The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

In the study, Diana had already prepared a cup of coffee for Jasper, waiting in the silent room for his arrival.

As soon as Jasper stepped in, he noticed the red rims around Diana’s eyes, a clear sign of her guilt about the day’s earlier events.

Jasper had always been stern with the boys in the household, quick to wield his walking stick when they stepped out of line. But with the girls, it was a different story; he rarely had a harsh word to say.

It was not just out of a fondness for Sasha, who had gone missing long ago. He simply believed that girls were to be cherished.

Even when Natalia and Yasmine, the mischievous ones, had nearly shaved off their eyebrows with Maddox’s razor, he had only chuckled and playfully tapped them on the head.

He had never laid a finger in anger on Diana, too.

Today, however, Jasper was truly upset.

He had raised Diana; he knew her every mood and thought. How could he not see what was on her mind?

Diana didn’t take kindly to Vivienne and was not particularly fond of Natalia and Yasmine either. He was well aware of that.

“Dad,” Diana said, her voice breaking as tears spilled over.

Normally, Jasper would have handed her a tissue or teased gently, “What’s got my little girl crying this time?”

But not today. He sat down heavily in his chair, his usual warmth replaced by a brooding silence.

After a while, Diana stopped crying and hung her head in silence.

Jasper let out a deep sigh, his words laden with disappointment, “Diana, you really crossed the line today.”

fake. I was deceived, too.

stoop to giving fake gifts. There are plenty of treasures in our family that could

jolt through Diana. “Dad, how could

How could he harbor such animosity towards her?” Jasper tapped his cane,

saved Yorick at the Linklaters’ estate. “That day, Vivienne embarrassed Dracon. So today,

might as well admit that you told him all about Vivienne!” Jasper’s voice was heavy with disappointment. “Diana, how would

the incident with Jasper. They had been

would certainly have known Vivienne’s true identity. Nothing that happened within the Linklater family escaped his

revealed Vivienne’s identity as the Specter Healer, and it was indeed deliberate. He did not even know Vivienne, let alone have a reason to investigate

Diana realized what he had done, she knew she was in trouble, but it was too late to

“Diana, I know you feel threatened by Vivienne’s arrival. You’re scared

was no point

I have raised you all these years? Don’t think of yourself as just Sasha’s replacement. You are Diana, my third

tears as she looked at

voice turning gentle. “You, Sasha, Willa – I’ve never shown favoritism. I may have been preoccupied with finding Sasha, but I’ve never neglected you. I’ve prepared your wedding

with

mind, don’t do this again. I treat all my

nodded. “I understand,

late. Get some rest. And don’t let this happen again. I’ll deal with your

pausing at the door, her eyes

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