The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

In the lounge.

Floyd, with a devilish grin, looked at Vivienne and Percival. "What's to be done, Vivienne? You're still not careful enough. You didn't even notice the one right beside you." His eyes sparkled with certainty of victory, yet he failed to see the faint smile that Vivienne wore as she left.

In the grand hall.

It was tto cut the cake.

Vivienne and Percival reappeared at the party.

Hiding in the lounge, Floyd also cdown. He looked at Vivienne and Percival, laughing wildly for the first time.

Vivienne glanced at him and calmly shifted her gaze away.

Suddenly, all the lights in the hall were turned on.

Floyd stood in the middle, like a demon fallen into hell, opening his arms, his eyes bloodthirsty as he looked at the people in the hall.

"Welcto the hell I've prepared for you!" Floyd thought the crowd would panic, but instead, they looked at him emotionlessly.

Floyd scoffed, "Pretending to be calm in the face of death! No matter, you'll keep your composure when the bomb explodes!" Yet, the crowd remained unperturbed.

Floyd thought they were too frightened to react. Standing on the stage, he laughed wildly, "Forgot to tell you, I've planted bombs in this hall. Just a press of this button, and the hall will be..." "Boom! Reduced to rubble!" Floyd was frenzied, completely unaware that the audience looked at him as if he were a fool.

Isaiah stood below the stage, hands in his pockets, speaking leisurely, "You talk too much!" Floyd's smile faded, and he looked at Isaiah with malice, "Isaiah, what are you playing at? You knew who I was all along, didn't you? That I had planted bombs here? What, you didn't find them all?" Isaiah smirked, "Oh, those? Been defused!" Floyd sneered, "I never knew you for being so stubborn. Well, letshow you how those defused bombs explode!" With that, Floyd pressed the remote control.

His smile was wild, ready to welcthe chaos to follow! However, the anticipated explosion never happened, and everyone remained cool as ever.

Floyd, in disbelief, "How? I clearly..." "Clearly used a diversion, letting us find those bombs? You had someone replant them, how could it fail?" Floyd was stunned, "How could you...?" Isaiah laughed, then glanced back at the guests, looking at Floyd again without answering his question, only saying, "Like the show I put on for you?" "What?" Floyd was shocked. "Are you saying, all of this was your setup?" Isaiah's smile deepened, mirroring Percival's.

Isaiah, still casual, said, "Should I call you smart, or foolish? If Abigail and Connor couldn't finish it, what made you think a five- year-old could?" Floyd's eyes widened in disbelief, "Impossible! This can't be!" Then, Juliette chuckled, "Floyd, did your confidence make you forget who Isaiah and I are the children of?" Floyd paused, then looked towards Vivienne, unable to utter a word.

Juliette explained kindly, "Did you really think my parents wanted you close to those secrets, or why they adopted you?" She glanced at Floyd, "Must say, you've got patience, waiting over twenty years to make a move! Since you weren't in a hurry, neither were we. My mom said, after havingand Isaiah, she's developed a taste for !" "But, you know, we didn't have a good stage at home. So, naturally, we had to bring the stagecraft home. After performing for twenty years, my mom's still enjoying it!" Juliette looked back at Vivienne, "Mom! Next tyou want to act, let's do it my way. Let's fund my new book, 'The Billionaire Bride's Bid for Marriage,' into a TV series. I think you're perfect for the lead. Dad's too smitten to let you go, so let's have both of you star in it, guaranteeing a blockbuster!" Vivienne glanced at her, "My appearance fee is a billion!" Juliette's eyes widened, "Mom, that's overkill! How much does a star make, and you're asking for a billion? Would sellingeven cover that?" "You're not worth much, but I am!" Juliette, 11 Well! Considering all the roles her mother played, surely, there'd be no shortage of an audience! Vivienne gave her a look, "Finish your act first!" Vivienne, taking a backseat, watched the unfold.

"Cough, cough!" Juliette coughed, turning to Floyd.

"And... And Vivienne and Percival genuinely cared for me. They adoptedbecause they pitiedfor not having parents. All these years..." Floyd's words trailed off in confusion, "It's impossible. You couldn't have known my identity that early. Even if it was all an act, how could you keep it up for so long? And these people..." He looked at the guests, his voice crazed, "They're from major families, how could they have the tto play along with your act?" The previously silent guests finally spoke up, "Us? We're here for the . The legendary doctor's play, we all had to make an appearance!" "I cfor The Scent Maestro Q. Needed a new bottle of perfume, and if she's putting on a show, I'm definitely playing a supporting role!" "I'm here for Master Charles..." "I am..." Watching people casually drop Vivienne's nleft Floyd slumped on the ground, a mix of disbelief and defianee in his eyes. "No, I can't fail. I haven't even started. How can I fail already?" Content belongs to en.kikistoriesWith a burst of adrenaline, Floyd leaped to his feet, pulling a pistol from his jacket and aiming it straight at Isaiah But before he could pul the trigger, Juliette merely lifted her hand, and Floyd crumpled to the ground, his strength leaving him. Content belongs to en.kikistoriesShe snickered, "Did you really think you could turn the tables on us? My mom's medical skills were passed down to me, and you... you're gonna need a few more lifetimes to match up!" Isaiah waved his hand dismissively, and instantly, a group of people swarmed around Floyd.

Looking down at Floyd, Isaiah said coldly, "My mom always said death isn't the worst punishment. You, my friend, are perfect for the dog track!" With a gesture, his men understood the command and hauled Floyd away.

Vivienne glanced at Percival, "Shall we, Percival?" Percival grinned, "Yeah, it's about twe started living our own lives!" After years of being caught up in one after another, they were both exhausted.

Without another word, they turned and left.

Juliette's eyes widened in disbelief, "Hey, mom, dad? Where are you going? It's mine and Isaiah's birthday today!" Isaiah chimed in, "Mom, dad, you better take back the company. I'm not interested in corporate life. I want to travel the world!" Vivienne and Percival waved without looking back, "We're not interested in your birthday, and even less so in handing over the company!" As they left, Isaiah received a message: "Ms. Vivienne and Mr. Percival have transferred all their assets to you and your sister to inherit!" Isaiah gritted his teeth, "Sly old foxes!" As Vivienne and Percival actually walked away, the guests at the party hurried after them, calling out: "Dr. Miracle, wait for me..." "Maestro Q..." "Master Charles..." "Shadow Wolf..." And with that, the story cto a close.