The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Jerry weighed the possibility, a hint of gloom in his voice, "If that's the case, we're in for some trouble. Let's not even mention that the harassment case is several years old now. But at present, they're insisting that the girl committed suicide because of severe depression, and encountering Julian just pushed him over the edge. We have no way to verify that."

"Who says we can't?" Vivienne, acting on the information Matthew had dug up earlier, stepped into the elevator, "Just wait for my news. I'll fill you in later."

The moment the elevator doors closed with a ding, she promptly ended the call.

Percival watched the floor numbers rise with a hint of concern in his eyes, "Vivienne, are you really sure that woman's daughter will help us?"

Vivienne: "I'm not sure."

Such honesty, and they were at a loss for words.

Sensing the chill in Vivienne's gaze, Percival cleared his throat, "So, are we here today just to fish for information?"

"Exactly."

The elevator dinged upon reaching the fifteenth floor.

Vivienne waited for the doors to fully open before stepping out.

Walking along the corridor towards the most secluded corner, they approached the VIP hospital room with the poorest lighting.

Through the glass door, they could see a girl in a hospital gown sitting on the pristine white bed, barely in her early twenties. Her face was devoid of color, skin stretched over bones as if she was merely a skeleton with a layer of flesh.

She didn't seem to care about her cracked, bleeding lips, her gaze lifelessly fixed outside the window.

Several birds perched on the glass, hopping around cheerfully and unafraid of humans.

As she reached out, the birds fluttered away in all directions.

sharp eyes, noticed the bandages revealed as the girl stretched her

her wrist into her sleeve without a visible end, as if her entire arm was

frowned slightly, scanning the room, "Why is it so quiet? Didn't Zinnia claim she visits daily? It's past lunch, and no one's brought her

a family member. This area felt like a forgotten corner of the world, devoid of life. If not

Percival noticed

times a day, like clockwork. Yet now, well past lunchtime, she was nowhere

Percival coldly

pushed open the door and

followed closely as

the bandage

Desolate as if nothing in the

this girl was indeed suffering from

at a distance that would feel safe to Cassidy, "You

and Cassidy didn't deny it. Her barely perceptible nod was like a dead tree's

Vivienne could sense her thoughts, pulling up a chair to sit, "We're here about the situation online. Your mother, accusing

flickered to life. Her pupils trembled, a pained expression crossing her face, and if one looked closely, they could see guilt and unease. "I..." Cassidy's voice was hoarse and unpleasant, "I know. He

prepared

expect Cassidy to be so forthcoming. Her

she shifted her gaze from Cassidy's

her hospital

gown hung loose on her, revealing layers of bandages

eyes darkened with thought, but she finally voiced her question, "If

froze. After a few moments of bewilderment, she expressed her disbelief, "Why? That woman, she thought I was pretending. Why do you believe me?" Vivienne shrugged, "Because I'm

was true, wasn't that

genius in front of

worker, indeed. It was simply the truth, no room for