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

tricks in front of her, whether to provoke or to

held onto it, Abigail would have to come to

Wolf tiptoed in, holding a thermometer, his actions

turned to her, relieved, "I was about to rush you to the hospital if you didn't wake

eyebrow, "A nap got you

out for six

teased, "Are you saying I'm like a

her gently, "I'm just

"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, Vivienne. Not

sure you can

her fingers danced over her blouse buttons, revealing more with

hand, "Vivienne, not now,

did you think? I'm

she

echoed

He'd been outsmarted.

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

in. Seeking a change of scenery, they ended up at

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

Without hesitation, Vivienne nodded.

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

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

Percival let her

just like

just smiled,

yet she never put the dress

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

Percival saw through her.

personality,

unusual surge of happiness as she made her way towards the

IMS