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.

moment of silence, Richard, with

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 because I need a favor," Richard suddenly

hesitation, Vivienne assured him of

up, likely due to shock. He hoped Vivienne could

manipulated by an enemy known as Abigail,

of revenge against Abigail, to which Vivienne responded with determination, promising to make Abigail pay for her

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

conversation, she reassured Isolde,

her overcome

emphasizing that the Ellington

by

would always

if they should

people know about

get

swallowed hard, "Vivienne, are you sure

him sharply, "Just get me what

on his response, not daring to ask any more

locked herself in her room, not coming out for anything except to interact with the

what she was

of a child's cry