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.

to her, she was not responsible

she would

stared at Vivienne, unsure

back, she had been a woman of few words, never using two where one would suffice. But today, she had spoken at

“Baron, I’m here to pack up. I won’t be staying at the Brooks household

tough? I’m

I have been investigating it in the shadows for years. If

an eyebrow, genuinely

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 learned about the

as long as you all are

at her. “Do

that, he glanced over

they blamed Vivienne; it was just hard to accept what had happened right before their

was coming

her conscience, and she

done merely brought everything to

then fell on Scott, who

say more and

“Kala, now that Vivienne has paid the penalty fee, it’s up to you

did not question how Vivienne had come into so much money. After all, Karen’s daughter could not be doing too badly, especially with

Kala nodded. “Alright.”

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

had assumed Scott would be the one to

under the thumb of Richard and was

was orchestrating a comeback with new projects and had even managed to

from the ancient warrior lineage? Were the Rivenwood families not

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

the others busied themselves with Baron’s