The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 352

Percival froze for a moment.

Vivienne’s mentor?

Wasn’t he dead?

After a beat, his eyes narrowed and he grabbed his phone to call Jerry

He had saved the contact info from the last time they had dug into Vivienne’s fellow disciples

As soon as the call connected Percival blurted out without waiting for Jerry to speak “Vivienne said the

saw your mentor Go find him?”

He could grasped Vivienne’s implication in a moment. Though she hadn’t explicitly asked Jerry to

bearch, he knew the was desperata to find her

mentor

On the other end Jerry’s fingers stalled. But he quickly responded, “Got it”

After hanging up Jerry sent a message to the group chat. All hands on deck. Vivienne spotted our

mentor within party, assemble!]

The message detonated a bomb in the chat

Dawson [Did the old cont pull a Lazarus on us?]

Enc. Just squashed a lab rat and my eyes are acting up Jerry, are you sure your text aid Vivienne saw

the mentor?]

and territory Search

Brian: get it. The old man’s playing us for fools! By pretending to take his own life with poison, he was

just testing his latest playing dead before he skedaddled!]

Leopold [That heartless geezer I was in bits when I heard the news! He’s actually been toying with us!

You owe me a river of tears, my inan

The chat blew up with message after message

Jerry, somewhat exasperated, typed [Enough chit–chat. Let’s start the hunt! If Vivienne didn’t call

herself, it means the old man’s botted |

Leopold immediately fired up [Exactly! We can’t let him get away, we need answers!]

Nine people sprang into collective action, dividing and conquering in the pursuit

At the art gallery

Percival called Thomas, asking him to join forces with Jerry in the search.

Vivienne had dashed off too quickly. By the time Percival notified everyone, she was out of sight. So he

decided to wait for her retum.

About an hour later Vivienne came back with a scowl

“Lost him? Percival asked

She shook her head, her expression sour. “He sure is spry for his age!”

She was confident in her chasing skills. But in front of the old man, she felt like an amateur.

She had chased him through several streets, and he had vanished right in front of her eyes!

It wasn’t that she couldn’t catch up. He just disappeared. He was performing some kind of street magic

Percival looked up at her “Did you always know he wasn’t dead?”

Vivienne dialed Jerry instructing them to call off the search before turning back to Percival ) knee.”

She thought her mentor had kept ho secret well but she had sensed something amas long ago

Her mothers grave

Bisturbed

(to her mentors. When she visited her mother’s grave, she noticed that the not on her tentak para

teeted

Finnan had has fair share of enemies

Womed someone mig

The old in

sulled the rug from

mating pie

“He probably has reasons for not wanting ki meet. What he’s made bek abu

Vivienne paused then

died and never paid (

Percival was mumentantly speechiras

Vivienne! Let’s be a bit more generous) 11 give you a thousand bucks maimed to Phaught

It seemed she read his thoughts, her deluate face suddenly tai That was ka satay fun Eneaiz Mr bucks

a month and a took five years to sain so thuchi stiú

12

Most of her time before earning her own money had been spent in Emerald Monastery. She rarely left,

except for necessary exams or research. That thousand truly was a fortune to her.

The old man was unethical!

He swindled her out of a thousand bucks and then ‘died!

Percival cleared his throat, “Next time we run into him, I’ll help you catch him. Make him pay you back a

hundredfold!”

Vivienne smiled styly, “I could get behind that!”

It was nearing dinner time.

Percival took Vivienne out for a meal at a cozy diner before dropping her back at the Brooks Mansion.

He was eager to have Vivienne move in with him, but with pressing matters at hand, affairs of the heart

had to wait.

After seeing Vivienne to the Brooks Mansion, Percival headed to his private flat.

Dorian and Cordelia had been staying there and lying low for the time being, seldom venturing out.

Percival would check on them periodically and assist Dorian with work matters.

Dorian’s company was now running smoothly, though he was not yet ready to step back into the public

eye. For now, Percival managed all the business on the table.

The grand opening would be scheduled once everything settled down. Currently, the main focus was

on factory production and operations, which weren’t too demanding.

At the Brooks Mansion.

Upon Vivienne’s return, Judith was in the living room, speaking with Timothy Brooks and his wife

Cheryl.

Judith glanced up when she saw her, “Back so soon?”

Her demeanor towards Vivienne had cooled significantly since their last encounter.

Timothy and Cheryl also just nodded in acknowledgment.

Vivienne returned the gesture with a noncommittal, “Yeah.”

Without lingering for small talk, she headed straight upstairs..

As she reached the staircase, she overheard Judith say, “I understand. I’ll discuss it with her.”

Vivienne paused mid–step and glanced back at Judith, her eyes narrowing briefly. She didn’t linger and

headed straight for Thaddeus’s room.

As she approached the doorway, laughter spilled out from within.

Charlotte and Thaddeus were both inside, seeming to get along famously.

Having Charlotte tutor Thaddeus was turning out to be a great idea.

After a moment of silence, Vivienne turned and retreated to her own room. Just as she entered,

Matthew climbed through the window.

Vivienne looked up at him and poured a glass of water, “Any news?”

Matthew took a gulp and nodded, “Yeah, Brody just rolled into Rivenwood and headed straight to the

Brooks family’s private clinic.”

He glanced at the clock, “By now, he should be starting treatment on Calista.”

“Right i get it,” Vivienne said, not surprised at all.

*Brian’s back too, tailing Brody,” Matthew set the glass on the table, “Caught him on the way here.

What’s the plan for Brian, Vivienne

“Let him rest for now I’ll figure out what to do with him later,” Vivienne instructed.

“Got it.” Matthew hesitated, then added, “Brody’s medical skills could definitely save Calista. Are we

just going to let him do his thing?” Vivienne’s lips curved into a slight smirk, “Let him treat her. Calista

isn’t the priority. The important thing is I’ve got the answer I was looking for

Outside the art gallery.