The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Sasha knew Vivienne was heading to the Brooks' for a visit and instructed her assistant to fetch some gifts they had received from the Perez family, for Vivienne to take along. Percival casually took them from her hands.

Glancing at the clock, Vivienne said to Sasha, "Mom, we'll talk about that matter when I get back."

Sasha nodded in agreement. Some conversations needed more than just a few minutes, and now wasn't the right time.

Leaving the Linklater residence, Vivienne sat in the passenger seat, only then realizing Percival was driving instead of Leopold. "Where's Leopold? Why isn't he with you?"

Percival merged onto the road, replying casually, "He's been tied up lately."

"Tied up?"

Vivienne raised an eyebrow in surprise, as if she had just confirmed something, "Weren't you two together this morning?"

She remembered hearing Leopold's voice in the background when she had called Percival earlier that day.

With a smooth turn of the steering wheel and a glance towards Vivienne, Percival chuckled, "You've got sharp ears, Mrs. Wolf."

He continued, "He kind of let your martial arts brothers trash my properties. Making him do some hard labor doesn't seem unfair, does it?"

A smile played on Vivienne's lips, "Not unfair at all. He could use the workout."

"He volunteered. I didn't force him," Percival added.

Vivienne raised an eyebrow, "Mr. Wolf, did you catch him in a compromising situation?"

"To him, it might as well be the end of the world. Enough to make him listen to me for a good while, or at least not dare to defy me," Percival revealed. Vivienne tilted her head, her eyes narrowing with intrigue, "You didn't capture some scandalous photos of him, did you?"

Percival gave her an affectionate smile, "Do I seem that tasteless to you?"

Vivienne pursed her lips, noncommittal.

Unable to bear her sudden silence, Percival confessed, "Stop worrying. It's a recording of a confession!"

Vivienne's smile broadened in understanding, "He finally got a clue."

Percival's smile widened, "I'll send it to you later. Griffin Martinez will owe you one."

Vivienne laughed lazily, "Aren't you afraid Leopold will come after you?"

"He wouldn't dare!"

"Exactly!"

the Brooks' residence. It was a Saturday, and several young boys were playing basketball outside. Noticing newcomers, one of the

hearing, turned and spotted

She waved at him.

jersey, said

Vivienne, he glanced at Percival and shyly greeted, "Sis,

the boy's head, "Say it again; it sounds

Thaddeus beamed with joy.

the latest Bumblebee helmet

It's voice-controlled and

promised to gift it for his

"Thank you, you're

was over the

eyed Thaddeus, "Huh, Percival's the

very best, and Percival's second best!" Thaddeus' sweet talk made Vivienne's

"With that sweet mouth,

don't need much wooing, just give

Vivienne was speechless.

laughter, "You've

another little girl's heart was about to

her was like an engagement gift, and that she'd marry me

are busy people, no

Percival

these days are

already talking

seemed worried he wouldn't have time for a girlfriend if he became a

asked, "Which

distressed, "She insists on marrying me

Percival was stunned.

This kid!

his

His face darkened instantly.

now empathize

watching someone else run off with your prized

at Thaddeus, "Don't worry, I'll make sure

grade, both Thaddeus and Isolde Ellington were

took this very