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?"

with the thick

should've been grateful to end up in Abigail's hands. She would've given you a quick death, but not me. I'll make you beg for death," Percival

for Holly, isn't it? You're avenging

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

I deserve hell for my sins!" Gavin

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

agony overwhelmed him, and

waiting outside, visibly shaken by the screams he'd heard. Despite knowing Abigail had sent another assassin for Gavin, her focus hadn't been on harming any of the

arrived, Gavin was barely alive. It

Gavin was already a

to the lab," Percival said, giving

Thomas nodded, driving off.

them with

Vivienne. You've been a blessing to

how much Percival longed

up against her bed, her face pale, looking

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

finding you has been my only goal.

atmosphere shifted as Percival and Vivienne entered. Holly's gaze locked onto

his

gaze, filled with remorse, "Percival, Victoria told me everything. You and Vivienne went through so much to save me, even after I cut ties with