The Million-Dollar Heart

In front of Dorian and Cordelia, Vivienne bit back her frustration, bid them farewell, and headed downstairs. Downstairs, Arthur positioned himself in front of Percival, "You take shotgun, I'll sit in the back with Vivienne."

He wanted to be right there, cozying up with his precious daughter in front of him.

Like he was blind to it all.

Percival lifted his finger, his gaze shifting to the vehicle adorned with the emblem of the Linklater family, "This one's mine, yours is over there." Arthur retorted with all the righteousness he could muster, "Who said I drove here? I don't recognize that car!"

Leopold couldn't hold back his laughter.

By heavens, if his brothers could see this, they would find it utterly satisfying.

Finally, someone could put Percival, the tough nut, in his place in front of Vivienne.

Vivienne wondered if she could just drive herself home.

The Linklater family.

In the brightly lit hall, Sasha was lounging on the sofa, flipping through an ancient tome.

Seeing her husband and daughter return, her eyes softened with warmth.

"Back already."

Arthur approached, lifted her in a twirl, and planted a kiss on her, "Honey, you wouldn't believe how profitable this trip was, all thanks to your advice." Sasha returned the kiss and affectionately stroked Arthur's head, "Told you, just needed the right direction, and success was guaranteed."

Arthur's eyes sparkled with more to say, but Sasha's finger on his lips stopped him.

"Your daughter's right here."

Vivienne scoffed, picking a chair to sit, "Oh, so you remember you have a daughter. Thought you'd blocked me out."

Arthur tried to explain, but Sasha stopped him.

Seeing her mother act this way, Vivienne felt a surge of frustration. She knew her mom was head over heels, but this was another level.

who sent

years and wants to

"Honey, daughter,

don't

spoke in

Arthur, "..."

argue with Sasha right then,

Sasha spoke calmly, "I've got leads on what you

voice tinged with resignation, "Just don't blow up the kitchen,

like a tough task requiring time. By evening, there were

set for

having a husband meant

"Honey, does this mean our daughter agrees to

me here, try all one hundred of your tricks to woo our daughter. If one

The next day.

and clanking from the kitchen reached her ears. She descended

Sasha was gazing dreamily

fixed on Arthur,

husband be

Vivienne, "..."

display of affection first thing in the morning, she took a seat directly across Sasha, effectively blocking her mother's adoring

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"Where's the food?"

her husband in view, Sasha's face fell for a

a snack bag, "Everything you're looking

"What do you mean?"

teasing look, "Just

flipped through the pages, her brow furrowing at the sight of densely packed script, "Wasn't this

the Rama family, who vanished overnight after a major incident decades ago,

Vivienne stayed silent, knowing

to a complex pattern in the book, "See, after simplifying and overlapping these

caught on to the hint of a