The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

At the Grimshaw family’s mansion.

Ever since Samantha was whisked away by that enigmatic man, she had plunged into unconsciousness.

It wasn’t until nightfall that she began to stir, finally coming to.

Waking up, she was immediately hit by an all-over ache, as if she had been dismantled and poorly reassembled. Luckily, the damaged pathways within her had been expertly reconnected.

As she mulled over this, the door creaked open, and a man strolled in.

Upon seeing him, Samantha flashed a smile, sultry as a siren’s call. She rose to her feet and sidled up to him, her voice a soft drip of honey. “I knew you’d come for me.”

The man cast her a nonchalant glance, his voice sharp as ice. “Foolish!”

“I was careless this time. I didn’t expect Vivienne to be so formidable. After all this time in hiding, she managed to find me.” Samantha’s voice was tinged with frustration.

That villa had cost her a pretty penny, fortified with barriers so sophisticated that even a master hacker might fail to pinpoint her sanctuary.

But she had overlooked one thing: Vivienne was no ordinary hacker. She was the Shadow Wolf!

A legend in the hacking world.

And her mother, Karen, was even more skilled than she.

The duo was not only evil but seemed to be at cosmic odds with Samantha herself.

The man watched her, expressionless, silent as stone.

Sensing his displeasure, Samantha purred, “With your skills, they won’t find you.”

A flicker of something passed through the man’s eyes. He spoke, his voice deep and resonant, “When will you have what I want ready?”

“It will take time!”

His face darkened immediately.

Vivienne and Percival are scouring the city for me. I can’t expose myself yet. Arrange a place for me to stay, and once things cool down,

continued to regard her in

version of ST-1 with

was nothing like Francis, so easy to deal with. She loved Francis, but not that passionately. And

couldn’t satisfy. Also, he was a talisman she

be immortal with her.

and the man before her, there were many others. Some had since entered their graves. Others were mere

every flavor of man but never bore

slightly. He spoke coolly, “Make sure it’s so. I have

closer, her alabaster fingers tracing lightly along his jawline,

looked down at Samantha, who was clad in the silk lace nightgown he had chosen for her. The neckline plunged daringly, hinting at the treasures

at last, he reacted. He gripped Samantha’s head, his kiss

But… she liked it.

her back onto the bed, his body following in a swift motion. A tempest raged within the

hours later, it

face. “This face,

was much older, in his presence, she seemed a mere

pleased. In time, you’ll savor

about her face; her body had to defy age as well. Thankfully, though

she appeared no more than thirty. Yet, she was not content. She yearned to

arranged. Stay put, and

Samantha nodded, “I only

another word, he turned

curling. Such a carnivore,

…

At Rivenwood

hadn’t awakened. Willa was there,

examining Karen, Vivienne’s brows knitted

“Is Sasha’s