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 him

He knows he owes you a lot over the years and wants to make amends, just needs you to give him a chance." Vivienne narrowed her eyes,

"Honey, daughter, this

it, you don't get

women spoke in

Arthur, "..."

to argue with Sasha

"I've

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

it seemed like a tough task requiring time. By evening,

trap set for her, the daughter, to fall

her mother, having a husband meant forgetting

our daughter agrees to

of your tricks to woo our daughter. If one doesn't work, we have

The next day.

and clanking from the kitchen reached her ears. She descended

table, Sasha was gazing dreamily

fixed on Arthur,

could her husband be

Vivienne, "..."

this display of affection first thing in the morning, she took a seat directly across Sasha,

belongs to en.swoontent

"Where's the food?"

Sasha's face fell

if it were a snack bag, "Everything you're looking for is in here but beware, it's

"What do you mean?"

gave her daughter a teasing look, "Just read the

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

vanished overnight after a major incident decades ago, leaving

stayed silent,

the book, "See, after simplifying and overlapping these patterns, it forms

hint of a major