The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Seeing the whole spectacle unfolding, Cordelia nearly burst into laughter, quickly covering her mouth and shooting Dorian a significant look that screamed, "You better spill the beans!" She then hurried off to the kitchen to whip up sdinner.

And of course, she didn't miss the opportunity to snap a photo and send it to Vivienne.

At that moment, Vivienne was racing back from another location, having just discovered another female victim.

Like the others, her heart had been gruesomely removed.

And again, she was a young woman.

The message made Vivienne's lips twitch involuntarily. Turning to Leopold, who was driving, she commanded, "Forget going back to the Linklaters'. Head to the Brooks' place." Without missing a beat, Leopold made a quick U-turn, his compliance shining through. "Sure thing. And I've been craving sof Cordelia's cooking. Moving that body was a real workout." Thomas, sitting quietly beside them, couldn't help but wonder, "Are these two even related?" Percival, wrapping his arm around Vivienne's waist, asked softly, "What's going on?" Struggling to explain the bizarre situation, Vivienne simply handed her phone over to him.

Percival's brow twitched in disbelief before he chuckled, "Now, that's something you don't see every day." He then added with a smirk, "Seems like your dad's really putting in the effort." Vivienne knew exactly why Arthur was at the Brooks' place, which only added to her frustration. "I just hope he doesn't scare Dorian or Cordelia. Especially Dorian. He's not exactly the bravest." An hour later.

Dorian, overwhelmed by Arthur, who had meticulously noted down even the casual conversations he had with Vivienne, started to believe Arthur's genuine interest in learning.

But the intensity of this War God's enthusiasm was more than Dorian could handle.

Now, he just wanted to escape.

Vivienne was his only hope.

Just as Dorian was about to text her for rescue, Arthur's voice cut through again.

"Mr. Hawthorn, when you said Vivienne doesn't like being hugged, what kind of hug were you referring to?" Dorian was speechless.

When Cordelia entered from the kitchen, she found Dorian sending her desperate SOS signals with his eyes. She chose to ignore them.

After all, Arthur had call this way to learn, and for Vivienne's sake, they couldn't just send him away empty-handed.

"Mr. Linklater, why don't we have dinner first? We can always take notes later." Arthur, already standing up, hesitated. "I really should be getting back to Sasha..." But the enticing aroma coming from the kitchen stopped him in his tracks. "What's that incredible smell? What kind of cuisine is this?" Cordelia, understanding Dorian's plight in an instant, laughed. "It's not any specific cuisine. Just shomemade pasta with a few side dishes. Vivienne's favorite." That last comment was all it took to keep Arthur seated.

He remembered the look on Vivienne's face that morning when she tasted his homemade brown sugar mochi and soy milk. Learning to cook Vivienne's favorite dishes could mean getting her to beg him to cook every day.

And wouldn't that just mean he'd have his beloved daughter eating out of the palm of his hand? Arthur, never planning to leave in the first place, found himself inching back to the dining table. "Is this really Vivienne's favorite?" Cordelia, thinking he doubted her, nodded earnestly. "Mr. Linklater, Vivienne really does love pasta. You're welcto try it yourself..." "Deal!" Dorian could only watch in disbelief.

Why was this god so hard to send away? Vivienne barely stepped inside when she caught Arthur, all seriousness, learning the art of perfect pasta from Cordelia.

The level of detail, the earnestness in his voice, you'd think they were strategizing a major battle plan.

To Vivienne, the scene was beyond words.

Arthur, with his domesticated demeanor, made even Dorian, sitting opposite him, look more like a cutthroat professional by comparison.

The tension was so thick; it was hard to swallow your food.

With a knowing glance, Percival stepped aside, offering, "Be my guest." Sensing something amiss, Leopold hesitated, his curiosity warring with caution. "Nothing... inappropriate going on, right?" Percival unceremoniously dragged him back in. "I didn't see anything!" Leopold's protest was cut short by a familiar voice.

"Vivienne!" Peeking through his fingers, Leopold's jaw dropped. "War... War God?" "What are you doing here...?" Arthur, ignoring him, made a beeline for Vivienne, his eyes lighting up. "My precious girl, you're here! Did you cto fetchbecause I wasn't home?" Vivienne could only shake her head at her father's theatrics.

"If I hadn't come, were you planning to move in here?" ne Arthur, ever serious, responded, "OF course not. If I dared stay out overnight, your mom would be here with a knife in twenty minutes. You know I can't outrun her." Content belongs to en.swVivienne, caught between amusement and exasperation, couldn't bear to witness any more of their public displays of affection.

With a sigh, she headed inside where Dorian and Cordelia were waiting, hoping she'd stay for dinner.

Vivienne knew she had to bring Arthur back home.

Her dear mom had already started asking around for him.

If she didn't bring him back soon, the whole Linklater family would be in an uproar.

"Dorian, Cordelia, it's too late tonight. I'll cby another twhen I'm free." "Don't worry, I've already had a word with the gatekeeper. From now on, no more uninvited guests will be allowed in." Dorian and Cordelia exchanged glances, neither daring to respond.

After all, they were talking about the War God! Even state leaders couldn't just request a meeting.

Vivienne could say whatever she wanted; they wouldn't dare be so casual about it.

Arthur, standing aside, touched his nose. His darling daughter surely wasn't talking about him.

Dorian was his adoptive father, and he was her biological one. That's as close as it gets.

How could he be irrelevant? At the dinner table, Thaddeus waved goodbye to Vivienne politely. She smiled back at him, then turned to Arthur with an indifferent expression.

"Let's go home." Arthur followed, "Alright, anything for my darling daughter. We'll go htogether." Percival: ".

" He was still standing right there! Arthur thought: The man who wants to steal my precious daughter doesn't deserve a name.

"Vivienne, wait." Cordelia cout of the kitchen with a thermal container. "The food's still warm. You and Percival take it with you." Vivienne didn't refuse.

Cordelia must have guessed she would cand had prepared it specially.

"I'll take it!" Arthur said with a chuckle, casting a sidelong glance at Percival standing behind him.

The message was clear.

Dream on if he thought he could share a late-night snack with Vivienne! As long as he was around, his darling daughter was under his protection, and nobody was going to take her away from him.

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