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?”

cheesecake made by

dig into the cheesecake, and the

sun cast its dying light across the playground, the

watched Vivienne’s profile as she savored each bite of the cheesecake, while the one he had waited half an

sun’s last gleam highlighted the cake box

his futile effort.

scene unfold, a slow smile

had bought. The

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

with Mara, their mutual friend Kenneth had

a campus heartthrob?” Aaron

from the cake and popping it into her mouth. “You and Kenneth, man. The gaming ace and the future finance mogul, the ideal boyfriend, inheriting a fortune. You guys are always together, and people are shipping you two together,

“What’s all

I guess. I knew about it on my first

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

his tea. “There’s nothing between us. If anything,

guys are just bros, but it’s fun for us

of secret crushes, Aaron’s spirits

No amount of strawberry cheesecake could

saw right through Aaron, having witnessed the scene

you want, I’m here to listen,” she offered

needing to vent, did not care who was

entire youth, but she doesn’t like

get

with! You’re outstanding, but Percival is many times