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.

Kala had been

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

incident was somewhat related to her, she was not responsible for

could assist Kala, but she would never blame

at Vivienne, unsure of what

two where one would suffice. But today, 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

This case... Richard and I have been investigating it in the shadows for years.

raised an

put, and don't worry about anything else," Baron said with finality. "We're discussing the future of the Brooks family. You should listen in. You're nearly twenty. It's time you learned about the

at her. "Do

he glanced over at Timothy and the

peers wore embarrassed expressions. It was not that they blamed Vivienne;

was coming to terms with

had ten lives on her conscience, and she could

Percival had done merely

who remained

did not say more and took the

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

doing too badly, especially with that black card filled with funds, and with the backing

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

intrigued. She had assumed Scott would be

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

Baron was orchestrating a comeback with new projects and had even managed to recruit Griffin, which was quite unexpected. Griffin, from the ancient warrior

and need