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?”

strawberry cheesecake made by Mr. Wolf himself. Give

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

dying light across

while the one he had waited half an hour in line to purchase sat

cake box

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

scene unfold, a slow

on the steps, methodically eating the strawberry cheesecake he had bought. The cloying sweetness made him feel nauseous as if he

heard the campus heartthrob was moping here, so I

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

about a campus heartthrob?”

sat down 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 always together, and people are shipping you two

“What’s all

campus gossip, I guess. I knew about it on my first day. The top-liked post on

showed him the campus network on her phone. “Look at all the confessions. People are saying if you guys were

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

know you guys are just bros, but

the mention of secret crushes, Aaron’s spirits

strawberry cheesecake could cure

Aaron, having witnessed the

I’m here to listen,” she offered with a warm

not care who

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

know how to get

many times more outstanding,” Mara