The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Two days later.

Dorian’s company had finalized their new perfume line, and Vivienne found herself with some free time to visit the hospital.

Anna had already returned to school, but Natalia and Yasmine were still hospitalized, though they had been moved from intensive care to a regular VIP ward.

Jasper sat beside the crib with two plush toys in hand, smiling at the sight of his granddaughters’ joyful faces, an involuntary chuckle escaping his lips.

Vivienne knocked on the door. “Excuse me, sir.”

Jasper’s face lit up with excitement. “Ah, young lady, you’ve finally made it. I was beginning to think you had forgotten about me.”

“How could I forget such a charming gentleman?” Vivienne teased.

It was the first time Jasper had been described as charming, and he basked in the novelty, “My, my, your words warm an old man’s heart.”

Vivienne smiled.

Just then, Yuri and Zelda came in, and Jasper immediately boasted. “Vivienne just called me charming. Take that, you bunch of brats who always call me stern. She doesn’t think so.”

He then turned to Vivienne. “I can call you Vivienne, right? It feels more personal.”

“Of course,” Vivienne replied with a laugh.

Yuri sighed, “Vivienne, my dad’s only ever this happy when he’s chatting with you. When he talks to me, he’s far from charming.”

“Cheeky boy, go fetch Vivienne’s gift, will you? That’s all you’re good for,” Jasper scolded, glaring at Yuri.

This boy was no good!

“Dad, I’ve brought everything. Don’t look at him. He’s useless,” Zelda said, also shooting Yuri a teasing glare.

feeling like

mahogany box from the cabinet, its craftsmanship clearly

please accept this small

set of Hope Blue Diamond jewelry in gold, which had sold for 80 million dollars at an auction the year before, the Heart of Hope! The rarity of the craftsmanship

Not much?

Vivienne’s collection, there was

byproduct of trying to rescue the captured babies; it was all in a day’s work. There was nothing she

“You can’t refuse

Vivienne, take it. We can’t imagine what our girls would have

personally delivering it to your house,”

but not too hard. “Who

I hold my daughters? Dad, you’re being too harsh. Vivienne, you have to back me up

persistence, Vivienne finally accepted, then said to Yuri, “Mr. Perez, they say you owe a favor to the hand that gives. I’m afraid I can’t help

filled the room, and Vivienne felt a sense of peace settling in her heart. Unconsciously, she had come to think of this room as her sanctuary,

it was getting dark. Percival was waiting downstairs and approached her as

of cold wind blew, and Vivienne wrapped her coat tighter

see you sooner,” Percival said, taking Vivienne’s hand and noticing the bag she was carrying. “What’s that?” He

at it and smiled. “It’s an apology gift,

conduct a paternity test back in Sea City

an offense, hence the

family’s desire to find their

she was not

was not

she never spoke of her biological family. Perhaps they

paternity test report, a deep regret filling

so familiar, so much like his

no genetic link

How could this be?

down, taking the report from Jasper. “Dad, stop looking at

hope for the