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 for the Perez family, it was a different department and

here was Vivienne, revealing even this

wanted the Perez family to join the YQ Lab to ensure

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

second that it had happened without the involvement of the Vanguard Agency’s

matter of time before word got back to the

currently 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 into the Vanguard Agency, Percival

the ranks, they needed

family was

the Perez family’s

her trust

and Yuri signed his name

Yuri said, returning the contract to

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 to give me

the gift already. Change

the biggest shipper of Percival and Vivienne, she had

and it

fans were getting

blinked in confusion.

outfits into Vivienne’s hands and pushed the pair into the adjacent

had chosen, Vivienne and Percival emerged to find Dawson ready with the

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

and Percival looked on in bemusement, having never

repeated directions, they posed for a series of couple photos where their

and Percival’s repeated intimate poses in front of

kind of

This was killing him!

to explain

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

you complaining about? They

might as

seemingly made up for years’ worth of

others, Dawson was responsible for driving Vivienne and Percival

the way, Dawson continued to grumble under

even flinch at the question; instead, she queried, “Your family, the

‘ancient warrior lineage,’

City, much like the lovestruck old