The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Willa’s brow was furrowed in frustration, her fists clenched tightly.

“So many hideouts, damn it!” She muttered under her breath.

The real thorn in her side was discovering that Diana had been secretly conspiring with F-Poison! That damned traitor!

Meanwhile, Quincy discreetly texted Vivienne for help, knowing full well she was no match for Willa. Her only hope was to bring in reinforcements without making a sound.

But before she could relish the thought of rescue, Willa’s hand clamped down on her shoulder.

“Hey, kiddo, when the grown-ups are talking, you listen, okay?” Willa said with a smile that was anything but comforting.

Quincy attempted to resist, but it was futile.

With ease, Willa confiscated Quincy’s phone, then tied her to a chair, topping her work with a peachy little heart drawn on her forehead.

“As much as I’d love to catch up with Vivienne, I can’t right now. Give it two hours after I leave, and she’ll come running to save you,” Willa said as she tapped on the phone before setting it down and making her exit.

Quincy could only watch helplessly as Willa disappeared. Glancing at the phone, she saw the message was indeed sent, but with a two-hour delay before reaching Vivienne.

Cruel fate, indeed!

…

At the Perez Mansion.

Diana had just reached the front gate when laughter echoed from within.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, aware that Jasper was probably still fuming over today’s fiasco.

But then, to her astonishment, she heard Vivienne’s voice. Why was she still here?

In the Perez’s backyard, Vivienne was surprised by a strawberry cheesecake decorated with the names of Natalia, Yasmine, and her own!

bit embarrassed, looked at Vivienne. “I’m still perfecting my frosting skills, so just bear with

strawberry cheesecake. We wanted to know your birthday, but you said you don’t even

Vivienne had her reasons for

her mother was alive, she refrained from sharing personal details. Now that she knew, there hadn’t been time

her actual birthday, her heart felt incredibly

days ago, she had dreamed of gorging on strawberry cheesecake until she could not take another

obsession was just a passing fancy, never

not have been a masterpiece of culinary art, with its lopsided strawberries and smeared icing, but to her, it was the most delicious, most perfect strawberry cheesecake

all she

playfully smeared a bit of frosting

and Yasmine cheered, “Yay, we’re celebrating with

laughter as she glanced at

he said

out

on with a tender smile, a look of profound peace and contentment that

exchanged looks, each face illuminated by the irreplaceable

present, but it was undoubtedly the most

quietly observing the

a picture of

especially when her gaze fell on Vivienne. She imagined tearing that smiling face

at Sasha, she now wished to cast Vivienne into an inescapable

hard on her anger, Diana’s loathing

was dead, so what was she doing back

all of you!” She seethed

the intense glare and turned to

it was

last person who had looked at her with such

Diana at the door, their

forward. “Diana, I want to speak

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