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

but she guessed it involved going somewhere very, very

said what she did

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

is going to treat my memory

a long while before her deep voice finally broke the quiet.

nor confirmed. Danger was not an absolute concern for her. Regaining her memory was

“I’m not going

no talent in fortune-telling,

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

She believed him!

understood that Karen had her thoughts and decisions, and once she

left, Willa sat still, slowly eating the

separating the steak

plate appeared in front of her with only a

her. “Eat up if you like it.

in her thoughts that she had

back, ready to

Maddox was quick on

you haven’t paid yet!

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

have to do this?”

second, Willa would have

a gambling addict and

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

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

steak house owner immediately let go of Maddox and

out. However, on the

her again, she

Mansion, Karen and Vivienne were accompanying Jasper, who was

his face. He had overheard the conversation between Karen and

upon herself to clean up, sending Vivienne to

game of poker, roping in

challenging Luke to a sparring match, insisting Fredrick be