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.

came as an abrupt blow,

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

signet ring from Vivienne, and the contract was supposed to be in

the murder footage spreading like wildfire

pale

trump card had become

going on with Eliza? Did she really kill Wendy?” Gillian had woken up to see Patrick pacing and was clueless about

was still preoccupied with dreams

down and asked, “Gillian, has Mara called

want to deal with her anymore. Percival has already cut

with someone

was one of mutual exploitation,

to get close to Vivienne and retrieve the Boyd family signet ring. And

was puzzled. “Dad, you still want to entangle with them? A family full

crucial for our family. We won’t be at Vivienne’s

seeing Patrick’s ashen face, she swallowed her

had never seen

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

Vivienne had heard every

as she

these years relying on GTO.”

Patrick was fixated on the contract rather

three red dots were converging into a

he’d realize that loyalty to my mentor is the wisest choice,” Percival remarked

curved her lips. “Traitors always meet a

Mara’s call came

“Bro, it’s Mara.”

still not fully comprehending how the

on the speakerphone.

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

Mansion. Tell Gillian I’ll

Percival hung

out of patience for playing games with

looked up, her gaze settling on Percival’s expression with a hint of surprise.