The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

In the quaint suburban enclave where the Brooks family resided, there was a buzz of anticipation hanging in the air for news from the Ellingtons. Yet in this whirl of excitement, nobody paid the slightest attention to the bombshell Vivienne had dropped: a staggering offer of hundred billion to call off her engagement.

And no one seemed to question how Vivienne, a girl raised in the quaintness of an old monastery, had access to such an exorbitant sum.

When Matthew returned with the news that Percival had agreed to the dissolution of the engagement, the Brooks household was astounded. It was beyond them why Percival, who had always treated Vivienne like a precious gem, would so readily let her go.

The Brooks were all dumbfounded!

Kala, regaining her composure first, spat out in anger, “Ugh! What a jerk!” She had thought so highly of Percival, charmed by his doting ways with Vivienne. She had almost believed in true love because of him. But now, an engagement broken so easily? She wished all playboys would just go to hell!

Calista, too, was baffled. Although she had hoped for Percival to be free, she never imagined it would happen so smoothly. Did this mean she could now step into Vivienne’s shoes and be with Percival herself? Oh, the very thought made her head spin with delight!

Scott paused briefly upon hearing the news; a glint of calculation passed through his eyes.

Judith, however, was all smiles, “Well, that settles it! Percival is just as sensible as Vivienne. He’s such a good lad!”

Vivienne gave her a dry look and said flatly, “Congratulations. You got what you wanted.” Without another word, she turned and ascended the staircase.

Matthew hurried after her.

Once inside her room with the door firmly shut, Matthew opened his mouth to speak, but Vivienne held up a hand to stop him.

She pulled out her phone and scanned the room, a red dot flashing on the screen. A cold smirk played on her lips as she swiftly tapped away.

After a couple of minutes, she stowed her phone away.

Matthew, her loyal companion, instantly understood the situation, “They bugged your room?” he asked with a voice tinged with disgust.

“Hmm,” was all Vivienne offered; her face was flat.

For Scott to bug her room was expected, nothing surprising there. She left the device untouched so they could still hear what she wanted them to hear. After all, underestimating her was their first mistake. Did they really think a simple bug would outsmart her?

Vivienne was here to speak up, it meant that she wasn’t threatened by the bug anymore. So he ventured, “Vivienne, why did you agree to their wishes and break

were icy as she replied, “The murkier

of Vivienne’s plans, but there were still many things he

babies? Any leads?” Vivienne changed

gathered, the missing babies should’ve been taken to the Rivenwood,” Matthew said gravely. “Rivenwood

her expectations. Mr. B wouldn’t have stayed there for years without setting up a lab. GTO was always a cautious place with numerous hideouts; its members remained strangers unless on a joint

urgent thing to find that lab

Brian? What has he been up to

embarrassed, “He’s been living it up at the nightclubs!

a

the bridge of her nose, exasperated, “Tell him to get his act together and go

jumped at the command,

a myriad of questions to ask Vivienne but he didn’t dare to ask right now, “Should I just go,

“Get lost!”

“Got it.”

and his posse of nine,

forehead.

with a steely gaze. “How’s Vivienne?”

eating

done! Vivienne’s non-reaction means

Brooks! How dare they treat our Vivienne this way? I swear

long ago, and who would have guessed that

had the gall to demand she call off her

What were they thinking?

to believe that Vivienne

against Vivienne… these folks were clearly looking for

over his younger ones. But this time, even he was fuming, “As Vivienne’s disciples, it’s a shame for us to let somebody bully

a couple, but in

into breaking off her engagement, that was