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.”

instant, and she lunged at Gillian, fists flying. “Vivienne,

Gillian grabbed Calista’s hands, directing them

relentless, nearly

women, one crazed, the other delirious, continued

her arrival in Rivenwood, she had been a constant target

her fate

cheered on the sidelines, finding the spectacle immensely entertaining.

Percival and Vivienne had left the

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

such a

a recent splurge by Percival. When had he become

shed his suit jacket, tossing it along

touched this car and jacket.

“All this

nothing,” Percival

other women had touched was no longer fit for his Vivienne. The thought of her being

in agreement. “Alright,

up another car. “Mr.

when her phone rang

private, and she rarely received unsolicited calls. Who could it

at Percival, she answered

really you! I’m in an M State

“Hand it over.”

came through the call, one young and anxious, the other frail and unsteady, as if recovering from a

the second voice oddly

“Carl?”

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

dead before he

redialed, but there was

A sanatorium in M State? Why

perplexed. Why would Carl call

had already started tracking Carl’s signal, pinpointing a sanatorium

head out of the country now?” he