The Million-Dollar Heart

Alyssa choked on her words, her face painting a picture of utter helplessness in front of Arthur. "How could you think I wanted this? You said..."

Vivienne's lips curled into a mocking smile. "I never said she'd die. But you, you seemed awfully keen on the idea."

Alyssa's heart skipped a beat, but confident in her own innocence, she managed to hold her composure. "What are you blabbering about, Vivienne? Winston is my brother. No one wishes for his well-being more than I do..."

A flicker of scorn passed through Vivienne's eyes. "Blabbering, am I?"

"You..."

Alyssa's finger pointed accusingly, but before she could utter a word, Arthur stepped in front of her, his voice cold. "If you don't value your fingers, just say the word. My daughter is not someone you can just point at."

Arthur's face darkened.

His beloved daughter, whom he could hardly raise his voice to, was being disrespected. What right did Alyssa have to point fingers?

Biting her lip, Alyssa looked pitifully at Arthur. "Do you have to be so cold to me, Arthur? It's me, Alyssa."

A sneer came from behind them.

Arthur felt a shiver down his spine, his disdain for Alyssa growing. "I don't care who you are. Don't try to cozy up to me. At your age, shame seems to be a foreign concept!" Alyssa's face turned an ugly shade of red.

At that moment, the operating room doors swung open, and the medical staff emerged.

Alyssa rushed to intercept them, desperate to know Winston's condition. "Doctor, how's my brother? Is he alright?"

The doctor glanced at Vivienne, then oddly at Alyssa. "Why are you only getting here now? The patient is out of danger and has been moved to the ICU."

ICU?

Alyssa bit her lip, refusing to believe Winston could be so lucky.

She had instructed the driver to leave no survivors.

How could he be so hard to kill!

Noticing Alyssa's stupor, the doctor spoke before leaving. "What are you waiting for? Go settle the medical bills. We can't have outstanding surgery fees." Alyssa turned to Arthur, clenched her teeth, and reluctantly followed to make the payment.

Sasha, silent till now, spoke coldly from behind her. "You better hope Winston is fine, or you'll be paying with more than money."

Alyssa shuddered.

one wishes for

if Sasha's gaze had pierced through her, seeing her

did

noticed a shadowy figure darting away. It seemed to have noticed

a brief greeting with Arthur and Sasha, "Mom, you guys head

figure, but

out who it was when her

10, Café Verde,

immediately a message was sent

Clearly, they came prepared.

Café Verde on time. The waiter asked if

"Upstairs," Vivienne stated.

led the way, guiding her to

pushed the door open to find an antique screen blocking her

she saw the

complexion was sickly pale, but his lips were a stark, healthy red - a sign of long-term medication and lack of sunlight. Vivienne glanced at him, pulled up a chair, and sat down. "Colin,

being exposed, Colin didn't panic, his voice soft. "I'm here to propose a deal

plainly. "What could you possibly offer me? In the

knew the Wright

against them, waiting for someone

not who she had

Yet, he intrigued her.

family due to a childhood

firmly in Hunter's hands, and the company under the control of Robbie, the eldest grandson, Alyssa and Brianna held their own shares and dividends. Colin, however, had nothing tangible to

family, such a person would be ousted

information available to the public was not the full

always been biding his time, his sights

much to offer in Ms. Hawthorn's eyes, but I

slightly. "You know what I'm

cup, adjusting his glasses as a way to

unnoticed by me, despite my distance from family affairs. But isn't there

Vivienne remained silent.

Wright family had been collaborating