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.

fiddled with a dark agarwood bracelet she had snatched from Finnian,

out

with one hand, reached over and gently tapped her, "Still no

unclear, but their ultimate goal isn't too hard to

out, "The secret to eternal

"Is Mr. Wolf

was straightforward, "Not

leaned in

smile, "A few decades are enough to experience the vicissitudes of life. If we were to extend beyond a certain limit, or without any limit, it wouldn't be happiness that awaits us,

lips, looking forward, "You and I think alike, Mr. Wolf. What's the use in chasing after immortality? A person

arrived home, it was dinner time,

The sight of their

house, they were greeted by Richard,

from inside, greeting them in turn, "Grandpa, Dad,

call

wedding made Cecilia's smile nearly uncontrollable, "Ah, Vivienne's back. Come in, see what

nodded in agreement, "Vivienne's been through a lot these

"Let's not let the dishes get cold. We'll have the butler bring in another

out of place, thinking to himself that he had merely gotten

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 family seemed picture-perfect, harmonious

was a

Cecilia

food and don't bother me... Here, Vivienne, have this soup. It's great

loss, "Mom, Vivienne

seizing the opportunity, Percival gestured towards Nathan's seat, "You sit next to Dad. Vivienne's side is reserved

her son, who was even jealous over

The evening proceeded with

their first night back at the Ellington estate in a room meticulously prepared on the second floor. The tranquility was briefly interrupted

her head, she caught sight of Isolde

playful wink, Vivienne beckoned

the door, Isolde tiptoed over and whispered, "Vivienne, my brother's not around,