The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Melissa was a wreck for a whole week when she heard the news of Karen's passing. Even now, just the thought of it could bring tears to her eyes.

Karen reached out and wiped the tear from Melissa's eye. “Con, even your kids all grown up now. You shouldn't be crying like when you were a little girl.” Vivienne handed her a tissue. “Here, wipe your tears.” Melissa looked up at Vivienne and then at Karen. “Auntie Karen, Vivienne’s had a tough twith the Brooks family. Now that you and Jasper are here, | want to apologize on behalf of the Brooks to both you and Vivienne.” With that, Melissa bent forward in a deep bow.

Vivienne lifted her back up. “Auntie, you're making us feel like strangers.” “That's right, if you keep this up, I'll get cross,” Karen said, patting Melissa’s back. “Isn't it great that we're all here together now?” Melissa nodded vigorously. “Yeah, you're right. It's nice, just like this.” Vance watched from the side, well aware of the hardships Karen and Vivienne had endured over the years because of Scott and his organization. He knew that a mere apology or bow could not make up for it all.

But none of that mattered when it cto his beloved.

He put a comforting arm around Melissa’s shoulders, saying, “Melissa, we've finally got a chance to catch up with Karen. Let's not dwell on the unhappy stuff. How about we talk about something cheerful?” “Sure, Karen, let's go chat over there.” Melissa affectionately linked arms with Karen, and they made their way over to where Zelda was.

Vance, Vivienne, and the ever-silent Jasper went to a in unspoken agreement.

Vance was aware that Vivienne’s invitation to join the Perez gathering was not just for pleasantries.

Inside the study, Percival was already there, serving coffee like a perfect gentleman.

Vance was surprised; he had not expected Percival to be at the Perez Mansion and was even more taken aback to see him waiting in the study.

“Vance, you've been put through the wringer this time,” Jasper said as soon as they entered the study.

Vance modestly replied, “Jasper, you flatter me. | had no idea Lark was your daughter—no wonder she’s so impressive.” Jasper chuckled. “Let's skip the formalities. I've heard from Percival that you're quite interested in the ancient warrior lineage.” Vance glanced at Percival, who was busy pouring coffee for Vivienne and not looking his way.

His brow furrowed imperceptibly, then smoothed again, “Yes, Jasper, you might know that my family, the Edwards, are connected by marriage to the ancient warrior lineage. After the Sheldon family met their demise, we took possession of the Mystic Vein. But since then, peace has eluded our family.” Jasper’s laugh was knowing. He was well aware of the situation.

After the fall of the Sheldon family, the Perez family had considered keeping the Mystic Vein until they could return it to Ulysses Sheldon. But they were too late, and the Edwards got to it first.

Over the years, the Perez family had kept a watchful eye on the Edwards, and when the head of the Edwards family and Vance’s parents died under mysterious circumstances, it was hard for them not to feel a sense of relief.

Hoarding another family’s legacy, resulting in their complete downfall, and then suffering such karma—how could that not be satisfying? Jasper was no saint and felt no remorse.

What he had not expected was for Vance to be part of the Vanguard Agency and to have risen so rapidly to a position of power.

Initially, Jasper wondered why Vance had climbed the ranks so quickly, only to realize he wanted to confront the ancient warrior lineage.

“Did it never occur to you that the misfortunes of the Edwards family could be the result of your own making?” Jasper asked.

Clarity flashed in Vance’'s eyes, “Are you suggesting that you know about my grandfather's and my parents’ sudden deaths—that they were due to the Sheldon family’s curse? What exactly is in that Mystic Vein!” Vance's tone was charged with emotion, and his hands balled into fists.

Vivienne tapped the tabletop. “Vance, don’t get worked up. Whatever has befallen the Edwards has nothing to do with the Sheldon family. On the contrary, you might want to consider whether the fault lies with your own family.” Vance’s brow furrowed with frustration. “What do you mean by that?” Percival pulled out a contract from his briefcase, a document between the Edwards Group and a pharmaceutical company.

“What's this, Mr. Percy? Are you trying to meddle with whom the Edwards Group partners with now?” Vance scoffed.

Every mention of the ancient warrior lineage and the Sheldons stirred Vance’s emotions.

Percival flipped to the signature page of the contract, pointing to the nof the other party. “Don’t you want to see the nof this company’s chairman?” Vance was momentarily taken aback, then looked closely—the chairman was none other than Vivienne! Vivienne cradled a steaming mug of coffee in her hands, took a sip, and said with a smirk, “You really didn’t know? When the company went through the whole rebranding shindig and changed the CEO’s name, we penned a new deal with your firm.” At that time, Vance was neck-deep in plotting his moves against the Martinez family. How could he have the tto fuss over a triviality like resigning scontract? He had not paid the slightest attention to who was helming the pharmaceutical company they were dealing with.

After all, what the Edwards Group craved were the cutting-edge gas masks that the pharmaceutical company supplied - the only way to halt the sacrifice of their workers and safeguard the sterling reputation of the Edwards Group.

Vance was not a man to be taken for a fool. His mind was sharp as a tack. “Who was this previous CEO?” “My mentor, Ulysses.” Vivienne crossed her arms and leveled her gaze at Vance.

Vance was gobsmacked. Ulysses, the very man he had been doggedly searching for, had been right under his nose the entire time! Vivienne watched the play of emotions across Vance’s face and could not help but curve her lips into a sly smile.

She recounted the tale of how Finnian had once handed over the formula to Vance’s grandfather, only for him to disregard it as worthless.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books Updates...

“This whole mess, it’s your family’s own doing,” she said, her voice dropping an octave. “Because the manufacturing costs of the formula were too steep, your Edwards Group didn’t want to provide it to the workers nor take the gas leak seriously. That's why they met their untimely end. And since your granddad never went public with the affair, your parents remained in the dark about the gas, leading to their tragic fate. Now, tell me, who's to blfor this tragedy?” Vance’s expression was beyond shock.

It was foolish! Had the patriarch of the Edwards family taken the matter seriously, he would not have been caught off guard by a sudden demise, leaving no tto set his affairs in order.

Vance’s parents would not have had to endure the stragedy! And for all these years, Vance’s resentment should have been pointed at his grandfather's foolishness! He was struggling to cto terms with it all.

He could not fathom why his grandfather had discarded the formula. Was it really just because of the cost? Did he not consider his own health? But now, no one could provide Vance with answers.

Vance picked up the contract, his mind racing. “So, the reason this company approached the Edwards Group was not for money. It was to save the lives of the workers.”