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.

now?"

the uptake, suddenly asking, "You mean Vivienne is your daughter? But wasn't

be Winnie!"

like Winnie, and though he hadn't met Karen, the brief conversation with Vivienne was enough for him to connect

been searching for might

Scott's girlfriend... It's

secrets. However, they had discovered that Vivienne wasn't really Scott's child. Vivienne's origins were a

so many years apart, who knew if she had fallen

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

didn't resemble him, but he was certain she was his

timelines, even if Winnie had found someone else after leaving Scott, any child she had would be

Vivienne was already twenty-one.

matter how you sliced

type to harbor doubts and investigate slowly. One look at Karen, and he could confirm whether she was Winnie. If she was, he could take Vivienne for a paternity

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

Dante wanted to

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

Whatever she needs, give

and Dante were

been the one causing trouble for Vivienne

Why would I reject my own

Shane, Dante: ...

to respond, Arthur instructed the driver to head

with fewer than a

arrival, one of the researchers approached. "You're

was taken aback for a moment

anyone in

Please,

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

was

one