The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Outside the courthouse, Arthur hopped into his car without a second glance.

Seeing this, Shane hurried over, his voice full of panic. "Arthur, you're leaving just like that?"

Arthur waved dismissively, "Yeah, I'm off. You guys head back!"

Shane was visibly frustrated. "But how are we supposed to explain this to the boss? We were sent here on a mission!"

"What's there to explain? I've been single for nearly fifty years for the sake of the country. Do I not deserve a wife and kids for my sacrifice? Doesn't the boss owe me that much?" Arthur declared righteously.

Shane was speechless. "You've got a point, but you haven't found your true love yet. You randomly decided to hand Harrison and Gavin over to Vivienne, and now the higher-ups are going to be furious. Those two were key to wrapping this whole operation up..."

Before Shane could finish, Arthur cut him off, "Nothing is more important than finding my wife and daughter! Tell the boss I'm done. I'm off to find my wife!"

"What?"

Shane and the newly arrived Dante were stunned.

Was this even allowed?

Quitting on the spot without a formal resignation?

He was just going to leave with a few words?

Shaking off his shock, Shane quickly said, "Look, Arthur, we're all for you finding a wife, but that doesn't mean you have to quit your job!"

He hadn't heard the conversation between Arthur and Vivienne in the courtroom.

"It absolutely does! I've already managed to upset my own daughter! If I don't make it up to her by sending those two her way, who's going to take care of me when I'm old?" Arthur exploded.

"What?" Shane and Dante were utterly confused. "Daughter? Arthur, since when do you have a daughter? How come we didn't know?"

Arthur had his reasons, which Shane and Dante were privy to. They had been helping Arthur look for someone ever since he returned to the country. Yet, they hadn't found any leads, and they certainly hadn't heard anything about Arthur having a daughter.

"I just found out!" Arthur exclaimed.

out? Just now?" Shane was

suddenly asking, "You mean Vivienne is

might just be Winnie!"

he hadn't met Karen, the brief conversation with Vivienne was enough

he had been searching

hesitated, "But Karen was Scott's girlfriend... It's still unclear whose

Vivienne, the Brooks family's scandal had sealed many secrets. However, they had discovered that Vivienne wasn't really Scott's child. Vivienne's origins were

many years

Arthur glared at Dante. "Vivienne is my daughter! She's

him, but he was certain she

timelines, even if Winnie had found someone else after

Vivienne was already twenty-one.

you sliced

could confirm whether she was Winnie.

lead? He'd been searching slowly because he lacked any clue. Now with

and Dante

wife gets away, are you going to find me. another? I'm

again. Whatever she needs, give it to

Dante were

the one causing trouble for

you questioning me? Why would I reject my own

Shane, Dante: ...

Dante a chance to respond, Arthur instructed the driver to head

fewer than a dozen people

his arrival, one of the researchers approached.

for a

hadn't expected anyone in the lab to recognize

your visit. Please, follow me,"

under Brody's charge, had her own set of labs here, normally off-limits to

Brody was

in one