The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)

She and Vivienne tacitly didn't bring up the previous topic again.

Talking about it more might do more harm than good, potentially hurting someone’s feelings.

Eventually, they took the two kids out for a late-night snack.

Iris originally thought that since she had invited Vivienne out, she would be the one to take Vivienne

and Thaddeus home.

But Percival volunteered to do it. Iris was happy to give the young couple more time together, so she

went home alone.

Before leaving, she said to Vivienne, "I've already made a deal with your dad. I'll have lunch with your

family tomorrow."

"Gotcha. Be careful on your way home, Auntie." Vivienne nodded.

By the time they got to Tranquil Estates, the two worn-out kids had fallen asleep.

Vivienne had just gotten out of the car with Thaddeus when Percival took him from her arms.

"I'll walk you up." Percival said gently.

Vivienne nodded.

Isolde fell asleep on the seat, mumbling, "Stinky brother..."

Vivienne smiled, patted Isolde’s head, closed the car door for her, and then made her way inside.

It was almost ten o'clock, and Tranquil Estates was very quiet. Only the three of them were in the

elevator.

They rode in silence, but as they stepped out of the elevator, Percival suddenly asked, "What do you

want me to promise you?"

"Already throwing in the towel?" Vivienne smiled slightly but was not surprised.

"I told you that I would let you win." He stood next to her, so the corridor light cast his tall shadow over

her. "Vivienne, you are the first person in the world that I am willing to lose to."

He vowed to himself that she would be the only one.

Vivienne frowned slightly as she felt a strange feeling well up in her heart. It was a warm feeling, but

she didn’t quite know what it was.

"Lose what?" Before Vivienne could figure it out, the door to her house was suddenly opened from the

inside, and Dorian popped his head out. "Didn't you guys go to the amusement park? What did you Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

lose? You didn't gamble, did you?"

He looked at Percival with a reproachful look, suspecting that he had taken Vivienne somewhere

unsavory. After all, Percival's reputation was infamous, and, to him, Vivienne was a good girl. If

anything happened, it must have been because she was led astray.

Percival smiled. "I lost to Vivienne when we were playing shooting games in the amusement park."

"I see." Dorian laughed, took Thaddeus from him, let Vivienne go into the house, and then said to

Percival, "It's quite late; I won't keep you."

"Okay." Percival nodded and turned to leave.

"Is there a time limit to your promise?" Vivienne suddenly asked.

He looked back at her. "For you, there's no time limit."

Cloudcrest High School.

Remembering her lunch date with Iris, Vivienne declined Charlotte's invitation to go to the cafeteria.

As soon as she stepped out of the school gate, a black Lincoln quickly stopped in front of her, as if it

was prearranged.

She glanced at Thomas, who was staring at her without blinking, and then at the slowly lowering car

window in the back seat.

In the car window, Percival's eyes seemed to look even darker than the black hue of a shadow.

"Get in; I'll give you a ride."

"You really have a lot of free time." Vivienne stood there with her arms folded, not moving.

Yesterday at the amusement park, he said he was just accompanying Isolde.

Today, Class Eighteen didn't have PE, so how come he came to school again at the exact time she was

leaving?

"Mr. Hawthorn invited me to lunch too." Percival said with a slight laugh, trying to feign innocence. "He

said we're going to be family, and since your aunt rarely comes home, we don't know when we'll see

each other next, so he asked me to come too."

He would certainly not admit that he deliberately called Dorian at the right time and intentionally

brought up the subject on the phone.

Since he said so, Vivienne didn't play coy. As soon as she opened the car door and got in, she

received a call from Iris.

"Auntie."

"Vivienne..." Iris's choked voice was filled with anger and panic. "I'm sorry."

"What happened?" Vivienne frowned slightly.

"When I went to pick up Thaddeus at noon, your grandmother said she was sick and missed

Thaddeus. She wanted to see him but was afraid you wouldn't allow it." Iris said guiltily. "So I thought

about seeing him before meeting you guys and quietly took Thaddeus to see her. I didn't expect her to

keep Thaddeus, refuse to let him go, and demand you meet her."

"I'm really sorry. I didn't expect your grandmother to do this..."

Because something had just happened in the Hawthorn family when Iris came back this time, she didn't

return to the chaotic Hawthorn Mansion but stayed in a hotel.

Since the hotel where she was staying was close to Imperial Blossom Nursery, Iris proposed to pick up

Thaddeus at noon. Dorian and his wife naturally agreed.

Vivienne also knew about this, but she really didn't expect Iris to be soft-hearted and listen to Beatrice's

nonsense and take Thaddeus to the hospital where Beatrice was staying.

She had been too negligent.

"What happened?" Percival frowned when he saw Vivienne's face suddenly become serious.

"My aunt took Thaddeus to the hospital to see Beatrice behind our backs, and the Hawthorn family kept

him. They are demanding that I see them." Vivienne's voice was very calm, but Percival could hear a

storm brewing.

Just like yesterday, when someone was causing trouble at Tranquil Estates, the calmer she was, the

angrier she was.

"Go to the city hospital." Percival ordered Thomas.

"Let's keep this under wraps from Mr. Hawthorn and Cordelia for now." Vivienne sat next to Percival,

cracking her knuckles subtly.

She hadn't been this pissed off in a long time.

It was quite an achievement for the inept lot of the Hawthorn family to get her blood boiling like this.

City hospital, inpatient department.

Vivienne had just reached outside Beatrice's ward when she heard the heated argument between Iris

and Beatrice.

"Mom, are you going to let Thaddeus go or not?!"

"Thaddeus is my blood! He is my grandson! What's the matter with me wanting to see him and wanting

him to stay a bit longer?" Beatrice scoffed coldly.

"Is that all you want? Or are you planning to use him?" Iris was brimming with fury. "You and your crew

just threatened Thaddeus and forced him to beg Vivienne for help. Just look at how scared he is!"

"He's my grandson! Of course, I want him on our side! Helping us is what he should do!"

"Mom!" There was nothing but disappointment in Iris’ voice. "If you don't let me take Thaddeus away, I

swear I won't come back from Ozoria ever again! You decide! Do you want me or Thaddeus?"

SMACK!

A crisp slap echoed in the room. Vivienne pushed the door open just in time to see Iris's reddening

cheek.