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.”

all, as Hawk’s top coach, Vivienne knew all about the history

though fresher with new blood compared to

their prime, Bennett and his team

now and Hawk’s lack of funds to attract promising new players, they were in

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

curious about this secretive coach. She had sent Matthew to investigate but to no

had met Percival, the pieces fell

facing off

intentions, switching his finely cut steak onto Vivienne’s plate and raising his juice glass

licked the salad dressing from the corner of her mouth, her eyes sparkling mischievously. She

…

teams for the group stage were announced on

to the group stage but were not placed in the same

Bennett across the room, “Tell Aaron we’ll see him in the finals—if you

you tell Aaron yourself?

left the drawing room

knew about the tension

“little lackey,” carrying him back to

about the fiery temper of Kenneth, the

was so enraged he nearly

a

he let his brother

his jaw fiercely. “Just wait until we meet in the match—your

qualifiers. Vivienne and Percival set up training tasks for their teams and headed

reason for Percival to go

some people from

Percival was overthinking it; the one prone to careless card

realize

brother hadn’t let it slip, I’d still be in the dark about my

cane, his eyes reddening with

to breathe too

the Perez family is cursed, always

ached for his granddaughters, and his thoughts turned

of something happening to

not bear to

Sasha…