The Million-Dollar Heart novel Chapter 144

His voice held a rare tinge of vulnerability. After a moment of hesitation, Vivienne moved to his side, allowing him to wrap his right arm around her. She rested her head on his shoulder, and in no time at all, Percival drifted into sleep.

Vivienne gently removed his arm and dialed Matthew's number.

"I couldn't find the two ingredients you asked for on the black market." Matthew informed her over the phone.

"Keep looking." Vivienne commanded him. After pausing briefly, she said, "Put the word out that anyone who has these ingredients and is willing to part with them will be owed a favor by me."

Her favors were rare and precious. They were sometimes powerful enough to cheat death.

She believed that once this message was out, the items she sought would find their way to her.

"It seems you do care a lot about your fiancé." Matthew commented after an unexpected pause.

Vivienne didn't confirm or deny it. She simply hung up.

She glanced at Percival, who lay on the couch with his eyes closed.

Did she care?

Perhaps.

After all, he had always been good to her.

"Percival." She murmured while gently patting his face.

There was no response. He was running a low fever from the poison, and she could feel the heat radiating from him.

"Mr. Wolf." Vivienne called softly.

Percival opened his eyes slightly to look at her. She helped him up. "Let's get you to bed."

He nodded. His lips pressed together as she supported him up the stairs to the bedroom. His nearly six-foot-three frame weighed heavily on Vivienne.

Finally, she managed to get him into the room and settled him onto the bed, where he promptly fell back into slumber.

After a moment of hesitation, she fetched a basin of warm water from the bathroom. She used a wet towel to carefully wipe away the sweat on his face and body, then placed a damp cloth on his forehead to bring down his temperature.

Just as she was about to pull away, Percival grabbed her hand, mumbling while half-sleeping. "Vivienne, don't go."

Vivienne froze. She then sighed and lay down beside him, fully clothed, allowing him to hold her hand.

Late into the night, Percival suddenly spiked a high fever, and Vivienne had to administer fever reducers.

He was delirious for most of the night, refusing to let go of her even in sleep. Vivienne was forced to stay awake and keep watch over him.

As dawn approached, Matthew called.

"We have leads on the Star Grass and the Seven-Poison Flower."

"Is the owner willing to part with them?" Vivienne asked eagerly.

"They are, but..." Matthew began hesitantly.

"Speak your mind." Vivienne urged him impatiently.

"The Seven-Poison Flower is with Brody."

Matthew let out a long sigh. "Brody is a nutcase. Ever since you beat him once, he's been looking for a rematch. If you win, the flower is yours. But if you lose..."

"He wants me to be his guinea pig?" Vivienne scoffed.