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 fleeting

honestly had

“Finnian’s reputation

looked into Finnian’s capabilities, but he must be skilled if he could handle Vivienne

casual yet firm. “It was not Finnian

looked puzzled.

shimmering with an enigmatic light. “There’s not a second person

was not just

the best in medicine, but she was certainly not to be

it came to

the car, Vivienne received

was odd—Yuri never called early in the

a moment’s silence, she

are you busy? Can you come over? My

of unprecedented panic surged in

gas pedal, driving straight to

the car and into the house, where Yuri

asked in a hushed

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

had old injuries that flared up once in

the past, but this

injury did Grandpa suffer from before?” Vivienne asked as they

lip, deciding to reveal the truth. “Dad got word of a sighting of Sasha near Fariana Isle. When he arrived,

sensing the

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

asking, “Professor Keegan, how

Vivienne. “Not good, and there’s something odd. His breathing is stable, but

take a look.” Vivienne approached, checking

because of her youth; instead, he stepped back to

frown 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.

to Keegan. “Professor Keegan, could you please prepare this?