The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Dusk was settling in, painting the sky in shades of deep purples and blues. In the midst of this twilight, a modest ranch-style house stood under the gentle caress of moonlight. In front of the house, several old and withered trees swayed in the breeze, casting eerie shadows that danced in the dark.

Inside, a man was bound by ropes, suspended in mid-air. His head hung low, devoid of any signs of life.

Suddenly, a bucket of boiling hot water was poured over him from head to toe.

"Ah! Ah! Ah!" The man screamed, his face contorted in agony, his skin scalding as if it were being cooked, blisters forming rapidly.

"You awake now?" The voice was chilling, menacing.

Percival, clad in a simple black tee that hugged his broad shoulders and outlined his muscular chest, stood straight with a leather whip in hand. His eyes glimmered with a ruthless intent.

The man caught in this torturous ordeal was Gavin.

With a fierce lash of the whip, Percival drew blood, marking Gavin's flesh.

Gavin barely managed a whimper, engulfed in his own hellish pain. He couldn't fathom why he was at Percival's mercy. He had anticipated Abigail's betrayal but didn't expect Percival to be the one executing the punishment.

His eyes, bloodshot, welled with confusion and pain as tears mixed with blood dripped down. "Wasn't it Abigail who wanted me dead?"

Percival rinsed the whip in salt water, cleaning off the blood. "It was Abigail who sent the hit, and as far as she's concerned, you're already dead."

Shock and disbelief filled Gavin's eyes as he struggled to speak. "What do you mean?"

filled with the thick scent of blood, an aroma so overpowering

Abigail's hands. She would've given you a quick death, but not me. I'll make you beg for death," Percival seethed

for Holly, isn't it? You're avenging her!"

then he casually tossed the whip aside and wiped his hands with a

wronged Holly. I deserve hell for my sins!" Gavin pleaded

regrets." With those final words, Percival drove nails into Gavin's wrists and ankles,

overwhelmed him,

heard. Despite knowing Abigail

was barely alive. It was

as the authorities were concerned, Gavin was already a dead man,

the lab," Percival

Thomas nodded, driving off.

them with a radiant

stunned, quickly embraced Vivienne, "Thank you, Vivienne. You've

her," Vivienne suggested, knowing how much Percival longed

against her bed, her face

hair, Holly's eyes welled with tears, "Victoria, you've grown so much. When I left, you were

embrace, "Mom, finding you has been my only goal. Now, we can finally

and Vivienne entered. Holly's gaze locked onto Percival,

Holly," Percival greeted, his face alight with

and Vivienne went through so much to save me, even after I cut ties with you. You never held it against me." "Aunt, there's no need for guilt. Regardless of the past, I've always cherished the bond