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

and from her cries,

you imagine her suffering? It’s all Vivienne’s fault. If not for her, my girl wouldn’t be like this. Dad, even if you’re mad at your son, you can’t just stand by and watch your granddaughter

blame thickly

Jeffrey weren’t involved at all. I’m just an Ellington by marriage; you can ignore me, but my children are Ellingtons by blood. If you don’t step up, we three

Heloise marrying Henry, knowing she was not the type to settle down. But she was pregnant, and

sacrificed half the Ellington fortune to keep such a

weakly tugged at Heloise’s sleeve on the hospital bed, her complexion ashen. “Mom, please leave us.

knowing when to stop her theatrics. She left, allowing Fiona to make her own appeal — it was always more

more she made a scene, the more reasonable Fiona

before, I’ll disown you,” Heloise warned before slamming the door behind

closed 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 or

younger generation’s affairs. He had taken even more of

Percival had his own fish to fry

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

of doing things,

glad to hear you say that,” Richard said, his voice softening. “Now that you’re out, live your life well. I won’t let you down. My promises are still good, and I’ve kept that credit card

family. Once I’m better, let Mom, Jeffrey,

he have the heart to outright refuse. He could not forgive his second son, but his granddaughter was a

granddaughter, and before Isolde was born, he cherished her like a

the only girl

self-reliant, never troubling the family, and

with Percival,

have welcomed her back to the

What a pity…

sighed. “Don’t worry about your father. You’ve always been by my side, never left Rivenwood; nowhere else is suitable for your recovery. Stay here. In a little while, your uncle will return, and you’ll have to meet him. He’s always

Fiona’s heart seemed to lift, and a genuine smile spread across her

was the

had been the ringleader of their childhood shenanigans, the