The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne nodded. The Brooks family’s affairs were no longer of her concern. However, if they came

knocking on her door one day seeking help, she would not turn a blind eye.

If they did not, well, then it was live and let live.

Ronald caught Vivienne’s gaze, and his expression flickered with oddness for a split second before he

resumed his composure and nodded at her in greeting.

Mark, still playing it cool with Vivienne, showed no reaction.

“Let’s go, we’re off,” Vivienne said, waving Aaron away.

Aaron responded, “Hey Vivienne, we should grab a…”

Before he could finish suggesting a meal, Percival rolled up the car window with a quick twist and

kicked the seat in front of him. “Drive.”

Leopold jumped, wondering what the sudden outburst was about, but did not dare to ask; he just

silently started the car.

Vivienne sighed, “Mr. Wolf, do you have something against Aaron?”

Percival, feigning indifference, replied, “No, Leopold closed the window.”

“Huh?” Leopold yelped, catching Percival’s warning glance in the rear-view mirror, and quickly nodded

in agreement, “Ah yes, yes, my fault, Vivienne. You should totally chew me out.”

Maybe a good scolding would get him out of driving duties!

Where the heck had Thomas, that little rascal, run off to?

He should be back driving now that he had recovered from his sickness, right?

Had he not been back at work just a couple of days ago?

Thomas’s inner thoughts were, “Training the newbie, do not disturb.”

Aaron watched the car fade into the distance, his hopeful gaze sinking slowly.

He knew he had no right to stand beside Vivienne just yet.

Everything would have to wait.

Mark walked over with Ronald and asked, “Hey kid, what was Vivienne doing here?”

Aaron’s gaze dropped, “Just meeting a friend.”

“Oh, I saw a girl getting into her car. A classmate of yours?” Mark’s eyes trailed off in the direction the

car had disappeared, thoughtful.

“I don’t know her; I didn’t see what she looked like,” Aaron said, adjusting his backpack. “Aren’t we

supposed to be heading to a party?”

The truth was, he had seen Anna. They were both finance majors; of course, he knew her.

But they barely spoke at school, only exchanging a few words when grouped for an assignment. After

the project, there was no further interaction.

But when Mark asked, he just could not be bothered to explain.

However, the fact that Anna knew Vivienne was a surprise to him.

He had always thought Anna was a loner with hardly any friends.

Seeing Aaron a bit impatient, Mark did not push further and left with Ronald to head out from Elite

University.

In Vivienne’s car, Anna pulled out a certificate. It was issued by the Elite University’s School of

Medicine.

“You’ve become a professional doctor?” Vivienne was surprised to see the certificate.

She knew Anna’s mother, Daphne, had been a right-hand woman to Karen, with her incredible

achievements in the medical field.

But Vivienne did not expect Anna to follow in those footsteps, too.

Leopold thought inwardly, “Vivienne, you’ve mastered all of your mother’s skills; is it so hard for Anna to

inherit just one thing?

“Yeah, I took the exams in my spare time. Right now, I’m only a certified doctor; I’m not yet skilled

enough to engage in research,” Anna said, removing her black-rimmed glasses to reveal her bright

eyes.

Vivienne smiled. “You want to work in a lab?”

Anna nodded. “Yes, my mom mentioned she worked on many research projects with Lark. I want to

fulfill her legacy and learn while doing so. Could you take me to the lab just to have a look?”

“Not yet.” Vivienne handed the certificate back to Anna. “At least, not right now.”

Anna was puzzled. “Why? The Husky can drive.”

“That’s because he has a driver’s license. You said it yourself—you’re not yet skilled enough for

research. At the very least, you need to master the experimental techniques before I can let you into

the lab.”

Being ambitious was good, but steady progress was vital.

One could not expect to run before one could walk.

Anna’s lips pressed slightly, her eyes dimming as she whispered, “But time waits for no one. If I’m

studying, I can’t focus fully on research. There’s only so much time during vacations, and I’m afraid…”

Afraid that the GTO would make its move before she was ready.

Percival took Vivienne’s hand, his fingertips gently caressing the back of it, “You could start by reporting

to the Vanguard Agency’s boot camp. If you pass our training, you’ll be assigned to the YQ lab.”

“YQ lab? You restarted the YQ lab!” Anna’s eyes brightened.

Percival nodded. “Yeah, but you’ll have to follow Vivienne’s lead inside the lab. She’s the director of the

YQ lab.”

Anna considered it momentarily before saying, “No problem, take me to the boot camp!”

She was eager to get into the lab by any means necessary to pick up where her mother left off.

Vivienne agreed; passing the Vanguard Agency’s boot camp proved Anna was ready for an internship

in the lab. It was better than muddling through research alone at Elite University.

Leopold reluctantly turned the car around. “Captain, can I apply for the boot camp too? I bet I’m way

better than Thomas. Could his trainees even compare to me?”

He mainly just wanted to get out of driving.

Anna did not like hearing that at all. She certainly did not want a Husky for a drill sergeant.

Percival glanced at Leopold and said, “She doesn’t want you as a drill sergeant.”

“How would you know without asking?” Leopold challenged, turning to Anna, “What do you say, me as

your drill sergeant?”

Anna coughed lightly. “I think driving suits you.”

Leopold was at a loss for words.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books

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Everyone’s always picking on him!

Oh, how he cursed his limited authority. As nothing more than the captain of the first squad, there was

not much he could do. But had he the power, rebellion would have been his first course of action!

In the midst of their conversation, Leopold steered the vehicle into the driveway of the Vanguard

Agency’s boot camp for recruits.

The facility was not far from the city center; from the outside, it looked like any other nondescript

compound.

But outsiders did not know that inside lay a myriad of training grounds, covering everything from

physical fitness and firearms to courses designed to fortify the mind.

Each recruit was handpicked from across the nation, the cream of the crop. Some even boasted first

and second-class honors for their valiant deeds. Here, though, they were stripped of their past

achievements, known only by their assigned numbers.

At every stage of training, a batch of recruits would be eliminated. Even if someone excelled in physical

and weapons training, they were out if they could not cut it mentally.

And those who did not make the cut had to keep the secrets of the camp to themselves. Disclosure

meant facing the consequences far more severe than a mere military tribunal.

Thomas had received word that Percival was en route and was waiting at the gate to greet him.

“Percival and Ma’am,” Thomas called out, stepping forward as the car pulled to a halt.

They were so used to seeing Thomas in a suit that his combat attire took them by surprise.

Vivienne nodded her approval. “Thomas does look rather dashing in his gear.”