The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Sasha nodded in agreement, her face a mask of nonchalance. Even though she was concerned, she didn't want to delve deeper into the issue, especially with Daphne still under the weather. There was no need to burden her with more worries. Pointing to the bowl of soup on the table, Sasha mentioned, "I've had someone whip up a fresh batch for you. Best not to touch this one, someone will come to take care of it."

Daphne nodded weakly, her voice barely above a whisper, "If it weren't for the captain swinging by today, I reckon I might've been a goner."

Sasha reassured her, urging her to take it easy and focus on her recovery. "As long as you're under the Linklater family's roof, no one's going to lay a finger on you," she promised, before turning to leave. She had only taken a few steps when she heard someone call out to her.

Anna emerged from the house, her voice laced with concern as she asked, "Karen, how's Vivienne doing?"

Anna had been cooped up at the Linklater's without venturing out, but even from within, she could sense the tension brewing.

It was clear to her that Vivienne must have encountered some danger.

Sasha offered a comforting smile, assuring her, "She's fine, don't you worry. Just focus on looking after your mom. Vivienne's got Percival by her side."

Relieved by the news, Anna bit her lip in a silent nod.

Just as Sasha was about to leave, she noticed two pots of geraniums by her feet, plants that she hadn't spotted in the dim light earlier.

Curiosity piqued, she casually asked, "Anna, why are these flowers out here?"

Anna glanced back inside, "Mom's been feeling a bit stuffy lately, couldn't stand the smell, so we moved them outside."

Sasha acknowledged with a nod, saying she'd have someone see to them later, then waved Anna off, insisting she didn't need to be escorted out.

The next day, Vivienne woke up to the sound of Mr. Wolf softly speaking into his phone, catching only a fragment of his conversation, "If grandpa needs us, Vivienne and I will be there."

The mention of 'grandpa' instantly made Vivienne realize he was referring to Yorick.

Post-call, Vivienne inquired, "Mr. Wolf, what's happened to grandpa?"

Percival turned to her, a solemn look on his face, "Your mom called to say, grandpa was poisoned last night and hasn't woken up since."

Vivienne's expression hardened, "What happened?"

the Linklater estate from the night before, an event Vivienne was bound to hear about from others sooner

poison was detected early, preventing widespread

dared to poison the Linklater family!" Vivienne seethed with quiet fury. "They're courting

one after the other, it's clear she's trying to throw us into disarray, to catch us off-guard and ensnare us in her trap." Vivienne narrowed her eyes, her resolve firm, "She's playing a dangerous game,

her sentiments but stressed the importance of her health, especially given

your and the kids' safety is what matters most," he

wondering, "If we don't

glint passed through

perspective, the families of Rivenwood were all significant, but at

these families weren't enough to provoke her into action, then someone close to her would be next, as the Linklaters had shown. Someone was explicitly forcing her

obvious who was

tightened on her hand, his tone earnest, "Vivienne, promise me, no matter what happens, you won't stray from my side." Vivienne nodded, knowing well that Mr. Wolf would

master say

him of the master's predictions, not realizing it only deepened Percival's

had divined their

Vivienne's side, particularly during these crucial months, emphasizing the danger Abigail posed to Vivienne alone,

pulled

been craving your strawberry cheesecake," she said, a

nose, "I'll

for her phone, considering a call to her mother. But realizing her mother had only contacted Mr. Wolf, likely to spare her the worry, she hesitated. Before she could put the phone down, it lit up with an incoming call

of emotions as she quickly answered,

end, Draven reported in a hushed tone, "We've located the village where Daphne resurfaced years ago, right on the route she would've taken after her supposed death

people we sent

badly injured when she was rescued the folks in that village

pressed on, "And then

she regained consciousness, she was determined to find someone and then she just vanished from there." "For the past decade or so, there's been

one thing's for sure, Daphne didn't lose her

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