The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)

The chat group was quiet at first, filled with question marks. Then, like a stone thrown into a pond, messages began to flood in.

It was like a bomb had gone off.

Jerry Perez, the second oldest, chimed in: "Leopold, that trick won't work on us!"

Daniel, the third, added: "No offense, Leopold, but you're just not in the same league as us."

Eric, the fourth, joked: "Leopold's definitely got some delusions of grandeur."

Old-man Dawson couldn't believe it: "Has Leopold lost his mind? ... The nerve to say that, did you eat lion's heart and leopard's courage?"

Donald, the sixth, laughed: "Leopold, you're trying to kill us with laughter. If Vivienne would let her kid call you godfather, I'd call you godfather too!" Enzo agreed: "Seconded!"

Larry, the eighth, added: "Seconded +1!"

Gary sent a long voice message, laughing so hard he couldn't even speak.

Leopold, feeling smug, was driving with one hand and replied with a voice message, specifically tagging Donald.

"Come on, Donald, the master is still here. If you call me godfather... that's like shortening my life!"

"And if you dared, I wouldn't dare accept."

The group went silent.

Then, Old-man Dawson sent a message, "Leopold, did Vivienne confirm this herself?"

Leopold couldn't suppress his grin. "Dawson, you too? Would I dare share the news with you guys if Vivienne hadn't agreed?"

With that, Leopold closed his phone, feeling victorious as the group's messages kept coming.

He had secured his position as godfather.

The next day, when Vivienne got into the car, she saw Leopold grinning from ear to ear as if he'd stumbled upon some great fortune.

She asked, "Did you and Griffin Martinez elope or something?"

Leopold blushed, "Vivienne, why are you teasing me too? You know how tightly the Martinez family guards Griffin. If I dared to elope, they'd skin me alive." Vivienne narrowed her eyes, "Then what's with the goofy smile?"

Leopold started the car, smiling at Vivienne in the rearview mirror, "I told the guys about you agreeing to my request. Let them die of envy."

"I'm going to be the godfather of your two kids. Let's see who dares to mess with me now."

Vivienne was speechless.

Why was she being dragged into this!

In the prison, Leopold waited outside.

Vivienne approached Declan alone, facing his stoic expression, she calmly stated, "Stop waiting, Abigail is dead."

At those words, Declan's body tensed, his hoarse voice breaking through, "She can't be dead."

Vivienne said nothing but threw a photo into his cell.

The moment Declan saw it, a tumult of emotions flashed in his eyes.

Vivienne observed, slightly raising an eyebrow, "I personally dealt with her. Her body is now in the research lab. As for any chances of her making a comeback, it's almost nil." The photo had been sent by Anna before the deed was done.

Whether Abigail's remains could be pieced back into a whole was debatable. How could she start over?

With Anna involved, her end would be thorough.

Declan's eyes darkened as he muttered, "She never made it to the final step."

Vivienne's eyes narrowed, "What final step? Who is it?"

She hadn't laid a hand on Declan, guessing there was some deal between him and Abigail.

But this deal wouldn't surface until the very end.

"I don't know," Declan's voice was calm.

Vivienne's gaze turned icy, "She spared your life, there must be something you promised her. How could you not know of this person's existence?"

Declan shifted uncomfortably, "She was too arrogant to let anyone else complete her grand vision. Anything she couldn't take with her, she'd destroy with her own hands." Vivienne scoffed, knowing Declan was deliberately muddling the truth.

"She might not, but if this person was chosen by her, or related to her, it's a different story."

Declan looked down, "You're barking up the wrong tree. I was just a means to an end for her. Now that Abigail is dead, do with me as you will."

Vivienne remained unmoved, "You've gone to great lengths for her, yet she regarded you as expendable. Yet, here you are, alive. Do you think I'd believe that?"

She knew how deep Declan could scheme. He must harbor some of Abigail's secrets, deeply hidden.

She restrained the gleam in her eyes, "Name the person, and I'll grant you a quick death."

Declan laughed bitterly, "What does death matter? The world is flawed. After my death, someone else will complete our mission."

Vivienne's eyes narrowed, but it was too late to act.

Declan, with the last of his inner energy, struck his own temple, ending his life instantly.

Declan's death confirmed there was indeed such a person, but any clues to their identity were now lost.

Draven and his team rushed in, shocked at the scene. Draven bowed deeply, "My apologies, we failed in our duty."

Vivienne waved him off, "Dispose of the body and keep an eye on any suspicious individuals."

Back in the car, Vivienne received a call from the hospital. She told Leopold, "Change of plans, we're heading to the hospital."

On the third floor, people rushed into a room, carrying emergency supplies, their hands stained with blood.

Leopold furrowed his brows and stepped in front of Vivienne, asking, "What's going on?"

The doctor, upon noticing Vivienne behind him, hurriedly explained, "Director, the patient on the third floor suddenly turned pale and started coughing up blood half an hour ago. His heartbeat has also stopped. We've tried everything at our disposal." Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Having just returned from a stint at the prison, Vivienne had already guessed as much.

She instructed the doctor beside her, "Clear the room. I'll handle this."

Knowing Vivienne's capabilities, the doctor quickly scurried into the room and ushered everyone out. The room was immediately emptied.

Leopold stood guard outside.

Upon entering, Vivienne saw Colin

Wright on the bed, his complexion dreadful and his lips turning purplish - clearly, he was choked by

something stuck at his heart unable

to escape.

She took out a silver needle and the moment she punctured his chest, a dark mist followed the direction of the needle and spiraled out.

After swirling in the air a few times, it vanished into nothingness.

Her master had once told her, this kind of backlash would cease once the original host dies. Survive this

final ordeal, and she would no longer suffer from the pain of backlash.