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

here was Vivienne, revealing

wanted the Perez family to join the YQ

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

second that it had happened without

was rebooting, it was only a matter of time before word

trying to suppress him. If the

ranks, they needed to suppress all uncertain factors

Perez family was

of the

trust in him and the Perez family—a gesture that

a nod, and Yuri

a successful partnership,” Yuri said, returning

up. “Vivienne, we haven’t seen each

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

shipper of Percival and Vivienne, she

first-hand material, and it had to go

were

blinked in confusion. “Matching

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

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

start. “Get in position. I won’t photograph

and Percival looked on in bemusement, having never realized Zelda had this

series of couple photos where

holding the lighting equipment, Dawson watched Vivienne and Percival’s repeated intimate poses in front of him, grinding his teeth

of

This was killing him!

was he supposed to explain

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 more than

“You might as

dinner party, Vivienne had seemingly made up

Jasper and the others, Dawson was responsible for driving

Dawson continued to grumble under

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

phrase ‘ancient warrior lineage,’ Dawson

tycoons from Sea City, much like the