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

didn’t know what Karen was planning, but she guessed it involved going somewhere very,

wouldn’t have said what

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

to treat my memory loss after-effects. Maybe by

was silent for a long while before her deep voice finally

absolute concern for her. Regaining

Willa’s hair. “I’m not going

had no

old age, surrounded by children and

She believed him!

thoughts and decisions, and once she had

Willa sat still, slowly eating

the plate, quietly separating the steak

appeared in front of her

with a cheeky grin, watching her. “Eat up if you like it. Have as much as you

her thoughts that she had completely ignored the danger

back, ready

on

haven’t paid yet! Three

could chase after her, the fast-acting steak house owner grabbed him. “Maddox, you

Do you have to do

split second, Willa would have

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

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

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

Maddox and said with a smile, “No problem!

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

the chance to see her again, she slipped away.

accompanying Jasper, who was enjoying a stew as

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

took it upon herself to clean up,

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

was challenging Luke to a sparring