The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The car swiftly reached its destination.

Perhaps sensing the presence of family, Winston's face turned to panic the moment they entered the inner room. Vivienne squeezed his hand, reassuring him. "Don't be scared. We can leave whenever you want."

But despite his fear, Winston didn't back down and followed Vivienne into the deepest room of the house.

Upon seeing the elderly man with white hair sitting inside, Winston whispered, "Grandpa, is that you?"

The man in the room jolted, turned around, and upon seeing Winston and then Vivienne, everything clicked in an instant.

He stretched out his hand, calling out to Winston with the same warmth he had shown at the Wright family gatherings, "Winston, come here to grandpa."

This was the first time Winston had seen Declan's face without the masks he wore at Wright family events. Winston felt a surge of unfamiliarity but mustered the courage to approach. Vivienne discreetly gave them space, standing a short distance away.

Ten minutes later, Winston walked back to her. "Grandpa and I had a chat. He said you had things to discuss, so I'll wait outside."

Vivienne patted his head, "Okay."

She signaled to Thomas to escort Winston back to the car.

Then she approached Declan.

Separated by a barrier, Declan accused, "You brought Winston here to threaten me!"

Vivienne scoffed, "Forgot to mention, Winston's now staying with the Linklater family. If I wanted to use him to threaten you, I wouldn't have waited till now."

"I brought him only to fulfill one of his wishes."

"The Linklater family?" Declan caught on to the key point and laughed, "Well, as long as he carries the blood of the Edwards family, what does it matter where he stays?" Vivienne found his words ironic. "If you truly consider Winston your kin, why use his blood to concoct a serum for your own escape plan?"

"Declan, your trust in Abigail is just as shallow."

not expecting Vivienne to uncover so much so quickly. "You have that

the bush. "You have one option:

strike a deal with me? I'm

"What did Abigail promise

unwilling to reveal

without Abigail knowing. Aren't you afraid she'll silence you once she finds out?" Declan, his voice low, admitted, "If you've found the antidote, you must know what Abigail holds. Yes, I developed that for her,

she's determined to

she referred to was clear to

"Why Winston?" she asked, looking directly at

couldn't take that risk. The antidote had to be placed in the

Winston, though how much was genuine and how much

heir I chose for the Wright family must be capable of bearing such risks. If

built the Wright family, and only the

Vivienne's brows furrowed.

what Declan told Winston, but she wouldn't stand

its bloodline, these

chase, "Hand over the antidote, or

rely on mere toxins

seeks unconditional surrender from everyone. Those toxins are

matter the move, it won't affect her grand

something Brody said earlier and pressed, "Besides the zealots, what else does Abigail have

gave

Vivienne was right.

crucial that Abigail was

Declan, pushing his buttons, "After all you've done for Abigail, what are you hoping to gain? Immortality or

a nearby room and uttered something

immortality, then it's the position of