The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne nodded in agreement.

It seemed that Leopold had handled things quite effectively.

"Is Cordelia's cooking really that amazing?" Percival couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

Vivienne deliberately nodded, her gaze fixed on him, but her eyes betrayed a hint of distress, "Well, Mr. Wolf, your cooking is divine too. It's just that you're too busy to whip up something forthese days. I have no choice but to rely on Cordelia, or else I might starve." "Who said I don't have the time?" Percival magically produced a strawberry cheesecake from the car, "Made it this morning. Should we indulge now or wait?" "Right now!" Vivienne's eyes lit up at the sight of the strawberry cheesecake, and she eagerly took a bite.

The creamy texture mixed with the fresh scent of strawberries melted in her mouth, instantly dissolving any trace of her previous annoyance, though she still maintained a pretense of anger.

Percival, understanding her all too well, leaned in and coaxed in a low voice, "It's not that I don't want you at my place, I'm just worried your dad might actually charge into the Ellington estate with a shotgun if I whisk you away one more time." Vivienne raised an eyebrow, continuing to enjoy her cake, "Didn't you say withby your side, you fear nothing?" Percival chuckled bitterly, "It's not about fear, I just don't want to add unnecessary obstacles to us getting married. I've already discussed our wedding with Grandpa. As long as your parents agree, we can proceed however we wish." Vivienne paused for a moment, "Really?" Percival wrapped his arms around her tightly, his voice warm yet restrained, "Vivienne, I'm more eager about this than you are." Vivienne's cheeks flushed.

She shyly turned her head, offering the spoon to Percival, "For being so honest, you get a bite. But just one, not a bit more." Seeing her serious expression, Percival couldn't help but laugh, accepting the spoonful of cake with a whole strawberry on it from her hand.

After that, the rest of the cake was all Vivienne's.

Percival, always observant, asked, "Didn't have breakfast this morning?" Vivienne's mouth twitched, "I did, but might as well not have." Percival immediately understood. It seemed that besides strawberry cheesecake, he'd have to start bringing an extra breakfast for her, given Arthur's "thoughtful meals" weren't up to mark.

The car stopped behind a construction site near a river at the southern edge of the city.

Vivienne and Percival got out and walked towards the location of the body.

Fortunately, it was Percival's people who found it first, preventing any public panic.

The body, having been soaked overnight, had turned pale, especially noticeable at the wound.

Vivienne crouched down to examine the wound on the heart closely. The method was identical to previous cases, but it was clear the perpetrator was in a hurry this time, taking two hearts without the chance to clean up.

Upon arrival, she had already reviewed the victim's information.

The victim was a night shift worker from a nearby factory, attacked on her way back to her rented room.

The murder site was just a street away from the river.

If Vivienne's guess was right, the perpetrator must have been desperate for these hearts, choosing victims indiscriminately.

But what had these young women done to deserve such a fate? They were in the prof their lives, and the agony of having their hearts removed while alive was unimaginable.

Leopold arrived late, turning pale at the sight of the bloated corpse, almost vomiting his breakfast.

Percival gave him a stern look to get himself together.

Vivienne, removing her gloves, signaled to have the body taken away for proper handling.

Percival approached her, noticing her somber expression, and gently asked, "What's wrong?" Vivienne turned towards him, speaking as if to both Percival and herself.

"Mr. Wolf, the hearts removed from living victims can't possibly be used in medicine, nor for viral research. If it's just someone's sick fascination, how could they tolerate any imperfection in their 'work' unless..." Percival's gaze sharpened, "Did you think of something, Vivienne?" Before she could answer, her phone rang.

She glanced at it and answered, "Draven, what have you found?” “Boss, we discovered a lab, but everything inside has been cleared out, not a single document left." Vivienne's expression darkened, "Keep searching. They couldn't have vanished overnight." A place guarded by snipers wasn't going to be abandoned without leaving something behind.

After giving instructions, Percival realized Vivienne had disappeared from his side.

Leopold, still pale, pointed ahead before finding a spot to be sick.

He wasn't afraid of corpses; his stomach just couldn't handle the stress.

When Percival found her, Vivienne was crouched at the crscene, her expression as grave as before.

He felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest, "Vivienne?" Without turning, she meticulously examined the traces on the ground.

The distance from the street to the riverbank spanned several hundred meters.

The victims' journey, filled with despair and pain, was evident.

Vivienne spoke calmly, without facing Percival, "Mr. Wolf, have you noticed? These victims are around my age, twenty. Such a wonderful age. What punishment do you think Suffice for the perpetrator we catch them, to avenge these souls?" Her tone was gentle, yet Percival knew she deeply mourned for the victims.

Feeling a knot in his heart, he stepped forward, pulling her up into a tight embrace as if to quell his own fears.

"Vivienne, death is too easy for them. A fate worse than death is what awaits." "You're right, Mr. Wolf. Such people deserve to be handed over to Brody for experiments... huh?" Vivienne finally noticed the worry and the hint of tears in Percival's eyes.

She paused, feeling a warmth spread through her heart, "Mr. Wolf, were you worried aboutjust now?" Percival didn't hesitate to nod.

Even though he knew how formidable his Vivienne was, her words a moment ago had genuinely frightened him.

Vivienne's lips curved into a smile as she reached up to loop her arms around his neck, her eyes sparkling with laughter, "You've otten who I am, the daughter of Arthur and Sasha, Vivienne. If they think they can hurt me, they'd better think again, maybe in their next life." Percival kept nodding, but for sreason, the panic in his heart felt like it couldn't be quelled.

That phrase, "Mr. Wolf, did you notice, these guys are about the sage as me..." felt like a curse weighing on his chest.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, his voice husky, "You're etting someone - me. I'll always be by your side." Vivienne's eyes softened, "How could I ever et you? I want to marry you, spend every day with you, and... have a child with you." Percival chuckled lowly, leaning in to kiss her, "One child won't be enough!"