The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

F-Poison narrowed her eyes, her voice dropping to a serious growl. “What do you mean? Did this guy named Vesper save Vivienne, or because of him, you couldn’t drop the poison?”

F-Poison’s rare display of emotion took Diana aback. “Yeah, it was Vesper who saved Vivienne.”

She relayed the details of Vivienne’s rescue by Vesper, which she had meant to share before, but F-Poison had seemed disinterested.

However, upon hearing the story, F-Poison’s gaze turned gravely serious. “Are you sure that this Vesper guy stepped in after Vivienne drank the juice?”

“Yeah, what’s the big deal?” Diana asked, perplexed.

F-Poison usually had little change in expression, whether it was committing arson or enjoying a fondue as if nothing mattered to her. But this time, Diana could see the weight in her thoughts.

After a moment, F-Poison let out a sardonic laugh, her eyes lifting to meet Diana’s. “Go see Flynn again.”

Diana’s surprise was clear. “But we agreed on only one visit. How can I keep coming up with excuses to see him?”

“No matter the excuse, you must see him, Diana. If you want to stay in the Perez family, it’s essential,” F-Poison said, standing up, a dangerous aura enveloping her.

Swallowing hard, Diana pressed, “Can’t you tell me why?”

A sly smile played on F-Poison’s lips. “Sasha might be coming back.”

Diana shot up. “What are you talking about? That’s impossible! Didn’t you say she was dead?”

The solemnity had vanished from F-Poison’s face, replaced with mockery. “Dead doesn’t mean she can’t come back. Sasha’s a clever one. You should be glad she remembers nothing.”

“What do I do? One Vivienne is trouble enough, now with Sasha possibly returning? No, she cannot come back!”

Pacing in front of F-Poison, Diana was in a panic. “Right, I must see Flynn. He’s F-Poison’s apprentice, so he must know the details of Sasha’s disappearance and how to deal with her.”

her purse and

go, a quiet chuckle

returning home, Diana concocted numerous excuses, knowing that asking to see Flynn would raise suspicions within the Perez family, especially from Maddox, whose hostility had grown

Even though they were uninvolved with CK, they had connections to GTO, and Yorick

in

thought, Diana

call so late?” Dracon’s voice held a

still awake? Waiting for my call, perhaps?” Diana’s voice was soft and

already harbored feelings for Diana, and her words

your call for

I need to ask of you. Can

matters are mine,” Dracon replied

Diana explained her

do you need to see Flynn?

disappearance. If I had not fallen asleep, things might’ve been

pause, Diana added, “You know my older brothers don’t trust me

yourself.

said,

Perez family the next day with gifts, seeking Jasper’s permission to meet

solid, and Jasper consented

doesn’t bother with Linklater family affairs. Why the sudden interest?” Yuri

second son, with one older brother and two younger siblings who were pillars of their nation, especially the

on Diana. Don’t let her get too close to Dracon. She didn’t want to marry him back then, but now they’re still

where you’re mistaken. It’s a classic case of playing hard to get. Who

grabbed a handful of trail mix from the bowl, and lobbed it at Maddox. “Hard to get, huh? Well, don’t you know it all? So why hasn’t Willa fallen