The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Scott’s normally stern face took on an even more sinister cast as he glared at Vivienne.

“When did you figure it out?” he asked, his voice deep and heavy with accusation.

He had always suspected that Vivienne would uncover his true identity, but he had not anticipated her discovery would come so swiftly.

Perhaps it was not today. Maybe she had known for quite some time, watching him like a court jester, smiling sweetly as he played his part, likely mocking him silently all the while.

“Let me think…” Vivienne propped her chin in her hand, feigning deep recollection. “I’d say it was around the time Rowan and Ismene disguised themselves as my foster parents.”

Scott felt his heart tighten, realizing she had known for longer than he thought.

Clearly, he had underestimated Vivienne.

Like mother, like daughter.

As the saying goes, a viper never gives birth to a dove.

“So, you didn’t come back to the Brooks family to find your biological father but to avenge your mother?” Scott’s voice was a low growl.

Vivienne’s lips curved slightly, but she remained silent.

Scott paused for a moment, then spoke again. “Since you know everything, you must also understand that I didn’t kill your mother.”

He had fallen for Karen at first sight, a love so sudden and all-consuming.

But he knew they would never have a future together.

When he discovered Karen was ‘Lark’, he knew his feelings would dissipate like mist. Because he was Scott, the high-ranking agent of GTO, the only person apart from the boss who knew the true face of Mr. B.

GTO was his allegiance, and Lark was its arch-nemesis.

For three years, he and Karen explored every nook of Rivenwood’s flower fields, witnessing the world’s most beautiful vistas together.

thought they would be forever, just like an everlasting

were as impure as

use Paula as a pawn to kill Karen at their engagement

tore him apart. Because it was the woman he

his shock,

identity to eliminate over a

all along. She had stayed silent, biding

could not tell if

he knew he would

Scott was absolutely certain

knew Arabella was not his

never been intimate with Karen! Even though they had shared a bed that night, and

with another man and so cunning, use

had arranged paternity tests to put to

results confirmed a genetic match between him and Vivienne, he found solace, repeatedly convincing himself that Karen

time, the results from Frostfire Intelligence

that he

now, he knew someone would always shatter his

unpredictably, Vivienne

know you didn’t kill my mother. What does it matter? Mr. Brooks, have you never

Scott remained silent.

and mockery, “So, spare me the act

was like a dagger, piercing

after a moment of silence, he said, “You didn’t come here just to talk about my identity and your

“Why don’t you introduce me to

Scott rejected the

him.

anticipated

released an odorless gas that shot

at his neck, his eyes