The Million-Dollar Heart

The car swiftly reached its destination.

Perhaps sensing the presence of family, Winston's face turned to panic the moment they entered the inner room. Vivienne squeezed his hand, reassuring him. "Don't be scared. We can leave whenever you want."

But despite his fear, Winston didn't back down and followed Vivienne into the deepest room of the house.

Upon seeing the elderly man with white hair sitting inside, Winston whispered, "Grandpa, is that you?"

The man in the room jolted, turned around, and upon seeing Winston and then Vivienne, everything clicked in an instant.

He stretched out his hand, calling out to Winston with the same warmth he had shown at the Wright family gatherings, "Winston, come here to grandpa."

This was the first time Winston had seen Declan's face without the masks he wore at Wright family events. Winston felt a surge of unfamiliarity but mustered the courage to approach. Vivienne discreetly gave them space, standing a short distance away.

Ten minutes later, Winston walked back to her. "Grandpa and I had a chat. He said you had things to discuss, so I'll wait outside."

Vivienne patted his head, "Okay."

She signaled to Thomas to escort Winston back to the car.

Then she approached Declan.

Separated by a barrier, Declan accused, "You brought Winston here to threaten me!"

Vivienne scoffed, "Forgot to mention, Winston's now staying with the Linklater family. If I wanted to use him to threaten you, I wouldn't have waited till now."

"I brought him only to fulfill one of his wishes."

laughed, "Well, as long as he carries the blood of the Edwards family, what does it matter where he stays?" Vivienne found his words ironic. "If you truly consider Winston your kin, why use his blood to concoct a serum for your own

in Abigail is just as

Vivienne to uncover so much so quickly. "You have that

the bush. "You have one option:

would she strike a deal with me?

"What did

remained silent, clearly unwilling to reveal the

antidote without Abigail knowing. Aren't you afraid she'll silence you once she finds out?" Declan, his voice low, admitted, "If you've found the antidote, you must know what Abigail holds. Yes, I developed that for her,

she's

she referred to was clear

her. "Why Winston?" she asked,

I carried the antidote, Abigail's suspicion would surely uncover it. I couldn't take that risk. The antidote

feelings for Winston, though how much was genuine and how much was calculated only

revealed little emotion now. "The heir I chose for the Wright family must be capable of

and only the true strong could inherit

Vivienne's brows furrowed.

Declan told Winston, but she

if Winston carried its bloodline, these burdens didn't have to be

chase, "Hand over the antidote, or I'll use your blood

laughed. "Do you think Abigail would rely on mere toxins as her ultimate

everyone. Those toxins are nothing in

calculated everything. No matter the move, it

"Besides the zealots, what else

hesitation gave him

Vivienne was right.

was something crucial