The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Diana flipped open the report, her eyes widening in disbelief as she saw today’s date stamped at the top.

“What on earth?” She exclaimed, her voice tinged with alarm.

How could this be happening?

Why had Yuri not given up on the paternity test with Vivienne?

She had already tampered with the test results back in Sea City!

Gillian shrugged dismissively. “How should I know? If I had not been on my toes, Vivienne’s true identity would have been exposed by now. Ms. Perez, it seems your standing in the Perez family is hanging by a thread.”

“There’s no need for your reminder, F-Poison!” Diana snapped back, her eyes ablaze with resentment.

And the woman in the villa, the one masquerading under Gillian’s guise, was indeed F-Poison.

F-Poison examined her reflection in the mirror, apparently quite pleased with her current facade. She reveled in Diana’s animosity without a hint of discomfort.

“Ms. Perez, anger leads to wrinkles, you know. You’re still so young; you should take care of your skin,” F-Poison advised, patting her own face gently.

Diana tore the paternity report into shreds and tossed it angrily into the trash bin.

She sat back, her gaze heavy with a cold intent. “Says someone who doesn’t have to live off her own face. Do you really care about it?”

F-Poison did not shy away from the question. “Of course, I take good care of my skin. Even with a mask, I wouldn’t let it suffer. A woman should never neglect herself.”

As F-Poison spoke, she settled opposite Diana, lifting a glass of red wine. “Ms. Perez, I’ve done you a huge favor. Shouldn’t I see some form of gratitude by now?”

Diana took a deep breath, her agitation subsiding. “I’ve only just arrived in Rivenwood, using my father’s illness as an excuse to come. Otherwise, the Perez family wouldn’t have wanted me here, fearing I’d charm my father into handing over the family fortune to me.”

“But you are here now, aren’t you? When will you fulfill your promise?”

F-Poison’s tone was light, as though she was commenting on the fine taste of the wine.

But Diana stiffened, a tingling sense of dread washing over her. She swallowed hard, fighting to keep her hands steady. “I’ll make good on my promise soon enough. Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten our deal.”

wine tracing her lips, her calm eyes betraying a hint of

her gaze, not daring

Don’t disappoint me,” F-Poison said with

a sigh of relief. “Enjoy your drink. I must be

back

and rushed to her car, her hands finally ceasing

steering wheel, she was haunted by the memory of that

six years

Perez Mansion’s backyard, she had watched a man scale the fence and approach

front of Diana, eyeing the intruder warily. “Who are

man, his features obscured by a half-mask, revealed only his lips, shadowed by a faint

the same age as my daughter. I’m F-Poison. It’s our first meeting, and I didn’t bring a gift. You don’t mind, do

you

to take you away, make your father lose you forever. That’s my fun. Come on, Sasha. Let’s go,”

did

father lose you forever,’

Sasha, who was fiercely protecting her, and

in her own skills. Yet, Diana picked up a stone and struck Sasha hard on

her

handed the stone to F-Poison, her voice timid. “You said to make her go

the car horn snapped Diana back

deep breath, and started the car,

managed to get rid of you thirty years ago. I won’t let your daughter become an obstacle now!’ With

…

At the Rivenwood Penitentiary.

through the

Flynn was curled up on the floor, clutching at his collar, gasping for breath, his body tormented as if covered in crawling ants, both painful and

in her mouth, her face

seem to be in quite a bit of pain,” she remarked, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she flipped the

the Ellington family, a figure

Percival’s heart, Flynn’s stature was no less than Richard

what had

him, plunging him into the

had the audacity to try to use the entire Ellington family to