The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne) novel Chapter 542

William pondered for a moment before speaking up, "It was about two weeks before the boss took her own life. She sent it to me over the local network; it was a burn-after-reading kind of deal, leaving only this file with instructions to keep it safe, saying it would come in handy later. Then she just vanished without a trace."

"It was the same for me. The boss made me promise not to let these secrets out," Zachary also chimed in.

Vivienne's brow furrowed with concern. It would come in handy later?

How so?

Her mother was dead. What good could it possibly do now?

"Master, could this be... bionic technology?" William ventured to ask.

Vivienne nodded. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm entrusting to you. I've consolidated all the Ashford and Boyd family resources, and the labs are all set up, but I don't have the time to manage them. I'm hoping you can handle it. Will that work for you?"

"Of course, it's perfect," William replied, his voice tinged with excitement. "Master, aside from my work in holistic medicine, I've been relying on this document from the boss to research bionics. I always felt something was missing, but now that you've brought this to us, it's all starting to make sense."

Zachary nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I've always wondered what the boss meant by it might come in handy. Turns out she was waiting for you to come to us, Madam."

Vivienne's lips curved into a slight smile.

Waiting for her to come to them? Did her mother have the same capabilities as her mentor, to know the future?

How could her mother be so sure that she would come?

A myriad of questions flickered through Vivienne's mind, slowly shaping into a theory.

"You guys can handle the Havenwood and Rivenwood affairs. Patrick has been making progress with the bionics project over the years, but he never quite cracked it. Keep pushing in that direction, and you're bound to see results soon."

After giving her instructions, Vivienne stood up. "If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me."

With those final words, she left without looking back.

Vivienne felt confident entrusting the bionic technology to the combined expertise of the Pendleton and Churchill families.

With that matter settled, Vivienne made her way to the underground prison where Patrick was being held.

After a stint with the DEA, Patrick had been secretly transferred here by Percival.

Soaked and shivering in his water cell, Patrick was a pitiful sight to behold.

Vivienne sat across from him, studying his pale and swollen face without a shred of empathy.

Betraying her mother, manufacturing and trafficking drugs, stealing her mother's research for profit, colluding with GTO...

Each and every act was a betrayal that struck at Vivienne's core.

At the sound of her approach, Patrick struggled weakly and managed to gasp, "Madam... I know I was wrong. Please, let me go."

Vivienne's eyes narrowed as she asked coldly, "Where's F-Poison?"

Patrick swallowed hard, the chains binding him clanking. "I don't know. I've never met him. We've only ever communicated online."

"You've never met F-Poison, yet you chose to betray my mother?"

Chilled by Vivienne's icy tone, Patrick shivered and stammered, "Initially, GTO approached me and offered me a lot. They said I could make a fortune if I followed them. I was desperate for money, I..."

Before Patrick could finish, Vivienne's hand was already tightening around his throat.

Patrick could feel the fury in her grip as he struggled for his life, splashing water everywhere.

"I was wrong... Madam... I was wrong. Please, I beg you, let me go. I know I made a mistake."

Vivienne tightened her grip, her anger making her want to twist his neck right off. But as she saw the blood in Patrick's eyes, she finally let go.

After all, anyone who could outmaneuver the likes of Karen and Percival for so long had to be smart.

The car's engine hummed as she drove away, her mind racing with the implications of her discovery.

Startled by a tap on her car window, Vivienne snapped back to reality and turned her head, finding Percival standing in front of her vehicle, holding a box of strawberry shortcake.

Vivienne stepped out of the car, ignoring the strawberry shortcake, and instead buried her head in Percival's chest, hugging him tightly.

A flash of surprise twinkled in Percival's eyes.

This was the first time Vivienne had resisted the temptation of strawberry shortcake!

Indeed, time was the best proof.

He had finally triumphed over the strawberry shortcake!

Vivienne took a few deep breaths, reaching for the shortcake.

But Percival held it just out of reach.

Nearly five-foot-seven, Vivienne was still too short to reach the coveted dessert with Percival's added height and outstretched arm.

"Mr. Wolf!" Vivienne pouted playfully, her voice tinged with a whiny undertone.

Percival pinned her against the car, still keeping the shortcake aloft, but lowered his head to lock eyes with her. "Kiss me."

Vivienne's face was a picture of confusion.

"Kiss me, and the strawberry shortcake is yours," Percival gestured to his lips, a meaningful gaze fixed on Vivienne.