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

a lot over the years and wants to make amends, just needs you to give him a chance." Vivienne narrowed her eyes, "I'm not

fearing another argument, "Honey, daughter,

it, you don't get

spoke

Arthur, "..."

with Sasha right then,

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

tinged with resignation, "Just don't blow up

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

it was a trap set for her, the

a husband meant

"Honey, does this mean our daughter agrees

"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.

the clinking and clanking from the kitchen reached her ears. She descended

Sasha

was fixed on Arthur,

husband be so

Vivienne, "..."

first thing in the morning, she took a seat directly across Sasha, effectively

belongs to en.swoontent

"Where's the food?"

in view, Sasha's

Vivienne as casually as if it were a snack bag, "Everything you're looking

"What do you mean?"

a teasing look, "Just

sight of

family, who vanished overnight after a major incident decades ago, leaving no trace. But how a family from abroad ties to local matters

Vivienne stayed silent,

pointed to a complex pattern in the book, "See, after simplifying and overlapping these patterns, it forms this

of a major family's crest being deliberately