The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Karen’s identity was shrouded in the utmost secrecy; only the highest echelons within the hospital were privy to her details. The nurses and doctors, not privy to such clearance, only knew that Percival had brought in a VIP patient who was also a knockout beauty.

Aaron couldn’t bear to listen to the idle gossip any longer. “Have you lost your minds? What’s there to admire about someone who’s playing the field?”

His sudden outburst startled the two young nurses, who scurried out of the elevator.

Alone in the lift, Aaron fumed over Percival’s audacity. How could he let Vivienne wait on his old flame like that? Sick! Despicable! Some people just shouldn’t exist!

Upon exiting the elevator, Aaron used his access card to make his way to the penthouse floor. When he encountered the security guard, he flashed the Nine Mystics Society’s token.

As a member of the Nine Mystics Society, the guard recognized the emblem of authority and allowed Aaron to pass without question.

“Master Aaron, the young master is not in. Please wait here,” one of Percival’s men said, assuming Aaron was there to see Vivienne.

Aaron pocketed his token. “It’s fine. Don’t bother about me. I’m just looking around. No need to tell Vivienne I was here; I don’t want to disturb her.”

“Understood.”

After giving his instructions, Aaron approached the hospital room.

Peering through the glass, Aaron saw Percival tenderly wiping the brow of the woman on the bed with an utterly uncharacteristic gentleness.

So tender, it couldn’t possibly be Percival!

No mistake about it: this woman was Percival’s first love!

“Percival, you sleaze, one wasn’t enough for you, huh? Alright, just you wait!” Aaron cursed inwardly.

He was about to burst in but held himself back. He had to wake Vivienne up first; he couldn’t let her be manipulated by this cad any longer!

With that thought, he turned and left.

Just as Aaron stepped into the elevator, Vivienne emerged from her office, catching only a glimpse of a retreating figure.

“Aaron? He came and didn’t look for me?” She wondered.

However, Vivienne didn’t dwell on it and entered the ward. “How’s it going? Did you wipe my mom’s face?”

wiped his brow. “Vivienne, I hope I did a clean

of her nose, sighed. “Mr. Wolf, you really have no knack for this kind

took the washcloth Percival had been using, only to find he had only managed to wipe the

thought I did a clean

wiped my mom’s soul off her face,” Vivienne said, wetting the cloth

sitting in the corner, couldn’t stand it any longer. “Let me take over. You didn’t even wring out the cloth properly, and you’re getting water

I

we’re both not cut out for

Karen was handed over

the

up with you. I remembered this photo; it feels off. Take a look.” Mara

eyes hardened as he spotted the obvious GTO

did you

nightstand. At first, I thought it was Vivienne, but on closer inspection, it’s not. I knew my brother wouldn’t be so kind to Vivienne for no reason. He’s treating

a novel’s worth

stand-in trope. Tsk, tsk, tsk. She hadn’t expected her

fixated on the

was part of

purpose in coming

send her to get

couldn’t be allowed to

that, Aaron

him. “Hey, where are

to

if you go to Vivienne, wouldn’t that be betraying me? I still want to stay in good standing with

how dangerous this ‘Karen’ is? I can’t let

care of it? You have the means. If it were Percival, he’d just click his fingers, and the problem

a

stood there, contemplating. “Right, I can take

relief; Aaron had

help? You can’t just whisk away a living person from

ensure Karen’s demise. Mara had to confirm

gave Mara a once-over. “Fine, let’s meet tonight under the hospital. I’ll go

relieved as they parted

still for a moment, watching Mara’s retreating figure before turning back to the