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

been on top of me the whole day. You’ve got some Hulk

reveal a red mark on his chest where Aaron had

check on them and caught Kenneth with his shirt up

“Sorry, didn’t mean to

had chosen the worst possible

follow her, but Aaron held him

yourself! What’s

being locked in a room with Vivienne, who seemed to be checking

was there and what Anna was doing there,

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

“You brought a

his lips, guilt

truth was, he had received a text from Percival saying Anna was coming over to discuss some college prep with Aaron, so he brought the fire extinguisher

sense Kenneth got played

I didn’t

you, holding onto Vivienne’s hand with dubious

was at a loss

him on the shoulder, walking him out. “Forget it. Let’s head back to

…

smiled in satisfaction at the successful chip synthesis

her side, meticulously wiping her wrist with antiseptic wipes, one

chip has fused with Mara’s body. Three

faintly. “Vivienne,

as you. How did you know something was off

tell at a glance if someone was poisoned or ill. But she hadn’t

home, be it the fruit tea or anything

Percival have been so

gently. “I’ve

that’s

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

you knew all along Mara intended to drug me and Aaron. You switched my medicine but let

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

her eyes