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 the

And dancing?

with a mix of

couldn’t even muster a smile. She had kept silent

Vivienne managed to hold back her laughter, Aaron had already had his fill of amusement back

said, seething, “Go on, laugh. Let’s

the one doing all those embarrassing things,

grasp Anna’s threat. “So what? You think

a hiccup, “Percival’s out dealing with business, isn’t he? Why would he be back so soon? Did you

barrage of questions tumbled out of Aaron before Anna

smug look on her 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

you tasked me with

her head, her face a picture of bewilderment. “Didn’t I tell you? That assignment was over

Anna’s triumph froze on her lips. “But you never told me

could have left

with Kenneth at school! And

then turned away guiltily; she had indeed forgotten

so much to handle

a moment to catch her breath, and by then, she had

fell into

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

your studies. Isn’t being an E-sports champion enough for you? Besides, the Miller family needs you to hold down the fort. Don’t get