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.”

nodded, quickly capturing the mysterious text with his smartphone. They then carefully placed the box back and

guests. After emerging from Scott’s room, Vivienne and Percival parted ways. Percival exited the

Kala spotted her first and waved her over. “Vivienne, come join

table sat Ronald, Carl, Ashley, and Darren. All the people Vivienne did not mind being around. Thus,

finish eating,

her parents any embarrassment. Now, she sought to ensure Vivienne would not feel uncomfortable staying at the party any

smile. “Maybe…

the spread before her. There were over a dozen appetizers, with more courses to come. Surely,

Vivienne just grinned, keeping her plans to

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 insincere guests was wearing her

to excuse herself, she caught sight of Percival

black suit, exuded an air of sophistication and aloofness that pulled at

and approached Percival with a dignified smile. “Mr. Ellington,

could finish, Percival strode past her without a glance,

Calista watched as Richard gave her a dismissive

grief. If Vivienne was not happy, neither was he. And when he was

face turned a shade of stormy blue. One man ignored her, and the other openly insulted her. She was the Brooks family’s golden girl, yet she received no

forced a smile, her thoughts seething with indignation. They may not see her

Vivienne. Spotting her, he made his

glanced over at Vivienne, who was mingling with some guests a short distance away. Instead of joining

spotted him, he nearly jumped out of his skin and instinctively shuffled

soft, teasing tone, “Leopold, have a few days apart made me

and he chuckled awkwardly. “Ahem! I’m, uh, quite comfortable

smile playing

like prey under the gaze of a hungry wolf, his

the last of the guests arrived, Calista’s family reunion feast officially

was nowhere to be seen, so Scott took the