The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Jasper was fuming, his face beet red with anger.

After finally reconnecting with his estranged daughter and granddaughter, the last thing he wanted was to have his precious granddaughter, Vivienne, whisked away by some smooth-talking charmer when he wasn’t looking.

“This guy, Percival, always seemed decent enough, but it turns out he’s sneaky as a fox!” Yuri exclaimed, shaking her head disapprovingly.

Luke chimed in, determined, “We can’t just let him get away with whisking Vivienne away. We need to settle the score.”

Leaning lazily against the wall, arms crossed, Fredrick offered a more pragmatic view. “What’s there to settle? Even if you confront Percival, do you really think Vivienne, who’s head over heels for him, would agree to leave him?”

Vivienne: I’m not head over heels!

Jasper shot Fredrick a glare. “If you’ve got nothing sensible to say, zip it!”

Raising an eyebrow, Fredrick countered, “So what’s your plan? Force them to annul the marriage right away?”

Jasper was at a loss for words. How could he, as a grandfather, encourage his own granddaughter to divorce? Nonetheless, he was still not happy with it!

Fredrick clapped Jasper on the shoulder, trying to ease the tension. “Look, she’s all grown up. They’ve got their marriage license. Instead of getting all worked up, why not focus on throwing them a proper wedding? We, the Perez family, won’t let our girl be shortchanged!”

Jasper snorted dismissively. “A wedding, sure. But the Ellington family is not getting off easy for tricking my granddaughter!”

Maddox and Yuri nodded in agreement. Zelda sighed, the voice of reason lost in the commotion.

Meanwhile, Cecilia had just woken up from a nap and, out of habit, began scrolling through Facebook. Suddenly, she came across Vivienne’s post – no caption, just a photo of a marriage license. Still groggy, she scrolled past it and then saw an identical post from Percival.

a sudden burst of realization, Cecilia sat bolt

did she

brief pause, she went back to Percival’s post and zoomed in on the photo. There it was, clear as day: a marriage license with Percival and Vivienne’s names on it. Then, she scrolled up and saw the same post

covers and grabbing a

My son has gone and married

coffee, was startled by Cecilia’s outcry. Clutching his chest, he exclaimed, “What in the world are you shouting

thrust her phone at Richard. “Dad, look! Percival

you—bold and decisive! Just like I was back in the day. You’ve

Richard boasted to Cecilia, “You know, I did the same with your mother. Baron Brooks was always hovering, waiting to whisk her

her eyes. Why did Richard sound

began making plans. “It’s been ages since we’ve had a celebration. Let’s start with a family feast tonight, and tomorrow, we

in agreement, her heart swelling

They should be involved in setting the date,” Richard added,

Dad. I know. They’ve treated Vivienne well all her life. Although her mother has returned, they’re

content, and headed upstairs to

the news had set the Emerald

went and got a marriage license with

dog! He

No ceremony, no proposal,

why the silent treatment? Did you have a hand in Percival

daring to utter a word, finally replied, [I’m

truly

opened his phone to