The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)
Chapter 116

Midland Villa.

"Are you guys sure this Vivienne chick doesn't know jack about perfumery?" Elijah cast a doubtful glance at the Hawthorn family members standing in front of him. Not only was Arabella present, but Beatrice, Michael Hawthorn, and Joseph Hawthorn were all present too.

After the Hawthorn Group went belly-up, they were cornered by their creditors. They originally planned to lean on Dorian, but Elijah surprisingly popped up, cleared their debts, and even promised to help the Hawthorn Group rise from the ashes.

So now, they were all over Elijah with gratitude. They followed his orders to the letter.

Upon hearing his question, Beatrice rushed to shake her head and answer. "No way! Her mom might have known about perfumery, but she kicked the bucket when she was just nine. How much could she have taught her? She grew up in a convent, so there's no way she had a chance to learn about perfumery."

"Why would she challenge me then?" Elijah asked, looking puzzled.

"She must be relying on the perfume formula her mom left behind." Beatrice replied.

Elijah had the same thought, but he still asked, "Didn't you say the formula your third son gave you was the last one?"

"He said so, but I think that's bull." Beatrice scoffed. "Evelyn made eight perfume formulas when she was with the Hawthorn family. She's always been one to cover her bases, so why would she only leave one formula for my son? It's just that he refuses to cough it up!"

Even the one that he did was only given on the condition that they cut ties.

Thinking about the perfume formula in Dorian's possession made a hint of greed and coldness flash in Elijah's eyes.

He waved at the Hawthorn family. "Alright, take a hike."

"But Mr. Elijah, our company..." Beatrice hesitated to ask.

"I've told you that as long as you follow my lead, I guarantee the Hawthorn Group will rise again." Elijah dismissed Beatrice nonchalantly.

Beatrice pursed her lips in discontent but didn't dare say anything more and left with the other two.

"Arabella, stay." Elijah suddenly spoke up.

Arabella, who was already at the entrance, stiffened. She turned to Beatrice pleadingly. But all Beatrice whispered was, "Do whatever it takes to get on Elijah's good side. The future of the Hawthorn family, you future, might depend on him."

The Hawthorn Group was bankrupt. If Elijah hadn't publicly taken Arabella as his apprentice today, her reputation would have been toast.

Beatrice had always hoped to use Arabella's beauty and talent to gain a higher status or profit. But now, with Arabella like this, all plans and ambitions were moot. It was already a blessing that Elijah was interested in her.

After watching Beatrice and the others leave, Arabella bit her lower lip, unable to hide the hatred in her eyes.

"What? Not happy to stay with me?" Elijah sneered.

"No, not at all." Arabella quickly turned around and approached Elijah.

Of course, she wasn't happy. Although Elijah now had an extraordinary status, she still remembered how he had once groveled to win her over.

Even if Elijah was talented, he was still far from matching Percival.

She had always hoped to snatch Percival back from Vivienne. How could other men possibly catch her eye?

"Have you forgotten? If it weren't for me, you'd still be rotting in jail." Elijah squinted his eyes, pulling her onto the couch. "What's the matter? Am I not good enough for you?"

"No, it's not like that." Arabella was unhappy inside, but she plastered on a pleasing smile and softened her body against his. "You've been so good to me, and I haven't even had a chance to thank you yet."

"Ha! That's not what you said when you were rejecting me before." Elijah was instantly irked at the thought of his past unsuccessful pursuit of Arabella. His grip on her waist tightened.

"At that time, you were such a big shot. The daughter of the Hawthorn family, the talented beauty of Havenwood. You were so stuck up."

"I was shallow then." Arabella felt the pain in her waist from his grip but didn't dare show it on her face. Beatrice was right; everything depended on Elijah now. Until she could use him to completely change her fate, she had to submit to him.

"If you hadn't kicked up a fuss today by insisting on having Vivienne as my apprentice, I wouldn't be in this mess." Elijah was visibly upset when bringing this up.

"With your abilities, there's no way you'd lose to Vivienne." Arabella spoke softly to soothe him. "You're the famous Perfume Prince after all."

Elijah's eyes flickered, his expression darkened, and he pushed Arabella down under him.

"Not here. There are people around!" Arabella screamed and struggled, glancing at the bodyguard close by.

"You guys, out." Elijah followed Arabella's cue and shooed everyone else out.

Then he began to forcefully make out with Arabella on the couch.

Little did Elijah know that their every move was being watched by another person.

Vivienne was hiding in a storage room under the staircase, peeping through the door crack at the scene in the living room.

Arabella kept pleading throughout, but Elijah showed no mercy.

Five minutes later, the commotion stopped.

Vivienne raised an eyebrow slightly. That was quick.

Elijah's phone started to buzz. After catching a glimpse of the caller ID, his expression changed instantly, and he shoved an untidy Arabella to the ground. "Out!" Arabella sat on the floor with her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Not only had she made a fool of herself, he had the nerve to humiliate her like this.

Yet she could not defy him, so under Elijah's icy stare, she made a beeline for the door, fixing her clothes on the run.

Once he answered the call, it seemed like the other end had news for Elijah.

"There is indeed a formula. I'm not sure if it's related, but I'll get my hands on it." His response carried a hint of respect. Vivienne pondered in silence. Were they talking about her mother's perfume formula?

She waited quietly. Once he hung up, she saw Elijah heading to the basement of the villa.

She could follow him down there.

The basement of the villa was converted into a secret room, which Elijah had already entered.

She observed the door for a while, noticing that the lock had not only a pass code feature but also iris recognition.

She took out a small spray bottle, gently misting it over the pass code lock, revealing clear fingerprints.

She memorized the six numbers imprinted by fingerprints, planning to work out the pass code later and then consider how to crack the iris lock.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps at the entrance of the basement room. She immediately hid, scaling the wall like a gecko. Even though there was nothing to hold onto, she managed to ascend easily, making her way up to the ceiling and watching the situation below.

A bodyguard came into view, scanned the place, and then left. He should count himself lucky for not looking up; otherwise, he might be dead by now.

Once the coast was clear, Vivienne, like a ghost, evaded all surveillance equipment and left the villa.

As she was about to leave, she glanced at the massive banyan tree in the villa. No one but her noticed the figure hidden among its dense branches and leaves.