The Million-Dollar Heart novel Chapter 149

Percival was stirred awake as the morning light brightly illuminated the room.

The first sight that greeted him was Vivienne. Her eyes were closed, and her lashes were fluttering slightly as she stirred in her sleep. Her eyes were shadowed with fatigue.

It was the first time he had seen Vivienne so up close while she slept. There was a tranquility to her, one that he had never seen before. It was a rare glimpse of the innocence of a 19-year-old girl.

She had always struck him as a wildflower who was resilient and untamed. She never seemed to tire or falter.

She seemed invincible.

Yet here she was, exhausted from her endeavors for him, asleep by his side with her defenses down.

He was touched beyond words.

“Vivienne.” He whispered, gently rousing her.

Her lashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes at Percival’s soft call.

The first thing she did after waking was to reach out and feel his forehead. Only after confirming that his fever had subsided did she let out a small sigh of relief.

“You’re no longer poisoned.”

Percival wasn’t completely unconscious while he was out, especially with Leopold by his side.

That chatterbox was as loud as a flock of ducks, constantly babbling about how Vivienne was out there somewhere, looking for the rare and elusive antidote ingredients.

Even though Percival was no medic, he knew how rare those ingredients were and felt a surge of anxiety while she was away. But he was helpless, trapped in his unconsciousness.

This was why he had spiked a fever.

“Do you want to eat something?” Vivienne asked as she got up. “You’ve slept for a day and a night. I’ll go make you some porridge.”

“I’ll come with you.” Percival quickly got up but swayed due to his weakness.

“Don’t push yourself.” Vivienne steadied him while frowning.

Percival didn’t want to admit he was scared of eating her cooking, fearing it might make him ill again. So he made an excuse. “I’ve been lying down for too long; my back hurts. I need to move around.”

Seeing his insistence, Vivienne gave in, and they went to the kitchen together. Under Percival’s guidance, she managed to cook some decent porridge.

Just as they were about to eat, Leopold showed up with two takeaway breakfast meals. He was surprised to see them. “Wow, I thought no one here could cook. I brought you guys breakfast so you wouldn’t starve.”

“We can order takeaway ourselves.” Percival looked at the takeaway boxes in Leopold’s hands coldly.

“Alright, alright. I was just trying to help.” Leopold’s eyes were flicking between the two bowls of porridge and Percival and Vivienne. They eventually settled on Vivienne. “Who made this? You?”

“Is there a problem?” Vivienne raised an eyebrow.

“You made this?” Leopold looked skeptical and disgusted. “Can this even be eaten?”

He tried to stop Percival from eating it. “No, no, no, Percival, I know you love your fiancée to the moon and back, and you’d eat poison if she gave it to you. But you’ve just recovered; you shouldn’t torture yourself like this. Eat this instead.”

As he spoke, Leopold tried to take away Percival’s bowl and replace it with the takeaway meal.

“Hands off.” Percival held onto his bowl tightly and tapped Leopold’s hand away with his spoon.