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

intentions were as impure

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

tore him apart. Because it was the

his shock,

she vanished, she used his identity to eliminate over a hundred GTO

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

not tell

he knew he would never forget

was absolutely certain she was

knew Arabella was not his child,

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

with another man and

paternity tests to put to rest the faint hope in

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

Intelligence Agency came back

it, believed that he

now, he knew someone would always

Scott’s countenance shift unpredictably, Vivienne knew precisely

poppy risen from the underworld. “I know you didn’t kill my mother. What does

Scott remained silent.

spare me the act of deep

like a dagger, piercing Scott with icy

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

don’t you

Scott rejected the idea

the organization’s right hand, the benefactor who had elevated him. He would never

anticipated this

wave of her hand, she released an odorless

breathe, Scott gasped for air, hands clutching at his neck, his eyes