The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)
Chapter 226

A smile adorned Mila's face as she saw the young piano prodigy, Debra, alight from the black limousine. Debra, who, despite being much younger than her, was just as famous and had a fan base that was twice the size of hers. Today, many in the audience had come specifically to see him.

Initially, Mila was hesitant to invite Debra as a guest to her concert at Havenwood. She was afraid his fan base might overshadow her. But now she was hoping that Debra could vouch for her and probably salvage this chaotic situation.

But to her shock, the first thing Debra noticed after stepping out of the limousine was Vivienne, who was being carried by Percival. With a stoic expression, he asked her, "Are you hurt?"

"The great pianist, Mila's daughter said my shoes would dirty the concert hall." Vivienne replied nonchalantly. "So, I didn't dare step foot into her concert."

Frowning deeply, Debra immediately retracted his foot, which was about to step onto the stairs. "Then I won't step foot in her concert either."

With that, he quickly retreated back into the limousine, followed by his equally impassive manager. The limousine then swiftly drove off, leaving even Debra's fans bewildered.

When they finally realized what had happened, they regretted not seizing the chance to ask for his autograph.

On the stairs, Mila stood dumbfounded. She couldn't believe that Debra knew Vivienne.

What shocked her even more was that this young man was bold enough to disrespect her! After a brief exchange with Vivienne, he simply ditched her concert without so much as a goodbye?! What was going on?!

All the while, Calista had been glaring at Percival, who was holding Vivienne in his arms. He carried Vivienne down the stairs and into the car, never once sparing a glance for her. Yet he treated the young girl in his arms with the utmost tenderness.

Why?

What made Vivienne so special?

No matter how many degrees Vivienne had, she was still jobless after resigning from her position at Cloudcrest High School. She was wasting her youth and a woman of no ambition. What made her worthy of Percival's attention?

Why couldn't he see how accomplished she was?

After a brief moment of anger, Calista quickly regained her composure. She had let her jealousy cloud her judgement, making her behave embarrassingly. That wasn't like her at all. She shouldn't be competing with Vivienne over trivial matters.

She needed to show Percival that she was the most accomplished woman in the world and that she was the only one worthy of standing by his side. She was determined to complete the research Percival had entrusted to her.

Mila's piano concert, which started with grandeur and high expectations, ended in chaos and humiliation. After two-thirds of the audience left and demanded refunds due to the unruly fans, Mila still performed.

However, perhaps because of the earlier incident, her performance was below par. She made several mistakes on stage. Even her loyal fans were disappointed, with many leaving halfway through.

By the end of the concert, only a handful of people remained in the audience, one of whom was the crazed fan who had tried to enter the concert hall with a knife earlier.

Backstage in her dressing room, Calista sat in silence, not even bothering to listen to her mother's performance.

"Calista, do you have a problem with that girl, Vivienne?" Mila asked.

Today's concert could have gone smoothly if not for Calista's irrational conflict with Vivienne.

"Calista, your actions earlier were not like you." Mila's gaze was fixed on Calista, trying to figure out what was going on.

She knew her daughter well. Calista was always calm and focused on her medical research. She was never easily disturbed. It was out of character for her to act this way.

"She's Percival's fiancée." Calista said, having regained her composure.

"So?" Mila asked, furrowing her brow.

Percival was nothing but a worthless cripple. Although he had recovered from his disability, it didn't change the fact that he was worthless. How could such a man be worthy of her carefully nurtured daughter? "Percival is Mr. Percy." Calista replied.

Mila was taken aback. She had heard Calista mention the mysterious Mr. Percy, who funded the TIC Research Institute. Calista always spoke highly of him, and Mila could see that her daughter had feelings for Mr. Percy. She was happy to hear that her daughter was swooning for such a man.

A mysterious, powerful, and handsome man. He was indeed a good match for her precious daughter.

But she never imagined that this man would turn out to be the once useless and disabled Percival of Rivenwood.

It was all because Calista always avoided social events and had little to do with the upper class of Rivenwood, so she had never met Percival in person.

Who would have thought that Percival was so good at hiding his true identity?

Everyone assumed that his power came solely from Richard's favoritism, but now it was clear that his hidden influence was much stronger than that of the Ellingtons of Rivenwood. In fact, the Ellingtons might even owe him a thing or two.

A man like him should belong to her Calista, just like Scott should belong to her.

She had long forgotten her disdain for that once useless Percival.

"No worries, I've heard his fiancée comes from a mediocre background, so she probably won't be of much help to him in his career." Mila comfortingly patted Calista's shoulder.

"Remember what I've told you, Calista. In matters of the heart, you must look beyond the present. You are the gem of our Pendleton family, one of the four major clans of Rivenwood. And when it comes to talent, you're a highly praised medical prodigy. Many famous and established corporations are eyeing to get even a small piece of the patents you've developed in your lab. Calista, you must believe in yourself. What you can offer him is far more than what a young chit could ever offer. If he didn't see your talent, why would he choose you out of all the researchers?"

"I know, Mom." Calista nodded. She instilled this fact in her heart when Percival left with Vivienne in his arms.