The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)

With a loud crash, the bowl of medicine shattered on the floor, its pieces scattering everywhere, some even splashing onto Sebastian's trouser leg.

The person who had brought the medicine stood frozen in place, witnessing for the first time Sebastian's temper shattering something.

Mrs. Thompson, Mayor Thompson's wife, stepped out at just the right moment. "Clean this mess up. What's the matter with you? Haven't I told the apothecary not to send any more medicine for Sebastian? Why did you bring it here?" "Please forgive me, ma'am! I was unaware of this!" The servant pleaded, kneeling on the ground.

Mrs. Thompson's gaze lingered on Sebastian for a moment before she approached him with a smile, "Sebastian, how would you like to handle this?" Sebastian looked at the woman with disdain, "He's worthless. What use is there in keeping someone around who can't even handle a simple task?" With that, Sebastian stood up and walked out, his hasty departure radiating contempt.

Seeing this, Mrs. Thompson snapped out of her thoughts, "Clean this up and go about your business. Don't loiter around him."

"Yes, ma'am," the kneeling figure stood up, the tears from moments ago as if never shed.

The living room quickly returned to its usual state.

When Mrs. Thompson reached the front gate of the Gregg household, she saw a figure flying out of the doorway-it was Gregg himself.

"Mrs... Mrs. Thompson," Gregg managed to speak weakly, the blood trickling from his mouth shocking Mrs. Thompson.

"What happened here?" Mrs. Thompson helped him up, her gaze shifting to Vivienne in surprise.

Vivienne's eyes held a fierceness that even someone as experienced as Mrs. Thompson found daunting, especially the oppressive feeling when their eyes met.

Mrs. Thompson felt a sense of urgency, "Thousand-Hands Healer, what is your apprentice doing?"

"You accuse us of disrespect when you're the ones at fault!" Vivienne scoffed, her laugh sending shivers down the spine of those present.

"What do you mean? What did Gregg do to you?" Mrs. Thompson continued to feign ignorance.

Vivienne threw something on the ground, "Are you pretending not to know what this is?"

Mrs. Thompson glared at Gregg, her disappointment evident.

With evidence laid before her, Mrs. Thompson couldn't deny the truth, "Gregg was wrong. He will apologize. Please, Thousand-Hands Healer, don't forsake our village over one man's actions." Gregg, left with no choice, stood up, his reluctance clear but unable to voice any complaints in this moment.

Vivienne smirked, causing Gregg to kneel abruptly, unnoticed by the others how it happened, as if a gust of wind had swept through the room.

Mrs. Thompson instinctively looked to Logan and Vivienne, both unphased and cold.

Gregg realized he had knelt down, but before he could stand, Logan spoke, "Since you've shown remorse, I see no reason to hold onto this matter. But be warned, there won't be leniency next time!" Under Mrs. Thompson's watchful eye, Gregg managed a weak smile in agreement.

Logan stood up to leave, Vivienne slowly packing her acupuncture kit to follow.

Mrs. Thompson's gaze lingered on Vivienne, realizing that despite being an apprentice, her ability to subdue Gregg indicated Logan's hidden strength.

They needed to tread carefully around them, at least until Sebastian's poisoning was resolved.

Once the force within him dissipated, Gregg stood up, only to be met with a slap from Mrs. Thompson.

"Fool! Knowing they're still of use to us and yet causing trouble. If this plan fails, you might as well be dead!" Mrs. Thompson scolded.

Gregg, knowing he was at fault, remained silent.

Throughout the day, Vivienne and Logan worked on detoxifying the villagers, discovering that aside from Carly, each household had its own vegetable garden, a sign of the tight grip Mrs. Thompson and her husband had on the village.

Late at night, Logan and Vivienne returned to their room, each preparing for bed. Vivienne waited until the entire village had fallen asleep before she rose from her bed.

At that moment, the silhouette reappeared in their room.

"Why did you get into a scuffle with Gregg today?" Percival stepped forward, taking Vivienne's hand that dangled by her side.

"You're quite informed," Vivienne didn't immediately respond to Percival's question.

Percival caressed the back of her hand, his eyes filled with affection, "Did anything significant happen today?"

"I met a young girl, Carly. Do you know her?"

When Vivienne mentioned the name, Percival thought carefully before finally placing it in his mind.

"Seems like I do recall someone by that name. About your age?" Percival had just recalled who she was when he noticed Vivienne looking at him with keen interest.

The laughter in her eyes made

Percival feel a sense of resignation, "I don't have any intentions toward her. The person who has helped me through every day here has only been you."

As he spoke, they drew closer to each other, and Vivienne simply lifted her hands to hang around his neck.

"Of course, I know. Why the rush to defend yourself?" Vivienne countered.

Percival chuckled wryly, wrapping his arms around her waist and gently laying her down on the bed, "Didn't you feel my longing for you the night before last?"

"What if I said yes?" Vivienne blurted out almost without thinking.

Percival lifted his gaze, seeing right through the mischief in Vivienne's eyes. He raised an eyebrow, "In that case, you really need to feel it now."

His hand unhesitatingly moved

under the hem of Vivienne's shirt, and soon the atmosphere in the room completely shifted. Whispers of intimacy escaped Vivienne'sДips, hiding in every corner of the room.

Afterward, well into the night, Percival held Vivienne in his arms, "So, did you end up partnering with Carly today?"

"Mr. Wolf, did you know that she figured out your true identity quite some time ago?" Vivienne's words made Percival frown. "How so?"Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.