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 the

ask you to compromise for personal reasons

Vanguard Agency with distinction; he saw the

up, his voice firm.

than finding Hailey, they discovered a young servant on the floor, his chest a bloody mess, his heart

happened here?" Vivienne

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

her voice hard.

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

"We must catch her. If she isn't the real Hailey, then the real one must have fallen by

her

examining the scene, suggested they might

Abigail said yesterday, Mr. Wolf?

my heart," Vivienne realized, an eerie

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

"she won't get far. Her end is in

his unconditional support. This enemy, he declared,

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

they were struck by the eerie stillness

greeted them. "Ms. Hawthorn,

Colin's unsettling attire, a flicker

rest assured, Winston is safe now. Nothing will

remained unfazed, "What have you