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.

had ties to the Vanguard Agency. But for the

was Vivienne, revealing even

certain,” Vivienne affirmed. She wanted the Perez family to join the YQ Lab to

last mission failed due to certain reasons, and the YQ Lab was subsequently shut

second that it had happened without the involvement of

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

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 to suppress all uncertain

family was the

the full extent of the Perez family’s power,

trust in him and the

Yuri a nod, and Yuri signed his name

partnership,” 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.

“I’ve chosen the gift already. Change into these matching outfits, and let me snap a few

the biggest shipper of Percival and Vivienne, she had

material, and it had

fans were getting

blinked in confusion. “Matching

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,

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

looked on in bemusement, having never realized Zelda had

they posed for a series of couple photos where their faces remained

and Percival’s repeated intimate poses in front of him, grinding his teeth in

kind of

This was killing him!

to explain this to the

Vivienne right in front of him but also had to repeatedly watch them cuddle and hug while he

you complaining about? They kissed right in front

as well apologize with

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

others, Dawson was responsible for driving Vivienne

Dawson continued to

question; instead, she queried,

warrior lineage,’ Dawson

tycoons from Sea City, much like the lovestruck old rogue sitting