The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

A flash of confusion crossed Alyssa's eyes as she glanced at the servants standing by.

After a moment of silence, one of the servants spoke up with caution, "It was Miss Sasha from the Linklater family's gala." Alyssa's expression darkened momentarily but quickly returned to sunshine. After all, to secure an invitation to the prestigious Linklater family's event, swallowing a bit of pride was a small price to pay.

She put on a gentle face, "Alright, I was wrong last time, and I owe you one. How about making it up by taking you to see Auntie at the Linklater family's place?" "But we need to inform Grandpa first, shall we go now?" Winston, ever so obedient, nodded and willingly took Alyssa's hand with his chubby little fingers.

As the servants made to follow, Alyssa slowly said, "You two stay here. I'll talk to Grandpa with Winston." At this, Winston's cherubic face flushed with excitement, "Please pick sbeautiful roses for me. I want to gift them to Auntie." Alyssa's face darkened at the thought, Winston seemed born to challenge her patience! Suppressing her irritation, she tightened her grip on Winston's hand, deliberately leaving the servants behind. She softly told him, "When we see Grandpa, remember to say how much you want to see Sasha. Sweeten your words, beg if you have to, Grandpa dotes on you the most." "The most important thing is, insist on havingaccompany you. Just say that I was the one who took you last time, so you wantagain this time." Winston nodded along, his eyes gleaming.

Standing before Hunter Wright's office door, painted a classic deep red with ancient waves shimmering across its surface, Alyssa felt the gravity of the moment. The golden doorknob, crafted from pure gold, stood out. The Wright family's children seldom ventured near Grandpa Hunter's study, except for Winston.

Since being brought to the Wright family as a baby, Winston seemed to have earned a special privilege. Grandpa Hunter adored his youngest grandson, and the boy was no stranger to the study, having entered it countless times.

Winston, with his delicate, lotus-root-like hands, reached for the golden doorknob, pulled it down, and agilely slipped inside without even a greeting.

Alyssa, however, couldn't afford such casualness. Standing at the door, she respectfully called out, "Grandpa." A deep, gravelly voice from within responded, "Cin." Entering, Alyssa felt a chill descend upon her.

Winston was comfortably seated in Hunter's lap, playing with a sand timer on the desk, his face all smiles.

Hunter, wearing a half-mask that only revealed part of his face, looked lovingly at Winston, letting the boy fidget in his arms to his heart's content.

After losing interest in the sand timer, Winston hopped down and looked up at Hunter with big, watery eyes, "Grandpa, I want my sister to cwithto the Linklater family's home. I want to see Auntie again. I want to play with her." Hunter still looked at Winston with affection, gently stroking the boy's soft hair, his eyes flicking towards Alyssa with a mix of sternness and scrutiny.

Hunter's focus remained on Winston, his voice taking on a slightly warmer tone, "Winston, do you really want your sister to าวนา accompany you? Remember, lasy." tshe didn't have my permission and you got lost. Are you sure you want her with you again? Content belongs to en.swAlyssa felt a shiver run down her spine. She hadn't forgotten how furious Grandpa Hunter had been when Winston wasn't brought back safely.

Her gaze shifted anxiously towards Winston, wondering if the child harbored any resentment.

But Winston, with eyes as clear as crystal, smiled innocently, "Grandpa, I want my sister to cwith me. She apologized and said it wasn't on purpose. I really want to see Auntie again." Relieved yet humiliated, Alyssa wondered how a Wright family heiress could be at the mercy of a five-year-old's forgiveness. Hunter's indulgence of Winston made it clear why Alyssa's brothers found it hard to accept him.

Hunter didn't look at Alyssa but advised Winston, "I'll have those two servants accompany you. At the Linklater family's, mind your safety." Turning to Alyssa, he continued, "Join Winston, but don't cause any trouble this time. The most important thing is to ensure Winston has a happy visit. We can't have a repeat of last time's incident." Alyssa stood tall and firm, her voice laced with a promise of determination, "This time, I'll make sure my brother is safe, no more slip-ups like last time." Hunter fell silent, and Alyssa, feeling the weight of her vow, led Winston out of the room.

In a room on the second floor of the old castle, a man lounged by the window, one leg casually swinging in the air, his interest piqued as he watched Alyssa and Winston leave.

At the entrance of the Linklater estate.

Alyssa, having taken extra care with her appearance, elegantly stepped out of the car, holding Winston's hand.

Two servants followed closely behind Winston.

Alyssa spoke softly to the two guards at the door, "Could you please let them know that Winston Wright is here to see Sasha?" The guards recognized the woman from a previous incident and looked at each other skeptically before making the call.

Inside the mansion, Vivienne was on the sofa, absorbed in tracing the route of a car involved in a recent incident, while Sasha and Arthur were busy preparing wedding invitations.

The invitations, designed by Vivienne, were elegantly simple. The el main thwas pure white, with delicate white flowers in a cut-out design intertwined with a royal purple ribbon, and sealed with a traditional red wax seal. Content belongs to en.swArthur threaded the ribbon through the cards, while Sasha penned down graceful invitations, and Arthur sealed them with wax.

The two worked in harmony, their laughter and shared efforts creating a warm atmosphere.

"Madam, the gatehouse has informed us that Winston Wright has cto visit," the butler announced.

Sasha, about to finish writing an invitation, paused and smiled, "Let him in. I didn't go out to see him, but look, he's cto seeall by himself." mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilOfiflo&1 mmMwWLliI0fiflO&1 mmMwWLlilOfiflO&1 mmMwWLliI0fifl0&1 mmMwWLlilOfiflO&1