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.

Draven's call came through unexpectedly, "Miss, the entire village

I'm on

to wait at

darkened suddenly, "Vivienne, another female

into the car, and Leopold

mystery still unsolved and

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

"Vivienne, could this be a diversion, meant to confuse us and

slightly, "All the more reason to check it

more confused than

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

Leopold was speechless.

business, but personal attacks were

last night." Vivienne glanced at it,

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

look at him, caught by the

Mr. Wolf was the most handsome man in

with sparkling eyes, "Mr. Wolf, did you miss me last night?" The question darkened Percival's gaze instantly, shocking Leopold who couldn't help but feel singed by the sudden switch

they just discussing a

did things flip

they were strategizing, and the next, they were all

eyes fixed on the road, mentally reciting a mantra for calm. Minutes later, Percival exhaled deeply, pressing his forehead against Vivienne's, "You've

voice steady, teased, "Doesn't

paused, his

playfully teased by

playfully touching his ear, "Mr. Wolf, why are your ears so red? They look

"Vivienne!"