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.

told her that violence wasn’t always the solution and that it was crucial to remain calm to come up with a better plan. They were up against a formidable opponent, and

herself to stay calm, she had asked her mother to call

this day, her calm and composed demeanor was a result of constantly reminding herself of that

Percival

the usually composed Vivienne felt a surge of

lips and, after a long while, managed to

head to toe

was absolutely certain that she had never met him before their recent

want an explanation.” She demanded with

voice soft and soothing. “Frost, I’ll buy

up. Her earlier cold demeanor vanished instantly as her voice went higher than usual.

choked on his own saliva, nearly drowning

Chapter 161

Mr. Wolf?

name from a

she had ever called

And the reason why?

her, she was only two, and he was

was a full decade older than

failed attempts by her mother to get her to call him ‘brother,‘ she

Since she always said that he was a wolf,

that was how he had never mentioned his real name

had used that nickname for only a

‘Wolf‘ in memory of

me.”

of which she hadn’t sported in a long time. “I could never forget. I’ve always remembered.”

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

was different from

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

But Percival…

him, but she had an unusually good memory and

person to her, after her

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

be her unguarded self

she hadn’t seen Mr.

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

ruffled her hair and promised, “I’ll bake you a strawberry cake tomorrow. I owe you for all these years.

agreed, her smile

a moment of silence between

why were you investigating my mother? How did you get her pendant? Lark was

eyes full of