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

provoke or to bait, Abigail's endgame was surely

held onto it, Abigail would have

tiptoed in, holding a thermometer,

relieved, "I was about to

raised an eyebrow, "A nap

been out for six hours. I

you saying I'm like a pig now?

kissed her gently, "I'm just

pulled him closer, "Mr. Wolf, it's been a while since we've been intimate. Don't you miss it?" Percival hesitated,

you sure

her blouse buttons, revealing

her hand, "Vivienne, not

eyebrow, "What did you think? I'm off to take a

as she headed to the

echoed through

He'd been outsmarted.

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

didn't stay in. Seeking a change of scenery, they

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

Without hesitation, Vivienne nodded.

herself drawn to anything related to babies,

tulle dress caught her eye. Tiny, adorable, yet

as they both reached for it, but Percival let her take it,

blushed, "I just like the dress,

just smiled,

cheeks reddened more, yet she never put

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

Percival saw through her.

personality, would be cherished

as she made her way towards the escalator leading up to the fourth floor of the shopping

IMS