The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

At the Perez Mansion.

Jasper, balancing a box of strawberry shortcake, made his way inside.

Natalia and Yasmine blinked their dewy eyes and scampered towards Jasper in unison.

Zelda was engrossed in a YouTube tutorial, trying to master the art of the perfect strawberry shortcake.

“Dad, didn’t you go play chess with Richard? What brings you back so soon?” Zelda asked, setting aside her lopsided whipped cream to greet him.

Jasper opened the shortcake box and divided it into two generous slices for the eagerly waiting Natalia and Yasmine.

He waved off her concern with a smile. “Richard got wind that Vivienne and her grandson leaped off a cliff. Rushed off to check on them.”

Zelda gasped, startled. She had been preoccupied with her cake-making venture all day and had not caught any news. “A cliff? What happened?”

“Nothing serious, just a rescue mission. Vivienne and Percival are quite the capable pair,” Jasper chuckled.

Jasper had known about Vivienne and Percival’s heroic act at the racetrack since the previous night and had already dispatched Yuri to gather details. Even the intel about the engineer had been discreetly passed on to Leopold by Yuri.

So, his worry had long since passed.

Zelda breathed a sigh of relief. “You gave me quite the scare. I’ll have to remind Vivienne to steer clear of danger next time. How terrifying.”

Jasper glanced at the yard, where beaten eggs and cream were strewn about – even on Natalia and Yasmine. Sighing, he said, “Zelda, maybe you should steer clear of danger yourself.”

Zelda rubbed her nose with a grin. “No worries, I’m safe. The oven hasn’t exploded yet.”

Jasper did not protest further. His daughter-in-law was always chasing whims; last time, it was an obsession with braiding Natalia and Yasmine’s hair, which nearly ended with the girls being bald.

Now, it was strawberry shortcake, and who knew how long that phase would last?

began to clean up the eggshells from the girls. “Zelda, have Eva

down her utensils, knowing Yuri had matters to discuss with Jasper, and took the

Zelda had left on and asked, “What’s

in Rivenwood, but we’re unsure if it’s the same F-Poison from back then. I’ve looked into the engineer you mentioned,

his right-hand man have been suspended, and Leopold’s been reassigned to the outskirts, away from core operations. Apparently, Fiona submitted a statement to the higher-ups

“Take care of it. We can’t let them get the upper

stopped him with his cane, pointing at the chaotic front yard. “Clean this up and find a proper

“Zelda bake? If she can separate eggs without making

at the bowls of unsuccessfully separated eggs, already dreading the egg-heavy meals ahead. In the Perez Mansion, nothing

…

returned from the Ellington family, Anna came home from school to find Thaddeus doing

efficiency, but it got results

hair and handing him a PSP. “Time’s

the PSP, and scampered to his room for some advanced

firmly behind them. “Ms. Vivienne, I can’t reach headquarters, but Hotshot sent me a coded message telling me not to report in for a

“Alright, I

this feeling that headquarters is trying to sideline the captain’s people. Husky’s been sent to the outskirts, Captain Charlotte’s been suspended, Hotshot is on standby without details, and the third squad has been scattered. There aren’t many left

Vivienne. “Is something

sprawled lazily on the bed.

leave each day. All the

bodyguard for a few more days, and it’ll be over,” Vivienne said, stretching on the bed, feeling sleepy

bit embarrassed. “Ms. Vivienne,

Vivienne turned to face Anna, propping her head with one

expression troubled. “It’s just… Kenneth. He’s a bit

Oh?

up

Anna’s mouth twitched. “It’s nothing major, but Kenneth keeps hanging around Elite University, getting in the way.

unfolding.Books Chapters

up, clutching her throw pillow, and stared at Anna with wide

sigh, “He even paraded around with a bouquet of roses every day. It’s like