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?”

question, Vivienne’s gaze sharpened, a fleeting glint crossing

had

an eyebrow. “Finnian’s reputation

Finnian’s capabilities, but he must be

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

puzzled. “You

an enigmatic light. “There’s

was not just confidence—it was

medicine, but she was

when it came to

the car,

was odd—Yuri never called early in the morning. Something

moment’s silence,

you come over? My dad’s had

surged in Vivienne’s

gas pedal, driving

and into the house, where Yuri

happened?” Vivienne asked

managed to remain composed, saying, “This morning, Dad was fine, walking Natalia and Yasmine in the

old injuries that flared up once in Sea

had been warnings in the past, but this time, he passed out

injury did Grandpa suffer from before?”

Fariana Isle. When he arrived, he found only bones. He couldn’t handle the shock and fainted. Since then, he’s had a serious heart

paused, sensing the

reached Jasper’s bedroom, where the family doctor, a renowned heart surgeon named Keegan, was treating him. Vivienne had studied his

stepped in, asking, “Professor

something odd. His breathing is stable, but his heartbeat is erratic, occasionally

take a look.” Vivienne approached,

underestimate her because of her youth;

pulse. It was almost imperceptible, yet his breathing was eerily calm—as if he were merely

This was medically impossible.

prescription and handed it to Keegan. “Professor Keegan, could