The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 40

Vivienne and Isolde were munching on cake when they finally decided on where to eat dinner.

They went for French cuisine!

Given that Isolde was a kid, they ordered some dishes on the lighter side.

By the time they finished dinner, it was already eleven o’clock. Isolde was feeling a bit tired and wanted to head back to get some sleep.

Percival suggested that Thomas should give Vivienne a ride home, but Vivienne refused.

She wanted to take a stroll around the city alone.

Living up in the mountains for a decade, she didn’t get to experience the hustle and bustle of city life. Even on the rare occasions she came down to the city, she would always finish the business, and then head straight back.

The weather was quite nice today, with a cool breeze that made her feel super comfy.

Percival insisted on escorting her home, but Vivienne was adamant about going alone.

In the end, Percival caved in, only reminding her, “Send me a text when you get home, just so I know you’re safe.”

“Alright.”

Thanks to spending the day with Isolde and the delicious strawberry cake, Vivienne was starting to warm up to Percival. She wasn’t as frosty as before and even managed a small smile.

After Percival and the others left, Vivienne started to make her way home.

Tranquil Estates was close to downtown. It was no more than a fifteen–minute stroll.

But Vivienne took her time, taking in the sights of the bustling city.

Halfway home, she was jolted out of her thoughts by frantic shouts from behind her, “Outta the way! Outta the way!

Vivienne turned around to see a group of people running towards her, with another group of stick–wielding folks hot on their heels.

When she caught sight of the person in the lead, she couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

Well, look who it is!

As they ran up to her, the lead runner suddenly stopped, uttering in surprise, “Miss Vivienne?”

9

looked back to see the others catching up, and without missing a beat,

because of Vivienne’s delay, they had lost ground and soon

front of him, “David, you called back up because you knew you can’t beat me, huh? Real

on! But don’t think you can just run away! In our line of work, winner takes all. It’s your bad luck running into me

had walked into a street fight?

was Charlotte, the girl who had spoken up for her at the Hawthorn family banquet, from the Redwood family?

was certainly a surprise.

his direction, “If you hadn’t tricked me,

more she thought about it, the angrier she

family, she was planning on grabbing a bite with some friends. But then someone came saying one of her friends had too much to

set by David,

to a one–on–one, but that bastard brought reinforcements when he couldn’t beat her – and

supposed to take on so many people? So, she ran!

You put my buddy in the hospital last time. This time, you’re

feud is our problem. She’s got nothing to do with it, let her

eyes lighting up. She was

her eyes, disgusted. “We have rules. Don’t drag innocent people into our mess. We’ll settle our own

thought for a moment, and said, “Alright!”

let out a sigh of relief, turning

Vivienne could hear, “Get word to the Redwood family for me. Tell my dad if he doesn’t do something, he’ll be looking at my corpse

Vivienne was speechless.

in their dispute, and

had stood up for her at the Hawthorn’s, she figured

nodded and took off.

relief. The Redwood family wasn’t far, about a five–minute drive.

hailing a cab wasn’t really an option right now, so Vivienne had to run. If she

side had twenty people, they were four. They could hold out for fifteen minutes.

that, she muttered to herself, “You’d better get here fast, or you won’t have anyone left to look after

bracing herself for the fight, Vivienne suddenly returned.

frowned, “What are you doing back here?”

Vivienne out of her mind? Couldn’t she see what

why come back?

Vivienne back, who would get her message

responding, Vivienne walked up to David, “How much were the medical bills

was taken aback, “Three grand!”