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.

I’m not

know what Karen was planning, but she guessed it involved going somewhere very, very far

said what she

firm, her eyes resolute as if to say, “Wherever you go,

smiled helplessly, 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 they

was silent for a long while before her deep voice

an absolute concern for her. Regaining her memory was

“I’m not going to

she had no talent in fortune-telling, but

she’d live to a ripe old age,

She believed him!

didn’t say anything more. She understood that Karen had her thoughts and decisions, and once she

sat still, slowly

the steak from the salad with her

in front of her with

with a cheeky grin, watching her.

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

back, ready to

Maddox was quick on her heels, “Willa,

paid yet! Three

steak house owner grabbed

back. Do you have to do this?” Maddox rubbed his

split second, Willa would have

and said, “Fredrick already told me you’re a gambling addict and a womanizer, too. Seeing how you chased after that girl, he’s

Maddox almost wished he could skin Fredrick alive.

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

house owner immediately let go of Maddox and said with a smile, “No problem! Take

However, on the empty street, Willa was nowhere to be

see her again, she slipped away. He hadn’t even asked if

Mansion, Karen and Vivienne were accompanying Jasper, who

Karen, had a look of woe on his face. He had overheard the conversation between

dinner, Karen took it upon herself to clean up, sending Vivienne to play chess

poker, roping in

was challenging Luke to a sparring