The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne) novel Chapter 626

Vivienne pushed open the heavy iron gate, rubbing her arms.

Though the sun was shining bright outside, the place seemed to cast a chilling shadow over everything.

"Mom, Grandpa, are you sure you don't need me to come with you?" Vivienne asked.

Jasper shook his head. "No need, sweetheart. Your mother and I can handle this. You just wait here, okay?"

Vivienne nodded, watching Karen and Jasper disappear through the doorway.

She settled back into the car and began to nibble on a strawberry cheesecake.

As Karen pushed open the door, a nauseating stench hit her full force.

The person inside, hearing the noise, slowly turned her head.

Her hair was a tangled mess, unwashed for days.

Stains marred her clothes, and her bare feet were caked in dirt.

The source of the foul smell was clear—it emanated from her.

Jasper sighed deeply at the sight. "Diana..."

The person trapped here was, indeed, Diana!

After the cliff side explosion, Diana had been rushed to the hospital. Once she survived, the Perez family had locked her away here.

The villa might have looked like a luxury home, but it was more akin to a prison cell.

It had everything—a complete set of furniture.

But the all-black decor and the perpetual darkness turned the spacious abode into a haunted house.

There were no lights, no windows, and even the walls were painted black.

Deprived of sunlight, not even the heat of summer could penetrate the coldness within.

Trapped here, with only the torment of stillness, existing was worse than death.

Food was delivered daily, only to ensure Diana remained alive. Unaware of time or place, she could not hear anything outside her darkness. She relied on touch to find something to eat when hunger struck.

The sudden light was blinding, and it took Diana a while to adjust and recognize the figures before her.

She slowly stood up, mouth agape, but no sound came out.

Diana stared blankly at Karen and Jasper.

After what seemed like an eternity, she suddenly charged at them, screaming, "I am the only daughter of the Perez family, I am the only daughter..."

Karen swiftly pushed her back, protecting her father.

Jasper shook his head, realizing just how deep Diana's obsession ran.

"Diana, it's over. I have nothing to say. I've raised you all these years, but our bond is broken. I can never forgive you. Stay here and fend for yourself."

With that, Jasper patted Karen's hand, signaling it was time to leave.

Karen had no desire to engage with the madwoman before her.

This visit was merely to support Jasper in putting an end to it all. He had truly loved Diana as his daughter, never allowing her to feel slighted.

But their relationship had to be concluded.

As they turned to leave, Diana's eerie laughter filled the room, reminiscent of a deranged spirit from a horror film.

"Bond? Ha, you talk to me about bond?