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

her intentions were as

to use Paula as a pawn to kill Karen at their engagement

Because it

to his

identity to eliminate over a hundred

all along. She had stayed silent, biding her

that moment, Scott could not tell

he would

Scott was absolutely certain she was Karen’s

knew Arabella was not his child,

Vivienne 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 a lover’s tryst,

so deeply in love with another man and so cunning,

put to rest the faint

genetic match between him and Vivienne, he found

time, the results from Frostfire Intelligence Agency came back positive: Vivienne was his

that he had been

he knew someone would always shatter

unpredictably, Vivienne knew

figure sinuous and alluring, like a poppy risen from the underworld. “I know you didn’t kill my mother.

Scott remained silent.

brimming with disdain and mockery, “So, spare me the act of deep affection. You’re really quite terrible

dagger,

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

you introduce

rejected

had elevated him. He would never betray GTO, not

anticipated this

hand, she released an

air, hands clutching at his neck, his eyes wide with disbelief