The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Scott suddenly grabbed Calista’s neck, pulling her roughly toward him as his eyes blazed with a chilling intensity.

“No? Then you’ll die for it!”

Calista’s eyes reddened with fear, and tears streamed down her face instantly.

She knew Scott was serious—he would undoubtedly let her die.

Disgusted, Scott pushed Calista away and wiped his hands with a tissue. “Brody has bugged you. Get back to the lab tomorrow, work on that virus with TIC Research Institute, and don’t screw up.”

Calista nodded in understanding. “Yes, I’ve got it.”

Scott gave Calista a cold glance that carried the same annoyance as he felt with her mother.

Then, donning his mask, he stood up and left. He still had to track down Rowan and Ismene.

Those two had betrayed the organization, and they would not be forgiven.

In the restaurant, Vivienne bit into a juicy steak, scrolling through messages on her phone.

[Vivienne, Timothy’s fine. The Brooks family business is a bit messy, but Baron’s in charge, so it’s stable. Timothy’s been auditing the company accounts lately.]

While chewing on her steak, Vivienne replied. [If Timothy’s alright, then check on Carl. Make sure their whole family’s safe.]

Matthew responded promptly. [On it.]

Vivienne was engrossed in her phone, oblivious to Percival’s longing gaze from across the table.

It was not until Vivienne reached for the next dish that she noticed Percival’s eager eyes.

“Mr. Wolf, do I look that appetizing to you?”

A shadow flickered in Percival’s eyes, which seemed to linger on Vivienne. “Yes, you do look quite appetizing.”

“Then eat up. You’ve got a match this afternoon.” Vivienne forked some salad into her mouth.

Percival raised an eyebrow. “You know?”

Vivienne glanced up. “Snake lost their championship chance in the team match three years ago, but a month later, they came back and took six titles in a row. There’s no way they did that by themselves.”

Hawk’s top coach, Vivienne knew all about the

compared to Hawk, still lagged

their prime, Bennett and his

slower reflexes now and Hawk’s lack of funds to attract promising new

had the backing of Kenneth’s financial empire, willing to spend and nurture talent. With a mysterious coach joining three years ago, they quickly surpassed old rival Hawk to become the top in

been curious about this secretive coach. She had sent Matthew to investigate but to

met Percival, the pieces fell

imagined facing off against Mr.

steak onto Vivienne’s plate and raising his juice

her eyes sparkling mischievously. She raised her glass and clinked it lightly against his.

…

the group stage were announced on the first day of

group stage but were not placed in the same

smirked at the grouping information, taunting Bennett across the room, “Tell Aaron we’ll see him in the finals—if you

“Why don’t you tell Aaron yourself? I saw you carrying Aaron back to the lounge at lunch. Seems

Bennett left the drawing room

about the tension between Kenneth

like Aaron’s “little lackey,” carrying him

Kenneth, the young heir of the Ellington

Kenneth was so enraged

was a

way would he let his brother

his jaw fiercely. “Just wait until we meet in the match—your whole team will be packing their

breather from the qualifiers. Vivienne and Percival set up training tasks for their teams

reason for Percival to go to the hospital, he felt he

people from distributing

overthinking it; the one prone to careless

I realize

my granddaughters any suffering? You’re good for nothing but trouble. If your brother hadn’t let it slip, I’d still be in the dark about my

cane,

to breathe

always losing our treasures. Why can’t you

his granddaughters, and his thoughts turned to

of something

bear to think

Sasha…