The Million-Dollar Heart

Victoria's tension finally eased as she rose to her feet, moving even quicker than Isolde. "You're back at last. I've been needing to talk to you."

"Vivienne, come and play with me!" Isolde then bounded over, embracing Vivienne's legs with a childlike whine.

Percival, who had entered with them, was completely overlooked until Cecilia, who had been busy organizing dinner, acknowledged him, "What are all of you loitering around for? Percival, your wife has been on her feet all day. How can you just let her stand there chatting with Victoria without offering her a seat?"

"Vivienne, come over and sit down."

Percival thought to himself: That greeting could hardly be called welcoming.

"Mom, we've got matters to discuss. We'll be upstairs for a bit."

Vivienne, accustomed to such scenarios, exchanged pleasantries with Cecilia before bending down to explain to Isolde, "I'll play with you later, Isolde. I've got some things to take care of first."

Vivienne, Percival, and Victoria then headed to Percival's study in the Ellington Mansion.

Unlike the old-fashioned study brimming with ancient books, Percival's study was almost eerily spacious, yet boasted the best soundproofing in the entire villa.

What was discussed there remained a mystery.

All that was known was that upon returning from the Ellington household, Victoria burst into Harrison's lab. "Vivienne has agreed to a three-day postponement of the trial. If you've got any plans, now's the time to act. Don't say I didn't warn you."

Just three days?

Harrison, peering through his microscope, frowned slightly. "I was hoping you could've gotten us a week."

His voice, tinged with sarcasm and disappointment, sparked Victoria's temper like a match to dynamite.

didn't you negotiate with Vivienne yourself?! It took a tantrum and guilt-tripping her to get this extension. You're ungrateful!

be a next time.

and you're already daydreaming? Thinking you can trample over Percival, as if Gavin was someone you could easily please. You think this is child's play, where everything goes your

quite admiring of Percival. What? After two days at the Ellington estate, you're already siding with them? Recognizing

"What does it matter to you? I simply believe the Ellingtons

"Whatever you do is fine by me. After all,

the end of his sentence, an inexplicable cheerfulness in

"Spare me the disgust. Tell me, where is my mother,

from the dropper mixed with the colorful liquid,

the rush? Once this is all over, I'll tell you. Now's not the

instantly denied. "I never said I'd

to rage within

palpable even though she knew he didn't have

sought. Harrison's

fueled her anger.

You're playing with fire!

you'd better

parting shot,

work, his gaze lingering in the direction she left, his

found a certain fondness

a moment lost on the all-male

from dinner, witnessing Harrison's smile, they shuddered,

the man Gavin had sent to assist Harrison. "What

back to

hide Victoria's

openly flaunting his devotion.

much. My

left before you