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.

put through the wringer this time,” Jasper said as

modestly replied, “Jasper, you flatter me. I had no idea Lark was

“Let’s skip the formalities. I’ve heard from Percival that you’re quite interested in the ancient warrior

at Percival, who was busy pouring coffee for Vivienne and

the ancient warrior lineage.

knowing. He was well

the fall of the Sheldon family, the Perez family had considered keeping the Mystic Vein until they could return it to Ulysses Sheldon. But they were too late, and the Edwards got

years, the Perez family had kept a watchful eye on the Edwards, and when the head of the Edwards family and Vance’s parents died under mysterious circumstances, it was

and

saint

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

Jasper wondered why Vance had climbed the ranks so quickly, only to realize he wanted to confront

misfortunes of the Edwards family could be the

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

emotion, and his

up. Whatever has befallen the Edwards has nothing to do with the Sheldon family. On the contrary, you might want

frustration. “What do you mean by

briefcase, a document between the Edwards Group and a

this, Mr. Percy? Are you trying to meddle with whom the

lineage and the Sheldons stirred Vance’s

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

aback, then looked closely—the chairman was none other than

know? When

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

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

His mind was sharp as a

crossed her arms and leveled her gaze

he had been doggedly searching for, had been right under his nose

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