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.

had been genuinely kind to

how Vivienne was unable to ignore those who

to her, she was not

could assist Kala, but she would

stared at Vivienne, unsure of

she had spoken at length. Without another word, Vivienne 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 hard

wouldn't have spared her. This case... Richard and I have been investigating it in the shadows for years. If we had

raised an eyebrow, genuinely

You're nearly twenty. It's time

at her. "Do you think I

glanced over

his peers wore embarrassed expressions. It was not that they blamed Vivienne; it was just hard

coming to terms

old lady had ten lives on her conscience,

Percival had done merely

on Scott, who remained silent with a

say more and

now that Vivienne has paid the penalty fee, it's up to

did 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 penalty fee was nothing

Kala nodded. "Alright."

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 Griffin will join our team. Everyone

assumed Scott would be the one to turn

and was frequently in

which was quite unexpected. Griffin, from the ancient

all. I'm tired and need