The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne pushed open the heavy iron gate, rubbing her arms.

Though the sun was shining bright outside, the place seemed to cast a chilling shadow over everything.

“Mom, Grandpa, are you sure you don’t need me to come with you?” Vivienne asked.

Jasper shook his head. “No need, sweetheart. Your mother and I can handle this. You just wait here, okay?”

Vivienne nodded, watching Karen and Jasper disappear through the doorway.

She settled back into the car and began to nibble on a strawberry cheesecake.

As Karen pushed open the door, a nauseating stench hit her full force.

The person inside, hearing the noise, slowly turned her head.

Her hair was a tangled mess, unwashed for days.

Stains marred her clothes, and her bare feet were caked in dirt.

The source of the foul smell was clear—it emanated from her.

Jasper sighed deeply at the sight. “Diana…”

The person trapped here was, indeed, Diana!

After the cliff side explosion, Diana had been rushed to the hospital. Once she survived, the Perez family had locked her away here.

The villa might have looked like a luxury home, but it was more akin to a prison cell.

It had everything—a complete set of furniture.

But the all-black decor and the perpetual darkness turned the spacious abode into a haunted house.

There were no lights, no windows, and even the walls were painted black.

even the heat of summer could penetrate the coldness

only the torment of stillness,

was delivered daily, only to ensure Diana remained alive. Unaware of time or place, she could not

light was blinding, and it took Diana a

agape, but

stared blankly at

seemed like an eternity, she suddenly charged at them, screaming, “I am the only daughter of the Perez family,

pushed her

realizing just how deep Diana’s

all these years, but our bond

patted Karen’s hand, signaling

engage with the

in putting an end to it all. He had truly loved Diana as his

relationship had

leave, Diana’s eerie laughter filled the room, reminiscent of a deranged spirit

talk to me

a child would bring prosperity to the Perez family? Or that this adopted daughter would

me your righteousness! You’re nothing but a hypocrite! You adopted

I didn’t finish you off that day. If I had, there would

last look, then silently walked

I adopted Diana and Willa, especially with so

why did you adopt her

the line of duty, and I

smiled, realizing how the threads of fate entwined. “I don’t remember how I felt back

picking up a proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing did not faze her. After all, she had raised wolves

I possibly become

Wolf, you’ll always be a wolf to

and said, “Vivienne is just

through Jasper’s, “Yes,

a knowing smile. In their world, there was no room for regret.

were not the type to bemoan their

masters of their destiny, never