The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)
Chapter 227

She acknowledged Vivienne's beauty and youth, but even the most radiant flower had its day of wilting. Only her talent and her astonishing research accomplishments would never fade.

Didn't Vivienne also hold a Ph.D. in medicine?

She didn't care! She would crush that girl in her own field!

"Mom, are you going back to the Hawthorn Mansion today?" Calista, having regained her confidence, met Mila's gaze frankly.

"Of course not. I'm flying straight to the next city for my concert." Mila huffed lightly. "I have been quite kind to the Brooks family over the years. Today, they disgraced me. When they realize their mistake, they will undoubtedly feel guilty.

"If I return to face them, it would only be awkward and counterproductive. Let their guilt ferment for a while. I will make sure that their guilt deepens for their actions today."

She began to calculate and scheme for the future. Anyone could see the ill intent in her eyes. "Next time we meet, they will back down because of this guilt. As for my things at the Hawthorn mansion, I will have someone take care of it."

She raised an eyebrow at Calista. "What about you?"

"I will continue to treat Tristan, but I will inform the Brooks family to transfer him to Pendleton Hospital in Rivenwood." Calista smiled softly. "After all, Rivenwood is my home turf."

Percival valued the project she was working on and often sent people to inquire about it.

As long as she called her research institute and told Percival that the project had made a significant breakthrough, she didn't believe Percival wouldn't come to see her.

The mother-daughter duo exchanged smiles, their calculations unspoken.

On the way back to Jade Garden Residences.

Astrid felt guilty for what Vivienne went through today. She never expected that her idol and her daughter would be so unreasonable.

She had happily taken her family to a concert, but it resulted in Vivienne being wronged for no reason. Even though she wasn't in the same car as Vivienne, she kept sending voice messages to Vivienne on WhatsApp to apologize.

"Vivienne, I'm really sorry. I will never like Mila again, and I will definitely not go to her concerts."

"Don't blame yourself." Vivienne replied indifferently on WhatsApp, comforting Astrid.

Percival was to blame for attracting women for no reason.

She glanced lightly at the man sitting next to her. He was leaning back with his eyes closed, and his handsome face was lit up by the light from the car window.

Despite his cool and dignified demeanor, it was clear that his long leg was rubbing against Vivienne.

However, she didn't know if it was intentional or unintentional.

Vivienne sneered in her heart and stomped on Percival's foot without changing her expression.

Percival opened his eyes in pain. He raised an eyebrow at Vivienne, silently asking what was wrong.

"Sorry, my foot slipped." Vivienne replied indifferently.

Although her face was expressionless, Percival was alert enough to sense that his fiancée was angry with him.

But why was Vivienne suddenly angry?

He couldn't figure out the reason.

What should a man do when his fiancée was angry but he didn't know why?

He was perplexed.

Just then, Dorian's phone rang. He answered it and found out it was a call from Tranquil Estates property management. "Mr. Hawthorn, your house has been burglarized!" Dorian was taken aback. "What? Burglarized?"

"Yes, your house is a mess. You'd better come back as soon as possible." The property management replied.

Dorian suddenly thought of something. His heart tightened, and he looked at Vivienne.

When he saw Vivienne look back at him, he quickly lowered his eyes and returned to his conversation with the property manager on the phone. "I'm on my way." "What's wrong?" Vivienne asked calmly.

"The house at Tranquil Estates has been burglarized." Dorian quickly hung up the phone and asked Percival, "Percival, can you drop me off at Tranquil Estates first?"

"Let's all go together." Percival called Leopold, who was driving the other car, and asked him to take Cordelia, Astrid, and Alfred back to Jade Garden Residences. He then directed Thomas to change course and go to Tranquil Estates.

Tranquil Estates.

The burglars at the Hawthorn family's home were discovered by two new property management staff who happened to be changing hallway lights on the Hawthorn family's floor when they saw people sneaking out of the home.

After knocking them down, the burglars fled. The property management staff immediately called the police.

When they arrived at Tranquil Estates, it was already 8 p.m. As soon as they entered the house, they saw that everything was in disarray.

The two new property management staff were young and tall, both with injuries on their faces.

When they saw them return, they accompanied them in. "You better check to see what's been stolen, so you can report it to the police later." Vivienne glanced at the two property management staff and exchanged a glance with Percival. A barely detectable glint flashed in their eyes.

"Thank you." Dorian thanked the two property management staff and quickly went to his and Cordelia's bedroom.

The bedroom was not spared from the mess. The bedding and mattress were slashed open, spilling synthetic cotton and sponge fragments all over the floor.

He moved nervously to the corner of the bed, and upon closer inspection, heaved an evident sigh of relief. He crouched down and lifted the foot of the bed, revealing a hollowed cavity within the seemingly solic bedpost.

He was torn between replacing the wooden peg that concealed the secret compartment or retrieving the item hidden within when Vivienne's icy voice echoed behind him.

"So, this is where you've hidden it. No wonder I couldn't replace it."

She had searched the Hawthorn household from top to bottom but never imagined that Dorian would hide the potion in a hollowed-out bedpost. It was cleverly camouflaged. Unless one were to lift the bedpost, it would be impossible to discover.

"Vivienne..." Dorian hesitantly started. However, he was cut off as his expression morphed into horror.

"Watch out!" He screamed towards her back.

Two gusts of wind came hurtling towards Vivienne from behind her. Without a moment's hesitation, she ducked and swung her elbows, effectively repelling the two intruders, before positioning herself protectively in front of Dorian.

Their faces changed color at the failed surprise attack. Vivienne was clearly prepared for them.

Percival and Thomas stood behind them. Percival casually rolled up his sleeves to reveal his muscular forearm.

"Vivienne, the door's locked. Feel free to start." He said nonchalantly, all the while exuding an icy aura that made his voice sound as cold as the frost of the deep arctic.

Vivienne and Percival had sensed something was off with the two property management staff from the start.

They were physically imposing, yet they moved with a stealth that belied their size. Despite their best efforts to blend in, they couldn't hide the murderous intent that oozed from their pores, a clear sign of specialized training.

Well, if they had the nerve to show up at her door, they could forget about leaving without a fight.