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.

was about to send him away, Winston said in his soft voice, "Then

who was

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

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

how she could use

of your mind? Believing a child's words? Have you forgotten how furious Grandpa was last time? He won't let you take

one thing; if Grandpa George found out she'd taken Winston there, it would be another storm of blood and

Winston stayed longer, a servant

asked, they would

left; he really wanted to see

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

has lost patience with me...

Arthur showing his face was proof of Sasha's deep influence

that would

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

the Linklater estate was always meant to be yours. Sasha stole it from you. What's wrong with

Alyssa silently agreed.

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

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

aback 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

gone, not

Vivienne, who

go now,"

cast a covert glance at Alyssa on the bed. For some reason, she felt there was something about her big sister she couldn't quite grasp

Alyssa received

number, her heart

low pitch spoke,

usually contacts me directly. Why

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

on

past few days? Do you really think he's

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