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

Vivienne were locked in a tense game of chess, neither

as the game neared its end, Jasper suddenly asked,

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

her head lightly. "She's

could no longer hold back, and her chess piece landed with a thud on the board, shaking slightly before coming

procedure. It could restore memories, or it

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, isn't she? And she didn't

bit her lip. "She

chuckled, a hint of sadness in his voice. "Tell me the truth, Vivienne.

fists, the words barely escaping

had only a one percent chance of

powerful; otherwise, it wouldn't have so easily repaired

this mysterious ST-1 into

weren't Vivienne herself 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 had no confidence at all. Jasper nodded, his eyes moist. "Alright, can you promise

his reddened eyes and said,

let your mom know I'm aware of this. Pretend I'm clueless so

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

this, he 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 couldn't add to

chess game. "You lost today. Next

she stared at the interwoven pieces, her heart heavy with

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