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.

knew his daughter all too

fists, cursing inside, “So, she won’t

that, Vivienne stormed over, determined to confront the face

approached, every cell in Vesper’s body tensed,

not the time to

scent in the air, tracing it

he met

confused. Was she changing her

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

old men stopped and

Vesper swiftly inserted several silver needles into Vivienne’s

the juice she had

a

it

points the moment she sensed something off with the juice, planning to purge

“What’s this?” Vivienne demanded.

rushed over and shoved him

off guard, Vesper was easily pushed

Vivienne ever do to you?” Diana fumed at

Diana acted to destroy the evidence, her feet covered in a substance that

was definitely up

“That juice you

crowd was taken aback, Jasper incredulous.

poisoned? Vivienne, you can’t wrong me like this,” Diana protested, her eyes

glanced at the expelled

The evidence was gone.

underestimated this

quietly, positioning himself beside Diana, ready to restrain

“Yes,

instantly grabbed Diana. “Why would you

in vain against Maddox’s grip,

ask why I would poison her? Even if I didn’t

provided the juice. How do you

looking up at Jasper. “Dad, Vivienne is the Specter Healer. Who would try to kill the Specter Healer with poison? Besides, I have no idea what happened. If the juice is poisoned, there’s

began to fetch the

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

“Vivienne!”

go. We’re all family here.” Vivienne shook

even a