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

were as

as a pawn to kill Karen

apart. Because it was the woman he

his

identity to eliminate over a hundred

that Karen had recognized him all along. She had stayed silent, biding her time until she could expose his undercover

could not tell if he

he knew he

Vivienne appeared, Scott was absolutely

his child, yet he played along.

bed that night, and the sheets bore the signs of a lover’s tryst, he knew nothing had

man and so cunning, use intimacy with

paternity tests to put to rest the faint hope

match between him and Vivienne, he found solace, repeatedly convincing himself

results from Frostfire Intelligence Agency came

almost believed it, believed that he had been with Karen

now, he knew someone would always shatter his self-deception. That person was

Scott’s countenance shift unpredictably, Vivienne

you didn’t kill my mother. What does

Scott remained silent.

mockery, “So, spare

dagger, piercing Scott with

just to talk about my identity and your mother,

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

rejected

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

had anticipated this

a wave of her hand, she released an

hands clutching at his neck, his eyes wide with disbelief as he watched Vivienne’s