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.”

watched the liquid drip slowly into her line, her

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

the very cause of her

were foolish to

Fiona, clutching her chest. After a few

pocket. “Take one each night

B

Mr. B’s retreating figure, “Killing Percival with Boar

advice. Get well soon,” Mr. B

sterile ceiling, trapped in

…

car, Vivienne sat in the passenger seat while

no hope for

chance for

to jail, while her current state afforded her a semblance of

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

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

at Vivienne. “I’m sorry you’ve been

chuckled. “There’s no need, Richard. I’m not troubled

prison without any fuss from the organization, her adversaries were weaker

mischievous grin in the rear-view mirror,

the mirror, her

suppressed a smile, returning his focus

Uncle Flynn due back next month?” Percival inquired after a

a worry, and

bit longer, save you the

give him a

Grandpa. Where should I aim?” Vivienne teased, pretending to

twitched in a feeble protest,

is that

a noncommittal grunt, “That’s more like

banter had lightened the mood

Richard off at the Ellington estate, Percival retreated

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