The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Percival tightened his embrace, resting his forehead just above Vivienne’s brows, whispering tenderly, “Looking at my Vivienne.”

My Vivienne.

Few words in the world could send Vivienne’s heart fluttering quite like those.

She felt as if she had plunged into a pool of spring water, her entire being drenched in its soothing embrace.

Their gazes locked, neither willing to take a step closer.

In their eyes, there was only each other, each deeply etching the other’s features into their memory.

They tugged at each other, eyes speaking volumes.

Creak…

The lab door swung open, and Karen marched in, dragging Rex by the ear, the awkwardness in the room thick enough to cut with a knife.

Karen was the first to snap out of it. “Carry on, lovebirds. I’ve got a bone to pick with this good-for-nothing apprentice!”

Vivienne watched as Karen pulled Rex aside and, with a swift kick, sent him sprawling.

Meanwhile, she and Percival were still wrapped up in each other, fingers interlocked.

“Boss, your daughter’s over here making goo-goo eyes, and you’re not saying a peep? She’s underage and being seduced by an older man—aren’t you gonna do something about it?”

Rex’s outburst was swiftly silenced by Karen’s expert move.

“If you don’t spill the beans on all those toxins you’ve been cooking up over the years, you might as well forget about talking ever again.”

Karen had zero tolerance for her underlings causing trouble.

If she had known Rex was actually Brody, she would have cut him down long ago!

Vivienne pursed her lips, conceding that when it came to inner strength, her mom was unbeatable.

“Old man, gonna let go, or do you want to play a live show?” Vivienne teased, pulling away with a mischievous wink.

Percival let go, touched his nose awkwardly, and stepped forward, handing Karen a stun baton. “Master, this might come in handy.”

of high voltage at the

baton a twirl. “Not bad at

a look

Alright, he got it.

feather flock together—Karen was shamelessly cunning, Percival was sly and ruthless, and Vivienne

revenge, Percival, with Vivienne in

like they’re targeting the

said a lot, but all Percival heard was:

“Alright, I got it.”

paused, “Got what,

subject, “Thomas called me earlier and said Gillian has already reported

quick? What position?” Vivienne

Secretary-General. Officially, she’s there to learn, but reality is she’s

since Percival left, Rivenwood’s Vanguard Agency became a thorn in Sea City’s

agents of Rivenwood’s Vanguard Agency were Percival’s people. Even

from becoming entirely Percival’s domain, a new overseer

they had to send Gillian, who had

was clear: Rivenwood was not for Percival to

spy? They should’ve at least picked someone with brains like Leopold—that’s the bare minimum, and yet

I feel like someone’s praising me…

can discern the

Vance called

the captain of the headquarters,

had he seen a former suspect become

eyes twinkled with the understanding

has cleared her. No issues there. Just focus on your job and show her around

acknowledged. “Will

of his hand, Vance

exhaled deeply, pondering over Gillian’s

personally recommended her—Gillian was no

matter how he looked at it, her ties to the ancient

had long coveted the assets of the once-mighty Boyd family, an ancient warrior lineage. Now, with Patrick Ashford locked up, Gillian Ashford had managed to join the Vanguard Agency and been sent to

hard to believe she had no

was backing

place Gillian safely within the Vanguard Agency, this person’s influence had to rival the Perez

stepped out of his suburban home when he bumped into Gillian, who was on her way to

Gillian said with a smile, unfazed by the