The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne frowned, a gut feeling telling her that something serious must have happened for Flynn to speak up like this.

"Why do you wantto leave?" she countered.

"Flynn, can you tellwhat's bothering you?" When Flynn remained silent, Vivienne stepped forward to check his wrist.

As expected, Flynn dodged in a panic, his voice trembling almost to tears, "You can't touch me, you'll get sick like I did." Vivienne's eyes narrowed, following up on his words, "What kind of sickness?" "Is someone bullying you, or did they put something on you?" "Tell me, so I can help you." But he was just a kid and couldn't hold back any longer, bursting into tears, his little hands pointing all over his body, "Here, here, it's all dirty and it hurts." Dirty? Vivienne tried to make out any clues from Flynn's face, but the room was too dim to see anything clearly.

Before her fingers even reached the light switch, the crying from the corner abruptly stopped.

He must have passed out from being overly emotional.

Pulling back the curtains, Vivienne quickly checked Flynn's condition, making sure he was just unconscious before calling Thomas. Whatever was troubling Flynn, she was still unsure.

Just to be safe, taking him to the hospital for a full check-up was the best course of action.

Thomas, who was just outside, didn't waste a second after receiving Vivienne's call. He barged in, only to stop short at the sight of Leopold lounging in the living room, munching on pizza.

Caught off guard by Thomas's sudden entrance, Leopold, pizza slice in hand, pointed towards the room after a moment's hesitation.

With a look that said "good luck" to Leopold, Thomas strode towards the room.

Knocking and pushing the door open, he announced, "Ma'am." Vivienne motioned him inside, "Thomas, we need to take Flynn to the hospital." Thomas nodded, but before he could bend down, Vivienne stopped him, "Wait, wrap him in a jacket." Without a second thought, Thomas took off his own coat, wrapped the child in it, and headed out.

Delilah appeared, her face turning pale at the sight, immediately stepping in front, "Where are you taking Flynn?" Vivienne glanced at her calmly, "Flynn's in a bad way, he needs the hospital." At the mention of the hospital, Delilah's concern deepened, "He can't go!" Vivienne's eyes chilled over, "Why not?" A normal person would prioritize their child's wellbeing over refusing medical treatment.

Delilah's eyes flickered, "You know about Flynn's condition. He hates hospitals, being in a strange place would only worsen his state." "He'll be fine," Vivienne insisted on taking Flynn.

Delilah, eyes reddening in desperation, pointed at Vivienne, "Who are you to take him without my consent? I said no, and that's final!" "And what if I insist?" Vivienne's gaze was icy.

Caught off guard by Vivienne's tone, Delilah was momentarily speechless, her face losing color, "I'm only sparing you for my sister's sake, otherwise, who do you think you are?" "Claiming to be a healer, but at the first sign of trouble, you're rushing Flynn to the hospital. How do I know you're not the reason he's unconscious? I demand an explanation." Vivienne met her gaze, her eyes even colder, "Are you looking for an explanation, or are you concerned about Flynn's life?" Delilah was taken aback, unable to respond.

Taking a step forward, Vivienne's expression was stern, "You're his mother. Tell me, what's making him loathe his own body to the extent that he can't stand being touched?" Delilah avoided Vivienne's piercing gaze.

"I'm not a doctor, how would I know what's wrong with him..." Ignoring her, Vivienne signaled Thomas with a look.

Understanding her cue, Thomas lifted the child and headed out, Delilah panicking but not daring to confront Thomas directly.

She could only block the door, "I'm warning you, put my child down, or I'm calling the police." Vivienne's expression was frosty, her fingers ready to act, when Cordelia's voice cfrom outside.

"Delilah, what's going on here?" Seeing Cordelia, Delilah pointed at Vivienne, tears in her eyes, "Sis, make them put Flynn down. He can't handle this stress, and they're insisting on taking him to the hospital. They're putting his life at risk!" Cordelia, taken aback to see Vivienne about to leave, asked, "Vivienne, what's...?" Vivienne felt obliged to explain to Cordelia, "Cordelia, Flynn's condition is critical. If we don't get him to the hospital, his life is in danger." Cordelia, who always trusted Vivienne, was alarmed at the mention of a life-threatening situation, "Then you should hurry, don't waste any more time." Behind her, Delilah bit her lip, turning to Cordelia with tears, "Sis, I'm your sister. Do you believe her over me?" Cordelia frowned, her priorities clear in a crisis.

Turning to Delilah, she admonished softly, "Delilah, you can't be serious. A child's health is no trivial matter. Vivienne is doing what's best for him. He's unconscious, for heaven's sake, why wouldn't we take him to the hospital?" Delilah, dissatisfied, glared at Vivienne.

Cordelia silenced her with a look, "You're not thinking straight. Vivienne is a skilled doctor, not a miracle worker. We need the hospital for this." "Enough, let's all go together." In the hospital, after the test results cin, Vivienne received a call from Brody. The pendant they had suspected held ssort of toxin turned out to be just an ordinary piece of jade, devoid of any radioactive substances.

Perhaps Delilah wasn't the culprit after all.

Glancing at the silhouette standing beside Cordelia in the hospital room, Vivienne narrowed her eyes. Maybe she had been mistaken.

The reports indicated that Flynn had sustained damage to severalans over time, and his currenta was due to an exacerbation of toxins in his system, affecting his nervous system. However, the exams had failed to find any signs of these toxins on his skin. The accumulation of toxins in Flynn's body was a longstanding issue and wasn't contagious, Vivienne knew that much. But why would Flynn tell her that merely touching him could transmit his condition to her? Vivienne couldn't figure it out, but she was certain that all the answers lay with Flynn. Once he woke up, the mystery would unravel on its own.

In the hospital room, Delilah was holding Flynn's hand, tears streaming down her face. "Flynn, my boy, why is life so cruel to you?" Cordelia, standing by, tried to offer somefort, her expression equally grim.

As Vivienne stepped into the room, Deliliah's sharp eyes caught sight of her. Pointing directly at Vivienne, her demeanor drastically changed from how she had been at the Brooks family home, "Who let you in here? Get out! Flynn won't need your visits anymore!" "All these claims of miracle working are a sham. My Flynn is dying because of you." Vivienne remained silent, and Cordelia frowned in objection. "Delilah, Vivienne is my daughter. You're supposed to be her elder. How can you say such things?" mmMwWLlilOfiflO&1 mmMwWLlilOfiflO&1 mmMwWLliI0fiflO&1 mmMwWLlilOfiflO&1 mmMwWLliI0fifl0&1 mmMwWLlilOfiflO&1