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."

his life to serving the country,

speaking. "You gave your uncle a chance last time for my sake, and I won't ask you

had led the Vanguard Agency with distinction; he saw

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

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 gruesomely

here?" Vivienne

sister could be a target of a national manhunt, but this act

him, her voice hard. "Hailey is

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

she isn't the real Hailey, then the real one must have

nodded, her

might still catch

Abigail said yesterday, Mr. Wolf? This is her

my heart," Vivienne realized, an eerie motive that didn't entirely

at all costs. "She dares to harm you, I'd give my last

reassured him, "she won't get far. Her end is in a government lab,

This enemy, he declared, must not be allowed

arranging for the chapel to be cleaned, Vivienne and Percival left for the troubled Wright

the eerie stillness of

greeted them. "Ms. Hawthorn, you've

Colin's unsettling attire, a flicker of unease

pale face twitched slightly, "Ms. Hawthorn, rest assured, Winston is

remained unfazed, "What have you