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.

you seem to be mistaken. Winston is my brother. No one wishes for his well-being more than I do." Sasha gave her one last cold look and turned

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

after hastily leaving did that feeling slowly

had gone, Vivienne noticed a shadowy figure darting away. It seemed to have noticed her

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

followed the figure, but it

who it was when her phone buzzed

10, Café

and immediately a message was sent

Clearly, they came prepared.

Verde on time. The waiter asked

"Upstairs," Vivienne stated.

the way, guiding her

pushed the door open to find an

it, she saw the man

shirt with gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. His 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, what do

Colin didn't panic, his voice soft. "I'm

laying out the facts plainly. "What could you possibly offer me? In the Wright family's power struggle, you're

knew the Wright family's

moved against them, waiting for someone to make

was not who she had been

Yet, he intrigued her.

due to a childhood poisoning, had been neutralized in family affairs,

of Robbie, the eldest grandson, Alyssa and Brianna held their own shares and dividends. Colin, however, had nothing tangible to

such a person would be ousted or

the information available to the public was not the full story. Vivienne had

been biding his time, his sights set on

"I know I might not have much to offer in Ms. Hawthorn's eyes, but I can assure you, the insider information you seek about the Wright family can only be provided by someone

"You know

tea cup, adjusting his glasses as

growth these past years hasn't gone unnoticed by me, despite my distance from family affairs. But isn't there someone pulling the strings

Vivienne remained silent.

within the Wright family had been collaborating