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.

quickly explained, “I’ve just been rescued by you. 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, I’ll set up

regard her in cold

the research direction. I’m planning an upgraded version of ST-1 with a few more potent

to say it. This man was nothing like Francis, so

desire that Francis couldn’t satisfy. Also, he was a talisman she sought for

her and wanted to be immortal with her. But for her, immortality was about

before her, there were many others. Some

of man but never bore a child to any,

“Make sure it’s so.

closer, her alabaster fingers tracing lightly along his jawline, her

looked down at Samantha, who was clad in the silk lace nightgown he had

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

But… she liked it.

body following in a

hours later, it

at Samantha. He caressed her face. “This face, this body, still so

his presence,

“As long as you’re pleased. In time, you’ll

about her face; her body had to defy age as well. Thankfully, though ST-1’s effects on the face were short-lived, it maintained

Yet, she was not content. She

arranged. Stay put, and don’t show your face at the Grimshaw

“I only

he

watched his retreat, lips curling. Such a carnivore, devouring the ‘meal’

…

At Rivenwood

Willa was there,

examining Karen, Vivienne’s brows knitted

“Is Sasha’s condition