The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

In the hospital, Carl was still in surgery, his condition more severe than Ashley’s, who was the first to regain consciousness.

The entire Brooks family had rushed to the hospital, relieved to see Ashley’s eyes flutter open.

Melissa was beside herself with tears. “You scared the life out of me, Ashley! If something happened to you, how on earth could I face your father?”

Ashley, still too weak to speak, glanced around the room, her eyes searching for Vivienne, who was not there.

Darren seemed to grasp what she was looking for and leaned in to whisper, “Ashley, Vivienne’s still in surgery with Carl. She’ll be here as soon as it’s over.”

Ashley breathed a sigh of relief. Her gaze then shifted back to her mother, her eyes brimming with tears.

Kala chimed in, “Don’t cry now, Ashley. Vivienne said you’ve got a scrape on your face, and tears won’t help it heal. You don’t want to ruin that pretty face of yours, so be good, won’t you?”

Ronald also tried to comfort Melissa, “Aunt, no need to cry. Didn’t Vivienne say that Ashley and Carl are out of danger? They’ll be up and about in a few days. You crying like this will only have them worrying about you when they wake up.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop.” Melissa managed, dabbing at her eyes. She took her daughter’s hand. “If it weren’t for Vivienne, you and Carl would’ve been goners. Charlotte told me how Vivienne and Percival braved a cliff jump to save you two. Terrifying, I tell you.”

Ashley pressed her lips together, wanting to say something but feeling too drained. She soon drifted back to sleep.

When she woke again, most of the machines had been removed, but her legs were still numb, and she was still in recovery. Vivienne had made sure she stayed put to avoid injuring herself further.

Carl, too, had been brought out of the operating room, awaiting consciousness. Ashley found her voice again.

“Mom, where’s Vivienne?” She asked.

She remembered that just before she had passed out, it was Vivienne who had grasped her hand and promised, “I’m here; you’re not going to die.”

as if speaking to a typical patient. “Awake now? You’ll be bedridden for a month, and then it’s

her lower lip, staring deeply at Vivienne, before finally mustering the strength to speak, “After everything I’ve done to you, why did you still

simply replied, “To laugh at you,

“I was wrong before. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have doubted your intentions. You’ve never been cruel. Mom’s right; you’ve always

anymore. I

deep breath, feeling a bit more

“Okay, I

bad person, just

have to go,” Vivienne

you, Vivienne, for all your

family,” Vivienne stated simply, squeezing Melissa’s hand before leaving

walked out of the hospital together, only to run into

Fiona said with a faint smile,

cold. “It’s no coincidence. This

I forget? The

the woman with her, “Sienna, this is the Percival I told you about. Make sure to greet them properly

a bit shy, introduced herself to Percival and Vivienne, “I’m Sienna, Ms. Fiona’s personal physician. Nice to meet

extended her hand toward Vivienne

shook her hand,

about Sienna’s skin during their

withdrew her hand, “I have to take

time,” Vivienne replied, her lips curving into a

wheelchair into the elevator while Percival and Vivienne

the print of her

lips curled slightly, “Just some clowns jumping around. They’re

Vivienne grinned, “You’re right!”