The Million-Dollar Heart

Calista could imagine the frosty reception she would receive from the Ellington family, but she never expected to be met with such outright disdain.

Of course, it was all because of Vivienne!

"Grandpa, please keep it. Don't disregard Calista's thoughtful gesture," Fiona chimed in, playing peacemaker, and managed to diffuse some of the awkwardness.

Cecilia scoffed disdainfully, eyeing Calista with contempt. "Calista, my father already has a Specter Healer's bracelet, a gift from our dear Vivienne. Your little present is redundant at the moment." Calista's heart skipped a beat.

Specter Healer!

How did Vivienne come to possess something from the elusive Specter Healer?

The entire medical community knew of Specter Healer's enigmatic reputation, never leaving a trace. How could they have possibly left something personal behind? Where did Vivienne acquire it?

What infuriated Calista even more was the fact that Vivienne dared to give away something as coveted as a Specter Healer artifact!

Those were treasures she could only dream of obtaining!

As Calista grappled with shock, Cecilia's smirk widened.

"Come on, Vivienne, let's go have some fun," Cecilia said, pulling her away.

Vivienne did not resist, allowing Cecilia to lead her off, only sparing Fiona a fleeting glance as she passed.

Fiona suddenly felt a chill run down her spine, unsettled by the penetrating gaze of Vivienne's eyes. She felt she had been seen through for some inexplicable reason.

It was not until Vivienne and Cecilia had ascended the staircase that Fiona's shiver subsided.

She could not shake the feeling that she had seen those eyes somewhere before.

Percival stood up, briefly glancing at the herbs in Calista's hands.

Coming back to her senses, Calista was about to greet Percival when he abruptly spoke, "Aurelia, make sure to properly inspect anything brought into the Ellington home from now on. We can't just accept things from anyone."

Aurelia, had served the Ellingtons for over

to read the Ellingtons'

and Aurelia was

promptly took the herbs from Calista. "Please let me inspect

feeling her cheeks burn with embarrassment, managed a strained smile. "Of course,

her word, Aurelia called the family doctor

fumed silently, forced to

the spectacle, followed

the banister, Calista's fists tightened as she watched his

all because of

not been for Vivienne, she would

confirmed the herbs were harmless, Aurelia

recovering from the snub, Fiona sat next to Calista and placed the box of herbs in Richard's

for your birthday. You can't just turn it away,

the company, you can't just loaf around and bring troublemakers around. I'm

ousted from the company, but as Richard's granddaughter, he showed a modicum of

as for Calista, Richard had no

After all, Calista was visiting under her

cast upon the Ellington family to have them so entirely under

them, Fiona and Calista had no choice but to

the entrance of the Ellington

lips, apologizing, "Fiona, I'm sorry

the box tightly, yet her face remained

worry, it's not your fault. If only we could have come sooner," Fiona said, her

It's all that woman's fault. If not for her, Richard would

was squarely placed on Vivienne's shoulders, as if

secretive

was led blindfolded by Astrid to

the blindfold, "Welcome to our lab. These are all

her surroundings: masked faces, white lab coats,