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.

knew that Karen had ties to the Vanguard Agency. But

Vivienne, revealing even

She wanted the Perez family to join the YQ Lab to ensure its

the Vanguard Agency’s special squad. However, her last mission failed due to certain

it had happened without the involvement

a matter of time before

caught between a rock and a hard place, with his immediate superior constantly trying to suppress him. If the higher-ups insisted on reintegrating the YQ Lab back

needed to suppress all

was

the Perez family’s power, it was enough to

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

nod, and Yuri signed his name without

here’s to a successful partnership,” Yuri said,

up. “Vivienne, we haven’t seen each other in so long. Don’t you

Vivienne was about to present her gift, Zelda smiled. “I’ve chosen the gift

of Percival and Vivienne, she

it had

were getting

in confusion. “Matching

into Vivienne’s hands

Vivienne and Percival emerged to find Dawson ready with the

“Get in position. I won’t photograph your faces, so don’t

looked on in bemusement, having never realized Zelda had

a series of couple

and Percival’s repeated intimate

kind of madness

This was killing him!

was he supposed to explain this to

he not only watched Percival kiss Vivienne right in front of him but also had to repeatedly watch them cuddle and hug while he

They kissed right in front of me

as well apologize

dinner party, Vivienne had seemingly made up for years’ worth of

farewell to Jasper and the others, Dawson was responsible

the way, Dawson continued to grumble under

the question; instead, she queried, “Your family,

the phrase ‘ancient warrior lineage,’ Dawson regained

much like the lovestruck old rogue sitting next