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

her intentions were as impure

a pawn to kill Karen at their engagement

it

to his

vanished, she used his identity to

along. She had stayed silent, biding her

could not tell if he felt

he would

was absolutely certain

knew Arabella was not his

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

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

to put to rest the

and Vivienne, he found solace, repeatedly convincing himself that

results from Frostfire Intelligence Agency came back positive: Vivienne was

that he had been with

would always shatter his self-deception.

countenance shift unpredictably, Vivienne knew precisely what he

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 never thought of

Scott remained silent.

brimming with disdain and mockery, “So, spare me the act of deep affection.

like a dagger, piercing Scott

said, “You didn’t come here just to

smiled. “Why don’t you introduce me

Scott rejected the

benefactor who had elevated him. He would never betray GTO,

had anticipated

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

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