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.

said in his soft voice, "Then I'll apologize to Auntie for big sis. Auntie is so nice;

Brianna and Alyssa, who was

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

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

raced, thinking of how she could use this opportunity to

up, "Big sis, are you out of your mind? Believing a child's words? Have you forgotten how furious Grandpa was last time? He won't let you take Winston out again." Alyssa also felt

could even get into the Linklater family was one thing; if Grandpa George found out she'd taken Winston there, it would be another storm of blood

Winston stayed longer, a servant began to urge him to

they

really wanted to see

for forgiveness, why not seek Arthur's

"But Arthur has lost patience with me... he won't

the Linklater estate without Arthur showing his face was proof of Sasha's deep

was a way to eliminate her, that would remove a significant

getting it all wrong. Arthur, powerful as he may be, is still a

you two are meant for each 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

Alyssa silently agreed.

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

"Sasha cares so much about her daughter. If something happened to her, Sasha would be too distracted to bother with Arthur. That's your chance, big

to resort to this.

Sasha gone, not

Vivienne, who

go

she cast a covert glance at Alyssa on the bed. For some reason, she felt

Alyssa received

number, her heart sank,

to a low pitch spoke, "The boss

contacts

mockery particularly grating over the phone, "With the lab

on you.

these past few days? Do you really think he's going to trust you like

she hurried to explain, "I haven't betrayed