The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Willa handed the elderly man with snow-white hair a piece of paper. “So, about Fl… that Veridian man, the one who’s crazy about plants?”

The old man composed himself. “Since that incident, Flynn hasn’t visited much. He lost his usual cheerfulness; Elliot’s death hit him hard. Later, he chose to stay on campus and even found himself a stunning girlfriend. With her support, he gradually recovered. He went back to Veridia a while back and stopped by to thank me for looking after him. After that, I lost touch with him.”

And later, of course, he ended up in prison, tormented day after day, never to find peace again.

Willa’s gaze hardened as she asked, “All these years, do you still visit Elliot’s memorial when you remember him?”

The old man nodded and then shook his head. “Not exactly. After Elliot passed away, I moved into his dorm room. I kept all his belongings, thinking I’d return them to his parents. But some things couldn’t be taken, so I left them as they were.”

A glimmer shone in Willa’s eyes. “Can you take me to see his room?”

The old man seemed to have not spoken about these memories for a long time and agreed readily, “Sure, let’s go.”

The dorm was a two-bedroom with a living area. The old man lived in the right room, while the sunlit room on the left belonged to F-Poison.

Willa pushed the door open and entered. The room was tidy, preserved in the style of many years ago.

It was clear the old man held this place dear.

“May I have a moment alone here?” Willa asked.

The old man nodded, “Of course. But may I ask, who was Elliot to you?”

Willa pressed her lips, “He was my father.”

The old man paused in surprise. “I thought there was something of him in you. I guessed right then. Child, take your time to remember your father.”

Willa thanked him and then closed the door behind her.

Remember?

Impossible.

yet comfortable room, thanks

The sunlight was warm here. Even without airing out the bedding, it felt comforting to touch. Then, she took a deep breath and

probably the closest she’d ever been to her biological father

watching Sasha bounce on Jasper’s bed, calling for him to wake up. But fearing her godfather’s displeasure at overstepping, she could only watch secretly.

watched

family treated her very well, as one of their own, she knew she had to be aware of

adoptive family to repay them in every way

bed, she felt no special connection. Nothing like the joy Sasha or Diana

up, and approached F-Poison’s wardrobe. She opened it to find a few simple, outdated pieces of clothing. Looking further, she found a box with

she sat down at F-Poison’s desk and opened a drawer. Inside

seemed too

notes, which were filled with technical jargon Willa couldn’t understand, she took photos to

the desk and the wall. Something was stuck

down, Willa found a

took

the ST-0

beyond Willa’s comprehension. But she

Karen, then packed the notebook to

saying goodbye to the old man, Willa

you find

every day. There’s not even a fingerprint left. And there’s nothing about ST-0 in the lesson plans or anything. If I hadn’t noticed the gap above the desk and found the notebook, I wouldn’t have found

it. Come back

up, Karen printed out the information Willa had

“Mom, why do I feel like F-Poison wasn’t just trying to upgrade

one around F-Poison. Could he have been experimenting on him?”Books Chapters