The Million-Dollar Heart

On the way back, Percival got a call from Leopold, saying there was a bit of a bother at the estate in the suburbs and asked him to come over.

Vivienne was behind the wheel since Percival had indulged in some wine over lunch.

She asked for directions, planning to drop him off before heading back to the Linklater estate.

Percival didn't agree; the suburbs were quite a trek from where they were, and more importantly, he had left the renovation of the place as a surprise for her. Seeing it in advance would spoil everything. In the end, Percival had Leopold come to pick him up.

Leopold showed up looking like he had battled with insomnia, dark circles and all.

He headed straight for the driver's side door, "Percival, you did this on purpose, don't think a mere record... Oh, Vivienne!"

Vivienne watched him calmly.

Leopold swallowed hard, his previously menacing demeanor deflated instantly, "Vivienne, what are you doing here? I thought it was..."

Percival, lounging in the passenger seat, squinting over, said, "And what if it was me? Planning on a quick murder?"

Leopold, "..."

Even if he harbored the thought, he lacked the guts, especially with Vivienne there. If he dared to lift a finger, Vivienne would have him turned to ash in seconds.

Leopold, with a forced chuckle, "Me? Never dare."

Vivienne, with a smirk, "Leopold, pull yourself together!"

Leopold felt a chill run down his spine.

Did Vivienne know something?

Why else would this couple speak in such a unified tone?

After dropping off Percival, Vivienne turned the car around, heading back to the Linklater estate.

As soon as Vivienne left, Leopold's demeanor changed, tossing the car keys to Percival, "You drive, I need a nap."

Percival gave him a look, "If I could drive, you wouldn't be here, would you?"

Leopold froze, "Since when are you unable to drive?"

Percival, "..."

no good deed goes

Meanwhile.

there was a commotion at the intersection, traffic and

but was

thing, it's been so long, and no parent has shown

who knows if

ground, he's fallen so badly, and the kid's still clutching a lotus flower, probably lost by his folks." Vivienne frowned, pulling over

might be unclear, but she

same, hard to distinguish from afar for the untrained

holding

thought of

crowd, the child lying in a pool of

stepped forward, lifting Winston in her arms, feeding him a pill before taking out

know you can't just move someone after an accident,

the act? Instead of rushing to a hospital, you're doing this

is a life we're talking about, are you even human to

or we're calling the

increasingly accusatory towards Vivienne's actions, with some even attempting

"Back off!"

turned ice-cold, her

caught off guard but trying to save face, "You, you're harming a life, hurting him..." "So,

left

onlookers who were all talk,

diagnosis, she realized Winston's

could do was temporarily seal his heart meridian, buying him the best window to get to the hospital; otherwise, the

herself seemed quicker than

the Wright

in to find Colin, as usual, pouring his herbal medicine into

asked, "Bro, you've been well for

"It's not time

turning to her, "You needed to see

gestured outside casually, "Bro, have

his tone casual, "No, why do

vanished during his nap, and they couldn't find him even