The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne had thought she was doing Paula a kindness when she sent her to meet Arabella on Jericho Isle, suggesting Arabella was her long-lost daughter. But that was a lie.

Who Paula's real daughter was, or where she might be, Vivienne neither knew nor cared to discover. It was enough to let Paula believe she had been reunited with her daughter, to share in mutual suffering. Jasper grunted. "We found her, alright, but it was too late. She was barely recognizable as a human. By the time we got to her, both her kidneys were gone. She didn't last long after that."

Vivienne recalled that the Brooks family once asked CK to find Paula's daughter. Little did they know that CK was the very culprit of the disappearance of Paula's daughter.

"Flynn spent years using his botanist cover to hunt for targets at universities abroad, amassing wealth for CK, while Fiona managed the operations back home. Using the Ellington family's name, they covered up many crimes."

After handing Flynn over to the Perez family, Vivienne had stopped inquiring into his affairs. It was mainly to spare Percival from reopening old wounds.

The extent of Flynn's cruelty had surpassed even Vivienne's imagination. But then again, as a disciple of F-Poison, how could he be anything but vicious?

Jasper chuckled. "Did he tell you he wants to meet someone from the Perez family?"

"Yes, he probably wants to see F-Poison's daughter." Vivienne shared her thoughts with Jasper.

Jasper nodded in agreement, "Too bad he won't get to see Willa, but there are others in the Perez family he can meet. How about we go see them together tomorrow?" Vivienne's gaze flickered, sensing that Jasper seemed to know everything.

Jasper looked at her with a gentle tap on her head, "Vivienne, I know. Our bond is unbreakable."

Vivienne felt a lump in her throat. She had been right. Jasper knew everything but kept silent for her safety, never acknowledging their relationship openly.

With a choked sob, she nodded vigorously. "Yes, Grandpa. Our bond is unbreakable."

Jasper's smile deepened, clearing the mist from his eyes as he took her hand and continued their walk through the garden.

The following day, the entire Perez family visited the secret prison.

Vivienne stayed close to Jasper, and the others followed.

in Flynn's system was flaring up, tormenting both his body and

from the Perez family watched from outside the cell with eyes devoid of sympathy. This was the punishment

writhed on the floor, sweating

her head away,

an hour,

before sitting up

capable, aren't

on her lips. "There's a certain charm in

flicker of rage crossed Flynn's face as

he vented his

mother is dead, Vivienne, and soon it'll be

"Well, I'll

forward and turned on

and the

Maddox growled,

family's third, fallen for the enemy's daughter, Willa? You've got some guts. And you, old man,

I raised. I'm proud of her. If she reciprocates the feelings for Maddox, I'd gladly give them my blessings. Flynn, what do you think your mentor would say if he knew his daughter would call her father's

outright. Jasper's words were a sharp

F-Poison cared for Willa by Flynn's desperate desire to see her. Jasper's barb was

up, "Shut up!

you. She said if F-Poison

you!" Flynn shouted as his poison flared again, wracking his

button, and a

they needed Flynn to be coherent

how exactly did you and your