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, "..."

good deed

Meanwhile.

few hundred meters from the Linklater estate, there was a commotion at the intersection, traffic and people clogged

attempted to detour, but was stopped by voices

and no parent has shown up

kid, who knows if

ground, he's fallen so badly, and the kid's still clutching a lotus flower, probably lost

might be unclear, but she

hard to distinguish from afar for

child holding

thought of

the crowd, the child lying in a pool of

Winston in her arms, feeding him a pill before taking out her emergency acupuncture

are you, don't you know you can't just move someone after

you're not a doctor, what's with the act? Instead of rushing to a hospital,

talking about, are you even human to be so

him go, or we're calling

crowd grew increasingly accusatory towards Vivienne's actions, with some

"Back off!"

turned ice-cold, her

aback by Vivienne's aura, caught off guard but trying to save face, "You,

retort left the

didn't bother with the onlookers who were all

quick diagnosis, she realized Winston's

the hospital; otherwise, the outcome could be dire... Thinking this, Vivienne swiftly

there herself seemed quicker

at the

in to find Colin, as usual,

well for so

"It's

her, "You needed

outside casually, "Bro, have you

tone casual, "No, why do you

person responsible for him came to meet said Winston vanished during his nap, and they couldn't find him even