The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne’s eyes crinkled with mirth, “Soren’s injuries still have yet to recover?”

Anna replied with a soft concern, “It’s healed, mostly. But the spot where the shrapnel hit him, it flares up whenever there’s a storm brewing. Ms. Vivienne, do you know of any remedy that could help him fully recover?”

“Sure do,” Vivienne said, her eyes gleaming with mischief as if she were privy to some juicy gossip. “But why are you asking on his behalf? Let him come to me. Treatment needs to be personalized, doesn’t it? How can I offer advice without seeing the patient himself?”

At Vivienne’s words, Anna’s cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red. “I—I wanted him to come, but he’s a bit reluctant. He’s scared of Percival, and then there’s the matter of…”

Her voice trailed off, growing fainter and fainter as if she were grappling with how to articulate her thoughts. Her eyes were a tumultuous sea of turmoil and embarrassment.

Vivienne’s curiosity piqued even further. She had never seen Anna so flustered before.

Aaron, ever blunt and without reservations, blurted out, “Vivienne, let me fill you in. It’s all Kenneth’s fault. Lately, that boy’s been acting like a lovesick puppy, shadowing Anna every chance he gets.”

It wasn’t just his clinginess that was the issue.

The guy had been laying on the charm thick, using the most cringeworthy pick-up lines imaginable.

He’d gone all out on his confession to Anna; Aaron counted off on his fingers, “He started off with the classic—candlelit dinners, red roses, pretty standard. But then he went off the deep end with those heart-shaped music boxes, you know, the ones with glittery rainbow colors and Anna’s picture plastered all over them. And the cacti? Don’t even get me started, and then there was that snow globe…”

Vivienne listened, her face contorting with second-hand embarrassment.

She tried to maintain a straight face, but her twitching lips betrayed her. She had little hope that Aaron’s storytelling was going to improve.

Aaron opened his mouth, then burst into laughter, “You should’ve seen it, Vivienne. That snow globe—it had a tiny figurine of Kenneth inside, and when you shook it, it would play ‘Eye of the Tiger’ and the little guy would start dancing. Hilarious!”

figurine, singing ‘Eye of

And dancing?

a mix of sympathy and amusement. “You’ve had

muster a smile. She had kept silent

her laughter, Aaron had already had his fill

Anna held back her impulse to slap Aaron and said, seething, “Go on,

was frustrated! Kenneth was the one doing all those embarrassing things, yet

grasp Anna’s threat. “So

business,

out of Aaron

face, Aaron realized the truth, his handsome features momentarily crumbling. “Oh, you’re good, Anna. Here I was, being all nice, bringing you to Vivienne, and this is

were ever on the same side?!” Anna retorted. She turned to Vivienne, “Ms. Vivienne, you tasked me with protecting him, and now that GTO is nearly dismantled,

you? That assignment was

triumph froze on her

could have left

wouldn’t have wasted her time with Kenneth at school! And she wouldn’t have

Anna’s face, Vivienne opened her mouth, then turned away guiltily; she

been so much to handle since

had only been today that she found a moment to catch her breath, and by then, she had completely forgotten about

room fell into an

Aaron sidled up to Vivienne, “Say, Vivienne, I’ve been meaning to ask—can I join your

champion enough for you? Besides, the Miller