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

flickered. "I

stifled a sigh, thinking, "If you know, then why

"Hemostats." Vivienne let Brody wipe the sweat from her brow as she received the shiny

he thought Vivienne and the others had

that she was Percival's

cheeks hollowed from malnutrition and unconsciousness, he could see

day when the Ellington family heiress would be reduced to

short of a miracle.

wasn't sure he could save

as she replied, "It'll take some effort, that's

really wonder just how advanced your medical

in the room were the ticking of the surgical instruments and the slicing

incision. After the final suture, she finally breathed a sigh of relief, put all the tools back on the tray, and removed her mask. "I'm no miracle worker. The equipment in Room 3 is top-notch; I've arranged for her to

and, after scrubbing her hands, opened a sterile passageway. "Tomorrow morning, someone will come 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

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

"How did it go?"

who had returned

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

hand to reassure him, "She needs time to heal and further treatment later. Right now,

coolness of Percival's palm warmed under her

managed a faint smile as he looked at Vivienne, his expression softening with tenderness that Leopold and

we don't get back soon, I think Mrs. Littleton is going to lose

Vivienne nodded. "Let's go."