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.

an

of the Boyd lineage, and 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 to be in

lock and key and the murder footage spreading like wildfire

turned pale with

his trump card

ages; you’re making my head spin. What’s going on with Eliza? Did she really kill Wendy?” Gillian

preoccupied with dreams of marrying

and asked, “Gillian,

Besides, I don’t want to deal with her anymore. Percival has already cut ties with them, so she’s useless

bother with someone

friendship was one of

retrieve the Boyd family signet ring.

still want to entangle with them? A

family. We won’t be at Vivienne’s mercy anymore if

seeing Patrick’s ashen face, she swallowed her

seen her father

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

to them, Vivienne had heard every word of

she reviewed the translated documents

to stay afloat all these years relying on GTO.” Vivienne shook her head. The man was

was fixated on the contract

dots were converging into a trap

that loyalty to my mentor is the wisest choice,”

curved her lips. “Traitors always meet a traitor’s

call came through

“Bro, it’s Mara.”

with sobs, still not fully comprehending how the Boyd family had

turned on the

all this chaos at home, I… Can I come to you?

Ashford Mansion. Tell Gillian

Percival hung

out of patience for playing games with

Percival’s expression with a hint of surprise. “What’s