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Chapter_22
Inside the Hawthorn family’s home, tensions were running high. Beatrice, Joseph, Michael, and Arabella were gathered in the hall, their faces drawn and serious. Arabella’s phone had just given them news they hadn’t anticipated. The police had cleared Vivienne’s name, and Coral was arrested for false accusations. Jaylan and three other officers were suspended due to their mishandling of the case. Arabella’s plans had been thwarted, and the group was trying to come to terms with the fallout.
“Gran, did the Ellington family really bail Vivienne out?” Arabella’s voice dripped with sarcasm, her eyes clouded with bitterness. “I didn’t expect the Ellingtons to care this much about her.” She tossed her phone into her pocket, still feeling uneasy. She couldn’t comprehend how the Ellington family, especially Percival, would intervene in such a scandal.
Beatrice, her gaze steely, responded, “It doesn’t matter who helped her. The issue is that Vivienne is out, and the whole thing has blown up in our faces.”
Michael frowned. “But what can we do if Dorian and Vivienne are dead set against it? They’re not the type to back down.”
Joseph, his tone skeptical, added, “Exactly. They’ve rented a place at Tranquil Estates. They’re settled, and I doubt they’d want to get involved in whatever scheme we’ve cooked up.”
Beatrice’s expression hardened. “No matter what, we have to stick to the plan. Vivienne is playing a dangerous game, but we can still find a way to use it to our advantage.”
At the hospital, Vivienne had arrived early to apply an ointment to Isolde, but Arabella’s mess had disrupted her schedule. Today, she was determined to finish what she had started. As she entered the hospital entrance, she unexpectedly ran into Percival and Leopold.
Leopold, surprised, greeted her, “Ms. Hawthorn, you’re at the hospital this early? Not feeling well?”
Vivienne, her expression cool and distant, gave him a long, assessing look. “What did you call me?” she asked, her voice low and controlled.
Leopold blinked, not understanding the shift in her demeanor. “Ms. Hawthorn? Is there a problem?”
Vivienne’s lips tightened, and she stood still for a long moment before responding, “No problem. Good job!” Her voice held a chilling edge as she stared at Leopold.
Percival, who had been silently observing, finally spoke. His voice was soothing, a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere. “Do you feel unwell? Need me to call a doctor?”
Vivienne shot him a quick glance, her expression unreadable. “No need! I’m not here to see a doctor,” she said, moving to walk past them.
But Percival stopped her, his voice low and deliberate. “Ms. Hawthorn, what’s your decision about the engagement?”
Vivienne paused, gathering herself before turning to face him. “Agreed. Let’s postpone it by half a month. No celebrations until then.”
Her calm response contrasted with the growing intensity in her gaze. She had agreed to this engagement, but only to uncover more about Percival’s involvement with the pendant—the one he claimed had been a gift from a friend. She wasn’t buying that story.
Percival smiled slightly, his voice laced with amusement. “Sure, as you wish.”
Vivienne’s lips curled into a mischievous smile. She leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “Mr. Ellington, watch out. I’m toxic.”
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Percival to watch her retreating figure with a knowing smile. Her words had struck a chord, but he wasn’t concerned. If anything, they only intrigued him more. Vivienne had a way of making things interesting, and he couldn’t help but admire her.
Meanwhile, Percival’s mind was occupied with thoughts of the past. As he sat in the back seat of the car, Leopold and Thomas accompanying him, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the pendant. He stared at it, his expression shifting.
“Mr. Ellington, there’s a response from the other side. They still couldn’t find any leads on the kid,” Thomas reported, his tone serious.
Percival’s gaze darkened as he clenched the pendant in his hand. “The kid… after all these years, it’s becoming harder to track her. She could’ve been caught long ago.”
Leopold voiced his concerns. “I think you should stop looking for her. The priority now is to treat Isolde’s illness. The higher-ups are more concerned about the drug. If GTO gets to it first, it’s going to be a disaster.”
But Percival, lost in thought, remained silent for a moment before speaking softly. “I might have found her.”
Both Leopold and Thomas froze, their eyes widening in disbelief. “Found her? Who?”
Percival didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he looked at the pendant once more, the weight of his thoughts evident on his face. “I’m not sure yet,” he murmured.
He tucked the pendant back into his pocket and rolled down the window, his expression distant as he looked out at the passing scenery. “The last place the drug appeared was in Havenwood. Send someone to check it out. Investigate every outsider that has shown up in Havenwood in the past twenty years.”
His voice was calm, but there was an underlying edge to it. Percival wasn’t just searching for the truth—he was seeking answers that had long been buried, answers that might change everything.