The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

At that moment, Maddox strode over.

“Dad, Finnian’s brought Mr. Linklater over!”

Vivienne rose to her feet upon hearing this, a hint of urgency sparkling in her eyes.

“Vesper, at last, we meet!”

Seizing the moment, Diana hurriedly wiped up the remaining juice, tossing the glass into the sink to obliterate any evidence of her actions.

Jasper also stood, leaning on his cane as he moved to greet the newcomer.

However, once outside, they found only Vesper.

“Where the hell is that old bastard Ulysses?” Jasper bellowed from the yard.

Vesper chuckled, “He’s hiding.”

Though he said this, his gaze drifted to the old banyan tree in the courtyard.

Understanding the hint, Jasper picked up a stone and hurled it at the banyan.

Finnian winced and poked his head out. “Jasper! Are you trying to kill me?”

“You’ve already died twice! What’s once more?” Jasper retorted, lobbing another stone.

Finnian was not going down without a fight, plucking leaves from the tree and tossing them back at Jasper.

The two old coots showed no mercy, each blow harder than the last.

Maddox and Yuri tried to intervene, tugging at each one, adding to the commotion.

Vesper quietly observed Jasper, finally easing up.

It seemed the thing inside him had stabilized.

He smiled to himself but then sensed a pair of searing glares.

Those eyes held resentment, fury, and longing.

Vesper dared not respond nor even glance that way.

his daughter all

she won’t even look at me? Fine, avoid me

stormed over, determined to confront the

approached, every cell in Vesper’s body tensed, ready

the time to

Vesper caught an odd scent in the air,

he met her

Was she changing her

Vesper struck Vivienne’s chest with lightning speed, too quickly

feuding old men stopped and

inserted several

Vivienne expelled the juice she had

a

not to have drunk it all,” Vesper

had sealed her pressure points the moment she sensed something off with the juice, planning to purge it once she left

“What’s this?” Vivienne demanded.

rushed over and shoved

guard, Vesper

What did Vivienne ever do to you?” Diana fumed at

her feet covered in a substance that could neutralize

eyes narrowed; Diana was definitely up to

Vesper. “That juice you

incredulous. “Diana, what’s the

Vivienne, you can’t wrong me like this,” Diana protested, her eyes brimming with

the expelled

The evidence was gone.

had underestimated this

the poison?” Maddox asked quietly, positioning himself beside Diana, ready to restrain

nodded. “Yes,

“Why would you do this, Diana?

vain against Maddox’s grip,

would poison her? Even if I

Diana firmly. “You provided the juice. How

no explanation will suffice.” Diana sobbed, looking up at Jasper. “Dad, Vivienne is the Specter Healer. Who would try to kill the Specter Healer with poison? Besides, I have no

who began

no need for all this trouble. The poison’s been dealt with, and since Auntie Diana claims

“Vivienne!”

Maddox, let her go. We’re all family here.” Vivienne shook

released Diana, knowing that even a