The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Dusk was settling in, painting the sky in shades of deep purples and blues. In the midst of this twilight, a modest ranch-style house stood under the gentle caress of moonlight. In front of the house, several old and withered trees swayed in the breeze, casting eerie shadows that danced in the dark.

Inside, a man was bound by ropes, suspended in mid-air. His head hung low, devoid of any signs of life.

Suddenly, a bucket of boiling hot water was poured over him from head to toe.

"Ah! Ah! Ah!" The man screamed, his face contorted in agony, his skin scalding as if it were being cooked, blisters forming rapidly. "You awake now?" The voice was chilling, menacing.

Percival, clad in a simple black tee that hugged his broad shoulders and outlined his muscular chest, stood straight with a leather whip in hand. His eyes glimmered with a ruthless intent.

The man caught in this torturous ordeal was Gavin.

With a fierce lash of the whip, Percival drew blood, marking Gavin's flesh.

Gavin barely managed a whimper, engulfed in his own hellish pain. He couldn't fathom why he was at Percival's mercy. He had anticipated Abigail's betrayal but didn't expect Percival to be the one executing the punishment.

His eyes, bloodshot, welled with confusion and pain as tears mixed with blood dripped down. "Wasn't it Abigail who wanteddead?" Percival rinsed the whip in salt water, cleaning off the blood. "It was Abigail who sent the hit, and as far as she's concerned, you're already dead." Shock and disbelief filled Gavin's eyes as he struggled to speak. "What do you mean?" Percival didn't answer, continuing his relentless assault. The room filled with the thick scent of blood, an aroma so overpowering it could make anyone nauseous.

"You should've been grateful to end up in Abigail's hands. She would've given you a quick death, but not me. I'll make you beg for death," Percival seethed with bloodlust in his eyes.

"It's for Holly, isn't it? You're avenging her!" Gavin was almost certain.

Percival's response was another brutal strike, then he casually tossed the whip aside and wiped his hands with a wet wipe, his voice cold as ice, "Killing you won't quench my thirst for vengeance." "Please, just end it. I shouldn't have wronged Holly. I deserve hell for my sins!" Gavin pleaded weakly, his voice fading.

"Too late for regrets." With those final words, Percival drove nails into Gavin's wrists and ankles, blood spurting out. Gavin's agony overwhelmed him, and he passed out.

When Percival emerged, Thomas was waiting outside, visibly shaken by the screams he'd heard. Despite knowing Abigail had sent another assassin for Gavin, her focus hadn't been on harming any of the officers.

By the the and Leopold arrived, Gavin was barely alive. It was Percival and Vivienne who saved him.

As far as the authorities were concerned, Gavin was already a dead man, replaced by a corpse.

"Let's head to the lab," Percival said, giving an address.

Thomas nodded, driving off.

Upon arrival, Vivienne greeted them with a radiant smile, "Aunt Holly's awake.” Percival, momentarily stunned, quickly embraced Vivienne, "Thank you, Vivienne. You've been a blessing toand the Ellington family." "Go see her," Vivienne suggested, knowing how much Percival longed to reunite with Holly.

Inside the room, Holly sat propped up against her bed, her face pale, looking tenderly at Victoria.

With each stroke of Victoria's hair, Holly's eyes welled with tears, "Victoria, you've grown so much. When I left, you were just a child." Victoria, filled with a whirlwind of emotions, nestled into Holly's embrace, "Mom, finding you has been my only goal. Now, we can finally be together." The atmosphere shifted as Percival and Vivienne entered. Holly's gaze locked onto Percival, her voice soft, “Percival...” "Aunt Holly," Percival greeted, his face alight with joy.

Holly lowered her gaze, filled with remorse, "Percival, Victoria toldeverything. You and Vivienne went through so much to save me, even after I cut ties with you. You never held it against me." "Aunt, there's no need for guilt. Regardless of the past, I've always cherished the bond we shared," Percival said earnestly. Moved, Holly looked at them, her eyes glistening, "Percival, you've grown into such a fine man, and Vivienne, you've saved my life. Take good care of her." Percival, holding Vivienne's hand a bit tighter, assured, "She's my everything. I'll protect her with my life." Vivienne, blushing at the unexpected declaration, felt a warmth spread through her, touched by Percival's words.

Victoria's eyes twinkled with mirth, "Look at Vivienne, blushing like a schoolgirl, tsk tsk tsk!" On one hand, their sweetness was overwhelmingly charming, and on the other, it reminded her of the tender coaxing of her own mother.

"Aunt Holly, now that the Abernathys are gone, all of them locked up, why don't you and Victoria cback withto the Ellington estate?" Percival suggested, his concernevident. He couldn't bear the thought of leaving Holly and Victoria out there, vulnerable to any charlatans that might deceive his aunt again. Holly lowered her head, a wave of melancholy washing over her, "Dad, he will never forgive me. What I did was unforgivable, I severed ties with him, declaring I was no longer fit to be his daughter. I've let you down, let Victoria down, and most of all, I've let him down. I've failed to show the slightest respect or filial piety, and now, to fall back into his care, I just can't do it." Percival stepped closer, letting out a sigh, "Aunt Holly, Grandpa has missed you all these years. He might жеб not show it in front of us, but he keeps your only photo hidden away in his drawer, where no one else is allowed to touch it. You've just woken up, and you might not be aware of the recent troubles that have befallen the Ellington family. Coming back now, when Grandpa needs you the most, could be the best thing for both of you."