The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne) novel Chapter 970

The midday sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow on the scattered rose petals that hadn't been cleaned up yet. Vivienne walked through, feeling a rare moment of serene beauty in the chaos.

After finishing a meal that was too late for breakfast and too early for lunch, Vivienne's phone, silent throughout the morning, finally rang.

Draven was brief. "Miss, there's movement at the Wright estate."

"Keep an eye on them," Vivienne instructed.

Percival cleared the dishes and took off his apron. "Heading to the Wrights?"

"Back to the Linklaters first," Vivienne's eyes narrowed slightly in thought.

Upon their arrival at the Linklater mansion, only Yorick was present in the grand hall.

Seeing Vivienne and Percival, Yorick's face broke into a smile. "Ah, Vivienne, Percival, come in, sit down."

"Grandfather!" they exclaimed in unison.

Yorick nodded, smiling warmly. "Your parents are out, scouting new venues for the wedding."

Vivienne cut straight to the chase. "Grandpa, that's not why I'm here today."

Yorick's expression sobered, perhaps guessing the reason. "Vivienne, I looked into what you told me, but just because she's been abroad for decades doesn't necessarily mean she's...”

Vivienne understood the dilemma; with age, familial bonds often deepen, complicating matters.

"All that matters," she said, "is whether she is or isn't the person in question, it doesn't absolve her of suspicion."

Yorick, having dedicated his life to serving the country, understood all too well.

He hesitated before speaking. "You gave your uncle a chance last time for my sake, and I won't ask you to compromise for personal reasons again, not when it concerns someone the state cannot tolerate."

Vivienne waited patiently.

Yorick had led the Vanguard Agency with distinction; he saw the bigger picture clearer than anyone.

Finally, he stood up, his voice firm. "I've taken care of it. Follow me."

They headed to the family's ancestral chapel, only to be greeted by a pungent smell of blood. Inside, rather than finding Hailey, they discovered a young servant on the floor, his chest a bloody mess, his heart gruesomely removed.

"What happened here?" Vivienne demanded.

Yorick's face darkened. He'd refused to believe his sister could be a target of a national manhunt, but this act of brutality left no room for doubt.

Vivienne turned to him, her voice hard. "Hailey is Abigail!"

Only she and Mr. Wolf knew of Abigail's special abilities; Yorick had been deceived by an act.

Yorick, looking grim, declared, "We must catch her. If she isn't the real Hailey, then the real one must have fallen by her hand."

Vivienne nodded, her resolve hardening.