The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Halfway through dinner, Daphne took the initiative, lifting her wine glass in a toast to Vivienne. "Viv, this one's for you, on behalf of my precious Emily. If it hadn't been for you taking her away from that godforsaken place of Havenwood and mentoring her, I can't begin to

imagine what could have become of her."

"Now, seeing her thriving by your side, I reckon it's the universe doing us a solid."

Perhaps memories of her own past trials made her emotional, as Daphne's eyes briefly welled up.

Vivienne stood up, her response heartfelt, "You're giving me too much credit. Emily's success at Vanguard Agency is all her own doing. All I did was recognize her potential."

Then, replacing her wine with a glass of water nearby, she added, "Been battling a bit of a cold, hope you don't mind my switching to water."

Daphne nodded in understanding, letting her be at ease, as she herself downed the wine.

The dinner went smoothly, wrapping up in a warm atmosphere. Vivienne offered Daphne a ride home.

As they left the restaurant, a sudden chill of danger washed over them. Across the street, a group of menacing figures in black, armed and heading straight for them, appeared out of nowhere.

"Viv, watch out!" Emily was the first to react, instinctively stepping in front of Vivienne.

Before Emily could act, a dozen elite guards materialized around Vivienne, swiftly encircling the attackers.

The confrontation was quickly contained, with Vivienne's gaze turning icy.

These were operatives of Mr. Wolf, a last resort not deployed lightly.

It appeared Abigail had been aware of this.

bystander glanced

raise of her eyebrow, Vivienne prepared to counter, but the gunman shifted aim to Emily and fired

as she moved to intervene, only to see someone else had already stepped in front of

guards, who were solely focused on her safety, missed protecting one

singular: safeguard Vivienne at

hit by the

in shock, caught Daphne, crying out, "Mom! Are

her team to follow the shooter

took charge, performing surgery on Daphne herself. She carefully extracted the bullet from her shoulder, noting a small butterfly

her head,

got the shooter. She insisted on interrogating

understood she wouldn't just sit idly by, especially not when

"Call my folks,

by the day's events,

with Sasha's voice coming through, "Missing me

to the point, "Mom, Daphne's

and questions, to which Vivienne simply replied, "Come

to check on Emily but was stopped by Percival's insistence

two-hour surgery and you say

maybe

on the other end, informed her of Emily's relentless interrogation

been motivated by a significant sum of money, but

revealed a complex plot with no clear

relentless curiosity is about to send my

voice carried an air of indifference,