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.

daughter all

“So, she won’t even

Vivienne stormed over, determined to confront the face she had

cell in Vesper’s body tensed,

was not the time to reconcile with

in the air, tracing it

he met her gaze

Was

Vivienne’s chest with lightning speed, too quickly

two feuding old men stopped and gathered around, clueless

swiftly inserted several silver

expelled the juice she had just

breathed a

to have drunk it all,” Vesper said,

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

“What’s this?” Vivienne demanded.

Vesper could reply, Diana rushed

Vesper

Vivienne ever do to you?” Diana fumed

to destroy the evidence, her feet covered in a substance that could neutralize

Diana was definitely

stepped in front of Vesper. “That juice you gave me—it was

crowd was taken aback, Jasper incredulous. “Diana, what’s the

have no idea. How could the juice be poisoned? Vivienne, you can’t wrong me like

glanced at the expelled juice, her

The evidence was gone.

had underestimated this

about the poison?” Maddox asked quietly,

“Yes, I’m

would you

vain against Maddox’s grip, her martial arts no

know you all care for Vivienne, but why not ask why I would poison her?

the juice. How do

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 idea what happened. If the juice is poisoned, there’s

signaled Yuri, who began to fetch the testing

intervened. “Uncle, there’s no need for all this trouble. The poison’s been dealt with,

“Vivienne!”

We’re all family here.” Vivienne shook her head at

Maddox released Diana, knowing that even a