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?”

a strawberry cheesecake made by Mr. Wolf himself. Give

wait to dig into the cheesecake, and the stoic

light across the playground,

of the cheesecake, while the one he had waited

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

scoff at his futile effort. “How laughable, your painstaking efforts couldn’t outshine a simple

Mara watched the scene unfold, a slow smile creeping across

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

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

he had not spent much time with Mara, their mutual friend Kenneth had introduced them, and they had

a campus heartthrob?” Aaron asked,

into her mouth. “You and Kenneth, man. The gaming ace and

frowned. “What’s all

first

all the confessions.

his tea. “There’s nothing between

laugh at Aaron’s flushed face. “I know you guys are just bros, but it’s fun for us to fantasize. There are plenty

of secret crushes, Aaron’s spirits

crushes were painful. No amount of strawberry cheesecake could cure

through Aaron, having witnessed

here to

to vent, did not care who was

liked someone for years. She’s been my entire youth, but she

how to get her to notice me. It feels like

yours to begin with! You’re outstanding, but Percival is many times more outstanding,” Mara thought