The Million-Dollar Heart

Chapter 40

Vivienne and Isolde were munching on cake when they finally decided on where to eat dinner.

They went for French cuisine!

Given that Isolde was a kid, they ordered some dishes on the lighter side.

By the time they finished dinner, it was already eleven o’clock. Isolde was feeling a bit tired and wanted to head back to get some sleep.

Percival suggested that Thomas should give Vivienne a ride home, but Vivienne refused.

She wanted to take a stroll around the city alone.

Living up in the mountains for a decade, she didn’t get to experience the hustle and bustle of city life. Even on the rare occasions she came down to the city, she would always finish the business, and then head straight back.

The weather was quite nice today, with a cool breeze that made her feel super comfy.

Percival insisted on escorting her home, but Vivienne was adamant about going alone.

In the end, Percival caved in, only reminding her, “Send me a text when you get home, just so I know you’re safe.”

“Alright.”

Thanks to spending the day with Isolde and the delicious strawberry cake, Vivienne was starting to warm up to Percival. She wasn’t as frosty as before and even managed a small smile.

After Percival and the others left, Vivienne started to make her way home.

Tranquil Estates was close to downtown. It was no more than a fifteen–minute stroll.

But Vivienne took her time, taking in the sights of the bustling city.

Halfway home, she was jolted out of her thoughts by frantic shouts from behind her, “Outta the way! Outta the way!

Vivienne turned around to see a group of people running towards her, with another group of stick–wielding folks hot on their heels.

caught sight of the person in the lead, she couldn’t

look who it is!

runner suddenly stopped, uttering in

9

Vivienne could respond, the person looked back to see the others catching up, and without missing a beat, grabbed Vivienne and pulled her along.

Vivienne’s delay, they had lost ground and soon found

man in front of him, “David, you

you can just run away! In our line of work, winner takes all. It’s your bad luck running into me today! If you’ve got the guts, bring your own

had walked into a street

Charlotte, the girl who had spoken up for her at

certainly a surprise.

his direction, “If you hadn’t tricked me, why

thought about it, the

bite with some friends. But then someone came saying one of her friends had too much to drink, so she and three others went over

a trap set by David, and they

he couldn’t beat her – and not

she supposed to take on so many people?

chat! You put my buddy in the hospital last time.

problem. She’s got nothing to

at Vivienne, his eyes lighting up.

eyes, disgusted. “We have rules. Don’t drag innocent people into our mess. We’ll settle our

from Vivienne, thought for a moment, and said, “Alright!”

out a sigh of relief, turning to Vivienne,

a whisper that only Vivienne could hear, “Get word to the Redwood family for me. Tell my dad if he doesn’t do something, he’ll

Vivienne was speechless.

involved in their dispute, and now she was a

stood up for her at the Hawthorn’s, she figured she

and

Charlotte sighed in relief. The Redwood family wasn’t far, about a five–minute

an option right now, so Vivienne had to run. If she was quick, she could make it in ten minutes.

had twenty

she muttered to herself, “You’d better get here fast, or you won’t have

was bracing herself for the fight, Vivienne suddenly returned.

you doing back here?”

Couldn’t

left, why come

back, who would get her

of responding, Vivienne walked up to David, “How much were the medical