The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)
Chapter 295

"Oh?" Vivienne raised an eyebrow at that comment. "Was it so obvious that even a fool could see it?"

"Yes!" Carl shot back angrily.

Vivienne's lips curled into a teasing smile. "And who might this fool be?"

"The fool is you!"

"Oh, right. The fool is you." Vivienne's smile widened.

"Fine, I'm the fool then, so what..." Carl suddenly realized he had been tricked again. He pointed at her, fuming, "You set me up again!"

Somehow, he kept falling into Vivienne's traps. He didn't know where she got her cunning from, but she always made him look foolish.

"I don't have time for such games." She glanced at the kitten following Carl, then leisurely shifted her gaze elsewhere. "Instead of arguing with me, you should take better care of your cat." With that, she turned and walked towards her room.

Carl watched her retreating figure while clenching his fist in frustration. "I don't need you to tell me that! I'll take care of my cat just fine, and I'll make sure it's well-fed and plump!" With that, he dropped his head in dismay.

Taking care of a cat wasn't cheap, especially the high-quality cat food he wanted to feed it. Where was he supposed to get the money?

His entire family knew about the fortune he had spent on the gemstone. His mother, Cheryl, had already given him a good scolding and certainly wouldn't give him another penny. As Carl worried about this, Vivienne returned to her room and began ordering a pile of stuff on her phone.

The next day.

Carl didn't wake up until the sun was high in the sky. The first thing he thought of was his kitten.

He rushed to the room where he kept the cat, and as he opened the door, he saw several bags of cat food next to the makeshift bed he had made for the kitten. "What is this?"

Carl picked up a bag of cat food and a can. Both were from high-rated, expensive brands.

Who would be so kind as to buy food for his cat?

He glanced around, then saw a figure disappearing around the corner.

Carl quickly followed and saw Vivienne casually turning the corner.

Was he seeing things?!

It was Vivienne.

Carl slapped himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming, but he still couldn't believe it was real.

No way!

Vivienne wouldn't help him.

Just yesterday, they had been at each other's throats.

Why would she help him?

She must be sick.

Carl shook his head and returned to the cat's room, trying to put the thought out of his mind.

For a while after that, Vivienne lived peacefully among the Brooks clan.

Besides visiting Richard at the hospital every day, she spent her time researching a cure in the Brooks family's labs.

The person who had tried to kill Percival had poisoned himself, and she hadn't found the herb needed for the antidote yet.

Though she could stabilize his condition, she couldn't guarantee there wouldn't be complications.

So, she used the limited ingredients she had to research a cure.

Richard had recovered quite a bit after a few days of rest, but he didn't want to go back to the Ellington Estate, so he decided to stay in the hospital for a while longer.

At the end of the month, it was time for the medical research conference. Vivienne left her house in the afternoon.

Professor Madison, who was particularly fond of her, had arranged for someone to pick her up. But she didn't want to make a fuss, so she simply took a cab.

The participants of the conference were all notable figures in the medical field. All of them had published papers in renowned medical journals.

Vivienne, however, was low-key and not well-known, so she wasn't bothered much. She was happy to sit in a corner and play with her phone, waiting for the conference to start.

"Vivienne?"

She hadn't had a moment's peace when she heard someone speak in surprise.

Vivienne looked up to see Calista standing in front of her.

"I thought you didn't like attending conferences." Calista looked at her, both surprisedly and mockingly, as if she were a joke. "When I invited you, you made all sorts of excuses. But you couldn't resist this rare opportunity and came anyway. What a surprise."

Calista's tone was laced with mockery.

Vivienne didn't even bother looking at her. She was just focused on her phone. "Does it concern you?"

"Vivienne, there are things you know even if I don't say them. Being able to attend this conference is a matter of pride for medical professionals, whether you want to admit it or not."

She held her head high and spoke with arrogance. "I don't know how you managed to get in here, but I earned my place with my skills and abilities."

In her eyes, Vivienne, a basic doctor with no medical achievements, must have used her connections to sneak in.

They were worlds apart, and no matter how good Vivienne's medical skills were, she would never reach Calista's level in the field of medicine.

"I suggest you keep a low profile." Calista laughed arrogantly while looking down at Vivienne in her chair. "Or you'll be kicked out when they replace out you're not qualified to be here!" Vivienne frowned as she continued to play her game. "Are you done?"

Seeing that Vivienne didn't even spare her a glance, Calista's face turned red, and veins began popping out on her neck.

She was about to argue with Vivienne when someone recognized her and came over excitedly.

"You're Calista, right? I just read your paper. Your new theory is incredible."

"Oh my God, you're William's daughter, the medical genius. It's such an honor to meet you here."

Calista was flattered by all the praise. Her back straightened as a great sense of pride washed over her.

So, what if Vivienne had successfully performed Richard's surgery?

Before her, the prodigy from the prominent Pendleton family, Vivienne had no option but to bow in submission and accept being overshadowed.

"Easy there, folks." Calista said, her tone brimming with superiority as she shot a sideways glance at Vivienne. "I've made minor strides. It's nothing that constitutes me being a genius. My research and thesis are the results of hard work and perseverance. I appreciate the recognition, and I'm open to your guidance and advice."

Her humble demeanor and dignified manner made the audience elevate her even more.

"Calista is being too modest! The Pendleton family is one of the four grand families in Rivenwood, and you're the youngest doctor among them ever!" "Absolutely! You've published so many papers and won numerous medical awards at just twenty-two. Who else in our country could achieve that?"

Not to mention the projects her team had undertaken and the patents they'd applied for, all of which had brought astonishing value to the Pendleton family. Who in the medical field didn't know Calista, and who wouldn't want to be acquainted with her?

If it weren't for the crowd around her and the necessity to maintain a humble facade, Calista would have had her chin up while strutting about. Indeed, how could Vivienne possibly compare with her?

Vivienne lacked the capability, qualifications, and social standing to even lick Calista's toes. Vivienne was nowhere near Calista in terms of research and thesis.

At that moment, Professor Madison took the stage to announce the start of the research conference and invited Calista to present her paper.

"Calista is the rising star in the medical field. Let's have her enlighten us with her latest research replaceings." He announced.