The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

In the quaint suburban enclave where the Brooks family resided, there was a buzz of anticipation hanging in the air for news from the Ellingtons. Yet in this whirl of excitement, nobody paid the slightest attention to the bombshell Vivienne had dropped: a staggering offer of hundred billion to call off her engagement.

And no one seemed to question how Vivienne, a girl raised in the quaintness of an old monastery, had access to such an exorbitant sum.

When Matthew returned with the news that Percival had agreed to the dissolution of the engagement, the Brooks household was astounded. It was beyond them why Percival, who had always treated Vivienne like a precious gem, would so readily let her go.

The Brooks were all dumbfounded!

Kala, regaining her composure first, spat out in anger, “Ugh! What a jerk!” She had thought so highly of Percival, charmed by his doting ways with Vivienne. She had almost believed in true love because of him. But now, an engagement broken so easily? She wished all playboys would just go to hell!

Calista, too, was baffled. Although she had hoped for Percival to be free, she never imagined it would happen so smoothly. Did this mean she could now step into Vivienne’s shoes and be with Percival herself? Oh, the very thought made her head spin with delight!

Scott paused briefly upon hearing the news; a glint of calculation passed through his eyes.

Judith, however, was all smiles, “Well, that settles it! Percival is just as sensible as Vivienne. He’s such a good lad!”

Vivienne gave her a dry look and said flatly, “Congratulations. You got what you wanted.” Without another word, she turned and ascended the staircase.

Matthew hurried after her.

Once inside her room with the door firmly shut, Matthew opened his mouth to speak, but Vivienne held up a hand to stop him.

She pulled out her phone and scanned the room, a red dot flashing on the screen. A cold smirk played on her lips as she swiftly tapped away.

After a couple of minutes, she stowed her phone away.

Matthew, her loyal companion, instantly understood the situation, “They bugged your room?” he asked with a voice tinged with disgust.

“Hmm,” was all Vivienne offered; her face was flat.

For Scott to bug her room was expected, nothing surprising there. She left the device untouched so they could still hear what she wanted them to hear. After all, underestimating her was their first mistake. Did they really think a simple bug would outsmart her?

threatened by the bug anymore. So he ventured, “Vivienne, why did you agree to their wishes and break off the engagement with Mr. Ellington? And

eyes were icy as she replied, “The murkier the waters,

privy to most of Vivienne’s plans, but

Any leads?”

gathered, the missing babies should’ve been taken to the Rivenwood,” Matthew said gravely. “Rivenwood must be housing a GTO lab. I suspect

Rivenwood was within her expectations. Mr. B wouldn’t have stayed there for years without setting up a lab. GTO was always a cautious place with numerous hideouts; its members remained strangers

was an urgent thing to find

been up

been living it up at the

bevy of beauties and a sea

nose, exasperated, “Tell him to get his act together

at the

myriad of questions to ask Vivienne but he didn’t dare to

“Get lost!”

“Got it.”

hasty exit as he bumped into Jerry and his posse of nine, who

his forehead.

steely

eating and drinking

non-reaction means she’s on the brink of something

Brooks! How dare they treat our Vivienne this way? I

on a mission not long ago, and who would have guessed that in such a short time,

even had the gall to demand

What were they thinking?

really naive enough to believe that Vivienne

against Vivienne…

the eldest among his disciples, typically kept a watchful eye over his younger ones. But this time, even he was fuming, “As Vivienne’s disciples, it’s a shame for us to let somebody bully her like that! We

and Vivienne as a couple, but in their eyes, Vivienne

into breaking off her engagement, that was a whole different