The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Outside the hospital room, Heloise pressed her ear against the door, straining to catch snippets of conversation from within, but the soundproofing was too effective; not a whisper escaped.

Unaware of her eavesdropping, Richard swung the door open, sending Heloise tumbling forward. Much to her chagrin, she landed with a graceless thud on the tiled floor.

“What on earth are you doing? Have you no decorum? Making a spectacle of yourself!” Richard scolded, thumping his cane on the ground before striding away in disgust.

He had not gotten far when Percival and Vivienne approached, arm in arm.

“Grandpa,” they greeted Richard.

His mood visibly lifted at the sight of them. “What brings you two here? Fiona’s resting now; let’s head back.”

No sooner had he spoken than Heloise charged forward, her face contorted in rage.

“Vivienne, you wretched girl, you have the nerve to show up here after what you’ve done to my daughter.”

In a fit of fury, Heloise snatched up a trash can from the corridor and hurled it at Vivienne.

Vivienne did not flinch, too bored to even bat an eyelash.

With a swift kick, Percival sent the trash can flying back to its sender, zeroing in on Heloise’s unsuspecting head.

Caught off guard, Heloise stood frozen as the can collided with her skull, spilling its contents over her. Part-eaten fast food, disgusting fluids, and a medley of sticky, used tissues tumbled down, a revolting mess enveloping her.

Remarkably, Heloise’s slender frame had managed to lift the bin in the first place.

A nurse passing by hesitated, recognizing Heloise as the lady of the Ellington family’s second branch. But Richard’s furious shout echoed down the hallway, “Let her be! She can pick herself up when she comes to!”

With that, Vivienne and Percival escorted Richard away, leaving Heloise sprawled amid the trash, her limited-edition velvet dress marinating in filth.

A woman with long hair watched the scene from the shadows. Only after Vivienne and Percival departed did she don a mask and slip into Fiona’s room.

Fiona, previously feigning sleep, opened her eyes with more strength than she had shown during her earlier conversation with Richard.

“Mr. B, in such a hurry?” She teased with a smile.

The woman stood beside Fiona’s bed and injected something into her IV bag. “I thought your first words to me would be of gratitude for rescuing you.”

drip slowly into her line, her

to thank you for?” Fiona sat up, gasping for

medication was the very cause of

back and pocketed the empty syringe. “You were foolish to fall for

her chest. After a few moments, her breathing

color returned. She then produced a box of pills from her pocket. “Take one each night for the first week, then one

Mr. B left the

with Boar Poison won’t be easy. Vivienne knows how to

B

at the sterile ceiling, trapped

…

the passenger seat while Percival and

is there really no hope for

medical records. There’s a chance for recovery, Grandpa, but

would likely return to jail, while her current state afforded her a semblance of freedom. Plus, the second branch of the family might not trust Vivienne’s

merely to gauge whether Fiona’s condition was fatal. The prospect of burying a younger family member was not an experience he wished to

as Vivienne believed Fiona would be alright with proper care, that was enough

to hear,” Richard said, looking at

Richard. I’m not troubled in

without any fuss from the organization,

grin in the rear-view mirror, Percival knew she

mirror, her

his focus to the

Flynn due back next month?” Percival inquired after a

a worry, and now he’s coming

bit longer, save you the stress,” Percival said,

Vivienne, give him a pinch for

should I aim?” Vivienne teased, pretending to ready an

twitched in a feeble protest, “Darling, have

that okay?” Vivienne

gave a noncommittal grunt, “That’s more like it. Next

the mood in the car quite

at the Ellington estate, Percival retreated

had only wanted to glance over Fiona’s medical records at the hospital. Now that she was done, she felt