The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 161

Percival’s eyes fluttered open to the soft light of dawn filtering in from the balcony.

Propping himself up on his elbows, he saw Vivienne seated in front of the floor–to–ceiling glass door, engrossed in the minicomputer in her hands.

The morning sun draped her in a gentle halo, making her seem ethereal.

She had been staring at the name ‘Wolf‘ on the screen for a long while before her gaze shifted towards Percival, lying on the bed with an inscrutable expression in her eyes.

Matthew had once told her that the code–name of the new team leader who had taken over her mother’s team after her mothe demise was Wolf.

Could it be that Percival was Woll?

He was her mother’s colleague?

“What’s wrong, Vivienne?” Percival asked as his handsome face bathed in the warm morning light and a soft smile played on his lips.

Vivienne paused for a moment before turning the tiny computer screen towards him. “Who are you, really?

The sight of the black interface and the striking red ‘Wolf‘ on the screen didn’t surprise Percival.

He had known from the start that Vivienne wasn’t living in his home to take care of his injuries or to court him. She was here to investigate him.

So, he had been waiting for her to unravel the truth herself.

His room was never locked at night, and he had deliberately changed his phone passcode to her birthday. He was aware of her snooping around but pretended not to notice.

He was sure of her identity now. He had no secrets from her.

“Frost.”

Vivienne stiffened. The playful smile faded from her face, replaced by a deadly seriousness. “Who are you?”

‘Frost‘ was her nickname.

Only her mother used to call her that.

No one knew about this nickname, not even Dorian.

It was the name she had taken after leaving the Hawthorn family when her mother and she were being pursued.

She had watched helplessly as her mother fought off their attackers, and she had wanted nothing more than to tear them apart.

to remain calm to come up with a better plan. They were up against a formidable opponent, and they needed to keep their

prone to acting impulsively, so to remind herself to stay

and composed demeanor was a result

did Percival know about

Vivienne felt a surge

his lips and, after a long while, managed to croak out, “Don’t you

from head

had never met him before their recent

She demanded with her voice

and soothing. “Frost, I’ll

instantly as

on his own

Chapter 161

Mr. Wolf?

from a

she had ever called him

And the reason why?

her, she was only two, and

a full decade older

to call him ‘brother,‘ she brazenly declared that someone ten years older

said that

was how he had never mentioned his real name

used that nickname for only a

the code–name ‘Wolf‘ in memory of

me.” Percival

smile, the likes of which she hadn’t sported in

a long–lost relative. A reminder that she still had family in the world, and through him, she could still feel

different from

but he had a family of his own now, and he didn’t remind Vivienne

But Percival…

two when she met him, but she had an unusually good memory and remembered everyone who had

the kindest person to her, after her

just like her mother did. He fulfilled all her whims and fancies, tolerating her tantrums and

could be her

hadn’t seen Mr. Wolf since she turned

been so long that he had changed completely, and she hadn’t recognized him at

heart melted at the sight of her smile. He ruffled her hair and promised, “I’ll bake you a strawberry cake

Vivienne agreed, her smile

was a moment of silence between

finally broke the silence. “Mr. Wolf, why were you investigating my mother? How

was my mentor.” Percival replied, his eyes full of