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.

Karen had ties to the Vanguard Agency. But for the Perez family,

was Vivienne, revealing even

to join the YQ Lab to ensure its

had been the previous captain of the Vanguard Agency’s special squad. However, her last mission

for a second that it had happened without

was only a matter of time before word got back to the Vanguard

suppress him. If the higher-ups insisted on reintegrating the YQ Lab back into

climb the ranks, they needed to suppress all uncertain factors with

Perez family was the best

extent of the Perez family’s power, it was

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

gave Yuri a nod, and Yuri signed

a successful partnership,” Yuri said,

we

“I’ve chosen the gift already. Change into these matching

shipper of Percival and Vivienne, she had to maintain

material, and it had to

were

blinked in confusion.

go change!” Zelda thrust the couple’s outfits into Vivienne’s

find Dawson ready with the lighting, awaiting the entrance of the

position. I won’t

in bemusement, having never realized Zelda had this quirky

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

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

of madness

This was killing him!

explain this to

Percival kiss Vivienne right in front of him but also had to

“Heh, what are you complaining about? They kissed right in front of me more

might as

had seemingly made up

farewell to Jasper and the others, Dawson

continued to

did not even flinch at the question; instead, she queried, “Your family, the Lynette family, they’re an

‘ancient warrior lineage,’ Dawson regained

Sea City, much like the