The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)
Chapter 225

Upon seeing Vivienne preparing to leave, Percival furrowed his brows. "What's going on?"

"Vivienne found someone in the audience trying to sneak in with a knife and stopped them." Astrid relayed the situation to Percival with a tone of indignation. "But when Mila's daughter came out, she immediately accused Vivienne. She even said that Vivienne would taint this place!"

A shadow passed over Percival's stoic face, and his narrow, deep-set eyes swept over Mila. "Is that so?"

His voice was sparse and carried an ice-cold chill in it.

"Exactly!" Alfred chimed in. "Then Mila defended the knife-wielding fan, saying she likes such fans, and accused Vivienne of meddling."

"Oh, defending such fans?" Leopold, who had always been a staunch supporter of Vivienne, echoed their sentiments. "Aren't they afraid that the concert will be swarming with such crazy fans? Who would even want to attend?"

"If that's the case, it's better to not attend." Percival took Vivienne's hand as his gaze fiercely swept over Mila and Calista's faces before turning to leave with Vivienne. "So as not to taint your ears." Calista's face turned a shade paler. She never knew Percival could be this ruthlessly blunt.

"Percival!" Mila's face darkened. "I am your elder! How can you speak like that?"

In her eyes, Percival would always be a pampered crippled who just happened to have power in Rivenwood. No matter how much Richard doted on him, she never really regarded him seriously. So even though Percival could stand now and Richard had announced that he would be the next head of the Ellington family, Mila's perception of him never changed.

Percival responded with a cold hum, "Elder? Not everyone is suited to be my elder."

"Mr. Ellington." Calista, unable to hold back, stepped forward. "May I have a word with you?"

"Who are you?" Percival furrowed his brows. His cold eyes were devoid of any emotion, and his face was icy.

"I'm Calista, the head of TIC Research Institute!" Calista exclaimed in disbelief.

Percival was her institute's sponsor, so they had already met several times. Yet she was astounded that Percival had no recollection of her.

"I see." Percival vaguely remembered the name. "Calista".

The unfinished project left by his master was handed over to the TIC Research Institute for continuation. He had personally designated it.

Rather than remembering Calista's face, he had always focused more on the progress of the research project.

He glanced at Calista, his tone indifferent. "You've put on too much makeup. I didn't recognize you."

Leopold couldn't help but laugh out loud. If anyone could land such a cruel blow, it had to be Percival.

Calista's face twisted in embarrassment.

Vivienne's gaze casually swept between Percival and Calista.

She finally understood the source of Calista's inexplicable hostility towards her.

This man seemed to attract a fair amount of attention.

Unfortunately, she didn't like others coveting what was hers.

She let out a cold laugh, unusually taking the initiative to hold onto Percival's arm as her eyes flirtatiously looked at him and her tone lazily cooed for his attention. "Mr. Wolf, I'm tired."

"Tired? I'll carry you." Percival had never seen Vivienne act so affectionately towards him. Her calling him "Mr. Wolf" nearly melted his heart.

With no regard for anyone else, he immediately swept Vivienne off her feet and started descending the theater steps amid gasps from the crowd.

Vivienne had only intended to annoy Calista, wanting Percival to quickly leave with her. She didn't expect her boyfriend to be so assertive.

She felt slightly embarrassed while he carried her away in front of everyone.

"Percival is mighty!" Leopold, initially stunned, burst into laughter, then abruptly remembered that if this scene was captured and seen by Vivienne's other eight senior disciples, they would likely replace a way to tease him.

Instantly, he could no longer laugh. He hung his head and followed Percival's footsteps with Thomas by his side.

After seeing their daughter being carried away, Dorian and others quickly recovered and followed suit.

Judith and Scott shared a knowing glance at the sight of Percival embracing Vivienne.

"I think I'll be leaving as well." Judith addressed Mila, her tone considerably cooler and devoid of its prior warmth. "I'm feeling a bit tired. Scott, will you walk me home?"

"Yes, mother." Scott firmly supported Judith. He didn't care about Mila's response, so the two of them began to descend the stairs.

Mila's expression flickered. She had already sensed the deep connection between Vivienne, Judith, and Scott, but she had not expected them to slight her because of Vivienne.

Did the Brooks family not care about their longstanding friendship? And Calista was currently attending to Tristan's injuries!

Timothy and Melissa, along with Ashley and Ronald, were left standing in bewilderment. After exchanging glances, they chose to apologize to Mila and follow Judith and Scott. The piano concert, having turned into such a fiasco, was destined to become nothing but a laughingstock. There was no point in them staying behind.

Mila watched as the Brooks family left one by one. Mila bit her lower lip as her face contorted in suppressed rage.

She suddenly realized that the close relationship she thought she had built with the Brooks over the years through her constant attentiveness towards Scott was in fact as fragile as a house of cards.

At that moment, a black limousine pulled up at the bottom of the theatre steps. Debra, dressed in a black tuxedo, and his manager stepped out of the car.