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

had

“Finnian’s

Finnian’s capabilities, but he must

yet firm. “It was not Finnian

looked puzzled.

into a sly smile, her captivating eyes shimmering with an enigmatic light. “There’s not a second person in this world

not just confidence—it

in medicine, but she was certainly not

it came

got into the car, Vivienne

never called early in

moment’s silence,

you come over? My dad’s had

of unprecedented panic surged in Vivienne’s heart, “I’m on my

driving straight to the

the house, where Yuri and Zelda

happened?” Vivienne asked in a hushed

in tears, but Yuri managed to remain composed, saying, “This morning, Dad was fine, walking Natalia and Yasmine in the park. But he

that flared up once

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

did Grandpa suffer from before?” Vivienne asked as

bit his lip, deciding to reveal the truth. “Dad got word of a sighting of Sasha near Fariana Isle. When he arrived, he found only bones. He couldn’t handle the shock and fainted. Since then, he’s had a serious

sensing the complexity of his

where the family doctor, a renowned heart surgeon named Keegan, was treating him. Vivienne had studied his work during

“Professor Keegan, how is

something odd. His breathing is stable,

a look.” Vivienne approached, checking

underestimate her because of her youth; instead, he stepped

frown deepened as she felt Jasper’s pulse. It was almost imperceptible, yet his breathing was

This was medically impossible.

color, Vivienne scribbled a prescription and handed it to Keegan. “Professor Keegan, could you please prepare this?