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."

with his smartphone. They then carefully placed the box back

from Scott's room, Vivienne and 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

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

finish eating, we

she sought to ensure Vivienne would not feel uncomfortable staying at the party any longer than necessary. Thus, she made plans with Carl and

offered with a smile. "Maybe... I'll treat you all

Kala glanced at the spread before her. There were over a dozen appetizers, with more courses to come. Surely,

just grinned, keeping her plans

in a lavish designer dress, her poise a mask for her growing impatience. She had insisted on greeting the guests, especially to catch Percival's eye the moment he arrived. Yet, he was nowhere

stepping out of a car with Richard. Percival, in

quickly adjusted her expression and approached Percival with a dignified

her without a glance, his indifference cutting her

watched as Richard gave her a dismissive look and muttered,

after the Brooks family had caused his granddaughter-in-law such grief. If Vivienne was not happy, neither was he And when he was unhappy,

stormy blue. One man ignored her, and the other openly insulted her.

seething with indignation. They may not

he made his way

glanced over at Vivienne, who was mingling with some guests a short distance away. Instead of joining her,

he nearly jumped out of his skin and instinctively shuffled

soft, teasing tone, "Leopold, have a few

awkwardly. "Ahem! I'm, uh, quite comfortable

Leopold, the smile