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 to boarding school

muttered under her

at home,

she whispered to Percival, “Percival, don’t tell me you never

Boarding school for you

arms, urging her dad to whisk her

by his son’s anger and his daughter’s smugness, totally clueless

any longer

even redder. “Vivienne, stop

She had never imagined Percival could be

life. He adjusted his tie and stepped out of the car, opening the back door to put an end to the giggling – with a more hands-on

the car, things

Nathan stood there, holding a thermos of soup Aurelia had

you two

then bumped his head hard on the roof. Without pausing to rub

Percival tried to appear calm as he

nodded, passing the thermos to Percival with a meaningful look. “The soup’s freshly

double entendre was not lost on

turned and entered the house,

no going back to the

…

Mansion, Karen was

night?” Karen felt his

of course not. You saw

AM. That’s about when

his lips, amazed at the accuracy

of an upset stomach and could use

gave him a knowing look, pointing to

in, she caught Jasper cajoling Karen, with Maddox enjoying the

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

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

“Exactly, they’re so

the latest comic from your favorite series,” Vivienne said, standing protectively by Jasper’s

and granddaughter shared a moment of