The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne nodded in agreement.

It seemed that Leopold had handled things quite effectively.

"Is Cordelia's cooking really that amazing?" Percival couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

Vivienne deliberately nodded, her gaze fixed on him, but her eyes betrayed a hint of distress, "Well, Mr. Wolf, your cooking is divine too. It's just that you're too busy to whip up something for me these days. I have no choice but to rely on Cordelia, or else I might starve."

"Who said I don't have the time?"

Percival magically produced a strawberry cheesecake from the car, "Made it this morning. Should we indulge now or wait?"

"Right now!"

Vivienne's eyes lit up at the sight of the strawberry cheesecake, and she eagerly took a bite.

The creamy texture mixed with the fresh scent of strawberries melted in her mouth, instantly dissolving any trace of her previous annoyance, though she still maintained a pretense of anger.

Percival, understanding her all too well, leaned in and coaxed in a low voice, "It's not that I don't want you at my place, I'm just worried your dad might actually charge into the Ellington estate with a shotgun if I whisk you away one more time."

Vivienne raised an eyebrow, continuing to enjoy her cake, "Didn't you say with me by your side, you fear nothing?"

Percival chuckled bitterly, "It's not about fear, I just don't want to add unnecessary obstacles to us getting married. I've already discussed our wedding with Grandpa. As long as your parents agree, we can proceed however we wish."

Vivienne paused for a moment, "Really?"

Percival wrapped his arms around her tightly, his voice warm yet restrained, "Vivienne, I'm more eager about this than you are."

Vivienne's cheeks flushed.

She shyly turned her head, offering the spoon to Percival, "For being so honest, you get a bite. But just one, not a bit more."

Seeing her serious expression, Percival couldn't help but laugh, accepting the spoonful of cake with a whole strawberry on it from her hand.

the rest of the cake was

"Didn't have breakfast

did, but might as well not

understood. It seemed that besides strawberry cheesecake, he'd have to start bringing an extra breakfast for her, given Arthur's "thoughtful meals" weren't up to

stopped behind a construction site near a river at

and Percival got out and walked towards the

was Percival's people who found

been soaked overnight, had turned pale,

examine the wound on the heart closely. The method was identical to previous cases, but it was clear the

already reviewed the

a night shift worker from a nearby factory, attacked on her way back

was just a street away from

Vivienne's guess was right, the perpetrator must have been desperate for these

had these young women done to deserve

in the prime of their lives, and the agony of having their hearts removed

turning pale at the sight of the bloated corpse, almost vomiting

stern look to get himself

signaled to have the body taken away for

somber expression, and gently

towards him, speaking as if to both

hearts removed from living victims can't possibly be used in medicine, nor for viral research. If it's just someone's sick fascination, how

in their 'work'

something, Vivienne?" Before she could answer, her phone

glanced at it and answered, "Draven,

lab, but everything inside has been cleared out, not

searching. They couldn't have

place guarded by snipers wasn't going to be

instructions, Percival realized Vivienne had

pale, pointed ahead before finding a spot to be

his stomach just