The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)

At the dining table.

Percival was sitting next to Vivienne, catering to her throughout the meal. Whenever she needed a napkin or a refill on her drink, he was there. If she so much as glanced at a dish, it would miraculously appear in her bowl.

Vivienne, of course, didn't take Leopold's previous joke seriously. But Percival's attentiveness was making her suspicious. Was he overcompensating for something?

Across the table, Cecilia was fuming. She almost snapped her fork and knife in half. She had raised Percival, and she had never seen him so attentive to anyone, let alone her. How come she never noticed that Percival had this caring side?

She already disliked Vivienne, and this was just adding fuel to the fire.

But it was okay. Richard would be returning to Rivenwood soon, and Nathan Ellington had already returned to handle business matters. She couldn't mess with Vivienne with Richard around, but once he was gone, who would stop her?

After all, Percival was her son. She didn't believe that he would choose Vivienne over her.

"Vivienne." Richard, seemingly pleased with Percival's behavior, called out.

He had noticed that Percival had feelings for Vivienne, but the feelings weren't reciprocated.

"Richard." Vivienne immediately put down her fork and knife politely, ready to listen.

"I'm returning to Rivenwood in a few days." Richard said with a grin. "Isolde is still very young, and I'm worried about Percival and her being alone. I hope you'll help look after them when you can." Cecilia almost choked on her food. What was Richard saying?

How were Percival and Isolde alone and helpless? What did that make her?

Isolde chimed in while looking at Vivienne with her big eyes. "Vivienne, you must come and keep me company. Once Grandfather leaves, and with my mother busy with poker every day, I'll be lonely." Cecilia took a deep breath. When did she neglect Isolde for poker?

Well, she did play poker every day.

The Dorian family saw no problem with Richard's request. They were grateful to the Ellington family for all the help they had given the Hawthorn family. It was only right to return the favor. Everyone turned their gaze to Vivienne, waiting for her response. Percival watched her from the corner of his eye.

If it were anyone else, Vivienne would've ignored them. But most of the people here were individuals she cared about, so she gave a slight nod in agreement. "Richard, don't worry, I will." Under the table, however, she secretly kicked in Percival's direction.

"Ouch!" Leopold yelped in pain as he clutched his leg.

Assuming Percival was the culprit, he glared at him. "Why'd you kick me?"

"Do I need a reason to kick you?" Percival replied nonchalantly.

"You're the man." Leopold gave Percival a thumbs up.

No one noticed, but Percival and Richard exchanged a knowing look.

"Good job," their eyes seemingly said.

Richard chuckled to himself. He'd helped as much as he could. If Percival couldn't win over Vivienne, he shouldn't bother returning to Rivenwood.

After dinner, Richard dragged Dorian off for a game of chess. Thaddeus and Isolde went to play in the mansion's courtyard, with Cecilia and Cordelia watching over them.

"The view from the back mountain is great. Want to take a walk?" Percival suggested to Vivienne.

Before Vivienne could respond, Leopold piped up. "I'll go too. I'll go too. I love walks."

Percival shot Leopold a cold look, which sent a shiver down his spine.

Since Leopold insisted on joining, Percival also invited Thomas. The four of them strolled towards the back mountain.

The Cloud Eatery was situated halfway up the mountain. It was surrounded by lush flowers and plants. Perhaps due to the mountain's climate, the vegetation flourished.

A breeze blew, and petals began dancing in the wind. It was like they stepped into a fairyland.

Vivienne felt at peace as she looked at this scenery. It reminded her of her days at the Emerald Monastery.

During the summer, after her practice, she'd open her eyes to see the flowers and trees outside her window and feel the same tranquility.

"These flowers are beautiful." Leopold couldn't resist the urge to pick one.

Vivienne shot him a cold look. Just as he reached out, he suddenly tripped.

"Damn it!" He grumbled while dusting off the dirt and petals from his clothes. "What just happened? Why did I trip?"

"You deserve it for picking flowers." Thomas said deadpan.

"Do you like flowers?" Percival asked Vivienne, ignoring Leopold. "If you do, we can fill our home with them."

Before Vivienne could answer, Percival's face suddenly changed.

Vivienne reacted faster and quickly turned around to stare coldly in the direction of the bushes.

They both heard faint footsteps.

This forest was littered with scattered petals, broken branches, and sand. An average Joe couldn't walk in here without making a sound. No way, no how. There was only one possibility for someone who could move like this.

It had to be a hitman!

Leopold and Thomas quickly came to their senses, swiftly turned around, and stood back-to-back with Vivienne and Percival with their eyes alertly fixed forward.

Next, ten assassins emerged from among the flowers and plants, forming a circle around the four of them.

The leader of the assassins had a scar on his left cheek and skillfully held a dagger in his hand. He coldly asked Vivienne, "Are you Vivienne?" Vivienne slightly raised her head and calmly replied, "Yes."

"Hand over the item!" The assassin's voice was somewhat muffled, but his threats could be clearly heard. "I advise you to behave, or tonight will be your end."

The other assassins also pulled out their weapons. They were ready for battle and waiting for the leader's command to strike.

The four of them watched alertly. They were ready to act at any time.

Vivienne looked at the leader of the assassins as her eyes flashed with a cold light. "How much did your employer pay you?"

"What?" The leader of the assassins didn't react in time.

