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

of her, whether to provoke or to bait, Abigail's

long as she held onto it, Abigail would

creaked open, and Mr. Wolf tiptoed in, holding

"I was about to rush you

eyebrow, "A nap got you

You've been out for six hours. I

I'm like a pig now?

"I'm just

smile widened, a 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

you sure

she spoke, her fingers danced over her blouse buttons, revealing more with

her hand,

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

she headed to the

echoed through the

He'd been outsmarted.

can always be reclaimed,

Seeking a change of

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

Without hesitation, Vivienne nodded.

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

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

Percival let her take it, "Seems

just like the

smiled,

cheeks reddened more, yet she

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

Percival saw through her.

personality, would be cherished dearly

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

IMS