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.

him away, Winston said in his soft voice, "Then I'll apologize to Auntie for big sis. Auntie is so nice; she won't blame big

Brianna and Alyssa, who was

"Winston, you'd apologize to the Linklaters

firmly. "I told Grandpa, I don't blame big sis. It's my fault for being too weak, it has nothing

of how she could use this opportunity to

suddenly spoke up, "Big sis, are you out of your mind? Believing a child's words? Have you forgotten how furious

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

stayed longer, a servant began

Grandpa George asked, they would

Winston left; he really

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

patience with me... he

without Arthur showing his face

eliminate her, that would remove

you're getting it all wrong. Arthur, powerful as he may be, is still a man. No man dislikes a woman's

other. The matriarch's position at the Linklater estate was always meant to be yours. Sasha stole it from you. What's wrong with taking back what's

Alyssa silently agreed.

half. Sasha's sudden appearance not only shattered her dream of marrying Arthur but

about her daughter. If something happened to her, Sasha would be too

by herself, we wouldn't need to resort to this. It's all up to you now."

wanted Sasha gone,

not Vivienne, who

tired, Brianna. You can go now," Alyssa

at Alyssa on the bed. For some reason,

room, Alyssa received a

heart

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

"The boss usually contacts

man let out a scoff, his mockery particularly grating over the

on you. And

you really think he's going to trust

she hurried to explain, "I