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.

arrest of Eliza came as an abrupt blow, derailing

consolidate his power by winning over the Boyd Group’s shareholders

from Vivienne, and the

with her under lock and key and the murder footage spreading like wildfire online, no one could

pale

his trump card had become

going on with Eliza? Did she really kill Wendy?” Gillian had woken up to see

still preoccupied with

down and asked, “Gillian, has Mara called you

deal with her anymore. Percival has already cut ties with them, so

bother with someone

one of mutual exploitation, nothing

find a way to get close to Vivienne and retrieve the Boyd family signet ring. And try to find the contract Wendy left behind.

want to entangle

crucial for our family. We won’t be at Vivienne’s mercy anymore if you manage to get them. Hurry before Vivienne

wanted to probe further, but seeing Patrick’s ashen

never seen her

Patrick’s instructions, Gillian dialed Mara’s number. For

to them, Vivienne had heard every word of their

took off her headphones, chuckling as she reviewed

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

Patrick was fixated on the contract rather than ensuring his

red dots were converging into a trap around

he’d realize that loyalty to my mentor

her lips. “Traitors always meet

minutes later, Mara’s call came through

“Bro, it’s Mara.”

was laced with sobs, still not fully comprehending how the

turned on the speakerphone. “What’s

to do. With all this chaos at home, I… Can I come to you? I want to apologize to Vivienne, no, to

the Ashford Mansion. Tell Gillian I’ll bring over what

that, Percival hung

for playing games with

up, her gaze settling on Percival’s expression with a