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

kitten after cream, Vivienne could not wait to dig into the cheesecake, and the stoic Percival unwrapped it for her to enjoy with

cast its dying light across the playground, the two

profile as she savored each bite of the cheesecake, while the one he had waited half an hour in line

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

at his futile effort. “How laughable, your painstaking efforts

the scene unfold, a

had bought. The cloying sweetness made him feel nauseous as

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

much time with Mara, their mutual friend Kenneth had

a campus heartthrob?” Aaron asked,

him, plucking a strawberry from the cake and popping it into her mouth. “You and Kenneth, man. The gaming ace and the future finance mogul, the ideal boyfriend, inheriting a fortune. You guys are

frowned. “What’s all

gossip, I guess. I knew about it on my first day. The top-liked post on the campus network is about

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

his tea. “There’s nothing between us. If anything, he’s my

know you guys are just bros, but it’s fun for us to fantasize. There are plenty who have secret crushes

the mention of secret

No amount of strawberry cheesecake could cure that

saw right through Aaron, having

If you want, I’m here to listen,” she offered with a

needing to vent, did not care

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

get her to notice me. It feels

You’re outstanding, but Percival is many times more outstanding,” Mara thought silently, though she maintained a sympathetic