The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The next day, Vivienne woke to find Percival already gone from her side.

After freshening up, she wandered into the kitchen to find Percival busy at work. Clad in an apron, he moved with a deliberate grace, preparing breakfast with the morning light casting a different kind of glow upon him.

Watching him, Vivienne felt a profound sense of peace.

Percival looked up to see her standing in the doorway. He walked over and playfully tapped her nose. “Just a bit longer. Breakfast is almost ready.”

She smiled softly. “Okay.”

Soon, the meal was ready. Considering Vivienne had overexerted herself the previous day, Percival had simmered a chicken soup. The chicken, bought fresh that morning by Thomas, was accompanied by two side dishes and a couple of eggs. Neither of them had a big appetite; the portions were just right for two.

After eating, Percival handed Vivienne a napkin and wiped his mouth with another. He looked at her seriously. “Vivienne, I plan to start searching for your biological father.”

Vivienne’s fingers paused, and her eyes narrowed slightly. After a moment, she asked, “Why?”

The concept of finding her father wasn’t new to her, but she had almost no information about him. Her mother had always avoided the truth, and now that she was comatose, Vivienne had even less hope of finding him. She had almost given up the idea; the word “father” was foreign to her.

Although Dorian Hawthorn had cherished her as his own daughter, it wasn’t the same as having a biological father. For Vivienne, it was enough that her mother was alive.

In truth, there was a time when Vivienne resented her father. She couldn’t understand how a man could leave a woman pregnant and not show his face for over twenty years. Although Karen had told her that her father was an incredible man, she felt he failed in his duties, never providing her with any fatherly love.

“Master said, for us to marry, your father must be present,” Percival took her hand earnestly.

“The license was a spur of the moment, but for the wedding, I want your father there.”

Vivienne remained silent.

I thought we could postpone the wedding date to discuss with both families, but after

wedding. However, since Karen had yet to wake, they agreed to hold the wedding two years

hoped for an earlier wedding, not considering it fair to Vivienne until the ceremony was held, despite the marriage license. The Perez family, while also eager for the wedding,

lot of hardships to finally reunite with each other after so many

two years. If she awoke within that time, the wedding would

longer. They did not want to

Percival’s strict adherence to Karen’s words: her father must attend her wedding. But with scant information available, all he could do was try his best, knowing

“Alright.”

ways. She headed to Frostfire Intelligence Agency’s Rivenwood outpost to seek clues for her father, entrusting them with the search. Percival went to Vanguard Agency

he carried an appointment letter naming Thomas as the new Deputy Director of the Rivenwood Vanguard Agency. Upon delivering the letter to Vance’s office, he was about to leave when Vance stopped him. “Did you know a big shot is visiting Vanguard Agency

Percival paused, “Who?”

now that things

one,” Vance

usually impassive eyes brightened. “You

there was a legend named Arthur, known as the

everyone at Vanguard Agency to

at Percival, clicking his tongue. “Seems like the

has been at ease for too long; a good

shot him a glare. “Don’t beat around the bush. I admit I’m not Mr. Clean, but when it comes to the Vanguard Agency, I’m all in, heart and

an

was actually itching to meet his hero.