The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 9

Vivienne returned to her own bedroom and walked to the window, her expression extremely serious. She thought about the little girl she had just saved at the entrance of the mall, her brow furrowed tightly.

She had spotted it instantly. The girl was poisoned, and not just by any poison but a potent one concocted by her own mother that could mutilate the face if it took effect. Before her mom passed, someone had come to snatch the formula for the poison. It had taken her years to figure out the antidote.

Vivienne tapped her fingers lightly against the window sill, deep in thought. Time was running out for the girl. Who in the world took the poison formula, and why on earth would they poison a kid?

Vivienne ceased her tapping, pulled out her phone and dialed Matthew.

“Can you check if any hospital admitted a five–year–old girl with sores all over her face today?”

Matthew responded with a quick “okay” and hung up. Vivienne leaned against the window with her phone in hand, waiting quietly. About half an hour later, Matthew called back, “Found her. She’s in the VIP ward in Havenwood Hospital’s internal medicine department.”

“Alright, got it.”

Two days later.

Vivienne arrived at Havenwood Hospital. As she got out of the cab and walked into the hospital, a black sedan zoomed past her.

Inside the car, Percival caught sight of Vivienne in the rear–view mirror. His eyes narrowed instantly, “Stop the car.”

Thomas hit the brakes hard, sending everyone lurching forward. He turned to ask, “What’s up, Mr. Ellington?”

Percival didn’t answer. He didn’t even wait for Thomas to help him with his wheelchair. He just opened the car door and got out. He scanned the crowd, for the figure he saw earlier but couldn’t find her.

Leopold got out of the car and walked up to him, asking, “What’s going on?”

Percival withdrew his gaze, “Nothing, let’s go.”

the other side.

at the ward door, looking at the little girl.

rested her hand on the doorknob, debating

needed to remain low–key. But the thought of the little girl’s bright, clear eyes gave her pause. If only someone had helped her ten years ago, she wouldn’t have had to watch her mother

me?” Isolde asked, her eyes sparkling as she grabbed Vivienne’s hand, feeling very delighted. She’d caught a glimpse of someone outside the ward who resembled the lady who’d saved her, so she

up into Isolde’s clear eyes. Her heart was inexplicably softened. She gave a small smile, “Yes,

come to see me,” Isolde said excitedly, tugging at Vivienne’s hand. “Miss, can

along by her, unconsciously entering

looked surprised to see Vivienne, “Ms. Hawthorn?”

some things and saw you guys here, so I came over.”

of water, “Please,

turned to Isolde, “I’m here

smiling,

but as soon as he left, no one could touch her. Yet now, she was voluntarily extending her hand to Ms. Hawthorn, so well–behaved it was unbelievable. If

on Isolde’s wrist and used the medical knowledge she possessed to check her pulse. After a moment, Vivienne’s brow furrowed deeply and her complexion grew increasingly grim.

of the toxins had

“Is our young miss okay, Ms. Hawthorn?”

lips pressed together. She reached out to stroke Isolde’s head, speaking softly, “I can cure your disease,

up. “Can my face go back to the way it was?”

“Yes.”

seriously, “As long as you’re here, I’m not scared.”

You can’t tell anyone I’m treating you, not

thought: Better play

Chapter 9

her chest in assurance.

then turned to Eartha, “And you?”

a nanny, and