The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Sasha knew Vivienne was heading to the Brooks' for a visit and instructed her assistant to fetch some gifts they had received from the Perez family, for Vivienne to take along. Percival casually took them from her hands.

Glancing at the clock, Vivienne said to Sasha, "Mom, we'll talk about that matter when I get back."

Sasha nodded in agreement. Some conversations needed more than just a few minutes, and now wasn't the right time.

Leaving the Linklater residence, Vivienne sat in the passenger seat, only then realizing Percival was driving instead of Leopold. "Where's Leopold? Why isn't he with you?"

Percival merged onto the road, replying casually, "He's been tied up lately."

"Tied up?"

Vivienne raised an eyebrow in surprise, as if she had just confirmed something, "Weren't you two together this morning?"

She remembered hearing Leopold's voice in the background when she had called Percival earlier that day.

With a smooth turn of the steering wheel and a glance towards Vivienne, Percival chuckled, "You've got sharp ears, Mrs. Wolf."

He continued, "He kind of let your martial arts brothers trash my properties. Making him do some hard labor doesn't seem unfair, does it?"

A smile played on Vivienne's lips, "Not unfair at all. He could use the workout."

"He volunteered. I didn't force him," Percival added.

Vivienne raised an eyebrow, "Mr. Wolf, did you catch him in a compromising situation?"

"To him, it might as well be the end of the world. Enough to make him listen to me for a good while, or at least not dare to defy me," Percival revealed. Vivienne tilted her head, her eyes narrowing with intrigue, "You didn't capture some scandalous photos of him, did you?"

Percival gave her an affectionate smile, "Do I seem that tasteless to you?"

Vivienne pursed her lips, noncommittal.

Unable to bear her sudden silence, Percival confessed, "Stop worrying. It's a recording of a confession!"

Vivienne's smile broadened in understanding, "He finally got a clue."

Percival's smile widened, "I'll send it to you later. Griffin Martinez will owe you one."

Vivienne laughed lazily, "Aren't you afraid Leopold will come after you?"

"He wouldn't dare!"

"Exactly!"

arrived at the Brooks' residence. It was a Saturday, and several young boys were playing basketball outside. Noticing newcomers, one of the boys, clutching the ball, asked a man nearby, "Thaddeus Hawthorn, isn't that

with her keen hearing, turned

She waved at him.

his white basketball jersey, said

to Vivienne, he glanced at Percival and shyly

grin, patting the boy's head, "Say

Thaddeus beamed with joy.

Percival handed him the latest Bumblebee helmet toy, "For

up at the sight, "Wow, the new Bumblebee helmet! It's voice-controlled

promised to gift it for his birthday, but Percival

thrilled, "Thank you,

over the

"Huh, Percival's the best, and

Percival's second best!" Thaddeus' sweet talk made Vivienne's

said, "With that sweet mouth, you're going

cocked his head, "Sis, girlfriends don't need much

Vivienne was speechless.

laughter, "You've got

girl's heart was about to

her was like an engagement gift, and that she'd

sighed deeply, "Scientists are busy people, no time for

and Percival exchanged looks,

days

seven, already

wouldn't have time for a girlfriend if

"Which little

Thaddeus looked at Percival, distressed, "She insists on marrying me when we're older,

Percival was stunned.

This kid!

charm his sister but now

His face darkened instantly.

empathize with Arthur's

someone else run

teeth, Percival glared at Thaddeus, "Don't worry, I'll

first grade, both Thaddeus and Isolde Ellington were top students - he, the class president, and she, the study commissioner. Let's

and Isolde took this