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.

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

out the

steering with one hand, reached over and gently

remains unclear, but their ultimate goal isn't too

blurted out, "The

smiled slyly, "Is Mr. Wolf also

straightforward, "Not

in

her with a 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,

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

the time they arrived home, it was dinner time, six

hall. The sight of their car lights made him almost burst

house, they were greeted

and Nathan Ellington emerging from

call

time after the wedding made Cecilia's smile nearly uncontrollable, "Ah, Vivienne's back.

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

them, "Let's not let the dishes get cold. We'll have

himself that

dinner table, Richard took the head seat, with Vivienne to his side, flanked by Cecilia, and Nathan across from

was a

tapping Cecilia on the

food and don't bother me... Here, Vivienne, have this

loss, "Mom, Vivienne is my

Nathan's seat, "You sit next to Dad. Vivienne's

her son, who was even jealous over seating

The evening proceeded with

wedding ceremony, but Vivienne felt it unnecessary. Agreeing with her decision, the family settled into their routine, leaving Percival and Vivienne to spend their first night back at the Ellington estate in a room meticulously prepared on the second floor. The tranquility was briefly interrupted by the soft creak of their bedroom door

turned her head, she caught sight of Isolde peeking through the barely

a playful wink,

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