The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Tyler sat in the back, and, seeing the three people looking confused, he couldn’t help but feel a little anxious, afraid that his wife wouldn’t be able to say it clearly.

“Kaitlyn, let me explain. Ms. Hawthorn, this thing, it’s like this. It doesn’t matter if you use poison or destroy its roots. All it takes is a drop of its sap, and in less than a day, the herb will grow back to what it is now.”

He pointed at the herb that was clearly smothered in a box, but still bright green and fresh, “Not only that. Its sap can also save other, smaller plants about the same size as it.”

Vivienne’s eyes twinkled with mischief, “But this herb can’t cure people, can it?”

Plants and animals, though both forms of life, are fundamentally different from a biological standpoint. This herb may seem miraculous, but if it can’t even save a plant slightly bigger than itself, so how could it resurrect the dead or heal broken bones?

Indeed, Kaitlyn nodded in agreement. “It’s just an herb, not some kind of elixir from a fairy tale. How could it possibly bring back the dead? Honestly, this thing isn’t really about immortality at all.”

Vivienne noticed a flash of resentment in Kaitlyn’s eyes.

Kaitlyn continued, “But I don’t know who spilled the beans about the Littleton family having this herb. Some people believe that since it can revive plants, it must contain the secret to eternal youth. They wanted to take it for research, but it is our family heirloom, the only thing of value the Littleton family has left. My father refused to give it up, and they… they killed my entire family! I’m useless. I couldn’t even avenge them!” Kaitlyn’s hands trembled as she clutched the box.

Vivienne raised an eyebrow.

The Littleton family was murdered?

Wasn’t it said that Kaitlyn’s parents had committed suicide due to a business failure and financial crisis?

Vivienne had yet to investigate the Littleton family’s situation thoroughly, only hearing a few versions from others, and had assumed Kaitlyn’s parents had taken their own lives.

Seeing Kaitlyn’s eyes redden, Vivienne patted her shoulder in a comforting gesture as she said, “Kaitlyn, what do you need me to do for you?”

“This thing is of no use to me.” Kaitlyn pushed the box forward. “If it weren’t for this, my family wouldn’t have been brought to such a tragic end! But my father’s dying wish was for me to protect it, and I can’t go against his last request!”

But most of all, she didn’t want those villains to win!

at the box’s contents and asked, “You’re not thinking of giving

as

looked no different from a common

having been confined in a box for so long

nodded and pushed the box directly in front of Vivienne, “Ms. Hawthorn, I want to give this to

and stepped forward to take the box. “So I should really burn

“Really burn it?”

didn’t seem to be

glanced at the box in Vivienne’s hands. The

face

prided himself on being an astute judge of character,

that Kaitlyn might not be able to let go and suddenly ask

suddenly change her mind,

anxious for Kaitlyn, their expressions clear to Vivienne. The longer the time

me. Since you don’t want it, Kaitlyn, it’s best to burn it to avoid any

To avoid any trouble.

eyes flickered and said, “Yes, to avoid any trouble! Better to burn it, so

Hawthorn, I’m so sorry. Even though I knew this would bring trouble,

determined! Her father’s last words were not as important as

box, but Percival subtly stepped aside, causing her to grasp at air.

Tyler shouted, “Careful!”

surprise, Anna quickly steadied her. “Kaitlyn,

concern evident, while shooting Percival

Percival stiffened.

Vivienne was becoming more unreasonable by the

idea to tease Kaitlyn, and now she

silently, his eyes

unreasonable, he

family couldn’t grasp the subtleties of their interaction, but