The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The midday sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow on the scattered rose petals that hadn't been cleaned up yet. Vivienne walked through, feeling a rare moment of serene beauty in the chaos.

After finishing a meal that was too late for breakfast and too early for lunch, Vivienne's phone, silent throughout the morning, finally rang.

Draven was brief. "Miss, there's movement at the Wright estate." "Keep an eye on them," Vivienne instructed.

Percival cleared the dishes and took off his apron. "Heading to the Wrights?" "Back to the Linklaters first," Vivienne's eyes narrowed slightly in thought.

Upon their arrival at the Linklater mansion, only Yorick was present in the grand hall.

Seeing Vivienne and Percival, Yorick's face broke into a smile. "Ah, Vivienne, Percival,e in, sit down." "Grandfather!" they exclaimed in unison.

Yorick nodded, smiling warmly. "Your parents are out, scouting new venues for the wedding." Vivienne cut straight to the chase. "Grandpa, that's not why I'm here today." Yorick's expression sobered, perhaps guessing the reason. "Vivienne, I looked into what you told me, but just because she's been abroad for decades doesn't necessarily mean she's..." Vivienne understood the dilemma; with age, familial bonds often deepen,plicating matters.

"All that matters," she said, "is whether she is or isn't the person in question, it doesn't absolve her of suspicion." Yorick, having dedicated his life to serving the country, understood all too well.

He hesitated before speaking. "You gave your uncle a chance last tfor my sake, and I won't ask you topromise for personal reasons again, not when it concerns someone the state cannot tolerate." Vivienne waited patiently.

Yorick had led the Vanguard Agency with distinction; he saw the bigger picture clearer than anyone.

Finally, he stood up, his voice firm. "I've taken care of it. Follow me." They headed to the family's ancestral chapel, only to be greeted by a pungent smell of blood. Inside, rather than finding Hailey, they discovered a young servant on the floor, his chest a bloody mess, his heart gruesomely removed.

"What happened here?" Vivienne demanded.

Yorick's face darkened. He'd refused to believe his sister could be a target of a national manhunt, but this act of brutality left no room for doubt.

Vivienne turned to him, her voice hard. "Hailey is Abigail!" Only she and Mr. Wolf knew of Abigail's special abilities; Yorick had been deceived by an act.

Yorick, looking grim, declared, "We must catch her. If she isn't the real Hailey, then the real one must have fallen by her hand." Vivienne nodded, her resolve hardening.

Percival, examining the scene, suggested they might still catch Abigail if they moved quickly.

But Vivienne held him back. "Remember what Abigail said yesterday, Mr. Wolf? This is her trap!" Percival's expression darkened. "She's after my heart," Vivienne realized, an eerie motive that didn't entirely make sense to her yet.

Yorick, outraged, vowed to protect Vivienne at all costs. "She dares to harm you, I'd give my last breath to stop her!" "Grandfather," Vivienne reassured him, "she won't get far. Her end is in a government lab, she can't touch me." Yorick, moved by guilt and resolve, promised his unconditional support. This enemy, he declared, must not be allowed to cause further harm.

After arranging for the chapel to be cleaned, Vivienne and Percival left for the troubled Wright estate, now facing both internal strife and financial ruin under Matthew's machinations. Arriving at the estate, they were struck by the eerie stillness of the once-grand manor under the overcast sky.

Colin, clad entirely in white, greeted them. "Ms. Hawthorn, you've finallye. Please,e in." Vivienne eyed Colin's unsettling attire, a flicker of unease passing through her. "Where's Winston?" Colin's pale face twitched slightly, "Ms. Hawthorn, rest assured, Winston is safe now. Nothing will happen to him." Vivienne's gaze remained unfazed, "What have you done?" Colin refused to divulge more, simply gesturing with his hand in an inviting motion, "Winston owesa favor, and I haven't otten. Please, follow me." Colin walked ahead with a casual stride, while Vivienne and Percival exchanged a glance, deciding to follow and uncover what secrets Colin might be hiding.

Even Draven had failed to unearth Colin's mysteries.

Deep within the castle...

Colin stopped in front of a hidden door, turning around to face them, "Ms. Hawthorn, the person you're looking for is right in here!" Vivienne stayed back, her eyes coldly fixed on Colin, "How did you manage to keep a man with special abilities tied up here? Or perhaps you're unaware of Hunter's true identity." A flicker of change crossed Colin's eyes, "I'm aware of everything you've mentioned." He then pointed towards the hidden door, his crimson lips parting slowly, "It was through this that he saved my mother from a car accident, and hid here for a full seven months." hovels "Then he killed her, acting as if he knew nothing, and brought Winston back from outside." "To this day, my mother's remains are still in there." As he spoke the words "my mother's remains," a dark, cold look filled Colin's eyes.

For years, he had been waiting for such an opportunity, to finally avenge himself and his mother.

Vivienne found this surprising, "You and Winston are brothers?" "That's correct." Colin's tone was firm, "In the Wright family, he's the only kin I have, which is why I asked Ms. Hawthorn to intervene on our behalf."