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.

they would be forever, just

were as impure

use Paula as a pawn to kill Karen

Because it was the woman

his shock, Karen

identity to

silent, biding her time until she could expose his undercover agents, and then she disappeared

that moment, Scott could not tell if he felt

he knew he would never

Scott was absolutely certain

his child, yet he

Even though they had shared a bed that night, and the sheets bore the signs of a lover’s tryst, he knew

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

had arranged paternity tests to put to

genetic match between him and Vivienne, he found solace, repeatedly

Frostfire Intelligence Agency came back positive: Vivienne was

that he had been with Karen that

now, he knew someone would always shatter his

countenance shift unpredictably, Vivienne knew

know you didn’t kill my mother. What does it

Scott remained silent.

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

was like a dagger, piercing Scott with

moment of silence, he said, “You didn’t come here just to talk about my identity and your mother, did you? Out

you

rejected

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

had anticipated this

she released an odorless gas

gasped for air, hands clutching at his neck, his eyes wide with disbelief as