The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Yorick Linklater squinted his eyes, truly oblivious to the fact that his most well-behaved son had been stirring up such trouble behind his back.

To think his son had even ventured into the black market, exploiting his privileges!

He had surely underestimated this wretched boy!

The next moment, Yorick’s boot connected viciously with Dracon’s jaw, nearly shattering it. “You beast, shut your mouth! Worthless trash!”

Dracon was in too much pain to speak.

Yorick, tired of the spectacle, settled back into his chair. “Percival, come in.”

Percival stepped through the door, his steely gaze briefly sweeping over the maggot writhing on the floor. “Yorick.”

“This mess is my fault for not keeping a tighter leash. I’ll cover all the losses the Brooks family has suffered. Go back and tell Vivienne not to fret about the bionic tech incident. I’ll look into it discreetly. As for F-Poison, we’re blind until she surfaces again.”

Percival was of the same mind. “Understood.”

Yorick exhaled deeply, producing a contract. “Take this as compensation for Vivienne and the Brooks family. We’ll address the losses separately.”

Percival scanned the document—it was an international business contract. Without lifting a finger, they’d rake in thirty billion dollars a year.

He pocketed the contract unceremoniously. Vivienne, the little money-hoarder, would probably forgive all his transgressions at the sight of it!

“Yorick, I’ll take my leave then.” Percival grinned, knowing full well that Dracon was not his problem to handle.

With Dracon silenced by Yorick and Gillian taken away for investigation, it seemed peace would reign, at least for a while.

Matthew held the contract with a grin that threatened to split his face. Thirty billion dollars! That was his salary for three whole years! Now, with this windfall, he could certainly petition Vivienne for a bonus.

Percival shook his head at the sight of Matthew’s glee, musing how he mirrored Vivienne’s expression when it came to money. No wonder Leopold pinched pennies like no other—it was an Emerald Mountain tradition!

“Achoo!” Leopold sneezed so violently as soon as he woke up that he nearly tore his sutures.

it easy? Are you trying to undo your stitches? Do you

over Leopold. Now that he was

be Percival badmouthing me behind my back—why else would I be sneezing?” Leopold protested, propped up in bed, swathed in bandages, his only mobility in his restless

Dad mentioned your father’s not been well; didn’t want to worry

“Good. They’d be fretting over nothing. Ow, I’m starving. Is Soren

feeding Leopold, “Still out. Anna’s with

agreement. “Yeah, with Vivienne and Boss

nonchalance, Leopold’s eyes darted toward the

wheelchair and helped Leopold

usually this chummy. Can’t it wait?” Griffin

need some fresh

arrived at Soren’s room to find Karen and Vivienne chatting outside. Vivienne

How’s Soren? Still

too well. “Anna’s with him.

wrong with Anna being there? Let me check on

he maneuvered the wheelchair forward, Griffin held it back. “Vivienne and Cordelia

complied, peering through the

chair, tenderly wiping Soren’s face with a damp cloth. Her motions were gentle,

Leopold gasped.

in the world?

to bicker nonstop, and now they seemed

really Anna?

knowing smile. “Anna and Soren are a good match. They might seem cold on

must be

nodded. “Sort of. We heard from the team that Soren gave her his last

felt reassured. “I thought so. And here I’ve been rooting

the devil, Kenneth arrived just

of health supplements, Kenneth stood behind the crowd, peering through the glass at how tenderly Anna was caring

to take it easy. I’ll