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 Mr.

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

cast its dying light across the playground,

the one he had waited half an hour in

gleam highlighted the cake box before fading away, along with Aaron’s sweet

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

watched the scene unfold, a slow smile creeping across

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

timely offering of iced coffee.“I heard the campus heartthrob was moping here, so I came to check it

with Mara, their mutual friend Kenneth had introduced them, and

this about a campus heartthrob?”

it into her mouth. “You and Kenneth, man. The gaming ace and the future finance mogul,

frowned. “What’s all this

I guess. I knew about it on my first day. The

the confessions. People are saying if you guys were

choked on his tea. “There’s nothing between

you guys are just bros, but it’s

the mention of secret crushes, Aaron’s

crushes were painful. No amount of strawberry cheesecake could cure that kind

through Aaron, having witnessed the

want, I’m here to listen,” she

needing to vent, did not care who was

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

how to get her to notice

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