The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Arthur glanced at Dracon, breaking the silence, “How have you been holding up these past few years?”

Yorick scoffed dismissively. “How do you think? The guy’s been loafing around, never lifting a finger to do anything worthwhile.”

Yorick couldn’t help but compare him to his other sons, each carving out their own unique achievements in their chosen fields.

Dracon, meanwhile, remained at home, not even managing to take proper care of the family estate, the Linklater Mansion. His schemes were as transparent as they were numerous.

Just the other week, when Yorick had been poisoned, the investigation had been halted midway. The lack of inquiry didn’t mean Dracon was innocent.

But Yorick had stopped digging to protect Dracon. He knew that if the truth of the poisoning reached Arthur, with his fiery temper, Dracon’s days would be numbered.

Yorick, a man of integrity, would have made the same decision as Arthur in the past. But years had passed, Arthur and Hector had been away, and only Dracon had stayed by his side. Despite Dracon’s failings, he had taken decent care of him.

As he grew old, Yorick longed for family harmony over the anguish of a father burying his son. And so, he had covered for Dracon.

But…

Yorick’s eyes involuntarily drifted to Arthur.

Arthur’s return could only mean he was here for this very reason. If he decided to investigate, no cover-up would suffice.

The thought alone gave Yorick a headache.

Dracon had wanted to speak up, but hearing such a harsh critique from his father, he sulked into silence.

Arthur’s eagle-eyed gaze settled on Dracon for a few seconds before he spoke, “Dad, we all have our paths to maturity. Wasn’t I the same clueless kid once upon a time?”

taken aback. Arthur had never been one to defend Dracon. He was doing good if he didn’t scold him—yet today, he was actually

be

Impossible!

far away on the battlefields where news traveled slowly. Even if Arthur had wanted to investigate something, it would take

kept it under wraps from the start. Even if Arthur wanted to pry, it

be

look, signaling him to keep

before Yorick could elaborate, Arthur spoke again, “Dracon, don’t

really his big brother speaking? Was

midst of his silence, Arthur’s gaze briefly skimmed over him. “What’s wrong? You think I’m not worthy of speaking

got it all wrong. I’m just not used to you being so… nice. And I didn’t take Dad’s words to heart,

the battlefield hardened me. Now

for good? You’re leaving

become of his own

Hector

“Is this your choice or an order

knew Arthur well—war was his home. Unless it was a

good news. I’ve been thinking of settling down,

Yorick, “It’s my

return was now tinged

stir trouble in the Linklater family—a

Arthur patted his back, asking casually as if unaware of anything.

poisoning, so

it when Dracon burst out, “It’s all because

we already settled this?