The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)

On Victory Avenue.

In order to enjoy some alone time with Vivienne, Percival had persuaded Cecilia to help look after

Thaddeus, who had just been handed to them.

Cecilia had grown fond of Vivienne, and naturally, her affection had extended to Thaddeus too.

Ever since the high society ladies had discovered that Master Q was to be her future daughter-in-law,

they had been going out of their way to win her over, hoping she could persuade Vivienne to create

perfumes for them.

Even the wife of a notable figure in Rivenwood had actively reached out to her, and they had become This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

close friends. She really had been enjoying her newfound popularity.

Hence, she was more than happy to help look after Thaddeus so her son could speed things up with

Vivienne.

Thaddeus was a little shy, but since Isolde was also staying at Cecilia's and Percival had deliberately

let Isolde taste Vivienne's disastrous cooking, she packed his bags and fled without looking back.

On their way back to the apartment after dropping off Thaddeus, Percival was driving and answering a

call from Leopold via Bluetooth.

Leopold said, "It's done. She's been sent in."

Percival replied, "Keep an eye on her!"

Laughing, Leopold retorted. "Who do you think you're underestimating? Do you think I'd be careless? If

anyone in there got out, the police would have a massive headache. This should be enough for her to

handle.

Mr. Ellington, you're quite ruthless for sending that delicate girl to such a place. Who knew you had it in

you?!"

Percival, nonchalantly steering the wheel, responded, "I didn't send her in. She went in herself."

"Right, right." Leopold replied, inwardly rolling his eyes. As if Percival hadn't purposely driven Arabella

towards the N&S Psychiatric Hospital.

"By the way, I've noticed you've gotten sneakier since being with your fiancée. Did you learn it from

her?"

"I can hear you." Vivienne interjected, her expression unreadable.

Caught off guard, Leopold chuckled awkwardly. "You two really are inseparable, huh?"

"Where did you send her?" Vivienne asked Percival.

"N&S Psychiatric Hospital." Leopold answered with a smirk.

Vivienne looked slightly surprised. Although she had only recently returned to Havenwood, she had

heard of the infamous inmates at the N&S Psychiatric Hospital.

Apparently, a brutal serial killer had once tried to evade the police by hiding there, only to end up being

tortured by the inmates to the point where he called the police to rescue him, preferring the death

penalty over staying there.

Vivienne hadn't expected Percival to send Arabella there. This was interesting.

"Vivienne, you're smiling." Percival noticed, grinning as he drove. "I'm glad I could make you happy.

Just don't forget about our deal."

Suddenly, a large truck hauling a shipping container from the opposite lane veered off course and

charged towards Percival's car. Percival swerved sharply, narrowly avoiding a collision. The truck, too

heavy to control, crashed into the roadside trees.

"What happened?!" Leopold, still on the call, asked urgently.

"We've been attacked." Percival answered coldly while looking at the four black cars blocking their

path.

"Dammit!" Leopold cursed. "I'm tracking your location now!"

As Leopold hung up, one of the black cars gunned its engine and charged towards them. Percival

quickly reversed, narrowly avoiding the oncoming vehicle.

The other three cars followed suit, revving their engines in pursuit. Despite driving in reverse, Percival

maneuvered the car effortlessly, dodging their attempts to ram him.

After a moment of this cat-and-mouse chase, Percival found an opportunity to swerve around one of

the black cars, switching direction and speeding forward.

Once going forward, the black cars realized that Percival, driving in reverse, had been going slow.

Now, he increased his speed, darting through oncoming traffic with nimble dexterity, maintaining speed

as he continued forward.

Vivienne, holding onto the car's roof handle, watched Percival. His drifting technique was reminiscent of

an underground racer she knew, Zephyr.

During an underground race in Seaside City years ago, Zephyr had nearly beaten her with his

impressive drifting technique.

Suddenly, someone from one of the pursuing cars drew a gun and fired at them.

The first shot shattered the rear-view mirror on the driver's side.

A second shot pierced through the rear windshield, breaking a perfume ornament inside the car.

The unique scent of Timeless Man Cologne filled the vehicle.

Vivienne couldn't suppress a smirk. She had noticed earlier that Percival had replaced all his car and

home air fresheners with her custom-made scent, 'Timeless Man Cologne.'

What a hypocrite!

Didn't he quite fancy it?

Among the strong scent of cologne, Percival was mentally cursing. After today, he would make sure to

make all his vehicles bulletproof.

Suddenly, another gunshot came from the left rear, piercing through the car window. Percival felt a

sharp pain in his left arm, but he still held the steering wheel steady.

He knew he had been shot in the arm, and he might not hold on for long. But when he glanced at

Vivienne sitting next to him, he gritted his teeth and pressed harder on the gas pedal.

Blood was flowing from his wound, mixing with the smell of rust and cologne inside the car, providing

an unpleasant and nerve-wracking mixture.

Vivienne glanced at his trembling left hand and could clearly feel the car slowing down.

In the distance, two large semi-trucks appeared that were pulling containers behind them. They

seemed to be aiming to block their path with the vehicles.

Those four black cars from behind them were still clinging to them. She saw the gunman reloading his

gun.

"Switch places." She quickly unbuckled her seat belt, grabbed the steering wheel with her right hand,

and said to Percival, "I'll take over."

Percival looked at her in surprise, but she had already unbuckled his seat belt and squeezed herself

between him and the steering wheel. Her feet replaced his on the gas and brake pedals, and she sat

on him to drive the car.

Through the thin layer of clothing, Percival could distinctly feel Vivienne's warm body temperature as

she sat directly on his lap.

He knew in this critical moment that he should not be distracted. But he was losing control.

"You're still in high spirits despite being shot!" Vivienne also noticed the sudden change in his body. Her

ears blushed red, and she reprimanded him grumpily.

Percival couldn’t find the right words to respond.