The Million-Dollar Heart

Percival stepped out of the office, the tension in his eyes replaced with an unmistakable gleam of joy.

Seeing Mr. Wolf in high spirits, Vivienne couldn't help but smile too.

Finally, no more dreadful doctor's visits.

Arriving home, Percival noticed an elegantly wrapped box outside. He first thought it was a delivery from Cecilia, but on closer inspection, it didn't seem like her style. Vivienne remembered what Leopold had mentioned on the phone right before Mr. Wolf opened it, "It's from Leopold."

Without giving it much thought, Percival brought the box inside, and neither of them dwelled on it much further.

The next morning, as Vivienne remembered they were to attend an engagement party, she opened Leopold's box and grimaced sharply.

Classic Leopold.

Expecting her to wear this dress in public was practically an invitation for everyone to burst into laughter.

By then, Percival was already dressed to the nines in a sleek black suit, looking exceptionally dashing. Noticing Vivienne frozen in place, he followed her gaze.

To his surprise, it was a bright red dress with a distinctively vintage Western flair!

It wasn't that it was ugly, but rather spectacularly so.

He glanced at Vivienne, his brows knitting together, "Leopold's doing?"

Vivienne just nodded, at a loss for words.

Who else but Leopold could have such an enigmatic taste in fashion?

Percival pulled out his phone, "I'll have Thomas bring over a different one."

"No need."

Vivienne grabbed a pair of scissors and took the dress to the bedroom.

She emerged a short while later, having transformed the dress. She had removed its excessive decorations, shortened its length to just above the knees, and altered it to sleeveless. The only traditional element she kept was its high neckline, but even that she had simplified.

With Vivienne's model-like figure, the red dress now looked absolutely stunning on her.

Percival was momentarily speechless.

to radiate an

in Mr. Wolf's eyes-and a hint of restrained desire-Vivienne approached him, her hand trailing from his suit jacket down to his

he wrapped his arms around her lower back to steady her, "Vivienne, you're always the most

in for a kiss, to which Vivienne

their connection made

breath, while Vivienne looked back at him, her eyes hazy with longing and a

who was struggling to

current condition, the doctor had advised waiting another

had been

the Sterling families were uniting in marriage, drawing the elite of Rivenwood to

Leopold, greeted them at the door in a pristine white

approach, he hurried over to open their car door,

for Leopold's big day, she might have

glowing with happiness, Percival supported Vivienne out of the car, chuckling, "Congratulations on your catch, moving around pretty smoothly, aren't

a bit,

told you my taste was impeccable. Griffin doubted me, but I'll have

would let

hall,

immediately surrounded by several

up. especially since they had missed the couple's wedding. Percival deftly handled the crowd, allowing Vivienne to look for

hard to

the stars of the show, her mentor was sitting right at the most prominent

in a bright red suit that contrasted with his white

Vivienne approached, she couldn't help but blink in surprise. Her

something about the

she could put her finger on it, she overheard Old-FDawson teasing, "No

erupted in a mix of choked laughter and coughing,

about the outfit's loudness,

the suit, he wouldn't have been caught dead in it.

you're looking

do you see the resemblance?" Finnian retorted, barely holding back

fell silent, nobody daring to answer. Sometimes, it was wiser to agree with the master, especially when he was on the brink of