The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne popped the cork from the porcelain vial and held it to her nose, inhaling deeply. It was not any ordinary medicine she was familiar with.

Her gaze lifted slowly, locking eyes with Finnian.

"Yes, it's our family's secret recipe. Only Sheldons know how to concoct it," Finnian said, his excitement palpable.

Vivienne gave him a scrutinizing look. Knowing Finnian's true nature, even if he did not want to have anything to do with the Edwards family, even if he wished they would just wither away, he would not ignore the plight of the innocent workers.

He would not stand by with an antidote in hand and watch them die.

Finnian seemed to anticipate her question and volunteered the information. "I once gave the formula to someone from the Edwards family, Vance's grandfather specifically, but the old man did not take it seriously. Then, I was chased all over the place and took refuge up in the Emerald Mountains. I lost touch with the Edwards' affairs, and it was left at that."

Back in the day, Finnian, or Ulysses as he was known in his family, had fled from a home tragedy. During his escape, he learned that the Edwards family had acquired Mystic Vein's mining rights. Aware of the dangers of Mystic Vein, he passed the antidote formula to Vance's grandfather.

But this very act revealed his whereabouts, leading to a relentless pursuit by other ancient warrior lineages.

Finnian had thought Vance's grandfather would heed the warning. Unfortunately, it did not make any difference in the end.

For years, Finnian had been dodging assassins from the ancient warrior lineages, and it was only after faking his death that he discovered Vance's parents had died due to the Mystic Vein's excavation. Only then did he realize that the Edwards family had ignored the antidote altogether.

But it was too late. He could not find Vance or save the workers any other way.

Vivienne nodded. "So, the Edwards family sealed their own fate. But Finnian, did you use your alias to strike a deal with the Edwards Group to sell those gas masks to save their miners?" Finnian choked, incredulous that she had found out. He had carefully avoided all of Vivienne's informants!

Wait a minute!

There was someone else.

Finnian's eyes gradually shifted to Percival, who was slicing a cake. Feeling the sharp gaze, Percival looked up and returned a beaming smile. Inwardly, Finnian cursed Percival.

have known it was this

significant place in the business world, so uncovering a

tapped the table. "Finnian, don't forget you owe me 80 million dollars. Are you trying to

sly grin, Finnian knew he could

let's be clear: once I pay off that debt, you can't take over my company and still claim

start with the

grimaced, reluctantly pulled out his phone, and stepped

phone confirmed that she was now the owner

I have my IOU now?" Finnian said

Vivienne merely smiled, and even Percival, who had finished slicing

instead of a human reaction, both

a gift

will wait until I've collected eighty

girl, always full of surprises." He dipped his finger into the cake's icing and

it was not the cake he had brought in but a fake

wait!

synthetic humans back home and dumped them in

"Look at this!"

in a book, could not help but smile at the sight of

spunk," Vesper said

me

could say that." Vesper chuckled, pinching the cheek of 'Vivienne'. But his expression suddenly turned grave. Finnian was still mourning the loss

happened?" Finnian asked,