The Million-Dollar Heart

Leopold, the leader of the first squad, knew the unwritten leadership rules all too well. So, it stood to reason that Percival, the head honcho of the entire task force, would be even more clued in. But now, even Leopold's moves were being curtailed, never mind the liberty of the whole special squad.

Percival set aside the application form he had been holding, tapping his polished fingertip on the signature line. "Why don't you take this up with the boss yourself?"

The rage on Leopold's face fizzled out in an instant.

Would he dare?

For someone even Percival called "boss," he was just a small fry; there was no way he would throw himself into the shark's jaws.

Leopold slumped into his chair, rubbing his temples in frustration.

After a few seconds of silence, he asked, "Boss didn't even ask you before signing off on this? Why didn't you go to him first?"

Percival took a sip of his sweet fruit juice and said, "He said since Fiona's my flesh and blood, having me sign could give someone leverage over me. If anything went sideways, there would be no one to cover for me, so he just went ahead without telling me."

Leopold's jaw worked silently, failing to snap shut.

Every word Micah said was for Percival's sake. How could anyone argue with that?

Unable to sit still any longer, Leopold cursed under his breath, stood up, and stormed out. He slammed the door behind him, not caring if he would end up getting a beating.

This was just too damn suffocating.

Percival neatly filed the application form away and glanced up at Vivienne, his eyes usually icy, now melting with a certain warmth. "Vivienne, shall we go have a look?"

Vivienne rose, taking the fruit juice from Percival's hand, and sipped the rest through the straw. "Yeah, let's check it out."

Inside the Ellington family's private hospital.

hospital room, and from her cries, one could have thought her

Vivienne's fault. If not for her, my girl wouldn't be like this. Dad, even if you're mad at

laid the blame thickly on Vivienne,

involved at all. I'm just an Ellington by marriage; you can ignore me, but my children are Ellingtons by blood.

had never approved of Heloise marrying Henry, knowing she was not the type to settle down. But she was pregnant, and the scandal was huge. The Ellington family

sacrificed half the Ellington fortune to keep such a

the hospital bed, her complexion ashen. "Mom, please leave us. I

theatrics. She left, allowing Fiona to make her own appeal -

Fiona appeared. That was the real reason behind her

yourself like before, I'll disown you," Heloise

to do with Percival or Vivienne." Richard seldom meddled in the younger generation's affairs. He had taken even more of a back seat since the Ellington family was now

own

just a simple case of financial fraud; it was bound to be part of a

things, and Fiona

out, live your life well. I won't let you down. My promises are still good, and I've kept that

and me leave Rivenwood. As for Dad... Grandpa, can you spare him?" Richard did not immediately agree, nor did he have the heart to outright refuse. He could not forgive his

his first granddaughter, and before Isolde was born, he cherished her like a

the

never troubling the

jostled for the Ellington fortune and butted heads with Percival,

have welcomed her back to the company without a second

What a pity...

nowhere else is suitable for your recovery. Stay here. In a little while, your uncle will return, and you'll