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.

Alyssa was about to send him away, Winston said in his soft voice, "Then I'll apologize to Auntie for big sis. Auntie is

who was lying in bed,

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

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

raced, thinking of how she could use this opportunity to

a child's words? Have you forgotten how furious Grandpa

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

stayed longer, a servant began to urge him to

they would

really wanted to see

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

has lost patience with me... he won't even

his face was proof of Sasha's deep

eliminate her, that would remove a significant

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

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

Alyssa silently agreed.

as Arthur's other half. Sasha's sudden appearance not only

happened to her, Sasha would be too distracted to

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

wanted Sasha gone, not anyone

not Vivienne,

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

at Alyssa on the bed. For some reason, she felt

the room, Alyssa received

the number, her heart sank, and she quickly

a low pitch spoke, "The boss

boss usually contacts me directly. Why

let out a scoff, his mockery particularly grating over the

soured on you. And

these past few days? Do you really

she hurried to explain, "I