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 by Mr. Wolf himself. Give it

into the cheesecake, and the stoic

dying light across

savored each bite of the cheesecake, while the one he had waited half an hour in line to purchase sat abandoned on

sun’s last gleam highlighted the cake box before fading away, along

whispers of the wind seemed to scoff at his futile

the scene unfold,

dejectedly on the steps, methodically eating the strawberry cheesecake he had bought. The cloying

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

not spent much time with Mara, their mutual friend Kenneth had introduced

about a campus heartthrob?” Aaron asked,

The gaming ace and the future finance

“What’s all

it on my first day. The top-liked post on the campus network is about you

network on her phone. “Look at all the confessions. People are saying

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

bros, but it’s fun for us to fantasize.

the mention of secret crushes, Aaron’s

painful. No amount of strawberry cheesecake could cure

Aaron, having witnessed the scene

on your mind? If you want, I’m here to listen,” she offered

vent, did not care who was

been my entire youth, but she doesn’t

don’t know how to get her to notice me. It

never yours to begin with! You’re outstanding, but Percival is many times more outstanding,” Mara thought silently, though she maintained a sympathetic