The Million-Dollar Heart

The midday sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow on the scattered rose petals that hadn't been cleaned up yet. Vivienne walked through, feeling a rare moment of serene beauty in the chaos.

After finishing a meal that was too late for breakfast and too early for lunch, Vivienne's phone, silent throughout the morning, finally rang.

Draven was brief. "Miss, there's movement at the Wright estate."

"Keep an eye on them," Vivienne instructed.

Percival cleared the dishes and took off his apron. "Heading to the Wrights?"

"Back to the Linklaters first," Vivienne's eyes narrowed slightly in thought.

Upon their arrival at the Linklater mansion, only Yorick was present in the grand hall.

Seeing Vivienne and Percival, Yorick's face broke into a smile. "Ah, Vivienne, Percival, come in, sit down."

"Grandfather!" they exclaimed in unison.

Yorick nodded, smiling warmly. "Your parents are out, scouting new venues for the wedding."

Vivienne cut straight to the chase. "Grandpa, that's not why I'm here today."

Yorick's expression sobered, perhaps guessing the reason. "Vivienne, I looked into what you told me, but just because she's been abroad for decades doesn't necessarily mean she's..."

Vivienne understood the dilemma; with age, familial bonds often deepen, complicating matters.

"All that matters," she said, "is whether she is or isn't the person in question, it doesn't absolve her of suspicion."

to serving the country, understood all too

time for my sake, and I won't ask you to compromise for personal reasons again, not when it concerns someone

Agency with distinction; he saw the bigger picture

firm. "I've taken care of it. Follow

family's ancestral chapel, only to be greeted by a pungent smell of blood. Inside, rather than finding Hailey, they discovered a young servant on the floor, his chest a bloody

happened here?"

sister could be a target of

him, her

of Abigail's special abilities; Yorick had been deceived by

the real Hailey, then the real one must have fallen by her

her

the scene, suggested they might

Vivienne held him back. "Remember what Abigail said yesterday, Mr.

an eerie motive

Vivienne at all costs. "She dares to

far. Her end is in a government

his unconditional support. This enemy, he declared, must not be allowed

cleaned, Vivienne and Percival left for the troubled Wright estate, now facing both internal strife and

the eerie stillness of the once-grand manor under the overcast

white, greeted them. "Ms.

unsettling attire, a flicker of unease

"Ms. Hawthorn, rest assured, Winston is safe now. Nothing will

gaze remained unfazed, "What have you