The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Arthur found himself in a rather awkward spot thanks to Vivienne's sharp tongue. The snickers from the bystanders didn't escape his notice, but a swift glance from him was enough to silence them.

He sighed internally as he looked back at Vivienne, "You remind me of someone I used to know. I asked for a picture of your mother because I needed to confirm if she was the person I'm thinking of." Under normal circumstances, Vivienne's tone would have irked him. But the striking resemblance she bore to someone he dearly missed melted away any prejudice he might have harbored against her. It was unlike him to explain himself, yet here he was, patiently doing just that with Vivienne. He didn't have the time to dig around for clues. Returning to Rivenwood and coming up empty-handed was frustrating enough. It was easier to just ask Vivienne directly.

Both Vivienne and Percival were taken aback by his request. Vivienne scrutinized Arthur, but there was no hint of him in her features, which were a mirror image of her mother, Karen's best traits. No matter how hard she looked, she couldn't see the resemblance Arthur spoke of.

Vivienne frowned slightly, then said, "My mom wasn't fond of taking pictures... we don't have any."

Before she could finish, Arthur interjected eagerly, "Where is she? Can I meet her?"

"In my lab," Vivienne replied, though she had no intention of answering at first. Yet, for some reason, she found herself divulging the information, convinced she had lost her mind.

"I'll go right now," Arthur said, turning to leave.

Vivienne suddenly called out, "You can't take Harrison and Gavin with you!"

She didn't expect Arthur to agree, but to her surprise, he waved off the concern with a grand gesture, "Fine, fine, they're yours!"

Arthur's entourage was left bewildered. So, what was this all about? A wasted journey?

Arthur then left with his people, leaving Vivienne and the rest with puzzled expressions. Was that it? No dramatic showdown?

Leopold approached Vivienne, his expression serious, "Vivienne, what do you think Arthur, the War God, is up to with all this?"

like he was there to claim Harrison and Gavin. Given Arthur's reputation, he wouldn't

picture of her mother. Harrison and Gavin weren't even mentioned. And then he simply

lashes casting shadows over her delicate

soft, "I'll verify it.

understanding, as if he could see right through her. She smiled, a radiant, captivating smile, "Even if it's true,

mentioned her resemblance to his friend, she had an inkling. Her face bore a striking ninety percent resemblance to Karen's. Others had recognized her as Karen's daughter through her appearance, but no one had ever mentioned Winnie before. That name was unknown even

as he asked for a picture of her mother,

GTO had captured everyone involved. Now, with her mother still in a coma, no one would look for her, except to use her mother as leverage against her. No one would ask for her mother's picture simply because of her resemblance. In

her father, she couldn't say

if the test

relation, she wouldn't acknowledge

to proceed as her mother wished-with he biological father present. But

father, unable to make up for twenty years of absence, than have Arthur be that man.

was

her mother was his subordinate, and he never knew Karen was Winnie. Because if he had cared, her mother wouldn't have had to fight alone for so many years, and she wouldn't have been confined to Emerald Mountain for a decade. Because

Because...

She couldn't forgive him.

sparkle in Vivienne's smile but felt a pang in his heart. Her smile was dazzling, yet

Vivienne nodded.