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.

the bandages

long strip, extending from her wrist into her sleeve without a visible end, as if her entire arm

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

a nurse or a family member. This area felt like a forgotten corner of the world, devoid of life. If not for the girl inside, he might think

and Percival noticed this

room on her account three times a day, like clockwork. Yet now, well past lunchtime, she was nowhere to

off," Percival coldly

they pushed open the

followed closely as Cassidy turned to

then saw the bandage wrapped

or panic at the sight of strangers. Desolate as if nothing in

this girl was indeed

gently pulling Percival to stop at a distance that

Cassidy didn't deny it. Her barely perceptible nod was like a dead tree's last sway, her eyes void of

to sit, "We're here about the situation online. Your mother, accusing Julian of harassment, you know

if one looked closely, they could see guilt and unease. "I..." Cassidy's voice was hoarse and unpleasant, "I know. He didn't harass me. I... I'm sorry

prepared

didn't expect Cassidy to be

stayed unspoken as she shifted

her hospital

hung loose on her, revealing

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

few moments of bewilderment, she expressed her disbelief, "Why? That woman, she thought I was pretending. Why do you

thought, although it was true, wasn't that a bit too

genius in front of Samantha, he was no longer

was simply the truth, no room