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

what Karen was planning, but she guessed it involved

Karen wouldn’t have said what

her eyes resolute as if

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

while before her deep voice

not an absolute concern for her. Regaining her memory was what

ruffled Willa’s hair. “I’m not going to

she had no talent in fortune-telling,

ripe old age,

She believed him!

had her thoughts and decisions, and once she had made up her mind,

still, slowly eating the steak

the plate, quietly separating the steak from the salad with

appeared in front of her with only a

cheeky grin, watching her.

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

darted back, ready to

was quick on

you haven’t paid yet!

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

have to do this?” Maddox rubbed his head in

split second, Willa would have definitely

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

Fredrick alive. This was no

in the owner’s hands. “From now on, I’m your VIP. Don’t ever ask

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

stormed out. However, on the

see her again, she slipped

Jasper, who was enjoying a stew as if nothing had

a look of woe on his face. He

herself to clean up, sending

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

to a sparring match,