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.

Mara’s apartment door, only to be

are you doing here?” She frowned

I’m here to fix the computer for our

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

inquisitively.

face turned scarlet. “Vivienne, it’s not what you think,

wrapped in a towel. If not for the scar on her

we spilled some soy milk during breakfast, so I went to rinse off. Please don’t misunderstand,”

made her way straight to Mara. “Did you touch your scar while

something between Vivienne and

at Aaron and then turned to Vivienne, “No, I’ve been careful, just like

here or in the

uneasy. Every time Vivienne was upset in his presence,

go to the bedroom. Aaron, wait here for me. Thanks for your help,” Mara

nodded awkwardly, avoiding Vivienne’s

address Aaron so familiarly sent a wave of frost through Vivienne’s

kit

by Mara, “I’m about to change in

ears turned red. “I… I was

laughed softly. “I’ll

bedroom, Mara changed and sat on the bed. “Vivienne,

her, then looked away. “Why would

were close. I didn’t want to upset

smile playing on her lips.

Mara was simply naive, but she

Mara’s face, Vivienne asked, “Did you drink a pot of green

Mara blinked in confusion.

“Trying to light up

are you talking about? What forest?” Mara

Mara screamed in pain. “What are you doing?

things. “Beauty comes at

was being forcibly molded back together, a tormenting blend of pain and

my face? I agreed to

played a game of Tetris on