The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Willa took a bite of the salad and asked nonchalantly, “I don’t see the link.”

“But there is!”

Karen exhaled heavily and pinched Willa’s cheek. “Didn’t Dad drill it into you since you were knee-high to a grasshopper that you can’t be picky, that you can’t just eat the steak and ignore the salad? Because that’s just common sense, it’s the basics, it’s about not being wasteful.”

Willa nodded, confused. “Isn’t that how it should be?”

“But what if you just don’t like the salad? If you don’t want to eat it, then don’t. Not everything you do has to please Dad, nor does every action have to benefit the Perez family before you decide to do it. Everything you do should make you happy, got it?”

Willa sort of got it, but not really. She had always told herself that whatever happened, she needed to put the interests of the Perez family first.

The only time she ever went against Jasper’s wishes was when she had to leave the Perez family because of the F-Poison incident.

But technically, it was still for the benefit of the Perez family.

This mindset had become deeply ingrained in Willa.

Karen’s sudden outburst today left her at a loss.

What were the things that she actually liked?

Seeing Willa’s puzzled and lost gaze, Karen didn’t press on. She knew Willa had to figure it out on her own.

Some things are buried deep in the heart and aren’t so easily rooted out, especially for someone as stubborn as Willa.

Coming to a real understanding would take time.

“Alright, chew on that for a while. I’ll give this notebook to Frost. If there’s anything else, go straight to her.”

As Karen got up to leave, Willa grabbed her wrist. “Sasha, where are you going?”

Willa, with a keen sense, sensed a farewell in Karen’s demeanor. Her eyes held a tightness as if Karen would disappear the next second.

Jasper had just welcomed her back; where could she be going now?

Karen patted Willa’s hand gently, as light as a spring breeze.

worry, I’m

planning, but she guessed it involved going somewhere

wouldn’t have said

her eyes resolute as

her mouth curving into a gentle arch. “Tomorrow, Frost is going to treat my memory loss after-effects. Maybe by the next time we meet, I’ll remember who

before her deep voice finally broke the

Danger was not an absolute concern for her. Regaining her memory was

hair. “I’m

she had no talent in

a ripe old age, surrounded by children and

She believed him!

say anything more. She understood that Karen had her thoughts and decisions, and once she

Willa sat still, slowly eating the

the steak from the

plate appeared in front of her with only a plain

watching her. “Eat up

stiffened, so lost in her thoughts that she had completely ignored the danger

darted back, ready

Maddox was quick on her heels,

you haven’t paid yet!

steak house owner grabbed him. “Maddox,

we go way back. Do you have to do this?” Maddox rubbed

Willa would

gambling addict and a womanizer,

this moment, Maddox almost wished he could skin Fredrick alive. This was no way to spread rumors about

and stuffed it in the owner’s hands. “From

immediately let go of Maddox and said with a

groan, Maddox stormed out. However, on the empty street, Willa was nowhere to

to see her again, she slipped away. He

Jasper, who was enjoying a stew as if nothing

of woe on his face. He had overheard the conversation between

Karen took it upon herself to clean

other ladies started a game of poker, roping in Percival to spice things

was challenging Luke to a sparring match, insisting