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.

fiddled with a dark agarwood bracelet she

glanced out the window

with one hand, reached over and gently tapped her, "Still

"The true identity of Abigail remains unclear, but their ultimate goal

out, "The secret

"Is Mr.

was straightforward,

leaned in to

enough to experience the vicissitudes of life. If we were to extend beyond a certain limit, or without any limit, it wouldn't be happiness that awaits us, but

the use in chasing after immortality? A person without purpose, even with eternal life, couldn't create any

arrived home, it

The sight of

house, they were greeted

Nathan Ellington emerging from inside, greeting them in turn,

call them

first time after the wedding made Cecilia's smile nearly uncontrollable, "Ah, Vivienne's back.

nodded in agreement, "Vivienne's been through a lot these past days, she

ushered them, "Let's not let the dishes get cold. We'll have

that he had merely gotten married,

the head seat, with Vivienne to his side, flanked by Cecilia, and Nathan across from her, next to Isolde, who had just scampered down the stairs calling out "Vivienne." The family seemed picture-perfect, harmonious and

missing was a place

Cecilia on the shoulder,

don't bother me... Here, Vivienne, have this soup. It's great

at a loss, "Mom, Vivienne

back at him, and seizing the opportunity, Percival gestured towards Nathan's seat, "You sit

jealous over seating arrangements, Cecilia

The evening proceeded with

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 tranquility was briefly interrupted by the soft creak of their bedroom

head, she caught sight of Isolde peeking through

playful wink,