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.

the Vanguard Agency. But for the Perez family, it

was Vivienne, revealing even

Perez family to

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

for a second that it had happened without the

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

his immediate superior constantly trying to suppress him. If the higher-ups insisted on reintegrating the YQ

climb the ranks, they needed to suppress all

family was

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

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

Yuri a nod, and Yuri signed his

successful partnership,” Yuri said, returning

“Vivienne, we haven’t seen each other in

gift, Zelda smiled. “I’ve chosen the gift already. Change into these matching outfits, and let

the biggest shipper of Percival and Vivienne,

material, and it had to

fans were getting

in confusion.

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

Vivienne and Percival emerged to find

position.

in bemusement, having never realized Zelda had this

Zelda’s repeated directions, they posed for a series of couple photos

Vivienne and Percival’s repeated intimate

kind of madness was

This was killing him!

was he supposed to explain this to the

but also had to repeatedly watch them cuddle and hug while he held the

about? They kissed right

as well

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

to Jasper and the others, Dawson was

continued to

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

phrase ‘ancient warrior lineage,’

City, much like the lovestruck old