The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Willa took a bite of the salad and asked nonchalantly, “I don’t see the link.”

“But there is!”

Karen exhaled heavily and pinched Willa’s cheek. “Didnt Dad drill it into you since you were knee-high to a

grasshopper that you can’t be picky, that you can’t just eat the steak and ignore the salad? Because that’s just

common sense, it's the basics, it’s about not being wasteful.”

Willa nodded, confused. “Isn't that how it should be?”

“But what if you just don’t like the salad? If you don’t want to eat it, then don’t. Not everything you do has to

please Dad, nor does every action have to benefit the Perez family before you decide to do it. Everything you do

should make you happy, got it?”

Willa sort of got it, but not really. She had always told herself that whatever happened, she needed to put the

interests of the Perez family first.

The only tshe ever went against Jasper’s wishes was when she had to leave the Perez family because of the

F-Poison incident.

But technically, it was still for the benefit of the Perez family.

This mindset had becdeeply ingrained in Willa.

Karen's sudden outburst today left her at a loss.

What were the things that she actually liked?

Seeing Willa’s puzzled and lost gaze, Karen didn’t press on. She knew Willa had to figure it out on her own.

Sthings are buried deep in the heart and aren't so easily rooted out, especially for someone as stubborn as

Willa.

Coming to a real understanding would take time.

“Alright, chew on that for a while. I'll give this notebook to Frost. If there’s anything else, go straight to her.”

As Karen got up to leave, Willa grabbed her wrist. “Sasha, where are you going?”

Willa, with a keen sense, sensed a farewell in Karen's demeanor. Her eyes held a tightness as if Karen would

disappear the next second.

Jasper had just welcomed her back; where could she be going now?

Karen patted Willa’s hand gently, as light as a spring breeze.

“Don’t worry, I'm not going anywhere.”

Willa didn’t know what Karen was planning, but she guessed it involved going somewhere very, very far away.

Otherwise, Karen wouldn't have said what she did today.

Willa kept her grip firm, her eyes resolute as if to say, “Wherever you go, I'll follow.”

Karen smiled helplessly, her mouth curving into a gentle arch. “Tomorrow, Frost is going to treat my memory loss

after-effects. Maybe by the next twe meet, I'll remember who they all are.”

Willa was silent for a long while before her deep voice finally broke the quiet. “Is it dangerous?”

Karen neither denied nor confirmed. Danger was not an absolute concern for her. Regaining her memory was

what truly mattered.

Karen ruffled Willa’s hair. “I'm not going to die.”

She wasn't lying; she had no talent in fortune-telling, but Ulysses did.

He had said she'd live to a ripe old age, surrounded by children and grandchildren, enjoying family bliss.

She believed him!

Willa didn’t say anything more. She understood that Karen had her thoughts and decisions, and once she had

made up her mind, she wouldn't change it.

After Karen left, Willa sat still, slowly eating the steak on her plate.

She looked at the plate, quietly separating the steak from the salad with her fork.

Suddenly, a plate appeared in front of her with only a plain steak.

Willa looked up sharply to see Maddox, with a cheeky grin, watching her. “Eat up if you like it. Have as much as

you want!”

Willa stiffened, so lost in her thoughts that she had completely ignored the danger of Maddox sneaking up on

her!

She darted back, ready to flee.

But Maddox was quick on her heels, “Willa, you...”

“Hey, you haven't paid yet! Three steaks!”

Before Maddox could chase after her, the fast-acting steak house owner grabbed him. “Maddox, you can’t dine

and dash!”

“Man, we go way back. Do you have to do this?” Maddox rubbed his head in exasperation.

In that split second, Willa would have definitely vanished.

The steak house owner snorted and said, “Fredrick already toldyou're a gambling addict and a womanizer,

too. Seeing how you chased after that girl, he’s right! Pay your bill!”

At this moment, Maddox almost wished he could skin Fredrick alive. This was no way to spread rumors about his

younger brother!

Frustrated, Maddox took out a stack of hundreds and stuffed it in the owner's hands. “From now on, I'm your VIP.

Don’t ever askto pay again!”

The steak house owner immediately let go of Maddox and said with a smile, “No problem! Take care!”

With a groan, Maddox stormed out. However, on the empty street, Willa was nowhere to be found.

Just when he had the chance to see her again, she slipped away. He hadn't even asked if she had missed him.

Back at the Perez Mansion, Karen and Vivienne were accompanying Jasper, who was enjoying a stew as if

nothing had happened.

Maddox, eyeing Karen, had a look of woe on his face. He had overheard the conversation between Karen and

Willa.

After dinner, Karen took it upon herself to clean up, sending Vivienne to play chess with Jasper.

The other ladies started a gof poker, roping in Percival to spice things up.

Yuri was challenging Luke to a sparring match, insisting Fredrick be the referee.

Normally, Maddox would be causing a ruckus or playing house with Natalia and Yasmine.

But today, he joined Karen by the sink, helping her wash the dishes.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join &

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Karen rinsed a bowl and glanced at Maddox. “Did Willa leave you in the dust?”

Maddox exhaled deeply. “Yeah, and | even paid for both your steaks. Plus, Fredrick spread rumors about me

being a womanizing gambler. Oh, and I'm now a VIP member of that steak house.”

Karen burst into laughter. “Out of all of us, your life is the one that's so full of twists and turns it could fill a

.”

“Really?” Maddox paused, turning his head to look at Karen with a playful smirk. “I somehow find the whole

amnesia therapy thing a bit more intriguing.”

Karen faltered for a moment but quickly regained her composure.

Maddox, having followed the conversation earlier, must have heard her exchange with Willa.

“Maddox, it's something I'd have to face sooner or later. | need to get my memories back,” Karen said softly, a

gentle cadence to her voice as she dried the dishes.

Maddox's grip tightened on the towel he was holding, his expression showing a hint of restrained emotion.

“Sasha, just how risky is this procedure?”

Karen didn’t intend to hide the truth. “There’s a ninety-eight percent chance.”

“For real?” Maddox's eyes lit up at the percentage.

Ninety-eight percent chance - what's there to worry about?

With Vivienne on the case, that measly two percent was practically nonexistent.

Karen's lips curled into a bittersweet smile. “I mean, a ninety-eight percent chance of failure.”