The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Leopold, the leader of the first squad, knew the unwritten leadership rules all too well. So, it stood to reason that Percival, the head honcho of the entire task force, would be even more clued in.

But now, even Leopold’s moves were being curtailed, never mind the liberty of the whole special squad.

Percival set aside the application form he had been holding, tapping his polished fingertip on the signature line. “Why don’t you take this up with the boss yourself?”

The rage on Leopold’s face fizzled out in an instant.

Would he dare?

For someone even Percival called “boss,” he was just a small fry; there was no way he would throw himself into the shark’s jaws.

Leopold slumped into his chair, rubbing his temples in frustration.

After a few seconds of silence, he asked, “Boss didn’t even ask you before signing off on this? Why didn’t you go to him first?”

Percival took a sip of his sweet fruit juice and said, “He said since Fiona’s my flesh and blood, having me sign could give someone leverage over me. If anything went sideways, there would be no one to cover for me, so he just went ahead without telling me.”

Leopold’s jaw worked silently, failing to snap shut.

Every word Micah said was for Percival’s sake. How could anyone argue with that?

Unable to sit still any longer, Leopold cursed under his breath, stood up, and stormed out. He slammed the door behind him, not caring if he would end up getting a beating.

This was just too damn suffocating.

Percival neatly filed the application form away and glanced up at Vivienne, his eyes usually icy, now melting with a certain warmth. “Vivienne, shall we go have a look?”

Vivienne rose, taking the fruit juice from Percival’s hand, and sipped the rest through the straw. “Yeah, let’s check it out.”

…

Ellington

room, and from her cries, one

when she went in, and now she’s in the ICU. Can you imagine her suffering? It’s all Vivienne’s fault. If not for her, my girl wouldn’t

face wet with tears, laid the blame thickly on Vivienne, pouring out her grievances to

marriage; you can ignore me, but my children are Ellingtons by blood. If you don’t

Heloise marrying Henry, knowing she was not the type to settle down. But she was pregnant, and the scandal was huge. The Ellington family had no choice but to take

a woman out if he had known it would come to

sleeve on the hospital bed, her complexion ashen. “Mom, please leave us. I want to speak with Grandpa

her theatrics. She left, allowing Fiona to make her own appeal — it was always more effective than her

a scene, the more reasonable Fiona appeared. That was the real reason behind her relentless

stand up for yourself like before, I’ll disown you,” Heloise warned before

her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, they were rimmed red with distress. She turned to Richard. “Grandpa, this mess is my fault. It has nothing to do with Percival

generation’s affairs. He had taken even more of a back

Percival had his own fish to fry and never

not just a simple case of financial fraud; it was bound

doing things,

well. I won’t let you down. My promises are still good, and I’ve kept that credit

the Ellington family. Once I’m better, let Mom, Jeffrey, and me leave Rivenwood. As for Dad… Grandpa, can you spare

agree, nor did he have the heart to outright refuse. He could

granddaughter, and before Isolde was born, he cherished her

he not dote on her, the only girl amidst a houseful

self-reliant, never troubling the family, and had a knack for

fortune and butted heads with Percival, she focused on improving herself and genuinely

welcomed her back to

What a pity…

suitable for your recovery. Stay here. In a little while, your uncle will return, and you’ll have to meet him.

lift, and a genuine smile spread across

youngest son, was the cool uncle of

older than his nieces and nephews, Flynn had been the ringleader