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 going

what Karen was planning, but she guessed

have said what she did

eyes resolute as if to say,

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

silent for a long while before her deep voice finally broke the

Danger was not an absolute concern for her.

hair. “I’m not going

no talent in fortune-telling, but Ulysses

ripe old age, surrounded by children and grandchildren,

She believed him!

and

left, Willa sat still, slowly eating

at the plate, quietly separating the

of her with only

with a cheeky grin, watching her.

in her thoughts that she had completely ignored the danger of Maddox sneaking up on

back, ready to

quick on her

paid yet! Three

Maddox could chase after her, the fast-acting steak house owner grabbed him. “Maddox, you can’t dine

we go way back. Do you have to

Willa would have

me you’re a gambling addict and a

he could skin Fredrick alive. This was no way to spread rumors about

it in the owner’s hands. “From now on, I’m your

go of Maddox and said with a smile, “No problem!

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

the chance to see her again, she

Jasper, who was enjoying a stew as if

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

it upon herself to clean

a game of poker, roping in Percival to spice things

to a sparring match, insisting Fredrick be the