The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne gazed deeply into the eyes of her mother, whom she had waited over ten years to reunite with. There was an undeniable reluctance to let go.

Memories, after all, weren’t everything. If they couldn’t be retrieved, then so be it.

Karen ruffled Vivienne’s hair affectionately. “Frost, I believe in you. You’re my pride and joy in this world, and nothing will ever pose an obstacle in your way. You’re my treasure, and whatever you set your mind to, you’ll surely succeed.”

She knew her daughter all too well.

Vivienne didn’t want to lose her; she didn’t want to be cast into the world as an orphan again.

Indeed, those lost memories weren’t crucial.

She now knew how she had vanished and had been reunited with her biological father. Whether her memories returned or not wasn’t important.

When F-Poison had abducted her from the Perez family, Diana hadn’t even seen his true face.

At Scepter University, the white-haired old man who knew F-Poison had only seen Elliot’s face.

Flynn might know, but he would never tell.

Thus, in this entire world, Karen was the only one who might have seen F-Poison’s real face.

And those lost memories? They needed to be recovered at all costs.

Vivienne bit her lower lip pensively. “I only have one chance.”

One opportunity: success meant jubilation; failure meant no second chances.

Karen smiled reassuringly. “I know, but I’m not going to die. Your mentor has seen it in the cards – I’m going to live to be two hundred!”

Vivienne knew her mother was jesting, but it helped ease her tension slightly.

Karen continued, “I must recover that part of my memory, so rest assured, nothing will happen to me. And my dear daughter, when have you ever faced defeat?”

Holding Vivienne’s hand tightly, Karen said, “Go ahead with confidence. No matter what happens, I’m here for you.”

Vivienne’s lips were pressed firmly together, and she didn’t respond for a long time.

She was contemplating, hesitating.

Karen’s eyes, her uncertainty seemed to

tomorrow. For today, how about we go back and have a potluck dinner with Grandpa

“Sounds perfect!”

hand in hand, and Percival, seeing the streaks on Vivienne’s cheeks, didn’t

Zelda had prepared a hearty stew, knowing Karen

Perez family bustled about in preparation

Except for Maddox.

in playing house with Natalia

and Karen entered, they saw Maddox’s head

are you playing today, Uncle

sigh, only to be scolded by Natalia, “Vivienne, don’t talk

“I mean, come on, Yuri, don’t be so harsh on the kid. So what if she

and Yasmine were impersonating Zelda and Yuri Perez, and Maddox was,

“Uncle Maddox, have Natalia and Yasmine

isn’t great either. Fredrick, when are you going to have

mouth with absolute precision and said, “Shut it.

them yourself. Those two rascals are

the show, waved his hands frantically at the suggestion of taking on his grandsons. “No, no, no, keep

“No way, I’m done with that. They’re grown

do you always treat kids like

curled slightly. “Aunt Carmen, it’s genetic. My

grandpa’s side!” Karen

when we have

with watermelon juice all over his face, finally spoke up, “Vivienne, how many kids are

All the men, except Percival, retorted in

bumps formed on Maddox’s head—one

need to ask; it

happened to this wicked

Mansion was abuzz with laughter and

atop the garden

the first to sense Willa’s presence. She turned and saw Willa waving at her

slipping away from the Perez Mansion, Karen met Willa at the same small steak house where she and Finnian had

Karen approached casually, taking a plate and

took a bite of the side salad and pulled out a notebook from her bag—the very

she offered the notebook to Karen and said, “take a look. Maybe it will be useful

had already snapped photos of the contents and sent them to Karen, although she couldn’t help wondering if the photos might