The Million-Dollar Heart

Chapter 9

Vivienne returned to her own bedroom and walked to the window, her expression extremely serious. She thought about the little girl she had just saved at the entrance of the mall, her brow furrowed tightly.

She had spotted it instantly. The girl was poisoned, and not just by any poison but a potent one concocted by her own mother that could mutilate the face if it took effect. Before her mom passed, someone had come to snatch the formula for the poison. It had taken her years to figure out the antidote.

Vivienne tapped her fingers lightly against the window sill, deep in thought. Time was running out for the girl. Who in the world took the poison formula, and why on earth would they poison a kid?

Vivienne ceased her tapping, pulled out her phone and dialed Matthew.

“Can you check if any hospital admitted a five–year–old girl with sores all over her face today?”

Matthew responded with a quick “okay” and hung up. Vivienne leaned against the window with her phone in hand, waiting quietly. About half an hour later, Matthew called back, “Found her. She’s in the VIP ward in Havenwood Hospital’s internal medicine department.”

“Alright, got it.”

Two days later.

Vivienne arrived at Havenwood Hospital. As she got out of the cab and walked into the hospital, a black sedan zoomed past her.

Inside the car, Percival caught sight of Vivienne in the rear–view mirror. His eyes narrowed instantly, “Stop the car.”

Thomas hit the brakes hard, sending everyone lurching forward. He turned to ask, “What’s up, Mr. Ellington?”

opened the car door and got out. He scanned the crowd, for the figure he saw earlier but couldn’t find her.

out of the car and walked up to

withdrew his gaze, “Nothing, let’s go.”

the other

She stood at the ward

better after taking her medicine. Vivienne rested her hand on the doorknob, debating whether to go

were complicated, and she needed to remain low–key. But the thought of the little girl’s bright, clear eyes gave her pause. If only someone had helped her ten years ago, she wouldn’t have had to watch her mother die right before her eyes. She couldn’t bear the thought of

she grabbed Vivienne’s hand, feeling very delighted. She’d caught a glimpse

hands holding hers, then up into Isolde’s clear eyes. Her heart was inexplicably softened. She gave a small smile, “Yes,

see me,” Isolde said excitedly,

her,

looked surprised to see Vivienne,

“Yeah, I came to take care of some things and saw you guys here, so

Vivienne a glass of water, “Please,

turned to Isolde, “I’m

nodded, smiling, “Great.”

She’d only behave a little when Percival was around, but as soon as he left, no one could touch her. Yet now, she was voluntarily extending her

Isolde’s wrist and used the medical knowledge she possessed to check her

medicine, the poison had already infiltrated her organs. Some of the toxins had been cleared, but her damaged

“Is our young miss

softly, “I can cure your disease, but it might be a little painful. Are

my face go

“Yes.”

not scared.” Isolde said seriously, “As

I have one condition. You can’t tell anyone I’m treating you, not

Better play it