The Million-Dollar Heart

Percival Ellington stared at his phone for a moment before slipping it back into his pocket, his brow furrowed in confusion.

What now?

Just as he was about to stop Vivienne Hawthorn from pouring another glass of whiskey, a commotion erupted at the front door. "Our boss says Arthur Linklater and dogs are not welcome here!" announced the doorman, who doubled as a security guard. Arthur's indomitable voice followed, "Think you can stop me with that scrawny frame?"

The security guard hesitated, "... I can't stop you, but that doesn't mean I'll let you in!"

Arthur snorted and made his way inside. The other guards quickly formed a circle around Arthur, attempting to block his entry.

Arthur signaled to Shane and Dante behind him. Understanding the cue, they stepped forward; each grabbed a couple of guards in a friendly manner, "Fellas, let's go have a chat about life. No need to make this hard on yourselves."

With only four guards at the door, they found themselves unable to break free from Shane and Dante's grip, exchanging bewildered looks.

How is this happening?

They were accomplished in martial arts, yet they couldn't move an inch in these two's hold?

While they were still in shock, Shane and Dante dragged them aside.

The guards could only watch as Arthur entered the Perez Manor, with one shouting in vain, "Hey! You can't go in there!"

Before he could finish, Shane lit a cigarette and casually placed it in the guard's mouth.

Arthur, as if he owned the place, made his way into the Perez family's gathering. Noticing they were still drinking, he nonchalantly sat down, dropping his backpack under the chair, and announced, "Hey, Dad, you're eating? Good, I haven't had dinner yet."

Jasper's face turned as dark as thunder, "How thick is your skin?"

Arthur grabbed a chicken leg, took a bite, and replied, "Thick as a castle wall!"

Jasper was speechless.

Arthur's brazen demeanor, slammed his fist on the table, fuming, "Arthur, are you blind? Didn't you see the banner at the door? It clearly states, 'Arthur

shameless as ever, acted

it open, and downed half in one

was livid, "Hey! I'm talking

down the bottle, then turned to Maddox, "The banner? Oh, I saw

did you still

so why should I care about what's written on that banner?"

was flabbergasted, "Have you lost your

from his backpack and handed it

his eyes nearly popping out of his head in disbelief, "Holy shit!

indicating his separation from the Yorick

Maddox was speechless.

someone of Arthur's stature, known as the War God. It would be a bureaucratic

if she wants anything from me when she wakes up, even my life for all the pain

the seasoned War God, yet he deliberately softened his

the Perez

was at

to Arthur. But Arthur

could he

completely missing Vivienne, who had emptied ten bottles of beer, her face flushed and her

eyes full of mischief and

the document, looked back and forth between it and

and the dining room, once filled with laughter, fell

"Bang!"

hand on the table, standing up with a fierce

moved, Vivienne slapped the table again, her voice

reigned at the

it, leaning to Percival and whispering, "What's with Vivienne? She seems... off?" Percival