"How much is my life worth?" Vivienne asked again. Her relaxed tone made it seem as if she were discussing the price of groceries in a supermarket, not her life.

The leader of the assassins looked at Vivienne, becoming somewhat impatient, as if he were ready to strike at any moment.

Vivienne gave a small smile. "What? Afraid to say?"

The leader of the assassins frowned. He was seemingly aggravated by Vivienne's calm demeanor. "One million, now cut the crap! I don't want to get my hands dirty. Hand over the item, and I can finish my

job."

Vivienne elegantly laughed and then seriously asked, "Would five million make you betray your employer?"

The leader of the assassins paused and then looked at her warily. "What are you trying to do?"

"Seven million?" Vivienne calmly offered. "To betray your employer?"

"You're trying to bribe us? Dream on! We would never betray..."

"Ten million!"

The leader of the assassins' choked on his own words. He swallowed hard.

Ten million...

That was a lot of money.

They could work hard for a lifetime and not earn that much.

He almost wanted to agree immediately, but the strict rules of their organization made him shudder. He harshly warned her. "I've been patient enough. If you don't hand it over..." "Twenty million!" Vivienne looked at the leader of the assassins. "This is my final offer. Think it over. If you agree, take the money and go. If you don't..."

Vivienne suddenly laughed. Her smile was like a rose in the night. "You won't get the item, and you can't kill me. So you'll be punished by your organization when you go back." "Don't try to stir things up." The leader of the assassins changed his tone. "Do you even have that much money?"

"No." Vivienne didn't lie. She indeed didn't have that much money in her bank account.

The leader of the assassins' face darkened, but then he heard Vivienne say, "But my fiancé does."

Upon saying this, Vivienne turned to Percival. "Mr. Ellington, lend me twenty million. I'll pay you back in three days." Percival was speechless.

Leopold was silent.

So was Thomas.

If you didn't have the money, why pretended to be rich?

The corner of Percival's mouth slightly lifted. "No problem."

After confirming that he agreed, Vivienne turned to the leader of the assassins. "What do you think? Your decision is..."

"Transfer the money!" The leader of the assassins interrupted Vivienne.

Vivienne laughed again. Her smile was incredibly beautiful. "Mr. Ellington, please transfer the money to this gentleman."

Percival looked at the leader of the assassins and spoke in a low voice. "Bank account number."

The leader of the assassins hesitated for a moment. Giving out his bank account number might reveal his personal information, but he was still moved by the temptation of twenty million.

And their mission wasn't to kill Vivienne, but to force her to hand over something. If Vivienne would rather die than give it up, their mission would be a failure. They wouldn't get anything and would get on the bad side of the Ellington family.

But now they didn't have to do anything, and they could get twenty million for nothing. Anyone would be tempted.

So, the leader of the assassins exchanged glances with the other nine assassins, then gave out his bitcoin account.

This was their most common transaction method. His information was hidden and hard to trace.

Percival took out his phone and made a few moves. The leader of the assassins looked at his phone, and his face instantly changed. His originally fierce expression suddenly became friendly; even the scar on his face seemed gentle.

He quickly put his dagger back into his boots, called the other nine assassins over, lined up like hotel staff, nodded, and bowed to Vivienne while smiling from ear to ear.

"Thank you for the twenty million, Ms. Hawthorn. We will leave now. Sorry for the interruption. If you ever need anything like this, you can find me. I guarantee transparency and fair trade."

After saying this, they disappeared as quietly as they had come.

Before leaving, the leader of the assassins even left a business card for Vivienne.

Leopold was dumbfounded. He pointed in the direction where the assassins had disappeared as he shouted, "Are assassins nowadays unprincipled? How could they be so easily bought? Why are they so willing to break a contract?"

He looked at Vivienne, who was putting away the business card, and then asked Percival, "Did you really give them twenty million?"

"If it can solve your problem, I'm more than willing to." Percival said with a smile. "Vivienne, you don't need to pay me back. Consider it pocket money."

Vivienne thought for a while and then took out a small bottle from her bag. "This is for you. It's worth more than your twenty million, Mr. Ellington, I don't like being indebted."

Percival took the small bottle, opened it, and his face changed.

Leopold saw the change in Percival's expression. He walked over to take a look and immediately gasped. "These are life-saving pills!"

Oh my God!

The life-saving pills that were being fought over in the black market were worth five hundred thousand each. Vivienne actually had a whole bottle?!

This bottle was worth at least a hundred million!

Leopold looked at Vivienne in amazement. "Where did you get these?"

"I made it myself." Vivienne answered with a serious look.

Percival, Leopold, and Thomas were at a loss for words.

What was the deal here?

Others would give their right arm for this, and it turned out that Vivienne could make them herself?

Had Percival just hit the jackpot?

Percival held the little bottle while lost in thought.

After a while, a slight smile appeared on his face. He casually put the bottle away. "Thanks, Vivienne."

He didn't stand on ceremony with Vivienne because he really needed these pills.

His team suffered a lot of casualties every year when they were on missions. With these pills, they could up their game.

He owed Vivienne a lot. It was a debt he couldn't repay.

So, he'd have to pay her back with his life and devotion.

He looked at Vivienne.

He knew she wanted to call off the engagement, but he vowed to himself that that would not happen in this lifetime.