The Million-Dollar Heart

Maddox's grin froze on his face, and the bowl in his hands clattered to the floor.

Heads turned at the sound.

"Maddox, you just broke Natalia and Yasmine's favorite bowl, you're so screwed, man! Say goodbye to your wallet!"

"Oh, Maddox, when will you learn? You handle things like a bull in a china shop, and look what happens!"

"Oopsie, don't be mad, Natalia and Yasmine, I'll buy you a new one and make Uncle Maddox here pay up!"

Trying to keep cool, Maddox forced a smile and turned to the girls. "Sorry, Natalia and Yasmine, but I cut my hand pretty bad. Doesn't anyone feel sorry for me?"

Luke immediately whisked the two kids away. "Girls, remember not to date a guy like this one."

Yuri and Fredrick also quickly made their exit, unable to watch the embarrassing scene any longer!

After everyone left, Karen pulled out a small bottle of antiseptic powder and sprinkled it on Maddox's wound, which healed quietly.

"No need to look so surprised, Maddox. Without Frost, I'd have less than a 2% chance."

Karen smiled at Maddox and added, "Just don't tell Dad, okay? I don't want him to worry. Just say I'm off to find Frost's dad, and it'll be a long time before I can come back, alright?" Maddox fought back tears, his eyes reddening but not allowing a single tear to fall.

Even with Vivienne and Karen working together, they only had a 2% chance of success. That left Maddox thinking...

"Sasha, can't we just not do it?" Maddox struggled with the idea one last time.

"No, we have to do this," Karen replied with certainty.

went silent, accepting that this was

and Vivienne were locked in a tense game of chess, neither willing to give

end, Jasper suddenly asked,

trembled ever so slightly, and she managed a smile. "Oh,

tapped her head lightly. "She's my daughter; she can't fool

piece landed with a thud on the board, shaking slightly

is attempting a procedure. It could restore memories, or it

silently, a heavy breath dissipating into the air, followed by his grave voice. "I knew it. She was too chatty tonight, fussing over this and that. She's up to something,

lip. "She doesn't want you

voice. "Tell me the truth, Vivienne. What are the chances

fists, the words barely

her eyes, the procedure had only a one percent

otherwise, it wouldn't have so easily repaired Calista's failing organs.

to inject this mysterious ST-1 into Karen and

doing it, there wouldn't even be a one percent chance. And that one percent was only for the surgery itself; for the medication, she

reddened eyes and said,

I'm aware of this. Pretend I'm clueless so she can go into surgery

but carried a heavy heart. She was aware she might not wake up again. So, she chose to

couldn't burden her. He would pretend to be oblivious, letting his precious daughter take her path without interference. Especially since the surgeon was his granddaughter, he

looking at the finished chess game. "You lost today. Next time, we'll have

dropped onto the chessboard from Vivienne's eye as she stared

it Jasper or Karen, none of them wanted to put pressure on her. They had chosen to keep