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

Meanwhile.

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

but

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

a little kid, who knows

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

others, it might be unclear, but she

water lilies were essentially the same, hard to distinguish from afar for the

child holding

thought

crowd, the child lying in a pool of blood,

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

know you can't just move someone after an accident, and what's with feeding him stuff... and

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

talking about, are

or

increasingly accusatory towards Vivienne's actions, with some even

"Back off!"

turned ice-cold, her demeanor

off guard but trying to save face, "You, you're harming a life,

left the

onlookers who

she realized Winston's injuries

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

herself seemed quicker than

at the Wright

as usual, pouring his herbal medicine into a

well for so long, why

responded flatly, "It's not time

turning to her, "You needed to

outside casually, "Bro,

casual,

shrugged, "The person responsible for him came to meet said Winston vanished during his nap, and they couldn't