The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

mander Blake stood firm in the dimly lit control room, his eyes glued to the surveillance footage, exuding an aura of deep contemplation. With a sense of urgency, he dialed the higher-ups once again.

The call was promptly answered, and the woman on the other end was still fuming with anger.

Twirling a ring between his fingers,mander Blake spoke with a gravitas that filled the room, "Your anger is misplaced. It's your people who slipped up. Had they been more careful, none of this would havee to light." The woman, realizing her fault, forced herself to calm down.

"What's our next move?" Blake's tone carried a hint of displeasure. After all, the site in question was of significant importance to him, and it hadn't yet served its intended purpose.

"Shift whatever assets we can, and for those we can't, expedite their usage. I want the plan executed within a week." Blake hummed in acknowledgment, the ring's edge revealing a sharp blade as he made a small cut on his finger, a single drop of blood emerging.

"If all else fails, we destroy the site," the woman added.

The thought of destruction sparked a predatory glint in Blake's eyes. He had no tfor setbacks.

As he entered the villa, Percival's strong hands closed the door behind him, plunging the interior into darkness, save for the moon's soft glow streaming through the windows.

Vivienne, standing in the foyer, wrapped her arms around Percival's waist, her eyes alight with desire.

Percival caressed her cheek, unable to resist planting a gentle kiss on the side of her face, his body warming with each touch.

Their lips met, and the kiss deepened uncontrollably, sending both of them into a whirlwind of passion. Vivienne, her body softening in his arms, clung to him even tighter.

Percival's hands ventured further, eliciting a blush from Vivienne as a tingling sensation spread throughout her body, leaving her breathless.

He lifted her effortlessly, placing her on the cold marble of a nearby console table. As the intensity between them grew, Vivienne's thoughts began to scatter.

Awakening later, Vivienne found herself in Percival's embrace, her skin bare against the cool sheets. Her cheeks flushed as she noticed the series of missed calls on her phone forty from Arthur, five from Maddox, and the rest from Draven and his associates. Draven, having failed to reach her by call, had resorted to messages. Torn between staying in bed and facing the day, Vivienne admired Percival's handsfeatures, a rare sight given he usually awoke first. Snuggling closer, she felt content, like a cat curled up in its favorite spot.

Percival's laughter rumbled beneath her, his toned abs a pleasant surprise. "Why pretend to sleep?" Vivienne playfully accused.

"I wasn't pretending. Someone's closeness was just... distracting," Percival teased, his voice dropping suggestively at the end, causing Vivienne's cheeks to burn even hotter.

She quickly grabbed a nightgown from his closet, her movements betraying her fluster as she escaped to the bathroom.

Emerging later, Vivienne announced she needed to visit the Linklater estate, concerned about the numerous calls from Arthur. Not that she cared much for Arthur, but she owed it to her mother's expectations.

Percival, emerging from the shower, offered to apany her, but Vivienne, with a smirk, questioned if he was ready to face Arthur's wrath.

Assuring her of his fearlessness as long as she was by his side, Percival acquiesced to her plan to investigate the northern village alone, promising to drop her off at the estate.

Upon arriving at the Linklater home, Vivienne walked in to find Hailey and Dracon in the living room, supposedly engrossed in an opera. However, their attention quickly shifted to her.

Hailey's glare was different this time, less disdainful and more curious. Vivienne, unfazed, continued upstairs despite Hailey's loud protest.

Ignoring Hailey's anger, Vivienne was suddenly the target of a porcelain teacup thrown in her et direction Dodging gracefully, the teacup shattered against the wall, its pieces scattering, a clear signal that the day ahead would be anything but ordinary. The stairs proved to be Vivienne's undoing as she couldn't dodge in time. Fragments of the shattered nicking porcelain mug, fine and sharp, sprayed onto her, even cheek and drawing blood. On Vivienne's fair, delicate face, the sight was particularly shocking. Even the scalding tea splashed onto her clothes and hair.

Vivienne's gaze suddenly turned icy, an aura of deadly seriousness spreading instantly. She stood atop the stairs, looking down at Hailey with disdain, and began to descend with a chilling, deliberate pace.

Upon seeing Vivienne approach, a dark shadow passed over Hailey's eyes, and she cursed, "Where were you last night? It was your parents' anniversary, and you just took off with Percival without a word! Do you even care about your parents?" Vivienne stopped in front of Hailey, her eyes cold to the bone, her entire being radiating an univing chill. With a swift, ruthless move, she grabbed Hailey by the throat.

mmMwWLlilOfiflO&1 mmMwWLlilOfiflo&1 mmMwWLliI0fiflO&1 mmMwWLlilOfiflO&1 mmMwWLliI0fifl0&1 mmMwWLlilOfiflO&1