The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Yorick chuckled, "I was beginning to think you'd never ask."

Vivienne frowned, "What's up with Winston?"

As soon as Yorick heard her, he knew she was overthinking. He waved his hand to reassure her, "He's fine. After the ordeal with the Wright family, your folks decided to enroll him in a prestigious boarding school." Vivienne looked surprised, "He agreed to that?"

Yorick nodded, clearly impressed, "Despite being only five, the kid's got a good head on his shoulders. He seems to grasp the gist of what's been happening at home, so he didn't hesitate much when it came to switching schools." Vivienne pursed her lips in response.

With the Wright family's influence in Rivenwood now a thing of the past, a change of scenery might actually do Winston some good.

Besides, the Linklater family had taken care of the introductions. Even the most gossip-hungry parents wouldn't dare bring up the past in front of their kids.

Vivienne left with the letter in hand.

Before she left, she assured Yorick that Uncle Maddox's situation with Mr. Wolf would be handled and wouldn't bother him anymore.

Yorick's smile hid a sigh of relief.

The Perez family, Sasha's side, was also his in-laws. Despite their drama, he couldn't just kick them out.

Percival entered just as Vivienne was sharing the news about her parents.

He wrapped his arms around her and led her into the room, "I've already taken care of Uncle Maddox's issue. No need for the folks to rush back."

Vivienne was stunned, "Mr. Wolf, how did you manage to convince Uncle Maddox?"

She knew Uncle Maddox well. Being quite similar to her own mother, it wouldn't have been easy to persuade him unless Mr. Wolf had offered something substantial in return. But to Uncle Maddox, nothing could outweigh his affection for Willa...

What had Mr. Wolf done?

Percival took off his coat and sanitized his hands before sitting down with Vivienne on the couch, murmuring, "It was simple. I addressed the root of the issue." "The root?"

Vivienne squinted, immediately catching on to Mr. Wolf's strategy, "Don't tell me you managed to sway Willa?"

Percival, not denying it, made Vivienne more comfortable as he followed her line of thought, "Everyone has their weaknesses. You know what Willa values the most." Vivienne, "..."

Willa's top priority was her mother's happiness. If her mom was happy, so was Willa.

heart to weaken the

meant someone had to swallow their pride. "It's unfair

to her mother was unmatched,

caressing her belly softly, "That's why I arranged for Uncle Maddox to have the engagement ceremony abroad, timed with our parents' European trip. This way,

could she

she had nothing to worry

Uncle Maddox had been out of sight all day; he

herself in thought, Percival offered her

tartness surprised her, but she found herself not

took another, summarizing the information she got from

bag of sour plums

something hidden within the Wright family," she

Declan has stayed this long, it's either because of a secret deal with Abigail or he's hiding something for

look into it

him, "You're

chuckled, tapping her nose, "If I had to personally sign off on

he had trained was far

raised an eyebrow, "You've got

a smile,

in the company. How about, after we wrap this up, we retire from this cloak-and-dagger life and run

she asked, "Retire sounds good, but are you sure we

smiled, her eyes

been managing her business affairs, but the bank statements made it

nearly ninety percent of Mr. Wolf's earnings

day, the bank transactions started

indeed given her

over the phone, passing on the items she had just received to her

they had

were temporarily stored at

news about Millennia Aegis was released, it only caused a minor stir among the circles of those with ancient warrior heritage, and

The next morning,

accepted a delivery of various fresh ingredients from his mother, quickly whipped up breakfast, and then headed to the bedroom, apron still tied around his waist. Vivienne was still deep in sleep on the bed. As Percival's

over with a frown,