The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne had no patience left for pointless interactions, so she turned on her heel and walked away.

Hailey was left standing there, mouth agape in shock, unable to react before Vivienne, the spirited young woman, had already left her behind. How could she face anyone now?

Her face flushed with indignation as she huffed with frustration, looking desperately towards Yorick for some form of justice.

Yorick, seated comfortably in an armchair, fixed Hailey with a serious look. "Hailey, you're not getting any younger. You've just returned, and you're already picking fights with the younger generation? Thank goodness this is within the Linklater family. If this had been public, it would've been the talk of the town."

"Family is family. We should stick together through thick and thin."

With those words of wisdom, Yorick added before leaving, "And let me be clear, this isn't just for Hailey. This goes for every member of the Linklater family. Take it to heart!"

Arthur and Sasha nodded in agreement.

Dracon, standing off to the side, his expression a mix of emotions, suddenly felt guilty as if his grandfather had seen through his facade. Thus, he pretended to agree fervently with Yorick's words, and Cassidy, somewhat convinced, nodded along too.

As Vivienne left the grand entrance of the Linklater estate, she pulled out her car keys, ready to drive to Rivenwood to a boutique she had her eyes on for some time. She planned to order a pair of custom- made diamond rings there.

skipped breakfast at the Linklater household. She stopped at

some homemade eight-treasure porridge," offered an elderly woman, pushing a cart filled

approached, her interest piqued by the aroma and sight of the eight-treasure porridge,

woman, charmed by Vivienne's grace, replied, "You're such a lovely young lady. Since you're my first customer today, there are a couple of chairs over there. Feel free to grab one, but I'm afraid I don't

eating, and ordered a hand-held pie with egg but no green onions, and a serving

design drafts for a pair of diamond rings she had personally designed, feeling something was amiss but

bit more cook, adding a fried egg, and garnishing with special salad dressing and ketchup before rolling it up

thanked her and suggested, "I can fetch the

dismissively. "No trouble at all. I see you're busy. Are those ring designs on your phone?" Vivienne nodded, not minding as she showed the

woman studied the designs intently. "The one on the left is the

me, and the right one is for my fiancé, Mr. Wolf," Vivienne replied, speaking as

ring could use more diamonds around the

Vivienne, who

shared a tale of lost love, reminding