The Million-Dollar Heart

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?"

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 and structure of this bomb and develop a detector for it. Interested?" Griffin's eyes lit up.

enthusiast and expert,

this that elusive new bomb making the rounds on the black

Vivienne nodded. "Yes."

glanced at Griffin and added, "You're familiar with

turning it over in her hands. "Of course I am. This thing, it stole one

Vivienne

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

the paper; indeed, the content matched certain

did you come across

"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,

did not deny it.

slyly.

taken aback. "I

cut

this from outside, he would have said, "Vivienne, did you just sell me out

condition. Then they quickly moved on to

Griffin's house, the partnership was settled, and they left the new bomb prototype

the car the whole time, his mind a whirl of confusion and

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

that he would marry her in

the old man disagreed, why

saw Vivienne,

to Vivienne. "Did

glanced at him and simply replied,

you guys a hard

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

off

at him as if he

were full of undisguised

confusion, Leopold turned to Anna.

before slowly saying, "Griffin

to marry me,

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