The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The person in the bed stirred slightly but didn't open their eyes.

Vivienne watched her closely and deliberately dragged her chair, letting out a sigh, "If you don't believe me, then I might as well leave." The next second, Cordelia's voice, weak and feeble, broke the silence, "Vivienne, wait..."

As she tried to sit up, Cordelia's vision blurred, nearly passing out.

Vivienne rushed over to support her, placing a cushion behind her back and handing her a glass of water before sitting down again.

After taking a sip of water, Cordelia couldn't quite meet Vivienne's gaze, her voice laden with guilt, "Vivienne, it's not what you think. I didn't mean I didn't trust you."

"It's just so hard to believe. How could Delilah turn against you, even trying to kill Flynn? How could she do such a thing? Flynn is her own child!"

Vivienne listened quietly without interrupting.

When Cordelia had calmed down a bit, Vivienne spoke gently, "Cordelia, you don't need to blame yourself or feel guilty towards me. The person you saw wasn't the real Aunt Delilah." Cordelia was taken aback.

Her expression changed, "Vivienne, what do you mean by she wasn't the real Delilah?"

Vivienne thought for a moment, using a past incident as an example, "Cordelia, do you remember when you and Dorian were impersonated on your way to my family reunion?" Cordelia's eyes widened in realization, "She was an impostor?"

Vivienne nodded.

Cordelia's body shook, and after a long moment, she finally exhaled the breath she'd been holding, "Then-where is the real Delilah?"

Vivienne's brows furrowed slightly, "She's gone."

Cordelia burst into tears, "She... she's gone?"

Vivienne nodded, embracing Cordelia, letting her cry it out.

while, when Cordelia had calmed down somewhat, Vivienne pulled out a pendant that belonged to Delilah and

it's up to you to look

mid-air as she fought back tears, finally finding her voice, "Vivienne, how did

a strange surge of emotion, "Even in death, she didn't let that person harm Flynn." Maybe it was her own

held-back tears finally blurred

heart was in the right place. She came to me with Flynn, looking to make amends for

truly wanted to change,

needed time to come to terms with the loss of her loved

rest of their time

wanted to take Flynn back to the Brooks family, as he had no other relatives

to Cordelia, leaving the next

need

long it takes,

let him lose his mom and then his family. A child shouldn't

bedroom, Dorian and Percival

is

"Cordelia needs company these days. If work isn't too busy,

didn't know the details, but

okay, I'll stay as long

always came

Vivienne and Percival left,

Percival received a call to report on

before, but with Mr. Wolf in the hospital, Vivienne couldn't

gone, and the bureaucratic details could wait, or so she thought until the

the car window, Vivienne let