The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne was no stranger to using her imagination. She rummaged through her bag and handed Aaron a stack of papers. “I need the final product in three days. Get it done.”

Aaron accepted the papers, and to his surprise, they contained plans for a state-of-the-art camera system made from transparent crystal material. If installed as the eyes of a bionic robot, they would be indistinguishable from human eyes!

“I assure you, the task will be completed.”

This was Aaron’s first mission since joining the Nine Mystics Society, and he could not afford to take it lightly.

He had to nail it to impress Vivienne and to prove that he, not Percival, was her most capable assistant.

“Good.” Vivienne nodded, watching Aaron’s confident demeanor.

This was his chance to prove himself, and whether he succeeded or failed, she would finally be able to flush out the traitor.

The reason she had tasked Aaron was to test him, to ensure he was not naively treating the Society like some kind of adventure game.

As Vivienne prepared to leave, Aaron opened his mouth to speak when a deep, magnetic voice called out from ahead.

“Vivienne, I’m here.”

Both Vivienne and Aaron looked up, their expressions changing. Vivienne was elated. Aaron, on the other hand, was clearly annoyed.

“Mr. Wolf! Did you bring the strawberry cheesecake?” Vivienne ran over like a schoolgirl, throwing herself into Percival’s arms, her eyes lighting up at the thought of her favorite treat.

Percival chuckled and ruffled her hair. “Don’t you want to see me instead of just eyeing the cheesecake?”

made

wait to dig into the cheesecake, and the stoic Percival

light across the playground,

the cheesecake, while the one he

sun’s last gleam highlighted the cake box before

wind seemed to scoff at his futile effort. “How laughable, your painstaking efforts

Mara watched the scene unfold, a slow smile creeping across

the strawberry cheesecake he had bought. The

timely offering of iced coffee.“I heard the campus heartthrob was moping here, so I came

accepted the iced coffee. Though he had not spent much time with Mara, their mutual friend

about a campus heartthrob?” Aaron asked,

into her mouth. “You and Kenneth, man. The gaming ace and the future

“What’s all this

not one for the campus gossip, I guess. I knew about it on my first day. The top-liked post

the confessions. People are saying if you guys were not a thing, they’d go after

“There’s nothing between us. If anything, he’s my rival. Always

face. “I know you guys are just bros, but it’s fun for us to fantasize. There are plenty who

the mention of secret crushes, Aaron’s spirits

No amount of strawberry

Aaron, having witnessed the scene

I’m here to listen,”

needing to vent, did not care

for years. She’s been my entire youth, but she doesn’t like me back. She’s

how to get her to notice me. It

many