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.

had thought they would be forever, just like an everlasting

her intentions were as impure

decision to use Paula as a pawn to kill Karen at

apart. Because it was the woman he

his

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

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

could not tell if he

he would never forget

appeared, Scott was absolutely certain she

not his

they had shared a bed that night, and the

could Karen, so deeply in love with another man and so cunning,

arranged paternity tests to put to rest the faint hope

confirmed a genetic match between him and Vivienne, he found solace, repeatedly convincing himself that Karen had loved

Frostfire Intelligence Agency came back positive: Vivienne was

believed it, believed that he had

someone would always shatter

unpredictably, Vivienne knew

the underworld. “I know you didn’t kill my mother.

Scott remained silent.

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

like a dagger,

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

you introduce me

Scott rejected the

organization’s right hand, the benefactor who had elevated him. He

anticipated

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

hands clutching at his neck, his