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

under her

home, where her father, Nathan, was

out of the car, she whispered to Percival, “Percival, don’t tell me you never noticed

Boarding school for

arms, urging her dad to whisk

his son’s anger and

departed, Vivienne couldn’t contain her laughter any

grew even redder. “Vivienne,

help it. She had never imagined Percival could be so

laughter from the back, Percival felt his manhood challenged for the first time in his life. He adjusted his tie and stepped out of the

the car, things got

soup Aurelia had made for

you two could take a

froze, then bumped his head hard on the roof. Without pausing to rub it, he scrambled out

Percival tried to appear

passing the thermos to Percival with a meaningful look. “The soup’s freshly made. Don’t rush; it

was not lost

and entered the

no going back to the Ellington Mansion

…

the Perez Mansion, Karen was

last night?” Karen felt his pulse, and

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

That’s about when you actually went to sleep. Caught up

lips, amazed at the accuracy of her

an upset

to

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

bully a defenseless old man?”

himself: Defenseless? Who’s old man can bend a steel bar

an ally. “Exactly, they’re

from your favorite series,” Vivienne

shared a moment of bliss, impenetrable to