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.

in Sea City under the guise of guarding the new bomb

handle

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

turned her gaze to the scenery

this is nice,” She

Leopold clenched his jaw.

was going on

Thomas again!

in touch with

you wait!” He cursed

his frustration as if

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

up at

whispering, “We’ve got to give our scientists

She knew it!

his fingerprints all over

the best. Without a little crisis, Leopold would never

buzzed, showing a map with

from Quincy

the map to Thomas, telling

image she received was unexpected. It was

another cryptic message from that mysterious

Quincy lay bloodied and barely breathing on the ground. The door burst open, and in walked a pair of red

factory location? Have you figured it out?” The woman

looked up, unable to see the

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

cleared enough to recognize

It was Vivienne!

you here?”

person could not be Vivienne. Vivienne could not possibly be

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

agitated? I

tightly, her finger on the trigger without hesitation. A gunshot rang out, but sudden pain shot through her hand, sending the gun clattering to the floor as electricity coursed

nonsense! Knowing my true name doesn’t make you trustworthy. Who are you?” Quincy demanded, still