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

but she would never blame herself for what had

stared at Vivienne, unsure of what

since Vivienne had come back, she had been a woman of few words, never using two where

I’m here to

just bail when the going gets tough? I’m not dead yet. Even in hard times, I wouldn’t let my granddaughter

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

raised an eyebrow,

“We’re discussing the future of the Brooks family. You should listen in. You’re nearly twenty. It’s

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

at her. “Do you

that, he glanced over at Timothy and

not that they blamed Vivienne; it was just hard to accept what had happened right before their

now, Timothy was coming

her

and Percival had done merely brought

fell on Scott, who remained silent with

and took the seat next to

fee, it’s up to you whether you want to stay in

money. After all, Karen’s daughter could not be doing too badly, especially with that black card filled with funds, and

Kala nodded. “Alright.”

an apology and provide compensation for the victims’ families. On top of that, we need to push forward new projects. We’re venturing into robotics, and

was intrigued. She had assumed Scott would be the one to turn things around, not

thumb of Richard and was frequently

new projects and had even managed to recruit Griffin,

families not reluctant to deal with those from

need to

busied themselves with Baron’s