The Million-Dollar Heart

Fitness Fun in the Park

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"Sir, would you mind sharing the story with us in more detail?" Vivienne inquired.

The old man nodded, "Of course. That year left a deep impression on us. Elliot was the beacon of hope for our entire family. Even our distant relatives had high hopes for him. After all, for a low-income family like ours, having a kid in high school was already a big deal.

Elliot's grades, though, were average at best. He was not exactly a standout student and didn't have many friends. He was a bit of a loner.

But ever since the kidnapping, it was as if he had become a different person. He was much more outgoing. Even got scolded by me for dating a girl from school. Truth be told, I thought the boy who came back was a lot better off. A young man shouldn't be so withdrawn."

Vivienne exchanged a glance with Percival.

Most people would be crushed by such traumatic memories and not emerge more cheerful and sociable.

How could this Elliot have possibly transformed so positively?

The father continued, "Elliot didn't let us down, though. He got into Elite University, and after graduating, he went abroad for further studies."

At the mention of going abroad, the silent mother let out a stifled sob, tears streaming down her face.

Vivienne silently passed her a tissue, "Did something happen?"

The man sighed, his expression growing somber. "We were originally against the idea of him going abroad, but Elliot was determined. He worked his way through, not needing a dime from us. Reluctantly, his mother and I agreed. But once he left, he never returned."

began to cry louder. "If I had known I'd never see my

Elliot overseas?"

contacted us; communication was difficult back then, and we couldn't

graduated and got a job at the university, we knew he wouldn't come back. We thought about moving abroad to be with him since he was settled. But then... there was a shooting at his school.

face in her hands. "My poor son... I didn't even get to see him one last time. How could he have left

offer her

not realize that her son had died the day

child they raised was the enemy in

be too much to

many, especially after the kidnapping, and even fewer from his years abroad, less than ten in total, but they're all here," the father said as he handed over the photo album to Percival. Percival flipped through

a simple life, mostly spent on

did Elliot study abroad?"

hands paused as he turned the pages, a

of one of Elliot's photos, was

the

the art of disguise to hide in Elliot's home, taking his place and

We've got what we need. Someone

about Elliot for a long time. Thank you for remembering our son," the father said, bowing to Vivienne and Percival, his eyes glistening with tears.

the photos were

Flynn's face on

asked, "Do you want me to go and

say anything. We'd be better off figuring out how F-Poison

darkened. "F-Poison would have been middle-aged by then. It's hard to believe he could pass for a high school student, let alone blend in and eventually study

to the hospital. Your

Quincy!