The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne stepped out of the backyard, the voice of someone's frustration still echoing behind her.

"That little rascal, does she want to be the death of me? My treasures, meant to be passed down through generations, and she lets those rascals eye them..."

In the living room, Jasper and Percival had just finished a game of chess.

Looking at the narrowly won game on the board, Jasper nodded with a smile, "Not bad at all. You play much better than your grandfather ever did. He always tried to bend the rules, as if he could conjure up every trick in the book."

Percival withdrew his hand, smiling in response, "Grandpa, your skills are unmatched. Not just Granddad, I'm nowhere close either."

Jasper beamed even wider, "You flatter me, boy. If your granddad heard this, he'd accuse you of forgetting your roots."

Vivienne approached just as Jasper stood up, her face beaming with mischief, making him curious about her good fortune.

Before he could ask, Finnian's roar tore through the quiet of the backyard.

"Ah, my decades-old treasures!"

"That little menace, don't you dare run!"

Vivienne raised an eyebrow, pulling Percival towards the exit, "Grandpa, we'll be heading out."

Percival simply chuckled, without asking further.

Jasper, understanding the situation, waved them off and headed towards the commotion in the backyard, intercepting an irate Finnian.

He sighed, "Look at yourself, making such a fuss at your age. You'll become the laughing stock among the kids..."

Finnian, red-faced with anger, pointed at Jasper, "Wouldn't you be upset if your decades-old collections were stolen?"

Jasper retorted with undisguised pride, "Depends on who takes them. If Vivienne wants them, not just one, I'd gladly give her a whole warehouse!"

Finnian took a deep breath, "Generous, you are. But it's my treasures she took..."

Jasper scoffed, "Considering our ties, you her mentor and her growing up by your side, not to mention you've never married, all your possessions would end up hers anyway. What's the rush?" Finnian was speechless.

Elsewhere.

a

glanced out the

hand, reached over

remains unclear, but

out, "The secret to eternal

smiled slyly, "Is Mr. Wolf

was straightforward, "Not at

leaned in

the vicissitudes of life. If we were to extend beyond

Wolf. What's the use in chasing after immortality? A

they arrived home, it was dinner time, six

hall. The sight of their car

they were greeted by Richard,

Cecilia and Nathan Ellington emerging from inside, greeting them in turn,

call

for the first time after the wedding made Cecilia's smile nearly uncontrollable,

nodded in agreement, "Vivienne's been through a

the dishes get cold. We'll have the butler

to himself that he had merely gotten married, not adopted into

head seat, with Vivienne to his side, flanked by Cecilia, and Nathan across from her,

missing was a place

tapping Cecilia

"What now? Eat your food and don't bother me... Here, Vivienne, have this

at a loss, "Mom, Vivienne is my

back at him, and seizing the opportunity, Percival gestured towards Nathan's seat, "You sit next to Dad. Vivienne's side is reserved for

was even jealous over seating arrangements, Cecilia moved to sit opposite, muttering about

The evening proceeded with

about possibly redoing the wedding ceremony, but Vivienne felt it unnecessary. Agreeing with her decision, the family settled into their routine, leaving Percival and Vivienne to spend their first night back at the Ellington estate in a room meticulously prepared on the second floor. The

she caught sight of Isolde

playful wink, Vivienne