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.

somewhat related to

Kala, but she would never

unsure

since Vivienne had come back, she had been a woman of few words, never using two where one would suffice. But

over to Baron and stated flatly, “Baron, I’m here

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

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 ended

an

discussing the future of the Brooks family. You

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

“Do you think I raised

that, he glanced over at Timothy and

that they blamed Vivienne; it was just hard to accept what

Timothy was coming

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

done merely brought

on Scott, who remained

and

has paid the penalty fee, it’s up

especially with that black card filled with funds, and with

Kala nodded. “Alright.”

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 needs to play their part so the Brooks family can recover our losses

had assumed Scott would be the one

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

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

Rivenwood families not reluctant to

I’m tired and need to

the others busied themselves with