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??”

a chuckle. “Mr. Ellington, you’re going to have your hands full. Better take care of yourself,

Vivienne’s waist and said, “Alright, then we’ll

pinched Percival’s side in

was he

Seven kids?

this rate, they would have

all smiles. “Seven kids, eh? The more, the merrier. It’s a handful for a father, though.

one noticed that Vesper

happened, not only was Vesper gone,

but Percival stopped her. “Vivienne, let it be. We can’t

them, nodding. “Mr.

How could two grown men disappear without notice? The only explanation

felt a premonition that she would see Vesper again, but it

Mystics Society and the Frostfire Intelligence Agency to find Vesper, but she was unsure if

asleep,

ear. The next second,

note. It read: [Watch

saw no one, not

silent intruder if he

it be from? The same person who left a note in Jasper’s room

without causing a stir. He did not

house and to keep a

…

mile away from the Perez Mansion, at a

fork and sighed over his plate. “Missed a good meal back

his soup, saying, “This isn’t half bad, either.

complained, burning his

his soup. “The waters run deep in

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

chair, her mind racing through every

not add

the two pairs of shoes Vesper brought or his silent

was when Vesper and Finnian arrived, did we?”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books