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 come up with

acting impulsively, so to remind herself to stay calm, she had asked her mother to call

composed demeanor was

Percival

composed Vivienne felt

her. He pursed his lips and, after a long while, managed to croak out, “Don’t you remember me?” Vivienne frowned as her brows

head to toe

certain that she had never met him before their

an explanation.” She demanded

his voice soft and soothing. “Frost, I’ll buy you a strawberry

lit up. Her earlier cold demeanor vanished instantly as her

choked on his own saliva, nearly drowning

Chapter 161

Mr. Wolf?

was a name from a long

she had ever called him

And the reason why?

she was only two, and

was a full

mother to get her to call him ‘brother,‘

that

was how he had never mentioned

used that nickname

the code–name ‘Wolf‘ in memory

you had forgotten about me.” Percival murmured, breaking away

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

relative. A reminder that she still had family in the world, and through him, she could still feel her

different from

loved her mother, but he had a family of his own now, and he didn’t remind

But Percival…

but she had an unusually good memory and remembered everyone who had ever been a

was the kindest person to her, after her

mother did. He fulfilled all

could be her unguarded self

hadn’t seen Mr. Wolf since

long that he had changed completely, and she hadn’t recognized

her smile. He ruffled her hair and promised, “I’ll bake you a strawberry cake tomorrow. I

Vivienne agreed, her

a moment of silence between

investigating my mother? How did

eyes full of adoration as