The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Percival’s lips curled into a smile, his eyes twinkling like stars in the night sky.

The divine beauty of Vivienne’s face, akin to a masterpiece carved by the gods themselves, made even someone like her—who prided herself on being no stranger to handsome men and beautiful women—pause in sheer admiration.

She belonged to him, and the fierce surge of possessiveness that rose from the depths of her heart quickly spread to her eyes.

Unabashed by her desire, Vivienne discarded her drenched dress. Her pale arms wrapped around Percival’s neck. “What’s so funny?” she asked, her voice sultry.

Percival’s gaze flickered. “I’ve already shared my thoughts,” he said. “Now’s not the time, so we have to… postpone ‘it’ a bit longer.”

Vivienne rolled her eyes internally. Who was really being put out here?

“You’re not worried about Kaitlyn?” Percival asked just before their lips met, voicing the final question of the night.

Before Vivienne could respond, the sound of labored breaths filled the steamy bathroom, spreading throughout.

As her mind hazed over, she thought she heard her phone ring. But then she was pulled into a sea of desire by Percival, all thoughts forgotten.

…

At the Hawthorn residence, the clock struck midnight.

Dorian sat up in bed, sleep nowhere in sight. His gaze then shifted to the emails on his laptop, feeling as if a boulder weighed heavy on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

[By tomorrow, I want to see that Hawthorn Group has terminated the endorsement deal with Kala.]

He had been on edge for days, and those few words made his heart tremble once again.

He opened and closed Vivienne’s contact on his phone, looking years older all of a sudden.

The once gentle and resilient eyes were now filled with weariness.

while, a long sigh

he supposed to

The next day.

and Percival were determined not to follow the path laid out for

the opportunity, they decided to visit the

into the house. He’d been up late with Griffin the night before

he was waiting

unrepentant. “Got

Leopold replied, shaking his head like a tambourine. “Besides, I’ve got nothing

tracks and glanced back at him.

“The War God is on a mission to root out corruption in the Vanguard Agency. Right now, anyone not assigned to an important person is

something else came to mind. “Oh, and Thomas tried calling you yesterday. Said he couldn’t reach you. He asked me to tell you that they’ve

already arranged for him to be taken back to

Leopold didn’t understand. Wasn’t that the same

apparently not inclined

several times, both upstairs and downstairs, but received no response, which soured her

morning with no answer and wouldn’t have come over if it weren’t for

anyone soon, she was ready to call on the Order of Nine Mystics Society to search

Vivienne reached the master bedroom on the second floor and

the person inside, she paused, “Dorian, why didn’t you answer when

dressed in a suit and tie, ready to walk out the door at a

Dorian looked up, seeming to just now hear Vivienne’s voice. “Vivienne,

noticed the fine

yesterday, and you didn’t pick up, so I came to check on

just worked out a bit. Got a little hot, so I turned it on

honest, he was terrible

around before turning to whisper something in Leopold’s ear,