The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

“You… you really are going to help me?” Mara looked at Vivienne, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Vivienne nodded, “Yes.”

“But you… you…” Mara stuttered, at a loss for words.

Even Cecilia hadn’t expected Vivienne to consent. “Vivienne, you’re really willing to help Mara?”

Vivienne affirmed. “Sure, but I have my conditions. I’m the Specter Healer; I don’t work for free.”

Mara knew it. Vivienne wasn’t the type to offer help out of the goodness of her heart.

“I understand, but I’m broke right now. Can I write you an IOU and pay you back once I have the money?” Mara pleaded.

Vivienne smiled, her red lips lifting in a beguiling curve. “That’s not what I’m asking for.”

A shiver ran down Mara’s spine as she locked eyes with Vivienne’s smile. She felt like she had just fallen into a bottomless pit – a trap that could spell her doom!

Leaving the hospital, Percival drove Isolde back home.

Isolde took every chance to stick close to Vivienne. “Vivienne, what was the deal you made with Mara back there?”

Vivienne scooped Isolde into her arms, meticulously parting her hair to craft a sweet hairstyle for the youngster.

“Little ones shouldn’t pry.”

Isolde sat still, leaning against Vivienne, her tiny shoulders pressed against her chest.

After a while, Isolde murmured, “Vivienne, you’re really busty, you know.”

Percival nearly choked on his own spit.

Unfazed, Vivienne continued her task while Percival’s face turned a shade that would’ve given any artist’s palette a run for its money.

“Kids shouldn’t talk about such things,” Percival cleared his throat.

Isolde scoffed. “Percival, why so prudish? I’m just saying she’s got a great figure. It’s just a fact.”

Percival slammed on the brakes and parked by the roadside, swiftly moving Isolde to the passenger seat.

word, and you’re going

muttered under

at home, where

car, she whispered to Percival, “Percival, don’t tell me you never noticed how great Vivienne’s figure

school for

into Nathan’s arms, urging her dad

and his daughter’s smugness,

laughter any longer and burst into

grew even redder. “Vivienne, stop

had never imagined Percival could be so shy

his manhood challenged for the first time in his life. He adjusted his tie and stepped out of the car, opening the back door to put an end to the giggling

things got heated, while

a thermos of soup

you two could

on the roof. Without pausing to rub it, he scrambled out of

Percival tried to appear

Percival with a meaningful look. “The soup’s freshly

double entendre was not lost

and entered the house,

no going back to

…

Mansion, Karen

up late again last night?” Karen felt

his head vigorously. “No, no, of course not. You saw me go to

when you actually went to sleep. Caught up

at the accuracy of

hungry? I’ve got a bit of an upset stomach and

pointing to the pastries. “You just had

she caught Jasper cajoling

to bully a defenseless old man?” Vivienne approached, handing a

can bend a steel bar with bare hands? And he uses that strength to keep me in

finally found an ally. “Exactly, they’re so mean. Only

latest comic from your

granddaughter shared a moment of bliss, impenetrable