The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Ten minutes had passed when Vivienne’s eyelids fluttered open, the discomfort in her heart a faded memory. She rose to inspect Yuri’'s right hand, where the needle had been inserted. The sight gave her a moment's pause.

Such a peculiar way to administer a needle...

“Kiddo, when did | ever teach you to let your mind wander while treating a patient?” Finnian’s voice snapped her back to reality.

Gathering herself, Vivienne twisted the needle gently at Yuri’s pressure point before slowly withdrawing it. She then placed a Life-saving pill on Yuri’s tongue, which helped his hand return to normal.

“Vivienne, I'm feeling much better.” Yuri flexed his hand and turned to Finnian, “You must be Master Finnian, Vivienne’s mentor?” Finnian gave a nod. “That's me.” Yuri bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment. “My apologies for not greeting you properly. Please rest a while, and once the gentleman inside comes out, I shall express my gratitude.” “We're all family here. No need for formalities,” Finnian said, taking the seat Vivienne had just vacated, eyeing the Blue Infusion on the table.

The Perez family sure knew how to live large. Blue Infusion was a rare commodity, fetching billions for a single chunk, and here they were, brewing it as if it were plain tap water.

Vivienne could almost read Finnian’s mind by the look on his face. She approached him and lifted his sleeve to find the wound on his arm healing nicely, which eased a weight off her heart.

She glanced at the closed door to Jasper’s room, saying, “That guy earlier, was he the expert friend you mentioned?” Finnian nodded. “Of course. Handsfellow, isn’t he? ix your fiancé to shame.” Ignoring Finnian’s cheeky comment, Vivienne pressed on, “Has he ever been to the Emerald Monastery?” “No, he’s an old friend from way back. We met after my death. You wouldn't have met him,” Finnian said, waving his hand dismissively.

Yuri, who was sipping the Blue Infusion, nearly choked on his drink. “You met after what now?” Vivienne pressed her palm to her forehead in exasperation. “Uncle, my mentor once faked his death and had us all fooled. He's only recently ‘cback to life.” Understanding dawned on Yuri, and he chuckled. “Master Finnian, your life is quite... colorful.” “Ordinary, I'd say. If it were not for this girl pressing me, I'd be even more carefree,” Finnian replied nonchalantly, with a hint of pride.

Yuri set down his cup. “The gentleman who just went inside seemed familiar, too. | can’t quite place it. Have we met before?” Vivienne and Percival exchanged surprised glances. Yuri felt it, too? Who was this man? Finnian absentmindedly twirled his fingers. “My friend has one of those common faces, the everyman look.

Everyone finds him familiar.” Vivienne quipped. “There’s no way he could be more handsthan my Mr. Wolf.” “Hey, since when did you becsuch a flirt?” Finnian teased, “Sit tight, and don’t let it turn into an internal injury.” Vivienne touched her chest. “No worries there. All my injuries have healed.” She turned her gaze back to the bedroom door and said, “Finnian, your friend's medical skills are far superior to mine.” Everyone, save for Finnian, looked astonished.

Vivienne was regarded as the Specter Healer, famed for reviving the dead and mending broken bones. Could someone really surpass her? Finnian simply chuckled. “There’s always someone better. But don’t be disheartened, kiddo. You're only nineteen. By the tyou're his age, you'll be the world’s number one healer.” “I'm not disheartened, just curious. I've never heard of this man before. He's never shown his face, and now you've found him?” Vivienne inquired.

“Isn't that the case? You've kept a low profile all these years, and look at you now, the Specter Healer!” Finnian’s words left Vivienne without a comeback.

Half an hour later, the bedroom door finally swung open, and a man emerged, his forehead slick with sweat and his shirt stained with blood.

Vivienne approached. “Are you okay?” The man caught his breath. “I'm fine. Did you brew the medicine? Bring it here so we can give it to Jasper.” Checking her watch, Vivienne noted the timing was right.

Keegan approached with a bowl! of steaming concoction. The man fed the brew to Jasper and said, “He’ll wake up soon. | need to rest now.” Vivienne moved to assist him, but Finnian beat her to it. “Here, drink up. We've got Blue Infusion ready for you.” Vivienne’s hand hovered in the air before she let it drop, saying nothing more.

The man sat down and sipped the Blue Infusion, finally catching his breath.

“Mr. Perez, your father’s old injury flared up, but he’s been soothed for now. Remember, on the eighth of every month, ensure Jasper stays indoors,” he advised.

Yuri nodded, “May | have the honor of knowing your name, sir?” “Vesper Linklater.” A flicker of surprise crossed Yuri’s eyes. The surnLinklater was uncommon in Veridia.

He happened to know of a Linklater from years past, but surely this could not be the sperson. The one he knew did not practice medicine, and this one did. Unless the enigmatic figure he remembered had taken up healing as a hobby. After all, that man’s abilities were unfathomable.

Percival, too, was familiar with the Linklater name.

And he also happened to know of a Linklater, but not this one.

He was his hero.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books Updates...

Apart from Karen, this guy was the one he looked up to the most! But just like Yuri thought, their hero had been off the radar for quite stime.

Vivienne, on the other hand, had not heard of anyone with the surnLinklater. She had spent most of her tup until recently at the Emerald Monastery, and even after coming down from the mountains, she had not cacross any Linklater.

But at the moment, she was preoccupied with something else entirely.

“Mr. Linklater, why couldn't | insert the needle just now? What exactly is inside my grandfather's body?” She was confident in her medical skills but also willing to acknowledge her limitations.

The Mr. Linklater before her was undoubtedly more skilled, and since she did not know why she could not insert the needle, she was naturally eager to seek his advice.

However, Vivienne’s gaze remained fixed on Vesper’s face as she asked the question.

She was trying to see if Vesper had used a disguise, but unfortunately, she found no evidence.

Even the structure of Vesper’s face had not changed at all.

Vivienne's brow, slender as willow leaves, furrowed imperceptibly. No disguise, no altered bone structure—why did she feel this man was so familiar? And the closer she got to him, the stronger this sense of familiarity became.

“What it is exactly is hard to say, but I've figured out why you couldn't insert the needle. It's because you cornered whatever is inside him, and it won't fade away easily. It fights back when challenged, and the harder you press, the more it resists. If you had just eased up and removed a needle, allowed it to catch its breath, it would've been fine,” Vesper explained with a smile.