The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

On the other side of town, Vivienne sat contentedly in the car, having just polished off a luscious strawberry cheesecake that Percival had brought her.

With a full belly, she finally remembered the matter at hand.

“So, you mentioned you had a crucial video conference tonight. What’s got you swinging by all of a sudden?” Vivienne leaned in, eyeing Percival curiously.

Percival, driving with his usual cool demeanor, cleared his throat. “That conference is nothing compared to you.”

“I never told you where I was heading today,” Vivienne said with a teasing smile, though Percival felt a chill run down his spine at her grin.

Exhaling softly, Percival eased the car to a stop in front of a bustling steakhouse, turned to Vivienne, and said, “I got a call from Kenneth about you being at Elite University, so I thought I’d check on you.”

Vivienne rubbed her temples, somewhat exasperated. “Aaron’s just a kid. Why are you always so concerned with him?”

Percival parked the car and looked at her, “I simply can’t stand any man coveting you, even if that man is just a boy.”

Vivienne gazed at Percival. She had always heard that a man in jealousy was at his most handsome, but she had not expected it to be this striking! Could it be that because the man was Percival, he appeared so irresistibly dashing?

He was so handsome, and she loved it!

Percival playfully tapped Vivienne’s nose. “Let’s go have your favorite beef stew.”

Vivienne wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a firm kiss on his lips before cheerily hopping out of the car.

The kiss left Percival breathless, wishing for another.

Vivienne thought to herself, “Opportunities like this don’t come often!”

As they sat down to the bubbling hot pot, Vivienne devoured the meal with gusto.

“Mr. Wolf, I’ll be heading to Mara’s place tomorrow to treat her injury. Wait for my signal,” she said, gobbling down a piece of tripe.

Percival, ever so composed, wiped a bit of sauce from the corner of her mouth and said, “Understood.”

Vivienne’s lips curled into a sly smile; she was eager to see what was really going on.

next morning, Vivienne knocked on Mara’s apartment door,

are you doing here?” She frowned in

I’m here to fix the computer for

inside, Mara called out, “Vivienne? Come in. I’m

rose inquisitively. A shower

scarlet. “Vivienne, it’s not

not for the

during breakfast, so I went to rinse off. Please don’t misunderstand,”

Aaron and made her way straight to Mara.

her suspicion that there was something between Vivienne

Aaron and then turned to Vivienne, “No, I’ve been

Shall we start here or in the bedroom?” Vivienne asked, her voice

drop in temperature and grew uneasy. Every time Vivienne

bedroom. Aaron, wait here for me. Thanks for your help,” Mara said sweetly,

nodded awkwardly, avoiding Vivienne’s penetrating

address Aaron so familiarly sent a wave

medical kit and headed to

stopped by Mara, “I’m about to change in the bedroom. Where do

ears turned red. “I… I was

softly.

bedroom, Mara changed and sat on

then looked away. “Why

you and Aaron were close. I didn’t want

on her lips.

thought Mara was simply naive,

to Mara’s face, Vivienne asked, “Did you drink a

Mara blinked in confusion.

Mara’s scar. “Trying to light up the

talking about?

scar, Mara screamed in

things. “Beauty comes at a

as if her face was being forcibly molded back together, a

to let you experiment, but

a game of