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."

the blood of the Edwards family, what does it matter where he stays?" Vivienne found his words ironic. "If you truly

your trust in Abigail

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

bush. "You have one option: spill the

paranoid. Why would she strike a deal with me? I'm merely

hardened. "What did Abigail

clearly unwilling

"You're secretly working on an 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

she's determined

to was

"Why Winston?" she asked, looking directly

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

made it clear Declan had feelings for Winston, though how much was genuine and how much

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

and only the true strong

Vivienne's brows furrowed.

know what Declan told Winston, but she wouldn't stand by if

no more. Even if Winston carried its bloodline, these burdens didn't have to

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

rely on mere toxins as her ultimate weapon? You underestimate her." Vivienne's

sneered, "Abigail seeks unconditional surrender from everyone. Those toxins are nothing

calculated everything. No matter the move, it won't affect her grand plan to

something Brody said earlier and pressed, "Besides the zealots, what else does Abigail have up her

hesitation gave him

Vivienne was right.

crucial that Abigail was