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

front of her, whether to provoke or to bait,

long as she held onto it, Abigail would have to come to

Mr. Wolf tiptoed in, holding a

"I was about to rush you to the hospital if you

"A

out for six hours.

saying I'm like a pig now? All eat and

"I'm just glad you're well. It's

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

fingers danced over her

hand, "Vivienne,

you think? I'm off to take a

she headed

laughter echoed

He'd been outsmarted.

always be

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

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

Without hesitation, Vivienne nodded.

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

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

Percival let her take

"I just like the dress, that's

smiled,

cheeks reddened more, yet she never put the dress

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

Percival saw through her.

personality,

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