The Million-Dollar Heart

Danielle twirled around in the garden, his face illuminated by the soft glow of the moonlight. He reached out his hands, trying to
catch the light, a big grin spreading across his face.
Karen and Arthur, from a little distance away, watched the scene unfold with tender smiles. Seeing Danielle so happy warmed
their hearts.
As the evening drew to a close and the fireflies began to dwindle, a tired Danielle wobbled over to Karen, his little legs barely
keeping up. In his sweet, childlike voice, he reached out his hands and said, "Auntie Karen, uppy please?"
Karen's heart melted at the request, vivid memories of her own daughter, Vivienne, asking for the same thing when she was
younger. With a gentle smile, she scooped Danielle into her arms. "It's getting late, sweetie. Your family is waiting in the hall. The
fireflies have all gone to bed; maybe we should too."
Danielle's soft hands gently touched Karen's face. "Thank you, Auntie Karen, for showing me the fireflies. Can we play together
again?"
How could Karen resist such a request? "Of course, but it's past your bedtime. You need to get some sleep so you can grow big
and strong. Otherwise, you won't be able to hold even a small shovel!" Danielle nodded obediently, his admiration for Karen
evident.
Upon entering the hall, Karen was greeted by two of the Wright family's staff, who were visibly relieved to see Danielle safe and
sound.
"Master Danielle, you had us worried sick wandering off like that," one of them scolded gently.
"We should have been informed, sir. The lord was beside himself with worry."
Seeing their concern, Karen reassured them, "Little champ, I'll leave you in their good hands. Don't make your family worry too
much."
As Danielle was set down, he reassured the staff, "Don't worry, I had a lot of fun with Auntie Karen. We saw fireflies... and talked
about shovels?"
The staff exchanged puzzled glances but were relieved to see him unharmed and happy. They quickly reported back to the
Wright family, their anxiety finally abating.

Turning to Karen, they bowed deeply, "Thank you for looking after our young master. We'd be in a world of trouble without your
kindness."
Karen chuckled, "No thanks needed. It's late; you better get him home."
As they left, Danielle waved goodbye, "Auntie Karen, I'll come to play again!"
Karen waved back, her heart full.
As the guests prepared to leave, Karen took the stage. "Thank you all for joining us at my daughter's coming-of-age celebration.
It's been a memorable day. With that, our evening comes to a close." Dressed simply yet elegantly, Karen's grace was
undeniable, earning her resounding applause.
"Karen truly is the future matriarch of the Linklater family. A perfect match for the War God himself, though I wonder who would
win if they ever sparred," guests mused.
Amid the laughter and chatter,
Arthur and Yorick made their way to Karen. Yorick, with pride in his eyes, announced, "Karen is the chosen partner for Arthur and
an esteemed member of the Linklater family. Any other claims are irrelevant.
He continued, revealing Karen's true mentorship under him at the Vanguard Agency, emphasizing her merits over her lineage.
Jasper's voice then boomed across the hall, "Karen is my biological daughter, Sasha Perez! Lost to us years ago, but now she's
home. From now on, she will be known as Sasha."
The guests were in awe, realizing that a woman of such caliber needed no family name to stand out. Yet, the revelation of her
true identity only added to her allure.
In Sea City, the Perez family might have been off the radar in Rivenwood keeping a low profile for years, but when it came to
protecting their own, especially their daughter, they were a force to be reckoned with.
"If anyone dares to cross Sasha again," they warned, "the Perez family will be the first to stand up for her!"
The revelation of Karen's powerful background caught everyone off guard. After all, who in Rivenwood wasn't aware of the Perez
family's influence?

Despite their discretion, the strength and legacy of the Perez family were anything but understated. The Perez Group, with its
century-old history, was a business empire wealthy enough to rival nations. Following this revelation, both the Perez and the
Linklater families took to social media to officially announce Karen's identity, henceforth known as Sasha. As for the ensuing
online uproar, both families remained unfazed.
After the party, Arthur held Sasha's hands tightly his deep gaze filled with affection as he spoke in a voice rich and sonorous,
"Sasha, it's not just the Linklater family backing you up. The Perez family and I, Arthur, will always be here to support you. You'll
never have to stand up for yourself alone again."
Sasha smiled in response, touched by the gesture.