The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne) novel Chapter 731

As Dorian's panicked shout pierced the air, Vivienne and the others snapped to attention. Rushing to the doorway, they caught up to Dorian just as he was bolting towards the garage.

"Whoa, hold up, cowboy!" Leopold grabbed Dorian's arm. "We'll drive you. Where to?"

"The hospital! Step on it, to Downtown Medical Center!"

His voice was raw with urgency, his fingers quivering like aspen leaves in the wind. He looked like a kid who'd lost his favorite toy, eyes red and swollen with the threat of tears.

Only now did Vivienne notice the change in Dorian, whom she hadn't seen in a few days. Silver streaks had begun to weave into his hair like frost creeping over autumn leaves.

Her eyes lingered on him for a moment before cold realization dawned upon her. She remembered Cordelia's mysterious disappearance, and her expression turned to stone.

"Leopold, floor it!" she ordered.

Percival was already on the phone with Thomas. "Get the guys closest to Downtown Medical Center on it, pronto! Find a patient named Cordelia Wilson. And make it snappy!"

They managed to shave the usual half-hour drive down to mere minutes.

Upon reaching the hospital lobby, Thomas was already there waiting. Dorian didn't need guidance; he punched the elevator button and headed straight for the wards.

"What's the situation?" Vivienne asked, with Percival and the others close on her heels.

Percival glanced at Thomas, lowering his voice as he asked.

Thomas shook his head, hinting at grim news. "No idea when she was admitted, but I've got people digging into it. As for the poison in her system, only Vivienne," he nodded at Vivienne, "can likely deal with that."

The elevator wasn't big enough to contain the tension. Everyone heard Thomas's words, including Vivienne, who turned a sharp gaze back to Dorian.

She wanted to interrogate him, but the words halted at her lips.

When they reached Cordelia's room, which was already guarded by their own, Dorian burst in. Seeing Cordelia resting peacefully, a semblance of calm washed over his distraught features.

Grasping Cordelia's hand tightly, tears began to cascade down his cheeks.

Cordelia lay on the hospital bed, her complexion ghostly pale, her lips devoid of color. Her usually gentle eyes were shut tightly, as if bearing an immense pain, her eyelids fluttering in a futile attempt to awaken.

Vivienne's face darkened, and she strode forward. "Dorian, let me handle this."

With a single look, Percival and Leopold helped separate Dorian from Cordelia.

Vivienne's slender fingers touched Cordelia's wrist, and the longer she felt the pulse, the graver her expression became.

"Vivienne, how is she?" he asked, voice laced with dread yet clinging to a sliver of hope.

Vivienne's expression was icy as she interrogated him. "Cordelia was poisoned. Why didn't you tell me? Who has been in contact with you?"

Her anger was palpable. She couldn't bear to think what might have happened if she hadn't come today. Cordelia could've been left to die!

Percival caught the shift in Dorian's demeanor after Vivienne spoke, his face turning ashen. "Is Cordelia's poisoning that bad?"

Percival glanced at the email before him and let out a derisive snort. "Thomas, look into this. Dig up everything you can on Ramona. If she thinks she can stir the pot, she better have the chops to back it up!"

...

In a villa somewhere in Northway City.

This was the second time in as many days that Samantha's bliss had been interrupted by the woman in red.

Had she not known that this woman shared a last name with the man from last night, she might have thought she was the man's wife and come to catch them in the act.

"What on earth do you want?" Samantha demanded. She was clad in a slinky nightgown, her fair and tender skin exposed to the air.

She lounged lazily on a red velvet sofa, its rich color making her appear all the more enticing.

The woman in red raised an eyebrow, her eyes filled with interest as they moved from Samantha to the impeccably dressed man sitting upright beside them. "Samantha, you do take good care of yourself. You're a good few years my senior, and yet you look so young. Even my high and mighty nephew is smitten with you, indeed shows some skill."

Samantha didn't seem to mind her age being pointed out. She smiled seductively, "Thank you for the compliment, Ms. Grimshaw. You're not far behind me. Anyone who didn't know better would take you for Ethan's sister."

It had been a surprise for her. The man she had randomly taken to her bed had such a significant background.

The head family of an ancient warrior lineage. The second son of the Grimshaw family, Ethan Grimshaw!

All she knew was that his last name was Grimshaw, and his first name was a mystery. She had never expected him to from the scion of the ancient warrior lineages.