The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)

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.Belonging to NôvelDrama.Org.

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."

Both Brianna and Alyssa, who was lying in bed, were stunned.

Alyssa looked at him, puzzled. "Winston, you'd apologize to the Linklaters for me?"

Winston nodded firmly. "I told Grandpa, I don't blame big sis. It's my fault for being too weak, it has nothing to do with big sis."

Alyssa's mind raced, thinking of how she could use this opportunity to get into the Linklater family.

Brianna suddenly spoke up, "Big sis, are you out of your 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 unwise.

Whether Winston could even get into the Linklater family was one thing; if Grandpa George found out she'd taken Winston there, it would be another storm of blood and fury.

As Winston stayed longer, a servant began to urge him to return.

If Grandpa George asked, they would be held responsible.

Reluctantly, Winston left; he really wanted to see his aunt.

Brianna then suggested, "Instead of begging Sasha for forgiveness, why not seek Arthur's favor? If he's on your side, who cares about Sasha and her daughter?"

Alyssa pondered, "But Arthur has lost patience with me... he won't even see me..."

Her fainting at the Linklater estate without Arthur showing his face was proof of Sasha's deep influence on him.

If there was a way to eliminate her, that would remove a significant thorn from Alyssa's side.

Brianna laughed, "Big sis, you're getting it all wrong. Arthur, powerful as he may be, is still a man. No man dislikes a woman's undying affection."

"Besides, everyone in Rivenwood knows you two are meant for each other. The matriarch's position at the Linklater estate was always meant to be yours. Sasha stole it from you. What's wrong with taking back what's rightfully yours?"

Alyssa silently agreed.

For years, she had seen herself as Arthur's other half. Sasha's sudden appearance not only shattered her dream of marrying Arthur but also turned her decade-long wait into a joke.

Seizing the moment, Brianna threw out her idea, "Sasha cares so much about her daughter. If something happened to her, Sasha would be too distracted to bother with Arthur. That's your chance, big sis." Alyssa's gaze darkened, "You mean to harm Vivienne?"

Brianna was taken aback 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 suggestion seemed to support her but was actually using her to target Vivienne.

Alyssa wanted Sasha gone, not anyone else.

Especially not Vivienne, who was off-limits.

"I'm tired, Brianna. You can go now," Alyssa said, turning away.

As Brianna stood to leave, she cast a covert glance at Alyssa on the bed. For some reason, she felt there was something about her big sister she couldn't quite grasp anymore.

Alone in the room, Alyssa received a secretive call.

Seeing the number, her heart sank, and she quickly answered.

On the other end, a voice altered to a low pitch spoke, "The boss has a job for you."

Alyssa's brows furrowed, "The boss usually contacts me directly. Why go through you?"

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

already soured on you. And yourne

little vanishing act these past few days? Do you really think he's going to trust you like before?"

Alyssa's heart skipped a beat, and she hurried to explain, "I haven't betrayed him, I just..."

"Save it. The boss wants results."

Alyssa bit her lip, understanding this was a test of her loyalty, "What does he want me to do?"

"Take out Percival when necessary."

Percival?

Alyssa remembered he was Vivienne's fiancé.

But the boss had specifically ordered her not to lay a finger on Vivienne before.

Alyssa couldn't quite grasp why the boss would want her to target Percival now, "Are you sure he wants me to go after Percival?"

The man sneered, "Questioning the boss?"

Alyssa didn't dare, she could only comply.

The next day.

Alyssa found herself kneeling outside the Linklater family's estate early in the morning. This time, it took less than ten minutes before someone ushered her inside the Linklater residence. Alyssa gazed up at the imposing woman before her, somewhat puzzled, "May I know who you are?"

"I'm Arthur's aunt," Hailey stated, looking down at Alyssa with an air of superiority.

Hearing that title, Alyssa's legs gave

way, and she knelt down, "Aunt, Alyssa knows she's wrong. I hope

the Linklater family can see pastet

this, considering our families'

history, and give the Wright family a chance to apologize. I will make amends."

Hailey just coldly watched her, suddenly speaking in a deep tone, "You want to eliminate Sasha and marry into the Linklater family."

Alyssa trembled, biting her lip,

neither denying nor confirming outright, "It's just... my feelings for Arthur overwhelmed me, leading me astray. Tbeg of you, please speak on my behalf to Arthur. I never truly intended to harm the Linklater family."