The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Willa's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red as she listened.

Without waiting for any further discussion about the wedding plans, she hurriedly made her escape.

Before Maddox followed her, he gave Vivienne a quiet thumbs-up, "If this wedding pulls through, you're the hero we celebrate."

Vivienne chuckled, "If Uncle Maddox and Willa really tie the knot, I'm all for taking the credit."

But she wasn't exactly lying earlier. Willa always dressed in dark colors, but with her naturally pale skin and raven-black hair, red would only make her look more striking.

In the backyard.

Finnian had just returned from the foyer when he saw Vivienne sitting at the outdoor stone table, clearly waiting for him.

Frowning slightly, he couldn't help but nag, "Young lady, you know your condition and yet here you are sitting outside in the night air. Aren't you worried about your fiancé fretting over you?" Vivienne poured a cup of tea and pushed it across the table, not intending to drink any herself, and tilted her chin up, "Mr. Wolf is making me a midnight snack. He'll be here soon." Finnian, "..."

Maybe he was the one worrying too much.

After all, if his apprentice set her mind to something, not even her doting fiancé could stop her, let alone her old master.

Sitting down, Finnian took a sip of the warm tea before speaking, "What's up?"

"Abigail has disappeared."

Vivienne's tone was calm, but Finnian nearly jumped, his eyebrows knitting tightly, "Disappeared? Didn't you capture her after injuring her?"

"To be precise, she was consumed by a magical array, becoming its first sacrifice. We didn't even get a chance to intervene."

Vivienne was telling the truth.

Finnian was stunned.

He could hardly believe that Abigail's fate would end like this. During their encounter, he had sensed that Abigail's magical energy was formidable, especially the unique power within her, which was higher than he had anticipated. But there was one thing.

couldn't discern Abigail's true

facial features and bones didn't

suspicions were correct,

The array consuming her would only absorb her blood and vital essence, but the body couldn't have just vanished into thin air." Vivienne shook

called back yet, which meant they hadn't

This was her concern.

the array was her creation, so escaping at a critical moment

to confirm

see Abigail's body with their own

if she's still alive, she'd be barely hanging on. Arrays powered by magical artifacts are often tricky; breaking them usually requires a death." Vivienne bit her

tea, staring at

Millennia Aegis

the situation with the

wasn't just Abigail and Delilah that disappeared; the Millennia Aegis, which they had

why the array

"This..."

opened his mouth, eventually sighing,

Vivienne, "..."

wasn't the situation itself, nor concern for her

a moment, "Are you suspecting Abigail might use the Millennia Aegis to heal herself and come back

suspect Abigail might sacrifice someone else to ensure her own safety."

Vivienne: "Not yet."

were both consumed by the array, even if she used someone as a shield, Abigail couldn't have escaped unscathed." "Besides, you're underestimating the Millennia

looked up to

I've researched, currently, there's nothing

injured, she'll likely hide and

It's unlikely

herself for a while."

the subject, "Weren't you just suffering from internal injuries? Why's your head wrapped up too?" Finnian paused, struggling to follow Vivienne's quick

you didn't happen to bump into a tree in the middle of the night, did you?" Finnian's face turned awkward, as embarrassed as one could be, "It's those boys' fault, claiming they'd take care of me. At this rate,