The Million-Dollar Heart

The moment Leopold spoke, the car fell into a silence that stretched for a full thirty seconds.

Vivienne looked up at Leopold with a hint of exasperation in her eyes. Her junior always had a knack for being clever at the most inconvenient times.

Some things, even if you know them, you just don't blurt out!

Realizing he might have put his foot in it, Leopold met Matthew's disapproving gaze and chuckled awkwardly, trying to change the subject. "So, what do we do now? Head over to the YQ Research Center first?"

Vivienne nodded. "Let's drop Holly off there first. She can't hold on much longer with just the meds I've been giving her. The lab's equipment is state-of-the-art, and with Brody there to help out, I can run some tests and stabilize her condition. Then, we need to focus all our efforts on dealing with the Abernathys!"

Neither Leopold nor Matthew objected to the plan.

Percival, who had regained his composure, gripped Vivienne's hand tightly, "Leave Gavin to me! I want to avenge Aunt Holly myself!"

YQ Research Center.

The soft blue floor lights flickered overhead. The roar of the rain and thunder was swallowed by the soundproof walls.

Behind the frosted glass doors, Percival and Leopold could only make out the vague silhouettes of two people inside.

"Hey, what's going on in there?" Enzo sidled up to Leopold, nudging his elbow.

The touch was met with an impatient brush-off, and Leopold held a finger to his lips, "Keep it down, will you? Come outside; I'll fill you in."

He cast a surreptitious glance at the stone-faced Percival and gestured for Enzo to follow him out of the lab.

a beer from seemingly

flickered.

know, then why are you still sitting here like a

from her brow as she received the shiny forceps, her gloves stained with

he thought Vivienne and

that she was Percival's aunt, he

now, seeing the woman, cleaned up yet with cheeks hollowed from

family heiress would be reduced to this," he clicked his tongue.

Holly should have been long gone. Her survival till now was nothing short of a miracle. If Vivienne hadn't brought her back from that remote village they mentioned, she probably wouldn't have

sure he could

as she replied,

looked at her in surprise. "Sometimes I really wonder just how advanced

were the ticking of the surgical instruments and the slicing

of relief, put all the tools back on the tray,

to take care of her. What you need to do is monitor all her vital signs. If anything unexpected happens, call me immediately. If you can't

well within his capabilities. Plus, he was curious to see how the Specter Healer

"How did it go?"

opened with a ding. Leopold and Enzo, who had returned from

"The surgery was a success, and Aunt Holly's condition is stable. Now, it's all about recovery. She

front of the others, Vivienne squeezed Percival's hand to reassure him, "She needs time to heal and further treatment later. Right now, our focus

palm

smile as he looked at Vivienne, his expression softening with tenderness that Leopold and the other bachelors couldn't quite understand. Matthew spoke up, "Vivienne, shall we head

"Anna's been calling me non-stop. If we don't get back soon, I think

Vivienne nodded. "Let's go."