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.

Just now?" Shane was

the uptake, suddenly asking, "You mean Vivienne is

be

wasn't clueless. Vivienne looked so much like Winnie, and though he hadn't met Karen, the brief conversation with Vivienne was

had been searching

Karen was Scott's girlfriend... It's

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

years apart, who knew if she had

Dante. "Vivienne is my daughter! She's the one Winnie

resemble him, but he was certain she was his

found someone else after leaving Scott,

Vivienne was already twenty-one.

matter how you sliced it, she

at Karen, and he could confirm whether she was Winnie. If she was, he could

had a lead? He'd been searching slowly because he lacked any clue. Now with a clue in hand, why continue the slow

and Dante wanted to

"Enough with the chatter. If my wife gets away, are you going to find me.

Vivienne again. Whatever she needs, give it to

Dante

been the one causing trouble for Vivienne

Are you questioning me? Why would I reject my

Shane, Dante: ...

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

lab was quiet, with fewer than a dozen people including Brody

arrival, one of the

was taken aback for

anyone in

informed us of your visit. Please, follow me," the researcher said, leading Arthur

had her own set of

Brody was analyzing

one of