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 all

observant, asked, "Didn't have

did, but might as well

It seemed that besides strawberry cheesecake, he'd have to start bringing an extra breakfast for

construction site near a river at

Percival got out and walked towards the location of

people who found it first, preventing any

soaked overnight, had turned pale, especially noticeable at the

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

already reviewed

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

site was just a street

Vivienne's guess was right, the perpetrator must have

women done to deserve such

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

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

him a stern look to

removing her gloves, signaled to have the body

her, noticing her somber expression, and gently

turned towards him, speaking as if to both Percival

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

in their 'work'

you think of something,

it and answered, "Draven, what have you

a lab, but everything inside has been cleared out, not a single

"Keep searching. They couldn't have vanished

snipers wasn't going to

Percival realized Vivienne had disappeared

pointed ahead before finding a

afraid of corpses; his stomach just couldn't handle the