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.

about to call Percival when Draven's call came through unexpectedly, "Miss, the

frowned, "Understood. I'm

her to wait at home for him

Percival's tone darkened suddenly, "Vivienne, another female body was found in the south side of town, making

into the car, and

still unsolved and now a new incident

hesitation, Vivienne decided, "South side first. We have someone watching the

could this be a diversion, meant to confuse

"All the more reason to check it

was more confused than

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

Leopold was speechless.

but personal

night." Vivienne glanced at it, "The village also went silent last night. They couldn't even wait a bit longer, something big must have

act, the more

turned to look at him, caught by the confident aura

her Mr. Wolf was the

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

just

things

and the next, they were all wrapped

eyes fixed on the road, mentally reciting a mantra for calm. Minutes later,

cheeks flushed but voice steady, teased,

paused, his

been playfully teased

but smile, playfully touching his ear, "Mr. Wolf, why

"Vivienne!"