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

twitched in annoyance. "The sun hasn't even set and you're already daydreaming? Thinking you can trample over Percival, as if Gavin was someone you could easily please. You think this is child's play, where everything goes

a hint of suspicion. "You seem... quite admiring of Percival. What? After two days at the Ellington estate, you're already siding with them? Recognizing Percival's

you? I simply believe the Ellingtons outshine the Abernathys, and Percival outperforms Gavin. Got

to his work. "Whatever you do

uptick at the end of his sentence, an inexplicable cheerfulness in

closer to Seaton. "Spare me the disgust. Tell me, where is my mother,

mixed with

after another failed experiment. "Why the rush? Once this is

not," Harrison instantly denied. "I never said

seemed to rage

palpable even though she

she sought. Harrison's smug,

fueled her anger.

You're playing with fire!

echoed. "Harrison, you'd better

threatening parting shot,

had disappeared that Harrison ceased his work, his

certain fondness for Victoria's impassioned,

lips curved in a mysterious smile, a moment lost on the all-male laboratory crew who had missed the entire

dinner, witnessing Harrison's smile, they shuddered, half-expecting to find something sinister lurking behind

Schram," stuttered the man Gavin had sent to assist Harrison. "What were you looking

to

hide

openly flaunting his devotion.

My wife

before you