The Million-Dollar Heart

Outside the hospital room, Heloise pressed her ear against the door, straining to catch snippets of conversation from within, but the soundproofing was too effective; not a whisper escaped. Unaware of her eavesdropping, Richard swung the door open, sending Heloise tumbling forward. Much to her chagrin, she landed with a graceless thud on the tiled floor.

"What on earth are you doing? Have you no decorum? Making a spectacle of yourself!" Richard scolded, thumping his cane on the ground before striding away in disgust. He had not gotten far when Percival and Vivienne approached, arm in arm.

"Grandpa," they greeted Richard.

His mood visibly lifted at the sight of them. "What brings you two here? Fiona's resting now; let's head back."

No sooner had he spoken than Heloise charged forward, her face contorted in rage.

"Vivienne, you wretched girl, you have the nerve to show up here after what you've done to my daughter."

In a fit of fury, Heloise snatched up a trash can from the corridor and hurled it at Vivienne.

Vivienne did not flinch, too bored to even bat an eyelash.

With a swift kick, Percival sent the trash can flying back to its sender, zeroing in on Heloise's unsuspecting head.

Caught off guard, Heloise stood frozen as the can collided with her skull, spilling its contents over her. Part-eaten fast food, disgusting fluids, and a medley of sticky, used tissues tumbled down, a revolting mess enveloping her.

Remarkably, Heloise's slender frame had managed to lift the bin in the first place.

A nurse passing by hesitated, recognizing Heloise as the lady of the Ellington family's second branch. But Richard's furious shout echoed down the hallway, "Let her be! She can pick herself up when she comes to!"

With that, Vivienne and Percival escorted Richard away, leaving Heloise sprawled amid the trash, her limited-edition velvet dress marinating in filth.

A woman with long hair watched the scene from the shadows. Only after Vivienne and Percival departed did she don a mask and slip into Fiona's room. Fiona, previously feigning sleep, opened her eyes with more strength than she had shown during her earlier conversation with Richard. "Mr. B, in such a hurry?" She teased with a smile.

The woman stood beside Fiona's bed and injected something into her IV bag. "I thought your first words to me would be of gratitude for rescuing you." Fiona watched the liquid drip slowly into her line, her expression darkening.

"You're just following orders. What do I have to thank you for?" Fiona sat up, gasping for breath.

The medication was the very cause of her heart condition.

to fall for such an obvious trap. I can't

her chest. After a

returned. She then produced a box of pills from her pocket. "Take one each night

that, Mr. B left

the pills and called after Mr. B's retreating figure, "Killing Percival with Boar Poison won't be easy. Vivienne knows how to cure the

Mr. B replied without turning, a smirk

staring at the sterile ceiling, trapped in a web of others'

in the passenger

is there really no hope for

medical records. There's a chance for recovery,

to jail, while her current state afforded her

had asked merely to gauge whether Fiona's condition was fatal. The prospect of burying a younger

be alright with

good to hear," Richard said, looking at Vivienne. "I'm

chuckled. "There's no need, Richard. I'm not troubled in the

no hardship. If CK's second-in-command landed in prison without any fuss from the organization, her adversaries were weaker than she thought. Catching Vivienne's mischievous grin in the rear-view mirror, Percival knew she was plotting

at him through the mirror, her bright face brimming

smile, returning his focus to the

due back next month?" Percival inquired after

a

longer, save you the stress,"

him

aim?" Vivienne teased, pretending to

twitched in a feeble protest,

is that okay?" Vivienne

noncommittal grunt, "That's

lightened the mood in the car quite

estate,

Fiona's medical records at the hospital. Now that she was done, she felt at