The Million-Dollar Heart

Walter scratched his itchy chin, his voice tinged with hesitation, "Miss, maybe we should just head back."

Vivienne, that woman was sharp as a tack.

Even if she hadn't sniffed out the oddities, Percival surely would have.

Walter couldn't fathom what Victoria was thinking.

To just drop Kaitlyn off at the suburban mall and then drag herself here to suffer - it was like setting herself up to be stood up.

As Walter silently grumbled, he dared not voice his true thoughts aloud.

Victoria was running out of patience.

It was getting late into the afternoon, and still, no one had shown up, which led her to bellow in frustration, "Looks like we've got no choice but to go with plan B. We're not waiting any longer! Let's get out of here and deal with Vivienne later!"

The next day, at the Linklater residence.

Arthur had been tied up with business at the Vanguard Agency, and it was a rare moment for him to be home.

his siesta, and he hadn't allowed anyone to disturb

stairs alone, Arthur pushed open the door to his father's room and saw him reclining in his rocking chair, eyes closed in

but at the sound

seeing Arthur, he quickly masked his irritation

silence him, "Dad's resting. Keep it

he nodded respectfully and tiptoed back to his father's side,

on his father, his eyes darkened, "Didn't you say over the phone that Dad's recovery was going well? This doesn't look right

sunlight, Yorick's complexion was so pale it was almost translucent. His lips were chapped, and his

looked even more frail than when he had first awakened from surgery, as if he could pass away at any moment. Arthur could only tell by the faint breathing that the old man was

was both envious and fearful of his elder

to keep things from you. It's Dad; he didn't want to distract you or Hector from your work, so

expression was one of helpless regret. "If you ask me, Dad's just been too soft on Percival. He thinks the guy wouldn't hurt him, but you never can tell what's going on inside someone's head. And his wife, she was finally acknowledged by the Brooks family, only to see them fall into ruin soon after. I've heard rumors that she wasn't exactly innocent in that debacle. If Percival would

"It was after taking the supplements Percival brought that Dad got poisoned. Now, his condition's been

"Specter Healer?"

Arthur's interest, Dracon let a barely detectable smile flicker across his face, "Yes, but this person is elusive;

Healer was a closely guarded secret within the Linklater family, a secret Dracon had sealed tightly. Arthur, known as the War God of Veridia, would

It was the perfect scenario for Dracon to sit back and watch the two of them duke it out for his own benefit. "Arthur, I think we should take Percival into custody. He administered the poison, so he must have the antidote!"

flashed imperceptibly, "I will have someone search for the Specter Healer. As for Dad, a professional caregiver will be arriving in a few days to

"What?"

to deceive but had not expected to be sidelined, "Arthur, don't you trust me? I know I'm the black sheep of the family. I've never made anyone proud. All my sisters have their achievements, and I'm the only one who's fallen short. But I've been with Dad for years. No one

long enough to rouse Yorick from

cloudy eyes swept over Dracon with an inscrutable look, "I agree with your