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.

ties to the Vanguard Agency. But for the

was Vivienne, revealing

to join the

Vanguard Agency’s special squad. However, her last mission failed due to certain reasons,

that it had happened without the involvement of

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

constantly trying to suppress him. If the higher-ups insisted on

Percival could climb the ranks, they needed to

Perez family was

the Perez family’s power, it

this contract proved her trust in him

gave Yuri a nod, and Yuri signed his

to a successful partnership,” Yuri

speak up. “Vivienne, we haven’t

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

of Percival and Vivienne, she had to maintain her online fan

first-hand material, and it had

fans were

blinked in

here! You two, go change!” Zelda thrust the couple’s outfits into Vivienne’s hands

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

camera was itching to start. “Get in position. I won’t photograph your faces,

Percival looked on in bemusement, having never realized

repeated directions, they posed for a series of couple

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

kind of

This was killing him!

supposed to explain this

watched Percival kiss Vivienne right in front of him but also had to repeatedly watch them

complaining about? They kissed right in front of me more

“You might as

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

bid farewell to Jasper and the others, Dawson was responsible for driving Vivienne and

way, Dawson continued to grumble under

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

‘ancient warrior lineage,’ Dawson regained his

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