The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

She slowly rose to her feet, a mocking sneer aimed at Vivienne, who stood beyond the barrier. "You think you can trap me? Laughable!"

Abigail's eyes narrowed as she bit her fingertip, letting drops of blood coalesce in mid-air before forming a seal with her fingers.

Harnessing her unique powers, she shattered the barrier.

However, the act rebounded upon her, leaving her greatly weakened.

Thus, upon escaping, she didn't immediately counterattack Vivienne but instead took the only thing she still had in her possession, Nathan, using him as a hostage in a power struggle against Vivienne. She secretly imbued Nathan with a force, betting that when Vivienne attempted a rescue, this force would transfer into her, serving as the final boost needed for her grand scheme.

As Vivienne managed to save Nathan, Abigail feigned a move and vanished into the shadows of the underground labyrinth.

Invisible to others, Vivienne, however, could sense Abigail's escape route by tapping into the dark energy within her.

She leaped to pursue but suddenly felt a sharp pain in her abdomen, followed by a warm sensation of blood trickling down her legs. Gripped by waves of pain, she was immobilized.

Leopold, disregarding those around him, rushed to support the nearly collapsing Vivienne. "Vivienne, stop the chase, you're hurt!"

Leopold was clueless, but Vivienne understood her condition all too well.

"It's the baby, I'm going into labor."

"Labor? Now?"

Leopold's face contorted in panic. "Vivienne, what do we do... How does one give birth?"

Glancing at Mr. Wolf nearby, Vivienne took a deep breath to calm herself and gave her instructions, "Leopold, call my parents, tell them to bring help. Mr. Wolf has a remedy that will know what to do."

Two days later, Vivienne woke up to a white hospital ceiling, her body aching softly, aware of what had transpired.

She had given birth a month early.

awake. Ignoring the spill, she rushed to Vivienne's

a soft call, "I'm fine. How are Mr.

worry, the babies are fine, just born a bit early and currently in the NICU. They'll be home

next door, still unconscious but

when mentioning Percival, revealing

her friend's inability to lie, attempted to rise, "I need to see

"Vivienne, you can't! You've just had surgery; getting up could

sighed, "If you want to split me in

"Mom, how

remained silent, prompting Vivienne to drop the idea of leaving her

tone, "Cordelia, you've been a great help these past days. Arthur and Dorian are beside themselves with worry, clueless about these matters. Thank goodness for

she not decided to deliver the handmade baby clothes before the birth, they wouldn't have known of the emergency that unfolded that night when Vivienne and the Ellington family were rushed to the hospital. Both the Perez and Linklater families had

was declared critically ill upon arrival,

locking herself and Percival in the operating room for a grueling day and night, pulling him back from death's

how they would

the perfect match with

wiped away a tear, leaving the

mom, how is Mr.

his powers have been partially consumed. He'll need time to

Mr. Wolf was stable, Vivienne

injuries are serious; they're

her jaw, "Mom, I

eyes darkened,

only real threat to Vivienne, Sasha's accusation

her eyes flashing coldly, "She won't get away

a hint of frustration in her tone, "What on earth does

again, she provoked us, yet she hesitates