The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne stepped out of the backyard, the voice of someone's frustration still echoing behind her.

"That little rascal, does she want to be the death of me? My treasures, meant to be passed down through generations, and she lets those rascals eye them..."

In the living room, Jasper and Percival had just finished a game of chess.

Looking at the narrowly won game on the board, Jasper nodded with a smile, "Not bad at all. You play much better than your grandfather ever did. He always tried to bend the rules, as if he could conjure up every trick in the book."

Percival withdrew his hand, smiling in response, "Grandpa, your skills are unmatched. Not just Granddad, I'm nowhere close either."

Jasper beamed even wider, "You flatter me, boy. If your granddad heard this, he'd accuse you of forgetting your roots."

Vivienne approached just as Jasper stood up, her face beaming with mischief, making him curious about her good fortune.

Before he could ask, Finnian's roar tore through the quiet of the backyard.

"Ah, my decades-old treasures!"

"That little menace, don't you dare run!"

Vivienne raised an eyebrow, pulling Percival towards the exit, "Grandpa, we'll be heading out."

Percival simply chuckled, without asking further.

Jasper, understanding the situation, waved them off and headed towards the commotion in the backyard, intercepting an irate Finnian.

He sighed, "Look at yourself, making such a fuss at your age. You'll become the laughing stock among the kids..."

Finnian, red-faced with anger, pointed at Jasper, "Wouldn't you be upset if your decades-old collections were stolen?"

Jasper retorted with undisguised pride, "Depends on who takes them. If Vivienne wants them, not just one, I'd gladly give her a whole warehouse!"

Finnian took a deep breath, "Generous, you are. But it's my treasures she took..."

Jasper scoffed, "Considering our ties, you her mentor and her growing up by your side, not to mention you've never married, all your possessions would end up hers anyway. What's the rush?" Finnian was speechless.

Elsewhere.

with a dark agarwood bracelet she had

glanced out

reached over and gently tapped her,

of Abigail remains unclear, but

out, "The secret

slyly, "Is Mr. Wolf also

straightforward, "Not

in

vicissitudes of life. If we were to extend beyond a certain limit, or without any limit, it wouldn't be happiness that

I think alike, Mr. Wolf. What's the use in chasing after immortality? A person without purpose, even with eternal life, couldn't create any value."

the time they arrived home,

had been waiting in the hall. The sight of their car

the house, they were greeted by Richard,

and Nathan Ellington emerging from inside, greeting them in turn,

Vivienne call

for the first time after the wedding made Cecilia's smile nearly uncontrollable,

agreement, "Vivienne's been through a lot these past days, she needs to

ushered them, "Let's not let the dishes get cold.

felt slightly out of place, thinking to himself that he had merely gotten married, not adopted into

the head seat, with Vivienne to his side, flanked by Cecilia, and Nathan across from her, next to Isolde, who had just scampered down the stairs calling out "Vivienne." The

missing was a

Cecilia on the

don't bother me...

himself at a loss, "Mom, Vivienne is

towards Nathan's seat, "You sit next to

at her son, who was even jealous over seating arrangements,

The evening proceeded with

spend their first night back at

caught sight

playful wink,

and whispered, "Vivienne, my brother's not around,