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 it

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

the sun cast its dying light across the playground,

of the cheesecake, while the one he had waited half an

box before fading

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

distance, Mara watched the scene unfold, a slow smile creeping

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

a timely offering of iced coffee.“I heard the campus

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

this about a campus

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

“What’s all

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

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

nearly choked on his tea. “There’s nothing between us. If anything,

“I know you guys are just bros,

secret crushes, Aaron’s spirits visibly

No amount of strawberry cheesecake

Aaron, having witnessed the scene with

on your mind? If you want, I’m here

needing to vent, did not

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

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

many times more outstanding,” Mara thought silently,