The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The trio stepped into the elevator together.

As they reached their floor, Dorian heard the noise outside and came to open the door, "Vivienne, Percival..."

Upon seeing Thaddeus trailing behind the couple, he raised an eyebrow, "Now, where were you this early morning? Ah, waiting downstairs for your sister, I see. Why didn't you say something? Your mom thought you were oversleeping."

Caught in his little scheme, Thaddeus's face turned a bright shade of red, "Dad... I wasn't sleeping in."

Dorian chuckled and ruffled his son's hair, encouraging him to go and inform Cordelia Wilson of his whereabouts.

"Don't let us start worrying if we can't find you later."

In the living room, Cordelia emerged from the kitchen with a bright smile, "Vivienne, Percival, you've arrived."

Vivienne nodded as she approached, "Cordelia."

Percival set down the gifts they brought, "Dorian, Cordelia, these are some delicacies my in-laws insisted we bring over for you to try."

Dorian, eyeing the elegantly wrapped gift boxes, instinctively refused, "Oh no, we really can't accept these, Vivienne, Percival. Please, take them back."

Cordelia chimed in, "Yes, we're still trying to figure out how to return the last batch Mr. Linklater brought over. If you keep bringing these, we'll lose sleep over it." Percival gave a wry smile, "Cordelia, these gifts were a specific request from my in-laws. If you don't accept them, I'll be the one getting an earful back home." Dorian and Cordelia exchanged helpless glances.

Vivienne had a habit of sending over treats every now and then.

And ever since Arthur learned how to keep his daughter happy, gifts had been arriving even more frequently, much to the couple's dismay.

After repeatedly asking them to stop, things had quieted down for a bit.

And now, it was starting all over again.

Vivienne, pulling Cordelia to sit down, said, "These are just some snacks. Please, accept them, or Mr. Wolf will have trouble explaining himself back home." Convinced by Vivienne's reasoning, Dorian and Cordelia finally relented.

The lunch table was filled with Vivienne's favorite dishes, plus a beautiful strawberry cheesecake ordered from outside.

During the meal, Dorian habitually served a piece of sweet and sour pork to Vivienne, reminding her, "Vivienne, eat up. You're about to get married. You should take it easy on work and rest more. Don't push yourself too hard just because you're young."

Vivienne nodded.

shot Dorian

quickly served a piece of pork

with a smile, "Thank

We're all family here. When Vivienne and your kids come along, they'll

choked on her pork at

table,

"But I didn't say anything

have to wait too long to be called grandpa." Feeling validated, Dorian gleamed at his wife and toasted, "Cheers to

Vivienne, "..."

conversation in the living room, while Cordelia

from the drawer and handed it to

immediately and tried to

be annoyed,

card

"Vivienne, Dorian

own daughter. It's customary for

a gift when their daughter marries.

us. Don't think it's

little, just

accept it."

on a successful trajectory, and the Brooks family had carved out

bottom of the list, it was a significant

little to Dorian now; he could give Vivienne

wouldn't have been accepted. After much consideration, they settled

Dorian's first job post-Hawthorn was with Dawson, earning a million a year, allowing him to deposit twenty thousand monthly into the accounts for Vivienne and Astrid. To date, each account had grown to a

"I..."

her, cut her off, "You have to accept it. We've been saving the same amount for your sister Astrid too.

was hard for Vivienne not to

treated her and Astrid as if they

had too, and when it came to Astrid's dowry, she wouldn't

felt a warm sensation inside, and she extended her arms to hug Cordelia, "I'll