The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne) novel Chapter 102

She and Vivienne tacitly didn't bring up the previous topic again.

Talking about it more might do more harm than good, potentially hurting someone’s feelings.

Eventually, they took the two kids out for a late-night snack.

Iris originally thought that since she had invited Vivienne out, she would be the one to take Vivienne and Thaddeus home.

But Percival volunteered to do it. Iris was happy to give the young couple more time together, so she went home alone.

Before leaving, she said to Vivienne, "I've already made a deal with your dad. I'll have lunch with your family tomorrow."

"Gotcha. Be careful on your way home, Auntie." Vivienne nodded.

By the time they got to Tranquil Estates, the two worn-out kids had fallen asleep.

Vivienne had just gotten out of the car with Thaddeus when Percival took him from her arms.

"I'll walk you up." Percival said gently.

Vivienne nodded.

Isolde fell asleep on the seat, mumbling, "Stinky brother..."

Vivienne smiled, patted Isolde’s head, closed the car door for her, and then made her way inside.

It was almost ten o'clock, and Tranquil Estates was very quiet. Only the three of them were in the elevator.

They rode in silence, but as they stepped out of the elevator, Percival suddenly asked, "What do you want me to promise you?"

"Already throwing in the towel?" Vivienne smiled slightly but was not surprised.

"I told you that I would let you win." He stood next to her, so the corridor light cast his tall shadow over her. "Vivienne, you are the first person in the world that I am willing to lose to."

He vowed to himself that she would be the only one.

Vivienne frowned slightly as she felt a strange feeling well up in her heart. It was a warm feeling, but she didn’t quite know what it was.

"Lose what?" Before Vivienne could figure it out, the door to her house was suddenly opened from the inside, and Dorian popped his head out. "Didn't you guys go to the amusement park? What did you lose? You didn't gamble, did you?"

He looked at Percival with a reproachful look, suspecting that he had taken Vivienne somewhere unsavory. After all, Percival's reputation was infamous, and, to him, Vivienne was a good girl. If anything happened, it must have been because she was led astray.

Percival smiled. "I lost to Vivienne when we were playing shooting games in the amusement park."

"I see." Dorian laughed, took Thaddeus from him, let Vivienne go into the house, and then said to Percival, "It's quite late; I won't keep you."

"Okay." Percival nodded and turned to leave.

"Is there a time limit to your promise?" Vivienne suddenly asked.

He looked back at her. "For you, there's no time limit."

Cloudcrest High School.

Remembering her lunch date with Iris, Vivienne declined Charlotte's invitation to go to the cafeteria.

As soon as she stepped out of the school gate, a black Lincoln quickly stopped in front of her, as if it was prearranged.

She glanced at Thomas, who was staring at her without blinking, and then at the slowly lowering car window in the back seat.

In the car window, Percival's eyes seemed to look even darker than the black hue of a shadow.

"My aunt took Thaddeus to the hospital to see Beatrice behind our backs, and the Hawthorn family kept him. They are demanding that I see them." Vivienne's voice was very calm, but Percival could hear a storm brewing.

Just like yesterday, when someone was causing trouble at Tranquil Estates, the calmer she was, the angrier she was.

"Go to the city hospital." Percival ordered Thomas.

"Let's keep this under wraps from Mr. Hawthorn and Cordelia for now." Vivienne sat next to Percival, cracking her knuckles subtly.

She hadn't been this pissed off in a long time.

It was quite an achievement for the inept lot of the Hawthorn family to get her blood boiling like this.

City hospital, inpatient department.

Vivienne had just reached outside Beatrice's ward when she heard the heated argument between Iris and Beatrice.

"Mom, are you going to let Thaddeus go or not?!"

"Thaddeus is my blood! He is my grandson! What's the matter with me wanting to see him and wanting him to stay a bit longer?" Beatrice scoffed coldly.

"Is that all you want? Or are you planning to use him?" Iris was brimming with fury. "You and your crew just threatened Thaddeus and forced him to beg Vivienne for help. Just look at how scared he is!"

"He's my grandson! Of course, I want him on our side! Helping us is what he should do!"

"Mom!" There was nothing but disappointment in Iris’ voice. "If you don't let me take Thaddeus away, I swear I won't come back from Ozoria ever again! You decide! Do you want me or Thaddeus?"

SMACK!

A crisp slap echoed in the room. Vivienne pushed the door open just in time to see Iris's reddening cheek.