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,

intentions were as impure

Paula as a pawn to kill Karen

him apart. Because it was the

his shock, Karen

used his identity to eliminate over a hundred GTO

Scott realized that Karen had recognized him all along. She had stayed silent, biding her time until she could

Scott could not tell

knew he

Scott was absolutely certain she

knew Arabella was not his child, yet 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, he knew nothing had

so deeply in love with another man and so cunning, use intimacy

paternity tests to put to rest the faint

him and Vivienne, he found

Intelligence Agency came back

it, believed that he had

he knew someone would always shatter

countenance shift unpredictably, Vivienne knew precisely

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

Scott remained silent.

scoffed, her clear eyes brimming with disdain and mockery, “So, spare me the act of deep

a dagger, piercing Scott

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

“Why don’t you introduce

rejected the idea

B was the organization’s right hand, the benefactor who had elevated him. He would never betray GTO, not even for

anticipated

her hand, she released an odorless gas that shot straight for Scott’s

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