The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Dracon sipped his coffee with feigned calmness, realizing he'd teamed up with a disposable ally. If he hadn't handed her the recording device back then, she probably wouldn't have made it this far.

"Exactly, that's my plan. Since you've made up your mind, I'll take you somewhere we can get that video done today. Sasha and Arthur's wedding tomorrow? Not happening!" Dracon asserted with unwavering confidence.

Alyssa nodded, grabbed her purse, and followed him, eager to see this through.

Unbeknownst to her, their every move was being live-streamed to a national audience. As for Dracon, Vivienne was on the side, live-streaming while filtering any slips that might reveal his identity, ensuring the broadcast met both their goals.

Dracon opened the car door, ushered Alyssa inside, and they sped off to a rural area.

The village looked desolate, with weeds sprouting from the cracked soil, gently swaying in the breeze.

Alyssa looked around with disdain, furrowing her brow, "Can someone capable of making such high-quality, flawless videos really live in a place like this?" Dracon, prompted by her question, was reminded of his visit to the reclusive woman in the woods. He patiently replied, "Possibly. After all, people who make these kinds of videos often deal with fabrications, making them targets for retaliation. Hiding out in desolation makes sense." Alyssa nodded, finding slogic in his words.

They approached a lonely house, a small cabin with several photos hanging outside to dry.

As Alyssa made to enter, Dracon stopped her. "He only agreed to meet with me. I'll go in alone." Alyssa frowned, "What's the harm in adding one more person?" Before she could step forward, Dracon urgently held her back, "These types are quirky. If he gets upset by an extra person, our whole plan could fall through!" Though Dracon seemed off to Alyssa today, his points were valid, leaving her with little to argue.

With the day growing late and not wanting to linger in this remote place, she reluctantly handed over the original recordings to Dracon, "Here are the auand video originals. Make sure Sasha ends up untouchable." Dracon nodded confidently, betraying no sign of deceit.

Once inside, Dracon took a deep breath and wiped the sweat from his brow, relieved.

He handed the recordings over to Vivienne, placing them on the table.

As soon as Dracon entered, the live broadcast was cut.

Vivienne, legs crossed and lounging in her chair, had been dozing with her eyes shut.

Upon opening her eyes and seeing Dracon still jittery, she gave a chilling warning, "Dracon, a word of advice: wander in the dark too much, and you'll meet ghosts." She had evidence of all Dracon's misdeeds but had spared him since he was part of the Linklater family- for now.

Her primary goal was finding Abigail through Dracon.

For now, she let him be.

Should Dracon see the error of his ways, perhaps for Yorick's sake, she might let him off.

But if he continued his deceit, she wouldn't hold back.

Facing away from Vivienne, Dracon's eyes burned with hatred.

Diana Perez had been ruined by her and Sasha, and he would not let it go.

This time, he admitted his oversight in not heeding a warning, which landed him in their trap.

Exiting the cabin and gently closing the door behind him, Alyssa waited outside, anxious for news. "How did it go? Is the video done? Sasha and Arthur's wedding is off?" Dracon's gaze flickered with an indiscernible shade as he looked at her, his expression screaming, "Idiot." A feeling of dread crept into Alyssa as she instinctively stepped back before reaching for Dracon's sleeve, "Shouldn't you giveback the originals now?" Shrugging off her hand with disdain, Dracon scoffed coldly and drove off, leaving a trail of dust that made Alyssa cough uncontrollably in disbelief.

Left alone in the desolate countryside, Alyssa's fear turned to realization as she rushed to open the cabin door.

Inside, the room was empty except for a computer streaming their entire conversation live.

Alyssa understood she'd been played by Dracon.

Her hands trembling, eyes red with fury, she attempted to smash the computer to stop the broadcast, but her efforts were in vain as the machine remained intact.

Alyssa frantically searched the cabin for something, anything that could help her a baseball bat, a heavy book. But the room was almost velbare, save for a computer that seemed to mock her with its presence. Not even a paperweight in sight. Content belongs to en.swThe computer continued to play the damning evidence of their plot, her voice outlining plans in an accent thick with malice. She couldn't stand it, couldn't stand the sight of her own twisted face in the video.

Desperation clawing at her, Alyssa made a break for the door, but it might as well have been a wall. No matter how much strength she threw into it, the door wouldn't budge.

Collapsing to the floor, hands cradling her throbbing head, she teetered on the brink of collapse. She fumbled for her phone, a lifeline to the outside world, only to find it as dead as her hopes-no signat, no way out. Content belongs to en.swS Her eyes, once bright, now swirled with madness, fixated on the live stream still playing on the computer. With a primal scream, she hurled her arm at the machine, trying to smash it into silence.

Vivienne, having secured the evidence, had unleashed it upon the world with relentless efficiency.

lFrom the moment Alyssa had pressed record, so had Vivienne, ensuring every second of their conspiracy was laid bare until the bitter end. Content belongs to en.sw mmMwWLlilOfiflO&1 mmMwWLlilOfiflO&1 mmMwWLliI0fiflO&1 mmMwWLlilOfiflO&1 mmMwWLliI0fifl0&1 mmMwWLlilOfiflO&1