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.

Cordelia Wilson, carrying a glass of warm water, dropped it in shock upon seeing Vivienne awake. Ignoring the spill, she rushed to

Vivienne's side. "Vivienne, you're awake! Are you feeling okay? I'll call the doctor."

"Cordelia..."

Vivienne stopped her with a soft call, "I'm fine. How are Mr. Wolf and the baby?"

Sasha, entering with red eyes, reassured her, "Don't worry, the babies are fine, just born a bit early and currently in the NICU.

They'll be hsoon."

"Percival... he's next door, still unconscious but stable."

Cordelia briefly averted her gaze when mentioning Percival, revealing her difort with deceit.

Vivienne, understanding her friend's inability to lie, attempted to rise, "I need to see him."

Cordelia, alarmed, steadied her, "Vivienne, you can't! You've just had surgery; getting up could cause lifelongplications."

Sasha, entering the room, sighed, "If you want to splitin two, keep stressing yourself out."

Seeing Sasha, Vivienne frowned, "Mom, how is Mr. Wolf?"

Sasha remained silent, prompting Vivienne to drop the idea of leaving her bed and sit back down.

Sasha then turned to Cordelia with a grateful 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 you."

Cordelia, looking sympathetically at Vivienne, shook her head, "Vivienne is like a daughter to me. How could | not help?"

Had 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 arrived in support.

Percival was declared critically ill upon arrival, beyond saving according to the doctors.

But Sasha took charge, locking herself and Percival in the operating room for a grueling day and night, pulling him back from

death's door.

Otherwise, no one knew how they would have faced Vivienne upon her awakening.

Life seemed to enjoy testing the perfect match with relentless trials.

Cordelia wiped away a tear, leaving the room for Vivienne and Sasha to talk.

"So, mom, how is Mr. Wolf really?"

Relieved that Mr. Wolf was stable, Vivienne asked about the others.

Sasha frowned, "Their injuries are serious; they're all under observation."

Vivienne clenched her jaw, "Mom, | must avenge Mr. Wolf."

Sasha's eyes darkened, "You confronted Abigail."

In a world where Abigail was the only real threat to Vivienne, Sasha's accusation was firm.

Vivienne didn't deny it, her eyes flashing coldly, "She won't get away with this."

Sasha squinted, a hint of frustration in her tone, "What on earth does Abigail want?"

Tand again, she provoked us, yet she hesitates to make her move.

What is she waiting for?

Vivienne looked up, recalling the strange power she felt coursing through her veins that day, and said slowly, "She's after the kids!"

Sasha's brow furrowed in confusion, "What does she want with the kids?"

A storm brewed in Sasha's eyes, "The audacity!"

She dared to harm her daughter and apprentice, and now she's targeting her grandchildren.

In all her years, Sasha had never felt such a burning desire to end someone.

Vivienne's gaze darkened, "She won't get her way. I'll avenge Daphne and Mr. Wolf, with interest."

"Right now, you need to rest and recover. The priority is to get you to a safe place."

Vivienne shook her head at the suggestion, "Just playing defense won't ensure peace for those aroundforever. | have a plan."

Indeed, her body was at its weakest now.

But for Abigail, the children's wellbeing was paramount above all else.

Sasha, worried about Vivienne's safety, asked, "What are you planning to do?"

Vivienne's gaze grew intense, "What she desires is exactly what | intend to destroy."