The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

When Leopold called again, Vivienne hit the reject button without a second thought.

Leopold had his merits, but subtlety wasn't one of them.

et his ancient warrior lineage for a moment; these days, with the Martinez family sheltered by the nation and holding the reins of weapon manufacturing, and Griffin being the sole heiress to the Martinez empire...

Marrying into that family would be a jackpot, even more so for Leopold. Yet, he hesitated. No wonder his nicknwas "Husky." It was spot-on.

Percival, noticing her pout, chuckled and asked, "Still upset?" Vivienne sighed, "What does Griffin even see in him?" Percival weighed in objectively, "Well, Leopold might be a bit rough around the edges emotionally, but professionally? He's unmatched by his peers, perhaps even better." After all the battles he'd charged into and missions he'd flawlessly executed, Percival, as a long-tfriend and superior, had never doubted Leopold's capabilities.

Vivienne's lips curved into a smile, "Us folks from Emerald Mountain are never mediocre. Trust me, Griffin's making a smart bet this time." If Leopold had even a breath left in him, he'd ensure he brought her back! Percival raised an eyebrow, "That certain, huh?" Vivienne nodded, her protective instincts kicking in, "Of course, I know my brother. He's no fool, contrary to what others might think." Percival just smiled, letting the conversation drop.

Nearing noon, they finally headed towards their destination.

In a specially designed room, an elderly man sat against the light, legs crossed in a meditation pose, revealing only his back.

Vivienne paused at the door, turning to the person beside her, "How long has he been like this?" Draven replied softly, "Since he was brought in. Not a word spoken, not a drop of water drunk." Vivienne scoffed, about to ask further when another person approached to report.

"Miss, that man named Colin has just fainted." Glancing at the indifferent old man inside, she signaled to Percival, "Mr. Wolf, keep an eye on things here. I'll check on the other situation." In another room, Colin lay on a makeshift bed assembled from tables, his face and lips unnaturally pale, even showing traces of blood at the mouth.

Vivienne checked his pulse and quickly applied acupuncture with a silver needle, sealing several of his major points. She had no interest in saving those who sought death.

When Colin awoke, catching sight of Vivienne and Percival sitting nearby, a flicker of understanding crossed his eyes. Vivienne, sitting across from him, met his gaze briefly, "Let's talk about the poison in you." From the incident with the Wright family, it was clear to her that Colin wasn't after their wealth but wished for mutual destruction. Unfortunately, he had someone he couldn't leave behind; otherwise, he wouldn't have hesitated to bring down the entire Wright family.

Colin, struggling to sit up, said, "I'd like to ask Miss Hawthorn for a favor." Vivienne raised an eyebrow, "You want to entrust Winston to me?" Colin, caught off guard, managed a weak smile, "You guessed it. He's all I worry about now." Vivienne bluntly informed him, "You're not going die. The poison Colin shook his head, "It's no use." you is curable." "The symptoms are identical to my father's. It seems harmless at first, even undiagnosable as poisoning, but by thirty, it's terminal. Death is the only oue." Colin clenched his fist, pale as death, "So it was him all along?" "No wonder my father was desperate to leave the Wright family... a devil, stirring chaos within the family..." Vivienne left Colin with a pill, "This won't cure you but can extend your life by a year or two. I'll need to research to find a proper cure." As Vivienne was about to leave, Colin called out, "Miss Hawthorn!" She turned back, "Yes?" Colin spoke up slowly, "I initially teamed up with Abigail to uncover the secrets Grandpa left behind. I knew her intentions weren't el The stuff in that lab was much worthless, and I was fully aware of everything Alyssa was up to She wasn't exactly thriving under Abigail's wing." Vivienne hummed in agreement, "I know." Having shared his thoughts, Colin felt a weight lift off his shoulders "Hearing what you just said, I think my gut feeling was right. The Wright family shouldn't even exist in this world." Vivienne nodded in firm agreement, "You're right, the Wright family will be no more." As for Robbie and Brianna, they might as well be left to their own devices.

Vivienne returned to the control room, finding Percival still interrogating Declan.

She didn't bother going over.

She had a pretty good idea of what Declan was thinking.

Abigail sought immortality, while he aimed for absolute power within the ancient warrior lineage.

Their cooperation was based on a mutual belief that each could deliver what the other desired.

Declan's stubborn resistance was rooted in these ambitions.

As long as Abigail was alive, he harbored the delusional hope of someday controlling the ancient warrior lineage.

Percival cover, finding Vivienne lost in thought, a trace of indefinable interest flickering in her eyes.

He approached, resting his hands on the back of her chair, and embraced her from behind, asking softly, "What's on your mind, so absorbed?" Vivienne turned to kiss his cheek, her interest deepening, "Mr. Wolf, makea strawberry cheesecake tonight, I've got a craving." Percival's surprise quickly turned into indulgence, "For dessert tonight?" Vivienne's gaze was resolute, "Mhm, tonight." It had been days since she last savored Mr. Wolf's homemade strawberry cheesecake. Without it, she was sure to have a restless night.

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