The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Everyone gathered around Jasper, but he reached for Vivienne with a steady hand.

“Vivienne, you okay there?”

Vivienne shifted her gaze from Vesper and replied softly, “Yeah, a bit shaken up.”

Jasper hummed in response, gently patting Vivienne’s hand. “I’m gonna be fine. Gotta take you back home to watch Natalia and Yasmine grow up and wait for Sasha to return. I won’t break my promise.”

Then, spotting Percival, he added with a smile, “And to see our Vivienne get married and have kids, right?”

Vivienne blushed slightly. “How about I check in on you every month, say on the ninth?”

Although Vivienne still had questions about what was really going on inside Jasper, she knew now was not the time to ask. He was weak and did not need the stress of an interrogation.

“Sounds good to me,” Jasper chuckled, his eyes catching Vesper standing a little ways off. The more he looked, the more he liked the young man. “Young sir, you do resemble my boys strikingly.”

Vesper looked up, a complicated expression in his eyes, but he managed a small smile. “Really? Then I suppose I’m quite the looker.”

Jasper laughed heartily. “You sure are, lad, a spitting image of my younger self.”

Yuri teased, “Dad, fishing for compliments now?”

“I’ve always been handsome.” Jasper stood up, still holding Vivienne’s hand. “Vivienne’s kids are gonna be stunners, no doubt.”

“Dad, how many kids do you want Vivienne to have?” Zelda asked.

Jasper thought momentarily, then said, “Hey, Percival, how many do you want?”

Caught off-guard by the sudden question, Percival cleared his throat and said, “That’s up to Vivienne.”

“You just stay out of the fray and take care of yourself. Can’t have any repeats of last time,” Jasper advised more seriously.

Percival nodded in agreement, feeling no discomfort.

Vivienne turned to Vesper. “How many kids do you have at the Linklater family??”

you’re going to have your hands full. Better take care of yourself, especially with

waist

Percival’s side

was he

Seven kids?

this rate, they would have enough for a

merrier. It’s a handful for a father, though. You’d

the banter continued, no one noticed that Vesper had silently disappeared from the

happened, not only was Vesper gone, but

made to go after them, but Percival stopped her. “Vivienne, let it be. We can’t

“Mr.

attention on Jasper, all present were vigilant and trained. How could two grown men disappear

see Vesper again, but it would be a long

the Frostfire

illness, Jasper soon fell asleep, and Vivienne

his ear. The next second, a disposable fork with a note

It read: [Watch those

saw no one, not even the bodyguards, had noticed the

Yuri would not have known about the silent intruder if he had not seen

note seemed to be a warning, not a threat. But who could it be from? The

causing a stir. He did not

and to keep a close eye on Vivienne without

…

away from the Perez

sighed over his plate. “Missed a good meal back there. Heard helpers at the Perez

“This

say anything?” Finnian complained, burning his tongue on a hot

soup. “The waters run deep in

did not need to say much. With just one phrase, Finnian knew precisely what he

lounging back in her chair, her mind racing through

did not

two pairs of shoes Vesper brought

where Grandpa’s bedroom was when Vesper and Finnian arrived, did we?”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for