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.

rest of

always observant, asked, "Didn't have breakfast

did, but might as

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

behind a construction site near a river at the southern edge of

out and walked towards the location of

who found it first, preventing any

been soaked overnight, had turned pale, especially noticeable

identical to previous cases, but it was clear the perpetrator was in a hurry this time,

arrival, she had already reviewed the

worker from a nearby

just a

must have been desperate

had these young women done

lives, and the agony of having their hearts

at the sight of the bloated corpse, almost

a stern look to get himself

gloves, signaled to have the body

noticing her somber expression,

as if to both Percival and

can't possibly be used in medicine, nor for viral research. If it's just someone's sick fascination,

in their 'work'

gaze sharpened, "Did you think of something, Vivienne?" Before she could

glanced at it and answered, "Draven, what have you

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

searching.

going to be abandoned without leaving something

giving instructions, Percival realized Vivienne

ahead before finding a spot to be

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