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.

only knew that Karen had ties to the Vanguard Agency. But for the Perez family, it was a different

here was Vivienne,

the Perez family to join the YQ Lab to ensure its

Agency’s special squad. However, her last mission

did not believe for a second that it had happened without

only a matter of time before word got back to the

between a rock and a hard place, with his immediate superior constantly trying to suppress him.

climb the ranks, they needed to suppress all

family was the best

extent of the Perez family’s power, it was enough to

to sign this contract proved her trust in

gave Yuri a nod, and

a successful partnership,” Yuri said,

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

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

shipper of Percival and Vivienne, she

and it had

fans were getting

blinked in confusion. “Matching

Zelda thrust the couple’s outfits into Vivienne’s hands

emerged to find Dawson ready with the lighting, awaiting

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

in bemusement, having

for a series of couple photos where their faces remained obscured

equipment, Dawson watched Vivienne and Percival’s repeated intimate poses in front of him, grinding

kind of madness

This was killing him!

he supposed to explain this to

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

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

disciples, “You might as well apologize with your

made up for years’ worth of

Jasper and the others, Dawson was

Dawson continued

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

the phrase ‘ancient warrior lineage,’ Dawson regained his

City, much