The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The world champion announced his retirement the moment he lifted the trophy, sending shock waves

through the competitive gaming community.

Aaron’s retirement news hit the trending lists instantly, outshining even Hawk’s victory celebration in

terms of online explosion.

Yet, the person who took it the hardest was Kenneth.

“Dammit, he wins, and then he quits? How is that any different from those jerks who ghost you after a

one-night stand!” Kenneth raged.

Callum tried to reason. “Dude, that… Might not be the best analogy.”

Kenneth shot him a glare that could scorch the earth. “Well then, genius, you tell me how to put it!”

The room fell silent, fearing Kenneth’s wrath. Seething, Kenneth grabbed his phone and called Aaron,

unleashing a tirade that lasted a solid ten minutes without repeating a single insult.

Aaron, however, said nothing, hanging up the phone as soon as Kenneth took a breath.

Kenneth stared at his phone, the tone droning in his ear, his face so dark that even the devil would

steer clear.

Callum instinctively scooted back.

They all knew Kenneth was at his most terrifying, not when he was shouting but silent like this.

Kenneth’s grip on his phone whitened his knuckles.

Suddenly, with a loud crash, Kenneth slammed his phone to the ground and spun around, intent on

confronting Aaron.

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But standing behind him, more menacing than Hades himself, was Percival.

“Bro,” Kenneth immediately lowered his head, “I screwed up, punish me whatever way you want.”

Percival sat down, his long legs crossed, leaning back casually on the couch. He looked up and asked,

“What did you do wrong?”

“I embarrassed you.”

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Percival’s eyes flashed coldly. “You still don’t realize what you did wrong, and you have the nerve to

settle scores with Aaron?”

Kenneth flinched as if struck.

He knew Percival was furious now.

“Why jump into a trap knowingly? Why go for a solo kill on Aaron in game three? You neglected the

high ground, focused solely on beating Aaron, and ignored the rest. Have all my words these past few

days been for nothing?”

Percival’s questions left Kenneth speechless.

From the moment the match ended, he knew that they lost mainly because of his own doing.

He let his temper get the best of him and disrupted the team’s synergy, allowing Hawk to find a gap.

Their greatest strength was their teamwork, yet he was so provoked by Aaron that he lost sight of

everything else.

Otherwise, in terms of teamwork alone, even if Hawk had won, it would not have been such an easy

victory.

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Kenneth was chastised into silence while the rest of Team Snake members tried to smooth things over.

“Coach, Aaron just wound up the captain. He’s not usually like this…”

“Wrong is wrong, there are no excuses!” Percival bellowed, smashing the marble side table with a slap

of his hand.

Kenneth had never seen Percival this angry before and had a feeling that it was not just about losing

the match.

…

Meanwhile, on the rooftop.

“Vivienne, we won.” Aaron touched the medal around his neck, his face devoid of excitement.

Vivienne understood.

Aaron was at the prime age for an E-sports player, the pinnacle of his career.

Yet he chose this moment to retire.

And the reason for his retirement was not just because his old teammates were moving on.

The main factor was the pressure from the Miller family.

As the sole heir to the Miller family, he had missed out on a lot of professional training in his youth and

now had to catch up quickly in order to navigate the business world with ease.

“Regret it?” Vivienne asked.

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Aaron let out a bitter laugh. “Regret? How could I not? It’s my passion, my irreplaceable glory, my very

own triumph. How could I not regret letting it go?”

Aaron bowed his head, wiping away a tear before looking up again, his face stoic as before.

Vivienne patted his head, “If you’ve made your choice, don’t regret it. Life’s full of crossroads, but the

path is yours to choose.”

Aaron nodded firmly at Vivienne’s words.

She did not say more. Aaron was smart enough to know that even if he continued in E-sports, there

would come a day to retire. By then, there might be no place for him in the Miller family.

He was not doing it for money but for his mother.

Aaron could not allow the Miller family to look down on him. For his mother’s sake, he had to stand tall!

Vivienne withdrew her hand, saying, “Go say goodbye to the team members.”

“Vivienne, aren’t you celebrating with us?”

As Vivienne walked away, she waved her hand dismissively, “No, I’ve got a date.”

Aaron watched Vivienne’s retreating figure, the light in his eyes dimming.

“Vivienne, I’ve regretted it once. From now on, I won’t let myself regret again!” He declared inwardly.

A discreet black luxury car rolled out at the Centurial E-sport Hotel parking lot.

Vivienne sat in the back, her mood elated.

She was looking forward to planning Percival’s cleaning outfit.

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And Percival, who had just been fuming, was now at Vivienne’s mercy.

Thomas, the driver, glanced back, thinking that the only person who could toy with Percival like this

was Vivienne.

Arriving at the Hawk Club, Vivienne led Percival straight to the training room, where they unexpectedly

ran into Mark Miller.

“Ms. Vivienne? What are you doing here?” Mark was surprised.

Vivienne’s expression was cool. “I’m here to clean.”

“What?” Mark was taken aback, “You shouldn’t be doing that. I’ll hire a cleaner.”

Vivienne, unfazed, had plans of her own.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for

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“No need,” Vivienne said as she took a seat. “Go ahead, Mr. Ellington.”

Mark’s face was a picture of horror as Percival picked up the broom from the corner.

One by one, Aaron and the rest of the team trickled back into the gym. After today, this place would no

longer be theirs.

They decided to have a celebratory get-together right here to mark the occasion.

As everyone walked in, they caught sight of Percival awkwardly wielding the broom, locked in a fierce

battle with a stubborn patch of dirt.

“Coach, is this some kind of family perk?” Bennett quirked an eyebrow.

Nope, nope. Percival with a broom was as out of place as a fish on a bicycle!

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It was downright terrifying.

Quentin, however, let out a shocked yelp, “Holy smokes, my racing car model is shattered!”

Fergus noticed something else amiss, “Wait a minute, why is the gaming console smoking?”

Percival cleared his throat from the corner, continuing to fumble with the dirt that just would not sweep

into the dustpan, “The car model… I was trying to dust it. And the console… must’ve gotten wet when I

mopped the floor, I guess.”

Bennett’s twitch became a full-on spasm.

What kind of dust could crush a car model?

And what kind of mopping technique would be involved to get water inside a gaming console?

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