The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Hunter glared with bloodshot eyes, his voice thick with disdain. "You ungrateful brat, daring to tear apart the Wright family over such trivial matters. You're doomed to a life of failure." Colin was immune to these barbs by now. He turned, walking over to a corner where he picked up a small wooden box.

"Grandpa, do you remember who this belongs to?" Hunter's brow furrowed in irritation. "You..." A cold smirk played on Colin's lips. "Mom wanted nothing more than to see her child one last tbefore she died. But what did you do? You took Winston away and left her to fend for herself, dying in despair." He would never et the sight of his own mother, tormented to death.

"If it wasn't for Winston, I'd have left her long ago." Hunter felt no remorse. He desired an heir who would bend to his will.

"A woman's death is of no consequence." Darkness clouded Colin's eyes, his gaze turning icy. "In the Wright family, you've loomed over us like a demon, giving us no room to breathe." "Today, it all ends." Hunter's heart skipped a beat. "Colin, what are you planning?" Vivienne and Percival exchanged glances, about to intervene when her phone suddenly lit up. She stood, announcing, "Winston's in danger!" At the mention of Winston, Colin froze. "What's happened to Winston?" Vivienne glanced at him. "If you don't want anything to happen to Winston, put down what you're holding ande with us." Observing the moving cursor on her phone, Vivienne signaled for Draven, who had been keeping watch nearby, to show himself. They needed more hands to search the Wright mansion for Winston.

Draven quickly joined them, whispering something to Vivienne, who nodded in understanding.

The cursor finally halted at a specific location, which Vivienne showed to Colin.

Colin's expression darkened, and he took the lead. "I know who has taken Winston." Vivienne gestured to Draven. "Keep an eye on the secret room. Wait for us to return." She suspected that a man like Hunter wouldn't be easily fooled by Abigail, nor easily manipulated by Colin.

Just because Hunter's powers were gone didn't mean he was defeated. After years of navigating the world, his cunning was unparalleled.

On the rooftop of the Wright mansion, Winston wasn't the only one bound. Brianna had been captured en route and was now dangling beside him, both suspended by a rope above the fifth floor.

Seeing the group arrive, Winston's eyes found Vivienne. "Sis, save me... I'm scared." Brianna, spotting Colin, screamed, "Bro, why did it take you so long? Robbie's gone mad; he's going to pushoff the building!" Colin rushed forward but was stopped by Robbie, who had positioned a knife on the rope.

With a sinister look, Robbie challenged Colin, "At the brink of death, who will you choose between them?" Brianna, in utter terror, shouted at Colin, "Why are you hesitating? Save me! We're blood, aren't we?" Colin frowned. "Robbie, what do you want?" Robbie sneered, his laugh colder with each word. "You should be asking yourself that, Colin. What do you truly desire?" "If you want to die, no one's stopping you. But if you plan to level the Wright family with the ground, I'll ensure they go down with you." Colin, refusing to elaborate, made his stance clear. "Robbie, I don't know what you're talking about. Let Winston go. You've always wanted my life, take it!" "Your life?" Robbie's expression turned icy. "You've rigged the Wright mansion with bombs, planning your own grave. Your life is worthless now." Brianna was incredulously shocked. "Bro, what's he talking about? Bombs? Why would you want to destroy the Wright mansion? I thought we were only after the inheritance." Vivienne, watching silently, had anticipated Colin's actions from the moment he spoke in the secret room.

Everyone must bear the consequences of their chosen path.

She had no reason to intervene unless Winston was involved. After all, her parents held a soft spot for him.

As for the rest, she couldn't care less.

When Colin remained silent, Robbie's smirk grew. "Oh, and about Winston's true heritage, after you mentioned it that night, I did sdigging. You'd be surprised what I found..." Robbie's mockery was cut short by Brianna's indignant response, "What nonsense are you spouting? Our mother died years ago; how could Winston be her child?" Robbie's grin widened. "It seems Colin doesn't quite regard you as family, not sharing such a significant secret." "You don't believe me? Ask him yourself." Brianna turned to Colin in shock. "Bro, say something. How could Winston possibly be Mom's child? She's been gone for years. He's just sorphan Grandpa brought home... What does he have to do with us?" "Shut up!" Colin couldn't stand hearing Winston being slandered, "Winston is my mother's son, I won't let you talk about him like that." Brianna found it hard to accept.

Tears of fury in her eyes, she turned to Colin and yelled, "He's your mother's son, your brother, but what about me? Are you choosing him over me, ready to watchdie?" ñovels The Wright family had be unrecognizable. Not only did Brianna gain nothing from the turmoil, but she also ended up being used as a pawn by Robbie to threaten Colin.

And now, she had be a laughingstock.

All because of Winston.

If only he were gone, Colin would see her as his only family again, just like old times.

It had to be.

With eyes full of resentment, Brianna suddenly kicked out at Winston beside her.

In a flash! Vivienne, with a flick of her silver needles, immobilized Brianna on the ground and quickly caught Winston, preventing him from falling off the edge.

Robbie tried to step forward to take Winston back but was sent flying by Percival's forceful slap, leaving him spitting blood.

After setting Winston down safely, Vivienne looked coldly at Brianna, pinned down by the needles, "You sought your own death, and yet you tried to drag others down with you." "Big sis..." Winston's voice was soft, his head burrowing into Vivienne's embrace as if terrified by what had just happened.

Vivienne saw Winston's pale hand clutching the tracker she had given him, its pallor from fear breaking her heart. "Don't be afraid, it's all over now." Glancing at the others on the rooftop, Vivienne signaled her team to take over.

She couldn't wait to leave this dreadful place.

As Vivienne started to walk away, Colin followed, "Ms. Hawthorn."