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.

wringer this time,” Jasper said as soon as they

flatter me. I had no idea Lark was your

“Let’s skip the formalities. I’ve heard from Percival that you’re

at Percival, who was busy pouring coffee for

Jasper, you might know that my family, the Edwards, are connected by marriage to the ancient warrior lineage. After the Sheldon family met their demise, we took possession of the Mystic Vein. But since then, peace has eluded

He was well aware of

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

on the Edwards, and when the head of the Edwards family

in their complete downfall, and then suffering

saint and

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

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

of the Edwards family could be the result of

parents’ sudden deaths—that they were due to the Sheldon

was charged with emotion, and

tabletop. “Vance, don’t get worked up. Whatever has befallen the Edwards has nothing to do with the Sheldon family. On the contrary, you might want to consider

frustration. “What do you mean by

a document between the Edwards Group and a

to meddle with whom the Edwards

the ancient warrior lineage

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

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

know? When the company went through the whole rebranding

the Martinez family. How could he have the time to fuss over a triviality like resigning some contract? He had not paid the

were the cutting-edge gas masks that the pharmaceutical company supplied – the only way to halt

His mind

her arms and

was gobsmacked. Ulysses, the very man he had been doggedly

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