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.

this incident was somewhat related to her, she was

assist Kala, but she would never blame

stared at Vivienne, unsure of

woman of few words, never

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

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

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

an eyebrow, genuinely

about anything else,” Baron said with finality. “We’re discussing the future of the Brooks family. You should listen in.

where I stay as long as you all are willing to have

“Do you think I

glanced over at Timothy and the

blamed Vivienne; it was just hard to accept what had

was coming to

had ten lives on her conscience, and she could not escape death in the

Vivienne and Percival had done merely brought everything to

Scott, who remained silent with a stern

say more and took the seat

paid the penalty fee, it’s up to you whether you want to stay in show

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

Kala nodded. “Alright.”

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

intrigued. She had assumed Scott would be the one to turn things

and was

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

ancient warrior lineage? Were the Rivenwood families not reluctant to deal with

and need to rest,” Baron said,

and the others busied themselves