The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne blinked, not a hint of hesitation in her eyes as she leaned in and captured those plush, ruby lips with her own.

It did not matter how many kisses it took.

To score a kiss from Mr. Wolf and savor a slice of strawberry shortcake—what could be better?

This was a win-win if there ever was one!

Back in the car, their personal driver, Leopold, and the ever-watchful bodyguard, Anna, seemed to materialize from thin air, taking their respective places without a word.

Vivienne indulged in her shortcake blissfully while Percival contentedly watched her enjoy every bite.

The atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious.

Leopold glanced at them through the rear-view mirror and lowered the privacy screen discreetly.

Out of sight, out of mind!

After finishing her dessert, Vivienne peered through a gap in the curtain at Anna and inquired, “What’s up with Husky again?”

“Samoyed isn’t answering her phone,” Anna said dryly, propping herself against the car window.

Caught between the two couples day in, day out—it was downright exhausting!

She should have joined Thomas in handling the Ashford family factory affairs.

Vivienne knew all too well that ever since Griffin had gotten her hands on that new bomb prototype, she had vanished into her lab, immersing herself in work mode with no time for romantic distractions.

Work and love—she kept them separate with precision.

“Are we heading back to Rivenwood now? Does Griffin know?” Percival asked.

Leopold pulled the car over, lifted the screen with due solemnity, and declared, “Percival, you’re right. We need to inform her posthaste. Let’s go!”

Anna casually interjected, “Thomas said Griffin told us to head back first. She’ll catch up after wrapping up her research. Oh, and she’ll be bringing Thomas with her.”

Though the Ashford family factory issue had been resolved, GTO’s virus research base in Sea City remained a loose end.

tasked Thomas to stay behind in Sea City under the guise of guarding

he would handle

the curtain again, wrapping an arm around Vivienne as they drove off,

gaze to

is

Leopold clenched his jaw.

going on

Thomas again!

been in touch

wait!”

accelerator, channeling all his frustration as if the pedal were Thomas’s

could not help but muse—she had not noticed how close Thomas had gotten

up

whispering, “We’ve got to give our scientists

She knew it!

had his fingerprints all

little crisis, Leopold would never learn to

Vivienne’s phone buzzed, showing a map with a single marked

from Quincy about

forwarded the map to Thomas, telling him to back up Quincy if

image she received was unexpected. It was not from Quincy, just two words—Stay

this another cryptic

walked a pair of red stilettos. The owner sat across from Quincy, legs crossed like a fashion model,

Patrick’s factory location? Have you figured it out?” The

looked up, unable to see the

impossible to open her eyes fully, she gasped. “I don’t know… I only found out that

a moment, Quincy’s vision cleared

It was Vivienne!

are you here?” Quincy stumbled backward in

person could not be Vivienne. Vivienne could not possibly

concealed pistol and pointed it at the woman. “Why are you here? Aren’t you Percival’s

agitated? I came after receiving your message. Don’t you

sudden pain shot through her hand, sending the gun clattering to the floor as electricity coursed from her fingertips to

true name doesn’t make you trustworthy.