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.

to the Vanguard Agency. But for the Perez family,

here was Vivienne,

Perez family to join the

had been the previous captain of the Vanguard Agency’s special squad. However, her last mission failed due to certain reasons, and the YQ Lab was

a second that it had happened without

only a matter of time before word got back to the Vanguard Agency’s

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 would not last

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

was

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

proved her trust

gave Yuri a nod, and Yuri signed his

partnership,” Yuri said,

her chance to speak up. “Vivienne, we haven’t seen each other in so long. Don’t you want

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

and Vivienne, she had to

it

were getting

blinked in confusion.

change!” Zelda thrust the couple’s outfits into Vivienne’s hands and pushed the

find Dawson ready with the lighting, awaiting

“Get in position.

having never realized Zelda had this

they posed for a series of couple

and Percival’s repeated

of madness was

This was killing him!

explain this to the

but also had to

are you complaining about? They kissed right in front of me more

“You might as well apologize

made up for years’ worth of missed

the others, Dawson was responsible for driving Vivienne and

continued to grumble under

flinch at the question; instead, she queried, “Your family, the Lynette family, they’re

phrase ‘ancient warrior lineage,’

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