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.

their antics, chose to ignore them and pulled out a beer from seemingly nowhere. "Relax, with Vivienne in there, everything's going to be

eyes flickered. "I

a sigh, thinking, "If you know, then why are you still sitting here like

brow as she received the shiny forceps, her gloves stained with blood. Brody glanced more than once at the woman lying on the operating

in, he thought

that she was Percival's aunt, he

hollowed from malnutrition and unconsciousness, he could

be reduced to this," he clicked his tongue. "You sure you can

his experience, someone like Holly should have been long gone. Her survival till now was nothing short of a miracle. If Vivienne hadn't brought her

even he wasn't sure

she replied,

"Sometimes I really wonder just how advanced your

ticking of the surgical instruments and the slicing of

didn't respond, focusing instead on stitching up Holly's incision. After the final suture, she finally breathed a sigh of relief, put all the tools back on the tray, and removed her mask.

sterile passageway. "Tomorrow morning, someone will come to take care of her. What you

a patient was well within his capabilities. Plus, he was curious to see how the Specter Healer would work her magic on someone who was practically knocking on

"How did it go?"

room door opened with a ding. Leopold and Enzo, who had returned from outside, along with Matthew and Percival, who had been

face held a gentle smile. "The surgery was a success, and Aunt Holly's condition is stable. Now, it's all about recovery. She hasn't been properly cared for

squeezed Percival's hand to reassure him, "She needs time to heal and further treatment later. Right now, our focus is on

coolness of Percival's palm warmed under her

at Vivienne, his expression softening with tenderness that Leopold and the other bachelors couldn't quite understand. Matthew spoke up,

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

Vivienne nodded. "Let's go."