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.

How did you end up here? What the hell were you

should be asking you. You’ve been on top of me the whole day. You’ve got some Hulk strength or something; I couldn’t even shove you off. Look at

red mark on his

check on them and caught Kenneth with his shirt up and Aaron

blinked. “Sorry, didn’t mean to

that, Anna hurried downstairs, thinking she had chosen the worst possible moment

her, but Aaron held

What’s going on

with Vivienne, who seemed to be checking his pulse, and then nothing

for why Kenneth was there and what Anna was

her from your clutches, and you just dragged me down and laid on top of me, trying to

frowned, clueless. “You brought

licked his lips, guilt

a text from Percival saying Anna was coming over to discuss some college prep with Aaron, so he brought the fire extinguisher as a precaution for the confrontation. But he hadn’t expected to find Aaron and Vivienne in a bedroom, which altered

Do I sense Kenneth

I didn’t

What about you, holding onto

was at a loss for words, remembering

the fire extinguisher inquiry, Kenneth clapped him on the shoulder, walking him out. “Forget it.

…

satisfaction at the successful chip

side, meticulously wiping her wrist

complained, withdrawing her hand. “The chip has fused

smiled faintly. “Vivienne,

as you. How did you know something was off with

a glance if someone was poisoned

found anything unusual in Mara’s home, be

could Percival have been so

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

that’s

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

intended to drug me and Aaron. You switched my medicine but let Aaron suffer. Weren’t you afraid something might

his embrace. “Because I knew you wouldn’t

narrowed her eyes