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."

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

your trust in Abigail is just as

darkened, not expecting Vivienne to uncover so

bush. "You have one option: spill the details of your

she strike a deal with me? I'm merely a pawn

"What did Abigail

unwilling to reveal

"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 developed that for her,

she's determined to

to was clear

puzzled her. "Why Winston?" she asked, looking directly

moment of selfish calculation. "If I carried the antidote, Abigail's suspicion would surely uncover it. I couldn't take that risk. The antidote had to be placed in the least suspecting person." Vivienne's expression shifted. "Aren't you afraid Abigail will

though how much was genuine and how

Wright family must be capable

the Wright family, and only the

Vivienne's brows furrowed.

she wouldn't stand by if it

its

"Hand over

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

surrender from everyone. Those toxins are nothing in her

No matter the move,

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

gave him

Vivienne was right.

was something crucial