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?”

like a strawberry cheesecake made by Mr.

a kitten after cream, Vivienne could not wait to dig into the cheesecake, and the stoic Percival unwrapped it for her to enjoy

across the

watched Vivienne’s profile as she savored each bite of the cheesecake, while the one he had waited half an hour in line to purchase sat abandoned on the

cake box before fading away, along with

whispers of the wind seemed to scoff at his futile effort. “How laughable, your painstaking efforts couldn’t outshine a simple

distance, Mara watched the scene unfold, a slow smile

strawberry cheesecake he had bought. The cloying sweetness made him feel nauseous as if he

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

much time with Mara, their

about a campus heartthrob?” Aaron asked,

beside him, plucking a strawberry 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

“What’s all

first day. The top-liked post on the

all the confessions. People are saying

choked on his tea. “There’s nothing between us. If anything, he’s my

bros, but it’s

the mention of secret crushes, Aaron’s spirits visibly

painful. No amount of strawberry cheesecake could cure that kind

saw right through Aaron, having witnessed the scene

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

vent, did not care who was

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

how to get her to notice me. It feels like she’s slipping

never yours to begin with! You’re outstanding, but Percival is many times more outstanding,” Mara thought