden appearance not only shattered her dream

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

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. It's all up to you now." Alyssa didn't immediately agree. Brianna's suggestion seemed to support her but was actually using her

Sasha gone,

Vivienne, who was

tired, Brianna. You can go now,"

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

the room, Alyssa received a

her heart sank,

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

contacts me directly. Why

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

soured on

you really think

she hurried to explain,