The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Lennox just could not stand it any longer. He snatched the broom from Percival’s grasp, and with a gentle tug, he swept the dust into the pan.

Crack! The broom head snapped off.

Percival furrowed his brow in annoyance. “That’s the sixth time that’s happened. Are your things always this flimsy?”

Lennox replied with a slight hesitation, “Is it possible you’re just too strong and snapped it yourself?”

“It’s this piece of junk that’s the problem,” Percival grumbled, casting a disdainful glance at the broom before turning to Quentin. “I had someone buy you a new racing car model and a desktop PC. They’ll be delivered soon.”

Quentin, for his part, was not too fussed. He looked around at the further disarray. “It’s a knock-off anyway. Got it for ten bucks. But… Percival, maybe you should just stop cleaning.”

Despite being older than Vivienne, Quentin and the others respected her technical expertise and would often follow Aaron’s lead in calling her by her nickname. And since Percival was Vivienne’s fiancé, they naturally called him by his first name.

Vivienne held back laughter, her delicate face turning a shade of red from the effort to conceal her laughter.

This must have been the first time Percival had been “rejected”!

Yet, he seemed filled with joy, and his mood visibly brightened.

Aaron’s expression darkened slightly, though he said nothing, silently unplugging the computer to prevent the imminent explosion.

As he began to repair the broom, he asked Mark coldly, “What brings you here?”

Mark finally said, “I’m here to take you home.”

“I’ll be heading back tomorrow; we’re celebrating here tonight. You go on ahead.”

Mark knew Aaron well enough to understand his temperament. Today, Aaron had announced his retirement, which meant he would return to the Miller family fold tomorrow.

He had come to see if there was anything he could do to help, feeling the weight of his many debts to his son.

Before he could say anything else, the door to the training room burst open.

on earth are you buying all this stuff and sending it here? Aren’t you worried Kenneth will give you an earful? Ah, there’s Vivienne! No wonder Hawk won

took a sip of her Coke. “Why do

not help but blurt out, “How did this place get so messy? Don’t you guys clean up

thought, “This is after the cleaning. Can

gave Leopold a nudge with his foot. “Enough with the

muttered, “Fine, fine,

‘scapegoat number two’ Thomas, Leopold called him

others, feeling a

just replace the PC; he upgraded the entire setup—desk, chair, the

at the sight of the limited-edition racing

the sake that you’re Vivienne’s players, I’ll throw in a

that sent chills through the Hawk

Bennett exclaimed, turning to Vivienne. “Coach, please, we still need this space. We’ve got the new cleaning bots. They’re fully automated. No need for

but Percival, sitting steadily, insisted, “No, I

I

don’t understand E-sports don’t belong in our training room. We don’t need

choked on

Kid, you couldn’t be more naive.”

smirk as he approached the computer, his gaze steady

with Percival challenging him in his own

training room for a

Bennett and the others

his eyes, “You’re

the side, eyes

not seen Percival play, but she knew Aaron was

getting Bennett and the crew

character and went straight for

eye, Aaron’s screen went dark,

stunned. How had Percival done

just score

killed again and again,