The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)
Chapter 281

Percival stood aside, listening to their familiar chatter with a look of utter displeasure on his face.

He had thought Aaron looked familiar from the moment he laid eyes on him, but he couldn't quite place where he'd seen him before.

Now that Aaron and Vivienne were standing together, it became abundantly clear. The young man was practically a male carbon copy of Vivienne in his choice of attire. They were both clad in casual t-shirts and jeans, which was a stark contrast to the formal attire of everyone else at the banquet.

Without having been told, one could easily mistake them for a couple. Their outfits were perfectly coordinated.

"Vivienne." Percival squeezed out through gritted teeth while draping an arm around Vivienne's shoulders. "Is this another one of your friends?"

The word 'another' was dripped with an undeniable hint of jealousy.

How many other friends did she have that he didn't know about?

And why were they all male friends?

Vivienne didn't attempt to shake off Percival's arm. She instead offered him a small, nonchalant laugh.

"Yes. A friend." She confirmed.

She then turned to Aaron, introducing Percival with a straightforward, "My fiancé."

Percival was taken aback by her blunt honesty. He was pleasantly surprised that she had acknowledged him and their relationship so openly.

Feeling reassured by Vivienne's acknowledgment, he tightened his hold around her and greeted Aaron with a beaming smile. "Nice to meet you. I'm Percival."

His attitude towards Aaron did a complete 180, all thanks to Vivienne's honesty.

Aaron's gaze darted between the pair as his eyes dimmed with an array of complex emotions.

News of Vivienne and Percival's engagement was not widely known. Only a select few within their inner circle were aware.

The media had only reported on Percival's engagement, describing his fiancé as a simple country girl.

The news of their engagement in Havenwood had been suppressed.

But Aaron knew. He knew that it was Vivienne who was engaged to Percival.

A bitter and sour taste spread through his mouth.

In his eyes, Vivienne deserved the best. She needed to be with the most outstanding man ever.

Percival just didn't measure up.

He thought that Vivienne didn't care about the engagement, so he hadn't expected her to take it so seriously now.

Even though she had introduced Percival in a casual manner, the term 'fiancé' felt like a thorn, pricking uncomfortably at his most tender spots.

He shook off his thoughts and greeted Percival politely. "Hello, sir, I'm Aaron."

His greeting was cordial, yet it still carried a hint of provocation.

He was only eighteen.

Vivienne was just nineteen.

And Percival... Well, he could easily pass for their uncle.

He wanted to emphasize the age gap between them to Percival.

Percival's smile froze, and his eyes narrowed dangerously.

Just as Aaron was reveling in his perceived victory, the cold intensity in Percival's eyes stopped him dead in his tracks.

It was a familiar feeling. The sense of distance between them was palpable. It seemed as vast as an ocean.

A sense of panic washed over Aaron as he quickly redirected his gaze to Vivienne, attempting to change the subject. "Vivienne, about rejoining the team..."

He was hoping for a definitive answer from Vivienne.

Vivienne cut him off, gently disentangling herself from Percival's arm. "I'll think about it."

Seeing that Vivienne was considering his offer, Aaron's spirits lifted. It was as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Vivienne, if you return, I promise to meet any conditions you have!" He exclaimed enthusiastically.

He knew his promise didn't hold much weight, but he wasn't about to let go of any possible opportunity.

Vivienne merely hummed in response, leaving Aaron to his own interpretations. Meanwhile, Percival watched the exchange with a dark expression on his face. He was clearly not thrilled.

He could see through Aaron's thinly veiled intentions, especially after he had almost nabbed the last strawberry cake.

Whether he truly enjoyed the dessert or had taken it to impress Vivienne, the answer was crystal clear.

The thought sent a wave of displeasure through Percival, and his gaze grew colder by the second.

He wouldn't allow anyone to covet what was his. However, since it was something Vivienne had agreed to, he wouldn't openly oppose it.

"Percival." Thomas approached quietly, speaking in hushed tones, "Richard isn't feeling well. He would like to leave."

Vivienne's family reunion banquet was nearing its end. All formalities had been completed, and all necessary appearances had been made.

Given Richard's ailing health, there was no reason for him to continue to push himself.

"Take my car." Percival instructed him. "Drive Richard home."

Thomas nodded in understanding and went off to carry out Percival's command.

Aaron had a whole list of things he wanted to discuss with Vivienne, but given Percival's presence, he had to tone it down. "Vivienne, everyone misses you. Why don't we all get together for a meal next time?" Upon hearing Aaron's suggestion, Percival's mood soured even further. Yet Vivienne seemed oblivious to this, and she readily agreed. "Sure."

Aaron's heart leapt at her response, and after a brief chat, he took his leave.

Once he was gone, Vivienne turned to Percival. "Mr. Wolf, I'm tired."

The reunion had been a long and tiring affair. It was filled with all sorts of drama, leaving her feeling exhausted.

Upon hearing that she was tired, Percival immediately signaled to Leopold, intending to head home. "Let's go then."

Before they left, they bid Baron and Scott farewell.

"That's fine." Scott did not object. "A lot happened today, but don't let it weigh on your mind."

"No matter what happens, the Brooks family and Hawthorn clan will stand by you. After all, you're one of us now." He added with a grandiose air. Vivienne's eyes narrowed slightly as she let out an indifferent "mmm."

"Today, we let you down." Baron began. "The matter with Eddy is settled. From now on, no one will dare cross you."

Baron despised the underhanded tactics Paula and Eddy used, but they were his daughter and grandson, so he could only go so far in chastising them. Vivienne's lips curled into an enigmatic smile. She responded nonchalantly, turned, left the banquet hall with Percival, and climbed into Leopold's car. "I can go home by myself." Vivienne announced when Percival insisted on accompanying her.

"It's on my way." Percival countered as he raised an eyebrow. He was not going to miss this rare opportunity to spend time with her. Leopold, who was driving, twitched his lips at this.

On his way?

The two places were an hour's drive apart at least. There was nothing 'on the way' about it.

Percival was clearly just shamelessly trying to make an excuse to be with Vivienne.

Leopold shuddered at the thought of how the other eight disciples would react to Percival if they knew about this.

Wait.

Why was he worrying about Percival?

He should be worried about himself.

He was, after all, Percival's accomplice.

Once in the car, Vivienne settled into the back seat and closed her eyes to rest.

She didn't need to be constantly on guard when she was with Percival. She could relax and completely let her guard down.

As he watched her lightly closed eyes, her eyelashes began fluttering with every movement of the car. Soon, Percival began feeling his own heart flutter.

Ten minutes into the drive, Leopold's phone suddenly rang.

His face changed as he listened to the call. He quickly pulled over to the roadside emergency lane, turned to Percival anxiously, and blurted out, "Percival, we've got a problem!"