The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Everyone looked up as Vivienne walked in, her pace slow and measured. Clad in a plain tee and jeans, the simplicity of her attire was offset by the icy expression that seemed permanently etched onto her delicate features.

Kala watched her, emotions churning within her.

After a moment, she spoke up, “No need. I’ll handle it myself.”

She was at a loss for how to treat Vivienne now.

After all, it was not Vivienne who had affected her work, but there was an undeniable discomfort whenever she saw Vivienne.

Did she blame Vivienne?

No.

After all, her grandmother had genuinely committed murder, and not just once, but tenfold.

For twenty years, the families of the victims had been deprived of the truth.

Her grandmother’s fate was deserved.

She just could not face Vivienne.

It seemed ever since Vivienne’s return, everyone she was close to had changed.

Vivienne approached her, her face serious. “Judith’s death was a consequence of her actions. If she hadn’t resisted arrest, she wouldn’t have been shot in front of you. And the media exposure you faced wasn’t my doing. I covered your penalty fees as a gesture of goodwill. You were the only one who treated me with genuine kindness after I joined the Brooks family.”

When the Brooks first took her in, everyone had been considerate, but there was always an ulterior motive.

Only Kala had been genuinely kind to her.

That was just how Vivienne was unable to ignore those who were sincerely kind to her.

though this incident was somewhat related to her, she was not

Kala, but she would never blame herself for what

at Vivienne, unsure

few words, never using two where one would suffice. But today, she had spoken at

another word, Vivienne walked over to Baron and stated flatly, “Baron, I’m here

can just bail when the going gets tough? I’m not dead yet. Even in hard times,

his tone softening, “This isn’t on you. Even if it weren’t you and Percival, I wouldn’t have spared her. This case… Richard and I have been investigating it in the shadows for years. If we had discovered the truth sooner, perhaps the Brooks family wouldn’t have

an eyebrow, genuinely

finality. “We’re discussing the future of the Brooks family. You should listen in. You’re nearly twenty. It’s time you learned about

smirked, “I don’t mind where I stay as long as you

glared at her. “Do you think I

over at Timothy and

expressions. It was not that they blamed Vivienne; it was

was coming to terms

the old lady had ten lives on her conscience, and she could

done merely brought

gaze then fell on Scott, who remained silent with

not say more and took the seat

now that Vivienne has paid the penalty fee, it’s up to you whether you want to

badly, especially with that black card

Kala nodded. “Alright.”

provide compensation for the victims’ families. On top of that, we need to push

Scott would be the one to turn

Richard and was frequently in the sanatorium, had

projects and had even managed to recruit Griffin, which was

from the ancient warrior lineage? Were the Rivenwood families not

tired and need to

the others busied