The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

After hanging up the call, Vivienne stormed into Finnian’s room, where other eight disciples were sprawled out, sleeping like logs. With a swift kick, she woke them from their slumber.

Dawson was the first to come to his senses, groggily nudging Jerry beside him. “Get up, man. We’ve gotta settle the score with Finnian.”

The group roused themselves one by one, taking in their surroundings and falling silent for a few seconds…

“Where the heck is Finnian?!”

Vivienne grabbed a magazine from the table and gave each of them a thwack on the head. “By the time you lot figure it out, Finnian will have skipped town!”

Dawson rubbed his sore head and pointed accusingly at Percival. “Vivienne, why aren’t you hitting him?”

Without missing a beat, Vivienne delivered another smack to Dawson. “He’s my man. Think you can measure up?”

Percival smirked smugly at the others, his expression just begging for a punch.

But what could they do? After all, he was Vivienne’s man.

The disciples collectively groaned, a chorus of shattered hearts.

After a round of scolding, Vivienne pointed toward the garden outside, “Go fix that fence and then frog hop around the villa ten times. No dinner until it’s done!”

“Vivienne, can we make it five laps?” Gary begged with puppy eyes.

Vivienne shot him a look that could freeze fire. “You, fifteen laps!”

Hearing that, the other disciples scattered like the wind. Fifteen laps were no joke!

Vivienne sighed heavily. “What’s the use of having all these guys if they can’t even keep an eye on an old man?”

Percival took Vivienne’s hand. “Let’s go. Now that Finnian’s made an appearance, he won’t hide again. We’ll have plenty of time to deal with him later.”

“Alright.”

Halfway out, Percival glanced at Vivienne, his lips pressed in query, “You didn’t notice Finnian drugging you yesterday?”

a

had

eyebrow. “Finnian’s reputation

really looked into Finnian’s capabilities, but he must be skilled

her tone casual yet firm. “It was not Finnian who drugged us

looked puzzled. “You

her captivating eyes shimmering with an enigmatic light. “There’s not a second person in this world who could knock me

just confidence—it was

medicine, but she was

it

got into the car, Vivienne received a

never called early in the

a moment’s silence,

you busy? Can you come over? My dad’s

surged in Vivienne’s

floored the gas pedal, driving straight to the Perez

of the car and into the house, where Yuri and Zelda greeted

happened?” Vivienne asked in

composed, saying, “This morning, Dad was fine, walking Natalia and Yasmine in the park. But he collapsed without warning before breakfast, and the

old injuries that flared up once in Sea City but had

the past, but this time, he passed out

injury did Grandpa suffer from before?” Vivienne asked

of Sasha near Fariana Isle. When he arrived, he found only bones. He couldn’t handle the shock and

paused, sensing the complexity of his

renowned heart surgeon named

asking, “Professor Keegan, how is

“Not good, and there’s something odd. His breathing is stable, but his heartbeat is erratic, occasionally stopping

take a look.” Vivienne

her because of her youth; instead, he stepped back to

deepened as she felt Jasper’s pulse. It was almost imperceptible, yet his breathing was eerily calm—as if he were

This was medically impossible.

“Professor Keegan, could you