The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The security camera footage was playing back the clandestine visit of Dracon and Diana to the high-security prison to see Flynn.

“Flynn, cut the crap and spill it - where's the F-Poison? And Sasha, what the hell happened back then?” Dracon’s face was a mask of fury as he glared at Flynn. To an outsider, it might look like his own sister had been kidnapped.

Flynn regarded Diana and Dracon with a detached coolness. His icy gaze was tinged with a hint of mockery.

“Are you a Linklater?” Flynn asked, his voice frosty.

Dracon snorted. “Glad you know. You better cooperate, or you're in for a world of hurt!” Flynn suddenly burst into laughter. “Oh, you must be Dracon Linklater, the family’s black sheep. I always wondered what sort of failure Yorick could produce. Seeing you today, it’s clear the rumors are true. Are you even his biological son?” “What's that supposed to mean!” Dracon bristled. The last thing he wanted was to be compared to the other high-achieving Linklater kids.

Everyone knew the Linklaters did not tolerate dead weight, yet somehow, they ended up with Dracon.

From childhood, he lacked the talents of his brothers, and eventually, even his younger sister surpassed him. Left with no other choice, Yorick kept him close by.

Now, while the rest of the Linklaters shone in their respective fields, Dracon was still the quintessential adult child living at home, serving at his father’s beck and call.

Flynn, lounging in his chair, idly picked at his ear. “You two are quite the pair - a washout and an adopted daughter, both outcasts.” A flash of anger crossed Diana's eyes. Flynn was WEIS | his own little hell, tormented by sickness daily, yet he dared to mock her.

“Stop trying to stir the pot. | want to know if you're the one who tried to poison Vivienne and frme for it. She drank juice | made by hand, and then she was poisoned. Luckily, someone noticed and saved her in time. Was it your doing?” Flynn's facade cracked momentarily at Diana's words, but he quickly regained his composure.

With a sardonic smile, he replied, “I'm locked up in here, waiting on your schedules to gracewith a visit. Why would | fryou? Or was it your own botched attempt at murder, little Miss Incompetent?” “Flynn!” Diana was inches from charging in to throw punches.

Fortunately, common sense prevailed, and she held back. She knew all too well that with her modest skills, even if Flynn were bound hand and foot, she could not touch him.

Dracon stepped in to shield her. “Where’s F-Poison? Dead or alive? What did you do to Sasha?” Flynn yawned, clearly bored. “Is anyone there? Show these guests out!” “You sure you won't say a word?” Diana's eyes narrowed as she stared at Flynn.

She was aware that every visit to Flynn was a channel for him to communicate with F-Poison, though it was all in code she never understood.

But this time, Flynn remained silent.

Flynn's gaze hardened. “| said, show them out!” Fuming, Diana stormed out, and Dracon promptly followed, not bothering to stay any longer.

Percival shut off the video, his deep-set eyes reflecting a glint of confusion.

Was Diana trying to clear her name? Vivienne finished adjusting the design of a bracelet and set down her pen. “Mr. Wolf, | think it’s best just to watch and wait.” Percival snapped out of his thoughts, caressing Vivienne’s cheek gently. “Yeah, you're right.” Vivienne said no more but pointed to the finished bracelet design and asked Percival, “Does this look good?” He nodded. “Yeah, it's way better than those shoes.” Vivienne laughed, sending the design off to Draven with orders to have it completed before Natalia’s and Yasmine’s birthdays.

On the day of the celebration, Vivienne’s gift boxes contained two exquisite jade bracelets crafted from the finest nephrite jade.

The Perez family did not have many kins in Rivenwood, and they kept their business gatherings intimate, so the guest list was not extensive.

However, those who did attend were all movers and shakers.

Richard made an early appearance, having received a generous gift from the Perez family at a previous banquet and eager to renew his chess rivalry with Jasper.

Cecilia and Zelda sat together, earnestly discussing how to bake a cake despite their limited culinary expertise.

Nathan, Yuri, and Maddox engaged in a lively discussion about stocks and business, never short on conversation.

When Vivienne and Percival arrived, they coincidentally ran into Diana and Dracon getting out of their car.

Diana greeted Vivienne with warmth, linking arms. “Vivienne, what a coincidence! Let's head in together.” Vivienne merely glanced at her coolly before turning to go inside, with Dracon and Percival trailing behind in silence.

“Father, look, | brought Vivienne with me.” Diana feigned closeness with Vivienne, hoping to prove her innocence regarding the recent poisoning incident.

Vivienne saw through her petty ploy, merely curling her lips in response without saying much.

“Grandpa,” Vivienne greeted, smoothly extracting her hand from Diana’s grip. “Grandpa, is Finnian here yet?” Jasper let out a snort. “That old geezer still has the nerve to show up? He dropped off the gifts early this morning, sneaking them at the bedside of Natalia and Yasmine without showing his face.” Vivienne could not help but laugh, “He's afraid to face you.” “He could never beatin the past, and look at you now, kid, still pulling fast ones!” Jasper tBooks Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books Updates...

apped Richard on the back of his hand.

Richard, a decade Jasper’s junior, might be old too, but in Jasper’s presence, he was still the kid! It had been ages since anyone called Richard a kid, and he pouted in mock indignation, “I’m too old to be called a kid. | should be saying you're too old to be acting so spry!” “Acting spry is still better than your cheap tricks!” “Acting spry is shameful!” The two old-timers were at it again, in their third round of bickering for the day.

Just like a couple of children.

Vivienne decided to let them be, knowing they would settle down soon enough. She grabbed the gifts and went off to find Natalia and Yasmine.

Diana stood off to the side like part of the furniture, ignored by everyone.

Watching Vivienne chat with Natalia and Yasmine as if she were coming home, Diana’s heart was boiling with resentment.

Ever since Natalia and Yasmine were born, Diana had been caring for them on the sidelines, but no matter what, the children just did not warm up to her.

Sometimes, when left alone with Diana, they would even burst into tears, and Diana would be accused of doing something to them. The worst part was that she could not even explain herself.

Even when Willa, who was usually as cold as ice, showed up, Natalia and Yasmine were over the moon, following her around and calling her “Auntie Willa.” But with Diana, they remained distant.

Seeing Vivienne's closeness with the kids now only fueled Diana’s jealousy further.

“Diana, what are you staring at?” Dracon cover, casually draping an arm around Diana's shoulders.

Diana did not pull away; instead, she let out a whimper of self-pity, “It’s nothing, Dracon. Let's go over there.”