The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The blistering sun scorched everyone outside, but Jasper seemed utterly unfazed. His face showed not a trace of discomfort as he quietly observed the melodrama unfolding before him.

It wasn't until Asher spoke again that Jasper, with a playful tap of his cane on Fredrick's shoulder, intervened, "Asher, don't stoop to his level. My son here has never been much of a handler. He just can't stand to see me bad-mouthed."

Jasper's cool gaze swept over Isaac, who had fainted on the ground, his look as indifferent as if he were staring at a piece of trash. "However, your man really doesn't have the gift of gab. After all, I'm from the same generation as your father. For a mere servant to play the hero in front of me... The Grimshaw family's manners sure have decayed over the years, haven't they?"

Asher, irritated by the relentless heat, snapped, "Never mind him. Jasper, I don't have all day to waste with you. Where the hell is Vivienne?!"

"How should I know where Vivienne is?" Jasper spread his hands innocently.

With a subtle nod to Carmen, a chair was swiftly placed beneath him. "Ah, I'm getting on in years. When I see a promising young person, I can't help but wish they were one of my own. That's why I took the gir as my goddaughter. But blood is thicker than water, and she doesn't report her whereabouts to me. What's the matter, Asher? Got business with her?"

Facing Jasper's probing little gaze, Asher choked, his eyes growing more cruel by the second.

Before he could get a word out, Joss, one of the other bodyguards, jumped in, "She hurt our young master. We've been giving the order to bring her back!"

A snicker rippled through the crowd at his statement.

Asher's face flushed with anger and embarrassment, his eyes glaring daggers at Joss, "Shut your trap!"

Idiot!

Realizing too late that he'd misspoken, Joss grew frantic.

With one menacing look from Asher, he felt like his soul had been scared out of him. He hastily retreated behind the crowd, wishing he could vanish into thin air and be forgotten by Asher.

He was doomed!

mocked the young master

but it seemed

eyeing Asher's pompous attitude with distaste. "I thought it was something serious. The mighty Asher, beaten by a girl? If I were you, I'd be too embarrassed to even leave the house, yet here you are, demanding

out of the loop. Some families just shamelessly pass down their lack

and was about to share Oliver's dark past with Zelda when a furious Asher couldn't take it anymore. A swift hand sent a blast toward Maddox's face, "Maddox, you've gone

"Whoa there!"

breath and dodged, "Asher, sneaking

words? Let's just

next moment, Fredrick's hand whirled, and a huge rock appeared out of nowhere, hurtling straight for Asher's head!

in alarm. If the young master was

Asher froze in place.

ancient warrior lineages had

the five major families didn't fully know each other's secrets. The current state of

said that the fiercest of the Perez

this new

it landed, wouldn't he

run, but his feet might as well have been rooted to the spot. He could only watch as the massive boulder rushed toward him! Maddox had already moved next to

a knowing smile. This had all been part of their plan from

as mild-tempered as

to provoke him, to make him strike first. That way, even if it came to Oliver's attention, they'd have nothing to say in

"Young master! Dodge it!"

Asher's

a mighty leap, he shoved Asher aside; then the rock crashed down. Joss's body flew through the air like a weightless punching bag, out towards the open! Asher lay on the ground, watching Joss reach the apex of his flight, then