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 not going

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

said

grip firm, her eyes resolute as if to say, “Wherever you go, I’ll

her mouth curving into a gentle arch. “Tomorrow, Frost is going to treat my memory loss after-effects. Maybe by the

her deep voice finally broke the quiet. “Is

Danger was not an absolute

ruffled Willa’s hair. “I’m

she had no talent in fortune-telling,

live to a ripe old age, surrounded by children and grandchildren, enjoying

She believed him!

Karen had her thoughts and decisions, and once she

Willa sat still, slowly eating the steak

at the plate, quietly separating the

a plate appeared in front of her

to see Maddox, with a cheeky grin, watching her. “Eat up if

stiffened, so lost in her thoughts that she had completely ignored the danger of Maddox sneaking up

back,

Maddox was quick on her heels, “Willa,

paid yet!

house

have to do this?” Maddox rubbed his

second, Willa would have

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

this moment, Maddox almost wished he could skin Fredrick alive.

of hundreds and stuffed it in the owner’s hands. “From now on,

owner immediately let go of Maddox and said with a smile,

groan, Maddox stormed out. However, on the

when he had the chance to see her again, she slipped away.

at the Perez Mansion, Karen and Vivienne were accompanying Jasper, who was enjoying a stew as if nothing had

on his face. He had overheard

it upon herself to clean up, sending Vivienne to play chess

started a game of poker, roping

challenging Luke to a sparring match, insisting