The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The bodyguard wanted to fight back, but he found that he was not only immobilized, but his bones felt like they were shattering.

His face was a picture of shock as he stared at Vivienne.

She was so strong!

How could such a young girl be so powerful? Who on earth was she?

With icy blue eyes that could freeze hell over, Vivienne coldly inquired, “What were you about to do?”

For reasons he couldn’t fathom, locking eyes with Vivienne was like being cornered by a wolf. He had been a bodyguard for the Abernathy family for over two decades, trained in martial arts and bolstered by remarkable strength, but before this girl, he felt utterly insignificant.

The bodyguard remained silent for a moment before finally speaking, “I apologize. I was out of line.”

Vivienne glanced at him dismissively, shook his hand off, and casually wiped her hands with a tissue from her pocket.

It seemed like a gentle shake, but the bodyguard was flung several meters away. He had to use his own strength just to steady himself.

He looked up at Vivienne again and then turned to Victoria, speaking in a low voice, “Miss, we should leave.”

“Slap!”

Before the bodyguard could finish, Victoria’s hand connected sharply with his face, followed by a furious scolding, “You useless thing! I sent you to deal with those two old fools, and you got weak at the knees over a pretty face? What use are you to me?”

The bodyguard took the slap without a hint of dissatisfaction, softly advising, “Miss, this person is very strong. With her here, we won’t succeed today. Let’s go back and devise a plan.”

“Hmph! When I, Victoria Abernathy, want something, there’s no need for planning. You’re a failure, and now you want to teach me how to handle my affairs?”

Victoria glared at the bodyguard, then turned her attention to Vivienne. “I want to see what she can do about it!”

With that, she marched forward, hand raised to strike Vivienne, but before she could even swing, Vivienne kicked her away!

“Thud!”

Victoria slammed against a wall several meters away, coughing up blood immediately.

“Miss!”

as he rushed to help Victoria to

disbelief; she had been sent flying by

she was the heiress of the ancient warrior lineage, the Abernathy family. Martial training was her childhood bread and butter, and her inner energy was among the

have the

you?” Victoria asked, eyeing

so formidable?

worst nightmare!” Vivienne replied with

Vivienne, “Don’t think because you know a few fighting tricks you can strut around here like some hotshot. I am Victoria Abernathy, the heiress of the

hands in her pockets and eyes half-hidden by a curtain of hair, spoke with a

The ancient warrior lineage?

Perfect!

let Samantha go just to deal with the likes of

you

laughed, “I’ve been told that my whole life, yet here I am, alive and kicking. Want to know what happened to those who said that to

Victoria stayed silent.

are in my dog kennels, getting their body slowly devoured by dogs. Others are in my wolf sanctuary, keeping the wolves company, and a few are in my lab, serving as living specimens.” She paused for a

gripped Victoria. For some reason, she believed

strong, and Victoria knew she was

once, but can you guard her for a lifetime? What she has is something all ancient warrior lineages covet. Aside from my family, there are many families who will cause her

someone so powerful. Her only aim was to retrieve what Kaitlyn held, not to invite trouble

watching her. But that look alone told Victoria everything she needed to know – Kaitlyn’s problem

Victoria finally said, “At least have the guts

Hawthorn!” Vivienne said

so keen on getting

left, supported

tilted her head, puzzled. “Vivienne, why didn’t you teach the bad guys a lesson

what they

no idea how heavy that kick was.

said with a smile, “Sweetie, keeping

the direction in which Victoria had vanished, her

“Ms. Hawthorn, thank you.”

Victoria was out of sight