The Million-Dollar Heart

Without a word, Percival stepped forward and yanked the man being pecked at by the parakeet away from Birdie.

The man, powerless against the bird and certainly unable to resist Percival's grip, allowed himself to be escorted to the lounge.

"Old Geezer! Old Geezer!" The parrot squawked triumphantly upon reaching Vivienne, ceasing its pecking frenzy to perch atop the man's head, its tiny head held high in a display of pride as if to say: "Praise me, come on, praise me!"

Fuming, the man plucked Birdie from his head and, gripping its neck, growled menacingly, "You dumb bird, I should've wrung your neck when I had the chance. You ungrateful creature, what made you betray me this time?"

Flapping its wings in a futile attempt to escape, the parrot broke free and landed on Darren's shoulder.

"Chicken tenders, chicken tenders!" It chirped.

Chicken tenders were Birdie's favorite, and Darren had stocked up on them at home, dedicating half the freezer to the bird's preferred snack.

Pounding his fist in frustration, the man lamented, "All for some chicken tenders, Darren? After all these years, couldn't you have spoiled it with something fancier?"

The treacherous bird, selling him out for mere chicken tenders, just like that wretched girl!

Darren, still puzzled, asked, "Excuse me, sir, do we know each other?"

Percival, unfazed, stepped forward and ripped off the man's disguise, revealing his true face.

Darren nearly collapsed in shock.

It was Finnian, Vivienne's elusive mentor whom she had been hunting down for debts!

"Holy smokes! Finnian! Is that really you?"

Although Darren was a mere associate member of the mentorship, having fled the fold soon after joining, Finnian was still his mentor.

to cover his face with his elbow, exclaiming, "Wrong guy, you've got the

teeth fiercely.

room, including Percival and Finnian, was taken

knew she was

your leg. Why the long face?" "Pulling my leg? You faked your death for this long, and you tell me

guilt seeing her cry and hurried to comfort her, "Oh, look at you, shedding precious tears. I'm fine, see? Stop crying, and come check the injury that dumb bird inflicted on me; it hurts like

standing up to inspect Finnian's head, but to everyone's surprise, she

You're not hurt

fluster, pulling out tissues and wiping away tears while apologizing profusely, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Oh dear, I haven't seen you in a while, and you've become such a crybaby. Please, stop crying,

shocked to utter a

Vivienne crying?

merciless Vivienne, weeping

entirely out of

pulling out a piece of paper and scribbling a

too busy pacifying his disciple, paid no heed to

enough to draw blood, and pressed it onto the paper with such speed that Finnian was taken by surprise. Vivienne stopped crying, softly kissed the paper, and flicked away her remaining tears. "Finnian, this is what you owe me. Don't forget to

closely

was an IOU for

you ungrateful girl, conspiring with this

the IOU, her face devoid of any sorrow,

my fiancé, not an outsider. And don't you think it's fair to add a little interest to that thousand dollars you've owed me for so

my life filled with such suffering!" Vivienne ignored his dramatics, even taking the time to pour Finnian a glass of water so he would not get