The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The lock clicked open, revealing its contents in the dim glow of the room. It was a stack of neatly enveloped documents and a book.

Vivienne rifled through the papers until her eyes fell upon a particular envelope marked boldly: [Paternity Test Results]!

[Test Subjects: Scott Brooks, Vivienne Hawthorn]

[Result: Positive Paternal Match]

Percival’s heart skipped a beat as he read the results.

“A positive match?” He murmured, turning to Vivienne with a puzzled frown.

“What’s going on? Didn’t Vivienne say she was not Scott’s daughter?” He thought.

He had investigated Vivienne’s background only once initially, and it had come up empty. Thus, everything he knew about her was only everything she wanted him to know. Back then, she told him she was not Scott’s daughter, and he had taken her at her word.

However, the paternity test showed that this was clearly not the case.

Vivienne sifted through the rest of the documents. There were ten in total, each one a paternity test from a different testing center, all with the same result. With a sly smile, she tucked the papers back into the envelope.

Turning to Percival, she explained, “I’m not his daughter. My mother had my genes altered. No matter which agency conducts the test, it’ll always show a match.”

Vivienne did not say more, but Percival understood her. There had to be a reason for Vivienne’s mother to do this.

Without further ado, Vivienne directed Percival’s attention to the book. It was not ancient, but it was worn, the kind that had been used often.

The book was actually a journal. Its pages were filled with handwriting added over time. However, the script within was foreign to Vivienne and Percival, not belonging to any known language or script they had ever encountered.

Glancing at the clock and noting the half-hour they had spent, Vivienne suggested, “Let’s take photos and study this later.”

capturing the mysterious text with his smartphone. They then

the Brooks Mansion was buzzing with guests. After emerging from Scott’s room, Vivienne and Percival parted ways. Percival exited the mansion only to re-enter from the front, blending

where Kala spotted her first

did not mind being around.

whispered, “After we finish eating, we plan to hit the

event out of obligation to her family, to spare her parents any embarrassment. Now, she sought to ensure Vivienne would not feel uncomfortable staying at

smile.

were over a dozen appetizers,

grinned, keeping her plans

Calista stood beside Judith in a lavish designer dress, her poise a mask for her growing impatience. She had insisted on greeting the guests, especially to catch Percival’s eye the moment he arrived. Yet, he was nowhere to be seen, and the flattery of

she was about to excuse herself, she caught sight of Percival stepping out

black suit, exuded an air of sophistication and aloofness

her expression and approached Percival with a dignified smile.

strode past her without a glance, his indifference cutting her deeper than

watched as Richard gave

to attend the gathering, but his pride would not allow him to miss it after the Brooks family had caused his granddaughter-in-law such grief. If Vivienne was not happy, neither was he. And when he was unhappy, he was going to stir the pot. He was here to make a

a shade of stormy blue. One man ignored her, and the other openly insulted her. She was the Brooks family’s golden girl,

her fists and forced a smile, her thoughts seething with indignation. They may not see her worth now, but she was determined to make Percival need her one

her, he made his way over and

some guests a short distance away. Instead of joining her, he made his

of his skin

his eyebrows and a crooked smile, Percival spoke in a soft, teasing tone, “Leopold, have a few days apart made me a stranger? Come

crawled, and he chuckled awkwardly. “Ahem! I’m, uh, quite comfortable here, thanks…

on Leopold, the smile playing at

like prey under the gaze of a hungry wolf, his heart pounding rapidly in

guests arrived, Calista’s

seen, so Scott took