The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Everyone gathered around Jasper, but he reached for Vivienne with a steady hand.

“Vivienne, you okay there?” Vivienne shifted her gaze from Vesper and replied softly, “Yeah, a bit shaken up.” Jasper hummed in response, gently patting Vivienne’s hand. “I'm gonna be fine. Gotta take you back hto watch Natalia and Yasmine grow up and wait for Sasha to return. | won't break my promise.” Then, spotting Percival, he added with a smile, “And to see our Vivienne get married and have kids, right?” Vivienne blushed slightly. “How about | check in on you every month, say on the ninth?” Although Vivienne still had questions about what was really going on inside Jasper, she knew now was not the tto ask. He was weak and did not need the stress of an interrogation.

“Sounds good to me,” Jasper chuckled, his eyes catching Vesper standing a little ways off. The more he looked, the more he liked the young man. “Young sir, you do resemble my boys strikingly.” Vesper looked up, a complicated expression in his eyes, but he managed a small smile. “Really? Then | suppose I'm quite the looker.” Jasper laughed heartily. “You sure are, lad, a spitting image of my younger self.” Yuri teased, “Dad, fishing for compliments now?” “I've always been handsome.” Jasper stood up, still holding Vivienne’s hand. “Vivienne’s kids are gonna be stunners, no doubt.” “Dad, how many kids do you want Vivienne to have?” Zelda asked.

Jasper thought momentarily, then said, “Hey, Percival, how many do you want?” Caught off-guard by the sudden question, Percival ctearcdis throat and said, “That's up to Vivienne.” “You just stay out of the fray and take care of yourself. Can't have any repeats of last time,” Jasper advised more seriously.

Percival nodded in agreement, feeling no discomfort.

Vivienne turned to Vesper. “How many kids do you have at the Linklater family??” “Just one daughter and she’s a handful,” Vesper replied with a chuckle. “Mr. Ellington, you're going to have your hands full. Better take care of yourself, especially with four sons and three daughters in the cards.” Percival wrapped an arm around Vivienne’s waist and said, “Alright, then we'll have seven.” Vivienne pinched Percival’s side in response.

What was he even talking about? Seven kids? At this rate, they would have enough for a soccer team.

Jasper was all smiles. “Seven kids, eh? The more, the merrier. It's a handful for a father, though. You'd better prepare yourself.” As the banter continued, no one noticed that Vesper had silently disappeared from the foot of the bed.

When Vivienne realized what had happened, not only was Vesper gone, but Finnian had also vanished.

Vivienne made to go after them, but Percival stopped her. “Vivienne, let it be. We can’t catch up.” Yuri joined them, nodding. “Mr. Linklater’s skills are beyond us.” Despite everyone's attention on Jasper, all present were vigilant and trained. How could two grown men disappear without notice? The only explanation was that Vesper’s skills surpassed them all.

Vivienne felt a premonition that she would see Vesper again, but it would be a long tcoming.

She sent a message to mobilize the Nine Mystics Society and the Frostfire Intelligence Agency to find Vesper, but she was unsure if they would succeed.

Still weak from his illness, Jasper soon fell asleep, and Vivienne and Percival left the Perez Mansion.

After their departure, Yuri entered the house and felt a gust of wind by his ear. The next second, a disposable fork with a note attached was embedded in the door.

Yuri took the note. It read: [Watch those around you.] He looked around but saw no one, not even the bodyguards, had noticed the danger.

Even Yuri would not have known about the silent intruder if he had not seen the fork himself.

The note seemed to be a warning, not a threat. But who could it be from? The sperson who left a note in Jasper’s room last time? Yuri pocketed the note without causing a stir. He did not want Zelda to worry.

After instructing the guards to increase their numbers around the house and to keep a close eye on Vivienne without her noticing, Yuri left them to their posts.

A mile away from the Perez Mansion, at a corner diner.

Finnian took out another fork and sighed over his plate. “Missed a good meal back there. Heard helpers at the Perez family can really cook up a storm.” Vesper sipped his soup, saying, “This isn’t half bad, either. Eat up.” “Aren’t you going to say anything?” Finnian complained, burning his tongue on a hot mushroom.

Vesper casually picked out the shrimp from his soup. “The waters run deep in the Perez family.” Vesper did not need to say much. With just one phrase, Finnian knew precisely what he meant.

Meanwhile, Vivienne was lounging back in her chair, her mind racing through every detail of the day.

What did not add up...

Was it the two pairs of shoes Vesper brought or his silent departure? Suddenly, Vivienne sat up straight. “Mr. Wolf, we never mentioned where Grandpa's bedroom was when Vesper and Finnian arrived, did we?”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books Updates...

His hands steady on the steering wheel, Percival glanced at her with a knowing look. “Indeed, we didn’t.” Vivienne had been so distracted at the Perez family gathering, her attention on Jasper and the unexpected arrival of Vesper, that she had not focused on the critical point.

How could Vesper, a newcomer to the Perez Mansion, navigate straight to Jasper’s bedroom as if he knew the way? Even Vivienne had to be led there by Zelda and Yuri, but he found it effortlessly.

And then there were those two pairs of perfectly prepared shoes.

Vivienne was certain; Vesper must have been secretly watching the Perez family’s every move, which was why he seemed so familiar with everyone! But what could his motives be? Percival pulled the car over to the curb and tousled Vivienne’s hair gently. “Vivienne, | think this Vesper means no harm, but his identity is indeed suspicious. Perhaps he has sties to the Perez family.” “Don’t you find him too familiar, though?” Vivienne’s gaze was cloudy, her thoughts obviously revolving around Vesper.

“Undoubtedly familiar. But Vivienne, it’s very late now, and you need to rest,” Percival said, kissing her forehead.

“Go on up. Shall | pick you up tomorrow for another visit to the Perez family?” Vivienne nodded, her mind still churning, returned Percival’s kiss, and headed upstairs.