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.

related to her, she was

Kala, but she would never blame herself

at Vivienne, unsure of what

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

walked over to Baron and stated flatly, “Baron, I’m here to pack up. I

gets tough? I’m not dead yet. Even in

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

raised an eyebrow, genuinely

don’t worry about anything else,” Baron said with finality. “We’re discussing the future of the Brooks family. You should listen in. You’re nearly twenty. It’s time you

where I stay as long as you

her. “Do

that, he glanced over at

not that they blamed Vivienne; it was just hard to accept what had

now, Timothy was coming to terms with

had ten lives on her

had done merely

who remained silent with

more and took the seat next to

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

too badly, especially with that black card filled with funds, and with the backing of the Ellington family, a penalty fee was nothing to

Kala nodded. “Alright.”

Baron went on to delegate tasks and finally got to the crux of the matter. “Since Judith was one of our own and made a mistake, we can’t shirk responsibility. I’ll issue 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 Griffin will join our team. Everyone

would be the one to turn

the thumb of Richard and was frequently in the sanatorium, had appeared less

orchestrating a comeback with new projects and had even managed to recruit Griffin, which was quite

Were the Rivenwood families not reluctant to deal with those from

I’m tired and need to rest,” Baron said, heading

and the others busied themselves with Baron’s