The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)
Chapter 154

Leopold, dejected, turned to leave, but after a couple of steps, he turned back, placing the cattle hair needles in Vivienne's hand.

Vivienne held the cattle hair needles, exchanging a silent gaze with Percival. Whatever romantic atmosphere they had was shattered by Leopold's interruption. Eventually, they shared a warm smile.

Checking the time, Vivienne turned to head back to the basement, only to hear Percival calling her from behind. "Vivienne."

She turned around to see him standing in the moonlight, smiling at her gently. "I'll be waiting for our next round."

Vivienne's cheeks flushed a crimson hue, and she left, holding the cattle hair needles.

By the time she reached the basement, Elijah was barely alive.

Raymond, following Vivienne's instructions, had tested all the torture tools in the basement on Elijah. He had arrived with a fearful gaze, which now lay cold and hardened as he looked at the wounds and bloodstains he had inflicted on Elijah.

Vivienne was right. Without a ruthless heart, how could he protect his little sister?

"You may leave now." Vivienne dismissed him when she saw her goal was met.

Once Raymond left, a weakened Elijah managed to lift his head to look at her. "Ha. Is this the best you can do?"

"Save that for later." Vivienne taunted him, waving the cattle hair needles in her hand.

Elijah's pupils dilated in fear. He was familiar with the terrifying effects of the cattle hair needles, having used it on Dorian himself.

"Don't worry, I won't disappoint you." Vivienne assured him with a slight smile. "Whatever my family has endured, I will make you pay a hundredfold."

That night, nobody knew what Elijah suffered under Vivienne's hand.

When Vivienne emerged and Leopold went down to the basement to check, he was met with a foul smell. Elijah was hanging from the wall, convulsing, having lost control of his bladder and bowels. But this was just the beginning. Vivienne wasn't joking about making Elijah pay a hundredfold.

Although law enforcement prevented her from keeping him captive for a hundred days, a mere seven days were enough for Elijah to experience hell.

Seven days later, Vivienne and Percival went to the hospital to pick up Dorian upon his discharge. The hospital's TV was broadcasting news.

"Breaking news: Elijah, the convict who disappeared a week ago, was found unconscious in front of East District Police Station this morning, severely wounded."

After hearing Elijah's name, Dorian's eyes flashed with fear, while Cordelia muttered, "He got what he deserved."

Vivienne noticed Dorian's fear and his forced composure. She felt that seven days of torment were too little.

"By the way, Vivienne." Cordelia mentioned as they left the hospital. "Did you hear about Arabella's sudden transfer?"

Vivienne hadn't paid much attention to such insignificant people and merely replied, "No, I didn't."

"I heard she and your grandmother all went to Rivenwood." Cordelia wondered. Just a few days ago, Beatrice had been begging for money in Dorian's hospital room. How did they suddenly afford to send Arabella to Rivenwood, a place far pricier than Havenwood?

In the afternoon, when Vivienne and Percival went to Cloudcrest High School, they also heard rumors about Arabella possibly transferring to Rivenwood.

Vivienne didn't pay it much mind. Even if Arabella moved to Rivenwood, as long as she dared harm her family again, Vivienne had ways to ensure she led a miserable existence in Rivenwood. Compared to Arabella, she was more concerned about something else.

She had come to Cloudcrest High School to replace someone.

During her mother's last mission, nearly all the members of her team were sacrificed. Only her mother and another person survived.

And that person disappeared afterward.

After moving to Havenwood, she heard that the person's daughter was studying at Cloudcrest High School under a different name.

She was here to replace her.

But despite going through Cloudcrest High School's student records multiple times, she couldn't locate the girl.

She even started to doubt the accuracy of Matthew's information.

Moreover, afraid of attracting the GTO's attention and endangering the girl, she couldn't search too openly.

Just as Vivienne had almost forgotten about Arabella, with less than half a month until the college entrance test, Arabella returned.

One day, as Percival was driving Vivienne to school, they were rear-ended right outside the school gate.

Rather than a simple accident, it seemed more like a deliberate hit.

Thomas, who had been driving behind Percival for years, was taken aback. He had never met anyone bold enough to hit Percival's car, not even in Rivenwood. Yet, here in Havenwood, he had. Before he could get out of the car to question the culprit, the person came over first.

"Oh dear, Sis, I was so excited to see you that I accidentally drove a bit too fast. I hope you won't hold it against me for damaging your hubby's car."

Arabella's pretty face appeared outside the car window.

Vivienne lowered the car window, looking calmly at Arabella outside.

This girl really was a case of a healed wound that forgot the pain. She had gone to Rivenwood, yet she still came back to provoke her.

Arabella seemed to have gained some confidence after her trip to Rivenwood.

"Sis, why are you so quiet?" Arabella looked at Vivienne with a mischievous grin. She wished she could tear Vivienne's beautiful face apart, but instead, she said, "You're not really mad, are you? It's just a car, and your husband can easily afford to fix it. If not, how about I apologize to you?"

Before Vivienne could respond, a tall figure walked up to Arabella and arrogantly said, "Arabella, as a Brooks heiress, you shouldn't apologize to such a nonentity."

The Brooks? Vivienne raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Oh dear, Tristan, she's still my sister after all." Arabella's triumphant expression was impossible to hide.

"Your real sister is the Brooks heiress. How could she possibly compare?" Tristan's scornful eyes landed on Vivienne.

"Yeah, Tristan's right." Another man, dressed in a suit, got out of the car and walked over to Arabella, backing her up. "Arabella, don't just go around claiming people as your sisters. Not everyone is worthy of being related to you."

Vivienne glanced at the man. He bore some resemblance to Percival.

Thomas, in the driver's seat, turned sour at his appearance. Percival, sitting next to Vivienne, lifted the curtain of his gaze and looked over, his tone cool and indifferent. "Paul Ellington."

Vivienne had guessed Paul's identity the moment she saw him. While investigating Percival, she naturally scrutinized the Ellington family as well.

This man was the son of Richard Ellington's eldest son and Percival's cousin.

"Percival, even if I'm just your cousin, shouldn't you greet me when you see me? And you're addressing me so informally?"