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!”

in the room, including Percival and

knew she was genuinely

upset disciple, Finnian quickly tried to smooth things with a sycophantic smile. “You silly lass, I was just pulling your

death for this long, and you tell me it was a joke?” Vivienne stood up, her eyes brimming with tears as she

her, “Oh, look at you, shedding precious tears. I’m fine, see? Stop crying, and come check the injury that

to inspect Finnian’s head, but to everyone’s surprise,

You’re not

out tissues and wiping away tears while apologizing profusely, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Oh dear, I haven’t

was too shocked

Vivienne crying?

Vivienne,

not entirely out

pulling out a piece of paper and scribbling a few lines before

too busy pacifying his disciple, paid no heed to

suddenly grabbed Finnian’s hand, sliced his finger just enough to draw blood, and pressed it onto the paper with such speed that Finnian was taken by

remaining tears.

looked closely at

an IOU for

with this outsider

IOU, her face devoid of any

fiancé, not an outsider. And don’t you think it’s fair to add a little interest to that thousand dollars you’ve owed

dollars… Just a thousand, and you’ve been fixated on

me from this ungrateful

his dramatics, even taking the time to pour Finnian a glass of water so he would not get hoarse from all

that the

this ungrateful girl to steal my

momentarily taken aback but quickly

down, he smiled. “I’ll pay

truly one in a million. If

that even Darren, seasoned in the acting world,

wasted his time in solitary; his acting chops were as

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