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.

these mind games were beneath

in front of her, whether to provoke or to bait, Abigail's endgame was surely the

it, Abigail

creaked open, and Mr. Wolf tiptoed in, holding a thermometer, his

lamp, and Percival turned to her, relieved, "I was about to rush you

"A nap got you this

You've been out for six

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

her gently, "I'm just glad you're well.

spark in her eyes. She playfully pulled him closer, "Mr. Wolf, it's been a while since we've been intimate. Don't you miss it?" Percival hesitated, swept up in her tenderness, yet firmly stating, "In a month,

you sure

fingers danced over her

caught her hand, "Vivienne, not now,

raised an eyebrow, "What did you think?

was speechless as she

echoed through the

He'd been outsmarted.

forgot, what's owed can always be reclaimed, with interest, after

they didn't stay in. Seeking a change

but passing a baby boutique on the third, she couldn't look away. Percival teased, "Want to take a

Without hesitation, Vivienne nodded.

but lately, she found herself drawn to anything related to babies, especially cute, soft-colored baby clothes. She even

caught her eye. Tiny, adorable, yet exuding a love for children in its

Percival let her

like the

smiled,

more, yet she never put

she picked

Percival saw through her.

of their personality, would

an unusual surge of happiness as she made her way towards the escalator leading up to the

IMS