The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Sasha rolled her eyes, "Look, Viv, your dad and I just felt a certain kinship with Winston. No strings attached. Having you is all we've ever wanted in this lifetime." Vivienne, always the planner, said, "After I get married, you two will definitely feel lonely. Maybe having another kid could fill that emotional void." Sasha snorted, "Just focus on your wedding. We can handle our future just fine." "We've decided, once you're married, we're heading abroad for a long-overdue honeymoon, making up for all those lost years." Vivienne paused before nodding, “Kids conceived on honeymoons are said to be happier, aren't they?" Sasha was speechless.

On their way back, Sasha remembered something she'd been meaning to discuss.

"Oh, about that sigil matter I wanted to talk to you about." "That originally belonged to a fading royal lineage in our homeland over two centuries ago. It ended up abroad, probably because a descendant took it with them, wanting to avoid detection. They split the symbols up, using it as their own family crest." Vivienne frowned, "Does it have anything to do with ancient warrior lineages?" Sasha shook her head, "No, but in terms of status, that family ranked above those warrior lineages." Vivienne smirked, "That explains it." Abigail must be a descendant of that lineage.

Only someone with a strong backing and a high social standing could mobilize the top families to work for her.

One was a dynasty in decline for centuries, and the other, the hidden top families.

Both inherently carried an air of superiority.

Sasha added, "This could be a lead. If we see this symbol again, we should pay attention. It might give us an idea of how far their influence extends." Vivienne nodded.

Back at the Linklater estate, she sent the photos to Draven and asked the Nine Mystics Society to station a few members at the hospital.

Winston's life was her responsibility.

And now with someone targeting Winston specifically, without even considering Colin's deal, she couldn't just stand by.

That night, Vivienne got a call from Cecilia Boyd, inviting her to the Ellington estate to try on wedding dresses and perhaps do sshopping the next day.

After agreeing, Vivienne called Percival to inform him about her meeting with Colin.

Percival's voice was grave, "The Wright family is making their move." "If Abigail's people are from the Wright family, we can't exclude the possibility of more operatives working for her." Vivienne explained.

After discussing further, Percival brought up Winston's situation at the hospital, warning Vivienne to be cautious.

"This could be the Wright family's doing. They might use it to smear the Linklater name." Vivienne scoffed, "If they think they can take on the Linklaters, they'll have to get throughfirst." She had anticipated the Wrights would cause trouble, but not to this extent.

Early next morning, the Linklater estate was awakened by loud wailing.

This time, it wasn't just Alyssa; Brianna had joined in.

Their cries, akin to a rehearsed performance, echoed at the gates.

"My brother was just seeking help from the Linklaters, and now he's in ICU, only five years old, and they're turning a blind eye, pushing the blonto us. Is there no justice left in this world?" Alyssa's cries were strategically punctuated, painting a clear picture of guilt.

The neighbors, having heard about the accident, knew the truth.

One spoke up for Vivienne, "Cut the . If it weren't for the Linklater's daughter rushing him to the hospital, he'd be in a worse state." Brianna snapped back, "Did we ask for her help? If she's so capable, why is my brother still unconscious? Who knows if she poisoned him on the way..." The crowd fell silent, familiar only with such twists in s.

Best to stay out of the affairs of powerful families, they thought.

Seeing the crowd's hesitance, Brianna grew bolder, demanding Vivienne toe out and kneel in apology to the Wrights, threatening retribution for her brother's condition.

"I'd like to see who dares threaten my daughter!" Arthur emerged, his demeanor icy, his gaze sharp.

"My daughter saves a life and this is the thanks we get? The Wrights have truly lost all manners." Vivienne and Sasha, following behind, barely glanced at the theatrically indignant Brianna sisters, their gaze as dismissive as if brushing off an insignificant speck.

Brianna's face flushed with anger and humiliation as she pointed an accusing finger at Sasha. "Don't think you can whitewash the truth just because we're all here together. It was definitely her who messaged my brother, luring him over to the Linklater estate, and that's where the accident happened!" Sasha, cool as a cucumber, simply asked, "Got any proof?" Brianna scoffed, "Every servant in the Wright household can attest to it. The night before he left, Winston wouldn't stop talking about you. If you hadn't secretly messaged him, why would he sneak out of the Wright estate and end up in a car crash right outside the Linklaters'? You're going to stand there and tellyour family has nothing to do with this?" Sasha glanced at her dismissively, "That's your evidence? Baseless accusations?" Brianna, seething yet speechless under Sasha's prating gaze, was about to retort when Alyssa stepped forward, her eyes locked on Sasha "Winston was holding a lotus flower when he left, a flower Ms. Perez, you personally gave to him. Dare you deny it?" Sasha replied calmly, "I did give him the flower, but Winston wouldn't havee to seecarrying a lotus." "What did you say?" Alyssa was ready to pin Winston's accident on Sasha but found her prepared accusations falling flat against Sasha's explanation.

Sasha advanced towards her, her tone icy, "Winston cherished that bi-colored lotus greatly. Even if he had brought it to see me, he wouldn't have watched it wilt without a care. Your mistake is not understanding a child's heart." A chill ran down Alyssa's spine as Sasha continued to close in, forcing her to stumble and fall to the ground.

"What's all this noise about?" "This is the Linklater estate, not sstreet market. What's with thismotion?" In Yorick's absence, Hailey Linklater, the family's matriarch, stepped in. She cupon Arthur and his family making a scene, bullying others.

She was immediately irate, "Great, just what I needed first thing in the morning. Can't we have one day of peace around here?" mmMwWLlilOfiflO&1 mmMwWLlilOfiflO&1 mmMwWLliI0fiflO&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliI0fifl0&1 mmMwWLlilOfiflO&1