The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)

Vivienne was in a foul mood. She paid no attention to the conversation happening around her.

She stood up, her voice as cold as ice as she said, "I'm tired. I'm heading to my room."

With that, she turned and left.

"I'll walk with you." Percival stood and followed as his hand found hers in a couple of strides.

Her fingers were icy. They felt like a winter's frostbite that pierced her to the bone.

They walked in silence.

Upon reaching her room, Vivienne paused and turned to Percival. “Mr. Wolf, pack up and head back to

the Ellingtons. I have some matters to tend to.”

Percival’s deep and narrow gaze lingered on her face. He pressed his lips together and was silent for a

moment before he slowly said, "Alright."

He didn't offer her any words of comfort. He knew she didn't need them.

He also knew that in her heart, the Brooks family meant nothing to her.

She wasn't upset, but rather, she felt sorry for her mother.

Percival returned to his room, collected his luggage, and left.

He traveled light with only a single suitcase in hand.

After he left, Vivienne's gaze softened, and she returned to her room.

As soon as she entered, the phone rang.

It was Matthew.

"Vivienne, I've arrived in Rivenwood." Matthew said. "I just settled down. I’m not far from the Brooks

Mansion."

"Alright." Vivienne replied. "How are things going?"

"All sorted. Everyone's settled in. The Frostfire Intelligence Agency is up and running. The order

system just went live, and we already have a request."

Vivienne raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What did they offer?"

"They have cobra grass and want boar poison. They want to trade in person."

Vivienne paused. "Are you sure it's cobra grass?"

"Positive. I saw the picture." Matthew hesitated. "But Vivienne, could this be a trap? You just

announced that you needed cobra grass, and someone instantly offered it. It feels sketchy. Maybe we

should let this one slide."

"Take it!" Vivienne's eyes narrowed slightly. "Where's the trade taking place?"

"Spring Club." NôvelDrama.Org content rights.

"Alright. Tell them I'm on my way.”

Matthew wanted to persuade her otherwise, but upon seeing her resolve, he knew it was futile, so he

simply said, "Understood."

Vivienne hung up and rummaged through her bag for a small ceramic bottle. She always carried a bit

of poison with her when she left the house.

Boar poison… She hardly ever used it.

For one, this poison didn't immobilize people like her soft bone powder did, and secondly, its effects

took longer to kick in. If her life was in danger, nothing was as potent as her shadow venom.

But who would want boar poison?

This poison was created by her mother, who lost the last bottle of it before her death. That bottle of

boar poison was also used on Isolde in the past.

Vivienne's gaze hardened. She fell silent for a moment, then tucked the boar poison into her bag, got

up, opened the door, and left.

Boar poison, though not as potent as her shadow venom, was incredibly vexing. Her mother had

intended to destroy it.

However, she ended up mastering it.

She didn't want to trade the boar poison, but cobra grass was very important to her.

When Vivienne left, the Brook Mansion's main hall was empty.

Everyone was probably resting after lunch.

Vivienne didn't bother telling anyone she was leaving. She hailed a cab and headed for Spring Club.

As she sat in the car, Vivienne rested her chin on her hand with her arm propped against the window.

Perhaps it was time to get a car? Hailing cabs was becoming a nuisance.

The car arrived at Spring Club in no time.

As soon as Vivienne got out of the car, a text from Matthew appeared on her phone. "Your contact has

already arrived. They are in the Spring Pavilion."

Vivienne raised an eyebrow. That was quick.

She pocketed her phone and walked into the club.

The Spring Club was an upscale establishment. It was renowned for its hot springs.

Most of the wealthy and influential enjoyed soaking in the springs here.

The private chef here was also exceptional. He was rumored to be a direct descendant of royal chefs.

However, to enter, you needed a membership card.

Vivienne walked to the reception, pulled a card from her bag, and handed it to the receptionist.

The receptionist blinked at the card before exclaiming, "Diamond membership card?"

Spring Club memberships were tiered.

There were regular, intermediate, advanced, and diamond memberships.

Regular memberships were white, intermediate memberships were blue, and advanced memberships

were black, but diamond memberships were gold.

Each membership tier had different spending levels.

More importantly, the membership represented status.

Spring Club staff were instructed about the different membership cards when they started, particularly

the diamond membership card, which they were told to remember clearly.

If a diamond member came, they were to be treated with the utmost respect.

Because there were only two people with diamond memberships.

The receptionist had been working at Spring Club since it opened and had only seen the diamond

membership card during training. She had never seen an actual diamond member.

So, she was a bit taken aback.

Vivienne nodded. "Please take me to the Spring Pavilion."

The receptionist was snapped back to reality by Vivienne's voice, quickly replying, "Please follow me!"

Throughout the walk, the receptionist kept sneaking glances at Vivienne. She couldn't believe that

someone so young held a diamond membership.

Vivienne stood to the side of the reception desk, taking in the grandeur of the establishment.

The Spring Club was massive. It was marketed as a club, but it was more akin to a sprawling estate.

Apart from the hot springs, it housed many other attractions.

However, Vivienne never bothered to find out what they were.

The scenery was spectacular, though. A sense of tranquility washed over her as she strolled down the

hallway.

After being led around several buildings, the receptionist finally ushered Vivienne into a courtyard

adorned with a faux mountain. “Miss, we have arrived.”

Vivienne hummed in acknowledgement. “Thank you.”

The receptionist paused and was completely taken aback. In all her time working here, she never had a

customer thank her.

She looked up and flashed Vivienne a sweet smile. “It’s my pleasure. If you need anything, don’t

hesitate to ask.”

Vivienne nodded and, as if she had suddenly remembered something, said, “Please don’t disclose any

information about this membership card to anyone.”

The receptionist blinked before quickly nodding in agreement. “Of course, Miss.”

Once the receptionist left, Vivienne turned to face the closed door. She pulled out a golden mask from

her purse, adorned it, and then knocked on the door.

“Enter.”

A cool, feminine voice echoed from within.

Vivienne was momentarily taken aback.

A woman?

Upon entering, she saw a woman garbed in traditional national attire sitting at a table in the center of

the room. The woman wore a silver half-mask, so only her luscious lips were visible.

The woman poured coffee with practiced grace and eloquent elegance.

She looked up at Vivienne, who was standing in the doorway, as her expression flickered with surprise

before she offered a coy smile. “I never expected the founder of the nationally renowned Frostfire

Intelligence Agency to be a woman.”

Vivienne met her gaze and calmly replied, “I didn’t expect the one who wanted the boar poison to be a

woman either.”

The woman smirked and gestured for Vivienne to sit. “Have a seat.”

She placed a freshly brewed cup of coffee in front of Vivienne, wasting no time in getting down to

business. “Did you bring what I asked for?”