The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne smirked, her voice carrying an air of nonchalance, "When you stir things up, the rats come out of hiding. Otherwise, how can a cat like me find them?"

The whole issue with Sadie and Julian didn't need to be this complicated. She could have easily dug up the past with her hacking skills.

But she chose not to.

This entire affair was a bit foolish, not at all her usual style.

As Mr. Wolf often said, it was time to keep a low profile.

But the purpose of laying low was to draw out the person behind the scenes.

Samantha had been off the grid for a while. Vivienne thought it wouldn't take long for her to resurface, but she was proving more patient than expected, her whereabouts still a mystery. Even the man behind Samantha was an enigma to her.

However, based on the clues she had, whoever was aiding Samantha was among a few prominent families. As for which one, she still needed more time to determine. The moment wasn't ripe yet. Finnian, wide-eyed, wondered how he could've missed such a simple truth.

"But aren't you worried about tipping them off? That they'll hide everything away?" he asked.

Percival's eyes curved slightly, his deep, magnetic voice speaking for Vivienne, "Stirring the pot isn't always a bad thing."

Finnian went silent, then said, "But that doesn't mean the snake will come out."

Vivienne picked up the coffee Zelda had poured for her and took a sip, "We know too little about the ancient warrior lineage. It's time to tear a hole through the Abernathy family's defenses." It was time to force Samantha into the open.

One Samantha wasn't a concern, but her ability to concoct potions, and the ancient warrior lineage behind her, was another story. If she were to develop a potion harmful to society and hand it over to the ancient warrior lineage, it could lead to chaos.

Luke Perez nodded, "The local businesses, tax evasion, fire safety - they're all low-hanging fruit. Vivienne plans to use these tactics against the other ancient warrior lineages. It's all part of her strategy." "See, old man?" Jasper Perez laughed after hearing Vivienne's plan, "My granddaughter's got brains. You think everyone's like you? Just loafing around our house, mooching off us!"

were nowhere to be seen when the Grimshaw

him, "If I had stepped in, Oliver Grimshaw wouldn't have left

load, and

"Hey, you..."

aren't you going to bring out that ancient book?" Percival interjected, seeing Jasper and

out an old, yellowed book from her bag, "Grandpa, I found this at the Brooks family's place by chance. Kaitlyn said it's written in the ancient warrior lineage's script. Do you

this book was genuinely old, its cover nearly falling apart. Yet, because it had been

educated in contemporary knowledge, had never seen

book and scrutinized it. The dense text made his head spin, and eventually,

him a look, "Do I look

it over to Dad. Vivienne didn't expect you guys to help translate anyway," Fredrick Perez snatched the book, nearly dismantling

disapproving gaze, he chuckled awkwardly and quickly handed it to

old man's expression changed upon glancing

did the Brooks family come

Jasper, peering at the ancient script, "I recognize some of these symbols, but I can't read the whole thing. Jasper, can you?" Jasper shook his head, "This thing's at least a hundred years old.

hand, "It seems you recognize this book,

a grimoire combining the strengths of various families. It caused quite a stir, leading to fierce competition for it Eventually, it was

Vivienne understood.

kept the book in a safe. He must have

interested

had always sought

the

seemed more like she chose not to. She must have been certain that someone would come to