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.”

the liquid drip slowly into her line,

do I have to thank

medication was the very cause of her

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

business,” retorted Fiona, clutching her chest. After a few

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

that, Mr. B left the

pills and called after Mr. B’s retreating figure, “Killing Percival with Boar Poison won’t be easy. Vivienne knows how

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

staring at the sterile ceiling, trapped in a web of others’

…

in Percival’s car, Vivienne sat in the passenger seat while Percival and Richard occupied

no hope for Fiona?” Richard

“I’ve seen her medical records. There’s a chance for

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

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

be alright with proper care, that was

at Vivienne. “I’m sorry you’ve been put through

need, Richard.

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

in the rear-view mirror,

mirror, her bright face brimming

suppressed a smile, returning his focus to the road

due back next month?” Percival inquired after a

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

bit longer, save you the

give him a pinch

Vivienne teased, pretending to ready an acupuncture needle,

twitched in a

is that okay?” Vivienne

“That’s more like

playful banter had lightened the mood in the car

off at the Ellington estate, Percival retreated to

over Fiona’s medical