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.

games were beneath

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

long as she held onto it, Abigail would

creaked open, and Mr. Wolf tiptoed in, holding a thermometer, his actions drawing a laugh from

to her, relieved, "I was about to

"A

You've been out for

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

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

since we've been intimate.

sure you

danced over her blouse buttons,

her hand, "Vivienne, not

"What did you think?

she headed

laughter echoed

He'd been outsmarted.

always

stay in. Seeking a change

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

Without hesitation, Vivienne nodded.

it 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 the idea of designing baby

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

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

like the

just smiled,

reddened more, yet she never put the

the baby's gender, she picked a blue baby shirt at

Percival saw through her.

their personality,

a stack of clothes in her arms, Vivienne felt an unusual surge of happiness as she made her way towards the escalator leading up to the fourth floor

IMS