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."

serving

speaking. "You gave your uncle a chance last time for my sake, and I won't ask you to compromise for personal reasons again, not when it concerns someone the state cannot tolerate." Vivienne waited

had led the Vanguard Agency with distinction; he saw the bigger picture clearer

he stood up, his voice firm. "I've taken

by a pungent smell of blood. Inside, rather than finding Hailey, they discovered a young servant on the floor, his chest a bloody mess, his heart

happened here?" Vivienne

of

him, her voice hard. "Hailey is

she and Mr. Wolf knew of Abigail's special abilities; Yorick had

the real Hailey, then the

her resolve

the scene, suggested they might still

what Abigail said yesterday, Mr.

my heart," Vivienne realized, an

"She dares to harm you, I'd give

"she won't get far. Her end

support. This enemy, he declared, must not

arranging for the chapel to be cleaned, Vivienne and Percival left for the troubled Wright estate, now facing both internal strife and financial ruin under Matthew's

the estate, they were struck by the eerie stillness of the once-grand manor under the overcast

white, greeted them. "Ms. Hawthorn, you've finally come. Please,

a flicker of

face twitched slightly, "Ms. Hawthorn, rest assured, Winston is safe now. Nothing will happen to

remained unfazed, "What