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.”

usual detached tone, as if speaking to a typical patient. “Awake now? You’ll be bedridden for a month, and then it’s rehab for you. Your legs took

bit 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 save me?

“To laugh at you, you’d need

then quickly composed herself. “I was wrong before. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t

to know I won’t blame you anymore. I was jealous

confession, Ashley took a deep breath, feeling

nodded. “Okay, I got

was not a bad person, just prone to

have to

your help with Mr. Ellington,”

Vivienne stated simply, squeezing Melissa’s hand before

outside, and they walked out of the hospital together, only to run into Fiona in her wheelchair,

here,” Fiona said

eyes were cold. “It’s no

I forget? The Ellington family is

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

woman, a bit shy, introduced herself to Percival and Vivienne, “I’m Sienna, Ms. Fiona’s

she extended her hand toward Vivienne and

of courtesy, Percival shook her hand, and Vivienne did

about Sienna’s skin during their

hand, “I have to take

replied, her lips curving into

the elevator while Percival and Vivienne

looked at her fingertip, particularly at the print of her

“Just some clowns jumping around. They’re

Vivienne grinned, “You’re right!”