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

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

Agency with distinction; he saw

he stood up, his voice firm.

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 mess, his heart gruesomely

happened here?"

refused to believe his sister could be a target of a national manhunt,

to him, her voice

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

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

nodded, her

scene, suggested they might still catch Abigail

him back. "Remember what Abigail said yesterday,

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

to protect Vivienne at all costs. "She dares to harm you, I'd give

Her end is in a government lab, she can't touch

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

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

the eerie stillness

clad entirely in white, greeted them. "Ms. Hawthorn,

Colin's unsettling attire, a flicker of unease passing

slightly, "Ms. Hawthorn, rest assured, Winston is

gaze remained unfazed, "What have you