The Million-Dollar Heart

Brianna's face fell, her eyes darkening as her nails dug deep into her palms. "The one who's been making my life hell is none
other than Vivienne Linklater! And the person who embarrassed Alyssa in front of everyone? That was her too?"
"It was her mother, Sasha's, doing. But Vivienne played her part. Alyssa, that poor thing, thought Sasha came from a nobody
family. Turns out, she's Sasha Perez, of the Perez lineage. Alyssa not only failed to bully her but ended up dragging the Wright
family's name through the mud," the man replied, his voice laced with a chill.
Brianna snorted disdainfully, "She thought she had our grandfather wrapped around her finger, that she could do whatever she
pleased. What a joke. I bet Danielle hasn't let her off easy." She couldn't help but revel in the misfortune.
The man raised an eyebrow, unimpressed, "You know what I mean. She's in the first room right as you enter the last mansion.
Go touch up your makeup; don't let yourself be overshadowed." Brianna nervously touched her face, "I got it, brother."
The mention of the last mansion sent a shiver down her spine, signaling the gravity of Alyssa's mistake in their father's eyes.
After making sure her makeup concealed any trace of her distress, Brianna headed to the last mansion.
The walls of the last mansion were conspicuously pristine, surrounded by gardens of white roses.
But Brianna knew this beauty was just a facade, a superficial peace masking the real purpose.
She cautiously entered, heading directly to the first room on the left. The white door looked freshly painted as she hesitantly
knocked, receiving no response.
Softly, she called out, "Alyssa, I heard you're in there. Can you hear me?"
"It's me, Brianna. Did you come to see me?" Alyssa's voice trembled from inside, mixed with faint sobs.
Brianna frowned but asked gently, "Did Dad say when he'll let you out?"
Pressing her ear against the door, Alyssa's voice was barely audible, "Grandfather said, after tonight, I can come out."
Brianna was taken aback, not expecting their grandfather, who usually favored Alyssa, to be this harsh.
"Can you open the door? I want to come in and see you," Brianna coaxed.
After a moment, the door creaked open.

Brianna entered slowly, scanning the dreary room. It was a far cry from comfort, with cobwebs in the corners and a musty smell
pervading. Alyssa's bed was just as dilapidated. Disgusted, Brianna thought their grandfather's punishment was excessively
cruel, especially since Alyssa was his granddaughter.
Then, something caught her eye, turning her pale with fear. She looked at Alyssa, who was in tears, her appearance haggard.
"Don't be scared. Just feed it this, and it will fall asleep," Alyssa whispered, noticing Brianna's fear.
Brianna shook her head, her hands trembling, "I can't, Alyssa. I'm too scared!"
Not far from her, a massive wolfhound woke up, its strong limbs and formidable build striking fear. Its eyes glinted menacingly as
it panted, looking at Brianna eagerly.
Despite being chained, the wolfhound had a wide range of movement, except near Alyssa's sleeping area.
Brianna, too scared to move, thought of returning the next day. After all, Alyssa would be released then.
But Alyssa, pale and tearful, begged, "Please, just throw this into its mouth. It won't bark then. I get so scared hearing it!"
Brianna, recalling the humiliation Vivienne brought upon her, gripped the sedative tighter.
"You must throw this directly into its mouth. This wolfhound is too clever to eat anything off the ground. If it weren't for the extra
sedatives my brother brought me, I'd have run out by now." Taking a deep breath, Brianna backed towards the door, picked up a
stone, and threw it near the wolfhound.
As it lunged towards her, she stood where it couldn't reach, and as it opened its mouth to howl, she threw the sedative in.
With every ounce of courage, she retreated, signaling Alyssa with panicked eyes.
Alyssa, chained and bruised, reassured her, "Don't worry. Once the drug dissolves in its mouth, it can't spit it out."
Seeing the wolfhound fall back into a deep slumber, Brianna approached Alyssa, her voice filled with concern, "You've been
through so much, sis."
Alyssa, a shadow of her former self, sat on the bed, stripped of the Wright family heiress's glamour. This punishment was indeed
severe.

"Brianna, what brings you here to see me?" Alyssa managed to mask the fear in her eyes, a faint sparkle flickering through.
Brianna pouted, clearly displeased, as she linked her arms with Alyssa's and gave a playful shake. "Alyssa, of course, I was
worried sick about you. When I couldn't find you anywhere around the house pestered my older brother until he finally told me
what happened."
Alyssa pressed her pale lips together, mustering a weak smile. "I've brought shame upon the Wright family. It's no wonder the old
man flew into a rage."
Brianna looked at Alyssa with feigned sympathy, secretly sneering inside. True to her reputation of being as cunning as a fox,
she still wouldn't say a bad word about the old man, even after such a harsh punishment.
In a gentle voice, Brianna began, "Alyssa, I really think you can't be blamed for this. To be honest, I've seen that video too."
Alyssa's expression darkened, as if a raw nerve had been touched, her demeanor turning stormy.
Brianna's eyes danced with mischief. "Alyssa, we're family, and all I feel for you is sympathy. If you ask me, you were just a bit
too naïve, not checking the background of those involved thoroughly. Otherwise, after all those years of waiting for Arthur, he
wouldn't have been so heartless."
"It's just unfortunate that Sasha and Vivienne showed up out of the blue, or else I would have been looking forward to your
wedding bells by now."