The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne furrowed her brow, a clear sign of confusion.

Colin seemed to read her mind. "Brianna isn't really a Wright; she was adopted," he explained, cutting through Vivienne's silent questions.

Vivienne was momentarily speechless. It was as if Colin had anticipated her arrival and the very questions she'd bring with her.

Without needing her to utter a word, he volunteered information freely.

Unlocking the door, Colin stepped back, "I know Ms. Hawthorn has a lot more to ask. Don't worry, I'll be just outside."

Without further hesitation, Vivienne gave Percival a look.

Responding to her silent cue, Percival kicked the door down with a forceful swing of his leg.

"Really, Mr. Wolf? No subtlety?" Vivienne couldn't help but comment.

Percival shrugged, "Sorry, Vivienne. My gentleness is reserved solely for you. Everyone else gets the boot."

Silence fell between them as they entered the dimly lit room, where Hunter was pinned against the wall.

The scene made it clear why Colin had managed to capture Hunter so effortlessly.

Percival raised an eyebrow, "He's lost his abilities."

Vivienne scoffed, "Cutting off the source after use. Must be how Abigail acquired her powers."

Without the gift, one resorts to theft.

Hunter, Vivienne wasted no time, "Declan Edwards, how long will you keep up

his true name, Hunter stirred, his pale face lifting

how did you know...?" he murmured,

cut to the chase, "You thought you hid well, but these

but from the ancient warrior lineage of the Edwards clan. Disowned for using your abilities for personal gain, you vanished only to resurface as Mr. Wright, through marriage,

ambitions didn't end with infiltrating the Wrights. You used the family's assets to amass wealth, transforming the Wrights into your personal empire, all while the true

she tried to cover for you until you poisoned her with your own hands, eventually

Wright family is nothing like it once was, all thanks to

own end; who can they blame?" Declan spoke

merely a stepping stone in his vendetta against the Edwards

coldly eyed him, "With the Wrights under your thumb, you could do as you pleased. So,

eyes, "She offered something I needed. Our partnership was meant to show the Edwards-and

Vivienne a chair, insisting, "Only

eased her aching back, "So, the heart

entirely. Sometimes, she

you've seen how she uses these hearts?" Vivienne

silent, refusing to

Percival, they both sensed the depth of the

for consuming your abilities, after all

I'd love to know her whereabouts, I've said

"You seem to know her

light fading from his eyes as he resigned himself to his fate. "I'm a dead man walking anyway," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. "Bringing this up now will only spell disaster for the

derisively. "The

"