The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne) novel Chapter 494

Vivienne looked pale as a ghost.

Clearly, it was time to fast-track the development of the new bomb detector. They could not afford another incident like this.

But Imogen's face was a tapestry of tension, and Vivienne noticed.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

Imogen shook her head, troubled. "No, there should be thirty-one... Yesterday, he found one..."

She reached up, touching the headband nestled in her hair—a gift from her beloved, cherished more than gold. Just yesterday, he had whispered to her with undying affection, "Your hair is your crowning glory, love. With this, you're even more radiant."

Tick-tock, tick-tock.

Three seconds remained.

Tears welled in her eyes as she dashed out of the Ellington Mansion.

Vivienne and Percival had no time to react before a deafening explosion shook the air.

When the smoke cleared, only a shattered necklace remained on the ground. It was the token Richard had given to Imogen, a symbol of her acceptance into the Ellington family.

The bomb's force had vaporized Imogen instantly, like a plane plummeting from the sky, obliterating everything in its path.

Vivienne and Percival were frozen. If Imogen had not acted on her instincts, they, too, would have been reduced to nothing.

Not far away, in a parked car, Isolde burst into tears. She had watched her beloved aunt vanish, her waterfall of hair gone without a trace.

Cecilia nestled into her husband's embrace.

Out of all Flynn's sins, Imogen was the most tragic victim—a solitary girl who vanished from existence without a last word, as if she had never been.

Vivienne stepped outside; the air still held a tinge of fire powder. She picked up the unrecognizable necklace and wiped it clean with her hands.

Richard exited the car, addressing Percival, "We owe her a dignified farewell. The Ellington family failed her."

Percival nodded, drawing Vivienne close, comforting her with a gentle hold.

Vanguard Agency's special squad cleared the Ellington Mansion and raided Flynn's room, taking away all related materials.

Composing herself, Vivienne entered Flynn's bedroom.

Photos of Imogen and Flynn stood on the nightstand, everything untouched. The bed was made to perfection, two sets of clean pajamas folded neatly.

As Vivienne approached, she noticed a hair entangled in a button of Flynn's pajama top—likely Imogen's.

She untangled the hair, holding it between her fingers. Suddenly, her expression froze.

Carefully examining the strand, something felt off.

"What's wrong, Vivienne?" Percival approached, concerned at her uneasy demeanor.

She plucked one of her own hairs and placed both strands in his hand. "Feel these. Notice anything odd?"

Percival's brow furrowed as he felt the hairs, and realization dawned on him.

The hair from Flynn's pajama was synthetic—a wig!

...

Elsewhere in Rivenwood.

F-Poison returned to GTO headquarters, stretching her neck before firing up the helicopter.

With Flynn captured, it was time to leave Rivenwood behind.