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."

having dedicated his life to serving the

your uncle a chance last time for my sake, and I won't ask you to compromise for personal reasons again, not when

the Vanguard Agency with distinction; he saw the bigger picture clearer than

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

only to be greeted by a pungent smell of blood. Inside, rather than finding Hailey, they discovered a young servant on the

here?"

face darkened. He'd refused to believe his sister could be a target of a national manhunt,

to him, her voice

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

declared, "We must catch her. If she isn't the real Hailey,

her

the scene, suggested they might still catch Abigail if they

Abigail said yesterday, Mr. Wolf? This

realized, an eerie motive that didn't entirely make sense to

outraged, vowed to protect Vivienne at all costs. "She dares to harm you, I'd give my last breath to stop

Her end is in a government lab, she

moved by guilt and resolve, promised his unconditional support. This enemy, he declared,

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

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

white, greeted them. "Ms. Hawthorn,

Colin's unsettling attire, a flicker of unease passing through her.

assured, Winston is safe now.

remained unfazed, "What