The Million-Dollar Heart

At the Perez Mansion.

Jasper, balancing a box of strawberry shortcake, made his way inside.

Natalia and Yasmine blinked their dewy eyes and scampered towards Jasper in unison.

Zelda was engrossed in a YouTube tutorial, trying to master the art of the perfect strawberry shortcake.

"Dad, didn't you go play chess with Richard? What brings you back so soon?" Zelda asked, setting aside her lopsided whipped cream to greet him.

Jasper opened the shortcake box and divided it into two generous slices for the eagerly waiting Natalia and Yasmine.

He waved off her concern with a smile. "Richard got wind that Vivienne and her grandson leaped off a cliff. Rushed off to check on them."

Zelda gasped, startled. She had been preoccupied with her cake-making venture all day and had not caught any news. "A cliff? What happened?"

"Nothing serious, just a rescue mission. Vivienne and Percival are quite the capable pair," Jasper chuckled.

Jasper had known about Vivienne and Percival's heroic act at the racetrack since the previous night and had already dispatched Yuri to gather details. Even the intel about the engineer had been discreetly passed on to Leopold by Yuri.

So, his worry had long since passed.

Zelda breathed a sigh of relief. "You gave me quite the scare. I'll have to remind Vivienne to steer clear of danger next time. How terrifying."

Jasper glanced at the yard, where beaten eggs and cream were strewn about - even on Natalia and Yasmine. Sighing, he said, "Zelda, maybe you should steer clear of danger yourself." Zelda rubbed her nose with a grin. "No worries, I'm safe. The oven hasn't exploded yet."

Jasper did not protest further. His daughter-in-law was always chasing whims; last time, it was an obsession with braiding Natalia and Yasmine's hair, which nearly ended with the girls being bald. Now, it was strawberry shortcake, and who knew how long that phase would last?

As they were talking, Yuri arrived home, also carrying a box of strawberry shortcake, and began to clean up the eggshells from the girls. "Zelda, have Eva wash them. Look at their little faces." Zelda put down her utensils, knowing Yuri had matters to discuss with Jasper, and took the girls to bathe.

off the oven Zelda had

people have definitely been spotted in Rivenwood, but we're unsure if it's the same F-Poison from back then. I've looked into the engineer you mentioned, but there's

and Leopold's been reassigned to the outskirts, away

it. We can't

to leave, Jasper stopped him with his cane, pointing at the chaotic front yard. "Clean this up and find a proper place for your wife to bake, would you?" Yuri sighed silently. "Zelda bake? If she can separate eggs without making a mess,

at the bowls of unsuccessfully separated eggs, already dreading the egg-heavy meals ahead. In

the Ellington family, Anna came home from

Charlotte's. It was cold efficiency, but it got results – unlike Charlotte, who would play with Thaddeus

back," Anna said, ruffling Thaddeus's hair and handing him a

last stroke, grabbed the PSP, and scampered to his room

bedroom, and Anna closed the door firmly behind them. "Ms. Vivienne, I can't reach headquarters, but Hotshot sent me a coded message

nodded. "Alright, I

headquarters is trying to sideline the captain's people. Husky's been sent to the outskirts, Captain Charlotte's been suspended, Hotshot is on standby without details, and the third squad has been scattered. There aren't many left under

at Vivienne.

on

Mark to pick him up before I leave each

a few more days, and it'll be over," Vivienne said, stretching on the bed, feeling

bit embarrassed. "Ms. Vivienne, how

Anna, propping her head with one hand. "What's up?" Anna bit her lip, her expression troubled. "It's just... Kenneth. He's a

Oh?

perked up -

hanging around Elite University, getting in the way. It's hard

Vivienne all ears for the latest

clutching her throw pillow, and stared at

"He even paraded around with a bouquet of roses every day. It's like he's begging