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

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

as she held onto it,

tiptoed in, holding a thermometer, his

her, relieved, "I was about to rush you to the hospital if

raised an eyebrow, "A nap

'nap'? You've been out for six

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

gently, "I'm just

been intimate. Don't

sure

over her blouse buttons, revealing

hand, "Vivienne,

did you think?

as she headed to

laughter echoed

He'd been outsmarted.

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

didn't stay in. Seeking a

passing a baby boutique on the

Without hesitation, Vivienne nodded.

drawn to anything related to babies, especially cute, soft-colored baby clothes. She even toyed with the

a white tulle dress caught her eye. Tiny, adorable, yet exuding a

hands met as they both reached for it, but Percival let her take it, "Seems like you think we're having a

just like the

just smiled, watching

cheeks reddened more, yet she never put

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

Percival saw through her.

of their personality,

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

IMS