The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Victoria's tension finally eased as she rose to her feet, moving even quicker than Isolde. "You're back at last. I've been needing to talk to you."

"Vivienne, come and play with me!" Isolde then bounded over, embracing Vivienne's legs with a childlike whine.

Percival, who had entered with them, was completely overlooked until Cecilia, who had been busy organizing dinner, acknowledged him, "What are all of you loitering around for? Percival, your wife has been on her feet all day. How can you just let her stand there chatting with Victoria without offering her a seat?"

"Vivienne, come over and sit down."

Percival thought to himself: That greeting could hardly be called welcoming.

"Mom, we've got matters to discuss. We'll be upstairs for a bit."

Vivienne, accustomed to such scenarios, exchanged pleasantries with Cecilia before bending down to explain to Isolde, "I'll play with you later, Isolde. I've got some things to take care of first."

Vivienne, Percival, and Victoria then headed to Percival's study in the Ellington Mansion.

Unlike the old-fashioned study brimming with ancient books, Percival's study was almost eerily spacious, yet boasted the best soundproofing in the entire villa.

What was discussed there remained a mystery.

All that was known was that upon returning from the Ellington household, Victoria burst into Harrison's lab. "Vivienne has agreed to a three-day postponement of the trial. If you've got any plans, now's the time to act. Don't say I didn't warn you."

Just three days?

Harrison, peering through his microscope, frowned slightly. "I was hoping you could've gotten us a week."

His voice, tinged with sarcasm and disappointment, sparked Victoria's temper like a match to dynamite.

Her voice rose sharply, "Be thankful for the three days I got you! A week? Why didn't you negotiate with Vivienne yourself?! It took a tantrum and guilt-tripping her to get this extension. You're ungrateful! Next time, do it yourself. I bet if you could get even a day, I'd take your name!"

won't be a next time. This time, I'll ensure Percival and Vivienne are

you can trample over Percival, as if Gavin was

seem... quite admiring of Percival. What? After two days at the Ellington

the Ellingtons outshine the Abernathys, and Percival outperforms Gavin. Got a problem

to his work. "Whatever you do is fine by me. After all,

this with a slight uptick at the end of his

arms, unconsciously moving closer to Seaton. "Spare

mixed with the colorful

another failed experiment. "Why the rush? Once this is all over, I'll tell you. Now's

not," Harrison instantly denied. "I never said I'd tell

fire seemed to rage within

even though she

sought. Harrison's smug,

fueled her anger.

You're playing with fire!

laughter echoed. "Harrison, you'd better not

parting shot, Victoria stormed

wasn't until her figure had disappeared that Harrison ceased his work, his gaze

he found a certain fondness for Victoria's impassioned, albeit

on the all-male laboratory crew who

they shuddered, half-expecting to find something sinister lurking behind

the man Gavin had sent to assist

back to

hide

openly flaunting his devotion.

much. My

just left before you