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.

you’ve been put through the wringer this time,” Jasper said as soon as they

no idea Lark was your

formalities. I’ve heard from Percival that you’re quite interested in the ancient

busy pouring coffee for Vivienne and not looking

that my family, the Edwards, are connected by marriage to the ancient warrior lineage. After the Sheldon family met their demise,

was well aware

had considered keeping the Mystic Vein until they could return it to Ulysses Sheldon. But they were too late, and

had kept a watchful eye on the Edwards, and when the head of the Edwards family and Vance’s parents died under

resulting in their complete downfall, and then suffering

saint and felt

of the Vanguard Agency and to have

ranks so quickly, only to realize he wanted

it never occur to you that the misfortunes of the Edwards family could be the result of your own making?” Jasper

about my grandfather’s and my parents’ sudden deaths—that they were due to the Sheldon family’s curse? What exactly is in

with emotion, and his hands balled into

befallen the Edwards has nothing to do with

with frustration. “What do you mean

contract from his briefcase, a document between the Edwards Group

with whom the Edwards Group

mention of the ancient warrior lineage and the Sheldons stirred Vance’s

of the other party. “Don’t you

was momentarily taken aback, then looked closely—the chairman was none

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 changed the CEO’s name, we penned a new deal with

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

the Edwards Group craved were the cutting-edge gas masks that the pharmaceutical company supplied – the only way to halt the sacrifice of

taken for a fool. His mind was sharp as

her arms and

had been doggedly

watched the play of emotions across Vance’s face and could not help but curve her lips into a sly smile. She recounted the tale of how Finnian had once handed over the formula to Vance’s grandfather, only for him to disregard it as worthless.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for