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.

would be forever, just like an

were as

decision to use Paula as a pawn to kill

him apart. Because it was the woman he loved the

to his

she vanished, she used his identity to eliminate over a hundred GTO

silent, biding her time until she

Scott could not tell if he felt

knew he would never forget

Scott was absolutely certain she was

his child, yet he played

was not his daughter. He had never been intimate with Karen! Even though they had shared a bed that night, and the sheets bore the signs of

so deeply in love with another man and so cunning, use intimacy with him to fulfill

tests to put to rest the faint hope in his

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

from Frostfire Intelligence Agency

it, believed that he had been

now, he knew someone would always shatter his

shift unpredictably, Vivienne knew

sat down, her figure sinuous and alluring, like a poppy risen from the underworld. “I know you didn’t kill my mother. What does it matter? Mr. Brooks, have you

Scott remained silent.

clear eyes brimming with disdain and mockery, “So, spare me

a dagger, piercing Scott with icy

of silence, he said, “You didn’t come here just to

smiled. “Why don’t you introduce me to Mr.

rejected

B was the organization’s right hand, the benefactor who had elevated him. He would never

anticipated this

her hand, she released an odorless gas that shot straight for

hands clutching at his neck, his eyes