The Million-Dollar Heart

Everyone looked up as Vivienne walked in, her pace slow and measured. Clad in a plain tee and jeans, the simplicity of her attire was offset by the icy expression that seemed permanently etched onto her

delicate features.

Kala watched her, emotions churning within her.

After a moment, she spoke up, "No need. I'll handle it myself."

She was at a loss for how to treat Vivienne now.

After all, it was not Vivienne who had affected her work, but there was an undeniable discomfort whenever she saw Vivienne.

Did she blame Vivienne?

No.

After all, her grandmother had genuinely committed murder, and not just once, but tenfold.

For twenty years, the families of the victims had been deprived of the truth.

Her grandmother's fate was deserved.

She just could not face Vivienne.

It seemed ever since Vivienne's return, everyone she was close to had changed.

Vivienne approached her, her face serious. "Judith's death was a consequence of her actions. If she hadn't resisted arrest, she wouldn't have been shot in front of you. And the media exposure you faced wasn't my doing. I covered your penalty fees as a gesture of goodwill. You were the only one who treated me with genuine kindness after I joined the Brooks family."

When the Brooks first took her in, everyone had been considerate, but there was always an ulterior motive.

been genuinely kind

was just how Vivienne was unable to ignore those who were sincerely

to her, she was

could assist Kala, but she would never blame herself for

unsure

walked over to Baron and stated flatly, "Baron, I'm here to pack up. I won't be staying at the Brooks household any longer." Baron scoffed, "What, you think you can just bail when the going gets tough? I'm not dead yet. Even in

Richard and I have been investigating

an

of the Brooks family. You should listen in. You're nearly twenty. It's time you

at her. "Do you think I

that, he glanced over at

that they blamed Vivienne; it was

coming

ten lives on her conscience, and she

had done merely brought everything

who remained silent

say more and took the

it's up to you whether you want to

not question how Vivienne had come into so much money. After all, Karen's daughter could not be doing too badly, especially with that black card filled with funds, and with the backing of the Ellington family, a

Kala nodded. "Alright."

Baron went on to delegate tasks and finally got to the crux of the matter. "Since Judith was one of our own and made a mistake, we can't shirk responsibility. I'll issue an apology and provide compensation for the victims' families. On top of that, we need to push forward new projects. We're venturing into robotics, and

She had assumed Scott would be the one to turn things around, not

who often seemed under the thumb of Richard and was frequently in the sanatorium, had appeared less capable to

had even managed to recruit Griffin, which was quite unexpected. Griffin, from the ancient warrior lineage? Were

I'm tired and need to