The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Brody stepped aside, his hand gently cupping Gillian’s cheek, directing her gaze toward the front door.

There, Percival and Vivienne stood, arm in arm, beaming at her with the radiant joy of a blooming bouquet.

Gillian’s eyes widened in disbelief, unable to comprehend the spectacle before her.

What on earth was happening?

Hadn’t Percival taken the bait already?

How could this be?

Where in the world was she?

With a casual wave, Percival called out to Gillian, “Don’t just hop into a stranger’s ride.”

With that, he wrapped his arm around Vivienne’s waist, and they strolled away.

Despair engulfed Gillian. It felt like she was staring into an abyss that was her life’s end.

But unbeknownst to her, dying wouldn’t be easy—not with Brody holding the reins.

Brody fished out a spray bottle from Gillian’s purse, examining it with a smirk, “Whoa, isn’t this the powerful aphrodisiac I whipped up a few years back? Just a drop, and it’ll have you in a frenzy of desire.”

Swallowing hard, Gillian glared defiantly, “What… what do you plan to do with me? I’m warning you, don’t you dare touch me!”

Brody let out a scoff. “Lady, are you for real? Even if I were desperate to hit the sack with you, you’d be the one getting lucky. Where’s this confidence coming from?”

With that, he sprayed half the bottle on Gillian’s lower body. “I’ve never seen someone that eager, and I’m curious.”

In a mere second, Gillian was writhing in agony, her cries filled with torment. It was hell.

Brody relished her suffering, his gaze shifting to the curious Calista as a wicked idea took root.

“Calista,” he said slyly, “this lady here is crazy about Percival. It’s because of her that he ditched you.”

composure shattered in an instant, and she lunged at Gillian, fists flying. “Vivienne, you bitch, I’m going to

Gillian grabbed Calista’s hands, directing them toward

relentless,

table was soon drenched in blood. Yet the two women, one crazed, the other delirious, continued their

Since her arrival in Rivenwood, she had been

her fate seemed

the sidelines, finding the spectacle immensely

left the YQ

Vivienne reached for the car door, Percival grasped her wrist. “I’ve given this car to Brody.

such a spendthrift,”

this car was a recent splurge by Percival. When had he become so

shed his suit jacket, tossing it along with the car keys onto

this car and

this fuss over

not nothing,” Percival insisted

had touched was no longer fit for his Vivienne. The thought of her being sullied by such contact was

agreement. “Alright, we’ll do it your

spoke, Thomas wheeled up another car. “Mr. and Mrs.

had barely settled in when her phone rang

private, and she rarely received unsolicited calls. Who could

she answered on speakerphone, “Who’s

Vivienne, it’s really you! I’m in an M State sanatorium,

“Hand it over.”

the other frail and

the second voice oddly

“Carl?”

a moment before saying, “Yes, it’s me, Vivienne. Come quickly,

line went dead before he

but there was no

in M State? Why does

frowned, perplexed. Why would Carl call her,

started tracking Carl’s signal, pinpointing a sanatorium in

out of