The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne nodded thoughtfully. It seemed that the entity within Jasper had a consciousness after all.

Gracefully setting the cup down, Vesper continued to instruct Vivienne, “Make sure you visit your grandfather on the ninth of every month. Take note of every pulse, remember it, and record it. Find the pattern. If you want to rid Jasper of this thing entirely, it will take a considerable amount of time.” “I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Linklater,” Vivienne replied with a polite nod, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of determination.

Percival approached with his smartphone in hand. “Would you mind if we exchanged contact details, Mr.

Linklater? In case anything else happens with Jasper, we could reach you promptly.” “I do mind,” Vesper curtly refused, his aloof demeanor mirroring Vivienne’s when they first met.

Unperturbed, Percival simply said, “I just wish to be able to reach out for help when necessary.” “Your fiancée is more than capable. The title of Specter Healer isn’t just for show,” Vesper said, nodding towards Vivienne with a hint of pride.

Vivienne blinked in surprise. “You know of me?” “Of course. We're both in the medical field. Who hasn't heard of the Specter Healer?” “Compared to you, my achievements are modest. | insist, please, could you share a way to contact you?” Vivienne did not want to miss the opportunity to connect with this enigmatic figure.

Vesper remained steadfast in his refusal. “My consultancy fees are steep, Mr. Perez. Make sure the payment is transferred to my account. Here's my account number.” Yuri accepted the card with both hands. “Of course.” Vivienne and Percival exchanged a look, realizing vererpg no intention of leaving any trace behind.

Upon examining the card, Vivienne found nothing but Vesper’s name. No leads.

This man was definitely more than he seemed.

Just then, Natalia and Yasmine burst in from preschool, making a beeline for Vivienne.

“Vivienne!” They chorused, wrapping her in a tight hug.

Vesper watched the scene, a burst of laughter breaking on his usually impassive face.

Drawn by his laughter, the girls released Vivienne and sidled up to Vesper.

“What are you looking at, munchkins?” Vesper crouched down to their level.

With a curious tilt of her head, Natalia glanced at Percival and then back at Vesper. “I used to think Percival was the most handsman ever, but you're even more handsome.” Yasmine nodded eagerly, “Yeah, Percival is now in second place!” Vesper chuckled, and Percival feigned a wounded look.

He turned to Vivienne, his eyes playfully asking, ‘Am | not the most handsome?” Vivienne responded with a reassuring gaze, ‘Of course you are!” Percival no longer cared about the girls’ opinions at that point.

Yuri squatted beside his daughters, “Girls, where does Daddy rank?” “Fourth!” they shouted in unison.

Yuri reiterated, “Remember, we're talking about looks ranking, not my place at home.” “Yeah, fourth,” Natalia reaffirmed.

“And Uncle Maddox was second, but now there's Vesper,” Yasmine added.

“Your Uncle Maddox beats me?” Yuri feigned heartbreak.

The girls nodded seriously. “Uncle Maddox said, men devalue after marriage. You, Uncle Fredrick, and Uncle Luke all lost on that account. Such a pity.” Yuri thought, “Maddox, stay away from my girls!” Miles away, in Sea City, Maddox sneezed mightily and turned up the heat in his tub.

Looking at the playful girls, Vivienne was growing fonder of them.

Vesper, clearly taken with the children, pulled out two pairs of intricately made shoes from his bag. They were handcrafted with gold laces, exuding a modern chic rather than tackiness.

Vivienne noticed the high-quality herbal materials stitched into the shoes, designed to protect Natalia and Yasmine from mosquitoes and common childhood illnesses.

“Do you like these shoes, Natalia, Yasmine?” Vesper asked.

“Love them! The flowers are prettier than any Mommy has painted. Vesper, can you teach her?” Natalia admired the shoes.

Yasmine agreed. “Yes, please teach Mommy.” Zelda blushed from the side. “Girls, mind your manners.” Vesper just smiled and fitted the shoes on their feet, a perfect match as if tailor-made for them.

“They're yours, a thank you for your high praise.” Yuri and Zelda tried to protest. “Mr. Linklater, we couldn't possibly accept...” “These are betweenand the kids, Mr. and Mrs. Perez. No interference,” Vesper insisted as he ruffled the girls’ hair, clearly delighted.

Seeing his fondness, Yuri and Zelda did not press the issue.

But on the side, Vivienne’s eyes narrowed.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books Updates...

Were Vesper's shoes prepared in advance, or was it just a fortunate coincidence? But how could it be so coincidental? The shoes fit perfectly, were styled for girls, and there were two pairs? At that moment, Keegan emerged from Jasper’s bedroom. “Jasper’s awake,” he announced with a hint of relief in his voice.

The crowd surged forward, tripping over each other in their haste to get to Jasper, yet they all intuitively left a space clear for Vesper to approach.

With a child cradled in each arm, Vesper made his way to the bedside and gently laid the toddlers down.

Jasper’s eyes fluttered open, and in his grogginess, he mistook Vesper for Yuri. “Son, why didn’t you drop off Natalia and Yasmine at school?” Standing at the foot of the bed, Yuri blinked in confusion before stepping closer. “Dad, I'm right here. You've been asleep for a whole day. Natalia and Yasmine are already back,” he reassured his father.

It took a moment for Jasper to fully awaken and realize the person beside him was not his son. A sheepish smile crossed his face. “I really am getting senile, mistaking people like that.” Vesper checked Jasper’s pulse, laughing softly. “You're not senile just yet.” Jasper turned to look at Vesper, and tears unexpectedly started to stream down his cheeks. “Yeah, | still haven't found my Sasha.” Vesper's hand paused, his fingers curling slightly in a rare display of emotion that flickered in his eyes before he regained his composure.

It was a fleeting moment, but Vivienne caught it.

The curiosity in Vivienne’s gaze deepened as she watched Vesper.

After giving Jasper a thorough check-up, Vesper beckoned the others closer. “Jasper is fine now. I'll stay with him for half an hour to ensure he’s completely out of the woods. If all is well, he just needs to be seen by the Specter Healer on the ninth of next month.” Yuri and the others breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Mr. Linklater,” they expressed their gratitude.