The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne's eyes crinkled with mirth, "Soren's injuries still have yet to recover?"

Anna replied with a soft concern, "It's healed, mostly. But the spot where the shrapnel hit him, it flares up whenever there's a storm

brewing. Ms. Vivienne, do you know of any remedy that could help him fully recover?"

"Sure do," Vivienne said, her eyes gleaming with mischief as if she were privy to sjuicy gossip. "But why are you asking on his

behalf? Let him cto me. Treatment needs to be personalized, doesn't it? How can | offer advice without seeing the patient

himself?"

At Vivienne's words, Anna's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red. "I—I wanted him to come, but he's a bit reluctant. He's scared of

Percival, and then there's the matter of..."

Her voice trailed off, growing fainter and fainter as if she were grappling with how to articulate her thoughts. Her eyes were a

tumultuous sea of turmoil and embarrassment.

Vivienne's curiosity piqued even further. She had never seen Anna so flustered before.

Aaron, ever blunt and without reservations, blurted out, "Vivienne, letfill you in. It's all Kenneth's fault. Lately, that boy's been

acting like a lovesick puppy, shadowing Anna every chance he gets."

It wasn't just his clinginess that was the issue.

The guy had been laying on the charm thick, using the most cringeworthy pick-up lines imaginable.

He'd gone all out on his confession to Anna; Aaron counted off on his fingers, "He started off with the classic—candlelit dinners, red

roses, pretty standard. But then he went off the deep end with those heart-shaped music boxes, you know, the ones with glittery

rainbow colors and Anna's picture plastered all over them. And the cacti? Don't even getstarted, and then there was that snow

globe..."

Vivienne listened, her face contorting with second-hand embarrassment.

She tried to maintain a straight face, but her twitching lips betrayed her. She had little hope that Aaron's storytelling was going to

improve.

Aaron opened his mouth, then burst into laughter, "You should've seen it, Vivienne. That snow globe—it had a tiny figurine of

Kenneth inside, and when you shook it, it would play 'Eye of the Tiger’ and the little guy would start dancing. Hilarious!"

A tiny figurine, singing 'Eye of the Tiger'?

And dancing?

Vivienne pictured the scene and looked at Anna with a mix of sympathy and amusement. "You've had it rough..."

Anna couldn't even muster a smile. She had kept silent for fear of this very embarrassment.

While Vivienne managed to hold back her laughter, Aaron had already had his fill of amusement back at school.

Now, he was laughing uncontrollably. Anna held back her impulse to slap Aaron and said, seething, "Go on, laugh. Let's see if you

can keep laughing when Percival comes back later."

She was frustrated! Kenneth was the one doing all those embarrassing things, yet she was the one who was embarrassed!

Aaron was having the laugh of his life, and he didn’t fully grasp Anna's threat. "So what? You think I'm scared of you? Or do you...

Wait, who's coming back?"

His laughter ceased abruptly, turning into a hiccup, "Percival's out dealing with business, isn't he? Why would he be back so soon?

Did you message him?"

A barrage of questions tumbled out of Aaron before Anna could respond.

Seeing the smug look on her face, Aaron realized the truth, his handsfeatures momentarily crumbling. "Oh, you're good, Anna.

Here | was, being all nice, bringing you to Vivienne, and this is how you repay me? You traitor, you've betrayed the cause!"

"Who said we were ever on the sside?!" Anna retorted. She turned to Vivienne, "Ms. Vivienne, you taskedwith protecting

him, and now that GTO is nearly dismantled, can | finally consider my mission complete?"

Vivienne cocked her head, her face a picture of bewilderment. "Didn't | tell you? That assignment was over ages ago. | thought

you'd already rejoined the team. To think you were still at school..."

"Over? | could have left?" Anna's triumph froze on her lips. "But you never toldthat."

She could have left already?

Had she known this sooner, she wouldn't have wasted her twith Kenneth at school! And she wouldn't have accrued such a

mortifying history!

Catching the regret on Anna's face, Vivienne opened her mouth, then turned away guiltily; she had indeed forgotten to inform her.

There had been so much to handle since returning.

It had only been today that she found a moment to catch her breath, and by then, she had completely forgotten about Anna's

situation.

The room fell into an awkward silence.

Finally, unable to withstand the tension, Aaron sidled up to Vivienne, "Say, Vivienne, I've been meaning to ask—can | join your

organization?"

"Nope." Vivienne didn't hesitate to refuse, "Stick to your studies. Isn't being an E-sports champion enough for you? Besides, the

Miller family needs you to hold down the fort. Don't get caught up in every wild schthat crosses your mind."

"Just his type wouldn't even pass the Vanguard Agency's entrance tests."

The sudden sound of the door swinging open turned their heads. Percival stood there, an imposing figure with a stern gaze fixed on

Aaron, clearly displeased.

Aaron bristled defensively. "What's wrong withjoining? I'm the head of the Miller family now. If Anna can join, why can't I?"

Vivienne smirked. "Because you can't beat Anna in a fight. Quit dreaming and stay out of trouble."

At the Abernathy estate.

As Victoria stepped into the grand foyer, her eyes instantly met Gavin's, who sat with an air of authority at the head of the room.

Harrison stood by his side while Sophie took her place at the lower head of the table to his right, all three pairs of eyes bearing

down on Victoria with palpable disdain.

"Really, what is this, a Spanish Inquisition?" Victoria quipped, her gaze sweeping the room with a mocking smile.

Gavin's stern expression flickered. "Where are the things | asked you to fetch? It's been ages; the Littletons are practically a fallen

house. A family of the frail and ill, and you can't even handle one woman? What use do | have for you?!"

Victoria snorted with laughter. "How should | know what use | am to you? Dad, be reasonable. You're the one who forcedinto

doing your dirty work. When did | ever claim | could pull it off without a hitch?"

She spun around and took the seat of honor on the left. "Kaitlyn is a member of an ancient warrior lineage, for heaven's sake! If

she doesn't want to part with her belongings, what am | supposed to do? Besides, | did everything by your playbook. If it's not

working out, maybe the fault lies in your methods, not with me!"

"Victoria!" Harrison frowned and rebuked her. "Is that any way to speak to Dad? He's just asking; there's no need for such an

outburst!"

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