The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne and Percival exchanged a glance, a mutual skepticism reflected in their eyes.

Was it any wonder that Griffin and Leopold seemed to have such chemistry? Godfrey was sick, and their first instinct was to shoot a video and snap pictures? How had the Martinez family not throttled them yet? But alas, Vivienne hadn't managed to watch the video.

Before she could even click play, her phone-juiced up from Leopold's car charger-began to buzz.

Brody's voice cthrough the call, tinged with utter despair, "Specter Healer! Where on earth did you get that medicine? She's been hopping around her room for half an hour! It took a heavy-duty sedative to knock her out, and she's still hopping in her sleep! My spotless lab is a mess now!" Brian's laughter boomed, "Hahaha, Vivienne, where did you score that prank potion? That woman, she's like a marionette straight out of a movie, absolutely hilarious!" At the Martinez Mansion.

Griffin's parents, Stellan and Penelope, stood guard outside the patriarch's room.

To better observe Godfrey, they had gouged a peephole into the solid wooden door. The Martinez family circled around it, three layers deep.

They peered inside at Godfrey with a mix of emotions as if viewing a rare specimen.

"When's Griffin getting back? If he keeps this up, he'll bleed out." Stellan was practically glued to the peephole, almost sticking his head through.

His wife, Penelope, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him, mirroring his posture, her face etched with worry. "Who could have snuck into our hundetected in the middle of the night?" Behind them, Godfrey's only daughter, Audrey Martinez, snorted, “That's not all. Dad was once a renowned master among the noble families. How could he be taken down so easily? If word gets out, it'll be the laughingstock of the elite." "Audrey!" Her brother Lancelot Martinez scolded, "That's still our father you're talking about! Can't you see what state he's in? Don't you feel any pity?" Audrey scoffed, "Pity him? Who's going to pity me? If it weren't for his insistence that I marry into the Grimshaws, would I be like this now?" Pointing at the scar on her face, her gaze towards the room was filled with resentment.

She wasn't here out of concern for Godfrey.

She feared that if he died, her brothers wouldn't even tell her, denying her a share of the inheritance. Lancelot glared at her. "You're beyond reason!" "Enough!" Stellan, the eldest, couldn't take the bickering any longer and shouted, "What's with all the fighting? Lancelot, call Griffin. See where they are. If we delay any further, it might be too late for Dad!" Through the peephole, they saw Godfrey hopping around just as Griffin had described to Vivienne, using hands and feet alike.

Even for someone trained in martial arts, the high difficulty of his movements made Stellan shake his head in disbelief.

The pale face, coupled with dark circles under his eyes, looked especially ghastly! A closer look revealed fresh blood slowly trickling from the corners of Godfrey's mouth, his nostrils, even his ears! Stellan was frantic! He had been in charge of the Martinez family's biochemical weapons project and prided himself on his comprehensive understanding of various viruses.

But he had never seen a virus like this, one that literally made a person dance to death! Who could it be? Who wanted to harm the Martinez family like this? Just then, Griffin's urgent and anxious voice cfrom outside, "Vivienne's here." "Griffin, you're back! Where's the Specter Healer? Where is she?" Stellan rushed out at the sound of the voice, his bloodshot eyes darting around, "Griffin, where's the Specter Healer you mentioned?" Griffin, tugging at Vivienne's wrist, said, "Dad, it's her, Leopold's senior, Vivienne. She's the Specter Healer." "And him," she pointed at Percival standing nearby, "he's Vivienne's husband, Percival. You should know him, Dad. Lettake Vivienne in to treat Grandpa now. Any questions, you can ask Percival." Percival trailed behind with a twitch of his lips, "Mr. Martinez." Stellan couldn't stop his determined daughter, watching their retreating figures, puzzled. "Mr. Ellington, your wife is the Specter Healer?" Vivienne's identity as the Specter Healer was known only to those close to her; it was a secret kept from the wider world.

Partly, this was Vivienne's own doing to avoid being overwhelmed by the sick and needy if her identity beccommon knowledge. So, not many were aware of it.

She looked too young. Nothing like the legends.

"Indeed." Percival nodded, a hint of pride in his voice.

Leopold, following behind, chimed in, "Mr. Martinez, you can rest easy. Vivienne is amazing; there's no illness in this world that can stump her!" "Easy for you to say!" Audrey blocked the doorway with a sneer, "What can a girl, barely out of puberty, possibly know? Stellan, don't let them fool you." Griffin had dragged Vivienne all the way here, and she hadn't even had a chance to speak.

Hearing this, her eyebrows arched gracefully as she cast a fleeting glance at Audrey, who was blocking the door. This woman, she didn't seem too worried about Godfrey.

Lancelot frowned, a mild irritation etching his brow as he observed his sister's manner of speech.

After all, Vivienne was poised to be the future matriarch of the prestigious Ellington family, and lately, Audrey had been far too lax in her decorum.

"Audrey, that's enough," he chided with a firm tone. "Mind your manners!" He turned to Vivienne, attempting to smooth over the tension. "My sister is quite headstrong. Please don't take her words to heart. It's just... your youth makes it hard for sto believe you're the renowned Specter Healer. Vivienne tilted her head, a wisp of defiance in her gesture. "The Martinez family has its share of young prodigies as well. Is it truly so difficult to comprehend?" "The Martinez family has its own legacy, but what gives you the right to compare yourself to us?" Audrey scoffed, her chin lifted in haughty pride.

Griffin, who had been silent until then, bristled at the insult. "Do you doubt evennow? Vivienne was not easy e to convince to chere. Do you think I am unaware of her skills? Or worse, do you suspect that I would harm Grandpa?"

"You impudent girl, how dare you speak to your elders in such a tone!" Audrey's gaze shifted to Stellan, her voice laced with accusation. "Stellan, is this how you raise your daughter? With no respect or manners? I can hardly fathom how she's fit to inherit the secret techniques of the Martinez family!"

Leopold, who had little patience for Griffin being spoken to in such a manner, shoved Audrey aside. "Move it. All you seem capable of is running your mouth. If you're so useless, why interfere with others trying to help? Anyone would think you despise Godfrey, the way you're so eager for your own father to pass!" "You-you little brat! What nonsense are you spouting?" Audrey's eyes flickered with a guilty spark, unnoticed by none.

Her slip did not escape Vivienne's keen observation, nor did it elude Percival, who had just joined the gathering.