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?”

nothing like a strawberry cheesecake made by Mr. Wolf himself. Give it

not wait to dig into the cheesecake, and the

dying light across the playground, the two

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

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

the wind seemed to scoff at his futile effort. “How laughable,

Mara watched the scene unfold, a slow

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

iced coffee.“I heard the campus heartthrob was moping

with

about a campus heartthrob?” Aaron

The gaming ace and the future finance mogul, the ideal boyfriend, inheriting a

frowned. “What’s all

about it on my first day.

phone. “Look at all the confessions. People are

between us. If anything, he’s my rival. Always

you guys are just bros, but it’s fun

mention of secret

amount of strawberry cheesecake could

through Aaron, having witnessed

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

vent, did not care who

entire youth, but she doesn’t like me back. She’s already

low. “I don’t know how to get her to notice me. It feels like she’s

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