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.

on the hospital bed, her complexion ghostly pale, her lips devoid of color. Her usually gentle eyes were shut tightly, as if bearing an

a single look, Percival and Leopold helped separate Dorian from

and the longer she felt the pulse, the graver

laced with

as she interrogated him. "Cordelia was poisoned. Why didn't you tell me? Who has been in

to think what might have happened if she hadn't come today. Cordelia

Dorian's demeanor after Vivienne spoke, his face

later, the Hawthorn family would be

could this happen?" Dorian slumped, muttering to himself in disbelief, "They promised to leave Cordelia

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 the Dorian they

his face as tears seeped through his fingers. "They said if I informed Vivienne 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 Astrid, Cordelia would be dead." His voice broke with the weight of his helplessness. "They knew everything; they were always one step ahead. They told me which room Cordelia was in and made me watch her suffer, powerless to do anything. I didn't know what

resembling her mother's, Dorian couldn't help but feel overwhelmed

used Cordelia to threaten him. Dorian was in a state of panic, unable to think clearly, and

on. "What do they want you to

me to make Ramona the face of Hawthorn Perfumes Inc. and to follow their every command. Oh, and yesterday, they told me to break the contract with

his chest, he said, "I've been stalling, didn't send out the

worry.

disbelief, "What the hell does this puppet