The Million-Dollar Heart

For whatever reason, getting involved now just wasn't the best timing.

It all hinged on Anna making the next move.

Thinking back to the puzzled tone in Anna's voice over the phone, "Vivienne, this can't be happening..." she couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

Percival, seeing her furrowed brow, knew she was overthinking again. He reached out, gently pressed his thumb against her forehead, and soothed, "Vivienne, Anna's more than capable now, we don't need to worry about her." Vivienne nodded in agreement.

That was the very reason she could let Anna investigate on her own; Anna had learned from the best - her.

To uncover the truth with her own hands, rather than through someone else's findings.

Returning home, Vivienne fell into a deep, unexpected nap that lasted till nightfall.

Waking up, it was too dark outside to see clearly.

Her phone had missed calls, none from Anna, but from Draven.

Sitting up, she redialed, "Draven?"

"The target, Declan, made his move."

Vivienne urged, "Go on."

"This afternoon, we caught him using shadow signals with his fingers under the light. But the gestures aren't in our decryption database. He's not talking either." Vivienne's voice was stern, "Send me the surveillance footage."

"Right away."

The moment she hung up, the video arrived. As Draven described, Declan was indeed signally something.

But it wasn't a code; it was an old-world charm she'd encountered in her paranormal studies.

Translated, it meant, "For the greater good, eternal."

Vivienne's lips curled into a wry smile.

Declan's "greater good" was nothing but the delusions Abigail had fed him.

mind games were beneath

her, whether to provoke or to bait, Abigail's endgame was surely the Millennium Aegis

onto it, Abigail would

Mr. Wolf tiptoed in, holding a thermometer, his actions drawing

Percival turned to her, relieved, "I

an eyebrow, "A nap got you this

out for six hours. I was worried

"Are you saying I'm like a pig now? All eat

her gently, "I'm just glad

a while since we've been intimate. Don't you miss it?" Percival hesitated,

sure you

spoke, her fingers danced over her

hand, "Vivienne, not

raised an eyebrow, "What did you think? I'm off to

speechless as she headed to

laughter echoed through the

He'd been outsmarted.

forgot, what's owed can always be

didn't stay in. Seeking a change of

a baby boutique on the third, she couldn't look away. Percival

Without hesitation, Vivienne nodded.

was the pregnancy cravings, but lately, she found herself drawn to anything related to babies, especially cute, soft-colored baby clothes. She even toyed with

dress caught her eye. Tiny,

both reached for it, but Percival let her take it, "Seems like

blushed, "I just like

just smiled,

more, yet she never put the dress

didn't mind the baby's gender, she picked a blue baby shirt at

Percival saw through her.

regardless of their personality,

in her arms, Vivienne felt an unusual surge of happiness as she made her way towards the escalator leading up

IMS