The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne stepped out of the backyard, the voice of someone's frustration still echoing behind her.

"That little rascal, does she want to be the death of me? My treasures, meant to be passed down through generations, and she lets those rascals eye them..." In the living room, Jasper and Percival had just finished a gof chess.

Looking at the narrowly won gon the board, Jasper nodded with a smile, "Not bad at all. You play much better than your grandfather ever did. He always tried to bend the rules, as if he could conjure up every trick in the book." Percival withdrew his hand, smiling in response, "Grandpa, your skills are unmatched. Not just Granddad, I'm nowhere close either." Jasper beamed even wider, "You flatter me, boy. If your granddad heard this, he'd accuse you of etting your roots." Vivienne approached just as Jasper stood up, her face beaming with mischief, making him curious about her good fortune. Before he could ask, Finnian's roar tore through the quiet of the backyard.

"Ah, my decades-old treasures!" "That little menace, don't you dare run!" Vivienne raised an eyebrow, pulling Percival towards the exit, "Grandpa, we'll be heading out." Percival simply chuckled, without asking further.

Jasper, understanding the situation, waved them off and headed towards themotion in the backyard, intercepting an irate Finnian.

He sighed, "Look at yourself, making such a fuss at your age. You'll be the laughing stock among the kids..." Finnian, red-faced with anger, pointed at Jasper, "Wouldn't you be upset if your decades-old collections were stolen?" Jasper retorted with undisguised pride, "Depends on who takes them. If Vivienne wants them, not just one, I'd gladly give her a whole warehouse!" Finnian took a deep breath, "Generous, you are. But it's my treasures she took..." Jasper scoffed, "Considering our ties, you her mentor and her growing up by your side, not to mention you've never married, all your possessions would end up hers anyway. What's the rush?" Finnian was speechless.

Elsewhere.

On the way back to the Ellington estate, Vivienne fiddled with a dark agarwood bracelet she had snatched from Finnian, pondering over his words.

She glanced out the window absentmindedly.

Percival, steering with one hand, reached over and gently tapped her, "Still no leads?" Vivienne's eyes flickered, "The true identity of Abigail remains unclear, but their ultimate goal isn't too hard to guess.” Percival blurted out, "The secret to eternal life?" Vivienne smiled slyly, "Is Mr. Wolf also interested?" Percival was straightforward, "Not at all." Curious, Vivienne leaned in to ask why.

Percival looked at her with a smile, "A few decades are enough to experience the vicissitudes of life. If we were to extend beyond a certain limit, or without any limit, it wouldn't be happiness that awaits us, but endless sorrow." Vivienne pursed her lips, looking forward, “You and I think alike, Mr. Wolf. What's the use in chasing after immortality? A person without purpose, even with eternal life, couldn't create any value." The Ellington Estate.

By the tthey arrived home, it was dinner time, six o'clock.

Richard Ellington had been waiting in the hall. The sight of their car lights made him almost burst with joy.

Entering the house, they were greeted by Richard, "Grandpa." Vivienne saw Cecilia and Nathan Ellington emerging from inside, greeting them in turn, "Grandpa, Dad, Mom." Nathan nodded in agreement, "Vivienne's been through a lot these past days, she needs to replenish." Richard ushered them, "Let's not let the dishes get cold. We'll have the butler bring in another soup." Percival felt slightly out of place, thinking to himself that he had merely gotten married, not adopted into the family.

At the dinner table, Richard took the head seat, with Vivienne to his side, flanked by Cecilia, and Nathan across from her, next to Isolde, who had just scampered down the stairs calling out "Vivienne." The family seemed picture-perfect, harmonious and joyful.

The only thing missing was a place for Percival.

He sighed, tapping Cecilia on the shoulder, "Mom." Cecilia shrugged impatiently, "What now? Eat your food and don't bother me... Here, Vivienne, have this soup. It's great for your skin." Percival found himself at a loss, "Mom, Vivienne is my wife!" Cecilia glanced back at him, and seizing the opportunity, Percival gestured towards Nathan's seat, "You sit next to Dad. Vivienne's side is reserved for me." With an exasperated look at her son, who was even jealous over seating arrangements, Cecilia moved to sit opposite, muttering about his clinginess.

The evening proceeded with discussions about possibly redoing the wedding ceremony, but Vivienne felt it unnecessary. Agreeing with her decision, the family settled into her deine, leaving Percival and their Vivienne to spend their first night back at the Ellington estate in a room meticulously prepared on the second floor. The tranquility was briefly interrupted by the soft creak of their bedroom door nudging open.

As Vivienne turned her head, she caught sight of Isolde peeking through the barely opened door.

With a playful wink, Vivienne beckoned her in.

Quietly slipping through the door, Isolde tiptoed over and whispered, "Vivienne, my brother's not around, is he?" Patting her head, Vivienne reassured, "Your brother's over at grandpa's. What's up?" Learning that Percival was out, Isolde's voice lifted with concern, "Vivienne, I heard Thaddeus got hurt. Mom said he and Mr. Hawthorn were rushed to the hospital. How bad is it?" Vivienne shot her a surprised glance, "You're worried about him?" Isolde's brow furrowed deeply as she nodded, "Of course, I am. Thaddeus got hurt trying to save me. I was terrified, and he... he jumped in front of me, but ended up getting hurt himself..." Tears began to well up in Isolde's eyes as she spoke, prompting Vivienne to quickly console her, "Isolde, Thaddeus is okay. I visited him at the hospital yesterday." "Really?" Isolde's eyes sparkled with hope, "Can I go see him then?" "No way!" Percival stormed in, his expression as frosty as a winter day in Maine, and grabbed Isolde, heading for the door. "You are staying put at home. Your sister-in-law and I will handle things with Thaddeus. No need for you to worry." Isolde protested, "Bro, how can you be so heartless? Thaddeus got hurt because he was saving me. You could at least show sgratitude instead of keepingfrom seeing him..." Percival fell silent.

He knew if he didn't intervene, he'd soon lose more than just control over the situation.

"No means no. If you want to go out, talk to mom about it. Your sister-in-law and I need srest.” With that, Percival shut the door firmly behind Isolde, locking it before turning around.

There he found Vivienne, sitting on the bed with a smirk that seemed to tease, "Mr. Wolf..." Percival felt a chill, "Darling..." Vivienne raised an eyebrow, "Mr. Wolf, care to wager? If you keep this up, not only will it be ineffective, but you might just push those two closer together." Rubbing his temple, Percival trudged over to the bed, "You got a better idea?" Shaking her head, Vivienne replied, "I won't interfere. They're young, and we shouldn't apply our adult logic to restrict their interactions, don't you think?"