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

here was Vivienne,

family to join the YQ Lab to ensure its utmost

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

not believe for a second that it had happened without the involvement of the Vanguard Agency’s

was only a matter of

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

Percival could climb the ranks, they needed to suppress all uncertain

family was

nor Percival knew the full extent of the Perez family’s power, it was enough to protect

emphatically. Vivienne’s willingness to sign this contract proved her trust

Yuri a nod, and Yuri signed

here’s to a successful partnership,” Yuri said, returning the

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

present her gift, Zelda smiled. “I’ve chosen the gift already. Change into these matching

shipper of Percival and Vivienne,

material, and it had to

were

blinked in confusion.

go change!” Zelda thrust the couple’s outfits into

had chosen, Vivienne and Percival emerged to find Dawson ready with the lighting, awaiting the entrance of

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

having never realized

repeated directions, they posed for a series of couple

equipment, Dawson watched Vivienne and Percival’s repeated intimate

kind of

This was killing him!

explain this

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

“Heh, what are you complaining about? They kissed right in front of

might as well apologize with

seemingly made up for years’

Jasper and the others, Dawson was responsible for driving Vivienne and Percival

Dawson continued to grumble under

even flinch at the question; instead, she queried,

the phrase ‘ancient warrior

from Sea City, much like the lovestruck old rogue