The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne froze for a moment.

Was Maddox implying that she should carry on with this contract?

“Exactly as you’re thinking,” Maddox slid the contract toward Vivienne. “The Perez family has its own fish to fry these days, not focusing on bionic tech. And I know the reason the Ashfords have stood the test of time has a lot to do with this project.”

He paused, his gaze growing intense before he continued, “The person who got the Ashfords involved in the first place was your mother, Karen, right?”

Vivienne nodded but remained tight-lipped.

She was not ready to stir the pot with the Perez family’s waters still uncharted.

“Vivienne, only the Perez and the Boyd families are in on the bionic tech secret. Your mother managed to bring this concept to life, and it’s nearly identical to what the Perez family envisioned. I think she must have seen their initial concept draft. I’m not saying she copied or stole it. I’m just saying…”

“Uncle, I get what you’re trying to say.”

Vivienne smiled at Maddox.

She knew he was beginning to question her identity.

If her mother had indeed introduced those concepts, matching the Perez family’s ideas, it only meant she had some connection with them.

If that was the case, could Karen perhaps be Sasha?

Maddox hesitated to voice his suspicion, fearing another disappointment.

Vivienne tucked the contract away. “Thanks, Uncle. I’ll take it from here and push the research forward.”

Maddox nodded. “Yeah, I believe in you.”

He also believed that she must be his niece, his sister’s daughter.

But with a paternity test looming, this was a matter that still needed resolution!

…

At the Ashford Mansion.

as an

Patrick had intended to consolidate his power by winning over the Boyd Group’s shareholders with her help. It would save him a

Boyd family signet ring from Vivienne, and the contract was supposed

and the murder footage spreading

pale with

trump card had become

ages; you’re making my head spin. What’s going on with Eliza? Did she really kill Wendy?” Gillian had woken up to see Patrick pacing and was clueless about

preoccupied with dreams of

sat down and asked, “Gillian,

to deal with her anymore. Percival has already cut ties with them, so she’s useless to me now.” Gillian snorted with disdain for her once close

bother with someone

of mutual

family

still want to entangle with them? A family full of

be at Vivienne’s mercy anymore if you manage to get them. Hurry before

seeing Patrick’s ashen face, she swallowed

had never seen her father so

dialed Mara’s number. For the Boyd family fortune,

Vivienne had heard every word of

her headphones, chuckling as she reviewed

only managed to stay afloat all these years relying on GTO.” Vivienne shook her head.

was fixated on the

three red dots were converging into a trap around

loyalty to my mentor is the

her lips. “Traitors

Mara’s call

“Bro, it’s Mara.”

voice was laced with sobs, still not fully comprehending how

the

I come to you? I want to apologize to Vivienne, no,

Mansion. Tell Gillian I’ll bring over

that, Percival

of patience for playing games with these

her gaze settling on Percival’s expression with a hint