The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)
Chapter 312

After touring the mall, Percival, as per their agreement, drove Vivienne back to the Brooks Mansion.

Their time together was far too short. Like ripping a piece of his own heart out, he watched as Vivienne stepped out of his car and walked away. It was not time yet, he thought.

Vivienne was still investigating her mother's case. She had to stay with the Brooks family for now.

Percival understood the importance of this case to Vivienne. No one could stop her from pursuing this, and he didn't want to either.

Once everything was settled, he promised himself that he would stage the most grandiose wedding ceremony to marry his little lady.

Meanwhile, Vivienne had hardly reached her bedroom door at home when Dorian called out to her.

"Vivienne!" He rubbed his hands together with a slightly awkward smile on his face. "Where have you been? You've been gone a long time."

Vivienne glanced at him with an indifferent expression on her face. "Is there something you need?"

Dorian quickly waved his hands, as if he were afraid she'd misunderstand him. "No, no, nothing urgent. I just wanted to chat with you. You've been here for quite a while now, and we haven't had a chance to sit down and talk. I'm curious about how you're getting along here."

Vivienne looked at him with a hint of suspicion, then nodded.

She led him to the courtyard instead of her room.

They sat on the lounge chairs scattered in the yard.

Vivienne was straightforward. "What do you want to know?"

Dorian hesitated, then forced a smile. "How are you replaceing your stay with the Brooks? How are they treating you?"

Vivienne looked at the bougainvillea in the yard and replied, "It's all right. Nothing unusual."

Judith was indeed thoughtful and considerate of her feelings.

Baron and Scott, on the other hand, were a different story.

Their actions were always influenced by their personal interests.

Seeing that Vivienne had no complaints about the Brooks family, Dorian continued, "Actually, I came to visit the Brooks family this time to see where your mother used to live."

"If I could turn back time, I wish I could've been kinder to her. She suffered a lot, but she was a good mother."

At the mention of her mother, Vivienne's expression faltered slightly, and her eyes revealed a hint of emotion.

Her eyes lowered, and she hid her thoughts from view. "I know she was good."

"Yes." Dorian sighed. It looked like he was trying his hardest to express his regret. "You must miss her too. After all, she left when you were so young. It must have been a huge blow for you." Vivienne hummed in acknowledgment but didn't say anything more.

"Vivienne, there's something else..." Dorian began, but he seemed to be hesitating.

Vivienne's lips curled up slightly.

Was he finally getting to the point?

"Do you still have the potion I gave you last time?" Dorian asked as he kept an eye on Vivienne's reaction.

"Potion?" Vivienne raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, that one."

Vivienne looked at him. "Why ask about it now?"

Dorian quickly put on a smile. "When I gave you the potion, I didn't think it through. Your mother once told me it was dangerous and not to give it to you lightly."

Dorian paused, then said softly, "Vivienne, like your mother, I want you to live a happy life. I don't want you to get involved in anything dangerous. So, if you haven't used the potion yet, could you give it to me? I'll keep it safe, and when the time is right, I'll give it back to you."

Vivienne looked at him with a mix of amusement and skepticism. "And when would be the 'right time,' Mr. Hawthorn?"

Dorian thought for a moment before answering, "At least when you're strong enough to protect the potion."

Vivienne laughed. "Do you think I'm not strong enough, Mr. Hawthorn?"

Dorian looked into her clear eyes. They looked like the night sky on a pitch-black night, with only the moon as its illumination. They were sharp and penetrating, like a sword aimed directly at him. Dorian froze for a few seconds. He was inexplicably flustered.

After a moment, he collected himself and laughed. "You are strong. But the potion is dangerous. I'm worried you won't be able to protect it, since it's the only thing your mother left behind."

"Can't protect it?" Vivienne asked, "So, Mr. Hawthorn, do you think you could?"

Dorian paused, then replied, "I may not be able to either, but it would be safer with me."

Vivienne looked at him but said nothing.

After a while, she sat down and toyed with a ring on her finger. "Mr. Hawthorn, do you know what the potion is used for?"

Dorian's gaze fell on her ring. It looked oddly familiar, as if he'd seen it somewhere before. But he couldn't remember where.

He discreetly looked away and nodded. "Your mother once told me. The potion could alter the hormones in the human body. It could bring a person's energy to its peak, giving them an endless supply of energy. If it falls into the wrong hands, it could be used to create a force that could wreak havoc."

"And do you know which organization is after the potion?" Vivienne continued.

"GTO." Dorian answered promptly.

Vivienne laughed. "It seems like you know a lot, Mr. Hawthorn."

"Your mother told me." Dorian's eyes flickered.

"How much do you know about GTO?" Vivienne asked casually.

"All I know is that it's one of the largest organizations globally, but beyond that, I'm clueless." Dorian replied, trying to skirt around the details.

"Well, let me fill you in on GTO." Vivienne stood up and walked over to face Dorian. Her voice was steady and calm; there was even an underlying tone of danger in every word she said.

"GTO is the largest human trafficking organization in the world. Over the past two decades, tens of thousands of people have disappeared from Veridia. These people were all sold to GTO. Besides that, they're heavily involved in human experimentation, using those they've trafficked for their nefarious purposes.

GTO is filled with brilliant minds, medical doctors, and even tech moguls, many of whom are dedicated to the organization. Their base is well hidden, and to this day, no one has been able to discover its exact location. Of the people who've gone missing in the past twenty years, children make up eighty percent. The government, in an effort to rescue these trafficked individuals and disrupt their biochemical experiments, has sent countless undercover agents. Over the years, almost a hundred agents have been lost."

Dorian furrowed his eyebrows. He was unsure of why Vivienne was sharing this information with him.

While glancing at him, Vivienne continued, "Mr. Hawthorn, did you know my mother was one of those undercover agents? Apart from being a medical genius, she was also skilled in toxicology and a master of disguise."