The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Brianna's face fell, her eyes darkening as her nails dug deep into her palms. "The one who's been making my life hell is none other than Vivienne Linklater! And the person who embarrassed Alyssa in front of everyone? That was her too?"

"It was her mother, Sasha's, doing. But Vivienne played her part. Alyssa, that poor thing, thought Sasha came from a nobody family. Turns out, she's Sasha Perez, of the Perez lineage. Alyssa not only failed to bully her but ended up dragging the Wright family's name through the mud," the man replied, his voice laced with a chill.

Brianna snorted disdainfully, "She thought she had our grandfather wrapped around her finger, that she could do whatever she pleased. What a joke. I bet Danielle hasn't let her off easy." She couldn't help but revel in the misfortune.

The man raised an eyebrow, unimpressed, "You know what I mean. She's in the first room right as you enter the last mansion. Go touch up your makeup; don't let yourself be overshadowed." Brianna nervously touched her face, "I got it, brother."

The mention of the last mansion sent a shiver down her spine, signaling the gravity of Alyssa's mistake in their father's eyes.

After making sure her makeup concealed any trace of her distress, Brianna headed to the last mansion.

The walls of the last mansion were conspicuously pristine, surrounded by gardens of white roses.

But Brianna knew this beauty was just a facade, a superficial peace masking the real purpose.

She cautiously entered, heading directly to the first room on the left. The white door looked freshly painted as she hesitantly knocked, receiving no response.

Softly, she called out, "Alyssa, I heard you're in there. Can you hear me?"

"It's me, Brianna. Did you come to see me?" Alyssa's voice trembled from inside, mixed with faint sobs.

Brianna frowned but asked gently, "Did Dad say when he'll let you out?"

Pressing her ear against the door, Alyssa's voice was barely audible, "Grandfather said, after tonight, I can come out."

aback, not expecting their grandfather,

open the door? I want to

a moment, the

cry from comfort, with cobwebs in the corners and a musty smell pervading.

eye, turning her pale with fear. She looked

feed it this, and it will fall asleep,"

hands trembling, "I

formidable build striking fear. Its eyes glinted menacingly as it panted, looking at

chained, the wolfhound had a wide range of movement, except near

thought of returning the next

pale and tearful, begged, "Please, just throw this into its mouth. It won't bark then. I get

the humiliation Vivienne brought upon her, gripped the

extra sedatives my brother brought me, I'd have run out by now." Taking a deep breath, Brianna backed towards the door, picked up

it couldn't reach, and as it opened its

every ounce of courage, she retreated, signaling Alyssa with panicked

reassured her, "Don't worry. Once the drug dissolves in its

the wolfhound fall back into a deep slumber, Brianna approached Alyssa, her voice

her former self, sat on the bed, stripped of the Wright

to mask the fear in

Brianna pouted, clearly displeased,

gave a playful shake. "Alyssa, of course, I was worried sick about you.

anywhere around the house