The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)

Vivienne's mind throbbed with an unbidden ache whenever she recalled Grandpa's words.

She was all too aware of what he was trying to do.

He wanted her to leave behind everything that happened five years ago.

To start anew.

And, according to him, the fastest and most effective way to forget someone was to dive into a new romance.

Even if it wasn't Connor, there would be a second, a third suitor waiting in the wings.

Initially, she could fend them off with excuses about her work or her commitment to her charity projects with Juliette and Isaiah.

But five years had passed.

Now, it wasn't just Grandpa; Dad had also joined the matchmaking brigade.

The subject was becoming increasingly unavoidable.

Rubbing her temples, she asked, "What are you hoping to achieve?"

The moment the words left her lips, Vivienne regretted them.

Connor's smile was a mix of hope and understanding. "You know what I'm after. I just want a chance with you. Of course, if it doesn't lead anywhere, it won't affect our current relationship. You don't have to feel any pressure." His approach was classic and straightforward.

As Grandpa had pointed out, Connor was an excellent catch by any standard.

But... she wasn't interested!

If having someone by her side could offer her family some peace of mind, staging a fake relationship wasn't out of the question.

She nodded in agreement to his proposal.

However, she couldn't accept Connor's "repayment" terms.

"I'll be in Rivenwood for a while. If I need you, I'll get in touch. We'll settle your compensation as a ten percent cut of the investment per appearance. Once this is over, I'll step back from the company." Business was business, and she disliked owing favors.

Her investment here was primarily to investigate Mr. Wolf's case. Whether she found any leads or not, she would continue her search.

"Agreed."

Connor's response was crisp, understanding this was as far as Vivienne was willing to go.

Exiting the alley, they crossed the street together and entered the corporate lobby.

From a distance, a sleek black SUV idled by the curb.

Inside, two pairs of eager eyes peered out the window at Vivienne's retreating figure, tiny hands reaching out into the air.

"Big sis, big sis..." they called in urgent whispers.

"Shh!"

Maddox, sitting in the driver's seat, gestured for silence through the rearview mirror before snapping a few stealthy photos with his phone.

No sooner had he sent the pictures than Sasha's call came through. "Maddox, who's Vivienne with?"

Maddox smirked enigmatically. "Who else could it be?"

"Sasha, you might be surprised, but the match Dad's been trying to make could actually work out. Vivienne's been alone for years. When have you ever seen her with a guy? This could be a first." Sasha was speechless.

"Why are you stirring things up too?"

Maddox was taken aback. "What do you mean? Vivienne's been driving herself crazy looking for clues. It breaks everyone's heart. Better she starts a new chapter than dwell on the past." "Whatever, just bring the kids home. Dad's looking for you," Sasha finally said, exasperated.

Hanging up, Maddox was still puzzled about where he might have misspoken.

He and Grandpa were on the same page.

How had he become the troublemaker?

As the SUV pulled away, a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness, watching the company entrance intently.

Back in the office, Vivienne reviewed the audio again, but the voice was gone, replaced by static noise.

Realizing it was getting late, she copied the file for professional analysis. Just then, Leopold called.

Leopold offered to pick up Juliette and Isaiah from school, but Vivienne, having a moment free, decided to do it herself and give him a day

However, Leopold insisted, hinting at something unspoken.

Vivienne sensed something was off. "What's going on? Is there a school event?"

Leopold admitted there wasn't but couldn't provide a clear reason why he wanted to pick them up.

Under pressure, he revealed that the

kids had seen her with a man that

morning and expressed and

visit their godmother up in the mountains.

Vivienne agreed but cautioned not to return too late.

As she was about to hang up, she overheard a voice in the background.

"Let me drive you home."

It was Connor!

Had he been with Vivienne all day?

She declined his offer and left for the elevator, calling Matthew for a pickup.

Outside, she looked across the street, catching a glimpse of a familiar gaze.

For a moment, she thought she saw Mr. Wolf.

But then, Matthew's voice snapped her back to reality.

"Vivienne!"

She looked again, but the figure had vanished.

Questioning whether it was just her imagination or a sign, she got into the car with Matthew. Perhaps, she mused, today's events had stirred memories of Mr. Wolf.

The Linklater clan.

Vivienne had barely stepped out of the car when Connor followed suit, almost immediately.

Before she could even inquire, he reached behind him, pulling out a paper bag, "You left in such a hurry, forgot your jacket at my place!" Calmly, Vivienne accepted it, muttering a thanks.

Connor flashed a quick smile, "I'll head off then. Call me anytime if you need anything."

Vivienne nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Matthew, who had been watching from a distance, was utterly dumbfounded.

Who was this guy?

Bold enough to openly flirt with their Vivienne, was he out of his mind? And why hadn't Vivienne put him in his place?

Just then, Yorick emerged from the house. Connor greeted him with a nod, and the old man, with a smile, asked, "Did you give Vivienne a ride back?"

Vivienne was silent.

Matthew was silent.

Before Connor responded, he glanced at Vivienne, seeking her approval. Upon receiving a subtle nod, he grinned and replied, "Yes, grandpa."