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."

matter where he stays?" Vivienne found

your trust in Abigail is just

not expecting Vivienne to uncover so

have one option: spill the details of your

smirked coldly. "Abigail is paranoid. Why would she strike a deal with me? I'm merely a pawn

hardened. "What did Abigail

unwilling

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

world, she's determined to

she referred to was clear

"Why Winston?" she asked, looking directly at

revealing a 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 find out and decide

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

I chose for the Wright family must be capable of bearing such risks. If not,

built the Wright family, and only the

Vivienne's brows furrowed.

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

more. Even if Winston carried its bloodline, these burdens didn't have to

Vivienne cut to the chase, "Hand over the antidote, or I'll use

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

seeks unconditional surrender from everyone. Those toxins are

No matter the move, it won't affect her grand

and pressed, "Besides the zealots,

gave him

Vivienne was right.

something crucial that Abigail was