The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Percival grinned with a hint of mischief. “Looking to delve into the secrets of the ancient warrior lineages, are you? Well, I'm your guy. I'll be your greatest asset.” Vance placed the business card on the table, his finger tapping over the nMr. Percy, and asked with a serious tone, “So, you trustnow?” Doubts about his alleged betrayal of the Vanguard Agency had always gnawed at him.

He did harbor ulterior motives, sure, but staining his hands with betrayal? That was a line he would not cross.

Percival’s lips curved slightly. “Your obsession is solely with the ancient warrior lineages.” Vance fell silent, mulling over his options.

An alliance with Percival could indeed clear the fog shrouding the mysteries of the ancient warrior lineages.

But trust was not on the table, and their partnership was fraught with peril.

Now, cut off from the Agency’s mainframe, he was blind to the secrets he sought. He needed an external ally.

“Why help me?” Vance finally asked.

Percival lowered his gaze briefly, then met Vance’s eyes. “Your fixation with the ancient warrior lineages runs deep. I'd rather assist you now than risk others exploiting you later.” The insinuation stung Vance like a slap across the face.

“So, you and Vivienne still suspect | might betray the Agency!” Percival did not deny it. “In my eyes, you were never the saint.” Vance was momentarily lost for words.

Indeed, in his pursuit of the truth behind the ancient warEd lineages, he had strayed from his initial path.

Conscience had beca distant echo, fading with time.

“And yet you choose to work with me. Aren't you afraid | might double-cross you?” Vance asked.

“You gave Leopold an out. That's the second reason I'm willing to gamble on you,” Percival replied with a smirk.

Vance had ensured Leopold took the fall, yes, but had also arranged for his survival and, in the shadows, safeguarded Griffin, proving her innocence.

Perhaps he was not completely heartless after all.

Vance sighed heavily. “Fine. Since you've made up your mind, I'll submit your resignation.” “Bring Micah back before the end of next week, or our deal is off,” Percival demanded, standing to leave.

Just as he reached the door, Vance called after him, “Percival, wherever you are, whatever you do, don’t forget you were once an outstanding operative of the Vanguard Agency!” A twinge of deep reluctance flickered across Percival’s face.

Once he stepped through that door, he would no longer be a Vanguard Agency operative. Their ties would be severed forever.

Seconds later, he left without looking back, closing a chapter on his life at the Vanguard Agency.

Percival’s resignation sent shock waves through the Rivenwood Vanguard Agency main office.

Everyone was in disbelief—how could their deputy director resign so abruptly? Especially Soren, who seemed to question his own existence, bombarding Leopold for answers.

“Weren't you his brother-in-arms? You grew up together, and you don’t know why he quit?” Soren’s eyes were red with disbelief.

Equally blindsided, Leopold could not fathom Percival leaving the organization they had aspired to enter since their teens.

“I told you, | don’t know! Cut it out!” Leopold snapped, pushing Soren away.

Their pent-up frustrations exploded into a scuffle, which Thomas and Anna quickly broke up.

“Enough!” Thomas bellowed.

Soren turned his anger on Thomas. “And you? As his assistant, you must know something!” “How the fuck would | know? | got the news at the stas you did!” Thomas retorted, equally heated.

Anna kicked the three men. “Will you guys stop? As the team leader and commander, shouldn’t you be calming your teams down? Have you forgotten what the deputy director told us?” The three finally regained their composure, with Thomas taking the lead to gather the troops and Leopold and Soren attending to their responsibilities.

Meanwhile, Percival drove to Vivienne’s place, arriving leisurely at the foot of her apartment building.

Vivienne had been waiting, revving her motorcycle’s engine as Percival’s car pulled up.

“Hey, unemployed, hop on! Let’s catch the wind!” She called out, her voice cutting through the evening air.

The night breeze tousled their hair and stirred their spirits.

Percival stepped out of his car, methodically unbuttoning his tailored suit jacket and tossing it over the hood like yesterday's news.

He approached Vivienne, scooped her up by the waist with one hand, and, with a little effort, placed her on the back seat.

With a spare helmet on, Percival’s sleek look was surprisingly in harmony with his biker attire—a striking figure with an edge of refinement.

“Vivienne, hold on tight,” he said, revving the engine and fixing his gaze on the road ahead.

She wrapped her arms around his sturdy frame, resting her head on his shoulder. “Mr. Wolf, let's ride!” From that moment, they were truly side by side.

Percival rode aimlessly, the motorcycle’s roar slicing through the night.

Gradually, the wind grew louder, and the taillights ahead fewer as they sped into the dark embrace of the open road.

The moon hung high, casting a luminous glow that battled the creeping tendrils of the evening breeze.

At last, Percival pulled the motorcycle to a halt on a deserted beach, where the stars seemed to stretch to infinity, each one a tiny beacon of awe-inspiring beauty.

Percival dismounted, one foot still grounded, and removed his helmet, hanging it casually on the handlebar.

Vivienne stepped out too, her hand finding Percival’s, cool to the touch.

Together, they climbed atop a rock, gazing out into the vast, dark expanse of the ocean.

The sea roared, waves churning and crashing with a fierce intensity, a symphony of nature’s unrest.

“This is the spot where my mentor first brought us camping by the sea when | joined the Vanguard Agency,” Percival said, his gaze fixed on the horizon, his grip tightening.

“My mentor used to say, the Vanguard Agency is like this ocean: calm on the surface but hiding treacherous reefs below. One careless move, and it could swallow you whole.” Back then, Percival thought those hidden reefs were enemies lurking in the depths.

Little did he know, the very sea they relied on for survival would be their undoing.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books Updates...

Percival sighed deeply, pointing to a nearby rock. “It must've been that one. Leopold got stranded on it during high tide once, and we teased him for ages.” He went on to share stories about the Vanguard Agency, each word heavy with memory.

Vivienne listened intently to the tales of years past, of battles fought, of scars earned—each one meticulously remembered by Percival, not a single detail forgotten.

She knew he could not let go.

He could not let go of the battlefield where he had toiled for over a decade, of comrades with whom he had faced life and death, of too many things to count.

As the night deepened, Percival’s breaths slowed until he was leaning on Vivienne’s shoulder, softly snoring.

Vivienne reached into her pocket and pulled out a pair of adhesive patches, placing one on her forehead and one on Percival’s.

The relentless sea breeze would surely invite colds cmorning if she didn’t.

That night, they had only each other for company.

And from that point on, they would always have just each other.