The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne scrutinized the contract from top to bottom, each clause capable of sending shock waves

through the business world if taken on its own.

The document stated that the Perez family would unconditionally provide all components and funding

necessary for the development of a groundbreaking new explosive device. In return, Vivienne was only

required to secure a location and manage security and insurance—the kind of overhead that would not

cost her a dime.

The catch? The patent for the new explosive could not bear Vivienne’s name.

But this term suited Vivienne just fine.

After all, the explosive device was Griffin’s brainchild. She had simply come into possession of it by a

twist of fate and, coincidentally, had the means to bring the project to fruition.

Without hesitation, Vivienne signed her name on the dotted line.

It marked the second time she had officially collaborated with the government.

“Grandpa, I agree to the terms here,” Vivienne handed the contract to Jasper.

Jasper chuckled. “Kiddo, you don’t want to ask around a bit more?”

“I trust you, Jasper. That’s enough for me.”

Vivienne had that kind of confidence; once she believed in someone, she trusted them completely.

Jasper felt a wave of relief and nodded in approval. “Alright, this old man won’t let you down; rest

assured.”

Vivienne glanced at Percival, who, in turn, presented another contract.

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“Jasper, Yuri, please take a look at this contract as well,” Percival said, passing it over with both hands.

It was a gift from Percival and Vivienne to the Perez family.

Jasper’s brows twitched, and Yuri was visibly stunned. “Vivienne, are you sure?”

Their surprise was not overblown; they simply had not expected Vivienne to be willing to offer up such

an asset.

The contract was another win-win partnership, where the Perez family would not need to invest much

effort or time into maintenance.

It pertained to the YQ Lab—a highly secretive venture of Vivienne’s, with every project somehow linked

to Karen.

Yuri had previously uncovered a bit about it, but not in great detail.

He only knew that Karen had ties to the Vanguard Agency. But for the Perez family, it was a different

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department and direction.

Yet here was Vivienne, revealing even this card.

“I’m certain,” Vivienne affirmed. She wanted the Perez family to join the YQ Lab to ensure its utmost

protection.

Karen had been the previous captain of the Vanguard Agency’s special squad. However, her last

mission failed due to certain reasons, and the YQ Lab was subsequently shut down.

Vivienne did not believe for a second that it had happened without the involvement of the Vanguard

Agency’s leaders.

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Now that the YQ Lab was rebooting, it was only a matter of time before word got back to the Vanguard

Agency’s leaders.

Percival was currently caught between a rock and a hard place, with his immediate superior constantly

trying to suppress him. If the higher-ups insisted on reintegrating the YQ Lab back into the Vanguard

Agency, Percival would not last long.

Before Percival could climb the ranks, they needed to suppress all uncertain factors with external help.

The Perez family was the best choice.

Although neither Vivienne nor Percival knew the full extent of the Perez family’s power, it was enough

to protect the YQ Lab.

Jasper nodded emphatically. Vivienne’s willingness to sign this contract proved her trust in him and the

Perez family—a gesture that touched him deeply.

He gave Yuri a nod, and Yuri signed his name without hesitation.

“Vivienne, here’s to a successful partnership,” Yuri said, returning the contract to her.

Seeing that the serious business was concluded, Zelda seized her chance to speak up. “Vivienne, we

haven’t seen each other in so long. Don’t you want to give me a gift?”

Just as Vivienne was about to present her gift, Zelda smiled. “I’ve chosen the gift already. Change into

these matching outfits, and let me snap a few photos!”

As the biggest shipper of Percival and Vivienne, she had to maintain her online fan page.

This was first-hand material, and it had to go up immediately.

The fans were getting anxious.

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Vivienne blinked in confusion. “Matching outfits?”

“Right here! You two, go change!” Zelda thrust the couple’s outfits into Vivienne’s hands and pushed

the pair into the adjacent private room.

Dressed in the outfits Zelda had chosen, Vivienne and Percival emerged to find Dawson ready with the

lighting, awaiting the entrance of the two models.

Zelda’s camera was itching to start. “Get in position. I won’t photograph your faces, so don’t worry.”

Vivienne and Percival looked on in bemusement, having never realized Zelda had this quirky hobby.

And so, under Zelda’s repeated directions, they posed for a series of couple photos where their faces

remained obscured or blurry.

While holding the lighting equipment, Dawson watched Vivienne and Percival’s repeated intimate

poses in front of him, grinding his teeth in frustration.

What kind of madness was this?

This was killing him!

How was he supposed to explain this to the other disciples?

To say he not only watched Percival kiss Vivienne right in front of him but also had to repeatedly watch

them cuddle and hug while he held the lighting!

Leopold would say, “Heh, what are you complaining about? They kissed right in front of me more than

once.”

Other disciples, “You might as well apologize with your lives!”

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After the dinner party, Vivienne had seemingly made up for years’ worth of missed photo opportunities.

Having bid farewell to Jasper and the others, Dawson was responsible for driving Vivienne and Percival

back.

All the way, Dawson continued to grumble under his breath.

Vivienne did not even flinch at the question; instead, she queried, “Your family, the Lynette family,

they’re an ancient warrior lineage, too?”

Hearing the phrase ‘ancient warrior lineage,’ Dawson regained his composure.

“Hardly. We’re just your average tycoons from Sea City, much like the lovestruck old rogue sitting next

to you.”

Vivienne glanced at Percival.

He was not lovestruck; he was dashing.

That dashing, lovestruck rogue raised his phone, aiming it at the rear-view mirror.

Displayed on the screen was the photo Zelda had just snapped.

It looked like something out of a wedding album.

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“Dawson, like what you see? I’ve had your aunt send it over to you. Make sure to save it,” Percival said

nonchalantly.

Dawson ground his teeth; one day, he swore he would make a meal out of Percival!

Vivienne patted the car seat as Dawson returned to the matter, “Vivienne, why do you ask?”

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“Aren’t ancient warrior lineages usually at odds with the big families? How come you were able to

intermarry?”

Previously, Leopold had mentioned that the major families would avoid any contact with ancient warrior

lineages, using that very reason to reject Griffin.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay

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So, Vivienne was curious about why the Lynette family could form a union with the Perez family.

Dawson casually chuckled, “My aunt and her childhood sweetheart, my uncle, have been inseparable

since they were kids, thick as thieves, my dad says. And besides, the Perez family has come into the

limelight. Even if they are an ancient warrior lineage, what of it? As long as my uncle treats my aunt

well, that’s all that matters.”

Vivienne nodded; it seemed that even to a powerhouse like the Lynette family, ancient warrior lineages

were not intimidating.

It was the less powerful yet prideful families that truly feared them.

But why would the Sterling family dislike Griffin, who was of an ancient warrior lineage?

It seemed that Griffin’s path had fewer obstacles than she thought.

The biggest obstacle was Leopold getting over his own hang-ups.

“Vivienne, get some rest. I’ll wake you when we arrive,” Percival said as he draped his jacket over her

and pulled her close, letting her lean against him comfortably.

Indeed, Vivienne felt tired; the photo shoot had been more draining than she had expected.

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Dawson, who had barely kept his anger at bay, was once more infuriated by Percival’s gesture, almost

spitting blood.

But Vivienne had closed her eyes to rest, and he could not raise his voice. He had to keep the car

steady so she would not be disturbed.

Dawson thought furiously, “Percival, just you wait! Just you wait!”

Holding his lady, Percival thought contentedly, “There’s nothing quite like the comfort of embracing my

wife.”

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