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

planning, but she guessed it involved going somewhere very, very far

have said what

her eyes resolute as

curving into a gentle arch. “Tomorrow, Frost is going to treat my

while before her deep voice

nor confirmed. Danger was not an absolute concern

“I’m not going

she had no talent

had said she’d live to a ripe old age, surrounded

She believed him!

had her thoughts and decisions, and once she had made

left, Willa sat still, slowly

separating the

a plate appeared in front of her with

watching her. “Eat up if you like it.

lost in her thoughts that she had completely ignored the danger

back, ready

on her heels, “Willa,

you haven’t paid yet! Three

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

Do you have to do this?” Maddox rubbed his

that split second, Willa

house owner snorted and said, “Fredrick already told me you’re a gambling addict and a womanizer, too. Seeing how you chased after that girl, he’s right! Pay your

he could skin Fredrick alive. This

a stack of hundreds and stuffed it in the owner’s hands. “From now on, I’m your VIP. Don’t ever ask me to pay

let go of Maddox and said with a smile,

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

he had the chance to see her again, she slipped away. He hadn’t even asked if she

were accompanying Jasper, who was enjoying a stew as

of woe on his face. He had overheard the conversation

clean up, sending Vivienne to play chess

a game of poker, roping in Percival to spice

was challenging Luke to a sparring match, insisting Fredrick be