The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Leopold could not believe it as the call abruptly ended.

Griffin hung up on him!

This was not normal!

Even Vivienne was taken aback. She remembered quite vividly what Griffin was like the last time they

met.

But this time, it was a complete turnaround.

Taking a deep breath, Leopold joined Vivienne and Percival on their way to the Runxing Community.

In the residential area.

Griffin was waiting at the front door. As soon as she saw Vivienne, she greeted her warmly, “Vivienne,

long time no see.”

“It has been a while,” Vivienne greeted back.

“Come on in,” Griffin said as she opened the door. “It’s just me at home.”

Vivienne and Percival walked in side by side, followed closely by Anna.

Just as Leopold was about to follow them inside, Griffin suddenly shut the door and said sternly, “Didn’t

you hear me? It’s just me at home. You think you can just barge into a lady’s private space?”

Leopold was almost speechless. He incredulously pointed at Percival. “What about him?”

“He’s Vivienne’s fiancé, practically family. Of course, he can come in,” Griffin said, raising an eyebrow

at Leopold. “And you are?”

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With a thud, the door closed, leaving Leopold alone in the chilling wind.

Griffin’s place was not like the typical girl’s house. It had an old-fashioned charm, with mahogany

furniture and a table in the center of the living room.

The only out-of-place item was a Husky figurine on the tea table.

Vivienne sat down without concern for why Leopold could not come in and got straight to the point,

“Griffin, we’re here because we need your help with something.”

As Griffin skillfully poured tea for everyone, she asked, “What’s up?”

Percival pulled out a model of a cutting-edge bomb, explaining, “We need to figure out the workings

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and structure of this bomb and develop a detector for it. Interested?”

Griffin’s eyes lit up.

As a top-tier weapons enthusiast and expert, she was naturally intrigued.

“Is this that elusive new bomb making the rounds on the black market?” Griffin asked.

Vivienne nodded. “Yes.”

She glanced at Griffin and added, “You’re familiar with it?”

Griffin examined the bomb model closely, turning it over in her hands. “Of course I am. This thing, it

stole one of my ideas.”

“Your idea?” Vivienne was surprised.

“Yeah,” Griffin confirmed, pulling out an unfinished paper. “This was my concept three years ago. But

then my computer got hacked, and I noticed this paper had been copied. I knew someone must have

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plagiarized my idea.”

Vivienne quickly scanned the paper; indeed, the content matched certain features of the new bomb.

“How did you come across this?” Vivienne asked coolly.

Griffin chuckled. “I have my ways. But let’s get down to business, Vivienne. I agree to work with you on

this, but I have one condition, a non-negotiable. Agree to it, and I’ll research this for you pro bono.”

Interest sparked in Vivienne’s eyes. “Is it about Leopold?”

Griffin did not deny it. “That’s right, him.”

Vivienne smiled slyly. “I agree.”

Griffin was taken aback. “I haven’t even said…”

Before she could finish, Vivienne cut her off, “It doesn’t matter!”

If Leopold had heard this from outside, he would have said, “Vivienne, did you just sell me out like

that?”

Griffin laughed and stated her condition. Then they quickly moved on to discuss their collaboration.

After about ten minutes at Griffin’s house, the partnership was settled, and they left the new bomb

prototype with her.

Leopold sat in the car the whole time, his mind a whirl of confusion and frustration.

He could not fathom Griffin’s attitude towards him today. And what was with her sudden vendetta

against him?

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Had he not said that he would marry her in a heartbeat if his grandfather agreed?

But if the old man disagreed, why take it out on him?

Lost in thought, he saw Vivienne, Percival, and Anna enter the car.

Leopold immediately turned to Vivienne. “Did she agree?”

Vivienne glanced at him and simply replied, “Yeah.”

Leopold, knowing Griffin, suspected it was not that simple, “Did she make some outrageous demand?

Did she give you guys a hard time?” Leopold pressed his lips, bracing himself, “Does she want me to…

make an offer of marriage? Vivienne, you didn’t agree, did you?”

Before Vivienne could speak, Leopold rushed on. “I really didn’t do anything to her. I kissed her once

when I was young and foolish, and it was just on the cheek. I didn’t even know what getting married

meant. Besides, the old man would never agree. Vivienne, I do want to figure out that bomb, but I can’t

agree to marry her!”

Leopold rattled off his thoughts.

Vivienne and Percival looked at him as if he was an oddity.

Anna’s eyes were full of undisguised disdain.

Scratching his head in confusion, Leopold turned to Anna. “Anna, what on earth happened?”

Anna gave Leopold a long, measured look before slowly saying, “Griffin did make a condition, and

indeed, it involves you.”

“I knew it. She wants to marry me, right? Impossible!” Leopold stated firmly.

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Anna massaged her temples. “Griffin’s condition is that you must be utterly out of sight during the

research. You can’t even deliver documents. To put it bluntly, you need to disappear from our lives for a

while.”

Leopold nearly bit off his tongue in shock. “What did you just say?!”

Vanish from sight?

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This was utterly unreasonable!

Entirely and utterly preposterous!

And so unlike Griffin at all!

Vivienne and Percival could not have looked more indifferent as they casually glanced over.

Anna let out a sigh. “Focus on the road, Mr. Narcissistic Husky.”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated

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After leaving the Griffin residence, Vivienne took Anna back to her home, and Leopold dropped

Percival off at the Ellington family estate.

And then, he went home alone to his quiet contemplation.

He still could not wrap his head around it in the dead of night.

Had Griffin lost her marbles?

Unable to sleep, Leopold grabbed his phone and opened the group chat where he and other nine

disciples usually hung out.

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Leopold: [Guys, Griffin wants to cut ties with me.]

Jerry: [??]

Eric: [Weren’t you always annoyed by her chasing after you?]

Larry: [Annoyed when she’s after you, confused when she’s not? Little Leopold, what’s your brain made

of?]

Leopold: [I just feel like she’s acting off, not herself. Did I upset her by asking her to talk to the old

man? But no, my grandpa might disagree with the wedding, but he’s pretty fond of her. He shouldn’t

have hurt her. So, what could it be?]

Vivienne: [Pathetic.]

All the nine disciples: [Vivienne, you’re online?]

Vivienne: [Go to sleep, you’re noisy.]

With that, the nine swiftly logged off.

Leopold was left alone, staring at the silent group chat.

Well, with Vivienne’s decree, it looked like he had no one else to talk to.

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