The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne scrutinized the contract from top to bottom, each clause capable of sending shock waves through the business world if taken on its own.

The document stated that the Perez family would unconditionally provide all components and funding necessary for the development of a groundbreaking new explosive device. In return, Vivienne was only required to secure a location and manage security and insurance—the kind of overhead that would not cost her a dime.

The catch? The patent for the new explosive could not bear Vivienne’s name.

But this term suited Vivienne just fine.

After all, the explosive device was Griffin’s brainchild. She had simply come into possession of it by a twist of fate and, coincidentally, had the means to bring the project to fruition.

Without hesitation, Vivienne signed her name on the dotted line.

It marked the second time she had officially collaborated with the government.

“Grandpa, I agree to the terms here,” Vivienne handed the contract to Jasper.

Jasper chuckled. “Kiddo, you don’t want to ask around a bit more?”

“I trust you, Jasper. That’s enough for me.”

Vivienne had that kind of confidence; once she believed in someone, she trusted them completely.

Jasper felt a wave of relief and nodded in approval. “Alright, this old man won’t let you down; rest assured.”

Vivienne glanced at Percival, who, in turn, presented another contract.

“Jasper, Yuri, please take a look at this contract as well,” Percival said, passing it over with both hands.

It was a gift from Percival and Vivienne to the Perez family.

Jasper’s brows twitched, and Yuri was visibly stunned. “Vivienne, are you sure?”

Their surprise was not overblown; they simply had not expected Vivienne to be willing to offer up such an asset.

The contract was another win-win partnership, where the Perez family would not need to invest much effort or time into maintenance.

It pertained to the YQ Lab—a highly secretive venture of Vivienne’s, with every project somehow linked to Karen.

Yuri had previously uncovered a bit about it, but not in great detail.

that Karen had ties to the Vanguard Agency. But for the Perez family, it was a different department

Vivienne,

affirmed. She wanted the Perez family to join the YQ Lab

However, her last mission failed due to certain reasons, and the YQ

did not believe for a second that it had happened without the involvement of the

the YQ Lab was rebooting, it was only a matter of time before word got back to the Vanguard

a rock and a hard place, with his immediate superior constantly trying to suppress him. If the higher-ups

they needed to suppress

family was

nor Percival knew the full extent of the Perez family’s power,

nodded emphatically. Vivienne’s willingness to sign this contract proved her trust in him and the Perez family—a gesture that

gave Yuri a nod, and Yuri

here’s to a successful partnership,” Yuri

that the serious business was concluded, Zelda seized her chance to speak up. “Vivienne, we haven’t seen each other in so long. Don’t you want

chosen the gift already. Change into these matching outfits, and

and Vivienne, she had to

and it had

fans were getting

in confusion.

You two, go change!” Zelda thrust the couple’s outfits into Vivienne’s hands and

chosen, Vivienne and Percival emerged to find

“Get in position. I won’t photograph

having never realized

so, under Zelda’s repeated directions, they posed for a series of couple photos where their faces

the lighting equipment, Dawson watched Vivienne and Percival’s repeated intimate poses

of madness

This was killing him!

supposed to explain this to the other

only watched Percival kiss Vivienne right in front of him but also had to repeatedly watch them cuddle and hug while he held

say, “Heh, what are you complaining about? They kissed right

disciples, “You might as well apologize with your

seemingly made up for years’ worth of missed photo

to Jasper and the others, Dawson was responsible for driving Vivienne and

Dawson continued to grumble under

not even flinch at the question; instead, she queried, “Your family, the Lynette family,

‘ancient warrior lineage,’ Dawson

just your average tycoons from Sea City, much like the lovestruck old rogue