The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne looked around at the grandeur of the Brooks Mansion one last time. The Brooks family, a name that once meant everything to her, had become a thing of the past.

Baron could not hold back but called out as she was about to leave. “Vivienne… what kind of punishment will he face?”

She paused, her beautiful eyes brimming with delight as she glanced back at the face that time had not been kind to. “The law will take care of his misdeeds. How severe the punishment will be depends on the gravity of his crimes.”

With that, Vivienne looked at Baron, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “No wonder the Brooks have stood strong for a century. Baron, you sure have mastered the art of playing the fool.”

Baron’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

Vivienne’s slender, pale fingers brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her smile now bewitching. “I’m not Scott’s biological daughter. You knew that all along, didn’t you?”

Baron’s pupils shook, but then he slowly revealed his true cunning nature, mixed with a unique sharpness. “You’re frighteningly clever, Vivienne. It’s a shame you’re not my blood. If you were, I’d hand over the reins of the Brooks family to you.”

He believed the Brooks name could stand firm for another century with Vivienne in charge.

But Vivienne’s smile deepened. “It’s a pity, but the Brooks family doesn’t interest me.”

After a brief pause, she added, “Baron, sometimes ignorance is bliss. Otherwise, life can be quite exhausting, don’t you agree?”

She had to admit that Baron always had many roles up his sleeve. He could play the domineering patriarch, the affectionate father, or the carefree man hidden from the world.

Even his recent display of affection towards Scott was an act.

When had he ever stopped performing? Perhaps only when he spoke of Dahlia did a moment of genuineness shine through.

Baron watched Vivienne for a long while before he burst into laughter. “You’re right. Ignorance can be a blessing.”

never truly loved his so-called eldest son or his current children. They were all conceived through Judith’s

harbor deep affection for

he knew that the boy was

hand over the position of head of the family, he might well have found himself dead

choice but to pass on the mantle and keep control of the Brooks business empire as leverage

days in a nursing home.

nothing but buy Karen some time at the engagement party, doing

performance for Vivienne today was also to ensure that she would

organization back then, Scott and Karen might have become the perfect couple people talked

blood ties to Scott either.

Vivienne and Scott, which differed from the one

did not know who sent it, but being as shrewd as he was, he realized

for Vivienne when the Brooks family gave her trouble, although she never

capabilities but also for Karen, the talented woman who came to investigate Scott but was

also a way to repay a

he had been aware for a long time

he known? He

over at Timothy and Melissa’s family.

would still look out for the Brooks family for her

she linked arms

Mansion, Vivienne received

got time? Fancy

the corners of her lips, her slender fingers

light dance in her eyes, Percival playfully rubbed the corner

her phone, her eyes reflecting his handsome features. “Astrid wants to hit

nodded, “Let’s go.

shades and a chic hunter-green trench coat, looking every