The Million-Dollar Heart

The lock clicked open, revealing its contents in the dim glow of the room. It was a stack of neatly enveloped documents and a book.

Vivienne rifled through the papers until her eyes fell upon a particular envelope marked boldly: [Paternity Test Results]!

[Test Subjects: Scott Brooks, Vivienne Hawthorn]

[Result: Positive Paternal Match]

Percival's heart skipped a beat as he read the results.

"A positive match?" He murmured, turning to Vivienne with a puzzled frown.

"What's going on? Didn't Vivienne say she was not Scott's daughter?" He thought.

He had investigated Vivienne's background only once initially, and it had come up empty. Thus, everything he knew about her was only everything she wanted him to know. Back then, she told him she was not Scott's daughter, and he had taken her at her word.

However, the paternity test showed that this was clearly not the case.

Vivienne sifted through the rest of the documents. There were ten in total, each one a paternity test from a different testing center, all with the same result. With a sly smile, she tucked the papers back into the envelope.

Turning to Percival, she explained, "I'm not his daughter. My mother had my genes altered. No matter which agency conducts the test, it'll always show a match."

Vivienne did not say more, but Percival understood her. There had to be a reason for Vivienne's mother to do this.

Without further ado, Vivienne directed Percival's attention to the book. It was not ancient, but it was worn, the kind that had been used often.

The book was actually a journal. Its pages were filled with handwriting added over time. However, the script within was foreign to Vivienne and Percival, not belonging to any known language or script they had ever encountered.

Glancing at the clock and noting the half-hour they had spent, Vivienne suggested, "Let's take photos and study this later."

his smartphone. They then carefully placed the box back and vanished

Percival parted ways. Percival exited the mansion only to re-enter from the front,

her way to the dining area, where Kala spotted her first and waved her over.

sat Ronald, Carl, Ashley, and Darren. All the people Vivienne did not mind being around. Thus, she paused for

and whispered, "After we finish eating, we plan to hit the shops downtown.

only attended the event out of obligation to her family, to spare her parents any embarrassment. Now, she sought to ensure Vivienne would not feel uncomfortable staying at the party any longer than necessary. Thus, she made plans with Carl and the others to

appreciated Kala's kindness and offered with a smile. "Maybe... I'll treat you

were over a dozen appetizers, with more courses

just grinned, keeping her plans to

greeting the guests, especially to catch Percival's eye the moment he arrived. Yet, he was nowhere to be seen, and the flattery

she was about to excuse herself, she caught sight of Percival stepping out of a car with Richard. Percival, in his black suit, exuded an air of sophistication and aloofness that pulled

adjusted her expression and approached Percival with

her without a glance, his indifference cutting her deeper than

watched as Richard gave her a dismissive look and muttered,

gathering, but his pride would not allow him to miss it after the Brooks family had caused his granddaughter-in-law such grief. If Vivienne was

man ignored her, and the other openly insulted her. She was the Brooks family's golden

clenched her fists and forced a smile, her thoughts seething with indignation. They may not see

Richard immediately sought out Vivienne. Spotting her, he made his way over

a short distance away. Instead of joining her, he made his way to the Sterling

spotted him, he nearly jumped out of his skin and instinctively shuffled behind

of his eyebrows and a crooked smile, Percival spoke in a soft, teasing tone, "Leopold, have a few days apart made me a stranger? Come

I'm, uh, quite

gaze lingered on Leopold, the smile