The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The group froze at the news, and Mara gasped, unable to contain herself, “How could you be so heartless?”

“Only now, you notice?” Vivienne glanced sideways at Mara with a haunting gaze.

Mara felt a chill run down her spine from that look, and she stumbled backward, accidentally knocking over a glass of water on the table behind her. Clad only in her skin, she felt a bone-chilling cold envelop her.

Mara’s mishap drew everyone’s attention to her, but suddenly, a piercing scream from Wendy cut through the room.

“Ah!”

Teresa and Nancy turned to look and instantly went pale.

They backed away rapidly, pointing at Vivienne with trembling voices, “You, you… you actually dared!”

None of them had expected Vivienne to actually go through with it – to sever Wendy’s hand without warning before they could even react.

Moreover, Vivienne’s method was cunning; the blood sprayed onto them.

Vivienne just glanced at them indifferently, tossing Wendy’s severed hand their way, her smile receding into a cold detachment. “You like to Photoshop? Keep this hand and Photoshop to your heart’s content.”

Wendy, clutching her stump, almost passed out from the pain. She glared at Vivienne, her face twisted with rage. “Vivienne, I’ll never forgive you for this!”

With a faintly amused smile, Vivienne responded coolly, “I’ll be waiting! Remember, come at me directly next time, and you might meet a quicker end. If you lay a finger on Mrs. Cecilia or Mr. Wolf, the wolves outside will be your final resting place.”

With that, Vivienne turned and left.

Downstairs, Percival was the only one there.

Seeing Vivienne, he stood up and wrapped his arms around her waist, his voice soft, “All taken care of?”

Vivienne hummed in affirmation, then looked up at Percival, “I took a hand from the old lady. Will that upset you, Mr. Wolf?”

Percival tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear and said gently, “A hand is too lenient. I’d take both.”

The idea that someone would Photoshop his little girl naked was enough to incite his wrath.

If Cecilia knew, she would have said, “All you care about is your little girl? I was Photoshopped, too!”

left her

nose affectionately, “My Vivienne

brightened, “Mr. Wolf,

his little girl acted

playful banter, Vivienne suggested, “Shall we

and they left together, his arms around

not see the Boyd men and asked, “Where did they

“They’re streaking downtown!”

Wolf, you’re so bad… but I

love.

Vivienne was speechless.

man was relentless in his

In the car.

buckled Vivienne’s seat belt

“Take me to Uncle

an hour later, Percival dropped Vivienne off at the café

Inside the café.

the window, dressed to the nines,

his dashing appearance rivaled any

said that Maddox was the Perez family’s only black sheep, all show and

himself as pure

“Vivienne, I’m here!”

as Vivienne entered, Maddox stood

eyeing Maddox’s flamboyant attire. Only he would dress

you here? Run out of cash? Here, take

from his wallet, saying, “Dad cut off my supplementary card. This is all I can give

the credit card on the table, a gold card from Sea City

came to ask you to look at this.” She pushed the credit card back

the details of a contract she had seen in the Boyd family, memorized word

looked surprised. “Where did you find

used the contract’s format, yet Maddox recognized it as a contract, which meant he

“The Boyd Mansion.”

cold laugh, “They’re still hung up

is