The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Percival’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel, the stoic expression on his face tinged with frost.

After a moment’s silence, he spoke slowly, “My aunt didn’t go abroad. She married into the Abernathy family; she became their family head, Preston Abernathy’s wife.”

Vivienne was surprised. “So the Victoria I met today is your aunt’s daughter?”

She didn’t know what kind of person Percival’s aunt was, but judging by Percival’s demeanor, he must have been quite fond of her.

Although, as far as Vivienne was concerned, with the exception of Richard and Percival, she hadn’t met anyone decent from the Ellington family. Still, she had a feeling that this aunt must have been a good person.

But her daughter…

Tsk.

She didn’t know what to make of her.

Percival nodded. “That’s likely.”

Vivienne arched an eyebrow. “What do you mean ‘likely’?”

Percival pursed his lips before explaining, “When my aunt insisted on marrying Preston, it caused a huge rift with my grandfather. He even threatened to disown her, but she wouldn’t budge. Grandpa got so angry, he actually cut all ties and forbade anyone from contacting her.”

Glancing at Vivienne, he continued, “In the Ellington family, next to my uncle, my aunt was always the kindest to me. After she married, I reached out to her. We met for lunch once, but then she told me never to contact her again. She was too proud. And since then, there hasn’t been any communication.

I had to dig around for information about her on my own, which wasn’t easy. The ancient warrior lineages are secretive, and after marrying, my aunt became even more reclusive, making it harder to find anything out. Later, I heard she had a daughter, but I found very little about her.”

Taking a deep breath, he carried on, “I eventually heard that my aunt was cast out and had become comatose. I only learned her daughter’s name after that. But whether this Victoria is really her child, I have no way of knowing.”

Vivienne frowned, slightly perplexed. “So, is this Preston a looker or something?”

confused by her

with her being thrown out and turned into

so adamant about marrying Preston. What

pause, Percival said, “I once asked my aunt why she was so set on marrying Preston, but she never

for why my grandfather disapproved, one reason was the general distrust our ordinary family had for ancient warrior lineages. Also, Grandpa once overheard Preston on the phone

massaged her temples. “So, Preston had another lover even

confirmed with a

moment, Vivienne was at a loss

aunt was lovestruck, wasn’t she? Ignoring her father, succumbing to the words of

colder as he said, “After discovering you were the Specter Healer, I started to look for her whereabouts, but so far, I’ve found nothing. The

his hand softly. “Let’s take

softness touched Percival’s heart.

continued its journey, the two of them falling

long while, Percival spoke up again, “Vivienne, do you get the feeling someone

I’ve felt it,

aware before, but after Samantha was rescued, she realized that GTO might just be a pawn in someone else’s game, especially concerning that mysterious woman and the ancient

figured out

but also went beyond it. There were other, unknown agendas

bold move today suggested that some people were getting

“He spoke in riddles, almost as if to warn me. Vivienne, it looks

laugh was light. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Let’s first settle the score for your aunt. And as for this War God, as

the first person I’ve met who’s so dismissive of

rang with an

caller ID flashing on his phone screen, a number he didn’t recognize. Without a

than it started ringing again.

soon as he did, the caller got straight

shifted

cast a sidelong glance at Vivienne before replying, “Yes,