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

what Karen was planning, but she guessed it involved going somewhere very, very

have said

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

is going to treat my memory

her deep voice finally broke the quiet. “Is it

nor confirmed. Danger was not an absolute concern for

“I’m not going

no talent in fortune-telling, but Ulysses

said she’d live to a ripe old age, surrounded by children and grandchildren, enjoying

She believed him!

say anything more. She understood that Karen had her thoughts and decisions, and once she had

left, Willa sat still, slowly eating the steak

the plate, quietly separating the steak from the salad with her

in front of her with only

a cheeky grin, watching her. “Eat up

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

darted back, ready

Maddox was quick on her heels, “Willa,

you haven’t paid yet! Three

steak house owner grabbed him. “Maddox,

you have to do this?” Maddox rubbed his head

second, Willa would have

said, “Fredrick already told me you’re a gambling addict and a womanizer, too. Seeing how you chased after that girl,

he could skin Fredrick alive. This was no way

owner’s hands. “From now

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

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

chance to see her again, she slipped away. He hadn’t

Vivienne were accompanying Jasper, who was enjoying

of woe on his face. He had overheard the conversation between Karen

dinner, Karen took it upon herself to clean up, sending

of poker, roping in

to a sparring