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 speaking for

be

Impossible!

on the battlefields where news traveled slowly. Even if Arthur had wanted

Even if

must be fishing

look, signaling him to keep

again, “Dracon,

really his big brother

over him. “What’s wrong? You think I’m not worthy of speaking

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

in the day, the battlefield hardened me. Now that I’m home for

for

become of

and Hector were equally

this your choice or an order

his home. Unless it was a

good news. I’ve been thinking of settling down, too. It’s about time

Yorick, “It’s my decision,

return was now tinged with an inexplicable

like Arthur’s return would stir trouble in the Linklater family—a prospect far from

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

had informed Arthur of Yorick’s poisoning, so he played the part of the

dismiss it when Dracon burst out, “It’s all because of Percival and

darkened. “Dracon, haven’t we already settled