The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 68

At a coffee shop.

Vivienne stood at the entrance of the coffee shop, scanning the room, the brim of her baseball cap pulled down low enough to cover her face, before striding in.

She reached the door of a booth, pushed it open, and stepped in.

The man inside immediately stood up at her entrance, “Boss!”

He, too, was dressed in all black with a baseball cap on. Unlike Vivienne, he was also wearing a mask. You couldn’t even see his eyes unless he looked up.

His name was Draven.

It wasn’t his real name. He had started using it when he began following Vivienne. As for his original name, he couldn’t remember anymore.

Vivienne closed the door, shot him a glance and said, “Don’t pick places like this next time.”

Draven replied, “Yes, boss.”

Vivienne sat down, poured herself a cup of coffee, and took a sip.

It was good coffee, but it couldn’t compare to the coffee at Cordelia’s place.

“Boss, I’ve turned the Hawthorn family’s old mansion upside down, but I couldn’t find the other bottle of potion,” Draven stood behind Vivienne, his tone serious.

Vivienne furrowed her brows, “Did you check everywhere?”

“I’ve checked everywhere. I even moved the tiles in the mansion’s bathroom, but I didn’t find anything,” Draven responded, “I’ve also planted a bug in Beatrice Hawthorn’s room. She’s never mentioned the potion to anyone. Is it possible that the information was wrong and the potion isn’t at the Hawthorn family’s?”

“There’s no way,” Vivienne said in a low voice, “My mother took two bottles of potion away. | have one, and the other was left at the Hawthorn family’s.”

This was what her mother had told her on her deathbed.

At the time, her mother was worried about getting her involved and hadn’t planned on telling her. But after receiving a phone call at the last moment, she changed her mind.

Her mother had given her a bottle of potion and told her to keep it safe, also told her that there was another one at the Hawthorn family’s…

And then, her mother passed away.

purpose for going to the Hawthorn family was to find

it be with Dorian?” Draven asked, “I’ve searched every nook and cranny of the

12:05

shook her head, “It’s not

already thoroughly searched that three-bedroom apartment when she’d first

she’d searched again, but the result was

sent Draven

family’s either

possible that Dorian knew the importance of the potion and didn’t keep it at home?” Draven

Could it really be

his home, where else could

ask Dorian directly?” Draven

Vivienne lowered her head,

kind of person Dorian

appeared to

asking him directly without knowing for sure if the potion was with him

to make sure Dorian was truly

Draven paused for a moment before suddenly adding, “By the way, there are two other teams looking for the potion recently.

already found the Hawthorn family

You’re in danger

“Shouldn’t they be the

lost for words. He knew his boss

is

said, “Have your people pull out from the Hawthorn family. You don’t

“But you..”

him a mischievous

won’t die.”

Draven was speechless.

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12.05

leaving the coffee shop, Vivienne returned

the others

return, Cordelia immediately came to

yet” She had been thinking

prepared it already. Give me a second, I’ll bring it to you.” Cordelia knew Vivienne hadn’t eaten,

Dorian were playing chess, and Isolde was playing with the toy Vivienne had bought for

were each holding a

opposite Percival. She glanced at him and her eyes

another team was looking for the potion. She had a hunch this might be connected to

today was