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.

knocked on Mara’s apartment door, only to be greeted by

doing here?” She

to fix

“Vivienne? Come in. I’m just in

inquisitively.

scarlet. “Vivienne, it’s not what you

not for the scar on her face, she looked utterly

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

Aaron and made her way straight to Mara.

suspicion that there was something between Vivienne and Aaron,

turned to Vivienne, “No, I’ve been careful, just like you

here or in the bedroom?”

grew uneasy. Every time Vivienne was upset in his presence,

me. Thanks for your help,”

awkwardly, avoiding Vivienne’s penetrating

Aaron so familiarly sent a wave

kit and

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

red. “I… I was

softly. “I’ll

sat on

glanced at her, then looked away. “Why

and Aaron were close. I didn’t want

smile playing on her lips.

was simply naive, but she had underestimated

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

Mara blinked in confusion.

“Trying to light up the whole forest

talking about? What forest?”

Mara screamed in pain.

her things. “Beauty comes at

feeling as if her face was being forcibly molded back together, a tormenting blend of

to

for Mara’s reaction, and casually played a game