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.

bearing an immense pain, her eyelids fluttering in a futile attempt to awaken Vivienne's face darkened, and she

and Leopold helped

the longer she felt the pulse,

laced with dread yet clinging

was poisoned. Why didn't you tell

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

Vivienne spoke, his face turning ashen. "Is Cordelia's poisoning

her teeth. "Bad? If I were any later, the Hawthorn family would be planning a

slumped, muttering to himself in

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

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

Dorian couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by this shadowy organization

when they used Cordelia to threaten him. Dorian was in a state of

breath and pressed on. "What do they want

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

chest, he said, "I've been stalling,

worry.

in disbelief, "What the hell