The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Alyssa's arms were etched with scabs and whip marks that Brianna could clearly see, yet she pretended not to notice.

Those were the handiwork of Grandpa George himself, a man who wouldn't stop until he'd drawn blood.

The mention of it left Alyssa in a daze.

Right, she thought, I'm the eldest daughter of the Wright family. Even for the sake of the family name, Arthur shouldn't have treated me this way.

It must be Sasha who's stirring things up.

"Big sis?"

Brianna watched Alyssa zone out, her eyes betraying a hint of disgust.

Winston, accompanied by a servant, came jogging over, his young face full of concern that seemed genuine. He was startled upon seeing Alyssa's injuries, "Big sis, what happened to you?" Alyssa frowned and withdrew her hand.

The last person she wanted to see right now was Winston.

If it hadn't been for him, Grandpa George wouldn't have been so harsh on her.

Brianna saw it all and, hiding her scorn, explained to Winston, "Little bro, someone bullied your big sis. Didn't you notice?"

"Bullied?"

Winston's young brow furrowed, puzzled as he looked at Brianna. "Big sis, who bullied big sis?"

Brianna's face turned cold at being called 'big sis.' "Who else could it be? In the Linklater family, who wields such power? If not Sasha and her daughter Vivienne, then who?" Winston quickly figured it out.

Shaking his head, he spoke clearly, "I trust Auntie; she wouldn't bully anyone. Maybe big sis didn't apologize to Auntie? Grandpa said if you do something wrong, you have to own up to it." Brianna raised an eyebrow but didn't reply.

Alyssa's face darkened.

She knew what she had done and certainly didn't need a five-year-old lecturing her.

Just as Alyssa was about to send him away, Winston said in his soft voice, "Then I'll apologize to Auntie for big sis. Auntie is so nice; she won't blame big sis."

Alyssa, who was lying in bed,

you'd apologize to

Grandpa, I don't blame big sis. It's my fault for being too weak, it has nothing

how she could use this opportunity to get

mind? Believing a child's words? Have you forgotten how furious Grandpa was last time? He won't let you take Winston out again." Alyssa also felt this was

Linklater family was one thing; if Grandpa George found out she'd taken Winston there, it

Winston stayed longer, a servant began to urge

asked, they

he really wanted to see

"Instead of begging Sasha for forgiveness, why not seek Arthur's favor? If

lost patience

his face

eliminate her, that would remove a

getting it all wrong. Arthur, powerful as he may be, is still a man.

you two are meant for each other. The matriarch's position at the Linklater estate was always meant to be yours. Sasha stole

Alyssa silently agreed.

only shattered her

so much about her daughter. If something happened to her, Sasha would be too distracted to bother with Arthur.

by Alyssa's sudden intensity, quickly covering for herself, "Of course, if big sis could win Arthur over by herself, we wouldn't need to resort to this. It's all up to you now." Alyssa didn't immediately agree. Brianna's

Sasha gone, not

Vivienne,

can go now," Alyssa said,

Brianna stood to leave, she cast a covert glance at Alyssa on the bed. For some reason, she felt there

in the room, Alyssa

her heart sank, and she quickly

the other end, a voice altered to a low pitch spoke, "The boss

"The boss usually contacts

let out a scoff, his mockery particularly grating over the phone, "With the lab trashed, the

on you. And

you really think

and she hurried to explain, "I haven't betrayed him,

The boss