The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Percival reached out and swiped a finger through the frosting, popping it directly into his mouth.

The next instant, his face contorted in agony, an expression of pain so intense it had never before graced his features.

“Is it poisoned?” Vivienne yelled out, alarm knitting her brow.

Percival waved her off, steadying himself on her knee. “It’s just… incredibly bitter.”

Vivienne was speechless.

“Bitter? Really?” She dared a taste herself, almost letting her lifelong love affair with strawberry shortcake plummet to rock bottom.

It was supposed to be frosting – sweet, indulgent frosting.

Why on earth was it so bitter?

A thought struck Vivienne. “Tastes like something my mom made.”

Her words hung in the air, and she and Percival paused, a sudden realization dawning on them.

Slowly, they lifted their eyes to meet, and their gazes converged with silent understanding.

The cake before them indeed bore the mark of Karen’s handiwork.

The pair sat in stunned silence, neither willing to voice the conclusion forming in their minds. Yet, all the strange occurrences of recent days seemed to be pointing inexorably in one direction.

After a while, Vivienne shook her head. “I’ve never had such a terrible strawberry shortcake.”

Percival unveiled a slice of strawberry shortcake he had brought and fed it to Vivienne. “Try this one; it’s sweet.”

A chuckle escaped Vivienne’s lips, her eyes inadvertently flickering to the bitter disappointment that was the other cake.

Once they finished the delectable shortcake, Vivienne leaned back against the couch, patting her belly. “Mr. Wolf, didn’t you say you had something to discuss with me?”

Percival presented two invitations, laying them before Vivienne. “Take a look.”

up the invites, glancing over them with a smile. “The director wants to see me? He could have just said so. Why all the

the Brooks family hosted the party and extended the invitation to Vivienne and Percival, they

nothing but a pretext

already anticipating her answer

going.

…

and Percival arrived in their finest

Ashley were greeting guests at the door. Upon seeing Vivienne, their faces lit

it! I’ve missed you so much. I’ve been trying to call with no luck,” Melissa said warmly as she reached

lifted Melissa’s spirits; her smile was even brighter than

had my phone off,” Vivienne responded with a light laugh, then turned to Ashley.

the girl and had not followed

“Yes, completely. But

happened to Carl?” Vivienne

by guilt over Carl’s condition. If only she had not been so stubborn and thrown away

up, but then, suddenly, his condition worsened one night. After an intense fight for his life, we managed to save him, but the doctors say he suffered brain damage.

recovering; she had performed

have

Where is Carl

in such a state troubled her deeply. And why had the

soothe Vivienne, “We wanted to tell you, but… we can’t keep bothering you. You’ve got so much on your plate

aren’t we? How

more frustrated but also felt a sense of resignation. After all, her relationship with the

Brooks family felt the same; there was a mutual sense of

keep coming to you,”

her harsher sentiments, Vivienne’s tone softened. “Alright,

for treatment. They say it’s a good place for someone in his condition to

sigh. With so much going on in Rivenwood, she could not leave just yet. Carl would

Uncle Vance,” Melissa said, drying her eyes and leading Vivienne