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.

had thought they would be forever, just like an everlasting

intentions were as

came the decision to use Paula as a pawn to kill Karen at

apart. Because it was

to his shock,

she used his identity to

She had stayed silent, biding her time until she could expose

moment, Scott could not tell if he felt

he knew he

Scott was absolutely certain she

his child, yet

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

man and so

paternity tests to put to rest the faint

and Vivienne, he found solace, repeatedly convincing

Intelligence Agency came back positive: Vivienne was

believed that he had been with Karen that

someone would always

shift unpredictably, Vivienne knew precisely what he was

from the underworld. “I know you

Scott remained silent.

“So, spare

a dagger, piercing Scott with icy

moment of silence, he said, “You didn’t come here just to talk about my

you introduce

rejected

hand, the benefactor who had elevated him. He would never betray GTO, not even for Karen,

had anticipated

an odorless gas that shot straight for

his neck, his