The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne rolled her eyes at the scene before her and silently slipped out of the room.

Anna stood at the doorway, gripping Mara, who was feigning unconsciousness.

“Ms. Vivienne, what should we do with her?”

“Forget her,” Vivienne waved dismissively. “Just feed this to Aaron when he wakes up.”

Anna nodded in understanding. “Got it.”

As Vivienne left, she couldn’t help but give Mara a wry smile.

Meanwhile, Kenneth was floundering in the bedroom, shouting, “Isn’t anyone coming to save me? Hello? Anybody?!”

Anna glanced indifferently at Kenneth, then descended the stairs, dragging the “passed out” Mara behind her.

Mara bit back the pain, seething with resentment. Couldn’t this woman carry her down the stairs properly instead of dragging her like some rag doll?

Her legs were probably covered in bruises!

And why on earth was Kenneth here?

Mara had planned to trap Aaron and Vivienne together and then bring Percival over to witness. Even if nothing happened, the misunderstanding would be enough.

Without Percival, and with a rift between her and Aaron, her mission would be complete.

But Kenneth ended up being the one to show up, ruining everything!

Idiot!

It wasn’t until nightfall that Aaron finally opened his eyes, lying atop Kenneth.

With a throbbing headache, he sat up, parched and clueless about what had happened.

“Dude, you’ve been sitting on my junk,” Kenneth groaned.

Aaron jumped back as if electrocuted, stumbling until he hit a dresser, finally snapping to his senses.

you end up here? What the

been on top of me the whole day.

reveal a red mark on his chest where

in to check on them and caught Kenneth with his shirt up and

didn’t mean

hurried downstairs, thinking she had chosen

to follow her, but Aaron held him

What’s

in a room with Vivienne, who seemed to be

what Anna was doing there, he

“I came here to sort you out. What were you doing here, and why were you holding Vivienne’s hand like that? I rushed in to rescue her from your clutches, and you just dragged me down and laid on top of me, trying to rip off my shirt. If I hadn’t knocked you out with the fire extinguisher, my

frowned, clueless. “You brought a fire

his lips, guilt flickering

to discuss some college prep with Aaron, so he brought the fire extinguisher as a precaution for

Do I sense Kenneth got

Really? I didn’t

you care what I bring? What about you, holding

a loss for words,

on the shoulder, walking him out.

…

Vivienne smiled in satisfaction at the successful

was by her side, meticulously wiping her

complained, withdrawing her hand. “The chip has fused with Mara’s body. Three more

smiled faintly.

glance, “Not as amazing as you. How

medicine, could usually tell at a glance if someone was poisoned or ill. But she

in Mara’s home, be it the fruit

Percival have been

pinched Vivienne’s palm gently. “I’ve got

that’s not

raised an eyebrow playfully. “Actually, the drugs Mara bought were sold by

all along Mara intended to drug me and Aaron. You switched my medicine but let Aaron suffer. Weren’t you afraid

Vivienne into his embrace. “Because I knew you wouldn’t let anything

narrowed her eyes