The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Maddox’s grin froze on his face, and the bowl in his hands clattered to the floor.

Heads turned at the sound.

“Maddox, you just broke Natalia and Yasmine’s favorite bowl, you’re so screwed, man! Say goodbye to your wallet!”

“Oh, Maddox, when will you learn? You handle things like a bull in a china shop, and look what happens!”

“Oopsie, don’t be mad, Natalia and Yasmine, I’ll buy you a new one and make Uncle Maddox here pay up!”

Trying to keep cool, Maddox forced a smile and turned to the girls. “Sorry, Natalia and Yasmine, but I cut my hand pretty bad. Doesn’t anyone feel sorry for me?”

Luke immediately whisked the two kids away. “Girls, remember not to date a guy like this one.”

Yuri and Fredrick also quickly made their exit, unable to watch the embarrassing scene any longer!

After everyone left, Karen pulled out a small bottle of antiseptic powder and sprinkled it on Maddox’s wound, which healed quietly.

“No need to look so surprised, Maddox. Without Frost, I’d have less than a 2% chance.”

Karen smiled at Maddox and added, “Just don’t tell Dad, okay? I don’t want him to worry. Just say I’m off to find Frost’s dad, and it’ll be a long time before I can come back, alright?”

Maddox fought back tears, his eyes reddening but not allowing a single tear to fall.

Even with Vivienne and Karen working together, they only had a 2% chance of success. That left Maddox thinking…

“Sasha, can’t we just not do it?” Maddox struggled with the idea one last time.

“No, we have to do this,” Karen replied with certainty.

Maddox went silent, accepting that this was unstoppable.

Jasper and Vivienne were locked in a tense game of chess, neither willing to give

end, Jasper suddenly asked, “Vivienne, what’s your mom

hand trembled ever so slightly, and she managed a smile.

tapped her head lightly. “She’s my

no longer hold back, and her chess piece landed with a

is attempting a procedure. It could

She was too chatty tonight, fussing over this and that. She’s up to something, isn’t she? And she

lip. “She doesn’t

of sadness in his voice. “Tell me the

words barely escaping her lips. “One

procedure had only a one percent chance of

it wouldn’t have so easily repaired Calista’s failing organs. Yet, its

to inject this mysterious ST-1 into

percent chance. And that one percent was only for the surgery itself; for the medication, she

can you promise your grandpa one

his reddened eyes and said, “Sure, tell

know I’m aware of this. Pretend I’m clueless so she can go into surgery without any

carried a heavy heart. She was aware she might not

chose to

would pretend to be oblivious, letting his precious daughter take

surgeon was his granddaughter, he couldn’t add

“You lost today.

from Vivienne’s eye as she stared at the interwoven pieces, her heart heavy with

to put pressure on her. They had chosen to keep things under

only by the

of her room and

we should head back. Get

away from the Perez Mansion.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated