The Million-Dollar Heart

As Dorian's panicked shout pierced the air, Vivienne and the others snapped to attention. Rushing to the doorway, they caught up to Dorian just as he was bolting towards the garage. "Whoa, hold up, cowboy!" Leopold grabbed Dorian's arm. "We'll drive you. Where to?"

"The hospital! Step on it, to Downtown Medical Center!"

His voice was raw with urgency, his fingers quivering like aspen leaves in the wind. He looked like a kid who'd lost his favorite toy, eyes red and swollen with the threat of tears. Only now did Vivienne notice the change in Dorian, whom she hadn't seen in a few days. Silver streaks had begun to weave into his hair like frost creeping over autumn leaves. Her eyes lingered on him for a moment before cold realization dawned upon her. She remembered Cordelia's mysterious disappearance, and her expression turned to stone. "Leopold, floor it!" she ordered.

Percival was already on the phone with Thomas. "Get the guys closest to Downtown Medical Center on it, pronto! Find a patient named Cordelia Wilson. And make it snappy!" They managed to shave the usual half-hour drive down to mere minutes.

Upon reaching the hospital lobby, Thomas was already there waiting. Dorian didn't need guidance; he punched the elevator button and headed straight for the wards.

"What's the situation?" Vivienne asked, with Percival and the others close on her heels.

Percival glanced at Thomas, lowering his voice as he asked.

Thomas shook his head, hinting at grim news. "No idea when she was admitted, but I've got people digging into it. As for the poison in her system, only Vivienne," he nodded at Vivienne, "can likely deal with that."

The elevator wasn't big enough to contain the tension. Everyone heard Thomas's words, including Vivienne, who turned a sharp gaze back to Dorian.

She wanted to interrogate him, but the words halted at her lips.

When they reached Cordelia's room, which was already guarded by their own, Dorian burst in. Seeing Cordelia resting peacefully, a semblance of calm washed over his distraught features. Grasping Cordelia's hand tightly, tears began to cascade down his cheeks.

lay on the hospital bed, her complexion ghostly pale, her lips devoid of color. Her usually gentle eyes were shut tightly, as if bearing an immense pain, her eyelids fluttering in a futile attempt to awaken Vivienne's face darkened, and she strode forward. "Dorian, let me handle

Percival and Leopold helped separate Dorian from

Cordelia's wrist, and the longer she felt the pulse,

how is she?" he asked, voice laced with dread yet clinging

him. "Cordelia was poisoned. Why didn't

bear to think what might have happened if

caught the shift in Dorian's demeanor after Vivienne spoke, his face

gritted her teeth. "Bad? If I were any later, the Hawthorn family

in

on?" Leopold asked, puzzled. With a daughter like Vivienne, so fierce and capable, what could possibly be so dire that it led to this? Percival was equally baffled, standing alongside Vivienne. If he didn't know better, he'd think the broken man before them was an imposter, not

or Astrid about Cordelia, they'd kill her on the spot. Just last week, they ambushed her on her grocery run, drugged her, took her to this hospital, and then called me. They said they had surveillance all over the house, including bugs. If I reached out to Vivienne or

couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by this shadowy organization that seemed

to threaten him. Dorian was in a state of

and pressed on. "What do

their endgame," Dorian shook his head. "They only ordered me to make Ramona the face of Hawthorn Perfumes Inc. and

a weight lift from his chest, he said, "I've been

him, "Don't worry. I'll

everything, exclaimed in disbelief, "What the hell does this puppet master want?