The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Without a word, Percival stepped forward and yanked the man being pecked at by the parakeet away from Birdie.

The man, powerless against the bird and certainly unable to resist Percival’s grip, allowed himself to be escorted to the lounge.

“Old Geezer! Old Geezer!” The parrot squawked triumphantly upon reaching Vivienne, ceasing its pecking frenzy to perch atop the man’s head, its tiny head held high in a display of pride as if to say: “Praise me, come on, praise me!”

Fuming, the man plucked Birdie from his head and, gripping its neck, growled menacingly, “You dumb bird, I should’ve wrung your neck when I had the chance. You ungrateful creature, what made you betray me this time?”

Flapping its wings in a futile attempt to escape, the parrot broke free and landed on Darren’s shoulder.

“Chicken tenders, chicken tenders!” It chirped.

Chicken tenders were Birdie’s favorite, and Darren had stocked up on them at home, dedicating half the freezer to the bird’s preferred snack.

Pounding his fist in frustration, the man lamented, “All for some chicken tenders, Darren? After all these years, couldn’t you have spoiled it with something fancier?”

The treacherous bird, selling him out for mere chicken tenders, just like that wretched girl!

Darren, still puzzled, asked, “Excuse me, sir, do we know each other?”

Percival, unfazed, stepped forward and ripped off the man’s disguise, revealing his true face.

Darren nearly collapsed in shock.

It was Finnian, Vivienne’s elusive mentor whom she had been hunting down for debts!

“Holy smokes! Finnian! Is that really you?”

Although Darren was a mere associate member of the mentorship, having fled the fold soon after joining, Finnian was still his mentor.

Caught off guard by Percival’s bold move, Finnian scrambled to cover his face with his elbow, exclaiming, “Wrong guy, you’ve got the wrong guy!”

Vivienne gritted her teeth fiercely. “Finnian! Put your hands down!”

room, including Percival and Finnian, was

familiar with Vivienne knew she was genuinely

with a sycophantic smile. “You silly lass, I was just

you tell me it was a joke?” Vivienne stood up, her eyes brimming with

always fond of Vivienne, felt a pang of guilt seeing her cry and hurried to comfort her, “Oh, look at you, shedding precious tears. I’m fine, see? Stop crying, and come check the injury that dumb bird inflicted on me; it hurts like

to inspect Finnian’s head, but to everyone’s surprise, she suddenly burst into heart-wrenching

lied again. You’re not hurt

sorry! Oh dear, I haven’t seen you in a

too shocked to

Vivienne crying?

Vivienne, weeping

not entirely

piece of paper and scribbling a

disciple,

draw blood, and

kissed the paper, and flicked away her remaining tears. “Finnian, this is what you owe me. Don’t

gobsmacked, looked closely at the

IOU for 80

with this outsider

devoid of any sorrow, replaced by a sly and

is my fiancé, not an outsider. And don’t you think it’s fair

and you’ve been fixated on it for years! And now

save me from this ungrateful girl’s treachery? Why

pour Finnian a glass of water so he

of his grandfather. It seemed that the older

then pointed an accusing finger at Percival. “You dare to collude with this ungrateful girl to steal my money? You

was momentarily taken aback but

he smiled. “I’ll pay that 80

an amazing man. I knew I had not misjudged you. Look at that face, the epitome of a gentleman, truly one in a million. If that girl ever gives you trouble, you come straight to me, and I’ll

that even Darren, seasoned in

not wasted his time in solitary; his acting

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