The Million-Dollar Heart

Jerry weighed the possibility, a hint of gloom in his voice, "If that's the case, we're in for some trouble. Let's not even mention that the harassment case is several years old now. But at present, they're insisting that the girl committed suicide because of severe depression, and encountering Julian just pushed him over the edge. We have no way to verify that."

"Who says we can't?" Vivienne, acting on the information Matthew had dug up earlier, stepped into the elevator, "Just wait for my news. I'll fill you in later."

The moment the elevator doors closed with a ding, she promptly ended the call.

Percival watched the floor numbers rise with a hint of concern in his eyes, "Vivienne, are you really sure that woman's daughter will help us?"

Vivienne: "I'm not sure."

Such honesty, and they were at a loss for words.

Sensing the chill in Vivienne's gaze, Percival cleared his throat, "So, are we here today just to fish for information?"

"Exactly."

The elevator dinged upon reaching the fifteenth floor.

Vivienne waited for the doors to fully open before stepping out.

Walking along the corridor towards the most secluded corner, they approached the VIP hospital room with the poorest lighting.

Through the glass door, they could see a girl in a hospital gown sitting on the pristine white bed, barely in her early twenties. Her face was devoid of color, skin stretched over bones as if she was merely a skeleton with a layer of flesh.

She didn't seem to care about her cracked, bleeding lips, her gaze lifelessly fixed outside the window.

Several birds perched on the glass, hopping around cheerfully and unafraid of humans.

out, the birds fluttered

the bandages revealed as

sleeve without a visible end, as if her entire arm was

room, "Why is it so quiet? Didn't Zinnia claim she visits daily?

past, other VIP rooms seemed at least to have some activity, be it a nurse or a family member. This area felt like a forgotten corner of the world,

and Percival noticed this

to post pictures of Cassidy's room on her account three times a day, like clockwork. Yet now, well past lunchtime, she was

Percival coldly

they pushed open the door

closely as Cassidy turned to

saw the bandage wrapped around her

eyes showed no surprise or panic at the sight of strangers. Desolate as if nothing in the world

was certain; this girl was indeed

distance that would

deny it. Her barely perceptible nod was like a dead tree's last sway, her eyes void

could sense her thoughts, pulling up a chair to sit, "We're here about the situation online. Your mother, accusing Julian of harassment, you know about

stagnant eyes flickered to life. Her pupils trembled, a pained expression crossing her face, and if one looked closely, they could see guilt and unease. "I..." Cassidy's voice was hoarse and unpleasant, "I know. He didn't harass me. I... I'm sorry

was prepared for a

didn't expect Cassidy to be so forthcoming.

she shifted her gaze from

hospital

hung loose on her, revealing layers of bandages beneath with

eyes darkened with thought, but she finally voiced her question, "If you weren't harassed,

she expressed her disbelief, "Why? That woman, she

thought, although it was true, wasn't that a

Vivienne boldly declared herself a genius in front of Samantha, he was no