The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Alyssa raised an eyebrow, her mind racing to catch up with the conversation.

For five years, despite the swirling rumors about Winston's origins, one thing was undeniable: his standing within the Wright family was unshakably higher than theirs.

Hunter truly treated him like his favorite grandson, showering him with affection.

Robbie had tried digging into Winston's true background, to no avail.

And with Hunter's doting, if he ever found out about the rivalry between Robbie and Colin Wright, it wasn't far-fetched to think he might groom Winston as the Wright family's heir.

That would mean all of Robbie's painstaking efforts over the years would simply pave the way for someone else.

Realizing this, Alyssa bluntly asked, "You want me to get rid of him."

Only with Winston out of the picture could anyone truly threaten Robbie's influence in the family.

Robbie shook his head lightly, "No need for you to dirty your hands. He's fond of the Linklaters, right? Just find an excuse for him to go to them. Should anything 'unfortunate' happen en route, we're not involved."

Alyssa got the message.

Winston was always talking about Sasha. If something happened, she could just pin it on Sasha.

Before Robbie left, Alyssa suddenly asked, "And what about Brianna? Same deal?"

Robbie's gaze darkened, "Colin won't keep her around. If he wants a scapegoat, why shouldn't I oblige?"

In the room, Alyssa's eyes were cold and calculating.

As long as they could pin Winston's demise on Sasha...

With Sasha, the Linklater matriarch, accused of murder, Alyssa was keen to see how this 'lovely lady' would manage to maintain her footing within the Linklaters.

The next day.

Vivienne was rudely awakened by a barrage of texts on her phone.

Seeing the first name that popped up, she immediately hit 'mute'.

Seconds later, the usually quiet Emerald Mountain Disciples' chat group exploded with over a dozen messages, each more urgent than the last.

Jerry Perez: "What's going on? Vivienne's getting married, and I'm the last to know? What happened?"

wedding? You've got to

no, I just saw the news. My

How could he keep this from

this big. Maybe the invite got lost... Vivienne wouldn't keep this from us, and neither would our master." Enzo: "I agree. A wedding's a huge deal. Vivienne wouldn't

guys sure you're not misunderstanding our

a second, then a very ominous voice

"Leopold, show yourself!"

in work, shuddered at the

sore from moving furniture, trembled as he typed, "Guys, I swear it wasn't me. I only found out last night, and I wasn't the one who

again, "We got the news yesterday noon, and you're telling us you, right beside Vivienne, only found out last night? Pull the other

"We all got the message, and if it wasn't you by Vivienne's

get off scot-free. If we miss

was about to lose it when he noticed Percival looming behind him, eyeing

I swear I didn't breathe a

gave him a chilling look, "I

was the one who

Leopold, "..."

were right; this guy

teeth, Leopold muttered, "Can't we just be

him disinterestedly, "Oh,

exhausting! I've been at it non-stop for three days. Plus, I've cleaned everything, even the

circled the

before

fresh. There are

in the

occupied for

lel

е

oversee their refurbishment and

take a break there."

Leopold, "..."

being human or

well be

it better

knowing his thoughts, merely warned, "Remember, you owe me. And let's not forget

Leopold, "Utterly shameless!"

Meanwhile, at the Linklaters'.

at the sixty-plus missed calls on her phone, ignoring all but the last one from Dorian, half an