The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Melissa was a wreck for a whole week when she heard the news of Karen’s passing. Even now, just the thought of it could bring tears to her eyes.

Karen reached out and wiped the tear from Melissa’s eye. “Come on, even your kids all grown up now. You shouldn’t be crying like when you were a little girl.”

Vivienne handed her a tissue. “Here, wipe your tears.”

Melissa looked up at Vivienne and then at Karen. “Auntie Karen, Vivienne’s had a tough time with the Brooks family. Now that you and Jasper are here, I want to apologize on behalf of the Brooks to both you and Vivienne.”

With that, Melissa bent forward in a deep bow.

Vivienne lifted her back up. “Auntie, you’re making us feel like strangers.”

“That’s right, if you keep this up, I’ll get cross,” Karen said, patting Melissa’s back. “Isn’t it great that we’re all here together now?”

Melissa nodded vigorously. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s nice, just like this.”

Vance watched from the side, well aware of the hardships Karen and Vivienne had endured over the years because of Scott and his organization. He knew that a mere apology or bow could not make up for it all.

But none of that mattered when it came to his beloved.

He put a comforting arm around Melissa’s shoulders, saying, “Melissa, we’ve finally got a chance to catch up with Karen. Let’s not dwell on the unhappy stuff. How about we talk about something cheerful?”

“Sure, Karen, let’s go chat over there.” Melissa affectionately linked arms with Karen, and they made their way over to where Zelda was.

Vance, Vivienne, and the ever-silent Jasper went to Jasper’s study in unspoken agreement.

Vance was aware that Vivienne’s invitation to join the Perez gathering was not just for pleasantries.

Inside the study, Percival was already there, serving coffee like a perfect gentleman.

Vance was surprised; he had not expected Percival to be at the Perez Mansion and was even more taken aback to see him waiting in the study.

this time,” Jasper said as

I had no idea Lark

heard from Percival that

was busy pouring coffee for Vivienne and

by marriage to the ancient warrior lineage. After the Sheldon family met their

laugh was knowing. He was well

of the Sheldon family, the Perez family had considered keeping the Mystic Vein until they could return it to Ulysses

when the head of the Edwards family and Vance’s parents died under mysterious circumstances, it was hard for

complete downfall, and then suffering such karma—how could

saint and felt no

Vance to be part of the Vanguard Agency and to have risen so rapidly

why Vance had climbed the ranks so quickly, only to realize

of the Edwards family could

that you know about my grandfather’s and my parents’ sudden deaths—that they were due to

with emotion,

do with the Sheldon family. On the contrary,

with frustration. “What do you mean by

a document between the Edwards Group and a

meddle with whom the Edwards Group partners

the ancient warrior lineage

page of the contract, pointing to the name of the other party. “Don’t you want to see the name

momentarily taken aback, then looked closely—the chairman

cradled a steaming mug of coffee in her hands, took a sip, and said with a smirk, “You really didn’t know? When the company went through the whole rebranding shindig and

could he have the time to fuss over a triviality like resigning some contract? He had not paid the slightest attention to who was helming the pharmaceutical company they were

– the only way to halt the sacrifice of

a fool. His mind was sharp as a tack. “Who

her arms and

he had been doggedly searching for, had been

of how Finnian had once handed over the formula to Vance’s