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.

tantrum and

"There won't be a next

set and you're already daydreaming? Thinking you can trample over Percival, as if Gavin was someone you could easily please. You think this is

paused, his gaze shifting towards Victoria with a hint of suspicion. "You seem... quite admiring of Percival. What? After two days at the Ellington estate, you're already siding with them? Recognizing Percival's

Ellingtons outshine the Abernathys, and Percival outperforms

work. "Whatever

a slight uptick at the end of his sentence, an inexplicable cheerfulness in his

"Spare me the disgust. Tell me, where is

from the dropper mixed with

Once this

Harrison instantly denied. "I never said I'd tell you right after delaying the

to rage

palpable even though she knew he didn't have

Harrison's

fueled her anger.

You're playing with fire!

laughter echoed. "Harrison, you'd better not cross me,

a threatening parting

work, his gaze lingering

found a certain fondness for Victoria's

smile, a moment lost on

they shuddered, half-expecting to find something sinister lurking behind

Gavin had sent

to the

hide

openly flaunting his devotion.

My wife

left before you