The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

A few days after being discharged from the hospital, worried about not having someone to look after her, Sasha decided to bring Vivienne and her two kids back to the Linklater household. Percival was also taken in, staying right next door to Vivienne. The children seemed to become more spirited day by day. Every morning, after feeding them, Yorick and his son each would pick up a child, comforting and patting them in the living room.

Sasha, sitting on the side, couldn't help but shake his head with a smile. "Good thing there are two of them; otherwise, these two would be fighting over who gets to hold them," he thought. Then, turning his head towards Vivienne, who maintained a cool demeanor, he asked, "Aren't you going to name the kids? Calling them 'baby' all the time doesn't cut it, does it?" Vivienne simply replied, "No rush. We'll decide once Mr. Wolf wakes up."

At noon, Leopold came to pick up Vivienne. "Vivienne, Richard and Isolde are awake. They want to know how Percival is doing."

Vivienne wrapped herself tightly in a thick coat and got into Leopold's car.

At the hospital, Richard was lost in thought, gazing out the window from his wheelchair.

Upon Vivienne's arrival, he turned around. It seemed he had aged considerably in just a few days, his hair almost completely white.

Seeing Vivienne, his long-held worries seemed to dissipate. He beckoned her over, "I've heard all about it. How's Percival? Is he alright?" Vivienne nodded slightly, "Mr. Wolf is recovering steadily, albeit slowly."

Richard sighed in relief, "Slow is fine, as long as he's okay."

Changing the subject, he inquired about the grandchildren, "How are the kids? Leopold mentioned they arrived a month early. Everything alright?"

Vivienne confirmed, "A boy and a girl, both healthy."

A sparkle appeared in Richard's eyes, "Which one is the elder?"

Remembering Sasha's recount of the birth, Vivienne couldn't help but smile, "The girl."

Richard, curious, asked about the names, to which Vivienne gave the same response.

a moment of silence, Richard, with a choked

Vivienne's parents, Nathan and Cecilia, who had been severely injured in an incident. Richard expressed his relief that they were alive and his hope for their recovery. "Vivienne, I called you here

assured him

emotional state had become extremely volatile since waking up, likely due to shock. He hoped Vivienne could comfort her, knowing

trauma was manipulated by an enemy known

Richard mentioned the topic of revenge against Abigail, to which Vivienne responded with determination, promising

Vivienne found her cousin hiding under the bed, terrified. Through a

conversation, she reassured Isolde,

overcome

emphasizing that the Ellington

by

always stand

if they should seek help from their mentor for the challenges

the less people know

shot back, "Did you get the stuff

are you sure those

him sharply, "Just get me what I asked for and don't worry about the

choked on his response, not daring

room, not coming out for anything except to interact with

what she was

at night, the sound of a child's cry