The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)

Vivienne furrowed her brow, a clear sign of confusion.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Colin seemed to read her mind. "Brianna isn't really a Wright; she was adopted," he explained, cutting through Vivienne's silent questions.

Vivienne was momentarily speechless. It was as if Colin had anticipated her arrival and the very questions she'd bring with her.

Without needing her to utter a word, he volunteered information freely.

Unlocking the door, Colin stepped back, "I know Ms. Hawthorn has a lot more to ask. Don't worry, I'll be just outside."

Without further hesitation, Vivienne gave Percival a look.

Responding to her silent cue, Percival kicked the door down with a forceful swing of his leg.

"Really, Mr. Wolf? No subtlety?" Vivienne couldn't help but comment.

Percival shrugged, "Sorry, Vivienne. My gentleness is reserved solely for you. Everyone else gets the boot."

Silence fell between them as they entered the dimly lit room, where Hunter was pinned against the wall.

The scene made it clear why Colin had managed to capture Hunter so effortlessly.

Percival raised an eyebrow, "He's lost his abilities."

Vivienne scoffed, "Cutting off the source after use. Must be how Abigail acquired her powers."

Without the gift, one resorts to theft.

Facing the barely conscious Hunter, Vivienne wasted no time, "Declan Edwards, how long will you keep up this charade?"

At the mention of his true name, Hunter stirred, his pale face lifting slightly.

"You... how did you know...?" he murmured, barely audible.

Vivienne cut to the chase, "You thought you hid well, but these things are easy to uncover for those who look."

She continued, "You're not truly one of the Wrights but from the ancient warrior lineage of the Edwards clan. Disowned for using your abilities for personal gain, you vanished only to resurface as Mr. Wright, through marriage, completely obscuring your true origins."

"Yet, your ambitions didn't end with infiltrating the Wrights. You used the family's assets to amass wealth, transforming the Wrights into your personal empire, all while the true Wrights remained oblivious to your machinations."

"The first to see through you was Ms. Wright herself. Despite her deep affection, she tried to cover for you until you poisoned her with your own hands, eventually eliminating the entire Wright family to consolidate your control."

"Now, the Wright family is nothing like it once was, all thanks to you."

"The Wrights sought their own end; who can they blame?" Declan spoke without remorse, his ambition laid bare.

To him, the Wrights were merely a stepping stone in his vendetta against the Edwards clan.

Vivienne coldly eyed him, "With the Wrights under your thumb, you could do as you pleased. So, how did Abigail come into the picture?"

A glint of cunning flashed in Hunter's eyes, "She offered something I needed. Our partnership was meant to show the Edwards-and everyone else that I could rise without them."

Percival handed Vivienne a chair, insisting, "Only the best for my wife."

Gratefully sitting, Vivienne eased her aching back, "So, the heart thefts were your doing for Abigail?"

Hunter hesitated, "Not entirely. Sometimes, she took matters into her own hands."

"And you've seen how she uses these hearts?" Vivienne pressed on lightly.

Hunter fell silent, refusing to indulge Vivienne's curiosity further.

Exchanging glances with Percival, they both sensed the depth of the situation.

"Do you not seek vengeance against Abigail for consuming your abilities, after all you've done for her?" Percival probed.

Hunter laughed bitterly, "As much as I'd love to know her whereabouts, I've said enough. We're square."

Percival's eyes narrowed, "You seem to know her well. Who is she, really?"

Hunter's gaze dimmed, the light fading from his eyes as he resigned himself to his fate. "I'm a dead man walking anyway," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. "Bringing this up now will only spell disaster for the Wrights. Might as well take it to the grave."

Vivienne snorted derisively. "The Wrights?"

"

"Oh, your precious Natalia's Wrights are on the brink of bankruptcy. All those grand dreams you had? Poof. Gone. You really think you still have control over anything related to the Wrights?"

"Bankruptcy?"

Hunter's eyes narrowed, a spark of anger flaring up. "It's that damn Robbie's doing!"

Vivienne scoffed, "You're so blind to the obvious. You think holding onto the Wrights so tightly means you're invincible, but you've been targeted for a while now by the very last person you'd expect." Hunter's eyes widened in disbelief, struggling for breath. "You're saying... it wasn't Robbie who kidnapped me?"

Without answering, Vivienne called out towards the door, "Come in."

Colin entered, dressed in sleek, modern attire, his gaze aloof as if looking at a stranger rather than his grandfather. His voice carried the usual respect, but his demeanor was icy cold. Hunter couldn't believe his eyes. Colin, the grandson he'd always overlooked, was the mastermind behind his capture.

"You?!"

Colin's expression remained

impassive as he simply stated,

"Grandfather, I've always been aware

of the dealings you had on behalf of

ver

Abigait, I thought, with your foresight, you'd have seen this coming."

Hunter's face paled, "Colin, how dare you... After all these years, if it weren't for me, you'd be dead."

Colin let out a scornful laugh, "So, by your logic, I should've died when I turned eighteen, right? But grandfather, wasn't it you who turned a blind eye when Robbie poisoned me?"

"You groomed Robbie to be your successor, but my mere presence was a threat to him. Despite doing nothing, was an irritant in his eyes. That poison he slipped me at may birthday party? It came straight from your room."