The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Karen's identity was shrouded in the utmost secrecy; only the highest echelons within the hospital were privy to her details. The nurses and doctors, not privy to such clearance, only knew that Percival had brought in a VIP patient who was also a knockout beauty.

Aaron couldn't bear to listen to the idle gossip any longer. “Have you lost your minds? What's there to admire about someone who's playing the field?” His sudden outburst startled the two young nurses, who scurried out of the elevator.

Alone in the lift, Aaron fumed over Percival’s audacity. How could he let Vivienne wait on his old fllike that? Sick! Despicable! Speople just shouldn't exist! Upon exiting the elevator, Aaron used his access card to make his way to the penthouse floor. When he encountered the security guard, he flashed the Nine Mystics Society's token.

As a member of the Nine Mystics Society, the guard recognized the emblem of authority and allowed Aaron to pass without question.

“Master Aaron, the young master is not in. Please wait here,” one of Percival’s men said, assuming Aaron was there to see Vivienne.

Aaron pocketed his token. “It’s fine. Don’t bother about me. I’m just looking around. No need to tell Vivienne | was here; | don’t want to disturb her.” “Understood.” After giving his instructions, Aaron approached the hospital room.

Peering through the glass, Aaron saw Percival tenderly wiping the brow of the woman on the bed with an utterly uncharacteristic gentleness.

So tender, it couldn't possibly be Percival! No mistake about it: this woman was Percival’s first love! “Percival, you sleaze, one wasn’t enough for you, huh? Alright, just you wait!” Aaron cursed inwardly.

He was about to burst in but held himself back. He had to wake Vivienne up first; he couldn't let her be manipulated by this cad any longer! With that thought, he turned and left.

Just as Aaron stepped into the elevator, Vivienne emerged from her office, catching only a glimpse of a retreating figure.

“Aaron? He cand didn’t look for me?” She wondered.

However, Vivienne didn’t dwell on it and entered the ward. “How's it going? Did you wipe my mom's face?” Percival wiped his brow. “Vivienne, | hope I did a clean job!” Vivienne, pinching the bridge of her nose, sighed. “Mr. Wolf, you really have no knack for this kind of work. Letdo it.” She took the washcloth Percival had been using, only to find he had only managed to wipe the forehead. Really! Percival scratched his head. “I thought | did a clean job.” “You nearly wiped my mom's soul off her face,” Vivienne said, wetting the cloth to clean her mother’s face properly.

Willa, sitting in the corner, couldn't stand it any longer. “Lettake over. You didn’t even wring out the cloth properly, and you're getting water into Sasha’s mouth.” Vivienne: Really? | didn’t notice...

Percival: Vivienne, let's face it, we're both not cut out for this! Hence, care for Karen was handed over to Willa.

Meanwhile, Aaron stormed out of the hospital, running straight into Mara.

“I finally caught up with you. | remembered this photo; it feels off. Take a look.” Mara pulled Aaron aside and handed him the photo.

Aaron’s eyes hardened as he spotted the obvious GTO emblem on Karen's clothing.

“Where did you find this?!” Mara noticed the change in Aaron’s demeanor. “| found it in Percival’s nightstand. At first, | thought it was Vivienne, but on closer inspection, it’s not. | knew my brother wouldn't be so kind to Vivienne for no reason. He's treating her like a stand-in.” Mara had already constructed a 's worth of scenarios in her mind.

The first love stand-in trope. Tsk, tsk, tsk. She hadn't expected her offhand remark to becreality.

Aaron, however, was fixated on the GTO logo.

Karen was part of GTO? What was her purpose in coming back this time? Did F-Poison send her to get close to Percival and target Vivienne? No, she couldn't be allowed to stay! With that, Aaron turned to leave.

Mara grabbed him. “Hey, where are you off to?” “I'm going to tell Vivienne!” Mara blocked his way. “No, if you go to Vivienne, wouldn't that be betraying me? I still want to stay in good standing with the Ellington family. Aaron, you can’t be so selfish!” “Do you realize how dangerous this ‘Karen’ is? | can’t let anyone dangerous near Vivienne!” “Then why don’t you just take care of it? You have the means. If it were Percival, he'd just click his fingers, and the problem would be gone. Why drag Vivienne into it?” Mara’s words struck a chord with Aaron.

He stood there, contemplating. “Right, | can take care of her myself!” Mara breathed a sigh of relief; Aaron had taken the bait.

“Do you need my help? You can’t just whisk away a living person from the hospital on your own, can you?” Mara prodded further.

F-Poison had made it clear: to ensure Karen's demise. Mara had to confirm it personally.

Aaron gave Mara a once-over. “Fine, let's meet tonight under the hospital. I'll go and get ready.” “Deal,” Mara replied, relieved as they parted ways.

Aaron stood still for a moment, watching Mara'’s retreating figure before turning back to the hospital.

In the dead of night, under the bright moon, the hospital was eerily silent.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books Updates...

On the VIP floor, the guard sat dozing off in a chair, unaware of the plot unfolding in the shadows.

The entire floor was eerily silent, save for the faint sound of breathing that could barely be heard, not even the whisper of a breeze.

Aaron, with Mara in tow, ascended the side stairwell, their footsteps light as feathers, careful not to make a sound.

Mara clutched Aaron's wrist tightly, trembling both physically and mentally.

How many ghost stories had their roots in the hushed halls of hospitals! She had never set foot in a hospital at this ungodly hour before, and it was downright terrifying.

“Slow down, | can’t keep up!” Mara hissed at Aaron, gripping him tightly.

A look of annoyance flickered across Aaron's face. “Do you have any idea how many guards your brother Percival has posted here? If we wake them up, neither of us is getting out!” Mara clamped her mouth shut and followed Aaron in silence.

As they approached the ward, the guards seemed to be in an even deeper slumber than before.

Mara was puzzled. “Did they really not notice us?” “Nope.” Aaron gestured towards an incense burner at the side. “That's filled with sleeping pills. | swapped it out when | cby this afternoon.” Realization dawned on Mara. “You always have the best tricks. Let's go in.”