The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Ethan's elder brother, Asher Grimshaw, stood next in line to inherit the Grimshaw family's legacy as the patriarch.

Ethan seemed to be immersed in the world of medicine, but in truth, he was running errands for their aunt in the family business.

Together, they were consumed with the quest for an elixir of eternal youth.

It was likely no coincidence that Samantha had met Ethan; it reeked of the Grimshaws' machinations.

But this suited her just fine. She had grown weary of simple emotional entanglements; in this world, the strongest bonds were

those forged by mutual benefit.

Pausing, she smirked and said, “You don’t expectto help you research the elixir of eternal youth, do you?”

Her question sounded more like a statement.

Ms. Grimshaw chuckled softly, not denying it. “Have you considered it?”

Her icy gaze slid toward Ethan. “After all, my dear nephew has done so much for you. And the outside world is not so kind.”

Samantha knew she referred to Vivienne and Percival's crowd, along with the Vanguard Agency.

After a recent clash, GTO was scattered, and without the support of the Grimshaw family, Samantha knew she’d be a sitting duck if

she dared show her face.

Ms. Grimshaw was not merely suggesting; she was cornering Samantha into an agreement.

With a coy smile, Samantha straightened her dress and sat up. “Well, when you put it that way, | can hardly refuse such generous

hospitality. We've been collaborators for so long; what's one more day?”

It was true that they had been collaborators. After all, Ethan's resources had always been at her disposal.

Samantha prided herself on being a master of timing. “Moreover, any resources | still command will be at your disposal.”

Days later, at a quaint café, the aroma of coffee filled the air as Arthur took a sip from his cup. “Cut to the chase; I'm short on

time.”

Victoria looked up hesitantly. “Kaitlyn said that the item has been taken by Vivienne. | can’t find her now.”

“Vivienne again?” Arthur frowned, “She refuses to hand it over?”

Victoria shook her head, conflicted, “No, it’s like she’s avoidingon purpose. I've been staking out her usual routes home, even

to the hospital. I'm always one step behind, and even when | wait at Kaitlyn's, Vivienne seems to have a sixth sense, canceling at

the last minute.”

By the end, Victoria's expression held a hint of frustration. “I've run out of options, so | had to cto you.”

The more Arthur listened, the tighter his brow furrowed. “You wantto intervene? That's out of the question; it would blow our

cover.”

“But...”

If she didn’t find a solution soon, she feared for her mother’s wellbeing.

If it weren't for this plan, she would have already thrown herself at Percival’s mercy. She didn’t believe that Richard Ellington could

stand idly by while his daughter faced danger.

Arthur raised an eyebrow. “Just go to Richard directly; he'll help you.”

Victoria was puzzled. “Really? Wasn't it you who toldto keep a low profile and avoid contact with the Ellingtons? And now you

suggest otherwise?”

Arthur left without explaining, leaving behind a cryptic, “The tis right,” before walking away.

Victoria watched his retreating figure, mumbling, “What tis right? Why is the War God so cryptic today?”

Meanwhile, at Kaitlyn's villa.

After treating Tyler, Vivienne was about to leave when Kaitlyn hesitated, “Vivienne, about Victoria...”

“She cby again yesterday?” Vivienne wasn’t surprised by what Kaitlyn was hinting at.

Kaitlyn nodded with an embarrassed smile, “Maybe you should just give the item back to me. I'm scared she'll lose patience and

cafter you.”

Vivienne was unfazed, “Don’t worry. If | give it back to you, we'll truly be out of options. As long as | have it, Victoria will have to

wait. I'm busy lately and can’t deal with her, but Ill talk to her in a couple of days.”

Kaitlyn was concerned, remembering her own troubles with Victoria. “But what if Victoria Abernathy doesn’t want to wait?”

In Kaitlyn's impression, Victoria was never the patient type. Otherwise, their family wouldn't have ended up that way before

Vivienne's arrival.

Vivienne reassured her with a confident glance that always seemed to work magic, “Trust me, I'll be fine.”

After a little more conversation, Vivienne left Kaitlyn's villa.

Recently, the GTO underlings had been causing trouble, as if they had lost their minds, causing chaos everywhere.

Although they were just small fry who had been hiding in the wilderness, their abilities were not to be underestimated.

Vivienne and Percival were stretched thin, dealing with them.

Finally, they remembered Huxley, who was locked away at the Boyd family estate.

At the Boyd Estate.

In the dead of night, when all surrounding homes were dark, the Boyd house was ablaze with light.

"Letout!"

"Letout, Vivienne! Percival! You have no right to hold me; I'll charge you with false imprisonment! Letout!"

At the end of the upstairs hallway, Huxley's screams had been going on for days, seemingly without exhaustion.

His voice was hoarse from shouting, but like clockwork, he resumed his daily hollering from within the confines of his room.

Flanking his door stood two burly bouncers clad in black, rolling their eyes at the familiar tirade they'd heard yesterday and what

felt like every day preceding it.

They were utterly fed up.

One of them, prone to a shorter fuse, rapped on Huxley's door with force, "Zip it! Keep it up, and | swear I'll chuck you out the

window!"

"Alright, alright," ca weary surrender.

The other bouncer, pulling his partner back, said, "Cut him sslack, will ya? The guy's a relative of Percival, even if his screws

are a bit loose."

Percival and Vivienne were due for an interrogation session the next day. This was the last night of their watch; they just had to

endure a little longer.

Seeing his threat had silenced Huxley, the irate bouncer shook off the tension, "This guy's drivingnuts. I'm gonna be a wreck

after this. I'll have a word with the boss - | deserve an extra drumstick for this gig!"

His colleague gave a noncommittal nod, thinking to himself that such modest aspirations were all that were left in the wake of

unfulfilled hopes for a pay raise.

"Crack!"

Suddenly, darkness enveloped their vision.

Instinctively, the first bouncer clicked on the flashlight clipped to his belt and assumed a defensive stance, "Show yourself!"

The second bouncer mirrored the movement, his sharp gaze sweeping the surroundings like a hawk.

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