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.

sent him to

years and wants to make amends, just needs you to give him a

"Honey, daughter, this is on

it, you don't get

spoke in

Arthur, "..."

argue with Sasha right then, Vivienne

was even more anxious, but Sasha spoke calmly, "I've got leads on what you

"Just don't blow up the kitchen, do

tough task requiring time. By evening,

a trap set for

mother, having a husband meant forgetting her

our daughter agrees to eat

curved, taking Arthur's hand, "With me here, try all one hundred of your tricks to woo our daughter. If one doesn't work, we have ninety-nine others. She'll come around eventually." Arthur nodded vigorously, moved, "Honey, you're the

The next day.

stepped out, the clinking and clanking from the kitchen reached her ears. She descended the stairs,

Sasha was gazing dreamily

on Arthur, who was

her husband be so

Vivienne, "..."

with being force-fed this display of affection first thing in the morning, she took a seat directly across

belongs to en.swoontent

"Where's the food?"

in view, Sasha's face fell

book towards Vivienne as casually as if it were a snack

"What do you mean?"

teasing look, "Just read

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

Rama family, who vanished

silent, knowing the crux was

in the book, "See, after simplifying and overlapping these patterns,

to the hint of a major family's crest being deliberately