The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

As they chatted, the pair arrived at the meeting spot.

Griffin was waiting outside, and upon spotting the duo, she bounded over with earnest warmth.

Being the daughter of the Martinez family, Griffin was inevitably a bit biased toward her own kin.

Her complete trust in Vivienne and Percival was undeniable; otherwise, she would not have collaborated with Vivienne on developing a new bomb detection device.

Griffin’s role was pivotal in arranging for Stellan to cout for this meeting.

“Vivienne, my dad calone, without the company’s legal team. You guys got this,” Griffin cheered, pumping her fist in encouragement.

Vivienne understood. Stellan’s choice to cwithout his lawyers meant he was not planning to finalize anything today.

He knew that relying on the Vanguard Agency would ultimately spell trouble for the Martinez family.

The Martinez family was an ancient warrior lineage that cout of seclusion, but they lacked venerated elders like those in the Perez family. It was only Stellan keeping up appearances, along with Griffin, who was a rare prodigy in the arms industry.

This was the only way the Martinez family could maintain their status.

But this recent incident, almost costing them Griffin, was a clear sign that someone was targeting the Martinez family.

If they did not adapt, the road ahead would be rocky indeed! Inside the café, Stellan sat at a table, exuding a casual vibe in his leisurewear, quite the opposite of Vivienne's expectation of a suit and tie. His demeanor, though “8 carried an air of authority that demanded respect.

Griffin let go of Vivienne’s hand and led the way, introducing, “Dad, this is the Vivienne Hawthorn | told you about, and her husband, Percival Ellington.” Stellan stood up, his face breaking into a warm smile as he extended his hand, “Mr. Ellington, Ms. Hawthorn, a pleasure to meet you both.” Percival shook his hand. “Mr. Martinez, it's good to meet you.” With pleasantries exchanged, they all took their seats.

Griffin, knowing her place, stayed quiet and busied herself with coffee for everyone.

Stellan broke the ice. “I've always heard from Griffin how well Ms. Hawthorn has looked after her. | apologize for not expressing my gratitude sooner.” Vivienne smiled. “If anyone should apologize, it’sto you, Mr. Martinez. My junior did something regrettable to your family, and | failed to guide him.” Stellan waved off the apology. “I've known Leopold since he was a boy. He might be a bit headstrong, but he’s a good kid. No bllies with him.” Although Stellan rarely made public appearances, sending Griffin out to make contact with Leopold's family meant he was well-informed about them.

Considering his daughter had been chasing after Leopold for years, it was impossible for him not to know the young man well.

Vivienne could tell from Stellan’s words that he held Leopold in high regard.

It seemed that Leopold had already won the favor of his future father-in-law.

After smore small talk, they finally ventured into the heart of the matter.

“Mr. Martinez, what are your thoughts on the Ellington Group collaborating with your company?” Percival inquired.

Stellan laced his fingers together, rubbing his thumbs thoughtfully. “Mr. Ellington, you must be aware of what the Martinez family specializes in. As a former deputy director of the Vanguard Agency, what's your true motive for seeking a partnership with the Martinez Group?” Percival was prepared for a straightforward question but not quite so blunt. He chuckled. “Money.” Stellan let out a hearty laugh at Percival’s response. “Mr. Ellington, we both know the score. Let's be frank with each other.” Percival nodded and handed Stellan a business card. “The company that truly wants to collaborate with Martinez Tech Group is this one.” Stellan’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You're Mr. Percy!” Griffin, who was pouring coffee, nearly missed the cup. She looked up at Percival, unable to believe that her brother-in-law was the legendary Mr. Percy! Years ago, when the Martinez family had broken away from the ancient warrior lineages, times were tough, and updating their weaponry was a challenge. The pressure was immense.

Over time, internal fractures appeared, compounded by the pressure from their ancestral lineage. At fifteen, the weight on Stellan reached a peak.

The Martinez family was on the brink of losing everything.

Then, a man known as Mr. Percy offered a helping hand. His intentions were not altruistic, but the deal was fair.

He requested a batch of small and long-range firearms from the Martinez family and, in return, provided a substantial financial lifeline that helped them survive the crisis.

Back in the day, the Martinez family had weathered the storm, narrowly avoiding the crushing pressure of the ancient warrior lineages and regaining the top brass’s trust, all thanks to a single infusion of cash.

Stellan had tried to investigate this Mr. Percy, but the man was a ghost, leaving not a single trace to follow.

And yet, it turned out to be Percival! With a slight smile, Percival said, “Mr. Martinez, my goal is quite simple: to assist you in developing the latest biochemical weapon. | can assure you that the ownership of this weapon won't fall into the hands of the Vanguard Agency. If anyone tries to manipulate the Martinez family for their own ends, they won't succeed without my say-so.” Stellan looked at Percival solemnly, a flicker of doubt passing through his eyes.

There was no denying that Percival had been a benefactor to him and the entire Martinez family. But the matter of biochemical weapons was of utmost importance, especially given their inherent dangers—a single weapon could obliterate a city in seconds!Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books Updates...

Stellan laid Mr. Percy's business card on the table, his fingertip lightly tapping the corner: “Mr. Ellington, what do you want with biochemical weapons?” Percival exhaled silently, his smile persisting. “Vance escaped punishment from the organization this time, and | can imagine, Mr. Martinez, that you're quite puzzled. Apart from Vance, who else within the Vanguard Agency wishes to see the Martinez family’s demise?” Stellan’s gaze narrowed.

Indeed, Vance’s theft of the biochemical weapon's secrets was a matter of high treason, grounds enough to apprehend him as a spy.

Even if he were spared his life, there was no way he would be allowed to remain within the Vanguard Agency.

Yet, there he was, unscathed, the so-called ‘punishment’ nothing more than a smokescreen.

The person behind all this was the real threat aiming to snatch the Martinez family’s biochemical weapon! Percival continued, “I am searching for that person. Mr. Martinez, you must understand that once the Martinez family completes the weapon's development, it will inevitably be handed over. Once that happens, it will be out of your control. If the person behind the scenes wishes to claim the biochemical weapon for themselves, you'll be powerless, just like when Griffin’s new bomb designs leaked and the ‘Morning Glory’ flooded the market.

Surely, you haven't missed all the signs.”