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.

silent, accepting that

yard, Jasper and Vivienne were locked in a tense game of chess, neither

game neared its end, Jasper suddenly asked, "Vivienne, what's

slightly, and she managed a smile. "Oh, just out for dinner, shopping,

her head lightly. "She's my daughter; she

no longer hold back, and her chess piece landed with a thud on the

mom is attempting a procedure. It could restore

chatty tonight, fussing over this and that. She's up to something, isn't she? And she didn't plan on telling

"She doesn't want you

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

the words

her eyes, the procedure had only a one percent chance

it wouldn't have so easily repaired Calista's failing organs. Yet, its effects

inject this mysterious ST-1 into Karen and perform

it, there wouldn't even be a one percent chance. And that one percent was only for the surgery itself; for the medication, she had no confidence at all. Jasper nodded, his eyes moist.

reddened eyes and said, "Sure, tell

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

was tough on the outside but carried a heavy heart. She was aware she might not wake up

take her path without interference. Especially since the surgeon was his granddaughter, he couldn't add to the pressure she

game. "You lost today. Next time, we'll have your mom win it back for

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

them wanted to put pressure on her. They had chosen to keep things under