The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne screenshotted the group chat and sent it to Griffin.

Husky Smasher: [I knew Charlotte’s idea was right, oh Vivienne, I love you.]

Husky Smasher was Griffin’s nickname.

Vivienne pinched the bridge of her nose, somewhat speechless.

This Griffin, coming up with such an idea. Vivienne could not tell if Griffin was torturing herself or Leopold.

During the day, Griffin had pulled her aside into a room and, with utmost seriousness, stated that marrying Leopold was a given after a kiss, but she did not want to pursue it in this manner and asked for her help.

Then she went on with a whole spiel.

About how, yes, she would marry, but it depended on whether Leopold even liked her.

If not, she would not insist. She would only marry Leopold if there were mutual affection.

So, she had to test the waters!

Hearing Griffin’s lengthy explanation, Vivienne just asked whether she wanted to marry Leopold simply because of a kiss or if she genuinely liked him.

Full of righteous fervor, Griffin said, “Of course, it’s because I like him! Why else would I let him kiss me? I am the proud heiress of the ancient warrior lineage, the Martinez family. I have my pride, and not just anyone can wed me!”

Vivienne was speechless.

…

At the Perez Mansion in Rivenwood.

Jasper looked at a photograph of his daughter from her childhood, his eyes glistening with tears.

still wondered how his Sasha was

why haven’t you gone to

put away the photograph and stood up, walking to the yard with Yuri. “Something on

little girl from the Martinez family,” Yuri said, helping Jasper into the rocking chair in the yard. “The girl is teaming up with Vivienne to study

flickered in Jasper’s eyes, followed by a heavy chuckle. “Those two working together, now that’s something.

a pause, Jasper’s expression darkened. “What about

head. “All leads pointed to Fiona from the second branch of the Ellington family, but after her

“If the trail’s gone cold, find a new one. If we

had been searching

Natalia’s kidnapping, they finally stumbled upon a

thief was no common trafficker but

was a newly risen underground syndicate, its predecessor was the

dealings in human trafficking, unethical experiments, and

the charge to dismantle RST’s headquarters, yet their leader, code named F-Poison, managed to

during that operation that Jasper was seriously injured and hospitalized. When he awoke, his beloved

was certain that F-Poison had taken her in

many years,

the Perez family might never have found a lead on

ever was and is an expert at legalizing its deeds. It won’t be

the way, if Vivienne wants to work on that

research was no trivial matter. One false

a legal and suitable location was

Griffin’s patents

finding the right place was

Dad. Zelda has everything arranged. Her nephew will

in

mentioned that

by the sudden mention of Scott. “Yes, she has no blood ties to the Brooks family. Her mother seems to have had some reason to

Karen, and found little information. But after Scott’s

identity remained unclear, the details of her involvement with Scott were now