The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne's phone buzzed with an incoming message from Draven.

"Hunter belongs to an ancient line of warriors!"

Raising an eyebrow, Vivienne typed back, "Keep digging. Miss nothing."

"Ding!"

The alert for a new message went off, and as Vivienne marveled at Draven's efficiency, her screen was flooded with nearly a hundred messages.

WhatsApp was a sea of red notifications.

Texts were popping up one after another.

Logan Wood, Oberon Harper, Faye Churchill...

Just seeing those names gave Vivienne a throwback to her days as a homeroom teacher at Cloudcrest High School.

She rubbed her forehead in exasperation. Those kids were relentless.

The digits on the blackboard from back then, memorized to this day.

Thinking about it, time really did fly; they must be sophomores in college by now.

Setting aside what she was doing, Vivienne began replying to each message.

She let the WhatsApp notifications bounce as she prioritized responding to the heartfelt wishes sent to her and Mr. Wolf by her students.

After addressing her students' messages, Vivienne finally opened WhatsApp.

At the top was Griffin, with a long string of congratulatory emojis, ending with a somewhat sarcastic wish.

"This invitation is making me green with envy," Griffin's message read. "When will my goofball catch on? Will I ever get to wear a wedding dress, sob?!"

"But you bet, I'll be giving you the biggest red envelope. Not just for Leopold, but for our bond forged in fire."

Something came to Vivienne's mind, and she fished out a recorded video from the top of her WhatsApp, forwarding it to Griffin as a generous return gesture. Griffin instantly replied with a "?"

Vivienne left it at that, letting her discover the joy on her own.

Then came the laments from various juniors about preparing wedding gifts only now receiving the invitation.

couldn't help but smirk, skipping

too, "Congrats! Don't worry, even if I'm

shot back, "Just make sure the

a voice message, "You're all about the cash, huh? But it's your big day! Of course, I wouldn't miss it for the world. Expect the biggest red envelope from me!" Following Kala, Carl Brooks and Ashley Edwards also received

was from Aaron, quite explosive

just asking... can I

understood why his name was last

her wedding with Mr. Wolf sounded like a mission with no

"No" was sent in reply, and Vivienne moved on from his

Griffin both tried to call at the same

Charlotte: "??"

Griffin: "What the heck?"

would rob her of peace for an hour, thanks to

she was busy and promised

brief moment

wedding, not a celebrity spectacle. Did everyone forget she was just a bride-to-be

kept flooding in, Vivienne was tempted to just

moment she considered it, another text

This time from Draven.

"Young master, Winston's awake."

In the hospital room.

a frail figure that lit up upon seeing Vivienne, yet couldn't

Vivienne, he quietly said, "Sis, you

him, Vivienne rarely felt the need to explain, "I rushed here, didn't

for words, "It hurts

pulse, Vivienne handed him a life-saving pill,

He obediently swallowed.

you? Not afraid I

his voice

natural affinity her own mother had

a hopeful tone, "Sis, can you tell

paused, making sure she heard

wedding once. But then, after Alyssa did something bad to her, grandpa wouldn't let me go

lips pursed, and the light

wedding, come to mine in a few days. My mom will be there

"Really?

Vivienne paused.

he mean