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.”

slowly into her line,

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

the very

empty syringe. “You were foolish to fall for such an obvious

own business,” retorted Fiona, clutching her chest.

each night for the first week, then one a week after that. Any more, and you might actually

Mr. B left

and called after Mr. B’s retreating figure, “Killing Percival with Boar Poison won’t

for the advice. Get well soon,” Mr. B replied without turning, a

staring at the sterile ceiling, trapped

…

Vivienne sat in the passenger seat while Percival and Richard occupied

is there really no hope for Fiona?”

records. There’s a chance for

current state afforded her a semblance of freedom. Plus, the second branch of the

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

believed Fiona would be alright with proper care, that

Richard said, looking at Vivienne. “I’m sorry you’ve been

no need, Richard. I’m not troubled in

felt no hardship. If CK’s second-in-command landed in prison without any fuss from the organization, her adversaries were weaker

mischievous grin in the rear-view mirror, Percival knew she

mirror, her bright face brimming with

suppressed a smile, returning his focus to the

Flynn due back next month?” Percival

that rascal,” Richard grumbled. “Always a worry, and now he’s

away a bit longer, save

give him a

Grandpa. Where should I aim?” Vivienne teased, pretending to ready an acupuncture needle, sharing a conspiratorial

twitched in a feeble protest,

that

noncommittal grunt, “That’s more

had lightened the mood in the car quite

Ellington estate, Percival

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