The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne pushed open the heavy iron gate, rubbing her arms.

Though the sun was shining bright outside, the place seemed to cast a chilling shadow over everything.

“Mom, Grandpa, are you sure you don’t needto cwith you?” Vivienne asked.

Jasper shook his head. “No need, sweetheart. Your mother and | can handle this. You just wait here, okay?” Vivienne nodded, watching Karen and Jasper disappear through the doorway.

She settled back into the car and began to nibble on a strawberry cheesecake.

As Karen pushed open the door, a nauseating stench hit her full force.

The person inside, hearing the noise, slowly turned her head.

Her hair was a tangled mess, unwashed for days.

Stains marred her clothes, and her bare feet were caked in dirt.

The source of the foul smell was clear—it emanated from her.

Jasper sighed deeply at the sight. “Diana...” The person trapped here was, indeed, Diana! After the cliff side explosion, Diana had been rushed to the hospital. Once she survived, the Perez family had locked her away here.

The villa might have looked like a luxury home, but it was more akin to a prison cell.

It had everything—a complete set of furniture.

But the all-black decor and the perpetual darkness turneprne spacious abode into a haunted house.

There were no lights, no windows, and even the walls were painted black.

Deprived of sunlight, not even the heat of summer could penetrate the coldness within.

Trapped here, with only the torment of stillness, existing was worse than death.

Food was delivered daily, only to ensure Diana remained alive. Unaware of tor place, she could not hear anything outside her darkness. She relied on touch to find something to eat when hunger struck.

The sudden light was blinding, and it took Diana a while to adjust and recognize the figures before her.

She slowly stood up, mouth agape, but no sound cout.

Diana stared blankly at Karen and Jasper.

After what seemed like an eternity, she suddenly charged at them, screaming, “I am the only daughter of the Perez family, | am the only daughter...” Karen swiftly pushed her back, protecting her father.

Jasper shook his head, realizing just how deep Diana’s obsession ran.

“Diana, it’s over. | have nothing to say. I've raised you all these years, but our bond is broken. | can never forgive you. Stay here and fend for yourself.” With that, Jasper patted Karen’s hand, signaling it was tto leave.

Karen had no desire to engage with the madwoman before her.

This visit was merely to support Jasper in putting an end to it all. He had truly loved Diana as his daughter, never allowing her to feel slighted.

But their relationship had to be concluded.

As they turned to leave, Diana's eerie laughter filled the room, reminiscent of a deranged spirit from a horror film.

“Bond? Ha, you talk toabout bond? What was our bond? Was it because someone said adopting a child would bring prosperity to the Perez family? Or that this adopted daughter would bring blessings to your children? Jasper, spareyour righteousness! You're nothing but a hypocrite! You adoptedwith ulterior motives, and now you preach about fatherly love? Sasha, my only regret is that | didn’t finish you off that day. If | had, there would be no Vivienne, and | wouldn't be in this hell!” Jasper turned back, giving Diana one last look, then silently walked away with Karen.

Once outside, Jasper explained, “The things Diana mentioned, they're probably rumors she overheard. Many couldn't understand why | adopted Diana and Willa, especially with so many kids at home. Rumors spread, and | thought she was educated enough not to believe them. Apparently, | was wrong...” Karen was curious, “Dad, why did you adopt her in the first place?” Jasper paused, looking at Karen, and said, “Diana was the child of one of my men. Her parents died in the line of duty, and I initially planned to send her to an orphanage and support her from a distance. But you wanted a sister, Sasha. Do you regret it now?” Karen smiled, realizing how the threads of fate entwined. “I don’t remember how | felt back then, but | certainly don’t regret it.” The concept of regret had no place in Karen's world. Even picking up a proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing did not faze her. After all, she had raised wolves before.

Percival: “Master, could | possibly beca person?” Vivienne: “Mr. Wolf, you'll always be a wolf to me!” Jasper looked at his daughter and said, “Vivienne is just like you!” Karen looped her arm through Jasper’s, “Yes, and I'm just like you!” The pair shared a knowing smile. In their world, there was no room for regret. To them, regret was for those who could not live with the consequences.

Jasper, Karen, and Vivienne—they were not the type to bemoan their fate.

They were masters of their destiny, never allowing anything to break them.

So, naturally, there was no talk of regret.

After Vivienne finished her cake, she and Karen emerged from the villa and drove Jasper back to the Perez Mansion.

Then, they headed to the YQ Research Center.

Karen stood outside the door, a hint of nostalgia in her voice as she said, “My daughter is quite the achiever— she’s restored my old lab to its former glory.” Vivienne rolled her eyes. “Mom, are you actually complimenting yourself?” “Of course, you're my flesh and blood. If you're capable, it's because I'm capable,” Karen said unabashedly, even a touch proud.

Inside the YQ Research Center, everyone except Brody was gathered anxiously by the doorway.

Vivienne walked in, surprised. “What's going on here?” Holden looked at her with grave seriousness. “Madam, Rex has been at it again with his experiments. That's the third explosion this week!” Three times! If her memory served her right, was today not just Thursday? Vivienne was about to dash inside when Karen caught her arm. “Hold on, it might blow.” No sooner had she spoken than a loud “boom” echoed from the lab, followed by billowing black smoke as the doors burst open.

Muttering a curse under her breath, Vivienne strapped on a gas mask and charged in to drag out a semi- conscious Brody.

Surveying the wreckage of the lab, Vivienne kicked Brody squarely in the thigh.

“Damn it! Which troublemaker wants to bankrupt me? These materials aren’t renewable resources!” Brody let out a shriek, fully snapping to his senses. Upon seeing Vivienne’'s face, he feigned death.

This was not just stroublemaker—it was the harbinger of doom!