The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Kaitlyn had no talent for the arts of ancient warrior lineage. She could barely protect herself under the watchful eyes of her peers, and now she was the most relaxed among them. "I don't really pay attention! I follow Vivienne's lead!"

Vivienne's smile grew even brighter. "It's just a couple of urns of ashes. If you want to smash them, go ahead. I just hope Mr. Grimshaw and Gavin don't live to regret it!"

With that, Vivienne turned to Leopold. "Let's bounce, Leopold!"

"What?"

As Gavin and Asher gaped in shock, Leopold ripped off the latex mask from his face, his smile wild. "You got it, Vivienne!"

"Not good!" Asher's keen eyes spotted the red cartridge in his hand. Breaking free from Vivienne's clutches, he dashed forward, intent on stopping him.

"Gavin, are you out of your mind?" As he charged ahead, he didn't forget to glance at Gavin, frowning and lost in thought. "If Miss Hawthorn doesn't give a damn about the peace of her friends' parents after death, why should we care? Stuff like ashes, better to scatter them to the winds!"

"You're right."

Vivienne's fingers flashed with a cold gleam, and a sharp silver needle plunged into Asher's acupoint as he was caught off guard. "Ashes, indeed, are better scattered."

"Ugh..." The pain was like being torn apart, forcing Asher to his knees.

Vivienne didn't think it was enough, stomping hard on his shoulder. "Especially for a man like Mr. Grimshaw. Perfect for grinding to dust!"

"Asher!" Gavin's grip on the urn tightened. He might not respect Asher, but he couldn't let him be harmed on his watch!

"Freeze!"

A dagger with a cold glint was pressed against Asher's throat, the blade cutting through his skin, with blood dripping down the silver edge onto the ground.

Gavin's eyes bulged as he raised the urn higher. "Vivienne, stop! If you dare hurt Asher, the Grimshaws won't let you off!"

rolled down Asher's forehead, the pain causing his eyes to roll back. As sweat trickled down his neck onto the wound, the stinging pain tormented his nerves, but

indistinct resentment. His gaze, heavy as a specter at

smiling down at Asher. "Mr. Grimshaw, you're quite the

bodyguards. "What's up? Doesn't your

With their young master in someone else's grip, they dared

ground with a

dragged Asher step by step out of the factory, only to

his car window. His gaze

hurry. sᴇaʀᴄh

with Leopold, who was protecting

everyone was in the cars and the doors were shut, Vivienne slowly removed the dagger from Asher's throat. Then, with a sharp knee to the man's lower back, she snapped, "Scram,

roar of the cars speeding away and the sound of the urn shattering. The dust kicked up choked everyone, causing them

as he looked at

discomfort welled up within him, as if a heavy stone weighed on his chest, his body

chest, watched as the medic pulled the silver needle from his

mood plummeting. "What are you waiting for? Get moving, or do you expect me to help you? What a waste! Can't even handle a young girl, and she leads you

at Vivienne's hands as he ranted, "I don't know how the Abernathys ever put you in charge, you

clenched tightly, his cracked lips taut. His cold gaze lingered on Asher for only a moment before his expression changed. He didn't reply, simply following Asher out

outside,

Why?

he feel this inexplicable

something's happened at the

for guarding the Abernathy Graveyard came tumbling over, rolling in the mud without care, collapsing at Gavin's feet. His face was a mess of snot and blood, his

beat, the unease growing. "What