The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

As their post on Facebook went live, their phones began to explode with notifications, buzzing incessantly without a moment’s pause.

If not for the fear of missing something crucial, Percival was tempted to just switch his phone off.

Sitting next to Vivienne, he poured her a glass of water and whispered, “No worries, I’m tough. I can take a hit.”

Vivienne chuckled. “I won’t let you get hit!”

Percival freed one hand to ruffle Vivienne’s hair, his smile brightening in the sunlight, “You’re the best, Vivienne.”

After lunch, Vivienne lounged on the patio swing, taking in the view of the backyard.

The yard was simple and tidy, with a patch dedicated to a variety of herbs next to the gate.

Flowers of all sorts surrounded the herb garden, and in its center stood a swing set and a stone table. The wicker chair was positioned under the shade of a willow, and as the breeze brushed by, Vivienne felt a sense of peace.

She had spent ten years at Emerald Mountain, isolated and with little contact with the outside world, consumed only by vengeance.

But now, she was living the life she had longed for.

Vivienne turned to look at Percival, who was tidying up in the open kitchen, her smile impossible to hide. “Mr. Wolf, when did you set up this lovely place? How come you never mentioned it?”

“After we moved to Rivenwood, I started looking around. A farmhouse like this is easy to find, but it took a while to find one that was both tranquil and had a nice environment.”

Percival came out of the kitchen and sat in the wicker chair beside her, his long fingers entwining with hers. “The previous owner, a centenarian, passed away, and his son wanted to sell it to leave Rivenwood. So, I bought it.”

The farmhouse had been the home of an old couple who had lived together through thick and thin, from their youthful days of struggle to their secluded retirement in the countryside. What Percival envied most was their unwavering love right up to the end. He wanted to grow old with Vivienne, just like them.

Hence, he had bought the farmhouse, hoping some of that old couple’s good fortune would rub off on him and Vivienne, allowing them to live the life they wanted.

Lifting Vivienne’s hand, he kissed her delicate skin and murmured, “Vivienne, I know you love peace and quiet. I wanted to wait until we are older to settle here, but I couldn’t wait to bring you. After we catch that poisonous rat, let’s live here, just us, our own life.”

Vivienne already adored the farmhouse, and Percival’s words only deepened her affection. “This is the life I’ve always wanted.”

on the lounge chairs, chatting and enjoying the cool breeze, and without realizing it, they drifted

a start,

clutching his nose, looked at

“Mara!” She exclaimed.

head, Percival asked, “What

told me this morning that her brother Huxley Boyd has been locked up in a sanatorium in M

go see Mara,” Percival

plans to stay at the farmhouse overnight

couldn’t drive, so he called Thomas to pick

and

car suddenly appeared out of nowhere, blocking the

stone cold as he said, “Percival, we’ve

Vivienne. “Let’s check it

belt and stepped out to investigate. He tapped on

high alert from years of combat experience, Thomas gestured a warning to Percival

swung open, a sharp steel knife

swiftly, grabbed the wrist wielding the knife,

man was

the man’s

witnessed such

but because,

quickly realized something was

human! It was an

having exited the car, looked down at the deactivated android

commotion, cries for

the legs. The man was on the verge of passing out from the

tried to intervene, but the woman had a weapon and swung it at anyone who

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