The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Hearing the news, Arabella's eyes suddenly lost focus, and her body, which had been stubbornly holding on, started to violently cough up blood.

Vivienne had a hunch.

The blow Mr. Wolf delivered earlier was with his full strength.

The only reason Arabella wasn't already dead was because he feared her blood might infect him with svile disease. How could she rest easy without witnessing such a scene for herself? Unfortunately, she miscalculated every step.

Every move she made towards Rivenwood was under his watchful eye. How could he possibly let Arabella get what she wanted? Vivienne turned to leave, leaving Arabella to be dealt with by others.

Charlotte ran over, worried, only to see Arabella collapsed on the ground. Without sparing her a glance, she said, "Vivienne, are you alright? How could Arabella just show up like that? I thought she was already..." Vivienne nodded affirmatively, "She's already dead." Charlotte glanced back, remembering the frightful scene, and let out a heavy sigh, "She deserved it!" Back in Havenwood, Arabella's actions should have landed her in jail for life.

If that had happened, she wouldn't have been able to ruin Vivienne's wedding day.

Vivienne patted Charlotte's shoulder, knowing she was concerned, "Don't worry, I'm fine. Her little tricks can't touch me." Charlotte rolled her eyes at Vivienne, almost dropping her jaw at the sight before her.

Teasingly, she said, "Your husband practically stripped you and disinfected you on the spot. Even if I wanted to worry, it's not like I could've done anything!" Vivienne blushed, glancing down at her somewhat loose suit jacket and pulled it closer, "Don't talk about my husband like that!" Charlotte was both speechless and resigned.

"Right, right, your husband is the best in the world." Afterwards, Vivienne and Percival went to the hospital where Dorian was staying.

Leopold took Griffin and Charlotte back, stopping by the hospital to get their wounds treated.

Even minor injuries shouldn't be ignored.

Halfway there, Charlotte couldn't stand her friend's lovesick looks towards Leopold anymore and got out at a pharmacy they passed.

Goodness, she might really end up single for life.

Meanwhile.

On the road, Percival stopped by a women's clothing store to buy an outfit for Vivienne to change into in the car.

Given her oversized suit jacket, showing up to see Dorian and the others like that seemed inappropriate.

After changing in the backseat, Vivienne tapped on the car window where Percival stood smoking.

"Mr. Wolf, I'm ready." They entered the hospital, Vivienne heading straight for surgery but was pulled by Percival towards the immunization center instead.

After a series of tests and receiving the results, Percival finally relaxed.

Vivienne watched him meticulously checking the data, thinking he was making a mountain out of a molehill.

She called Dorian to get his room number and headed there first.

Outside the room, Arthur and Sasha, among others, were visibly relieved to see Vivienne appear unharmed. Sasha let out a sigh of relief.

Arthur couldn't help but run over, checking Vivienne thoroughly, "Vivienne, are you okay?" Vivienne, dizzy from the inspection, stepped back, "Dad, I'm fine." Then looking at Sasha, "Mom, how are master and the juniors?" "Your juniors stayed at the scene, your master went back to the Perez family estate with your grandfather. Natalia and Yasmine were a bit shaken up." Vivienne nodded, feeling relieved with her master there.

"Dad, Mom!" Percival joined, his expression having returned to normal, the test results safely in his pocket.

Arthur grunted, then resumed his father-in-law demeanor, "As long as you two are alright. We can always redo the wedding, no rush." Hearing this, Vivienne showed her wedding ring, "No need, we've done everything that needed to be done." Arthur was stunned, "The venue is gone, where did you manage to do it?" Percival pressed his lips together, "On the road." Arthur, "..." His daughter's once-in-a-lifetmoment, held on the road? Seeing Arthur about to explode, Sasha stepped in, "Let's focus on the kids being safe for now. Don't block the way, let our daughter check on Dorian and the child." Arthur was taken aback, swallowing his grievances.

But his eyes shot daggers at Percival.

This couldn't be the end of it.

What legendary son-in-law? More like a curse.

He had been planning his speech for days, drafting no less than ten versions...

Vivienne, oblivious to this, was more concerned about Dorian and Thaddeus's injuries.

Inside the room, Thaddeus sat on the hospital bed, an IV in his arm and a bandage around his head but looking spirited.

Vivienne approached, patting his head, "Dorian, Cordelia, sorry I'm late." Dorian, too anxious to speak, waved his uninjured hand in dismissal.

Seeing Vivienne not in a wedding dress, Cordelia's eyes instantly welled up, "Vivienne, we're all fine. As long as you're safe, we can always have the wedding later!" They had heard about Vivienne's roadside ambush but knew she had been prepared, with decoy vehicles and people ready.

Vivienne didn't see what the big deal was, simply stretching her ring-clad hand towards Cordelia in aforting gesture. "Cordelia, none of that matters, you know I've never been one for all that pomp. As long as can be with Mr. Wolf." Cordelia could see it clear as day, yet she couldn't stop the tears, managing only to nod her lips tightly pursed.

She hade to see Vivienne as her own daughter.

Such a joyous occasion marred by such a frightful event, she couldn't help but feel distressed on Vivienne's behalf.

Dorian reached out with his uninjured hand in an attempt to soothe, e on, our Vivienne's a big shot, she doesn't sweat the small stuff!" Cordelia glared at him, "Nonsense, Vivienne is our girl. Which girl doesn't dream of a perfect wedding? You don't understand..." Even a different day would have been better than today.

Every girl dreams of a fairy-tale wedding.

Dorian paused, mouth opening then closing, unsure of what to say, he turned to Vivienne with a plea in his eyes.

Vivienne got the message.

Then, Dorian whispered to Percival, "Percival, about those guys you ran into on the road, they..." Not wanting to worry Dorian, Percival interjected, "Don't worry, Dorian, it's all been taken care of." Dorian visibly relaxed, nodding vigorously, "Good, good." Bravery is one thing, but she didn't want Thaddeus to think that reckless courage was something to be proud of.

He was still too young. Without the ability to protect himself, that kind of bravery could only lead to trouble.

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