The Million-Dollar Heart

Arthur couldn't contain his excitement until Vivienne stood up to leave, turning towards Sasha with a proud grin, "Honey, did you see that? Our daughter finished the spaghetti I made." Sasha patted his hand encouragingly, "I told you, sweetheart. You do have a knack for cooking. On just your second try, you've already won our daughter's heart. It's not as hard as you imagined." "Our daughter will warm up to you soon."

When Vivienne returned to grab her lunchbox, she couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow at their hopeful chatter, leaving them with a dry comment, "Next time, maybe cook with reading glasses on." "Is our daughter hinting I'm getting old?"

Arthur's heart sank once again, "Or was there something wrong with the spaghetti?"

He peered into the bowl, finding nothing amiss after a long search. Unsure of Vivienne's vegetable preferences, he had cautiously avoided adding any, sticking to a seasoning technique he learned from the Brooks family cookbook.

Seeing Arthur so anxiously ruffled, Sasha tried to reassure him, "Sweetheart, she's just teasing. The spaghetti looks delicious..."

Her voice trailed off as realization dawned on her, but out of love for Arthur, she offered a supportive smile.

"I think it's fine."

Arthur, skeptical, tasted a spoonful himself, his face, dusted with flour, froze in surprise.

The sauce was sweet!

So was the pasta.

Had he mixed up sugar and salt?

That seemed impossible; he was meticulous to a fault, capable of distinguishing the smallest details in machinery. How could he mistake sugar for salt?

Arthur was baffled.

Sasha wrapped her arms around the bewildered man, her voice soft with empathy, "Sweetheart, don't be discouraged. It's only your third attempt. We'll have plenty of chances to get it right. This one time doesn't matter."

Arthur's heart melted at her words. He hugged Sasha close, his forehead resting against hers, "You're right, love. If not this, there's always something else. I've learned quite a few tricks from the Brooks family cookbook about bonding with Vivienne."

If Vivienne had known about Arthur's relentless optimism, she might have reconsidered making that deal with her mom - a pyrrhic victory at best.

call came through unexpectedly, "Miss, the entire village disappeared overnight, including

I'm

the situation, he asked her to wait at home for him to pick

another female body was found in the south

into the car, and Leopold

the entire conversation. With the village mystery still unsolved and now a new incident in the

first.

hesitated, "Vivienne, could this be a diversion, meant

slightly, "All the more reason to check

was more confused than

rearview mirror, his tone unyielding, "If even you can see through

Leopold was speechless.

was business, but personal

showing her the latest update on his phone, "Judging by the wounds, the attack happened last night." Vivienne glanced at

agreed, "The more they act, the more they expose. It works

turned to look at him, caught by the confident

the

miss me last night?" The question darkened Percival's gaze instantly, shocking Leopold who couldn't

just

did things

strategizing, and the next,

mastering the art of discretion, pulled the privacy curtain closed and kept his eyes fixed on the road, mentally reciting a mantra for calm. Minutes later, Percival exhaled deeply, pressing his forehead against Vivienne's,

voice steady,

paused, his

playfully teased by his own

seeing his reaction, couldn't help but smile, playfully touching his ear, "Mr. Wolf, why are your ears so red?

"Vivienne!"