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

It's all Vivienne's fault. If not for

face wet with tears, laid the blame thickly on Vivienne, pouring out her grievances to

Fiona and Jeffrey weren't involved at all. I'm just an Ellington by marriage; you can ignore me, but my children are Ellingtons by blood.

type to settle down. But she was pregnant, and the

have sacrificed half the Ellington fortune to keep such a

Heloise's sleeve on the hospital bed, her complexion ashen. "Mom, please leave us. I want to speak with

wiped her tears, knowing when to stop her theatrics. She left, allowing Fiona to make her own appeal - it was always more effective than her

the more she made a scene, the more reasonable Fiona appeared.

yourself like before, I'll disown you,"

She turned to Richard. "Grandpa, this mess is my fault. It has nothing 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 in Percival's

had his own fish to fry and never

jail was not just a simple case of financial

of doing things, and Fiona would not be wrongfully

hear you say that," Richard said, his voice softening. "Now that you're out, live your life well. I won't let you down. My promises

to stay with the Ellington family. Once I'm better, let Mom, Jeffrey, and me leave Rivenwood. As for Dad... Grandpa, can you spare him?" Richard did not immediately agree, nor did he

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

he not dote on her, the only girl amidst a houseful

the

Percival, she focused on improving herself and

would have welcomed her back to the company without

What a pity...

sighed. "Don't worry about your father. You've always been by my side, never left Rivenwood; nowhere else is suitable for your recovery. Stay here. In a little while, your