The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Winston nodded eagerly, a sparkle of joy in his eyes. After all, spending twith Aunt Clara always made him happy.

Arthur trailed behind Sasha, as Alyssa slowly stood up, joining Arthur side by side.

As they stepped out of the door, Sasha glanced back at Vivienne, who was lounging in the living room, and softly asked, "Frost, do you want to join us?" Vivienne shook her head gently, feeling a tad sleepy and yearning for a nap upstairs.

The group navigated through the winding corridors, eventually stepping onto a grey concrete path, leading to a pond dotted with water lilies. It was a rare sight for the Linklaters to invite outsiders here.

The pond's surroundings were still under construction, lacking tall fences or chains, making it easy to reach down and touch the water lilies. The scene was serene, where the sky met the water seamlessly.

Alyssa was usually quiet, but as they neared the pond, she found herself speaking more.

"This pond, it almost has a magical, natural feel to it," she remarked.

Arthur responded in a steady tone, "When the Linklaters first created this pond, they didn't rush to put up safety measures. It was off-limits to young children, allowing the lilies to grow without boundaries. It makes flower viewing all the more interesting." Sasha, holding Winston, slowly admired the water lilies as they walked.

Winston rarely ventured outside the Wright family's estate, which was designed in a classic Western style, contrasting sharply with the traditional Chinese courtyard style of the Linklaters. This difference made everything new and exciting for him.

His little hand pointed towards the concrete path they were about to cross, where several paths intertwined among the water lilies. The lack of barriers allowed the lotus leaves and flowers to stretch out onto the concrete, capturing Winston's wide-eyed fascination.

When Sasha reached a spot where the vibrant green lotus leaves sprawled out, she paused to let the little one take a closer look, chuckling, "If you like, I'll pick a big lotus leaf for you to play with later!" Winston nodded excitedly, his soft lips planting a kiss on Sasha's cheek, which made her hug him tighter.

Alyssa clenched her fists in secret frustration. Her own brother wasn't as affectionate with her, his sister, but got along famously with her rival. She bit down hard on her teeth.

Arthur watched as Sasha carried Winston, her laughter making her seem years younger, like a graceful young woman.

His eyes softened, and he stepped forward, wiping the slight sweat from Sasha's forehead with a tissue, "Your auntie has been holding you for too long, and now you're all sweaty. Let your uncle hold you for a while!" Winston obediently reached out to him, and Sasha, slightly relaxing, followed behind them, enjoying the scenery. Arthur, now holding Winston, seemed much more at ease, laughing heartily, "Look, there's a goldfish over there!" Winston's excitement was palpable as he wiggled his little hands, eager to get a closer look.

Alyssa moved closer to Sasha, casually mentioning, "I always thought Ms. Perez cfrom an ordinary family, but to find out she's Sasha from the Perez family, I truly underestimated her.” Sasha glanced at her with a cool look, replying smoothly, "I didn't expect you to have such a cute brother. Are you two full siblings?" Alyssa thought Sasha would take the opportunity to boast about her background, but instead, she turned the tables on her. Alyssa's gaze shifted back to Winston, "The Wright family's background is probably not something to be discussed openly." Sasha smiled softly, understanding the situation to sextent from Alyssa's response.

Alyssa continued, "Your relationship with Arthur, your love story, even having a child, was all unknown to us." "When you suddenly returned to the Linklaters, it was the talk of Rivenwood." "Even now, the inte is buzzing with discussions about your past." Sasha clicked her tongue, her lips curving in a slight smile as she nonchalantly admired the lotus, "Your past with Arthur, including your unrequited love for him, something I know nothing about, nor do wish to pry." Alyssa clenched her hand tighter, "It's not that I'm particularly lowering her gaze with a soft voice, interested in your private matters el et but I've always loved Arthur.

Everyone in our circle knows that.

I've never considered marrying anyone else, always waiting for him." "Your sudden return with him and having a daughter was something I couldn't accept, leadingto act in ways that embarrassed our family." "I've apologized to you today, but I still need to ask, what's the deal with you and Scott? Were you two ever together?" Standing amidst the lotuses, Sasha exuded an aloof aura, her voice calm, "That's my personal business, and you don't need to know." Alyssa, tears welling in her eyes, persisted, “But I truly love Arthur. He's a good man, and I hope you won't do anything to hurt him, even though I never had his heart." Sasha, with a clear and prating gaze, looked through Alyssa, choosing not to waste any more words.

Arthur, still buoyant with Winston in his arms, continued to explore, until Alyssa called out from behind, her cheeks flushed, "Arthur, I'm tired. Let's sit in that gazebo over there for a bit. I need to rest." Arthur looked at Sasha, who nodded with a gentle smile.

l.n They walked into the brown gazebo, situated near the shore, surrounded by lush lotuses and foliage, offering a serene escape. Alyssa called. Winston over to sit by her, tenderly wiping his forehead with a tissue she carried with her. Winston's forehead was actually free of sweat, thanks to Sasha and Arthur tenderly carrying him around, his feet barely touching the ground.

Suddenly, he let out an excited shriek, "Look over there! Is that a bi-colored rose with hundreds of petals?" Finding a bi-colored rose was rare, and one with hundreds of petals was even more extraordinary and hard toe by.

Winston, who had been sittingfortably on a bench under the pavilion, slowly stood up, leaning on the table with curiosity sparkling in his eyes.

Sasha quickly grabbed the back of his shirt, her tone slightly stern, "Be careful." She looked in the direction Alyssa was pointing and, indeed, there it was—a bi-colored rose with hundreds of petals in the pond of the Linklater estate, probably the only one of its kind.

Alyssa turned to Winston, "Do you like it? If you do, I can pick it for you to take home." Winston nodded, "I do like it." His voice was soft, "But it belongs to Auntie, and she hasn't offered it to us yet.

Alyssa froze, a look of embarrassment crossing her face.

Arthur also looked at her disapprovingly. It seemed that even a five-year-old understood certain principles that she, an adult, was ready to overlook.

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